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Luma is our best overall pick for organizers who want event pages, ticketing and guest tools, with a free tier to start. For ticket sales without a monthly subscription, compare SimpleTix and RegFox—but calculate the per-ticket fees, including for free events on RegFox. Eventbrite is worth considering when public discovery matters. The right choice depends on whether you need registration controls, ticketing, audience interaction or a platform for complex programs. We’ve ranked options by fit and published value, and flagged where pricing or limits need checking.
Quick picksThe shortlist
LumaLumaBest overall · $59/mo
SimpleTixSimpleTixBest for ticketing value · $0.25/mo
RSVPifyRSVPifyBest for guest controls · $24/mo
EventbriteEventbriteBest for discovery · $15/mo
HumanitixHumanitixBest for free events · Free
RegFoxRegFoxBest for flexible registration · $0.99/mo
TicketSpiceTicketSpiceBest for reserved seating · $0.99/mo
CventCventBest for complex programs · Custom
SlidoSlidoBest for live interaction · $17.50/mo
Zoom EventsZoom EventsBest for Zoom events · $66.67/mo
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LumaLuma | 7.2 | $59/mo | Yes | — |
| SimpleTixSimpleTix | 7.5 | $0.25/mo | Yes | — |
| RSVPifyRSVPify | 7.2 | $24/mo | Yes | — |
| EventbriteEventbrite | 5.8 | $15/mo | Yes | — |
| HumanitixHumanitix | 7.3 | Free | Yes | — |
| RegFoxRegFox | 7.3 | $0.99/mo | Yes | — |
| TicketSpiceTicketSpice | 6.9 | $0.99/mo | No | — |
| CventCvent | 6.2 | Custom | No | — |
| SlidoSlido | 7.0 | $17.50/mo | Yes | — |
| Zoom EventsZoom Events | 6.3 | $66.67/mo | No | — |
02The picks, in detail
- Best overallLumaLuma
Luma combines event publishing, ticketing and guest tools, and its free plan makes it accessible to organizers on a budget. Paid pricing starts at $59, according to the listed starting price. Before scaling, check the 5% fee and weekly send caps: the platform may suit a small community calendar better than a high-volume event operation.
What works
- Free plan includes unlimited events and guests
- Supports free and paid ticketing
- Includes waitlists, applications, and group registration
What doesn't
- Free plan limits weekly invites or newsletters to 500
- Free plan charges a 5% fee on paid events
- Plus monthly-billing price is not published
- Best for ticketing valueSimpleTixSimpleTix
SimpleTix offers reserved seating and other event features without a monthly subscription, with a free plan and listed pricing from $0.25. That makes it a useful starting point for small and medium-sized organizers wary of fixed software costs. The trade-off is ticket and processing fees, so compare the full per-sale cost with other no-subscription options.
What works
- No monthly or annual subscription
- Online fee capped at $9.99 per ticket
- 25¢ fee for tickets priced $5 or less
What doesn't
- Payment processing fees are charged separately
- Online sales cost 79¢ plus 2%
- Free reserved-seat tickets cost 25¢ each
- Best for guest controlsRSVPifyRSVPify
RSVPify is a good fit when registration needs branded pages, guest groups, meal choices or check-in tools. It has a free plan, with listed pricing from $24. Its appeal is control over the guest workflow rather than event discovery. Check the registration caps and ticket fees before committing; the starting price alone does not show the full cost.
What works
- Free plan available for small events
- Custom questions and seating charts on Starter
- Guest management supports plus-ones and meal choices
What doesn't
- Free plan allows only one active event
- Starter is $39 monthly without annual billing
- Ticket fees are not published
- Best for discoveryEventbriteEventbrite
Eventbrite stands out when people need to find local events, and it also offers options for organizers running free events. The listed starting price is $15, with a free plan. Paid-ticket fees can bite, so compare the total cost of selling tickets with lower-cost alternatives. It is a stronger fit when public discovery matters than when you only need private registration.
What works
- Browse music, nightlife, arts, business, and more
- Filter events by date and location
- Explore popular U.S. cities and states
What doesn't
- Paid tickets incur fees per ticket and order
- Pro starts at $15/month
- Annual billing terms are not published
- Best for free eventsHumanitixHumanitix
Humanitix is worth considering for free events, charities and schools, especially if a charitable angle matters to your organization. It offers a free plan, but a starting price for paid use is not published on the vendor's site. Before selling tickets, compare its per-ticket fees with other platforms; the free-event fit does not settle the economics of paid events.
What works
- Free events cost $0
- All features included on free events
- No sign-up fees for free events
What doesn't
- Standard paid-ticket fees include booking and processing
- No monthly or annual subscription price listed
- Custom pricing requires contacting Humanitix
- Best for flexible registrationRegFoxRegFox
RegFox suits organizers who need conditional registration workflows, installments or attendee management without a monthly software subscription. It has a free plan, with listed pricing from $0.99. One catch is easy to miss: free events still carry per-registrant fees. Check the cost at your expected registration volume and compare it with platforms that charge per ticket.
What works
- Standard and Premium have no monthly subscription
- Paid-registration fees are capped per registrant
- Includes page building, attendee tools and check-in
What doesn't
- Standard charges $0.99 per registrant for free events
- Paid registrations also incur card processing fees
- Professional costs $499 monthly, billed annually, plus fees
- Best for reserved seatingTicketSpiceTicketSpice
TicketSpice is a candidate for attractions with timed entry and events that need reserved seating, without a monthly subscription. Its listed starting price is $0.99. The headline price is not the whole fee stack, and the registration workflow also deserves scrutiny before switching. Compare the total charges for your ticket types and event setup against other ticketing tools.
What works
- Reserved seating layouts and pods
- Timed-entry ticketing for recurring events
- On-site sales accept card or cash
What doesn't
- No free plan; fees apply per paid ticket
- Standard card processing adds 2.9% + $0.30
- Tickets priced $5 or less cost $0.49 each
- Best for complex programsCventCvent
Cvent is aimed at teams managing complex event programs, venue sourcing, registration and ROI reporting. That breadth may suit an organization coordinating more than one straightforward ticketed event. Pricing is not published, and user reports describe the product as overkill for some buyers. Treat it as a shortlist option for complex needs, not a cost-comparable choice until you get a quote.
What works
- Registration, venue sourcing, execution, and reporting in one platform
- CventIQ applies AI across event programs
- Venue marketplace supports venue search
What doesn't
- Monthly and annual prices are not published
- Add-on and overage costs are not published
- Professional is limited to 15 user logins
- Best for live interactionSlidoSlido
Slido focuses on live audience Q&A and quick polls, making it a better fit for meetings and event sessions than for full event operations. It has a free plan, with listed pricing from $17.50. Paid plans are annual-only and have tiered audience limits, so check the cap for your expected attendance before adding it to a software budget.
What works
- Participants can join without logins or downloads
- Supports polls, Q&A, quizzes, word clouds, and surveys
- Free Basic plan allows up to 100 participants
What doesn't
- Paid plans are billed annually, not monthly
- Basic limits users to three polls per Slido
- Engage is capped at 200 participants
- Best for Zoom eventsZoom EventsZoom Events
Zoom Events is designed for multi-session and multi-day events, and webinar hosts may value its large attendee caps. Listed pricing starts at $66.67, and the best-fit audience includes teams already using Zoom Workplace Pro. Check the full licensing cost and concurrent-session rules first; the starting price alone does not establish whether it is economical for your event schedule.
What works
- Plans list attendee capacity up to 100,000
- Supports single, recurring and pre-recorded sessions
- Events plan covers multi-session and multi-day events
What doesn't
- Every listed plan requires Zoom Workplace Pro
- Webinars starts at $89 monthly without annual billing
- Events starts at $149 monthly without annual billing
03How we chose
We compare event management tools by the jobs they support: planning events, handling registration or ticketing, and engaging attendees. We weigh published pricing and plan limits first, then use product documentation to clarify what each plan includes and where restrictions apply. We also consider Reddit sentiment as user-reported context, not proof that a product will perform the same way for every organizer. When pricing, limits, or capabilities are not published in the published material, we treat them as unknown rather than filling gaps with assumptions. We do not claim hands-on testing or benchmark results.
04Choose around the event work you need to manage
Start with the work that creates the most friction. A tool for selling tickets may not cover attendee communication or event planning in the way you need; a tool built around participation may not be the right fit for ticket sales. Write down the tasks your team must handle, from registration and payments to attendee engagement, and rank them before comparing products.
Then check each candidate’s documentation against that list. Separate essentials from nice-to-haves, and confirm which features are included in the plan you would actually buy. If a capability or limit is not published, treat it as an open question to verify with the vendor—not as a feature you can count on. This keeps a broad shortlist from turning into a feature-driven purchase that misses your event’s basic requirements.
05Compare the full cost and the cost of switching
A listed starting price is only useful if you know what it covers. Compare the plans your event would need, including published attendee, event, or feature limits where available. Check whether pricing details are missing, and ask the vendor to clarify anything that could change the bill. Do not assume two tools’ plan names or included features are equivalent.
Before switching, map the information and workflows you would need to move: event details, registration records, attendee communications, and any processes your team relies on. Confirm what documentation says about export, access, and setup; if it does not say, get an answer before committing. A lower price may not justify a move if essential requirements are unclear or the new plan’s limits do not fit. Make the decision against your actual event needs, not a headline price.
Questions people ask
How should we compare event management software?
Start with the tasks your team needs the software to handle, such as planning, registration, ticketing, or attendee engagement. Compare published plan prices and limits, then check documentation for the features included. Treat unpublished details as questions to verify, not assumptions.
What should we check before choosing a plan?
Check the price, included features, and any published limits that could affect your event. Confirm whether the plan covers the tasks you ranked as essential. If a price or limit is not published, ask the vendor directly before budgeting around it.
When does switching event software make sense?
Consider switching when your current tool no longer fits the work you need to manage or its published plan limits do not suit your requirements. Before moving, confirm how you can access or transfer relevant event and attendee information, and account for setup work.
Should we trust user reviews when choosing a tool?
Use user comments as context, not a guarantee. Reddit sentiment can point to issues or experiences worth investigating, but it may not match your event or plan. Check product documentation and ask the vendor to clarify important details before deciding.