Event management software helps organizations plan and run events. Two of the most well-known platforms in this space are Eventbrite and Cvent. Increasingly, Accelevents is also being considered by event organizers seeking a seamless and highly customizable alternative. Each platform is designed for different kinds of users and event types.
This guide compares Eventbrite, Cvent, and Accelevents across key categories, including registration tools, marketing features, mobile apps, and pricing. It is written for event professionals, marketers, and planners evaluating which platform aligns with their event requirements. The comparison is based on publicly available information as of July 25, 2025.
Summary of Companies
Eventbrite was founded in 2006 and has since become a popular choice for small to mid-sized public events. The platform is primarily geared toward individuals and small teams, offering straightforward event registration and ticketing. Eventbrite’s product suite has grown organically, focusing on ease of use and mass-market accessibility.
Cvent was established in 1999 and has grown largely through acquisitions. Reviews often note that the different acquired modules are not always well integrated, and becoming a Cvent expert typically requires certification courses. The platform is known for its complex workflows and is favored by large enterprises, associations, and professional agencies that manage multi-layered events.
Accelevents offers a different approach: the platform was intentionally built with a consistent data model from the start, resulting in a seamless experience for event organizers, attendees, exhibitors, and speakers. Accelevents is recognized for its ease of use, flexibility, and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7. This enables a rapid onboarding process for organizations of all sizes, including enterprises and associations, without the need for lengthy certification or training.
Registration & Ticket Tools
Registration and ticketing are core functions in any event management platform. Each solution in this comparison offers a distinct approach:
Eventbrite: Provides simple tools for selling tickets and collecting attendee information. Based on user reviews, some event organizers have reported occasional confusion or frustration with limited customization options and lack of conditional logic in the registration process. Group registration is available but basic.
Cvent: Supports multiple ticket types and complex pricing structures, including bundled sessions and group discounts. The platform’s registration forms offer conditional logic, but setup can be confusing for new users and often requires training.
Accelevents: Delivers a highly customizable ticketing and event registration platform with drag-and-drop customization for event pages, forms, and badges. Features include unlimited ticket types, discount codes, reusable templates, seamless payment processing, conversion tracking, and one-click registration forms. Group registration is streamlined with ticket bundles and flexible attendee info collection. Conditional logic in forms supports tailored workflows for different attendee types.
Feature | Eventbrite | Cvent | Accelevents | Best For This Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic Ticket Types | Yes | Yes | Yes | All Equal |
Advanced Ticket Structures | Limited | Yes | Yes (Unlimited) | Accelevents, Cvent |
Promo Code Capabilities | Basic | Complex | Unlimited Codes | Accelevents, Cvent |
Group Registrations | Basic | Complex | Simple Bundles | Accelevents, Cvent |
Conditional Logic in Forms | No | Yes | Yes | Accelevents, Cvent |
Marketing and Branding Tools
Event marketing tools are critical for visibility and brand consistency.
Eventbrite: Provides a pre-built event page template with limited customization for images and colors. Email communications are basic and lack advanced segmentation or automation. Eventbrite branding is present on all event pages and emails, with no option to remove it on standard plans.
Cvent: Allows for multi-page event websites with custom branding and navigation. Email marketing supports campaigns and segmentation, but full white-labeling requires enterprise plans.
Accelevents: Offers a fully customizable event website builder with drag-and-drop design, custom domains, and integrated ticketing. Email marketing capabilities include branded confirmations, reminders, automated campaigns, and segmentation. Full white-label branding is available across web, mobile, and virtual environments, enabling organizations to remove all Accelevents branding and apply custom themes.
On-Site Management and Mobile Apps
On-site tools impact attendee arrival experience and operational efficiency.
Eventbrite: Provides a mobile check-in app focused on ticket scanning. Does not include native badge printing; third-party integration is required.
Cvent: Offers on-site check-in with options for pre-printed or on-demand badge printing, as well as attendee tracking. These features are part of its more complex event management suite.
Accelevents: Delivers integrated mobile app check-in, real-time attendee tracking, and native badge printing—all within a seamless experience. The platform supports self-service kiosks, walk-in registration, and badge customization. The mobile app also offers interactive features, such as session check-in, live polling, networking, and gamification, supporting both in-person and hybrid events.
Analytics & Reporting
Data-driven decisions require timely and accessible analytics.
Eventbrite: Offers basic real-time sales and attendance dashboards. Some reporting limitations exist, and exporting detailed data may require manual steps.
Cvent: Provides real-time analytics, shareable reports, and custom dashboards, though some users note a learning curve to access deeper insights.
Accelevents: Features real-time, shareable reports and a fully integrated data model across registration, on-site, mobile, and virtual components, ensuring event teams always have the insights they need at every stage.
Who Chooses Each Platform? Typical Customers
Eventbrite is favored by public event organizers, community groups, small businesses, and independent creators managing local or regional events.
Cvent is typically selected by large enterprises, associations, and agencies managing complex, multi-track conferences, internal meetings, and trade shows. Due to its cost and complexity, it is not typically used by smaller organizations or nonprofits.
Accelevents is trusted by organizations of all sizes—including large enterprises, mid-market corporations, associations, agencies, and nonprofits—seeking an all-in-one, highly customizable solution. With rapid onboarding, a customer success focus, and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7, Accelevents is especially attractive to those looking to grow with a platform that continually reinvests in product innovation and new features. Over 1,847 organizations have chosen Accelevents for their event needs.
In-Person, Virtual, and Hybrid Event Capabilities
Eventbrite: Primarily designed for in-person and simple virtual events. Does not offer a dedicated virtual event hub; instead, external streaming links are used. Some users report glitches with virtual attendee access.
Cvent: Supports in-person, virtual, and hybrid events with a dedicated virtual portal. Additional fees may apply for virtual modules. The platform has a history of supporting large-scale hybrid events, though setup can be complex.
Accelevents: Originally built for in-person, now supports all event types. Features include native badge printing, mobile app check-in, and a dedicated Virtual Event Hub with modular features. Reviews highlight Accelevents' reliability with no references to outages.
Pricing and Packages
Eventbrite: Employs a tiered, per-ticket fee model. Pricing is transparent for basic tiers, but some users report unexpected fees for premium options or integrations.
Cvent: Uses custom enterprise pricing. No public pricing is available, and organizations must request a quote. Some customers note hidden fees or additional charges for integrations and modules.
Accelevents: Offers transparent, scalable pricing with pay-only-for-what-you-need modules and no surprise add-ons. All core features are included without hidden costs.
Target Users and Industries
Eventbrite: Best for small to mid-sized organizations, creators, and community-focused events.
Cvent: Meets the needs of large enterprises, associations, and event agencies running complex events and conferences.
Accelevents: Suitable for conferences, trade shows, fundraisers, internal meetings, and continuing education events—especially for enterprises, associations, agencies, and nonprofits.
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 consistent data model and seamless experience make it a strong option for event teams that want both power and simplicity. With over 1,847 customers, Accelevents continues to evolve for the needs of enterprises, associations, and beyond.
API and Integrations
Eventbrite: Offers public API documentation. Some endpoints are limited, and usage fees may apply for advanced integrations.
Cvent: Provides APIs, but documentation may require a developer account; some endpoints use older SOAP formats, and integration fees are common.
Accelevents: No fees for API access; robust REST APIs and webhooks are well documented. Native integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and leading association management systems are included at no extra charge.
Lead Capture and Tracking
Eventbrite: Lead capture is limited to attendee lists and basic exports; more advanced tracking often requires third-party tools or per-exhibitor fees.
Cvent: Exhibitor lead retrieval is available but may involve device rental costs and per-exhibitor licensing.
Accelevents: Provides mobile app lead capture with QR scanning, offline support, unlimited users, real-time reports, lead scoring, note-taking, and integrated meeting-booking, all included.
Call for Papers & Abstract Management
Eventbrite: Does not offer native call for papers or abstract management.
Cvent: Call for papers is available as an add-on module, with some users reporting a steep learning curve.
Accelevents: Features native workflows for CFP and abstracts, multiple submission paths, auto reviewer assignment, and a speaker portal with task management.
Exhibitor Management
Eventbrite: Lacks a built-in exhibitor portal. Organizers must rely on external tools for exhibitor lead capture and team coordination.
Cvent: Offers exhibitor management features, but some users note that onboarding and usage are complex and often require additional licensing.
Accelevents: Delivers a comprehensive exhibitor portal to manage digital booths, capture leads, book demos, coordinate teams, and track ROI.
Support for Continuing Education Credit Tracking
Eventbrite: Does not support continuing education credit tracking natively.
Cvent: Offers CE credit tracking as part of its enterprise suite.
Accelevents: Provides 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 Options
Eventbrite: Branding cannot be removed from event pages or emails on standard plans.
Cvent: White-labeling is available only on higher-tier enterprise plans.
Accelevents: Offers full white-label branding across web, mobile, and virtual environments, with customizable themes.
Role-Based Access and Compliance
Eventbrite: Permission controls are basic, and SSO or MFA options are limited.
Cvent: Offers permission controls, SSO, and audit logs, but configuration can be complex.
Accelevents: Includes custom roles, SSO, MFA, SOC-2 and ISO 27001 compliance, and detailed security audit logging.
Finding the Best Platform for Your Events
Eventbrite is designed for small to mid-sized events with basic registration needs and public discovery. Cvent is built for complex, large-scale events and is used by enterprise teams managing conferences, trade shows, and internal meetings. Accelevents stands out by combining the best of both worlds: the power and customization of an enterprise suite and the ease of use typically found in entry-level solutions.
Key decision factors:
Event size and complexity
Budget availability and transparency
Need for public event discovery
Custom registration paths and ticketing
On-site check-in and badge printing
Marketing automation and CRM integration
Virtual or hybrid event support
Branding and white-label requirements
Analytics and reporting needs
Internal team's technical skill level
Many teams find Accelevents offers a highly customizable, all-in-one solution that bridges complex enterprise features and user-friendly design—with a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7. If you’re seeking a platform trusted by 1,847 organizations for conferences, trade shows, fundraisers, internal meetings, and continuing education events, Accelevents is a compelling alternative.
Request a demo to explore how Accelevents can simplify your event management process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eventbrite vs Cvent
How do Eventbrite and Cvent handle membership management and continuing education credits?
Cvent includes built-in tools for managing memberships and tracking continuing education (CE) credits, which is useful for professional associations. Eventbrite generally does not include these features and often depends on third-party integrations to fill those gaps.
Which platform is more cost-effective for nonprofit organizations with limited budgets?
Eventbrite uses a percentage-based fee structure and offers nonprofit discounts, which can be more affordable for smaller organizations. Cvent generally follows an enterprise pricing model that tends to be more expensive, regardless of organization type.
Do Eventbrite and Cvent provide built-in tools for measuring sponsor and exhibitor ROI?
Cvent includes tools for tracking sponsor and exhibitor engagement, lead capture, and ROI metrics. Eventbrite offers limited sponsor visibility features, and detailed ROI tracking may require additional software.
Can both platforms support multiple events at the same time?
Cvent is designed to manage multiple events concurrently, especially for teams running large or recurring programs. Eventbrite also allows users to manage multiple events, but with fewer centralized controls and configuration options.
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