Choosing an event platform can be complex, especially as new technologies and evolving attendee expectations reshape the landscape. Many organizations are weighing their options to find the best event management software for their needs in 2025. Eventbrite and Stova are two names that frequently come up in these comparisons. However, it’s important to also consider Accelevents as a modern alternative that blends enterprise power with ease of use.
This article compares Eventbrite, Stova, and Accelevents across features, pricing, integrations, and which types of events each platform serves best. Whether you’re planning a conference, fundraiser, or a large-scale corporate event, understanding these solutions is a crucial first step.
Summary of Companies
Eventbrite launched in 2006 as a straightforward ticketing tool for small businesses, community groups, and independent organizers. The company is known for making event registration accessible but is typically focused on basic ticketing and marketing features. Eventbrite has grown organically, with its main strength in simplicity and self-service.
Stova (formerly Aventri) began in 2008 and has expanded through a series of acquisitions. According to user reviews, the acquired systems are not always fully integrated, occasionally leading to a fragmented user experience. Stova targets enterprise and association clients running large conferences, trade shows, and multi-day events, offering complex workflows and analytics.
Accelevents stands apart by being intentionally built with a single, consistent data model. This design provides a seamless experience for event organizers, attendees, exhibitors, and speakers. Accelevents is praised for its ease of use, highly customizable tools, and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7. The platform is suitable for both simple and complex events, and is known for its flexibility and rapid onboarding.
Key Features That Matter for Event Planners
Registration and Ticketing Options
Eventbrite offers straightforward registration setup via templates and drag-and-drop tools. While it supports standard ticket types, discount codes, and payment processing with Stripe and PayPal, reviews occasionally mention limitations and confusion around customizing forms or managing group registrations.
Stova delivers more complex registration capabilities, such as multi-step registration, custom fields, and approval workflows. However, the depth of features can introduce a learning curve, and some users feel overwhelmed by the complexity.
Accelevents provides a highly customizable ticketing and event registration platform with drag-and-drop customization for event pages, forms, and badges. It supports unlimited ticket types, discount codes, reusable templates, and one-click registration forms. Seamless payment processing and conversion tracking are included, and group registration is simplified through ticket bundles and flexible attendee info collection. Conditional logic in forms enables tailored workflows for different attendee types.
Feature | Eventbrite | Stova | Accelevents |
|---|---|---|---|
Setup complexity | Simple templates | Custom workflows | Drag-and-drop with conditional logic |
Ticket types | Basic tiers | Advanced categories | Unlimited ticket types and bundles |
Payment options | Stripe, PayPal | Multiple processors | Seamless payment processing |
Group registration | Standard options | Complex logic | Ticket bundles and flexible attendee info |
Custom fields | Limited | Extensive | Custom forms with conditional logic |
Onsite Management Tools
Eventbrite provides mobile check-in and basic badge printing, suitable for general admission events where speed is the priority. Stova offers a suite of onsite tools, including badge printing, lead retrieval, and floor plan management, designed for large conferences and trade shows.
Accelevents delivers native badge printing, mobile app check-in, and on-site registration. The platform supports multiple check-in stations, QR code scanning, and integrates seamlessly with hardware for a smooth onsite experience.
Attendee Engagement Features
Eventbrite’s engagement tools focus on email marketing and social media integration, offering a basic mobile experience for ticket access and event details. Stova provides networking, live polling, Q&A, and personalized agendas, but the depth of these features can require extra training for staff and attendees.
Accelevents attendee engagement tools include real-time polling, Q&A, chat, and networking features designed for both in-person and hybrid events. Its mobile app supports session feedback, attendee messaging, and content sharing, with gamification options to boost participation. Less than 10% of features are focused on virtual-only engagement, prioritizing onsite and hybrid experiences.
Analytics & Reporting
Eventbrite provides basic attendance and sales reports, which are suitable for straightforward events but may lack the depth needed for complex analysis. Stova offers complex analytics and custom dashboards, but some users note that sharing reports or accessing real-time data can be cumbersome without additional setup or training.
Accelevents features shareable reports, real-time data, and a fully integrated data model across registration, onsite, mobile, and virtual components. This unified approach ensures event organizers have instant access to actionable insights at every stage of the event.
Who Chooses Each Platform? Typical Customers?
Eventbrite is favored by small to mid-sized organizations, community groups, and independent planners seeking a simple, cost-effective solution. Stova’s complexity and pricing make it a better fit for large enterprises and associations with dedicated event teams and complex requirements.
Organizations of all sizes—including large enterprises, mid-market corporations, associations, agencies, and nonprofits—choose Accelevents for its all-in-one, highly customizable solution, rapid onboarding, and strong customer success. Accelevents is also attractive to customers looking for a platform that continues to reinvest in product innovation and feature growth.
In-Person, Virtual, and Hybrid Event Capabilities
Eventbrite is best known for in-person events, with virtual event features requiring third-party integrations and sometimes additional costs. Stova includes a dedicated virtual event hub, but user reviews occasionally mention glitches and bugs, especially during hybrid events.
Originally built for in-person events, Accelevents now supports all event types. The platform offers native badge printing, mobile app check-in, and a dedicated Virtual Event Hub with modular features, allowing event organizers to tailor the experience to their audience and event format.
Uptime & Reliability
While both Eventbrite and Stova have generally positive reputations for reliability, some Stova users have reported issues following major updates or integrations. Accelevents is known for reliability, with no references to outages in customer reviews.
Pricing and Packages
Eventbrite uses transparent per-ticket pricing, but fees can add up for high-ticket events or large attendee counts. Stova’s pricing is custom and negotiated, which can provide value for large events but may introduce complexity and hidden costs for smaller organizations.
Accelevents offers transparent, scalable pricing with pay-only-for-what-you-need modules and no surprise add-ons. This approach is designed to fit organizations of all sizes and budgets.
Target Users and Industries
Eventbrite best serves small to mid-sized organizations, community groups, and entry-level users, while Stova is geared toward enterprises and associations with complex event portfolios. Both platforms are used across a range of industries but tend to focus on their core customer segments.
Accelevents is suitable for conferences, trade shows, fundraisers, internal meetings, and continuing education events—especially for enterprises, associations, agencies, and nonprofits.
Where Accelevents Fits In
Where Accelevents can benefit enterprises and associations: Accelevents bridges the gap between complex enterprise features and ease of use, delivering a balanced, highly customizable, all-in-one event solution.
API, Lead Capture, and Integrations
Eventbrite offers API access, but documentation and depth can be limited, and some integrations may require third-party tools or extra fees. Stova provides API access, but users report documentation is sometimes inconsistent, and fees may apply for certain integrations or advanced use cases.
Accelevents provides well-documented REST APIs and webhooks with no fees for API access. Native integrations are available at no extra charge, with deep connectors to Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and numerous association management systems. Lead capture is built into the mobile app, supporting QR scanning, offline mode, unlimited users, real-time reports, lead scoring, note-taking, and integrated meeting-booking.
Call for Papers, Exhibitor Management, and Continuing Education
Stova and Eventbrite have varying levels of support for call for papers and exhibitor management, with some user feedback noting gaps or manual workarounds required. Continuing education credit tracking is not a primary focus for either platform.
Accelevents speaker management includes native workflows for call for papers and abstracts, multiple submission paths, auto reviewer assignment, and a speaker portal with task management.
Accelevents exhibitor portal enables exhibitors to manage digital booths, capture leads, book demos, coordinate teams, and track ROI.
Accelevents supports automated credit assignment, a flexible program builder, instant certificate generation, self-service retrieval, audit trails, and LMS integration for continuing education events.
White-Label Branding, Role-Based Access, and Compliance
Eventbrite and Stova both offer some branding options, but removal of platform branding may be limited or require premium tiers. Permission controls and compliance features vary, with Stova offering more options for enterprise clients.
Accelevents white-label branding is available across web, mobile, and virtual environments, with customizable themes.
Role-based access includes custom roles, SSO, MFA, SOC-2 and ISO 27001 compliance, and detailed security audit logging.
Find the Best Fit for Your Upcoming Events
Eventbrite and Stova each serve distinct segments of the event management market. Eventbrite emphasizes accessibility and simplicity for straightforward events, while Stova delivers complex enterprise features for large organizations with dedicated event teams. However, many organizations find they need a platform that balances power and ease of use.
With 1,847 customers and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7, Accelevents is trusted by enterprises, associations, agencies, and nonprofits seeking a highly customizable, all-in-one event solution. Its seamless data model, rapid onboarding, and ongoing investment in new features make it a compelling alternative to Eventbrite and Stova.
If you’re looking for a platform that combines the best of both worlds—enterprise-grade features, straightforward setup, and a focus on customer success—consider exploring what Accelevents can offer your events.
Request a demo to explore how Accelevents can simplify your event management process.
FAQs About Eventbrite vs Stova vs Accelevents
Does Eventbrite, Stova, or Accelevents work better for hybrid events?
Stova includes a virtual event hub, but some users report glitches during hybrid events. Eventbrite relies on third-party integrations for virtual components, which can complicate hybrid management. Accelevents was originally built for in-person and now supports all event types, offering a dedicated Virtual Event Hub with modular features and native mobile app check-in.
How do these platforms compare for enterprise-level events?
Stova is designed for enterprises and associations but can be complex to learn and configure. Eventbrite is typically used for simpler events and may require workarounds for enterprise needs. Accelevents bridges these approaches by delivering complex enterprise features with an easy-to-use interface and rapid onboarding, plus a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7.
Can small organizations afford Stova's or Accelevents' event management platform?
Stova is priced for mid-sized to large organizations, often requiring annual contracts and higher upfront costs. Eventbrite offers more accessible pricing for small events. Accelevents provides transparent, scalable pricing with pay-only-for-what-you-need modules, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes.
Which platform provides more detailed analytics and reporting?
Stova provides complex analytics and custom dashboards, though setup can be involved. Eventbrite’s reporting is basic and best for simple events. Accelevents offers shareable, real-time reports and a fully integrated data model across registration, onsite, mobile, and virtual components for actionable insights at every stage.
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