Key Takeaways
What is event management software?
Event management software is a tool that helps you plan, promote, and run events from one place. It typically handles:
- Registration and ticketing
- Payments
- Confirmation and reminder emails
- Attendee lists
- Check-in on the day
- Reporting after the event
For small businesses, it replaces spreadsheets, email threads, and paper guest lists with one organized system.
Why do small businesses need event management software?
Because manual systems break fast. Once registrations grow past a few dozen people:
- Guest lists get duplicated or go out of date
- Reminders get missed
- Payments are hard to track
- Check-in lines slow down at the door
- You have no data to improve the next event
Good software saves time before the event and makes your business look more professional during it. For wider event technology trends, see Cvent, Bizzabo, and Smart Meetings.
What types of event management software are there?
|
Type |
What it does |
Best for |
|
Ticketing platforms |
Sell tickets, take payments, send confirmations |
Paid events |
|
Registration and RSVP tools |
Collect sign-ups and manage guest lists |
Free events and community meetups |
|
Check-in apps |
QR scanning and door management |
In-person events |
|
All-in-one platforms |
Registration, communication, check-in, reporting |
Growing teams and recurring events |
|
Event apps |
Agendas, networking, and attendee engagement |
Conferences and multi-session events |
The 10 Best Event Management Software Options for Small Business
1. Eventbrite
Best for : Paid public events that benefit from extra discovery
Why it’s on the list:
- Free events carry no service fee, so it costs nothing to list them.
- It’s one of the most recognized ticketing brands, with a public marketplace that can bring in new attendees.
- You can choose to absorb the fees or pass them on to ticket buyers.
Pricing: In the US, Eventbrite charges a service fee of 3.7% + $1.79 per paid ticket, plus 2.9% payment processing per order. Pro plans start at $15 per month, but per-ticket fees still apply.
Watch out for: on a $25 ticket, total fees come to about $3.45, and there’s no cap on fees. Bending Spoons also acquired Eventbrite in March 2026, so check for policy changes Official fee details.
2. Ticket Tailor
Best for: Small businesses selling paid tickets on a budget
Why it’s on the list:
- It charges a flat fee per ticket instead of a percentage of your ticket price.
- It’s free for most free events.
- You can remove the Ticket Tailor logo from checkout and connect your own domain.
Pricing: about $0.85 per ticket on pay-as-you-sell, or as low as $0.30 if you prepay with credits.
Watch out for: payment processing is billed separately through your own Stripe, PayPal, or Square account, and it has no public marketplace to find you an audience Official pricing help.
3. Luma
Best for: Free community events, meetups, and launches
Why it’s on the list:
- The free plan includes unlimited events and guests.
- The free tier includes RSVP management, QR check-in, and Zoom integration.
- It has clean, modern event pages that are quick to publish.
Pricing: Free events are free. Paid events on the free plan carry a 5% platform fee. Luma Plus costs 59permonthbilledannually(69 month-to-month) and removes the platform fee.
Watch out for: Stripe processing (typically 2.9% + 30¢) applies on top, and branding control is more limited than on premium tools Official pricing.
4. Humanitix
Best for: Businesses and nonprofits that want their ticket fees to do good
Why it’s on the list:
- It reinvests 100% of net profits from booking fees into charitable programs.
- It includes event pages, attendee management, and on-the-door check-in.
- Nonprofits and schools get reduced rates.
Pricing: In the US, the standard rate is 5% + $1.29 per paid ticket, including payment processing. Registered nonprofits and schools pay 3.9% + $1.29.
Watch out for: A percentage-based fee can cost more than flat-fee tools on higher-priced tickets.
5. Zoho Backstage
Best for: Small businesses already using Zoho, or those that want commission-free ticketing
Why it’s on the list:
- It offers commission-free ticket sales, so you pay a fixed license fee and keep 100% of your ticket revenue.
- It’s an all-in-one platform that combines registration, event pages, and management.
- It connects to the wider Zoho business suite.
Pricing: Based on a license rather than per-ticket commission. Check Zoho Backstage for current plans.
Watch out for: It has more setup features than simple RSVP tools.
6. Whova
Best for: conferences and in-person events that need strong check-in and attendee engagement
Why it’s on the list:
- It offers free ticketing for free events.
- It supports offline check-in: download the event data in advance, then check people in, edit profiles, and scan and print badges without Wi-Fi.
- Small businesses make up 57% of reviewers on Capterra.
Pricing: Quote-based, depending on attendee count, event format, events per year, and add-ons.
Watch out for: There’s no published pricing, and it can be more than simple events need Whova pricing page.
7. SimpleTix
Best for: Paid events that want a fee cap
Why it’s on the list:
- It charges $0.79 + 2% per ticket, with the service fee capped at $9.99.
- There’s no monthly fee, no contract, and no fees on free events.
Pricing: Per ticket, as above. SimpleTix publishes these figures.
Watch out for: Payment processing terms vary, so confirm the all-in cost at your ticket price SimpleTix pricing details.
8. TicketSpice
Best for: Straightforward paid ticketing at a low flat rate
Why it’s on the list:
- It’s a flat-fee platform, so it’s among the cheapest per ticket.
- It charges a flat $0.99 per ticket.
Pricing: $0.99 per ticket plus payment processing.
Watch out for: flat-fee platforms are cheapest per ticket but won’t find attendees for you, so you need your own audience.
9. Hi.Events
Best for: Businesses that want to pass all fees to buyers
Why it’s on the list:
- It charges 1.25% + $0.60 per paid ticket in the US, and you can pass the fee to buyers so your own outlay is zero.
- Free events stay free.
- A self-hosted version has no platform fees.
Pricing: Per ticket, as above, with Stripe’s card fees paid separately. Hi publishes these figures—events itself.
Watch out for: Self-hosting needs technical skills Hi.Events.
10. Eventship
Best for: Free community events with QR check-in and room to grow
Why it’s on the list:
- The free plan supports unlimited free events with unlimited guests, RSVP management, and QR code check-in.
- It supports multi-day event hubs, embeddable widgets, and custom ticket types for larger formats.
Pricing: Free for free events. Paid tickets carry a 3% fee, and Pro costs $59/month billed annually. Eventship itself publishes these figures.
Watch out for: It’s a newer platform, so check reviews and support options.
Budget-Friendly Event Software Comparison
|
Tool |
Free events |
Paid ticket fees (US) |
Check-in |
Best for |
|
Eventbrite |
Free |
3.7% + $1.79, plus 2.9% processing |
Mobile app |
Paid public events |
|
Ticket Tailor |
Free for most |
About 0.30–0.85 flat, plus processing |
Yes |
Low-cost paid tickets |
|
Luma |
Free |
5% (free plan) or 0% (Plus) |
QR check-in |
Community events |
|
Humanitix |
Free |
5% + $1.29, including processing |
Yes |
Fees that do good |
|
Zoho Backstage |
Via license |
Commission-free on a license |
Yes |
Zoho users |
|
Whova |
Free ticketing |
Quote-based |
Strong, with offline mode |
Conferences and check-in |
|
SimpleTix |
Free |
$0.79 + 2% (capped) |
Yes |
A capped fee |
|
TicketSpice |
Check |
$0.99 flat, plus processing |
Yes |
Simple paid ticketing |
|
Free |
1.25% + $0.60 (can be passed to buyers) |
Yes |
Passing fees on |
|
|
Eventship |
Free |
3% |
QR check-in |
Growing communities |
How do you choose the right tool and avoid overpaying?
Ask five questions before you start a trial
- Are your tickets free or paid? Free events can often run at no cost.
- How many attendees do you expect? That decides which fee model is cheapest.
- How often do you run events? Frequent events may justify a subscription that removes per-ticket fees.
- Do you need attendees to find you? Marketplaces like Eventbrite help. Flat-fee tools don’t.
- How important is check-in? For busy in-person events, choose a tool with strong mobile or offline check-in.
Watch for hidden costs
- Per-ticket and processing fees
- Attendee caps that force an upgrade
- Paid add-ons for branding, custom domains, or check-in apps
- Fees kept on refunds
- Premium support locked behind higher plans
Promotion matters too. This LinkedIn article on promoting events before they start covers landing pages and social campaigns that help fill your registration page.
Here’s what small businesses usually get wrong
- Choosing on headline price. Percentage fees grow with ticket price and volume.
- Overbuying. Enterprise tools add weeks of setup for features you’ll never use.
- Not testing check-in. Always test mobile check-in on a real phone before event day.
- Ignoring refunds. Some platforms keep their fees when you refund a ticket.
- Forgetting follow-up. Export your attendee list and follow up quickly. This LinkedIn article on marketing before, during, and after events recommends following up within 24 hours.
- A polished registration page, then a plain folding table at the door.
Software runs the event. Your setup makes the impression.
Your registration page gets people in the door. What they see when they arrive is what they remember. Research from CEIR found that interactive engagement with people and products gets the highest attendee usage, and a professional setup invites that engagement.
Match your check-in area to your registration page:
|
Setup element |
Why it matters |
Choose |
|
A check-in counter |
A professional welcome point with hidden storage |
|
|
A table cover |
Turns any venue table into a branded surface |
|
|
A tablet stand |
Makes QR check-in easy |
|
|
A welcome banner |
Guides guests to the right place |
|
|
A photo backdrop |
Branded photos guests share |
|
|
A main backdrop wall |
Frames your stage or check-in area |
|
|
A glowing focal point |
Stands out under flat venue lighting |
|
|
An immersive photo space |
Social-ready brand moments |
|
|
An outdoor presence |
Shade and visibility |
|
|
A trade show booth |
A complete booth in one order |
For event design inspiration, see BizBash and Event Marketer. For more on improving the attendee experience, read this LinkedIn article.
Why Backdropsource?
- We print it right, or we reprint it. Printing or production mistakes are reprinted free. See our return policy.
- Free 2D mockups. See your check-in area and displays before production.
- Free artwork assistance. We fit your branding to every display.
- Sustainable, PVC-free fabric with vivid dye-sublimated prints.
- Free shipping across the USA.
- A 1-year warranty on display hardware.
- Trusted for 22+ years. See our work.
Make your event look as organized as it runs
Please tell us your event type, date, and venue, and we’ll show you exactly how your check-in area and displays will look before anything goes to print.
Get your free 2D mockup → or talk to an event display expert →
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