12 Best Event Platforms for Startups (2026)

Pros

• Genuinely free with no paid tier: no platform fee, no processing fee, no contact limit and nothing gated behind an upgrade
• Zeffy absorbs the card processing costs, so the organization receives the full amount a donor gives, whether or not that donor adds a contribution

Cons

• Nonprofits only. An individual, an informal group or a business cannot open an account, and eligibility needs an EIN or local equivalent plus a bank account in the organization's name
• No auctioneer-led live bidding, paddle raise or fund-a-need, and no live streaming for a hybrid gala, so a large seated event run from a stage is better served elsewhere

Pros

• Significantly lower fees compared to percentage-based platforms.
• Direct payout of ticket revenue to the organizer.

Cons

• Requires some technical comfort for embedding widgets.
• May lack some advanced marketing features found in larger platforms.

Pros

• Easy for participants to join without logins or downloads
• Quick setup for hosts

Cons

• The free Basic plan is tightly capped, limiting you to 3 polls and 1 quiz per slido, 100 participants, and no Q&A moderation or custom branding.
• Features many buyers consider essential, namely question moderation and custom branding, are locked behind the Professional plan at roughly 75 dollars per month, a steep jump from the 17.50 dollar entry Engage tier.

Pros

• Mimics real-world interaction, leading to higher engagement.
• Provides deep, actionable insights into attendee behavior.

Cons

• Advanced features and larger capacities are part of paid plans.
• Some integrations are listed as 'Coming soon'.

Pros

• User-friendly interface for event creation
• Highly customizable RSVP forms and event pages

Cons

• Advanced features are locked behind paid tiers
• Learning curve for some of the more complex customization options

Pros

• User-friendly and intuitive interface for building registration pages.
• Transparent and cost-effective pricing with capped fees.

Cons

• No explicit mention of a free trial, only demos are offered.
• Pricing is per paid attendee, which might add up for very large events, though capped.

Pros

• Easy event management
• Ticket sales

Cons

• Fees on paid tickets
• Limited customization

Pros

• Simplifies event setup and management with a no-code interface
• Offers comprehensive features covering the entire event lifecycle

Cons

• Advanced customization options beyond the API are not explicitly mentioned
• The extent of CRM and marketing tool integrations is not fully specified

Pros

• Easy to use with a web-based dashboard
• Supports both live and virtual event formats

Cons

• Maximum audience size might be a limitation for extremely large events

Pros

• Unique networking formats that replicate in-person event energy
• All-in-one platform: ticketing, hosting, payments, and email

Cons

• Platform fee per paid ticket adds up at scale
• Less feature-rich for webinar-only use cases

Pros

• 100% free with no ads, premium tiers, or hidden charges
• Built-in payment collection through Venmo/Cash App/PayPal

Cons

• Limited customization compared to paid platforms like Paperless Post
• No advanced features like seating charts or complex event management

Pros

• Free for event organizers if fees are passed to ticket buyers.
• No monthly subscriptions, contracts, or restrictive service tiers.

Cons

• Payment processing is tied to Stripe, which might not suit all users.
• Payments are disbursed 4-7 business days after the event, not immediately.