The best event management software depends on the size of what you run. Small and midsize organizers usually want a tool with no subscription or a low one, where you pay per ticket: Gomry, Luma, Eventbrite, Ticket Tailor, Humanitix and Tito fit there. Conference teams with sponsors, badges and event apps look at Cvent, Bizzabo, Whova and Accelevents, which sell annual licenses or quote on request.
Gomry publishes this article. We checked every competitor price on November 10, 2026, on each vendor's own pricing page, in US dollars unless noted. Prices change, so confirm on the vendor's page before you decide.
The 11 tools at a glance
| Tool | Built for | Published pricing (Nov 10, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Gomry | Small and midsize organizers running events and recurring classes | No monthly platform fee. Service fee per paid ticket plus processing (pricing) |
| Luma | Community events, "from run clubs to launch parties" | Free plan: 5% platform fee on paid tickets plus Stripe. Plus: $59/month billed yearly or $69 monthly, 0% platform fee |
| Eventbrite | Organizers worldwide | Free events free. Paid tickets: 3.7% + $1.79 service fee per ticket, plus 2.9% processing per order |
| Ticket Tailor | Independent event creators | No subscription. $0.85 per ticket pay as you go, from $0.30 with prepaid credits. Processing separate |
| Humanitix | Organizers who want profits to go to charity | Free events free. 2.1% + $0.99 per paid ticket, plus 2.9% + $0.30 processing |
| Tito | Tech, developer and B2B conferences | No monthly subscription. 3% per paid ticket, capped at €25 per ticket on paid plans. Processing extra |
| Zoho Backstage | Small teams up to agencies | Free plan up to 100 attendees per event. Paid plans priced by region |
| Whova | Conferences, trade shows and association events | Quote on request |
| Cvent | Event and marketing teams at larger organizations | Quote on request |
| Accelevents | Event professionals running conferences and trade shows | From $7,500 for one event. Business plan from $13,500 |
| Bizzabo | B2B event programs | From $17,999 a year. $499 per user per month, billed yearly, 3-user minimum |
For small and midsize organizers
Gomry
Gomry runs the event page, tickets, registration questions for each guest, approvals, check-in, contacts and messages in one account. Recurring classes, class packs and memberships live in the same account, so a business that runs both events and weekly sessions doesn't need two tools. Aven, the built-in assistant, creates events, imports them from Eventbrite or Luma links and invites past guests. Claude and ChatGPT connect through Gomry MCP.
Gomry is ready-to-use software. It does not offer enterprise or white-label solutions. See event management software for the full feature list.
Luma
Luma's free plan includes registration approval, guest check-in, email, SMS and WhatsApp messages, and CSV import and export. Paid tickets on the free plan carry a 5% platform fee. Luma Plus removes that fee and adds a check-in manager role.
Eventbrite
Eventbrite offers custom registration forms, a Check-In app, waitlists and automated reminders, plus public event discovery. Buyers pay the fees by default, and organizers can absorb them. Email marketing (Pro) starts at $15 a month.
Ticket Tailor
Ticket Tailor charges a flat fee per ticket with no subscription, and a lower rate when you buy credits upfront. It includes a free check-in app, recurring events, reserved seating and checkout for several events at once. Charities get 50% off.
Humanitix
Humanitix gives its profits to charity. Every plan includes every feature: a free scanning app, an automated waitlist, reserved seating, team permissions and bulk guest upload. Charities and schools pay 1% + $0.99 per ticket.
Tito
Tito focuses on technology and B2B conferences. It covers custom registration questions, waitlists, discount codes and check-in on the day, with a percentage fee per paid ticket and no subscription.
Zoho Backstage
Zoho Backstage has a free plan for events up to 100 attendees, with check-in and badging. Custom forms, a ticket waitlist, Zoho CRM integration and AI matchmaking come on higher plans. Zoho shows prices by region, so check the page from your country.
For conferences and enterprise programs
Whova
Whova is built for in-person, hybrid and virtual conferences. It covers registration, QR or name-search check-in with volunteer staff, badge printing and an event app with agendas. Pricing is by quote, based on attendees and events per year.
Cvent
Cvent sells Professional and Enterprise licenses by quote. Enterprise adds single sign-on, API access, and budget and task management. A pay-as-you-go option charges per registration plus a share of revenue, in some countries only.
Accelevents
Accelevents serves conference, trade show, field marketing and association teams. It includes custom registration fields and kiosk self check-in with badge printing. The event app and AI matching are add-ons.
Bizzabo
Bizzabo targets teams running a portfolio of B2B events. It requires an annual subscription and includes custom registration, staffed or self-service check-in with badges and a mobile app. AI matchmaking for sponsors is an add-on.
How to choose
- Price one real ticket. Work out the total fees on your typical ticket price, with processing included, and on a free event. A flat fee and a percentage fee land very differently on a $10 ticket and a $300 one.
- Count the events you run in a year. A per-ticket fee suits a few events or a changing calendar. An annual license only pays off at volume.
- Check the data for each guest. One buyer often pays for several people. Make sure each guest's answers stay with that guest.
- Decide who gets in. Approvals, invite-only events and capacity per ticket type matter more than a long feature list.
- Test check-in at your door. Scan a ticket on a phone at your venue and see what staff see on a duplicate scan.
- Make sure your data can leave. Export attendees and contacts to CSV, and check what the API covers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best event management software for small businesses?
One with no subscription or a low one, where you pay per ticket, and with the registration, check-in and messaging you need. Gomry, Luma, Eventbrite, Ticket Tailor and Humanitix all fit that model. Compare them on one real ticket price.
Is there free event management software?
Yes, for free events. Gomry, Eventbrite and Humanitix charge nothing on free tickets, Luma's free plan has no fee on free events, and Zoho Backstage has a free plan up to 100 attendees per event. Paid tickets carry fees on every one of them.
Which event management software has no monthly fee?
Gomry, Ticket Tailor, Humanitix, Tito and Eventbrite's ticketing all work without a subscription. They charge per paid ticket instead.
Do I need enterprise software for a conference?
Only if you need badge printing, sponsor tools or an event app at scale. If you don't, a per-ticket tool covers registration, check-in and messages without an annual contract. Cvent, Bizzabo, Whova and Accelevents start at thousands of dollars a year or quote on request.