Eventbrite vs Swoogo 2025 Comparison Guide

Choosing the right event management software can be challenging, especially with so many options available. Two platforms often compared are Eventbrite and Swoogo, and increasingly, Accelevents is considered by event organizers seeking a highly customizable, all-in-one solution. Each platform has its own approach to helping organizers plan and run events, and understanding their differences is key to making the best choice for your organization.

This article provides a direct, side-by-side look at these three platforms. The following overview is designed to help readers quickly understand how Eventbrite, Swoogo, and Accelevents compare in several important areas.

Eventbrite vs Swoogo vs Accelevents at a Glance

Eventbrite is often chosen for simpler, public-facing events like community gatherings or fundraisers. Swoogo is preferred for more complex, corporate events that require detailed customization and reporting. Accelevents bridges the gap, offering a platform intentionally built with a consistent data model, making it easy for event organizers, exhibitors, speakers, and attendees to collaborate, while also providing a highly customizable experience and rapid customer success support.

Summary of Companies

Eventbrite has grown organically and is widely recognized for its simplicity, but user reviews often note limitations with customization and branding, especially for larger or more complex events. Swoogo was designed to serve agencies and enterprises with multi-session and multi-track needs, but its feature set can feel complex to new users. In contrast, Accelevents was intentionally built from the ground up with a single, unified data model, providing a seamless experience across registration, attendee engagement, exhibitor management, and speaker coordination. With 1,847 customers, Accelevents is recognized for its ease of use, flexibility, and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7.

Key Features: Registration, Branding, and Analytics

Registration Tools

• Eventbrite registration: Standard ticket types (general admission, VIP, early bird), built-in payments (credit cards and PayPal), and mobile-friendly registration. Some users report frustration with limited customization and confusion when managing group registrations or conditional workflows.

• Swoogo registration: Conditional logic for different attendee types, group registration, multi-session sign-ups, and approval workflows. The registration process can feel complex, and some users report a learning curve for new staff.

• Accelevents event registration: Highly customizable ticketing and registration platform with drag-and-drop customization for event pages, forms, and badges. Unlimited ticket types, discount codes, reusable templates, and one-click registration forms. Seamless payment processing, conversion tracking, and simplified group registration via ticket bundles. Conditional logic in forms supports tailored workflows for different attendee types.

Branding Options

• Eventbrite branding: Basic customization with pre-designed templates, simple logo upload, color choices, and standard fonts. Platform branding remains visible on event pages, which can limit the professional look for some organizations.

• Swoogo branding: Full customization, including white-labeling, custom domains, and design control. Users can remove platform branding and tailor layouts, fonts, colors, and styling.

• Accelevents white-label branding: Full white-label branding across web, mobile, and virtual environments, with customizable themes and the ability to completely remove platform branding for a unified event experience.

Analytics and Reporting

• Eventbrite analytics: Standard reports (ticket sales, check-ins, attendance), revenue tracking, and basic CSV exports. Some users note limitations in customizing reports or sharing real-time data with stakeholders.

• Swoogo analytics: Custom dashboards, session attendance, networking activity, content views, and ROI measurement. The reporting tools are complex, and some users require additional training to use all features.

• Accelevents analytics and reporting: Real-time, shareable reports with a fully integrated data model across registration, onsite, mobile, and virtual components, ensuring data consistency and actionable insights for all stakeholders.

Pricing and Cost Considerations

The event platform pricing models differ significantly:

• Eventbrite pricing: Per-ticket transaction fees (typically 2% to 3.5% plus $1.50 per paid ticket), no charges for free events, and additional payment processing costs. Some users report surprise fees or limitations on features at lower tiers.

• Swoogo pricing: Annual subscriptions with flat fees and custom quotes. No per-ticket fees, but higher upfront costs and less transparency for smaller organizations.

• Accelevents pricing: Transparent, scalable pricing with pay-only-for-what-you-need modules and no surprise add-ons. Pricing is designed to scale with your event portfolio, making it accessible for organizations hosting a single event or a full calendar of conferences and meetings.

Accelevents’ approach allows event organizers to select only the modules they need, keeping costs predictable and aligned with organizational goals.

Integrations and CRM Compatibility

Marketing Automation

• Eventbrite marketing connections: Basic integrations with email platforms like Mailchimp and Constant Contact, social sharing, and simple automation. Integration with other marketing tools often requires third-party connectors and may involve additional fees.

• Swoogo marketing automation: Connects directly to platforms such as HubSpot, Marketo, Pardot, and Eloqua. Offers campaign tracking and audience segmentation, but integration setup can be complex for new users.

• Accelevents integrations: No charges for native integrations, with deep connectors to Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and numerous association management systems. Integration setup is streamlined, and all data flows through the unified platform for accurate tracking and reporting.

CRM and Other Tools

• Eventbrite CRM integration: Basic connection to Salesforce (often via Zapier), limited data flow, and simple lead tracking. Some users note manual data entry is still required for full CRM functionality.

• Swoogo CRM integration: Native integration with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Dynamics, with real-time two-way sync and custom data mapping. The setup can be complex and may require technical resources.

• Accelevents CRM and API: No fees for API access, with well-documented REST APIs and webhooks. Deep CRM integrations and real-time data sync ensure accurate attendee and lead management across systems.

Virtual and Hybrid Event Capabilities

Virtual and hybrid event features have become essential for many organizations:

• Eventbrite virtual features: Streaming integration with Zoom, YouTube, and Vimeo, basic polls and chat, and simple event page links. Some users report occasional glitches and limited options for hybrid event management.

• Swoogo virtual capabilities: Built-in streaming, engagement tools like polls, Q&A, gamification, and sponsor interactions. Hybrid management is unified, but the platform can be complex for teams new to virtual events.

• Accelevents virtual and hybrid event support: Originally built for in-person events, Accelevents now supports all event types. Features include native badge printing, mobile app check-in for onsite events, and a dedicated Virtual Event Hub with modular features for seamless hybrid experiences. The platform is known for reliability, with no references to outages in reviews.

Who Chooses Each Platform?

Eventbrite is often chosen by small businesses and local organizers for single-session workshops, community events, and fundraisers. Its simplicity is attractive, but customization and reporting can be limiting for growing organizations. Swoogo is selected by agencies and enterprises managing large, multi-track conferences and trade shows, but the platform’s complexity and higher costs can be a barrier for smaller teams or infrequent events.

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 a customer success focus. With a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7, Accelevents is ideal for customers looking to grow with a platform that is continually reinvesting in new features and product enhancements.

Target Users and Industries

Eventbrite is best suited to local events and public-facing experiences. Swoogo serves complex corporate events and agencies. 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 complex enterprise features and ease of use, delivering a balanced, highly customizable, all-in-one event solution. The platform’s consistent data model supports seamless workflows for event registration, attendee engagement, exhibitor management, and speaker coordination, making it a strong alternative to both Eventbrite and Swoogo.

API, Lead Capture, and Exhibitor Management

• API: Accelevents offers no-fee access to robust REST APIs and webhooks, all well documented for developers and IT teams.

• Lead Capture: Mobile app lead capture with QR scanning, offline support, unlimited users, real-time reports, lead scoring, note-taking, and integrated meeting-booking are included at no extra charge.

• Exhibitor Management: Accelevents' exhibitor portal allows digital booth management, lead capture, demo booking, team coordination, and ROI tracking—all in one place.

Continuing Education Credit Tracking and Role-Based Access

• Continuing Education: Accelevents supports automated credit assignment, a flexible program builder, instant certificate generation, self-service retrieval, audit trails, and LMS integration for continuing education events.

• Role-Based Access and Compliance: Custom roles, SSO, MFA, SOC-2, and ISO 27001 compliance, with detailed security audit logging, ensure data protection and granular permission controls.

Call for Papers, Abstract Management, and White-Label Branding

• Call for Papers: Accelevents offers native workflows for CFP and abstracts, multiple submission paths, auto reviewer assignment, and a speaker portal with task management. Speaker management is fully integrated.

• White-Label Branding: Accelevents enables full white-label branding across web, mobile, and virtual environments, with customizable themes and no forced platform branding.

Which Is Right For Different Event Types?

Small Community Events

• Eventbrite: Quick setup, built-in ticketing, easy social sharing, and mobile check-in. Simplicity is the main appeal, but customization is limited.

• Accelevents: Offers simple event creation with drag-and-drop tools, unlimited ticket types, and customizable event pages, making it easy for small teams to launch professional events quickly.

Large Conferences and Trade Shows

• Swoogo: Multi-track agendas, exhibitor management, session capacity controls, and complex reporting. The feature set can require training for new users.

• Accelevents: Multi-track agenda builder, comprehensive exhibitor portal, session capacity management, and real-time analytics provide enterprise-grade tools with a user-friendly interface.

Hybrid Scenarios

• Swoogo: Unified attendee management for in-person and virtual, cross-format networking, and integrated analytics. Some users report a steep learning curve for hybrid features.

• Accelevents: Dedicated Virtual Event Hub, modular networking tools, and consistent branding across all touchpoints. Both in-person and virtual attendees are managed in a single system, with unified analytics and engagement features.

Making Your Choice for 2025

Each platform serves different event types and organizational needs. Eventbrite focuses on simplicity and speed for smaller, public events. Swoogo provides customization and analytics for complex, corporate events, but can be costly and complex for smaller teams. Accelevents is the platform of choice for organizations that want both flexibility and ease of use, with a unified data model, transparent pricing, and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7.

Consider these questions when choosing your event management platform:

• How complex is your event structure?

• Do you need advanced branding and customization?

• How important are detailed analytics and sponsor management?

• Do you want transparent, scalable pricing with no surprises?

Choose Eventbrite for:

• Single-session workshops or classes

• Community fundraisers and local events

• Quick-launch events with simple ticketing needs

Choose Swoogo for:

• Multi-track conferences with complex registration

• Events requiring complete white-label branding

• Organizations needing detailed analytics and CRM integration

Choose Accelevents for:

• Organizations of all sizes—especially enterprises and associations—seeking a highly customizable, all-in-one event solution

• Events ranging from small workshops to global conferences and trade shows

• Teams that value a unified platform, rapid onboarding, and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7

To explore how different event management approaches might work for your specific needs, request a demo to see how Accelevents can simplify your event management process.

FAQs About Eventbrite vs Swoogo vs Accelevents

What security features do Eventbrite, Swoogo, and Accelevents offer for event data?

All three platforms use standard security measures like data encryption and secure payment processing. Swoogo includes enterprise features like Single Sign-On (SSO) and role-based access controls. Accelevents provides custom roles, SSO, MFA, SOC-2 and ISO 27001 compliance, and detailed security audit logging.

How do Eventbrite, Swoogo, and Accelevents handle sponsor ROI tracking?

Eventbrite provides basic sponsor visibility metrics like page views and link clicks. Swoogo offers sponsor analytics including lead scoring, engagement tracking, and customizable ROI dashboards. Accelevents includes real-time sponsor ROI tracking, lead capture tools, and integrated reporting for exhibitors and sponsors.

Which platform provides better mobile apps for events?

Eventbrite's mobile app focuses on attendee functions like ticket management and check-in. Swoogo's mobile app includes networking and session engagement tools. Accelevents’ mobile app provides lead capture, QR scanning, offline support, attendee engagement, and meeting-booking features for both organizers and attendees.

Can small organizations afford Swoogo's pricing structure?

Swoogo's annual subscription model typically costs more than Eventbrite's entry-level options, making it less accessible for small organizations with limited budgets or infrequent events. Accelevents offers scalable pricing suitable for organizations of all sizes.

What type of customer support do these platforms provide?

Swoogo usually offers dedicated account managers and personalized support for clients. Eventbrite primarily provides self-service support options, with premium support available for additional fees. Accelevents is recognized for a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7, and a strong customer success focus.