Event management software helps organizations plan, run, and evaluate events more efficiently. As technology evolves, platforms like Stova, Swoogo, and Accelevents have become common tools for handling event logistics, attendee engagement, and data reporting.
This guide compares Stova, Swoogo, and Accelevents as of July 2025. It includes factual details about each company, how they are used, and how they differ in features, pricing, and support. Event organizers considering “Stova vs Swoogo” or exploring alternatives will find this overview helpful for understanding how each solution fits into the event technology landscape.
Summary of Companies
Stova and Swoogo are both event technology companies that offer software to support virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. Each platform includes tools for registration, check-in, mobile apps, and data tracking.
Stova was formed from the merger of Aventri, MeetingPlay, and eventcore. Reviews often point out that the different acquisitions aren’t fully integrated, which can lead to inconsistent experiences across modules. Stova focuses on large, complex events that require detailed workflows and compliance.
Swoogo is known for its focus on ease of use and customization. It is adopted by marketing teams and mid-sized organizations that prioritize quick setup and design options.
Accelevents was intentionally built with one consistent data model, creating a seamless experience across the platform for event organizers, attendees, exhibitors, and speakers. Accelevents is recognized for its ease of use, highly customizable feature set, and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7.
Company | Year Founded | Headquarters | Number of Customers | Market Share | Primary Industries Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stova | 2022 (merger) | United States | 2,638 | 0.66% | Enterprises, associations, higher education |
Swoogo | 2015 | United States | 3,723 | 0.93% | Marketing teams, agencies, corporate planners |
Accelevents | 2015 | United States | 1,847 | (not published) | Enterprises, associations, agencies, nonprofits, others |
Who Chooses Each Platform? Typical Customers?
Stova is usually selected by organizations willing to invest in complex workflows, security, and compliance for global, multi-day conferences. Its complexity and cost mean it is generally adopted by larger enterprises or associations.
Swoogo attracts marketing teams and mid-sized organizations that need quick deployment and design flexibility, often for a variety of event types. Its user-friendly approach makes it more approachable for organizations with limited technical resources.
Accelevents is chosen by organizations of all sizes—including large enterprises, mid-market corporations, associations, agencies, and nonprofits—who want an all-in-one, highly customizable solution with rapid onboarding and customer success. It is particularly attractive for organizations seeking a platform that is continually reinvesting in the product and adding new features.
Key Features Comparison
Event Registration and Ticketing
Stova provides complex options for conditional logic and pricing rules, catering to organizations with regulatory or approval workflow requirements. However, user reviews indicate that some find configuring registration rules confusing, and support may be required for setup.
Swoogo stands out for its fast setup and visual customization, but some users have reported frustration when handling more complex registration paths or discount scenarios.
Accelevents offers a highly customizable event registration platform with drag-and-drop customization for event pages, forms, and badges; unlimited ticket types and discount codes; reusable templates; one-click registration forms; seamless payment processing; and conversion tracking. Group registration is simplified via ticket bundles, allowing multiple ticket purchases and flexible attendee info collection. Conditional logic in forms supports tailored workflows for different attendee types.
Virtual, In-Person, and Hybrid Event Capabilities
Stova includes a dedicated virtual event hub with sponsor zones and networking areas, but user feedback sometimes points to glitches or configuration challenges, especially for hybrid event synchronization.
Swoogo supports virtual events through customizable integrations, although advanced hybrid scenarios may require more manual configuration. There are occasional reports of bugs when managing simultaneous in-person and virtual experiences.
Accelevents was originally built for in-person events and now supports all event formats. It offers native badge printing, mobile app check-in, and a dedicated Virtual Event Hub with modular features. Accelevents is known for reliability, with no references to outages in reviews.
Analytics & Reporting
Stova delivers real-time analytics, but some users find report sharing restrictive and setup complex.
Swoogo offers real-time dashboards, though there are occasional limitations in custom report outputs and sharing options.
Accelevents provides real-time data, shareable reports, and a fully integrated data model across registration, onsite, mobile, and virtual components—delivering actionable insights without added complexity.
Marketing and Engagement Tools
Stova provides engagement features like polling and Q&A, plus detailed analytics, although setup can be time-consuming.
Swoogo makes it easy to enable live polling and networking, but relies on basic engagement tools and may require third-party integrations for more complex needs.
Accelevents offers attendee engagement tools such as live polling, Q&A, networking, and gamification, all built into the platform for both in-person and hybrid events. Real-time engagement data is available, and event organizers can drive participation with points, challenges, and prize management.
On-Site Management
Stova provides complex check-in solutions, badge customization, and QR code tracking, but configuration may require support involvement, and some hardware integrations come with added costs.
Swoogo offers straightforward check-in and badge printing for in-person events, though custom branding and session tracking may require additional setup or third parties.
Accelevents features native on-site badge printing, QR-code check-in, and mobile tools for seamless attendee management.
Integrations and Technical Requirements
Stova provides deep integrations with Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics, but some integrations require additional configuration or fees.
Swoogo connects with popular CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot via Zapier, but has limited native integration depth.
Accelevents offers deep native connectors for Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and many association management systems at no extra charge. Its API access is free, and REST APIs and webhooks are well documented.
Lead Capture and Tracking
Stova often charges per exhibitor or device for lead retrieval, and some customers report challenges with setup and additional hardware.
Swoogo provides basic lead capture capabilities, though some advanced tracking requires third-party tools or added costs.
Accelevents delivers 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.
Call for Papers & Abstract Management
Stova offers abstract management, but workflows are considered complex, and reviewers report some manual steps.
Swoogo supports basic form-based submissions but lacks dedicated abstract management workflows for multi-stage reviews.
Accelevents includes native call for papers workflows, multiple submission paths, auto reviewer assignment, and a speaker portal with built-in task management.
Exhibitor Management
Stova provides exhibitor management, but some customers note inefficiencies when coordinating team access and demo bookings.
Swoogo offers exhibitor tools, but advanced features or ROI tracking generally require manual exports or extra integrations.
Accelevents delivers a comprehensive exhibitor portal to manage digital booths, capture leads, book demos, coordinate teams, and track ROI in one place.
Support for Continuing Education Credit Tracking
Stova includes tools to track session attendance and issue credits, though complex requirements may require customization.
Swoogo supports CE tracking through custom fields but lacks a dedicated credit management feature.
Accelevents enables automated credit assignment, a flexible program builder, instant certificate generation, self-service retrieval, audit trails, and seamless LMS integration for continuing education credits.
White-Label Branding Options
Stova offers white-labeling, but full removal of platform branding may incur additional costs or have limitations.
Swoogo allows branding customization, though some modules retain subtle platform identifiers.
Accelevents provides full white-label branding across web, mobile, and virtual environments, with fully customizable themes.
Role-Based Access and Compliance
Stova supports permission controls, SSO, and audit logs, but setup can be complex and may require IT support.
Swoogo includes basic role management but may not meet all enterprise compliance needs.
Accelevents offers custom roles, SSO, MFA, SOC-2 and ISO 27001 compliance, and detailed security audit logging for peace of mind.
Pricing and Packages
Stova typically uses annual contracts and may charge per event or registrant, often resulting in higher costs for smaller organizations. Some users report surprise add-on fees for integrations and on-site tools.
Swoogo operates on a tiered subscription model, which is generally more predictable but may lack flexibility for scaling up or down.
Accelevents provides transparent, scalable pricing with pay-only-for-what-you-need modules and no surprise add-ons, making budgeting easier for organizations of any size.
Target Users and Industries
Stova is best for large enterprises and associations with the need for complex, multi-day conferences and strict compliance.
Swoogo serves marketing teams, agencies, and corporate planners aiming for quick setup and design control.
Accelevents is 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 the gap between complex enterprise features and ease of use, delivering a balanced, highly customizable, all-in-one event solution for organizations seeking both power and simplicity. Its consistent data model streamlines event planning for both event organizers and participants, and its support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7, is praised for responsiveness throughout the event cycle.
User Feedback and Real-World Performance
Stova is appreciated for its capabilities in managing complex events, but organizations cite a steeper learning curve and longer setup times. Some report inconsistent experiences due to incomplete integration of acquired technologies.
Swoogo is preferred for its user-friendly design and fast onboarding, but may require workarounds for complex needs and lacks depth in reporting and integration.
Accelevents consistently receives high marks for ease of use, fast onboarding, and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7. Customer success is a core focus, with organizations praising the platform's ability to adapt to evolving event needs while remaining accessible to users of all skill levels.
Strengths and Limitations
Stova
Built for enterprise-scale events
Strong security and compliance features
24/7 support availability
Complex integration capabilities
Detailed reporting and analytics
Longer setup time, more complex interface
Higher price point for smaller teams
Swoogo
User-friendly interface
Faster implementation
Design options for branding
Easier for non-technical users
Predictable pricing model
Less suited for complex events
Limited enterprise-level support
Accelevents
All-in-one, highly customizable, and designed for both ease of use and enterprise-scale requirements
Seamless experience with a single data model for registration, engagement, and reporting
Transparent, scalable pricing with no surprise add-ons
Deep integrations and no-fee API access
Full white-label branding and strong compliance features
Mobile-first lead capture and onsite tools
Support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7
Making Your Decision
When choosing between Stova, Swoogo, and Accelevents, consider the complexity of your events, your team’s expertise, and the level of integration you require. Stova caters to large-scale, complex events but may require significant resources to implement. Swoogo is ideal for those who value quick setup and design flexibility but may fall short for organizations with advanced requirements.
Accelevents stands out by delivering the power and customization needed for large enterprises and associations, while remaining approachable for teams of any size. Its transparent pricing, seamless user experience, and deep integration options make it a compelling alternative for organizations looking to streamline event management without sacrificing capability.
As you evaluate your options, a demo can help clarify which platform will best support your goals for attendee engagement, efficiency, and event success.
Request a demo to explore how Accelevents can simplify your event management process.
FAQs About Stova, Swoogo, and Accelevents
How do these platforms handle continuing education credits?
Stova: Tracks session attendance and can issue credits, though more complex programs may need custom setup.
Swoogo: Allows CE tracking through custom fields but lacks dedicated CE management features.
Accelevents: Automates credit assignment, enables instant certificate generation, and supports LMS integration.
Do these platforms offer on-site badge printing?
Stova: Supports customizable badge printing with integrated hardware.
Swoogo: Offers badge printing, though some setups may require third-party printers.
Accelevents: Delivers native badge printing, custom templates, and mobile check-in tools.
Can these platforms support international events with multiple currencies and languages?
Stova: Supports multiple currencies and languages, including localized forms.
Swoogo: Supports global events, but language setup may require extra configuration.
Accelevents: Enables international events with multi-currency and language support out of the box.
