Looking for ON24 competitors and alternatives?
We’ve done the work for you and put together a list of 11 of the best ON24 competitors and alternatives for event management.
Each platform has its own strengths, so you can find the one that fits your in-person, virtual, or hybrid event needs.
Read on to find which companies like ON24 could help you achieve your business goals and choose the best ON24 competitor for your team.
Why Look For ON24 Competitors?
#1 Limited To Webinars With Poor Performance
ON24, while being a recognized platform for webinars, falls short when it comes to larger events.
The platform is engineered for smaller, more intimate gatherings and struggles to scale effectively for larger audiences. This means that for large-scale virtual conferences or mass online gatherings, ON24’s infrastructure and capabilities may not meet the required standards.
Participants might face issues with connectivity, streaming quality, and interactive features, which can negatively impact the overall experience. Furthermore, its capacity to manage multi-faceted, complex, and extensive events is not on par with other more comprehensive ON24 alternatives, making it a less-than-optimal choice for larger virtual events.
#2 Clunky User Experience
ON24 has received feedback from users about having a clunky and less-than-optimal user experience. Its platform interface has been described as unintuitive and not user-friendly, leading to difficulties in navigation and usability.
For hosts and presenters, setting up a webinar can be complicated and time-consuming, particularly for those not familiar with the platform. Attendees, too, have reported challenges in accessing content due to the platform’s complex layout and design.
In a time when seamless, intuitive digital experiences are increasingly expected, these issues could significantly impact user satisfaction and engagement levels with the platform. These usability challenges can detract from the overall value ON24 provides, making it a less appealing choice for webinar hosts and attendees.
#3 Lack Of Technical Support
Another drawback of ON24 is its reported lack of comprehensive and responsive technical support services.
Users have expressed frustration at not being able to quickly resolve technical issues that arise during the setup or execution of webinars due to the platform’s unresponsive customer support.
The platform’s complexity often requires support, but the available assistance, as reported by some users, has been found lacking in terms of both speed and effectiveness. This deficiency can cause delays, create disruptions during live events, and ultimately lead to a diminished user experience.
For businesses that rely on timely and efficient webinars, this can be a significant detriment and could impact their choice of using ON24 as their webinar platform.
#4 No Mobile App Or Solution For In-Person Events
ON24’s capabilities also have noticeable limitations when it comes to mobile access and in-person events. It does not offer a mobile event app, for example.
This lack of a mobile-specific platform can hamper the accessibility and convenience of its webinars, especially in today’s world, where mobile connectivity is the norm at in-person events rather than an exception.
Moreover, ON24’s primary focus on webinars means that it does not cater well to in-person events. It lacks features such as on-site registration, attendee tracking, and integration with physical event technology, making it a less suitable choice for organizations that run in-person and hybrid events. This leaves a gap in their service that could be disadvantageous for those seeking a comprehensive, all-in-one event solution that can be used for any event format.
How We Selected The 11 Best ON24 Competitors And Alternatives
Interested in how we put together our list of the 11 best ON24 competitors and alternatives? Here are the criteria we based it on:
- Features: We looked for event management software that included the most sought features.
- Capabilities: As well as features, top ON24 competitors should offer other services in addition to the platform itself, such as event technology services and support.
- Customer reviews: We’ve explored the review sites G2 and Capterra to see what users say about these ON24 competitors.
- Independent research firm reports: We’ve read reports created by independent research firms about the best event technology.
- Event technologist opinions: We’ve spoken to numerous event technologists and listened to their views on different ON24 alternatives.
Why You Can Trust SpotMe With These Reviews
We have been in the event technology industry for over 20 years. During that time, we have helped our enterprise customers run thousands of events with our event software that welcomes 500,000+ attendees each month. We have worked with 200+ event production, event management, and medical communications agencies to help our customers deliver engaging events that have resulted in 10,000,000+ customer relationships. And thanks to our long list of integrations, we work with a variety of technology providers every day.
Find out more about SpotMe on our about us page.
The 11 Best ON24 Competitors And Alternatives
ON24 vs SpotMe
Named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report and a Market Leader in Research In Action’s Vendor Selection Matrix™ Report – Marketing Event Management: The Top Global Vendors 2023.
SpotMe is the enterprise event platform to create engaging, personalized, and compliant event experiences that help companies build better customer relationships. With 20+ years of unrivaled experience in the event tech industry, SpotMe is the first choice for enterprise event engagement.
SpotMe will ensure you skyrocket engagement at any event format – in-person, virtual, or hybrid, making it stand out from ON24 and any other ON24 competitors. From an interactive activity feed, networking tools, chatbots, and live chat to Q&A, polls, live applause, quizzes, gamification, and more.
Its fully customizable, integrated, and intuitive mobile event app makes it the ideal solution for leading Fortune 500 companies in high-touch industries, such as life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and professional services, looking to create branded and personalized in-person experiences their audiences will love.
Users agree that SpotMe’s “attendee interface is clean, easy to use, and able to be branded for any company” (see G2 review) and “The backstage and user app are incredibly user-friendly, making it easy to navigate and understand” (see G2 review).
SpotMe has deep native integrations with CRM systems and MAPs, including Veeva, Hubspot, Marketo, Salesforce, and Rainfocus, to name a few, making it effortless to automatically track numerous event metrics to help you drive your next best action with customers.
SpotMe stands out from other Cvent competitors thanks to its enterprise-grade security. With enterprise deployment, 24/7 instant support, and white-glove professional services, hosting events with a flawless user experience has never been easier.
If you’d like to see how SpotMe can transform your events into valuable first-party data sources that help drive your marketing efforts and boost ROI, why not request a free demo now?
Reviews:
ON24 vs BigMarker
Much like ON24 and other ON24 competitors, BigMarker is a platform for webinars, virtual, and hybrid events. It is highly customizable and event marketers can use it to host unique branded events full of engaging experiences.
Its all-in-one platform has integrations, APIs, and white-label services. BigMarker gives companies the chance to create interactive video experiences.
Key features:
- Polls/Voting
- Live chat
- Q&A
- Reporting/Analytics
- Screen sharing
Reviews:
If you’re looking for competitors of BigMarker, check out our ultimate guide to BigMarker alternatives.
ON24 vs Bizzabo
Named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report and a Market Leader in Research In Action’s Vendor Selection Matrix™ Report – Marketing Event Management: The Top Global Vendors 2023.
Bizzabo is one of the top ON24 competitors because it provides a full set of event management, planning, and marketing tools to make your virtual, hybrid, and in-person events successful.
It’s one of the ON24 competitors that gives ON24 a run for its money due to its in-depth analytics. It allows you to easily see the impact of your event marketing strategy.
Key features:
- Live streaming
- Live chat
- Real-time chat
- Customizable branding
- Q&A
Reviews:
ON24 vs Cvent
Named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report and a Market Leader in Research In Action’s Vendor Selection Matrix™ Report – Marketing Event Management: The Top Global Vendors 2023.
Cvent is similar to ON24 and other ON24 competitors because it is an all-in-one event platform for all types of events of all sizes: virtual, hybrid, and in-person.
It’s for event marketers or hospitality professionals looking to expand their business with a single platform. From helping you find suppliers to engaging audiences and collecting valuable event data, Cvent is a strong ON24 competitor.
Key features:
- Customizable branding
- Live chat
- Survey/Poll management
- Agenda management
- Live streaming
Reviews:
For the ultimate guide on Cvent competitors and alternatives, check out our latest blog post.
ON24 vs Hopin
Hopin is one of the ON24 competitors that provides audiences with interactive event experiences thanks to its all-in-one platform. You can choose to use pre-recorded content, live broadcasts, RTMP streams, or even video production, depending on your event budget.
With Hopin’s virtual events, you can let your thousands of participants connect from all over the world.
Key features:
- Real-time chat
- Survey/Poll management
- Live streaming
- Virtual lobby
- Reporting/Analytics
Reviews:
To find out more about Hopin, check out our Hopin review.
ON24 vs GoToWebinar
Unlike other ON24 competitors in this list, GoToWebinar only offers webinars. It has shaped the webinar industry and audiences have loved this solution for years.
GoToWebinar is an ON24 competitor that comes with top-notch security. This means that data transmission is secured with high-end encryption. Also, it has advanced security protocols. GoToWebinar only uses SOCII-certified data centers.
Key features:
- File sharing
- Whiteboard
- Q&A
- Polling
- On-demand webinar hub
Reviews:
Considering GoToWebinar? Read our alternatives guide.
ON24 vs Zoom Events and Webinars
Named a Contender in The Forrester Wave™: B2B Event Management Technology, Q1 2023 report and a Market Leader in Research In Action’s Vendor Selection Matrix™ Report – Marketing Event Management: The Top Global Vendors 2023.
Zoom Events and Webinars steps up as one of the ON24 competitors that aim to facilitate webinars and virtual events. Companies tend to use it for town halls, quarterly updates, and lectures.
It’s easy to stream to third-party platforms making Zoom Events and Webinars a great choice for single-session large broadcasts. It is also a platform that’s very easy to use.
In the past, the tool was scrutinized for lack of security. Many bigger clients have therefore moved away from Zoom.
Key features:
- Polling
- Q&A
- Breakout sessions
- Video conferencing
- Live chat
Reviews:
Considering Zoom? Read our Zoom webinar alternatives guide or our Zoom webinar review.
ON24 vs Webex Events
Webex Events is on our ultimate list of ON24 competitors because it’s an end-to-end event management platform that event organizers use to host all types of events: virtual, hybrid, or in-person.
It’s very easy to use, making it a top choice for companies who prefer event software they can use in self-service mode. It has a customizable event platform and app that help you keep event communities engaged.
Key features:
- Survey/Poll management
- Live streaming
- Real-time chat
- Networking
- Agenda management
Reviews:
ON24 vs Zoho Meeting
Zoho Meeting is a great contender on the list of ON24 competitors. It’s a webinar platform that runs in your browser, similar to ON24. This means there’s no need to download software. Zoho hits the markets with low prices and an easy-to-use interface.
But, Zoho is not equipped to create a virtual event experience. There are no whiteboards, agendas, polling, or Q&A features. Although, it does come with high-end security. Hence, all communication through Zoho is encrypted. It uses SSL and 128-bit AES protocols.
Companies buy Zoho Meeting instead of the other ON24 competitors in this list due to its simplicity and price. So, if you’re looking to host small webinars, it’s a great choice.
Zoho Meeting only comes with basic features.
Key features:
- Video conferencing
- Screen sharing
- Custom registration forms
- Reminders
Reviews:
ON24 vs Adobe Connect
Adobe Connect is a video conferencing platform. It’s one of the great ON24 alternatives because it tailors the user experience (UX) for each session. Educators mainly use it as it enables them to easily deliver virtual lectures and training sessions.
Adobe is good for small virtual events because it supports up to 1,000 participants and gives you the chance to split people over rooms that can contain up to 100 people. Plus, with Adobe you know you’re secure. The platform comes with multi-layered security.
Key features:
- Video conferencing
- Desktop/Document sharing
- Virtual classroom
But if you want to add more features, you’ll need to add third-party apps. These include Q&A, polling, clapping, and thumbs-up.
Reviews:
Want to know more about Adobe Connect? We did a full review and wrote a guide with Adobe Connect alternatives.
ON24 vs BrightTalk Virtual Events
While BrightTalk Virtual Events is one of the ON24 alternatives, its platform is only for online events not hybrid or in-person events.
Targeted at B2B marketers, workshop facilitators, and event organizers, the platform provides the tools needed to sell, create, and promote webinars and virtual events. You can integrate the software with marketing automation platforms too.
Key features:
- Networking lounges
- Resource centers
- Sponsor booths
- Discussion boards
- HTML5 video technology
Reviews:
Opt For The Best ON24 Competitor And Create Engaging Experiences Audiences Love
As number 1 in our ultimate list of the best ON24 competitors and alternatives, SpotMe gives enterprises everything they need to create unforgettable event experiences.
With its personalized platform and mobile event app, you can keep engagement high with its numerous interactive features and track valuable first-party data metrics with its integrations and reporting tools. That’s why 12,000+ marketers and Fortune 500 business leaders choose SpotMe as the best ON24 competitor.
To find out just how SpotMe can help you hit your event targets all year round, request a free demo now.
Looking For More Info About Leading ON24 Competitors?
We recommend checking out the following guides to help you find the right event technology thatg suits your business needs:
