A Side-by-Side Analysis of Eventbrite vs Cvent

eventbrite vs cvent cover image with two hands swordfighting with painting brushes

When weighing Eventbrite vs Cvent, you’re not just choosing an event platform — you’re deciding between a streamlined DIY approach and a comprehensive enterprise solution.

Eventbrite is a user-friendly, self-service ticketing and event management platform ideal for small to medium-sized events. 

It empowers organizers to: 

  • Create event pages, 
  • Sell tickets online, 
  • Promote their events on social media,
  • Send event invitation emails,
  • Manage attendees.

Known for its ease of use and affordability, Eventbrite is popular among independent creators, small businesses, and community organizers, hosting everything from concerts and workshops to festivals and classes.

As its competitor, we have its big brother — Cvent, an enterprise-grade platform designed for managing complex meetings, events, and conferences. 

Popular with large organizations and corporations, it offers a comprehensive suite of tools encompassing venue sourcing, event planning, registration, on-site execution, and post-event analysis.

To help manage such complex gatherings, it provides these features:

  • Advanced reporting,
  • Budgeting tools,
  • Financial management capabilities,
  • Integrations with other enterprise systems. 

Its advanced features make it a powerful but often more costly solution compared to simpler alternatives.

This Eventbrite vs Cvent comparison analyzes the core features, pricing structures, and target audiences of the two platforms. If you want to determine which platform works best for your event’s scale and complexity, this guide has the answers you’re looking for.



Eventbrite vs Cvent: Which is Better For Your Next Event?

eventbrite logo
Eventbrite logo
cvent logo
Cvent logo 

When choosing between Eventbrite and Cvent, it’s essential to understand how they compare across key features. Below, we’ll break them down to highlight differences. 

We evaluated the two platforms by comparing these 6:

  1. Ticketing and registration,
  2. Event marketing,
  3. Event and attendee management,
  4. Apps,
  5. Reporting and analytics,
  6. Pricing.

Ticketing and Registration

Eventbrite ticketing
Eventbrite ticketing

Eventbrite excels in providing a straightforward, user-friendly experience for basic ticketing needs. Organizers can quickly set up various ticket types, such as general admission or VIP. 

Users can also offer discounts and promo codes and manage ticket sales through a simple interface. Eventbrite’s strength lies in its ease of use, making it ideal for smaller events where speed and simplicity are paramount.

Registration on Cvent
Creating the registration process on Cvent

Cvent offers a much more robust and feature-rich registration system designed for complex events and conferences. It handles intricate registration paths with conditional logic, allowing organizers to collect detailed attendee information based on specific criteria.

Cvent also offers the following features:

  • Session registration,
  • Accommodation booking,
  • Advanced reports on registration data,
  • Integration with travel arrangements.

This makes it suitable for large-scale events with diverse attendee needs. While Cvent’s system offers greater flexibility and customization, it comes with a steeper learning curve compared to Eventbrite’s simpler approach.

FeatureEventbriteCvent
Basic Ticketing⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Advanced Registration⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ticket Customization⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Conditional Logic⭐⭐⭐⭐
Accommodation and Travel Integration ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ticketing and Registration features of Eventbrite vs Cvent

Verdict: Cvent offers superior features for ticketing and registration, winning this round.

Event Marketing

Customer segmentation on Eventbrite
Customer segmentation on Eventbrite

Eventbrite’s event marketing tools are geared towards maximizing visibility and driving ticket sales within its own ecosystem. 

It offers built-in promotional features such as social media integrations for easy sharing and automated invites to past attendees. Users can also list events on Eventbrite’s marketplace, increasing discoverability among its user base. It provides basic email marketing capabilities to send promotional emails.

Cvent page builder
Cvent’s page builder

Cvent takes a more sophisticated approach to event marketing. It offers tools designed for targeted email campaigns, social campaigns, and B2C lead generation. The features include advanced email marketing automation with email personalization and email list management.

Users get robust page-building tools for creating dedicated event websites, and integrations with popular marketing automation platforms. Cvent also provides tools to manage online advertising, such as PPC marketing and generating detailed reports on email performance. With such data tools, users can accurately track marketing ROI.

FeatureEventbriteCvent
Social Media Integration⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Email Marketing⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Website Building⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Marketing Automation⭐⭐⭐⭐
ROI Tracking⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Event marketing capabilities of Eventbrite vs Cvent

Verdict: Cvent has an edge in marketing automation and creating landing pages, winning it the event marketing round.

Event and Attendee Management

Create events on Eventbrite
Creating events on Eventbrite is simple

Eventbrite offers basic tools to manage attendees, primarily focused on ticketing and check-in. Organizers can access attendee lists, track attendance, and communicate with attendees through basic email blasts

While sufficient for smaller events, Eventbrite lacks advanced features for managing complex attendee interactions.

Cvent event management
Cvent lets you fine-tune every aspect of your event

Cvent provides a comprehensive suite of attendee management tools designed for large-scale events and conferences. It lets users build attendee profiles, allowing organizers to collect and manage extensive data on each attendee. Cvent also facilitates attendee engagement through networking tools, personalized agendas, and mobile event apps. 

FeatureEventbriteCvent
Basic Attendee Lists
Detailed Attendee Profiles⭐⭐⭐⭐
Attendee Communication⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Networking Tools⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Attendee Behavior Analytics⭐⭐⭐⭐
Event management features of Eventbrite vs Cvent

Verdict: Cvent’s data processing prowess is far superior to Eventbrite and it wins the round.

Eventbrite App vs Cvent App

Eventbrite app
The Eventbrite app is on Google Play and App Store

Eventbrite’s app caters primarily to event attendees, functioning as a digital wallet for tickets and a discovery platform for local events. Its streamlined interface lets users browse events by category, location, and date, while storing multiple tickets in one place. 

Event organizers can use Eventbrite Organizer, a separate app, to scan tickets and track real-time attendance data.

Cvent Events App
The Cvent Events App on Android

Cvent’s mobile offerings are more comprehensive but also more complex. Their flagship app, Cvent Events, is customizable for each event, essentially creating a mini-social network for attendees.

Cvent OnArrival app
The OnArrival app from Cvent

Organizers can embed interactive maps, build personalized agendas, enable attendee messaging, and push real-time updates. Cvent’s OnArrival app handles check-in and badge printing, while the CventConnect app focuses on venue sourcing and supplier networking.

Cvent Attendee Hub Event App
Cvent Attendee Hub Event App

A quick scan of Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store reveals Eventbrite’s consumer app consistently ranking higher. It gets praise for its intuitive design and quick loading times.

A key differentiator is that Eventbrite’s app is free for all users, while Cvent’s organizer apps are part of their enterprise pricing model, reflecting their target markets of consumer events versus corporate conferences.

FeatureEventbriteCvent
Event Discovery⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Attendee App Features⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Organizer App Features⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Eventbrite vs Cvent Apps

Verdict: This round is a tie as both companies offer robust apps and support both iOS and Android.

Reporting and Analytics

Eventbrite analytics
Eventbrite analytics

Eventbrite offers straightforward, visually appealing dashboards focusing on ticket sales, revenue, and attendee demographics. 

Their real-time sales tracking includes useful metrics like top-selling ticket types and promotional code performance. The platform automatically implements geographic segmentation of ticket buyers and tracks social sharing’s impact on sales.

Cvent analytics
Cvent offers comprehensive data on every aspect of events

Cvent’s analytics suite is significantly more robust, reflecting its enterprise focus. Their platform includes over 100 customizable report templates. 

Unique to Cvent is its ability to track detailed attendee engagement metrics during events, including session attendance, networking activities, and mobile app interactions. The platform also offers sophisticated ROI calculations.

A standout feature in Cvent’s arsenal is its predictive analytics tool. It uses historical data to forecast attendance patterns and suggest optimal pricing strategies. Eventbrite doesn’t offer predictive capabilities but excels at providing clear insights into the channels driving ticket sales.

Integration capabilities also differ significantly. Cvent offers native connections to major CRM platforms and business intelligence tools. Eventbrite users typically rely on Zapier integration or custom APIs for advanced data integration. Both platforms support data export, though Cvent offers more granular control.

FeatureEventbriteCvent
Basic Sales Reports
Customizable Dashboards⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Detailed Event Data⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ROI Reporting⭐⭐⭐⭐
Email Surveys⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reporting and analytics of Eventbrite vs Cvent

Verdict: Cvent, with its focus on large-scale and corporate clients, outshines Eventbrite in the analytics department and takes this round.


Breakdown of Eventbrite vs Cvent Pricing Plans

Having explored the feature sets of Eventbrite and Cvent, a crucial factor in the decision-making process is cost. This section breaks down the pricing structures of both Eventbrite and Cvent, outlining the different plans available. 

Eventbrite Pricing

Let’s start with Eventbrite — its plans are only available to organizers in: 

  1. Australia,
  2. Canada,
  3. Ireland,
  4. New Zealand,
  5. The US,
  6. The United Kingdom.
Eventbrite pricing
Eventbrite pricing

The company offers three types of plans: Eventbrite Ads, Eventbrite Pro, and Ticketing Fees.

Eventbrite Ads

If users opt for an Eventbrite Ads package, they can advertise on the official app and on the website. They will have to set a budget and advertise accordingly.

Eventbrite Ticketing Fees 

On the ticketing plan, customers can use the platform for free and Eventbrite takes a cut from the ticket sales.

The company earns by charging a percentage of ticketing fees, and here’s what the numbers are like:

Payout CountryService FeePayment Processing FeeDonation Tickets
Australia5.35% + A$1.19 per sold ticketNot applicableService fee: 2%
Canada3.5% + C$1.29 per sold ticket2.9% of the total orderPayment processing fee: 2.9% of the total order
Ireland5.9% + €0.79 per sold ticketNot applicableService fee: 2%
New Zealand4.2% + NZ$0.55 per sold ticket2.4% of the total orderPayment processing fee: 2.4% of the total order
United Kingdom6.95% + £0.59 per sold ticketNot applicableService fee: 2%
United States3.7% + $1.79 per sold ticket2.9% of the total orderPayment processing fee: 2.9% of the total order 1
Eventbrite ticketing fees by country

Eventbrite Pro Plan Pricing

On the Pro plan, users get email marketing capabilities. 

This table explains the limits and charges:

CountryPro 2K plan (Up to 2,000 marketing emails per day)Pro 6K plan (Up to 6,000 marketing emails per day)Pro 10K plan (Up to 10,000 marketing emails per day)
AustraliaMonthly price: A$15Annual price: A$144Monthly price: A$50Annual price: A$480Monthly price: A$100Annual price: A$960
CanadaMonthly price: C$21Annual price: C$202Monthly price: C$69Annual price: C$662Monthly price: C$138Annual price: C$1325
IrelandMonthly price: €14Annual price: €134Monthly price: €46Annual price: €442Monthly price: €93Annual price: €892
New ZealandMonthly price: NZ$15Annual price: NZ$144Monthly price: NZ$50Annual price: NZ$480Monthly price: NZ$100Annual price: NZ$960
United KingdomMonthly price: £12Annual price: £115Monthly price: £39Annual price: £374Monthly price: £78Annual price: £749
United StatesMonthly price: $15Annual price: $144Monthly price: $50Annual price: $480Monthly price: $100Annual price: $960
Eventbrite Pro Plan Pricing in Different Countries 

Cvent Pricing 

Cvent pricing plans
Cvent pricing plans

Cvent divides its plans into three parts: Registration, Attendee Hub, and OnArrival.

Cvent offers three kinds of paid plans, depending on event organizer requirements: 

Cvent planCostWhat it’s forFeatures
RegistrationCustomTo collect registrations and promote an event‣ Personalized registration paths,
‣ Agenda and session management,
‣ No-code website design,
‣ Configurable payment management tools,
‣ Built-in promotion and email marketing,
‣ Housing and travel management.
Attendee HubCustomTo boost attendee engagement at events‣ Mobile event app and virtual experiences,
‣ Chat, Q&A, polling, and gamification,
‣ Networking and community tools,
‣ AI-driven, personalized agenda building,
‣ Exhibitor and sponsor activation,
‣ Live and on-demand video production.
OnArrivalCustomTo manage check-in, badging, and attendance‣ Kiosk check-in with self-service option,
‣ On-demand badge printing,
‣ Name badge designer,
‣ Onsite registration and secure payment,
‣ Session check-in and capacity control,
‣ Real-time attendance dashboards.
Cvent pricing plans

How to Choose Between Eventbrite vs Cvent

Before we share our thoughts on the best platform for your needs, let’s review the main features again.

FeatureEventbriteCvent
Basic ticketing⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Advanced registration⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Conditional logic
Accommodation and travel integration
Social media integration⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Email marketing⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Page builder⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Marketing automation
Attendee profiling
Attendee app features⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Organizer app features⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ROI reporting⭐⭐⭐⭐
Free trial
Eventbrite vs Cvent All Features Compared

Cvent is far more advanced and much more expensive than Eventbrite; they both target customers with different needs.

Eventbrite is the ideal choice for medium and small businesses, independent organizers, and those hosting events with straightforward ticketing needs. Its user-friendly interface and affordable pricing make it accessible for a wide range of events. 

This includes: 

  • Concerts,
  • Workshops, 
  • Community gatherings.

Cvent is best suited for large enterprises and organizations managing complex events, conferences, and meetings. Its comprehensive suite of tools and robust reporting provides the power and flexibility needed for sophisticated event management.

For example, a local band organizing a concert would likely find Eventbrite’s ease of use and affordable pricing sufficient. In contrast, a global corporation planning a multi-day conference with thousands of attendees would be happier with Cvent. 

To sum things up — based on your event’s scale and strategic objectives, choose either Eventbrite’s simplicity or Cvent’s comprehensive power to ensure a successful outcome.


Integrating Campaign Refinery with Eventbrite and Cvent

Eventbrite and Cvent shine in event management and attendee engagement, respectively, but their built-in email marketing features may fall short for advanced campaigns. 

That’s why integrating Campaign Refinery can be a game-changer — with its powerful email deliverability and automation, it can elevate the effectiveness of these platforms.

By combining Campaign Refinery with Eventbrite or Cvent, you can create a seamless event marketing ecosystem, maximizing outreach. The next section explores how this pairing can transform your event strategy.

Combining Eventbrite or Cvent With Campaign Refinery Can Boost Event ROI

Email marketers need reliable inbox placement and robust tools to ensure they maximize marketing efforts for the event.

Here’s how Campaign Refinery delivers:

  • Customer Vetting: We screen every customer during onboarding and monitor accounts to maintain top-tier deliverability; this diligence helps us uphold a strong reputation with mailbox providers.
  • Security Protocols: Clients must implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, significantly boosting inbox placement.
  • Automated List Cleaning: Our system removes invalid email addresses from your email list to safeguard your email sender reputation.
  • Credits System: Unlike other ESPs, we don’t charge based on contact list size. Pay only when you send emails or use the list-cleaning feature.
  • Gamification: Engage your subscribers with interactive features designed to boost campaign performance.
  • Powerful Automation: Build complex email sequences effortlessly with our Branch & Rule builder.

With these features, Campaign Refinery simplifies and elevates email marketing for event professionals.

Campaign Refinery Offers Elite Email Marketing Results at Affordable Pricing

Unlike many platforms, all plans, including the basic one, grant full access to features — no premium paywalls. Campaign Refinery caters to both beginners and high-volume senders, from small businesses to users managing millions of emails monthly. 

With top-tier inbox placement, robust tools, exceptional customer support, and engagement-focused features, Campaign Refinery pricing delivers incredible value at just 0.19 cents per email on the basic plan.

Campaign Refinery PlanMonthly priceCreditsFeatures
Business$9950,000‣ Unlimited contacts
‣ Campaign library
‣ Segmentation tools
‣ Automatic list cleaning
‣ Gamification
‣ Evergreen Flash Sales
‣ Advanced automation features
Growth$299200,000‣ Unlimited contacts
‣ Campaign library
‣ Segmentation tools
‣ Automatic list cleaning
‣ Gamification
‣ Evergreen Flash Sales
‣ Advanced automation features
+
‣ Disable Campaign Refinery branding
‣ Higher volume of API access
Enterprise+$1,0001 million‣ Unlimited contacts
‣ Campaign library
‣ Segmentation tools
‣ Automatic list cleaning
‣ Gamification
‣ Evergreen Flash Sales
‣ Advanced automation features
‣ Disable Campaign Refinery branding
+
‣ Dedicated Success Manager
‣ Custom API volumes
Campaign Refinery pricing

Migrating to Campaign Refinery is Simple

Migrating to Campaign Refinery is seamless, thanks to a simplified setup process and detailed Campaign Refinery support documentation. From initial screening to full implementation, our dedicated team is just an email away, ready to assist with operations of any scale.

Get the conversation going or keep the conversation going for events — Campaign Refinery lets you do both. With our platform, you can drive future engagement and build a loyal community.

Apply today to become a customer!

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