Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and they’re increasingly embracing technology to maximize their resources. Many of these businesses rely on both in-person and virtual events, and event software has been a game-changer for small teams with limited bandwidth.
Recent studies have shown that small enterprises estimate that event software saves them up to 200 hours per year, which is a significant number for a small team. The same research also found that 92% of marketers believe that event software makes it easier for them to achieve their business goals.
But what’s the best event software for small businesses? And what should you look for in event software for your business? To help you answer those questions, we’ve put together a list of the top event software solutions for small businesses.
What Is Event Management Software for Small Businesses?
Event management software for small businesses are platforms designed to plan, organize, and manage events, whether they’re in-person, virtual, or hybrid, while keeping costs and resources in check.
For small teams, these tools centralize critical event processes like:
- Registration and ticketing
- Payment collection and processing
- Attendee communications
- Marketing and promotion
- On-site check-in and access control
- Reporting and analytics
By uniting these functions, small businesses can avoid juggling multiple disconnected apps, saving both time and money while improving the attendee experience.
Why Small Businesses Need Event Management Software
While large corporations may have dedicated event departments, small businesses often operate with lean teams who wear multiple hats.
Event software helps them:
- Save Time: Automates repetitive tasks like sending confirmations, processing payments, and compiling reports.
- Reduce Costs: Minimizes the need for third-party contractors by consolidating tools.
- Boost Attendance: Integrates marketing tools to promote events to targeted audiences.
- Improve ROI Tracking: Provides analytics dashboards to measure event success and optimize future events.
In an environment where every minute and dollar counts, the right event software can be the difference between a stressful scramble and a seamless experience.
Key Features Small Businesses Should Look For
Before choosing a platform, consider these must-have features tailored for small business needs:
- User-Friendly Interface – No steep learning curve; your team should be able to adopt it quickly.
- Flexible Registration & Ticketing – Support for multiple ticket types, early-bird discounts, group bookings, and embedded website forms.
- Integrated Marketing Tools – Email campaigns, social media promotion, and SMS reminders all in one place.
- Secure Payment Processing – PCI-compliant systems, transparent transaction fees, and multiple payment options.
- Custom Branding – Match your event pages, tickets, and emails to your business’s visual identity.
- Mobile Access – Event apps or mobile-friendly portals for on-the-go management.
- Reporting & Analytics – Real-time insights into registrations, revenue, and attendee engagement.
- Integration Capabilities – Ability to connect with CRMs, marketing automation tools, and accounting software you already use.
Top Event Software for Small Businesses
Eventtia
Eventtia is a powerful yet intuitive event management platform ideal for small businesses that want to streamline planning, engagement, and follow-up. It offers enterprise-level features with small-business flexibility. It provided end-to-end event management services to Amazon, Cartier, Nike, and Pernod Ricard, as well as thousands of small businesses.
Since its inception in 2014, Eventtia has supported more than 35,000 successful in-person, hybrid, and virtual events, with millions of attendees across the globe. With a highly customizable platform and API services that help you plan, execute, and measure events, Eventtia is ideal for consumer, corporate, and B2B event management for small businesses.
Key Features
- Event registration: Create custom registration forms in minutes, segment attendees, and more
- Ticketing for events: Manage registrations and payments, guest lists, and group bookings
- Event marketing: Create event web pages, emails, WhatsApp, and SMS communications
- Event check-in app: Mobile app available on iOS and Android stores
- Event mobile app: Web app for in-person, virtual, and hybrid events
- Event tracking software: Monitor your event data, gauge impact, and assess ROI
Pricing
Starting at $1,500/year (unlimited events, 100 attendees). Full pricing info here.
Why is Eventtia Ideal for Small Businesses
Eventtia eliminates the need for multiple tools by combining everything into one sleek platform. Its user-friendly interface, customer support, and scalability make it especially valuable for small teams looking to grow.
Eventbrite
Eventbrite is one of the most popular self-service platforms for small businesses hosting ticketed events like classes, performances, or fundraisers.
Key Features
- Easy event creation and promotion
- Ticket sales and check-in management
- Built-in payment processing
- Integration with social media and Mailchimp
- Analytics dashboard
Pricing
Free for free events; for paid events, Eventbrite charges 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket, plus a payment processing fee (2.9%).
How Eventbrite Compares to Eventtia for Small Businesses
While these are two popular options, Eventtia receives higher scores in customer support, user-friendly design, and product direction, according to recent G2 and Capterra reviews. Eventbrite boasts many more integrations, but unless that is the most important factor, Eventtia is the better all-around event software solution for small businesses.
Hopin (now part of RingCentral Events)
Hopin offers a robust virtual venue experience, ideal for small businesses moving into hybrid or remote-friendly event spaces.
Key Features
- Virtual stages, networking areas, and breakout sessions
- Live chat, polls, and Q&A features
- Sponsor booths and virtual expo areas
- Recording and on-demand replay options
- Analytics and CRM integration
Pricing
Custom pricing; previously offered a free plan for up to 100 attendees.
How Hopin Compares to Eventtia
Hopin offers professional-grade virtual tools without requiring a large in-house tech team. It’s a solid choice for webinars, conferences, and virtual product launches, but doesn’t offer any solutions for small businesses running hybrid or in-person events. If you’re looking for a platform supporting both online and in-person events, Eventtia is a more robust option.
Stova
Stova is designed for companies looking for a data-first approach to event planning and execution. It supports both in-person and virtual events, and offers end-to-end event management for small businesses, from registration to reporting
Key Features
- Online registration and website builder
- Email marketing
- On-site check-in and badge printing
- Lead capture tools
- In-depth analytics and ROI tracking
Pricing
Custom – requires a quote
How Stova Compares to Eventtia for Small Businesses
Stova helps small teams prove event ROI and optimize processes with actionable insights, making smarter events easier to execute. However, according to G2 and Capterra reviews, Eventtia offers better value for money, customer support, and user interface. For small businesses, where tech support and value are everything, you can’t go past Eventtia.
Bizzabo
Bizzabo offers highly customizable solutions for both in-person and virtual events, with branding at the forefront. Although it’s a robust solution, it’s not always the easiest to navigate. If you’re looking for more of a “plug-and-play” solution, this might give you some challenges.
Key Features
- Custom-branded registration pages and mobile apps
- Attendee engagement tools (live polls, networking)
- Detailed analytics and engagement tracking
- Speaker and sponsor management
- Marketing automation
Pricing
Starts at $499 per user per month, 3-user minimum.
How Bizzabo Compares to Eventtia for Small Businesses
Bizzabo is ideal for businesses looking to make a big impression with small events, and it’s especially useful for branding and community building. However, at that price point, it’s likely only an option for small businesses hosting a very high number of events. Eventtia offers better value for money, especially for small businesses needing to stretch event budgets as far as possible.
Splash
Splash combines event management with marketing automation, making it especially valuable for teams focused on brand growth and lead generation. It empowers small marketing teams to create beautifully branded events with built-in lead tracking and nurturing.
Key Features
- Custom event landing pages
- Email and guest list management
- RSVP tracking
- Audience segmentation and targeting
- Integrations with CRM platforms like HubSpot and Salesforce
Pricing
Requires a demo to request a quote
How Splash Compares to Eventtia for Small Businesses
Splash is a good solution for small businesses, but users note that it’s highly centered around a U.S.-based audience. If you’re running global virtual events, events that span multiple time zones, or even in-person events outside the United States, you might be disappointed by the insufficient multi-language and time zone capabilities. On the other hand, Eventtia has successfully hosted thousands of events, all over the world.
Zoho Backstage
Part of the Zoho ecosystem, Zoho Backstage is an affordable event management option for small businesses already using Zoho products. If you’re not already in the Zoho ecosystem, this likely isn’t the best fit for you.
Key Features
- Agenda and speaker management
- Event websites and registration
- Mobile event apps
- Integration with Zoho CRM and Zoho Campaigns
- Analytics dashboard
Pricing
Starts at $99/month for up to 100 attendees, with discounts for annual billing.
How Zoho Backstage Compares to Eventtia for Small Businesses
Zoho Backstage offers great value for those who want seamless integration with other Zoho tools they already use. It has some useful integrations, but doesn’t offer a lot of value for non-Zoho users. Eventtia offers similarly robust features and, according to G2 reviews, better customer support and a more intuitive UI.
So, Which Event Software is Best for Small Businesses?
As you can see, there are plenty of event management solutions out there for small businesses. Overall, Eventtia stands out as a scalable, flexible platform with incredible support. For small businesses, Eventtia provides a simple yet comprehensive solution that eliminates the need for managing events through multiple software solutions.
The right choice will depend on your team’s priorities and business goals, but if you’re looking for a reliable solution designed to grow with your business, schedule a demo to see how Eventtia can streamline your event management and increase event ROI.
