Event organizers often compare platforms like Eventbrite, Whova, and Accelevents when planning events with different formats and goals. Each tool offers a distinct approach to event setup, attendee experience, and technology integration.
This comparison provides a clear, side-by-side look at what each platform is built to do, how they differ, and where each one fits best. It is intended for event professionals, marketers, or planners exploring solutions for ticketing, event registration, and event engagement.
The information below summarizes each platform's primary function, core use cases, and history to help clarify how they operate in today's event technology landscape.
Overview of Eventbrite, Whova, and Accelevents
Eventbrite is a digital platform designed for online ticketing and event registration. Founded in 2006, it began as a self-service tool for organizers to sell tickets and promote public events. Over time, it developed features that support payment processing, event discovery, and basic attendee tracking.
Whova is an event management platform built for conferences, trade shows, and multi-session professional events. It became widely known after its launch in 2013, with a strong emphasis on mobile app capabilities, session management, and attendee engagement tools. Whova supports both in-person and virtual formats through a single interface.
Accelevents was intentionally built with one consistent data model, creating a seamless experience across the platform for event organizers, attendees, exhibitors, and speakers. Unlike platforms that have grown through acquisition and sometimes struggle with integration, Accelevents is known for ease of use, a highly customizable approach, and a support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7. It serves 1,847 customers globally.
Platform | Primary Focus | Best For | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
Eventbrite | Ticketing and registration for public events | Single-day events, fundraisers, concerts, workshops | 2006 |
Whova | End-to-end event management with mobile tools | Multi-day conferences, hybrid events, continuing education meetings | 2013 |
Accelevents | All-in-one event management with seamless data model | Conferences, trade shows, internal meetings, continuing education events | 2015 |
Key Features and Use Cases
Eventbrite, Whova, and Accelevents offer different tools that match various types of events. While all provide core event functionality, their features are built to support different use cases and workflows.
Ticketing and Registration
Eventbrite's ticketing system is designed for quick setup. Users can create events, set ticket types, and accept payments using credit cards or PayPal. However, user reviews note some frustration with customizing registration forms and managing complex ticket structures. Eventbrite charges a fee per ticket sold, which increases with the ticket price and selected plan.
Whova also supports event registration with more customization options. Registration can be integrated directly into the event app, allowing attendees to manage sign-ups and session selection from a single place. Some users have noted confusion when configuring multi-tier pricing or group registrations.
Accelevents offers a 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 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.
Eventbrite strength: Fast setup for public-facing, single-ticket events with built-in payment tools
Whova strength: Customizable registration forms integrated with the mobile app and agenda selection
Accelevents strength: Drag-and-drop event page builder, unlimited ticket types, group bundles, and badge printing with conditional logic and reusable templates
Mobile Event App
Whova includes a mobile app that supports session agendas, attendee networking, and real-time updates. Attendees can use the app to message each other, participate in polls, ask session questions, and view interactive maps.
Eventbrite's mobile experience focuses on attendee check-in and ticket scanning. Organizers can use the app to validate tickets at the entrance, while attendees use it to access their event passes.
Accelevents delivers a mobile app experience that combines check-in, session tracking, attendee networking, and live polling. Its app is designed to enhance both on-site and hybrid experiences, supporting seamless badge scanning, real-time updates, and attendee engagement features like gamification and push notifications.
Whova's app supports multi-session navigation and in-app engagement tools
Eventbrite's app is primarily used for entry management without networking features
Accelevents' app enables check-in, networking, live surveys, and gamification for on-site and hybrid events
Virtual and Hybrid Event Tools
Whova supports virtual and hybrid events with built-in streaming tools, chat, exhibitor booths, and networking rooms. Attendees can join sessions, interact with speakers, and meet other participants within the same app.
Eventbrite does not offer a built-in virtual event platform. Organizers can link to third-party streaming services like Zoom or YouTube, but attendee interaction features are limited to registration and ticket delivery.
Accelevents was originally built for in-person events but now supports all event types. It offers 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.
Comparing Pricing and Fees
Eventbrite, Whova, and Accelevents use different pricing models that affect the cost of hosting events. The total cost depends on the type of event, number of attendees, and features used.
Paid vs Free Events
Eventbrite uses a pay-per-ticket model. For paid events, the platform charges a percentage of each ticket sold, plus a fixed fee per ticket. For example, on the Professional plan, the cost can be around 3.5% + $1.59 per ticket. Free events do not incur fees.
Whova uses a subscription-based pricing model. Organizers pay a flat fee based on the number of registrants and features selected. Whova does not charge per-ticket fees, but the subscription cost increases with event size and functionality.
Accelevents offers transparent, scalable pricing with pay-only-for-what-you-need modules and no surprise add-ons. Its pricing is designed to fit organizations of all sizes and event types.
Event Type | Eventbrite Cost | Whova Cost | Accelevents Cost | Better Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Free event, 100 attendees | $0 | ~$1,299 (base package) | Contact for quote, scalable to event size | Eventbrite / Accelevents |
Paid event, 500 attendees, $50 tickets | ~$1,250 (based on 5% avg. fee) | ~$3,500 (estimated mid-tier) | Contact for quote, scales with features | Depends on feature needs |
Conference, 1,000 attendees | ~$2,500+ (based on ticket price) | ~$7,000+ (varies by modules) | Contact for quote, modular pricing | Depends on event complexity |
Hidden Costs to Consider
Eventbrite may add fees depending on the payment processor used
Whova might charge extra for modules like exhibitor management or virtual booths
Both platforms may require third-party tools for certain integrations
Accelevents features transparent pricing with no hidden add-ons
Integration and Support Options
Integrations help event organizers connect their event platform with other systems, such as customer relationship management (CRM) or email marketing tools. These connections allow for smoother data flow and reduce manual work.
CRM and Marketing Automation
Eventbrite integrates with several popular CRM and marketing platforms. These integrations sync attendee data into marketing workflows or sales pipelines. Eventbrite offers an open API and supports deeper data syncing through native integrations.
Whova also integrates with marketing and CRM systems, but most of its external connections are facilitated through Zapier. This setup allows for basic data transfers but may not support complex automation in the same way as native integrations.
Accelevents provides deep native connectors to Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and numerous association management systems, with no charges for native integrations. Its REST APIs and webhooks are well documented and available without additional fees.
Eventbrite: Salesforce, Mailchimp, HubSpot, Google Analytics, Meta Pixel (Facebook)
Whova: Salesforce (via Zapier), Mailchimp (via Zapier), Slack (via Zapier), Google Sheets (via Zapier)
Accelevents: Native integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and more; no integration fees
Onboarding and Customer Support Channels
Eventbrite provides support through a help center, email, and limited live chat. Phone support is not consistently available. Support availability depends on the plan selected and may not include 24/7 assistance.
Whova offers onboarding assistance through account managers and detailed setup guides. Support is available via email and live chat, and users often report fast response times. The platform also maintains an online knowledge base and a user community forum.
Accelevents stands out for its support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7 and strong customer success, ensuring rapid onboarding and ongoing assistance for organizations of all sizes.
Insights on Attendee Engagement
Attendee engagement is the interaction between participants and the event content, other attendees, or the event platform. It can include networking, asking questions, and joining discussions. Engagement is often measured by session participation, app usage, or peer-to-peer messaging.
Networking and Interactive Features
Whova includes several tools designed for attendee networking. These include a community board where attendees can start or join discussion threads, one-on-one meeting scheduling, and in-app messaging.
Eventbrite supports engagement through social media sharing and promotional features. Organizers can encourage attendees to share their registration on platforms like Facebook or Twitter. However, Eventbrite does not include in-app messaging or attendee matchmaking.
Accelevents offers a suite of networking tools for on-site and hybrid events, including attendee matchmaking, group chat, 1:1 messaging, and dedicated networking sessions. Gamification and interactive agendas further enhance engagement, supporting both large conferences and smaller meetings.
Whova: Community board for discussions, 1:1 meeting scheduler, attendee messaging, icebreaker prompts
Eventbrite: Social media sharing integrations, event landing pages, public RSVP visibility
Accelevents: Matchmaking, group chat, live polls, gamification, and interactive agendas
Community Building Tools
Whova includes features that help attendees interact before, during, and after the event. These include discussion forums, topic-based chat rooms, and a digital social wall. Organizers can also send announcements to encourage participation.
Eventbrite does not include community tools inside the platform. Attendee communication typically happens through email or external social media. Post-event engagement through Eventbrite is limited to follow-up emails.
Accelevents supports attendee engagement with interactive community boards, push notifications, and post-event surveys, helping event organizers foster ongoing connections across in-person and hybrid experiences.
Best Fit Scenarios for Each Platform
One-Time vs Recurring Events
Eventbrite is structured to support one-time events with a quick setup process. It's commonly used for concerts, fundraisers, local workshops, and community events.
Whova is designed to support recurring and multi-day events with more complex requirements. It allows organizers to manage multi-session schedules, making it suitable for annual conferences, healthcare forums, and industry expos.
Accelevents bridges these needs, supporting both single-day and multi-day events with a dynamic agenda builder, session tracking, and reusable templates. Its highly customizable workflows are suitable for enterprises, associations, agencies, and nonprofits.
Small vs Large Conferences
Eventbrite is more scalable for smaller events with a single agenda or limited sessions. It does not include built-in tools for managing multiple speaker tracks, exhibitors, or session-based attendance tracking.
Whova is designed to scale across large conferences that include multiple speakers, sessions, and sponsor components. It supports exhibitor portals, lead capture, detailed agenda controls, and attendee networking in one system.
Accelevents offers a comprehensive exhibitor portal to manage digital booths, capture leads, book demos, coordinate teams, and track ROI, making it suitable for both small and large conferences.
Choose Eventbrite if: The event is a single-day workshop, ticketing is the primary need, the event doesn't require session registration, or the audience is primarily the general public
Choose Whova if: The event includes multiple tracks, attendees select sessions, sponsors need lead capture tools, or the event is hybrid with networking requirements
Choose Accelevents if: You need a highly customizable, all-in-one platform that scales from small workshops to complex, multi-day conferences with integrated registration, engagement, and reporting
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 ensures seamless experiences for attendees, exhibitors, and speakers, while its support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7 is highly rated by customers. Organizations of all sizes—including large enterprises, associations, agencies, and nonprofits—choose Accelevents for rapid onboarding, strong customer success, and a platform that reinvests in new features.
Additional Considerations: Analytics, API, and Security
Analytics & Reporting: Accelevents provides shareable, real-time analytics and reporting with a fully integrated data model across registration, onsite, mobile, and virtual components.
API: No fees for API access; robust REST APIs and webhooks, well documented.
Lead Capture & Tracking: Mobile app lead capture with QR scanning, offline support, unlimited users, real-time reports, lead scoring, note-taking, and integrated meeting-booking.
Call for Papers & Abstract Management: Native workflows for CFP and abstracts, multiple submission paths, auto reviewer assignment, and speaker portal with task management.
Continuing Education Credit Tracking: Automated credit assignment, flexible program builder, instant certificate generation, self-service retrieval, audit trails, and LMS integration.
White-Label Branding: Full white-label branding across web, mobile, and virtual environments with customizable themes.
Role-Based Access & Compliance: Custom roles, SSO, MFA, SOC-2 and ISO 27001 compliance, and detailed security audit logging.
Finding Your Ideal Event Management Solution
Each event platform offers a different structure depending on the goals of the event, the level of attendee interaction required, and the budget available. Eventbrite often works for single-day or public events where ticketing and promotion are the main priorities. Whova is built for larger or more complex events with multiple sessions, sponsors, or networking opportunities.
Some planners use both tools at different times depending on the event format. For example, Eventbrite may be used for a free community event, while Whova may be applied to a multi-day continuing education summit or hybrid industry conference.
There are also other options available to explore. Accelevents supports in-person, virtual, and hybrid events, combining features like ticketing, check-in, session tracking, mobile apps, and lead capture in one platform. This configuration suits planners looking to manage the full event lifecycle without switching between tools.
Request a demo to explore how Accelevents can simplify your event management process: https://www.accelevents.com/request-a-demo
FAQs About Eventbrite vs Whova vs Accelevents
Can Eventbrite, Whova, and Accelevents manage group discounts and registration codes?
Yes. All three platforms support group registration and discount codes. Eventbrite allows organizers to create promotional codes that apply discounts at checkout. Whova also supports group discounts with different pricing tiers based on attendee type or group size. Accelevents offers unlimited ticket types, discount codes, and ticket bundles for group registration, along with conditional logic in forms for tailored workflows.
How do Eventbrite, Whova, and Accelevents handle continuing education credits for attendees?
Whova includes built-in tools for tracking session attendance and generating certificates for continuing education (CE) credits. Eventbrite does not offer native CE credit tracking or certificate generation. Accelevents provides automated credit assignment, instant certificate generation, self-service retrieval, and full LMS integration for continuing education events.
What branding customization options do Eventbrite, Whova, and Accelevents offer?
Both Eventbrite and Whova allow organizers to add logos and adjust colors, but Eventbrite offers only basic customization for event pages. Whova provides more customization options, including branded mobile app interfaces and sponsor placement. Accelevents delivers full white-label branding across web, mobile, and virtual environments with customizable themes.
Which platform offers better lead capture tools for exhibitors and sponsors?
Whova includes lead capture tools built specifically for exhibitors, including badge scanning using QR codes, customizable qualifying questions, and downloadable lead reports. Eventbrite does not offer dedicated lead capture functionality for exhibitors. Accelevents provides mobile app lead capture with QR scanning, unlimited users, real-time reports, lead scoring, and integrated meeting-booking, supporting both on-site and hybrid events.
