I won\u2019t pretend I\u2019m an event marketer. But my mom has been a director of special events for over 20 years (shoutout to her), so I completely understand the importance of good event registration tools.<\/p>\n\n
I\u2019ve heard her rattle off the many tasks that need to be completed before, during, and after an event. And she comes from a small team, so it\u2019s very easy for things to feel overwhelming \u2026 and quickly.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n So, I did two things: 1) I sat down with my event pro of a mom to talk about her favorite event registration software, and 2) I scoured the internet to give you a few more options to choose from.<\/p>\n All I ask for in return? An invite to your next event \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n Let\u2019s get into it.<\/p>\n\n I\u2019ve broken this list into three sections:<\/p>\n Free Event Registration Tools<\/a>:<\/strong> You may see a familiar face here since it\u2019s one option that\u2019s always<\/em> free. <\/p>\n An Event Director\u2019s Favorite Tools<\/a>:<\/strong> These are a couple of my mom\u2019s picks based on her experience running events for a large, well-known non-profit for the last 20 years. (Here\u2019s a hint: Great futures start there.) <\/p>\n Best Online Registration Tools<\/a>: <\/strong>These are all of the highly-rated event registration tools that I found in my search that offer paid or both free and paid plans. <\/p>\n Pro tip:<\/strong> Before you start your search for the perfect event registration tool, I\u2019d recommend creating an event checklist if you haven\u2019t already. Might I offer HubSpot\u2019s Ultimate Event Planning Checklist<\/a>? It covers everything you need to know to seamlessly execute any event.<\/p>\n Anywho, happy browsing!<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Download the Online Form Builder for Free<\/a><\/p>\n I know, I\u2019m tooting our own horn a little bit here. But HubSpot\u2019s Free Online Form Builder really does make it easy for you to design an event registration form.<\/p>\n The drag-and-drop builder lets you create, integrate, and share forms with your audience. Plus, all of the attendee contact information is automatically stored in your CRM<\/a>. Nice.<\/p>\n What I like most: <\/strong>There are over 1,000 form fields and over 12 field types you can use to customize your event registration form. Plus, it\u2019s versatile and offers plugins with tools like WordPress<\/a> and integrations with tools like Gravity Forms<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t really go wrong if you use a free tool like this for event registration (or as your Content Hub<\/a>, CRM<\/a>, Marketing Software<\/a>, Sales Software<\/a>, or Service Software<\/a>, for that matter).<\/p>\n Okay, I\u2019ll stop gushing now.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Image Source<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Cvent\u2019s event technology allows you to personalize your registration experience.<\/p>\n You can build automated workflows to collect signups. You can also customize the guest experience using targeted campaigns and Cvent’s comprehensive library of event templates.<\/p>\n I asked my mom, an esteemed director of special events, what she likes most about Cvent, and she said, \u201cthe great thing about it is you can do as little or as much as you need it to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe first year we used it, we had an 800-900 attendee event, and we used to do all of the registration manually. Now, we\u2019re able to use Cvent to print badges and set up self-registration with minimal involvement from our staff.\u201d<\/p>\n Overall, she\u2019s a fan of the scalability of the platform and the support it provides to businesses with little to no resources. She notes that this tool \u201chas been a huge help for her small but mighty resource development team.\u201d<\/p>\n Price:<\/strong> Contact Cvent<\/a> for pricing.<\/p>\n Image Source<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n OneCause offers a customized ticketing and fundraising platform. You can create custom ticket types, group packages, and promo codes for attendees. So, if you work at a non-profit or oversee donor events like my mom, this one\u2019s for you.<\/p>\n Similar to Cvent, she likes OneCause because it cuts down her manual work by a ton. She says, \u201cit allows us to sell tickets to attendees and sponsorships to our biggest donors.\u201d<\/p>\n Plus, it\u2019s really good for managing other event elements including silent auctions.<\/p>\n \u201cMy team sends the auction link to guests through OneCause, and winners get notified at the end of the night and pay directly via the platform. It\u2019s super simple, and the backend is easy to navigate,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Price:<\/strong> Contact OneCause<\/a> for pricing details.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Image Source<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n I send a good amount of surveys to my team, and I always use the free version of Google Forms.<\/p>\n It works great for personal use, but I found that Google also offers a paid version for teams that comes with greater security and control over your data.<\/p>\n Google Forms allows you to:<\/p>\n Create and send event registration forms for attendees and track all sign-ups. What the G2 score says: <\/strong>Google Workspace<\/a> has a G2 score of 4.6. Here\u2019s what users think:<\/p>\n Pros: <\/strong>Positive reviews say the tool allows you to easily \u201ccreate a ticketing system for sign up by attendees\u201d and \u201cpromote events through email marketing and social media platforms.\u201d <\/p>\n Cons: <\/strong>Others say the \u201cformatting and design of the forms could use an upgrade\u201d and they\u2019d \u201clove integration with Gmail\u201d and other tools so they can embed short forms during the registration process. <\/p>\n Note: Since I don\u2019t have personal experience with most of these tools, I sifted through the G2 reviews to give you an idea of what works best for users and what doesn\u2019t. I\u2019ll include insights like the above for each tool in this section.<\/em><\/p>\n What I like most:<\/strong> Since Google Forms Workspace<\/a> requires a Google Business Plan, you\u2019ll also gain access to Google’s other products as well as more data storage, wider video hosting options, and added security and management controls for your events.<\/p>\n Price:<\/strong> Plans<\/a> range in price from $6 to $18 per month.<\/p>\n Image Source<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n During my search, I learned that Splash was recently acquired by Cvent<\/a>, but it\u2019s still operating as an event marketing program for online, in-person, and hybrid events.<\/p>\n Splash allows you to:<\/p>\n Design and customize responsive web pages and emails for your event. What the G2 score says: <\/strong>Splash<\/a> has a G2 score of 4.4. Here\u2019s what users think:<\/p>\n Pros: <\/strong>Positive reviews say it\u2019s a \u201cuser-friendly platform\u201d that makes it \u201ceasy to create landing pages and registration forms.\u201d They mention you \u201cdon\u2019t have to be a designer or developer at all\u201d to use it. <\/p>\n Cons: <\/strong>Others say that the \u201cwebsite builder\u201d and \u201csome design aspects\u201d are a bit limited, and the reporting features aren\u2019t \u201cexceptionally versatile.\u201d <\/p>\n What I like most:<\/strong> To me, Splash appears to be the integration queen. You can use Splash with your marketing automation platform and CRM (hey there, HubSpot<\/a>) to analyze event data and use it to inform your future campaigns and events.<\/p>\n Price: <\/strong>Try Splash for free<\/a>, request a demo, or speak with a sales rep to learn about the right plan for your team.<\/p>\n Image Source<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Whova is an event management tool that comes with some pretty robust event registration features. I\u2019m talking branded ticketing experiences, retargeting campaigns, and exhibitor or sponsor tiering.<\/p>\n Whova allows you to:<\/p>\n Create tickets within minutes and customize your registration workflows. What the G2 score says: <\/strong>Whova<\/a> has a G2 score of \u2026 drum roll, please \u2026 4.8. Here\u2019s what users think:<\/p>\n Pros: <\/strong>Positive reviews say the platform \u201csimplifies event management\u201d and \u201csolves the backup that occurs during initial event registration.\u201d They mention it\u2019s a \u201cone-stop-shop\u201d for events and a huge \u201ctime saver.\u201d <\/p>\n Cons: <\/strong>Others say they got \u201clost in the app\u201d given the many features, and that Whova probably needs \u201ca few more capture points for visitors\u201d on registration. <\/p>\n What I like most:<\/strong> From what I\u2019ve seen, this platform works hard for that high G2 score. From embeddable registration widgets to real-time attendee tracking, you can find just about anything you need to run your event from start to finish.<\/p>\n Price:<\/strong> Contact Whova<\/a> directly for a quote.<\/p>\n Image Source<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019ve used Eventbrite to register for local meetups in Washington, DC, and niche fitness classes like puppy yoga. On the attendee side, it\u2019s pretty easy to use for registration and to track my upcoming events.<\/p>\n On the event management side, Eventbrite allows you to set up your event registration in three easy steps:<\/p>\n Enter your event details \u2014 the who, what, where, when, and why. What the G2 score says: <\/strong>Eventbrite<\/a> has a G2 score of 4.3. Here\u2019s what users think:<\/p>\n Pros: <\/strong>Positive reviews say Eventbrite offers “multiple types of registration setups” and “management dashboards with good analytics tools.” Users also like that you can “customize the registration look and feel” using your own graphics and logos. <\/p>\n Cons: <\/strong>This one actually comes from an event guru (my mom, again). She said it “doesn\u2019t work well for large events” that require “more detailed attendee data and tracking options.” <\/p>\n What I like most: <\/strong>The simple three-step setup seems like it would work great for smaller-scale events and newer event marketers. Plus, Eventbrite is recognizable. As a consumer, I trust the platform as a reliable source to find events near me.<\/p>\n Price:<\/strong> Eventbrite offers both free and paid plans<\/a>. The Essentials and Professional plans are free if you host a free event. Eventbrite will only charge you when you sell a paid ticket.<\/p>\n Image Source<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n vFairs is another end-to-end event platform that helps you manage the entire event lifecycle. I looked through the software suite, and it includes check-in and badge printing software, virtual events software, event ticketing and registration software, and more.<\/p>\n vFairs allows you to:<\/p>\n Create a branded event landing page to promote your event and capture registrations. What the G2 score says: <\/strong>vFairs<\/a> has a G2 score of 4.7. Here\u2019s what users think:<\/p>\n Pros: <\/strong>Positive reviews say the platform is \u201cextremely easy to use\u201d and \u201cincredibly user friendly\u201d with little to no technical issues upon implementation. <\/p>\n Cons: <\/strong>Others say the platform is robust, but \u201csome features could benefit from more customization options.\u201d And because it\u2019s very comprehensive, it can be \u201cconfusing to navigate\u201d at times. <\/p>\n What I like most: <\/strong>With vFairs, you can automatically trigger email workflows for different user segments both within the platform and through integrations with your CRM. I always love when tools remove the manual aspects of my work and play well with others.<\/p>\n Price:<\/strong> Contact vFairs<\/a> for a customized quote.<\/p>\n Image Source<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n I poked around the RSVPify platform, and I can tell you it\u2019s designed to handle events of all sizes \u2014 everything from casual events to enterprise and professional conferences.<\/p>\n RSVPify allows you to:<\/p>\n Leverage customizable and responsive event registration and setup tools. What the G2 score says: <\/strong>RSVPify<\/a> has a G2 score of 4.6. Here\u2019s what users think:<\/p>\n Pros: <\/strong>Positive reviews say the process for keeping track of guest details was \u201cseamless and organized.\u201d They mention the \u201cmodern interface\u201d and say the platform provides a \u201csimplified experience\u201d for both admin and attendees. <\/p>\n Cons: <\/strong>Others say there\u2019s a \u201clack of customization for event emails and landing pages\u201d and that added features like discount codes \u201cweren\u2019t easily accessible.\u201d <\/p>\n What I like the most: <\/strong>It\u2019s the versatility for me. Whether you need to host multiple marquee events simultaneously, an annual gala, or your wedding, RSVPify has a solution.<\/p>\n Price: <\/strong>There\u2019s a free option available<\/a>, and paid options range from $19\/month (for personal events) to $39\/month (for professional events).<\/p>\n Image Source<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n In my opinion, Accelevents is a great option for events that require advanced coordination. It\u2019s a complete solution with ticketing and registration features like assigned seating, pre-registration, and the ability to sell add-ons like merch or subscriptions.<\/p>\n Accelevents allows you to:<\/p>\n Design a custom registration experience for in-person, virtual, or hybrid events.Free Event Registration Tools<\/h3>\n
1. HubSpot Free Online Form Builder<\/a>
\n<\/h4>\nAn Event Director\u2019s Favorite Tools<\/h3>\n
2. Cvent<\/a>
\n<\/h4>\n\n3. OneCause<\/a>
\n<\/h4>\n\nBest Online Registration Tools<\/h3>\n
4. Google Forms<\/a>
\n<\/h4>\n\n
\n Drag and drop your form fields to customize the registration experience.
\n Add images, videos, and custom logic to your form as you see fit. <\/p>\n5. Splash<\/a>
\n<\/h4>\n\n
\n Share registration forms and RSVPs to support attendee signup.
\n Create smart guest lists, targeting, and email marketing features to streamline event registration and promotion. <\/p>\n6. Whova<\/a>
\n<\/h4>\n\n
\n Offer discount pricing for early-bird or group ticket purchases) and different types of tickets (e.g., single vs. multi-day pass).
\n Ask attendees questions about your event during registration (e.g., what made them want to attend or what they’re most excited for).
\n Receive early registration payouts to help cover your event expenses. <\/p>\n7. Eventbrite<\/a>
\n<\/h4>\n\n
\n Create your tickets and select the price or type (e.g., single vs. multi-day pass). You can also offer discounts for early-bird and group purchases.
\n Open your registration and share the event via web page or social media. <\/p>\n8. vFairs<\/a>
\n<\/h4>\n\n
\n Customize your registration forms through a self-serve, drag-and-drop module.
\n Implement if\/then conditions on the forms to personalize the data collected based on user selection.
\n Securely collect payments through popular payment platforms like Stripe and PayPal. <\/p>\n9. RSVPify<\/a>
\n<\/h4>\n\n
\n Streamline ticket sales, collect donations, create custom event check-ins QR codes.
\n Build an event website with event-specific templates and a variety of integration options. <\/p>\n10. Accelevents<\/a>
\n<\/h4>\n\n
\n Create custom flows with conditional logic, attendee segmentation, embeddable widgets, and unique link tracking.
\n Build custom API integrations or natively integrate with your CRM and marketing automation tools. <\/p>\n