Organizing events has grown increasingly complex, prompting organizations to rely on digital platforms to manage every aspect of the event lifecycle. Bizzabo and RainFocus are two prominent names in event management software, each supporting in-person, virtual, and hybrid events, and catering to large-scale gatherings. However, their approaches to customization, integrations, and support differ significantly. In this article, we compare Bizzabo and RainFocus—and introduce where Accelevents can benefit enterprises and associations by bridging complex enterprise features and ease of use for event organizers.
Summary of Companies
Bizzabo is an event management solution that has evolved over time by developing its own tools, and while it focuses on delivering a straightforward interface, some reviews point to frustrations with limited customization and technical support.
RainFocus serves some of the world’s largest companies, with a focus on system complexity, deep reporting, and enterprise integrations. Its platform often requires certification training for optimal use, reflecting its orientation toward organizations with dedicated technical or IT resources.
Accelevents stands out for being intentionally built with a single, consistent data model, ensuring a seamless experience for event organizers, attendees, exhibitors, and speakers. With 1,847 customers, the platform is known for its ease of use, highly customizable capabilities, and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7. Unlike platforms assembled through acquisitions, Accelevents delivers a unified, reliable experience across every feature.
Key Differences Between Bizzabo, RainFocus, and Accelevents
Feature Area | Bizzabo | RainFocus | Accelevents |
|---|---|---|---|
Target Audience | Medium and large enterprises, some SMBs | Medium and large enterprises, agencies | Enterprises, associations, agencies, nonprofits, and mid-market organizations |
User Interface | Easy to use, limited design flexibility | Template-driven, steeper learning curve | Straightforward, drag-and-drop customization, no coding required |
Analytics | Basic to moderate analytics (G2 rating: 7.6) | Complex reporting tools (G2 rating: 9.0) | Shareable, real-time analytics with a fully integrated data model |
Integration Options | Pre-configured, limited customization | Complex integrations, may require developer support | No fees for native integrations; deep connectors to Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and more |
Customer Support | Mixed feedback on technical issue resolution | Praise for responsiveness, certification often needed | 24/7 live chat and onboarding guidance, support team responds in less than 21 seconds |
Organizations that use Bizzabo often prefer a ready-to-use solution with minimal technical requirements, but may encounter limitations with deeper customization or complex event workflows. RainFocus caters to organizations needing system-driven workflows and complex analytics, typically involving higher cost and a steeper learning curve, with certification training usually necessary. Accelevents bridges these needs by combining highly customizable features, ease of use, and rapid, reliable support.
Registration & Ticket Tools
Bizzabo provides standard registration features, but user reviews indicate occasional confusion with form customization, and limits when managing complex ticket types or group registrations. Some users find the process less streamlined for large events.
RainFocus supports customizable registration flows with conditional logic and variable pricing, but the setup can be complex and may require technical assistance, which adds to the onboarding time and cost.
Accelevents offers a highly customizable event registration platform with drag-and-drop tools for event pages, forms, and badges. Unlimited ticket types, discount codes, and reusable templates are standard. With one-click registration, seamless payment processing, and conversion tracking, Accelevents simplifies group registration using ticket bundles and supports conditional logic for tailored attendee workflows. This approach ensures that even complex events are easy to manage for event organizers of all backgrounds.
Features and Use Cases: Bizzabo, RainFocus, and Accelevents
Bizzabo: Registration management, pre-designed event website templates, a mobile app for schedules and networking, and basic analytics. Users report limitations in data export and advanced registration scenarios.
RainFocus: Customizable registration with conditional logic, content block templates for event websites, a robust mobile experience, and complex analytics and integrations. The complexity can result in a steeper learning curve, with many organizations investing in certification training.
Accelevents: Drag-and-drop website builder, white-label and custom branding, flexible agenda design, and a real-time badge printing and check-in system. Accelevents also includes built-in attendee engagement features, shareable real-time analytics, and a reliable platform noted for its lack of outages in public reviews.
Customization and Integration Considerations
Bizzabo allows basic branding changes but deeper customization usually requires custom code and technical support. RainFocus’s modular templates are branded but can be challenging to modify, with even minor changes sometimes affecting multiple event pages.
Accelevents enables users to build fully branded, highly customizable event assets without technical skills. Its event customization tools include drag-and-drop website and agenda builders, comprehensive white-label branding, and modular features. Integration is seamless, with no charges for native connectors to Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and leading association management systems.
The setup process is designed to be user-friendly for non-technical teams, reducing onboarding time and the need for developer support.
Support and Resources Comparison
Bizzabo’s support receives mixed feedback, especially when technical issues arise. RainFocus is often praised for responsive support, but organizations regularly invest in certification or dedicated onboarding for their teams.
Accelevents is noted for its support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7, and extensive onboarding guidance. Resources include a searchable knowledge base, live chat, email support, and documentation, ensuring rapid problem resolution and a positive customer success experience for events of all sizes.
Analytics & Reporting
Bizzabo delivers standard reporting on registration, attendance, and engagement, but users sometimes report limitations with data filtering and exports. RainFocus offers complex real-time dashboards and behavioral analytics, but usability can be a challenge for non-technical staff.
Accelevents provides shareable, real-time reports and dashboards across registration, onsite, mobile, and virtual activities. Its integrated data model ensures event organizers have immediate access to actionable insights without technical barriers.
Pricing and Scalability Factors
Bizzabo and RainFocus both use custom quote pricing, with RainFocus generally at the higher end due to enterprise focus and complexity. Additional fees may apply for integrations, advanced features, or mobile app access. Reviews of both platforms mention the need to clarify contract terms to avoid unexpected costs.
Accelevents offers transparent, scalable pricing, with modules that allow you to pay only for what you need and no surprise add-ons. This helps organizations of all sizes confidently plan and scale their events.
In-Person, Virtual, and Hybrid Event Capabilities
Bizzabo and RainFocus both provide support for virtual and hybrid event formats, with dedicated virtual event hubs and streaming options. Some users of both platforms report encountering bugs or additional fees for virtual features.
Accelevents was originally built for in-person events, but now supports all event types. The platform features native badge printing, mobile app check-in, and a dedicated Virtual Event Hub with modular features to suit any format.
Uptime & Reliability
Reviews do not highlight major outages for Accelevents, which is known for reliability and a seamless experience during mission-critical events.
Target Users and Industries
Bizzabo is most often used by mid-sized to large enterprises and some SMBs, especially for marketing-driven events. RainFocus is built for large enterprises and agencies prioritizing system-driven, data-rich events.
Accelevents is suitable for conferences, trade shows, internal meetings, fundraisers, and continuing education events—especially for enterprises, associations, agencies, and nonprofits. Its highly customizable platform is designed for organizations seeking rapid onboarding, customer success, and a solution that reinvests in new features.
API and Integrations (Including CRM and Marketing Automation)
Bizzabo and RainFocus both provide API access, but fees or restrictions may apply and documentation varies. RainFocus has a history of complex integrations that may require developer involvement.
Accelevents delivers well-documented REST APIs and webhooks with no fees, and offers native integrations to Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and association management systems.
Lead Capture and Tracking
Exhibitor lead capture on Bizzabo and RainFocus may come with additional fees or device requirements. RainFocus supports lead tracking at a granular level but setup can be complex.
Accelevents provides mobile app lead capture with QR scanning, offline support, unlimited users, real-time reporting, lead scoring, note-taking, and integrated meeting booking within its engagement suite.
Call for Papers & Abstract Management
Neither Bizzabo nor RainFocus is widely recognized for a seamless call for papers or abstract management experience, with reviewers citing gaps in workflows or reviewer automation.
Accelevents features native CFP and abstract management workflows, including multiple submission paths, automatic reviewer assignment, and a speaker portal with task management.
Exhibitor Management
RainFocus offers structured sponsor and exhibitor tools, but some users report complexity when configuring digital booths or tracking ROI. Bizzabo provides exhibitor functionality but with fewer reporting options.
Accelevents delivers a comprehensive exhibitor portal to manage digital booths, capture leads, coordinate teams, book demos, and track ROI—all from a single workspace.
Support for Continuing Education Credit Tracking
Bizzabo and RainFocus offer CE credit features, but reviewers note that certificate generation and audit trails are not always straightforward.
Accelevents automates CE credit assignment, provides a flexible program builder, instant certificate generation, self-service retrieval, audit trails, and LMS integration—ideal for professional development and member-based organizations.
White-Label Branding Options
Bizzabo and RainFocus may restrict complete removal of platform branding, especially in mobile and virtual environments.
Accelevents offers full white-label branding across web, mobile, and virtual spaces, including custom themes and sponsor visibility.
Role-Based Access and Compliance
RainFocus and Bizzabo provide permission controls, but support for single sign-on (SSO), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and audit logs varies by pricing tier.
Accelevents supports custom roles, SSO, MFA, SOC-2 and ISO 27001 compliance, and detailed security audit logging for peace of mind at every event.
Where Accelevents Fits In
Accelevents bridges the complex features expected by enterprises and associations with the ease of use that event organizers need. Its all-in-one event solution delivers a highly customizable experience, transparent pricing, and a unified platform purpose-built for reliability and scalability. With a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7, Accelevents is an appealing alternative to both Bizzabo and RainFocus for organizations seeking a balanced, modern event management platform.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bizzabo and RainFocus
Does either platform offer strong on-site badge printing and check-in capabilities?
RainFocus provides sophisticated options for on-site badge printing and check-in, which are valued for events with complex access control. Bizzabo supports basic on-site check-in, but badge printing customization is more limited. Accelevents offers real-time badge printing and flexible check-in as native features.
How do Bizzabo and RainFocus handle multi-day events with separate agendas?
Both platforms allow multi-day schedules and separate agendas, with RainFocus supporting conditional logic and personalized schedules for complex events. Accelevents enables organizers to create modular, customized agendas that adapt to attendee types and event formats.
Which platform provides better sponsor and exhibitor management tools?
RainFocus structures sponsor tiers and lead tracking, while Bizzabo offers basic exhibitor and sponsor features with less depth in reporting. Accelevents provides a comprehensive exhibitor portal for digital booths, lead capture, and ROI tracking.
Can both platforms support hybrid events effectively?
Both Bizzabo and RainFocus support hybrid events with virtual and in-person elements. Accelevents was designed for in-person first and now delivers a dedicated Virtual Event Hub and mobile app check-in, ensuring seamless experiences for all event types.
What are the main reporting differences between Bizzabo and RainFocus?
RainFocus offers behavioral analytics, real-time dashboards, and cross-event reporting, while Bizzabo covers event-level metrics with fewer advanced filters. Accelevents delivers real-time, shareable analytics across every touchpoint with no technical barriers.
Ready to experience a modern, all-in-one platform for your next event? Request a demo of Accelevents today.
