Choosing the right event management platform is a critical decision for event organizers aiming to streamline operations and elevate attendee experiences. As event professionals compare solutions, “RainFocus vs Stova” is a frequent starting point, but it’s equally important to consider how Accelevents stands out as a modern alternative. All three platforms offer a wide range of features for managing in-person, virtual, and hybrid events, yet their approaches to usability, integration, and customer success differ significantly.
This comprehensive comparison explores RainFocus, Stova, and Accelevents based on product capabilities, user reviews, and public data as of 2025, helping you identify which solution best fits your team, event type, and growth goals.
Summary of Companies
RainFocus: Designed for the world’s largest companies, RainFocus is recognized for its complex system architecture and depth of analytics. Its high cost and complexity mean it is typically used by large, resource-rich organizations. Certification training is generally required for users to master the platform’s modules and reporting.
Stova: Stova was formed by merging MeetingPlay, Eventcore, and Aventri, resulting in a platform that combines features from several legacy systems. Reviews often note that the acquired components are not fully integrated, leading to inconsistencies and occasional confusion for users transitioning between modules.
Accelevents: In contrast, Accelevents was intentionally built from the ground up with a single, consistent data model, ensuring a seamless experience for event organizers, attendees, exhibitors, and speakers. Its support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7, ease of use, and highly customizable approach set it apart for teams seeking both power and simplicity.
RainFocus vs Stova vs Accelevents: Feature Comparison
Feature | RainFocus | Stova | Accelevents |
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Rating (2025) | 9.1 (G2) | 8.3 (G2) | 9.0 (G2) |
Core Strengths | Analytics, integrations, complex workflows | Custom attendee journeys, hybrid event tools | Unified data model, ease of use, highly customizable, rapid onboarding, 24/7 support |
User Interface | Structured, learning curve | Variable, inconsistent across modules | Seamless, consistent, drag-and-drop event customization |
Customer Support | Generally positive, but requires training | Mixed reviews, onboarding may be slow | 24/7 support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, high customer success ratings |
Integration Options | Strong APIs, marketing integrations | Direct connectors to common CRMs | No fees for integrations, deep connectors to Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and association management systems |
Registration & Ticket Tools
RainFocus offers a structured registration process, but users report a learning curve, particularly when configuring complex attendee types and custom fields. Some event organizers find initial setup time-consuming, and smaller teams may struggle with the platform’s complexity.
Stova’s registration tools provide logic-based customization and attendee paths, but reviews mention confusion when managing travel, lodging, and session preferences, especially due to inconsistent interfaces between modules.
Accelevents delivers a highly customizable event registration platform with drag-and-drop event pages, unlimited ticket types, discount codes, reusable templates, and one-click forms. Payment processing and conversion tracking are built in, and group registration is handled smoothly through ticket bundles and flexible attendee data collection. Conditional logic in registration forms enables tailored workflows for every attendee type, streamlining even the most complex events.
Analytics & Reporting
RainFocus is recognized for real-time analytics dashboards, but users note that leveraging the full power of its reporting often requires specialized data skills. Sharing reports is possible, though exporting and customization options may require additional configuration.
Stova provides mostly post-event analytics, with session attendance, survey feedback, and lead summaries. Real-time reporting is limited, and manual exports are sometimes needed for external analysis.
With Accelevents’ real-time event analytics and reporting, organizers benefit from shareable reports, instant access to actionable data, and a single integrated data model that spans registration, onsite, mobile, and virtual engagement. This empowers teams to monitor performance and make decisions without delay.
Who Chooses Each Platform? Typical Customers
RainFocus primarily serves the world’s largest organizations with complex event portfolios and dedicated technical teams. Its pricing and required certification training make it less accessible for mid-market or smaller organizations.
Stova is commonly selected by mid-market and large associations, as well as organizations with detailed attendee journeys. Its bundled approach suits teams managing hybrid events, but the platform’s structure may be overwhelming for smaller groups.
Accelevents is chosen by organizations of all sizes—including large enterprises, mid-market corporations, associations, agencies, and nonprofits—who want an all-in-one, highly customizable solution with rapid onboarding and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7. Accelevents is continually reinvesting in the product, adding new features, and supporting customer growth.
In-Person, Virtual, and Hybrid Event Capabilities
RainFocus and Stova both support in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats. RainFocus includes a virtual event hub, but additional fees may apply for streaming and engagement modules. Stova provides a unified interface for all event types, but users report occasional glitches and bugs when switching between virtual and in-person components.
Accelevents, originally built for in-person events, now supports all formats with native badge printing, mobile app check-in, and a dedicated Virtual Event Hub featuring modular tools for every event type. Reviewers consistently note Accelevents’ reliability, with no references to outages.
Pricing and Packages
RainFocus and Stova do not publish transparent pricing and rely on custom quotes based on event size, features, and support. Users frequently cite hidden fees for onboarding, advanced analytics, premium support, or white-label branding.
Accelevents offers transparent, scalable pricing with pay-only-for-what-you-need modules and no surprise add-ons, making it accessible for a wide range of organizations and event types.
Target Users and Industries
RainFocus targets enterprises with complex event portfolios and high-volume needs. Stova is often selected by associations and mid-market organizations managing multi-format events.
Accelevents is suitable for conferences, trade shows, fundraisers, internal meetings, and continuing education events—especially for enterprises, associations, agencies, and nonprofits looking for a modern, highly customizable platform.
Where Accelevents Can Benefit Enterprises and Associations
Accelevents bridges complex enterprise features and ease of use, delivering a balanced, highly customizable, all-in-one event solution. Its unified data model, rapid onboarding, and support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7 make it a compelling choice for organizations seeking to optimize event management without sacrificing flexibility or control.
API and Integration Capabilities
RainFocus offers strong API support, though access may require premium packages and documentation is tailored to large technical teams. Stova provides direct connectors to popular CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot, but custom API access may require additional configuration or fees.
Accelevents provides well-documented, robust REST APIs and webhooks with no fees for access. Deep native integrations connect seamlessly to Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and a wide range of association management systems.
Lead Capture and Tracking
RainFocus and Stova both offer lead capture tools, but additional device rental fees and per-exhibitor costs are common, especially for on-site scanning. Stova’s mobile app enables lead rating and tagging, but some users report limitations in offline mode.
Accelevents delivers mobile app lead capture with QR scanning, offline support, unlimited users, real-time reporting, lead scoring, note-taking, and integrated meeting-booking—all included without extra device or user fees.
Call for Papers & Abstract Management
RainFocus and Stova both support abstract submissions, but users note gaps in reviewer assignment automation and speaker collaboration tools.
Accelevents features native workflows for call-for-papers and abstract management, with multiple submission paths, auto reviewer assignment, and a speaker portal for task management.
Exhibitor Management
RainFocus and Stova both provide exhibitor tools, but reviews highlight shortfalls in digital booth management and real-time ROI tracking, especially for hybrid events.
Accelevents offers a comprehensive exhibitor portal to manage digital booths, capture leads, book demos, coordinate teams, and track ROI across all event formats.
Support for Continuing Education Credit Tracking
RainFocus and Stova support CE credits, but processes may require manual intervention or third-party integrations for certificate generation and audit trails.
Accelevents streamlines CE credit tracking with automated credit assignment, a flexible program builder, instant certificate generation, self-service retrieval, audit trails, and LMS integration.
White-Label Branding Options
RainFocus and Stova both offer white-label options, but users report some limitations on removing platform branding or customizing themes across mobile and web.
Accelevents delivers full white-label branding across web, mobile, and virtual environments with customizable themes for a consistent brand experience.
Role-Based Access and Compliance
RainFocus and Stova include permission controls, SSO, and MFA, but audit logging and compliance certifications vary by package.
Accelevents provides custom roles, SSO, MFA, SOC-2 and ISO 27001 compliance, and detailed security audit logging for enterprise-grade security.
Making Your Choice for a Seamless Event Experience
Selecting between RainFocus, Stova, and Accelevents depends on your event size, complexity, and internal resources. RainFocus caters to the world’s largest enterprises that require complex workflows and have technical teams for configuration. Stova appeals to mid-market and association events but may present integration and support challenges due to its multi-platform origins.
Accelevents stands out as a modern, all-in-one solution, intentionally built for seamless experiences and rapid onboarding. With 1,847 customers across enterprises, associations, agencies, and nonprofits, Accelevents offers the power of enterprise features and the simplicity event organizers need, all backed by a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7. If you’re seeking a highly customizable, scalable event registration platform that grows with your organization, Accelevents is a strong alternative.
Ready to see how Accelevents can transform your next event? Request a demo today.
FAQs About RainFocus, Stova, and Accelevents
How do RainFocus, Stova, and Accelevents handle lead capture for exhibitors?
RainFocus integrates lead capture directly with CRM systems and provides detailed attendee data, often with per-exhibitor device costs. Stova uses a mobile app for lead capture, with options to rate and categorize leads, but may require additional fees for scanning devices. Accelevents offers mobile app lead capture with QR scanning, offline support, unlimited users, and real-time reporting, included in the core platform.
Which platform offers better customer support?
RainFocus generally receives positive support ratings but often requires certification training. Stova’s support varies, with some users experiencing delays. Accelevents is recognized for its support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7, and high customer success satisfaction.
Can all three platforms handle large-scale virtual conferences?
RainFocus and Stova both support large virtual conferences, with RainFocus excelling in analytics and Stova in attendee engagement. Accelevents supports all event formats with a dedicated Virtual Event Hub and modular features.
Do RainFocus, Stova, and Accelevents offer mobile apps for attendees?
Yes, all three platforms provide mobile apps. RainFocus focuses on agenda and check-in, Stova on networking and engagement, and Accelevents on attendee engagement, badge scanning, and hybrid event experiences.
What are the key integration differences?
RainFocus offers strong API support for large organizations, but may require premium packages. Stova provides direct CRM connectors but may need additional configuration. Accelevents features well-documented, no-fee REST APIs and deep native integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and association management systems.
