Have you ever planned an event and thought there has to be a better way to do this?
Planning events in this day and age has become a marathon of registrations, ticketing, emails, scheduling, and promotions. However, with the right event management platform, you can take much of that pressure off and help turn what once was a marathon into more of a sprint.
Events are becoming increasingly important for businesses and communities, so it is essential that you have a robust event management platform by your side in 2026.Â
This article will give an overview of many of today’s most popular budget-friendly event management software. We’ll break down what each one actually offers and which features matter for everyday planning.
1. Dryfta
Dryfta is an all-in-one, cost-efficient event management software that’s especially well known in the academic and research conference space. The platform includes core features like:
Registration and ticketing
Abstract submission and review
Peer review
Event scheduling
Virtual sessions
Event networking
Event CRM
For teams that care about data control and deeper customization, it can also be deployed in different ways, including cloud-based options and on-premises setups.
Boost revenue through flexible ticketing tools:
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- Create tickets for registrations, memberships, workshops, sponsorship packages, and donations.Â
- Use the built-in Event CRM to follow all of the activities of an attendee across the entire event lifecycle.
- Collect payments online or offline by depositing funds directly into your merchant account.
- Use the user-friendly dashboard to manage orders, invoices, and purchase orders.
Manage abstract submissions and reviews for conferences:
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- Enable users to search an abstract index to find relevant work quickly.
- Send automated updates to authors for key milestones, such as confirmations and submission status changes.
- Assign abstracts to reviewers automatically or handle assignments manually when you need more control over who is assigned to whom.Â
- Provide authors with a self-service dashboard for submitting, editing, and managing their abstracts and associated information.Â
Improve turnout for virtual events:
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- Use browser-based virtual meetings backed by a 99.99% uptime Service Level Agreement(SLA).
- Create email campaigns, send push notifications, and text messages to promote sessions.
- Help sponsors gain stronger visibility and engagement with sponsor-focused tools that drive ROI.
Pricing:
The Small plan starts at $1,499 per year and includes a free trial option. For Medium and Large plans, contact our team to request a quote based on your event needs.
2. Eventbrite
It is a popular event management software that many teams are currently using mainly for ticketing. In addition to ticket sales, Eventbrite offers features such as registration management, basic marketing tools, and reporting to help you view signup statistics and performance metrics. The interface makes it easier to set up and customize for small events.
Key features of Eventbrite:
Branding and emails: Create a website page for your event that matches your brand, or update confirmations and promotional emails to align with your branding and messaging.
Social promotion: Connect with social media channels to boost your event’s visibility with minimal effort.
On site registration: You can sell tickets and check people in on the same day at the event location, which makes last minute registration easier to handle.Â
Managing events: Manage multiple events from a single account and have all your event management tools in one place.
Pricing:
No fees for free events. Paid tickets are charged a 3.7% plus $1.79 service fee per ticket and a 2.9% payment processing fee per order.
3. Bizzabo
Bizzabo is a versatile event management software that lets you run events of different sizes and formats, whether they are virtual, in person, or hybrid. It’s built to stay customizable as the event grows.Â
It also leans heavily into event marketing. You get tools for email campaigns, branded event websites, and integrations with third party marketing automation systems if you wish to organize your event promotion better.
A notable additional feature is the smart badge. Smart badges can make networking and check-in smoother through quick contact exchange, and can help with session tracking, so you get a clearer picture of what attendees actually did during the event.
Key features of Bizzabo:
Customization for attendees: Registration flow and multiple track agendas allow for customization based on interest, as attendees view sessions and content that are relevant to them.
Live tracking: Dashboards will provide live data of the event’s performance, thereby giving you clear insight into engagement levels and overall outcomes.
Built-in marketing tools: Promotion feels easier when email campaigns and event marketing tools live in the same place as your registrations.
No-Code Page Building: Templates are ready-to-use, so you can build fast, clean, and branded landing pages, with no coding, no developer wait time.
Pricing:
Bizzabo’s Event Experience OS starts at $499 per user per month, billed annually with a three-user minimum, with annual pricing starting at $17,999.
4. Cvent
Cvent is a cloud-based event management software that includes tools for event marketing, venue sourcing, attendee engagement, and reporting, which makes it appealing for teams that want everything in one system.
However, this all-in-one model also has a larger learning curve than other event management platforms. It can feel like a tradeoff for smaller teams and for those who don’t use all of the features that Cvent offers.
Key features of Cvent:
Planning and budgeting: Allow users to manage their meeting approvals and budgets all in one place for a more streamlined planning process.
More immersive attendee views: Use virtual layouts, interactive floor plans, and event diagrams to help people understand the space and experience the event visually.
End-to-end event support: Manage everything from planning and promotion to engagement and follow-up in a single flow.
Pricing:
Get in touch with the Cvent team to request pricing details.
5. Eventmobi
Eventmobi is an event management software that will handle all the logistical aspects, like check-in and badge printing of your event. The platform puts a lot of focus on features that allow participants to engage with each other via gamification, as well as with one another via video networking. If your goal is to make the event feel more interactive and keep attendees involved, Eventmobi can be a good fit.
EventMobi is particularly well-suited for virtual events with high priorities on live streaming and attendee engagement. Additionally, the platform handles all basic needs such as online registration, managing attendees, which many teams find easy to use for day-to-day event operations.
Key features of Eventmobi:
Easy badge creation: The badge tool is very user-friendly and allows you to create visually appealing badges that work well at check-in.
Custom landing pages: Templates make it quicker to build ticket and event pages. You can customize them to fit your brand identity.
Easier lead tracking: Exhibitors can capture leads and manage follow-ups more easily.
More efficient planning and communication: Messaging apps, session management tools, and scheduling meetings will allow your exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees to connect without endless email threads.
Pricing:
Custom pricing is shared on request.
6. Eventcube
Eventcube is a white-label event management software built for hybrid, virtual, and in-person events. You can manage branding, ticketing, and data from one dashboard, so the experience feels like your own product rather than a third party page.
The platform also provides functionality to run an event store, sell tickets, manage membership programs and stream virtual sessions at high definition quality.
Key features of Eventcube:
Branded ticketing: Set up a white-label ticket shop with your own URL and branded emails.
Virtual venue: Host browser-based virtual or hybrid events with 4K streaming, multiple stages, lounges, and interactive session formats.
Memberships: Offer subscription tiers with exclusive access and perks, supported by recurring payments and a member portal.
Onsite tools: Track live sales, scan tickets for quick check in, and manage entry logistics without extra tools.
Pricing:
Pricing includes a free Starter plan, plus a Pro plan at $99 per month. The Enterprise plan does not list a public price and requires contacting the team for a custom quote.
7. vFairs
vFairs is one of the best event management software built mainly for virtual and hybrid events, and its big focus is the visual experience. It’s known for 3D style environments that can make online trade shows and conferences feel more immersive than a standard webinar setup.
Key features of vFairs:
Versatile Event Hosting: Works for different virtual formats, like education fairs, summits, benefits fairs, and similar events.
More networking options: Increase engagement using simple interactive tools.
Seamless registration: Built-in registration makes the onboarding experience more structured and easier to manage.
Smooth ticketing process: All ticket sales and management happen through the platform, reducing many common ticketing-related issues.
Marketing assistance with AI: An AI-based marketing assistant helps with improving and optimizing your promotions.
Pricing:
Get in touch with the vFairs team to request pricing details.
8. Eventzilla
Eventzilla is an event management software that will cover all of your needs in order to manage registrations and promote an event. It gives you tools for ticket sales, landing pages, attendee list management, and marketing.
The platform lets you create an online event page and sell tickets, with minimal setup requirements. Powerful analytics tools help track event performance and guide decisions using real data.
Key features of Eventzilla:
Event promotion tools: Email campaign tools and social media integration tools to help promote the event.
Integrations: Connect with tools like CRMs and email marketing platforms to extend what the system can do.
Ticket options: Sell different ticket types, including paid tickets, free tickets, and donation tickets.
Mobile check-in: Use a mobile app to check people in and manage on-site tasks.
Pricing:
The Basic plan costs $1.50 per registration. Pro charges 1.9 percent plus $1.50 per registration, while Plus charges 2.9 percent plus $1.50 per registration. Unlimited plan starts at $4,999 per year with one flat fee for all events.
9. EventBookings
EventBookings is centered around being easy to use, so that event managers can run events quickly without having to search through an overwhelming number of menu items or workflows. Although the layout is easy to navigate, it includes many useful features like mobile ticket scanning, email marketing, smart registration forms, and customization options.
Compared to many tools in the market, EventBookings is considered more budget-friendly, especially for teams that want solid functionality.
Key features of EventBookings:
Check in: Mobile scanning apps on iOS and Android help you verify tickets fast on site, and handle last-minute sales without slowing down entry.
Attendee management: You can send updates to your guests and easily track RSVP’s.
Tickets and payments: It supports a variety of discount options as well as coupon codes and accepts payment from secure gateways such as Stripe, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
Pricing:
Get in touch with the EventBookings team to request pricing details.
Summing Up
There are many event management software out there, and they are not all built for the same job. The best move is to identify what your event really needs, then compare tools based on those needs. Once you’ve identified your priorities, it will be much clearer which tools will improve your planning process and help the event run better overall.
Dryfta can be a very practical solution for events when you are managing more than basic registrations. The platform offers features such as abstract submission and review, scheduling, speakers, and attendee engagement, making it particularly useful for conferences of all sizes.
If you want to see what that looks like in a real setup, book a FREE DEMO with Dryfta and walk through your event with the team.