Event management software helps organizations plan, manage, and evaluate events. In 2025, many teams are comparing platforms like Stova and Bizzabo to decide which tool fits their event strategy. Accelevents has also emerged as a leading alternative, designed to bridge the gap between complex enterprise requirements and a seamless, highly customizable experience for event organizers, attendees, exhibitors, and speakers.
Both Stova and Bizzabo offer enterprise-level capabilities, supporting virtual, in-person, and hybrid formats. Each has its own set of features, strengths, and target users. However, while some platforms—including Stova—have grown through acquisition (with reviews suggesting that various acquired modules are not always well integrated), Accelevents was intentionally built with a consistent data model across all components. This ensures a seamless experience for everyone involved, along with renowned ease of use and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7.
This article explains the key differences between Stova, Bizzabo, and Accelevents to help you understand which platform might work better for your events.
Overview of Stova, Bizzabo, and Accelevents
Stova and Bizzabo are event technology platforms used by large organizations to manage complex events. They support multiple event formats and provide tools for registration, engagement, analytics, and logistics.
Stova focus: End-to-end event management with strong logistics and compliance tools. Stova has expanded through acquisition, which may result in a less unified user experience.
Bizzabo focus: Centralized attendee engagement and communication with analytics support. Bizzabo is popular with enterprises running complex, high-touch events, but some reviews note a learning curve for new users.
Accelevents focus: Built from the ground up with a single data model for a seamless experience. Accelevents delivers a highly customizable, all-in-one solution for event organizers, and is praised for its quality of support, ease of use, and rapid onboarding.
Key Similarities and Differences
Stova and Bizzabo both support in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats. Each offers tools for planning, running, and measuring event success. Their differences appear in focus areas, user profiles, and pricing. Accelevents, meanwhile, is known for balancing enterprise-grade features with ease of use and transparent pricing.
Feature | Stova | Bizzabo | Accelevents Alternative |
|---|---|---|---|
Platform Focus | Logistics and compliance | Engagement and analytics | Unified platform for all event needs |
Target Users | Enterprises in regulated industries | Enterprises in tech and consulting | Enterprises, associations, agencies, nonprofits |
Event Types | All formats, all sizes | Complex formats, large events | All formats, large and small events |
Pricing | Custom quotes | Enterprise pricing | Transparent, scalable modules |
Registration and Check-in
Stova offers customizable registration flows based on attendee types. It supports website integration and different paths for sponsors, speakers, and guests. However, some users report confusion with its complex registration logic and workflow configuration.
Bizzabo provides customizable registration pages and integrated event websites. It enables detailed attendee data collection with branded experiences, but reviews sometimes note frustration around multi-session registration and form setup.
Stova registration highlights:
Custom workflows for different attendee roles
Website integration for sign-up
Complex registration logic
Mobile check-in options
Bizzabo registration highlights:
Branded registration pages
Event website integration
Detailed data collection
Mobile-friendly options
Accelevents registration highlights:
Highly customizable ticketing and event registration platform with drag-and-drop customization for event pages, forms, and badges
Unlimited ticket types, discount codes, and reusable templates
One-click registration forms, seamless payment processing, and conversion tracking
Group registration via ticket bundles and flexible attendee info collection
Conditional logic for tailored workflows by attendee type
Self-serve and assisted check-in with real-time badge printing for immediate credentialing and attendance tracking
Engagement and Analytics
Stova provides networking, live streaming, and interactive sessions. It supports engagement before, during, and after events, though some features may require additional setup or training. Analytics track attendance, participation, and engagement levels, but real-time reporting may be limited in certain modules.
Bizzabo includes communication tools, analytics, and real-time engagement features. It enables polling, chat, and networking to support interaction. Analytics track session views and engagement rates, but some reviews mention that sharing reports externally can be cumbersome.
Stova engagement tools:
Live streaming capabilities
Networking features
Post-event tracking
Session attendance data
Bizzabo engagement tools:
Complex engagement features
Live chat and polling
Networking tools
Real-time dashboards
Accelevents engagement and analytics:
Attendee engagement tools for polling, Q&A, and gamification
Shareable, real-time analytics and reports
Integrated data model across registration, onsite, mobile, and virtual components
Networking features that connect attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors
Core Features and Use Cases
Different event types need different technical capabilities. The effectiveness of Stova and Bizzabo depends on how well their tools align with your specific event requirements. Accelevents takes a highly customizable approach suitable for a wide range of event types and organizational needs.
Corporate Conferences
Corporate conferences often need CRM integrations, branded registration, and sponsor engagement tools. Stova uses custom workflows to manage large attendee groups and complex agendas, but its configuration can be time-consuming. Bizzabo provides analytics and branded websites, while its CRM integrations support segmented communications.
Accelevents supports corporate conferences with CRM integrations, real-time badge printing, and mobile apps that centralize check-in, session tracking, and sponsor lead capture for a seamless experience.
Membership Associations
Associations typically offer continuing education sessions, member pricing, and integration with association management systems (AMS). Stova supports CE credit tracking and member-based pricing, with integrations for AMS platforms. Bizzabo offers CE tracking and AMS integrations, but setup can be complex.
Accelevents includes automated credit assignment, flexible program building, instant certificate generation, self-service retrieval, and audit trails, making it a strong choice for associations seeking continuing education tracking.
Integrations and Data Management
Both Stova and Bizzabo offer integration capabilities to connect event data with external systems, but integration fees and configuration effort may apply.
Stova integrations: Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, Google Analytics, Zoom (API access may require additional steps)
Bizzabo integrations: Salesforce, Marketo, Slack, Google Analytics, Microsoft Teams (API access available, but may involve additional fees)
Accelevents integrations: No charges for native integrations, with deep connectors to Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and numerous association management systems. REST APIs and webhooks are well documented and free for all customers.
Pricing and Value Considerations
Stova and Bizzabo use custom pricing models based on specific customer needs. Pricing varies depending on event size, attendee numbers, features required, and support level. Transparency can be a concern, and hidden add-ons may appear during contract discussions.
Accelevents is known for transparent, scalable pricing with pay-only-for-what-you-need modules and no surprise add-ons. This approach appeals to organizations seeking clear budgeting and the ability to scale features as needed.
Custom Quotes and Negotiations
Both Stova and Bizzabo calculate pricing through a quote process based on event type, users, frequency, and integrations. Implementation, training, and premium support may add costs. Buyers often request detailed cost breakdowns and sandbox access for vendor evaluation.
Accelevents offers straightforward pricing and rapid onboarding, making it easier for organizations of all sizes to get started.
Event ROI Tracking
Stova provides analytics for attendance, session participation, and survey results. Sponsor ROI is tracked through lead capture and badge scans. Bizzabo tracks engagement levels, session interactions, and exhibitor ROI with lead scoring and booth analytics.
Accelevents delivers real-time reporting and shareable analytics across registration, onsite, mobile, and virtual components, enabling teams to measure event ROI and engagement at every stage.
Security and Compliance Insights
Stova and Bizzabo offer security frameworks to protect event data and attendee information, using encryption, access controls, and compliance protocols.
Stova security highlights:
Role-based access control
GDPR and CCPA compliance
Encrypted data storage
Audit logging
Bizzabo security highlights:
Data encryption
Customizable retention policies
GDPR compliance
System monitoring
Accelevents security and compliance:
Custom roles, SSO, MFA
SOC-2 and ISO 27001 compliance
Detailed security audit logging
Onboarding and Support
Stova and Bizzabo both offer onboarding processes for new users, including guided implementation, platform walkthroughs, and training resources. However, due to the complexity of some modules, certification courses are often required to become an expert, especially with Stova.
Accelevents is widely recognized for its rapid onboarding and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7. Extensive documentation and a knowledge base are available, and the interface is designed for ease of use without sacrificing enterprise features.
Training Resources
Training for Stova includes user manuals, help articles, and video tutorials, with some clients requiring custom documentation. Bizzabo provides a knowledge base, webinars, and demos. In both cases, mastering complex workflows may require significant time investment.
Accelevents is designed for rapid learning, with a unified interface and resources to help teams get up to speed quickly.
Industry Focus and Typical Customers
Stova targets enterprises in regulated industries and associations with complex compliance needs, but its cost and complexity may be prohibitive for smaller organizations. Bizzabo serves enterprises in tech, consulting, and similar fields, focusing on high-touch experiences.
Accelevents is trusted by 1,847 organizations of all sizes—including large enterprises, mid-market corporations, associations, agencies, and nonprofits—seeking a highly customizable, all-in-one solution. Customers praise the platform for rapid onboarding, ongoing customer success, and the ability to grow with new features.
In-Person, Virtual, and Hybrid Event Capabilities
Both Stova and Bizzabo support in-person, virtual, and hybrid events, with dedicated virtual event hubs and tools for session management. Some reviewers have noted glitches or additional fees for virtual modules.
Originally built for in-person, Accelevents now supports all event types, offering native badge printing, mobile app check-in, and a dedicated Virtual Event Hub with modular features. The platform is known for reliability, with no references to outages in reviews.
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, transparent pricing, and acclaimed support team set it apart from platforms that have grown through acquisition or require specialized training.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
Stova and Bizzabo are both strong event management platforms with different strengths. Stova focuses on event logistics, compliance, and complex workflows, while Bizzabo emphasizes engagement, communication, and analytics.
When evaluating these platforms, clarify your specific needs for event registration, integrations, analytics, and support. Accelevents offers a highly customizable solution that combines the best aspects of both platforms, with a seamless experience and rapid onboarding supported by a team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7.
Request a demo to explore how Accelevents can simplify your event management process with its all-in-one platform that combines registration, real-time badge printing, and attendee engagement tools: https://www.accelevents.com/request-a-demo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stova and Bizzabo
How do Stova and Bizzabo handle real-time badge printing?
Both platforms include badge printing as part of check-in. Stova uses kiosk-based printing with attendee verification, while Bizzabo offers mobile-enabled printing with customizable templates. Accelevents provides real-time badge printing with both assisted and self-serve options.
What AMS integrations do Stova and Bizzabo offer for membership organizations?
Stova integrates with association management systems like Personify, NetForum, and YourMembership through API connections. Bizzabo connects with platforms including Fonteva and MemberClicks using middleware or custom configurations.
How do these platforms manage continuing education credits?
Stova tracks CE credits through session attendance verification and assigns credits based on participation. Bizzabo uses session check-ins and engagement tracking to award credits within attendee profiles. Both platforms export credit data for certification records. Accelevents offers automated credit assignment, instant certificate generation, and audit trails, making it suitable for ongoing education and compliance needs.
Which platform provides better exhibitor management tools?
Stova includes exhibitor portals with lead retrieval, booth assignments, and sponsor tracking. Bizzabo offers branded exhibitor pages, lead capture, appointment scheduling, and traffic analytics. Stova emphasizes operational logistics, while Bizzabo focuses on digital engagement. Accelevents provides a comprehensive exhibitor portal for digital booths, lead capture, demo booking, and ROI tracking.
Can these platforms support multi-day virtual conferences?
Both platforms support multi-day virtual conferences. Stova provides agenda tools with session filtering, time zone adjustments, and live streaming. Bizzabo includes a virtual event hub with session navigation, interactive tools, and personalized schedules. Accelevents' agenda builder supports multi-day schedules, session filtering, and seamless attendee navigation, whether in-person, hybrid, or virtual.
