Best Virtual Event Platforms in 2026: 8 Platforms Compared

RingCentral Events, formerly Hopin, is our pick for a large virtual or hybrid conference that needs stages, sessions, networking and an expo in one place. Attendees can move between main stages, breakout rooms and exhibitor areas, which recreates more of a conference feel than a simple webinar link. Organisers get registration, agendas and analytics in the same system.

The trade is scale and cost. Pricing is per organiser and varies by plan, so a small team running a single webinar will find it more than necessary. For a multi-day conference with hundreds or thousands of attendees, though, the structure pays off, because attendees can choose their own path through the event instead of sitting through one long stream.

Airmeet suits a community or association event where networking matters as much as the talks. Its virtual lounges and tables let attendees join small group conversations, which feels closer to a real conference break than a chat box beside a video. Multi-track sessions, polls and Q and A keep larger audiences engaged across a full day.

Pricing needs care, because webinar plans and full event plans are priced differently, and attendee limits change by tier. Check the plan that matches your event format, not just the lowest published price. If your event lives or dies on attendees meeting each other, Airmeet is one of the strongest picks here, and the networking design is the reason to choose it over a plain webinar tool.

vFairs is the pick for a virtual expo, trade show or career fair, where exhibitor booths are the point of the event. Its 3D halls let attendees walk a virtual floor, visit booths, chat with exhibitors and collect information, which works far better than a list of sponsor logos on a webinar page. That structure also suits large job fairs and university events.

The setup and pricing reflect that scale. vFairs is quote based, and building a good virtual venue takes more preparation than scheduling a webinar. A small team running a single talk should not choose it. A team running an expo with dozens of exhibitors will find the booth and lead tools worth the extra work.

Whova is the best hybrid event platform here for a conference with both a room and a remote audience. It handles agendas, attendee profiles, networking, messaging and engagement for both groups, so remote attendees are not an afterthought. Associations and academic conferences use it widely, because it covers the full conference workflow from registration to post-event networking.

Pricing is quote based, which makes early budgeting slower, and setting up a full conference takes time to learn. The payoff is a single app for everyone, rather than one tool for the room and another for remote viewers. If your event is truly hybrid, with networking expected on both sides, Whova is the strongest shortlist candidate.

Zoom Events suits a corporate team that already runs on Zoom and wants to turn meetings into a proper event. Attendees already know how to join, presenters already know the controls, and the platform adds registration, multi-track agendas, ticketing and analytics on top of the familiar video experience. That familiarity cuts support questions on event day, which is a real benefit.

The pricing is tied to Zoom plans and event tiers, so the total depends on your existing Zoom setup and attendee count. Zoom Events also has less expo and virtual venue depth than vFairs or RingCentral Events. Choose it when your audience is already comfortable on Zoom and your event is mainly sessions, not a trade show floor.

ON24 is the pick for a B2B marketing team that treats webinars as a pipeline tool, not just a presentation. Its engagement tools, polls, Q and A and analytics show which attendees were most engaged, and its content hubs let on-demand viewers keep watching after the live event. Integrations with marketing automation platforms connect that engagement data to follow-up campaigns.

The price and complexity put it in the enterprise bracket, and a small team running occasional webinars will find it heavy. ON24 earns its place when webinar analytics drive sales follow-up, because few rivals match its reporting depth. If you only need to present to a live audience, a simpler tool will do the job for less.

Bizzabo suits an enterprise marketing team running polished hybrid events with a strong brand presence. It combines registration, agendas, networking, matchmaking and analytics in a clean interface, and it handles in-person and virtual audiences together. For a flagship company conference or a large association event, that polish matters, because the platform itself reflects the brand.

The cost is enterprise level and quote based, so smaller organisers should look elsewhere. Bizzabo also expects a team that will use its full event workflow, not just stream a talk. If your event budget supports an enterprise platform and the attendee experience is a priority, Bizzabo is a strong choice. If not, Airmeet or Livestorm will cover the essentials.

Livestorm is the easiest starting point for webinars and smaller online events. The free plan lets you run real events before paying, and the setup is far simpler than an enterprise conference platform. Polls, Q and A, chat and basic analytics are built in, which covers what most webinar hosts actually need.

The limits appear at scale. Very large expos and complex multi-track conferences need a platform such as RingCentral Events or vFairs, and Livestorm lower plans carry attendee limits. For a marketing team, a trainer or a small association running regular webinars, Livestorm is excellent value and the free plan removes the risk of paying before you know the format works.