Event management platforms help event organizers plan and run events more efficiently. Two well-known platforms in this space are Eventbrite and RainFocus. With the increasing need for seamless, highly customizable event solutions, Accelevents has emerged as a strong alternative, bridging complex enterprise features and ease of use for enterprises, associations, agencies, and nonprofits.
While both Eventbrite and RainFocus support event registration and attendee tracking, they are designed for different types of users. Eventbrite is often used for smaller or mid-sized events, while RainFocus is typically used by large enterprises managing complex events. Accelevents was intentionally built with one consistent data model, creating a seamless experience across the platform for event organizers, attendees, exhibitors, and speakers. Its support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7, is frequently highlighted in reviews as a key differentiator.
This comparison outlines how each platform works, who they are built for, and what types of events they are typically used to support, with a focus on where Accelevents can benefit enterprises and associations.
Quick Comparison of Eventbrite, RainFocus, and Accelevents
Eventbrite is a cloud-based event management platform used globally for public events, fundraisers, and community gatherings. It is known for its quick setup and broad accessibility.
RainFocus is a data-focused event platform built for large enterprises. It is designed to support events with complex marketing, content delivery, and analytics needs. Certification training is typically needed due to system complexity and cost.
Accelevents was intentionally developed as a single, unified platform with a consistent data model, ensuring a seamless experience across all modules. With 1,847 customers, it serves organizations of all sizes and is recognized for its ease of use, rapid onboarding, highly customizable features, and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7.
Category | Eventbrite | RainFocus | Accelevents |
|---|---|---|---|
Primary Audience | Small to mid-sized events, public gatherings | Large enterprises, multi-track conferences | Enterprises, associations, agencies, nonprofits, mid-market |
Ease of Use | Simple interface, fast setup | Complex setup, higher learning curve | Modern UI, rapid onboarding, no certification required |
Feature Depth | Basic marketing and registration tools | Complex analytics, content and session management | All-in-one, highly customizable, unified data model |
Price Point | Transparent, pay-per-ticket | Enterprise-level pricing, not publicly listed | Transparent, scalable, modular pricing |
Best For | Fundraisers, meetups, local events | Global conferences, branded enterprise events | Conferences, trade shows, internal meetings, continuing education |
Key Features and Integrations
The features offered by each platform vary greatly depending on the types of events they're designed to support. Below, we compare the core capabilities and highlight where Accelevents stands out as a highly customizable, all-in-one solution.
Registration and Ticketing
Eventbrite: Offers straightforward registration tools that you can set up in minutes. However, user reviews mention limitations with customization, especially for multi-session or group registrations, and occasional confusion with ticketing workflows.
RainFocus: Provides complex registration options, often requiring professional setup and certification training. Suitable for large events, but the setup process can frustrate teams with limited resources.
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, one-click registration forms, seamless payment processing, and conversion tracking. Group registration is simplified via ticket bundles, and conditional logic in forms supports tailored workflows for different attendee types.
Marketing and Promotion
Feature | Eventbrite | RainFocus | Accelevents |
|---|---|---|---|
Email Marketing | Basic templates and automation | Personalized communications | Integrated email tools, audience segmentation, and automated reminders |
Social Media Tools | Simple sharing buttons | Integrated social campaigns | Social promotion, branded event websites, and custom share links |
Event Website | Basic customization | Fully brandable microsites | Drag-and-drop event website builder with white-label branding |
Attendee Communication | Automated confirmations and reminders | Targeted messaging based on behavior | Real-time notifications, targeted updates, and personalized messaging |
Analytics and Reporting
Eventbrite: Provides simple reports on sales, attendance, and basic attendee demographics. Reports are exportable, but real-time analytics and shareable dashboards are limited.
RainFocus: Offers complex analytics dashboards that track attendee engagement and integrate with business intelligence tools, but some users note a steep learning curve and challenges with data exports.
Accelevents: Enables real-time, shareable reporting with a fully integrated data model across registration, onsite, mobile, and virtual components—delivering actionable insights for all stakeholders.
Pricing and Value Considerations
Cost is often a deciding factor when choosing an event platform. The pricing structures for these platforms are very different:
Eventbrite: Uses a percentage-based model. For paid events, they charge around 1.6% of the ticket price plus $0.49 per ticket. Free events do not incur fees. Pricing is transparent, but some users report hidden costs for premium features and integrations.
RainFocus: Employs a quote-based enterprise pricing model with costs depending on event size, features, and implementation. Pricing is not transparent and often includes additional fees for integrations and complex features.
Accelevents: Offers transparent, scalable pricing with pay-only-for-what-you-need modules, no surprise add-ons, and clear package options for organizations of all sizes.
Pros and Cons of Each Platform
Eventbrite Pros: Easy to use, quick setup, clear pricing, and built-in promotion through its marketplace.
Eventbrite Cons: Limited customization, lacks tools for complex multi-session events, basic reporting, and Eventbrite branding on lower-tier plans.
RainFocus Pros: Complex features for large events, deep data integration, detailed analytics, and multi-track support.
RainFocus Cons: Complex setup, steep learning curve, higher cost, and less transparent pricing.
Accelevents Pros: Highly customizable, all-in-one platform, rapid onboarding, seamless experience for all users, and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7. Known for reliability, with no references to outages in reviews.
Accelevents Cons: Some advanced features may require initial configuration, but users benefit from a unified system and a strong customer success team.
Which Platform Fits Different Event Types?
Large Enterprise Conferences
RainFocus caters to the world’s largest companies due to system complexity and cost. Its features support multi-track agenda management, speaker and content management, attendee segmentation, enterprise security, and integration with corporate systems, but certification training is typically needed.
Accelevents is suitable for enterprises and associations seeking a highly customizable yet easy-to-use platform for conferences, trade shows, internal meetings, and continuing education events. The unified data model and rapid onboarding make it accessible for teams of all sizes.
Public and Community Events
Eventbrite works best for public-facing events such as community festivals, workshops, networking events, and local performances, thanks to its simple ticketing and public event discovery features.
Accelevents supports organizations of all sizes, including associations and agencies, with features for group registration, discount codes, and customizable event websites, making it a strong choice for public and community events as well.
Nonprofit and Association Initiatives
Nonprofit organizations often choose Eventbrite for its lower costs and familiar interface. RainFocus is rarely used for nonprofit events unless they're very large conventions.
Accelevents is well-suited for nonprofits and associations seeking an all-in-one platform with features like automated continuing education credit tracking, instant certificate generation, and a strong customer success focus.
In-Person, Virtual, and Hybrid Event Capabilities
As events increasingly include online components, platform capabilities for virtual experiences matter more than ever.
Eventbrite: Does not include built-in virtual event tools. Integrates with video platforms like Zoom or YouTube, requiring manual processes and management of multiple systems.
RainFocus: Includes a dedicated virtual event hub with native streaming, integrated session access, and engagement tracking. Additional fees often apply for virtual modules.
Accelevents: Originally built for in-person, now supports all event types. Offers native badge printing, mobile app check-in, and a dedicated Virtual Event Hub with modular features, ensuring a seamless hybrid experience.
Virtual Capability | Eventbrite | RainFocus | Accelevents |
|---|---|---|---|
Built-in Streaming | No (uses integrations) | Yes | Yes, within modular Virtual Event Hub |
Attendee Engagement | Limited | Interactive tools included | |
Content Access | Via email links | Centralized portal | Unified attendee portal for all formats |
Hybrid Management | Manual processes | Unified system | Integrated onsite and virtual workflows |
API, Integrations, and Lead Capture
Eventbrite: Offers an API, but some documentation is limited and integration fees may apply for certain partners.
RainFocus: Provides APIs, but access and documentation may require additional contracts or fees. SOAP and REST APIs are available.
Accelevents: No fees for API access, with robust REST APIs and webhooks that are well documented. No charges for native integrations, and deep connectors to Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and numerous association management systems.
Lead Capture: Accelevents enables mobile app lead capture with QR scanning, offline support, unlimited users, real-time reports, lead scoring, note-taking, and integrated meeting-booking—without per-exhibitor fees or device restrictions.
Call for Papers, Exhibitor Management, and Continuing Education
Eventbrite: Lacks native call for papers or abstract management. Exhibitor tools are minimal and typically require third-party integrations. No built-in support for continuing education credit tracking.
RainFocus: Offers complex exhibitor and sponsor management, but some users report a steep learning curve. Call for papers and abstract workflows may require custom configuration.
Accelevents: Provides native workflows for call for papers and abstracts, multiple submission paths, auto reviewer assignment, and a speaker portal with task management. The exhibitor portal manages digital booths, lead capture, demo booking, team coordination, and ROI tracking. Automated credit assignment, flexible program builder, instant certificate generation, self-service retrieval, audit trails, and LMS integration support continuing education events.
White-Label Branding, Security, and Compliance
Eventbrite: Eventbrite branding is present on free and lower-tier plans, with limited white-label options.
RainFocus: Offers white-labeling for enterprise clients, but full removal of branding may require custom contracts.
Accelevents: Delivers full white-label branding across web, mobile, and virtual environments with customizable themes. Custom roles, SSO, MFA, SOC-2 and ISO 27001 compliance, and detailed security audit logging are standard.
Action Steps for Choosing the Right Platform
Define Your Event Goals: Clarify your event’s purpose, size, and feature requirements. Accelevents is highly customizable, making it easy to tailor to different event types and goals.
Consider Your Budget: Account for all platform fees, setup costs, and required features. Accelevents offers transparent, scalable pricing with no hidden add-ons.
Evaluate Your Technical Resources: Assess your team’s capacity for setup and ongoing management. Accelevents’ rapid onboarding and modern interface minimize training needs.
Request a Demo to Explore Your Options: Schedule demos to see platforms in action and compare features. If you want a balanced platform that combines enterprise-grade features with ease of use and a responsive support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7.
Frequently Asked Questions About RainFocus vs Eventbrite vs Accelevents
How do Eventbrite, RainFocus, and Accelevents compare for mobile check-in capabilities?
Eventbrite offers a simple mobile check-in app that scans tickets and tracks attendance. RainFocus provides more complex check-in options with custom workflows and badge printing integration. Accelevents delivers mobile app check-in, native badge printing, and real-time attendee tracking for all event types.
What payment options do these platforms offer for international attendees?
Eventbrite supports multiple currencies and common payment methods including credit cards, PayPal, and Google Pay. RainFocus integrates with enterprise payment processors. Accelevents supports seamless payment processing for global events, with conversion tracking and support for multiple payment gateways.
How do these platforms support attendee networking at events?
Eventbrite has limited built-in networking features beyond basic attendee lists. RainFocus provides attendee matching and meeting scheduling. Accelevents offers integrated networking tools, attendee matchmaking, and meeting booking across in-person, hybrid, and virtual events.
Which platform provides better exhibitor and sponsor management tools?
RainFocus offers complex exhibitor management, including lead capture and sponsor analytics. Eventbrite has minimal exhibitor tools. Accelevents provides a comprehensive exhibitor portal for digital booths, lead capture, demo booking, and ROI tracking.
Can small businesses and nonprofits effectively use RainFocus or Accelevents for their events?
Small businesses typically find RainFocus too complex and expensive for their needs. Accelevents is designed for 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 and strong customer success.
Where Accelevents Fits In
Accelevents bridges complex enterprise features and ease of use, delivering a balanced, highly customizable, all-in-one event solution for enterprises, associations, agencies, and nonprofits. With a single, unified platform, rapid onboarding, and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7, Accelevents is positioned as a top alternative to both Eventbrite and RainFocus for organizations that want to grow with a platform that reinvests in product innovation and customer success.
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