Best Virtual Expo Platforms
Choosing the best virtual expo platform can be daunting, yet it's crucial for hosting successful online exhibitions or trade shows. Many event organizers face challenges such as engaging audiences, integrating seamless technology, and effectively showcasing exhibitor products in an online environment. That’s why we compiled this article, to explore the 10 best virtual expo platforms of 2024. This comprehensive list will offer you a guide to selecting the right virtual exhibition platform to help you overcome these hurdles and elevate your online gatherings.
{{table-of-contents}}
10 Best Virtual Expo Platforms & Softwares of 2024
1. Remo
If you're aiming to transcend the typical limitations of online expos, Remo is your go-to online exhibition and virtual trade show platform. More than just a venue for online gatherings, Remo is the best virtual expo platform that fosters genuine connections, enhances participant engagement, and ensures every attendee leaves satisfied. Traditional virtual expos often fail to capture the vibrancy and interaction of in-person events, but Remo shatters this notion with its innovative, immersive digital environment and cutting-edge tools. At Remo, every event is crafted to feel as lively and engaging as its physical counterpart, turning dull, forgettable interactions into dynamic, impactful ones.
Key Benefits and Features of Remo
- Virtual Booths for Exhibitors
One of the core strengths of any expo, whether in-person or virtual, is its ability to showcase exhibits in an engaging and interactive way. This is one area where Remo's virtual exhibition platform excels in. On Remo, each exhibitor gets a dedicated virtual booth (or table), and you can host an unlimited number of virtual booths in one expo hall.
Exhibitors are also given the freedom to present their content how they need to – from videos, live conversations, embedded websites or presentations to plain images. Best of all, the exhibits can all be virtually set up ahead of the event to avoid last minute stress using Remo’s interactive content banners and whiteboards. With both, guests have the opportunity to interact in their own time with all of the content and exhibits displayed. While it’s not necessary for an exhibitor to be present live, Remo still supports live audio-video conversations at each booth. So if it's wanted, exhibitors can chat with guests in real time to explain more about their exhibit, exchange contact information, and connect.
Remo’s virtual exhibition platform reinvents how expos are conducted, shifting from static displays to dynamic, interactive environments that captivate and maintain visitor interest. With Remo, you're not just displaying; you're engaging—bringing each exhibit to life in a visual and interactive manner.
- Authentic Networking Opportunities
Networking on Remo is engineered to replicate the richness and productivity of in-person interactions. One of the platform's standout features is Conversation Mode, which enables online networking to achieve 3.2 times more engagement than other virtual solutions. Conversation Mode is where you will find all the virtual exhibit booths located in one convenient, easy to use space. With multiple booths set up, the space mimics what you see at an in-person virtual expo. In Conversation Mode, guests are also able to engage directly with each virtual booth, moving freely between them, which fosters spontaneous and meaningful conversations.
This enhanced user engagement is pivotal for creating deep, professional relationships. The design of these booths and the overall expo layout encourages visitors to explore and interact organically, enhancing each attendee's ability to form connections that feel genuine and fruitful. By integrating interactive tools like live chats within these booths, Remo ensures that every interaction is not just another virtual meeting, but a valuable opportunity for engagement and networking.
- Full Customization
Remo's virtual expo platform offers unparalleled customization options that allow you to tailor every aspect of your online expo to perfectly reflect your unique theme and brand identity. With custom floor plans, you can create a bespoke virtual expo space that not only captures your brand’s essence but also attracts more visitors due to its visual appeal and relevance.
The flexibility to modify layouts, colors, and booth sizes enables you to design an environment that enhances visibility and branding effectively. This level of customization ensures that every detail of the expo is aligned with your branding and strategy, making it not just another event but a pivotal part of your brand’s outreach and engagement strategy. Moreover, you can even customize the look and feel of each virtual booth to better represent the exhibit or individual exhibitor branding.
- Exhibit and ROI Tracking
Remo’s virtual expo platform offers advanced analytics capabilities that provide invaluable insights into visitor behavior. This enables organizers to refine future expos and effectively demonstrate success to stakeholders. Remo’s robust analytics covers all key metrics from session data to audience feedback, but its best feature for virtual expos is its exhibit tracking.
When using Remo’s interactive content banners, exhibitors can track which content is being clicked on and by whom. This way, after the event finishes, organizers can share with an exhibitor a list of all attendees that were interested and interacted with their exhibits. Not only does this help an exhibitor with conversion efforts, but it acts as an easy way to measure ROI and encourage future participation.
- Dedicated Support and Continuous Innovation
Remo is dedicated to ensuring that your virtual expo not only runs seamlessly but also stays at the forefront of digital event technology. With a commitment to continuous improvement and exceptional customer support, Remo provides a solid foundation for any virtual expo organizer. Access to Remo’s dedicated support team is available 24/7, allowing you to resolve any issues quickly and efficiently, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted event experience for all participants.
Moreover, Remo consistently rolls out innovative updates to its platform, keeping your virtual expos cutting-edge. These regular updates ensure that your expos benefit from the latest advancements in digital event technology, enhancing both the user experience and the overall value of the event. This combination of reliable support and continuous technological enhancement makes Remo an ideal partner for hosting virtual expos that are both dynamic and successful.
Pros:
- Remo allows visitors to move freely between different areas and exhibits within the virtual expo, enabling them to share, connect, and collaborate in a manner that closely mimics in-person interactions.
- The platform offers interactive features to boost engagement and participation among attendees within both its conversation and presentation modes.
- Remo provides excellent customer support available at any time of the day, ensuring any issues can be promptly and efficiently resolved to maintain a seamless event experience.
- Events hosted on Remo are highly visual and immersive, offering an experience that many users find to be the closest alternative to physical events available online.
Cons:
- Remo currently offers fewer native integrations with other software and applications compared to some other virtual expo platforms (however it does support Zapier and an external API).
Remo’s Pricing
Remo's pricing includes three pricing plans tailored to different needs based on the frequency of events, expected attendance, and the scale of the virtual expo:
- Starter Plan: Starting at $299 per month, the Starter plan supports up to 200 attendees and unlimited events. This plan is ideal for organizers who plan to host multiple virtual expos regularly. It comes with access to a range of 3D floor plans and all engagement tools (polls, quizzes, Q&A). Available for either a quarterly or annual subscription, it’s designed to cater to those who require a robust platform for frequent events.
- One-Time Events Plan: Priced at $699 to start, this plan is tailored for organizers who need to host one-off virtual expos or events. It offers enhanced flexibility in setting caps such as content/sponsor displays and organizer licenses, allowing a more customized setup according to your actual event's scale and requirements. This plan is perfect for those looking to make a big impact with a single event and need additional control over their event’s features.
- Enterprise Plan: The Enterprise plan is Remo's most advanced offering, featuring extensive customization options and enhanced privacy features like custom branding and Single Sign-On (SSO). This plan is suitable for large organizations requiring a comprehensive, tailor-made virtual event solution. Pricing for the Enterprise plan is available upon request, so if you are interested, you would need to contact Remo’s sales team for a custom quote.
Remo stands out as a cost-effective option among virtual expo platforms, charging users only for the features they need and multiple payment options. While it provides starting prices, detailed and specific pricing requires direct contact with their sales team to ensure each organizer gets exactly what they require for their unique expo needs. However, they do offer a free 14 day trial so you can get a taste of how Remo works before investing in one of their paid plans.
2. vFairs
vFairs is a leading online event and expo platform, offering a comprehensive suite of tools to create immersive and scalable virtual experiences. Known for its versatility, vFairs caters to a wide range of event types, from job fairs to large-scale conferences and trade shows. It is particularly renowned for its attendee-exhibitor events, where its capabilities shine in facilitating dynamic interactions between participants. However, it falls short when it comes to pricing, with packages being expensive, rigid and complex.
Key Benefits and Features of vFairs
- Robust Networking Capabilities
Networking is crucial for any expo, and vFairs excels in providing a comprehensive suite of tools designed to enhance interactions and connections among attendees. With features like spatial connect, which allows for spontaneous and casual networking, smart matchmaking that intelligently connects individuals based on their interests, and structured roundtables for in-depth discussions, vFairs ensures a versatile and effective networking environment. These capabilities are particularly valuable in a virtual expo setting, where facilitating meaningful connections can be challenging.
- Dynamic and Immersive Virtual Environment
vFairs distinguishes itself with a highly immersive virtual environment that mimics the visual layout of an expo. The platform offers realistic 3D environments complete with human avatars, enabling attendees to navigate the virtual space as they would a traditional expo hall. This level of immersion is crucial for keeping attendees engaged and interested throughout the event.
- Customizable Expo Spaces
Flexibility in design and layout is key to a successful virtual expo, and vFairs offers extensive customization options to meet the specific needs of each organizer. While the platform provides a variety of default templates and environments, organizers can work directly with the vFairs team to tailor spaces, including bespoke designs and features, to enhance the thematic elements of their expo if they wish. This customization extends to everything from the look and feel of the exhibit halls to the individual booths, ensuring that each expo is as unique as it is engaging.
Pros:
- vFairs excels with realistic 3D environments and human avatars that enhance attendee engagement by closely mimicking in-person events.
- Enhanced support, including dedicated project managers on higher-tier plans, ensures robust assistance for complex event setups.
- vFairs is versatile, supporting virtual, hybrid, and in-person events, making it adaptable for a wide range of organizational needs and event styles.
Cons:
- The tiered pricing can be complex and costly, especially for smaller organizations or those requiring simple setups.
- Extensive customizations require direct interaction with the vFairs team, which may slow down event preparations.
- Their pricing is determined by registrations (not attendees), which can increase costs significantly without providing value, as with most expos not everyone that registers will end up attending.
vFairs Pricing
vFairs offers versatile pricing plans designed to accommodate various types and scales of virtual events, including detailed options for virtual expos. These plans are structured to cater to different needs, whether on an annual basis for frequent event organizers or per event for those hosting singular, large-scale events.
- Annual Plans:
- Basic License: Ideal for smaller organizations or those new to virtual expos, the Basic License includes up to 1,000 registrations and 15 virtual booths. This plan is a great starting point for companies looking to host annual events without requiring extensive virtual booths or advanced support.
- Premium License: It offers up to 2,000 registrations and unlimited virtual booths, along with premium support. This plan is suited for organizations that host multiple large events throughout the year and require more flexibility and support.
- Enterprise License: Tailored for the largest events and most demanding requirements, the Enterprise License includes up to 5,000 registrations, dedicated project managers, and the option for custom integrations and features upon request. This plan is ideal for large enterprises or event organizers who need a highly customized experience and direct management oversight.
- Per Event/Product Offers: For organizers planning a one-off event, vFairs provides tailored single event packages, where you pay per module. For virtual expos, the modules you may be most interested in are:
- Registration & Ticketing: This package includes essential tools for managing event registrations and ticket sales. It's suitable for any size of event and provides a straightforward solution for entry management.
- Virtual Event Platform License: This license is particularly geared towards virtual expos, offering up to 15 booths with the option to purchase additional booths as needed. It's designed to provide a comprehensive virtual event experience, including basic virtual environment setups and attendee interaction capabilities.
Additional packages might include features such as enhanced engagement tools or marketing integrations, which could be relevant depending on the specific needs and scale of the event.
3. Whova
Whova is renowned for enhancing event engagement and simplifying the management process through its comprehensive suite of tools. Designed with organizers, exhibitors, and visitors in mind, Whova's platform facilitates a seamless interaction from start to finish, ensuring every event is both productive and memorable. Here’s a detailed look at the standout features that make Whova a preferred choice for event professionals hosting online expos. Check out our Whova review for a detailed look into the platform's strengths, weaknesses, key features.
Key Features and Benefits of Whova
- Gamification to Encourage Participation
Whova integrates gamification elements such as points, badges, and leaderboards into its platform. This approach not only makes the expo experience more enjoyable and engaging for attendees but also motivates continued participation and interaction with various expo elements. The competitive nature of gamification helps maintain high energy levels throughout the event, ensuring attendees remain actively involved and engaged. Check out other ideas for engaging your attendees online.
- In-App Banners to Showcase Exhibitors
Whova's in-app banners provide exhibitors with strategic promotional opportunities within the expo app. These banners can be used to highlight key products, special promotions, or important information, drawing attention and driving traffic to exhibitor booths. This increased visibility significantly boosts brand exposure and enhances marketing efforts within the virtual expo environment.
- Effective Lead Capture
Similar to Remo, Whova’s lead capture tools allow exhibitors to efficiently gather and manage leads during the expo. The platform facilitates the easy collection of attendee information, interaction tracking, and even post-event follow-up. This feature is essential for converting attendee interest into tangible business opportunities and helps exhibitors maximize the ROI of their participation in the expo. Remo outshines Whova by providing a more integrated analytics dashboard that offers deeper insights into attendee behaviors, enabling exhibitors to tailor their follow-ups more strategically and capture leads more effectively.
Pros:
- Provides exhibitors with valuable digital real estate to showcase their offerings and announcements prominently.
- Allows exhibitors to demonstrate products live within the app, enhancing interactivity and engagement.
- Attendees can access event content at their convenience, ensuring they never miss out on valuable information and interactions.
Cons:
- Compared to other platforms, Whova may offer fewer customization options for personalizing the event space and attendee experience.
- Lots of UI/UX issues with Whova’s mobile application, which causes confusion for attendees.
- Past users had commented that Whova’s pricing is filled with hidden fees that show up after making a full commitment.
Whova’s Pricing
Whova is one of the few virtual expo platforms that does not provide any pricing information on its website whatsoever. They do not disclose their plans, pricing models, or starting prices, but instead ask you to contact them directly with your expo needs for a custom quote. Some past customers have mentioned this has led to inconsistent price quotes and hidden fees.
4. Cvent
Cvent is a leading force in expo management software, offering a robust array of solutions tailored to streamline the planning and execution of expos. Renowned for its comprehensive functionality and adaptability, Cvent serves a broad spectrum of expo types, providing professionals with the tools they need for efficient and effective exhibitor management. However, given its comprehensive functionality, Cvent is also among the most difficult virtual event platforms to use as an organizer. If you're interested in using Cvent, be sure to read our comprehensive Cvent review for a deeper look into the platform.
Key Benefits and Features of Cvent
- Exhibitor Portal
Cvent's Exhibitor Portal is a centralized platform that streamlines exhibitor management, providing tools and functionalities specifically designed to enhance the experience of exhibitors. This portal allows exhibitors to easily manage their presence, access important event information, and interact with attendees efficiently. The benefit of this feature is that it simplifies logistical challenges, saving time and resources while enabling organizers to focus more on engagement and less on administration.
- Meeting Scheduler for Exhibitors
Cvent integrates a sophisticated meeting scheduler specifically for exhibitors, allowing attendees to book meetings directly with them. This feature not only facilitates scheduled interactions but also maximizes the productivity of meetings by ensuring exhibitors meet with attendees who have a genuine interest in their products or services. This direct engagement tool enhances lead generation and networking opportunities, making each interaction more valuable and targeted. It also offers a good way to track ROI with the number of meetings booked.
- Video On Demand
A standout feature of Cvent is its Video On Demand capability, which allows attendees to access session content, such as presentations, even after the expo has concluded. This feature extends the life of the content shared at the expo, increasing its value and reach. Attendees benefit from the flexibility to view content at their convenience, ensuring they don’t miss out on valuable information due to scheduling conflicts. This also benefits exhibitors and speakers by extending the exposure of their presentations and increasing the potential for lead generation post-event.
Pros:
- Engage attendees actively, using points, leaderboards, and rewards to stimulate participation and maintain high engagement levels throughout the expo.
- Suitable for a range of event sizes, from small gatherings to large-scale expos, offering scalable solutions that can accommodate an event’s specific needs and growth.
- Cvent offers a solid range of integration possibilities, making it easier to connect the platform with other tools currently in use.
Cons:
- Cvent’s comprehensive features, while beneficial, can also introduce complexity in setup and use, potentially requiring more time or resources to manage effectively, especially for those new to the platform.
- As with many robust platforms, Cvent may come with a higher price point, especially when leveraging its more advanced features or for larger events, which could be a barrier for smaller organizations or those with limited budgets.
- From long wait times to rude interactions, past users have commented that Cvent’s customer support is not on par with other virtual platforms, like Remo’s for example.
Cvent’s Pricing
Cvent’s pricing is a little more complicated than other virtual platforms on this list, namely because it also offers in-person solutions and has to price for the same. With Cvent, there are two main plans you can opt for:
- Professional: With the Professional plan, you get 10 user logins and reporting capabilities, plus the option to add on the modules you need for additional cost (Registration, Attendee Hub, and OnArrival)
- Enterprise: With the Enterprise plan, you pay for all three modules but get unlimited user logins and enhanced branding capabilities among other things.
Cvent does not provide any starting prices for either tier, but it does mention pricing is based on both an annual plan fee (no option for any shorter terms), the modules you choose (on Professional plan only), and a per registrant fee (not attendee fee). Altogether, this makes Cvent one of the more expensive options on this list.
5. Bizzabo
Bizzabo is a prominent player in the expo management software industry, offering a versatile platform that caters to the diverse needs of modern expos. Known for its innovative solutions that empower organizers to create, manage, and execute successful online expos, Bizzabo streamlines every aspect of event management from initial planning to post-event analytics. However, it’s networking capabilities remain very limited compared to other virtual expo platforms.
Key Benefits and Features of Bizzabo
- Event Live Streaming
Bizzabo excels with its capability to deliver TV-quality live streaming, setting it apart as an ideal platform for virtual expos. This feature enables organizers to broadcast high-definition video content globally, offering a professional and engaging viewing experience. The benefit here is significant, as it not only elevates the quality of the content delivered but also expands the reach of the expo to a worldwide audience, ensuring that anyone, anywhere can participate as if they were there in person.
- Audience Engagement
Bizzabo provides a suite of tools designed to enhance interactive experiences during virtual expos. These tools include real-time interactions such as live polling, Q&A sessions, and interactive webinars. The advantage of such features is the substantial boost in attendee engagement and retention they offer. By engaging participants actively, Bizzabo helps transform passive viewers into active participants, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the communication and the overall attendee satisfaction.
- AI-Powered Networking
To enhance the 1-1 networking experience available, Bizzabo offers AI-powered networking. With this feature, the platform uses information collected from attendees (via their attendee profiles) to suggest relevant connections. It uses AI algorithms to match common interests or background to compile a list of people an attendee should meet at the event. To speed that up, it also provides a quick way for attendees to message or set up a video call with matched connections. Although this may not significantly help exhibitors, it’s a great way to enhance the connections made by visitors.
Pros:
- Offers an advanced Exhibitor Portal for streamlined event and exhibitor management.
- Exhibitors are given a lot of control over how they want to manage their exhibit and presentations (e.g. breakout rooms, presentation, or both simultaneously)
- Robust file hosting and sharing options are given to exhibitors on the day of the event
Cons:
- The feature-rich platform can be complex to navigate, potentially requiring more time for setup and management.
- Bizzabo is one of the few virtual expo platforms that do not offer live customer support during events for both visitors and organizers.
- Very limited options for small or large group networking, their features are more geared towards 1-1 connections which may not be as relevant to virtual expos.Career
Bizabbo’s Pricing
Bizzabo offers several pricing tiers to accommodate the needs of different organizations:
- Essential: Charged per registrant, this is for small to medium-sized events with basic features. However, all of the exhibitor and networking features are not available on this plan.
- Premium: Suitable for companies with multiple events featuring exhibitors and networking opportunities. This plan provides registration bundles so you have to choose the bundle closest to your expected registration numbers.
- Unleash: Ideal for large expos, this plan offers unlimited registrations and advanced integrations such as Salesforce.
- Enterprise: Tailored for premium brands seeking a bespoke virtual experience with full customization.
Like Cvent and vFairs, Bizzabo too does not disclose starting prices, which is usually a sign of expensive pricing. If you are interested in utilizing Bizzabo, you will need to get in contact with their sales team for an accurate quote based on your virtual expo needs.
6. HexaFair
HexaFair offers a robust virtual expo platform designed to replicate the experience of physical events in a dynamic and immersive online environment. With its comprehensive suite of features, HexaFair is ideal for hosting large-scale virtual exhibitions, trade shows, and fairs. It provides both organizers and attendees with a seamless and engaging experience, however it lacks when it comes to easy customization options.
Key Features and Benefits of Hexafair
- 3D Customizable Spaces
HexaFair, like vFairs, uses realistic 3D exhibition spaces that can exactly mirror a physical hall you’d find at an in-person expo. This feature ensures that each virtual booth and exhibit is visually compelling, enhancing attendee engagement and providing a familiar, yet immersive environment. The ease of setup, which requires no technical expertise, makes it accessible for all users. However, on HexaFair you are constrained to their predetermined templates, so there’s not much room for customization. For example, you cannot create fully bespoke environments as you can on Remo’s virtual event platform.
- Metaverse-Style Interaction
Attendees can navigate the expo using personalized 3D avatars, creating a Metaverse-like environment. This feature enhances interaction and engagement, allowing participants to network and interact in a dynamic and visually rich virtual space, closely mimicking the in-person event experience.
- Advanced Lead Collection and Analytics
HexaFair offers powerful tools for capturing detailed audience data and activities. Exhibitors can also manage and download reports from the control panel, seamlessly integrating this data into their own CRM systems. Analytics, like these, provide actionable insights into event performance, helping exhibitors optimize their strategies and measure success/ROI.
Pros:
- Captures detailed audience data and activities, allowing exhibitors to manage and download reports seamlessly.
- The platform allows for quick setup with no technical expertise required, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
- Supports event ticketing and payment features for bulk entries and special ticketing options, ensuring broad and inclusive reach.
Cons:
- Compared to some competitors, HexaFair may offer fewer interactive tools in-house like real-time polling and whiteboards.
- While customization is possible, it may require more effort and interaction with support to achieve fully bespoke configurations.
- HexaFair's analytics, while comprehensive for exhibitors, may not be as advanced or user-friendly for organizers as those offered by some other platforms like Remo.
HexaFair’s Pricing
HexaFair offers three pricing plans tailored to different event needs and scales, ensuring flexibility and customization for organizers:
- Starter Plan: Designed for small, engaging events, fairs, and training sessions, the Starter Plan provides unlimited events, 500 attendee registrations per month, and 10 exhibitor booths per event. It includes essential features like virtual event setup, mobile compatibility, branding, free event registration, and various networking and conference tools.
- Business Plan: Ideal for interactive events and fairs, the Business Plan offers unlimited events, 1500 attendee registrations per month, and 20 exhibitor booths per event. This plan includes additional features like VR headset support, enhanced live session tools, AR-based product previews, and more extensive integration and customization options.
- Pro Plan: Tailored for large virtual and hybrid conferences, events, and tradeshows, the Pro Plan includes all Business Plan features plus hybrid event support, a mobile event app, multi-hall setups, advanced integration capabilities, and dedicated account management. This plan supports up to 21 days of virtual events and offers extensive branding and customization options.
With HexaFair’s pricing, it is important to note they measure and charge for registrations per month. This is unlike other virtual expo platforms, like Remo, which charge by attendees and per event for the ultimate flexibility and value. With HexaFair’s pricing model, you have to be very careful in estimating the number of registrations you expect across events in a month, to ensure you are not having to upgrade last minute as you’ve reached your registration limit before the expo starts.
7. SpotMe
SpotMe stands out as a versatile platform in the expo management software arena, providing robust solutions that cater to both virtual and in-person expos. It is designed to facilitate engaging and dynamic expo experiences, offering tools that empower organizers to exceed attendee expectations while streamlining logistical operations. However, it does not provide the same immersive feeling for visitors, as other platforms, like Remo or HexaFairs offers.
Key Features and Benefits of SpotMe
- On-Demand Video Hub
SpotMe's On-Demand Video Hub allows organizers to extend the life of their events by offering recorded sessions, documents, quizzes, and chatbots accessible to attendees post-event. This feature significantly increases content accessibility and engagement, ensuring that participants can revisit and interact with the material at their convenience. By providing continuous access to event content, SpotMe ensures sustained engagement and maximizes the value of the event long after it concludes.
- Gamification
SpotMe incorporates gamification elements such as quizzes, leaderboards, and interactive challenges to boost attendee participation. Gamification drives engagement by making the virtual event experience more interactive and enjoyable, encouraging attendees to actively participate in various event activities. This feature enhances user interaction and retention, making the event more memorable and engaging for attendees.
- Studio-Level Presentations
SpotMe excels in delivering high-quality, studio-level presentations with advanced A/V capabilities. This includes branded presentations with overlays, lower thirds, and seamless integration of pre-recorded and live content. The platform’s in-studio chat and slide management tools ensure smooth operation and professional-quality broadcasts. Professional-grade presentations elevate the perceived quality of the event, ensuring a polished and immersive experience for attendees.
Pros:
- Provides breakout rooms for booths, facilitating focused discussions and direct exhibitor engagement, which enhances networking opportunities.
- Intuitive platform interface, making it easy for exhibitors and attendees to navigate and use the platform efficiently.
- There are multiple opportunities for organizers to customize their events.
Cons:
- Lacks the fully interactive and immersive feel which makes it that much harder to create a memorable attendee experience.
- The advanced features and high-quality presentation tools come at a higher cost than other platforms.
- Some users have mentioned that while the platform UI is simple, the backend of setting up and managing events is far more complex for organizers.
SpotMe’s Pricing
SpotMe offers flexible pricing plans designed to accommodate various event sizes and needs. Here are the key plans:
- Starter Plan: Ideal for small-scale events, this plan includes up to 2 virtual, hybrid, or in-person events, unlimited participants and admins, desktop web and mobile app access, streaming, breakouts, studio features for speakers, and 24/7 support with a 30-second response time.
- Business Plan: Suitable for medium-scale events, this plan includes up to 5 events, all Starter Plan features, plus integrations with Marketo and Cvent, enhancing overall functionality and support.
- Advanced Plan: For larger events, this plan includes up to 25 events, all Business Plan features, branded app store applications, and single sign-on for apps, ensuring extensive customization and user management.
- Enterprise Plan: A custom plan tailored for complex, large-scale events, providing all Advanced Plan features along with additional custom integrations and dedicated CMS single sign-on.
Like Remo, most of SpotMe’s plans offer all core functionality at all tiers to make pricing more straightforward and transparent. Though, it is important to note that unlike Remo, SpotMe includes limits for the number of events you can host on each plan (Remo offers unlimited events on their subscription and enterprise plans).
8. Accelevents
Accelevents is recognized as a comprehensive platform in the virtual expo software industry, providing robust solutions for both virtual and in-person expos. It is specifically designed to facilitate interactive and engaging expo experiences, offering tools that empower organizers to efficiently manage every aspect of their expos. However, past users did express concerns around a steep learning curve for organizers. Read our comprehensive Accelevents review for a closer dive into the platform's strengths and drawbacks.
Key Features and Benefits of Accelevents
- Private Expo Events
Accelevents provides secure expo access through customizable approval workflows, ensuring that only verified and approved participants can attend the event, enhancing security and attendee quality. Custom approval workflows help maintain the integrity and security of the event, ensuring only qualified participants gain access.
- Lead Capture App
Accelevents includes a lead capture app that enables exhibitors to easily collect and manage leads during the event. This app allows for quick data entry and integration with CRM systems. The lead capture app streamlines the process of gathering and managing attendee information, helping exhibitors efficiently track and follow up on potential leads, thereby increasing the ROI of participating in the event. While other platforms, like Remo, offer this functionality within the platform itself, Accelevents provides a dedicated app that exhibitors must download first.
- Native Integrations
Accelevents supports native integrations with Hubspot, Salesforce, Marketo, Zapier, and more. These integrations allow seamless data transfer from your online expo to your other tools for a more streamlined and easy workflow. For example, you could send attendee registration info to your CRM for sales and marketing teams to better understand the challenges and interests of collected leads.
Pros:
- Facilitates effective planning and maximizes networking opportunities by allowing attendees to schedule meetings in advance.
- Offers the option for full white label, so the platform can be rebranded by the organizer and provide a cohesive, fully branded expo experience.
- Provides detailed insights into attendee behavior and event performance, helping organizers optimize strategies.
Cons:
- May require significant time and effort to configure custom workflows and integrations.
- Advanced features and customization options, for example white labeling, come at a higher price.
- The platform’s extensive features can lead to a steep learning curve for new users.
Accelevent’s Pricing
Accelevents offers 4 pricing tiers, suitable for different types and scales of online expos:
- Professional: Starting at $5,000 for 500 registrants and 1 event
- Business: Starting from $12,000 for 2000 registrants and unlimited events
- Enterprise: Custom priced tailored to your individual event needs
- White Label: Fully branded platform, giving you access to a custom event URL, removal of Accelevents branding, and more
With their most basic plan already starting at $5,000, Accelevents is one of the more pricey platforms on this list. However, if you’ve got the budget to spend, get in touch with their team to discuss which pricing plan is best suited for you. Keep in mind though, they do vary features across plans, so be sure to also take a look at their detailed pricing table to guarantee the features you need are available at the tier you are considering.
9. Hubilo
Hubilo is a prominent player in the webinar industry, known for its dynamic and feature-rich platform that caters to lead generation above all else. Given the similarities between B2B webinars for lead generation and virtual expos, a lot of Hubilo’s functionality translates well to a virtual expo, hence it made it onto our list. Designed to facilitate seamless interaction and engagement, Hubilo empowers organizers to deliver exceptional expo experiences through advanced technology. However, their networking experience and ability to foster connections is quite limited compared to other virtual expo platforms on this list.
Key Features and Benefits of Hubilo
- Customized Email Builder
Hubilo's Customized Email Builder allows event organizers to create tailored email campaigns with personalized content and branding. This tool simplifies the process of designing and sending emails, ensuring that communication is cohesive and professional. Personalized emails increase engagement rates and enhance attendee experience by delivering relevant information directly to their inboxes.
- Customized Lead Scoring
The platform also offers customized lead scoring, enabling organizers to set specific scores for attendee actions. This helps in identifying the most engaged leads post-expo. Custom lead scoring allows for better prioritization of follow-up efforts, ensuring that the most engaged prospects are targeted, thereby improving conversion rates.
- Slack Integration
Hubilo integrates with Slack to send real-time notifications to exhibitors when a lead interacts with their content or conversion prompt. This includes attendee details for personalized follow-ups. Real-time notifications enhance responsiveness and personalization, helping exhibitors and organizers engage with leads more effectively and timely.
Pros:
- Offers multiple channels to increase exhibitor visibility, from conversion prompts to virtual booths, which ultimately drives more interaction and potential conversions.
- Strong focus on event marketing as well to help boost registrations and attendance of your virtual expo or event.
- Provides detailed insights into attendee behavior, helping organizers optimize event strategies.
Cons:
- The extensive features might require a steep learning curve for new users to fully utilize the platform.
- No live audio-video interaction at virtual booths, so it’s difficult to encourage exhibitor-attendee connections
- Networking lounge is limited to 60 minute conversations and looks visually uninteresting, especially when compared to the networking experiences provided by other platforms like Remo.
Hubilo’s Pricing
Hubilo offers various pricing packages tailored to different needs and scales of operation:
- Webinar+: Starting at $10,000/year, suitable for organizations running extensive webinar programs.
- Webinar Multiply: Starting at $15,000/year, includes everything in Webinar+ along with additional marketing features like AI-generated content and direct social posting.
Since Hubilo is more of a webinar platform, you may also have to pay for their Virtual Events add-on, depending on your virtual expo needs. To get a better understanding of their pricing, you do need to get in touch with their sales team. Though, they do also offer a free trial of their basic webinar features so you can also get a taste of how the platform works from a guest and organizer perspective. To start the trial though, again you need to contact their Sales team.
10. ON24
ON24 is a leading virtual event platform that offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to maximize audience engagement and deliver impactful virtual experiences. It provides a robust set of tools and capabilities that cater to a wide range of event needs, from webinars and virtual conferences to large-scale expos. However, learning how to use ON24 properly and making full use of its advanced functionality can take a while according to past users.
Key Features and Benefits of ON24
- Interactive Tools
ON24 excels in providing a highly interactive virtual event experience with features such as live polls, Q&A sessions, and breakout rooms. These tools foster greater audience engagement by facilitating real-time interaction and feedback during events. These interactive elements keep attendees engaged and participative, enhancing the overall event experience and making virtual sessions more dynamic and lively.
- Branded Conference Environment
The platform allows extensive customization of the virtual event space, including customizable booths, backgrounds, and layout options, which helps in creating a unique branded environment for each event. This level of customization ensures that the event aligns perfectly with the host’s branding, creating a cohesive and professional look that enhances brand recognition and the overall attendee experience.
- Event Analytics Dashboard
ON24 provides detailed performance analytics that track attendee behavior, session engagement, and conversion metrics. These analytics are essential for measuring the success of virtual events and making data-driven improvements. With real-time insights and comprehensive data reporting, organizers can effectively gauge the event’s impact, identify areas for improvement, and demonstrate ROI to stakeholders. ON24, like Remo, also provides a user-friendly dashboard that provides deeper insights and intuitive data visualization, helping organizers make quick, informed decisions to improve event outcomes.
Pros:
- Supports regional localization with the ability to translate virtual expos and conferences into more than 20 languages, making it accessible to a global audience.
- The customization options offered are relatively easy to use and implement.
- Offers advanced content management tools, allowing organizers to produce and deliver high-quality presentations with ease.
Cons:
- The advanced features may require a significant learning curve for new users to fully utilize the platform.
- There is a noticeable 2-5 second delay with ON24’s audio-video, making real-time interaction and conversation more difficult
- Integrating ON24 with other platforms and systems can be complex and may require additional technical support.
ON24’s Pricing
ON24's pricing details are tailored to different user needs and can vary based on the scale and specifics of the virtual expo. While ON24 does not share specific price ranges, they do offer three tiers: Essentials, Standard, and Advanced. Each plan varies in terms of the features offered, but it seems on all plans their virtual event-specific features are all priced at a premium. So, we recommend contacting ON24 directly for tailored pricing information.
That being said, looking through reviews, past customers have noted ON24’s pricing as significantly higher than other competitors. Customers mentioned quotes started at just $10,000 but went well above $50,000 depending on event requirements.
Things to Look for in the Best Virtual Expo Platforms
Now that we’ve outlined the 10 best virtual expo platforms of 2024, let’s take a look at what a virtual expo is and what makes a good one.
What is a Virtual Expo Platform?
Simply put, a virtual expo platform is a digital venue that allows organizations to host exhibitions online. These platforms enable exhibitors to display their products or services in virtual booths, while attendees navigate through the event on their own, engaging with exhibits and networking with sellers of their choice. Typically, the virtual expo platform will offer tools for real-time interaction, webinars, and analytics, to create an engaging online experience for exhibitors and visitors alike. The best virtual expo platform though will go further to actually mimic the physical expo experience with immersive environments, authentic networking, and interactive exhibits.
Remo is the premier choice for virtual expos in 2024, uniquely blending user-friendly navigation with robust features like real-time networking and dynamic virtual booths. Its comprehensive suite ensures an unmatched interactive experience, easily making it the best virtual expo platform for dynamic online events, trade shows, or exhibitions.
You may be wondering why that is or what exactly makes a virtual expo platform the “best”. To answer your question, we’ve identified the top 6 factors to consider when selecting the best virtual expo platform:
1. User Experience and Interface
The interface of a virtual expo platform determines how easily attendees and exhibitors can navigate and engage with the event. A user-friendly design minimizes confusion and enhances participation by making information readily accessible. For example, Remo bases a lot of its UI/UX on physical event spaces and interactions so that it's familiar and easy to navigate for a guest. Key elements include clear signage, easy-to-use tools, and quick access to support, which collectively contribute to a positive user experience. Interactive features such as clickable booths and live chat capabilities simplify navigation and encourage active participation.
2. Authentic and Engaging Networking Tools
Engagement is crucial for replicating the interactive nature of physical expos. Effective virtual expo platforms offer tools that foster natural interaction among participants, like live chat, forums for Q&A, and networking opportunities that allow real-time communication. Look for platforms that provide an authentic networking experience, not one where all attendees are forced into breakout rooms to make awkward small talk. Unique features such as "virtual handshakes" or matchmaking can make digital networking feel more personal and effective. Also, keep in mind virtual expos require both attendee-exhibitor networking as well as attendee-attendee networking, so your chosen platform should offer opportunities for both to occur naturally.
3. Customization Capabilities
A platform’s ability to adapt to the specific needs of different events is essential. Effective customization includes both the aesthetic design of the virtual space and the functionality of the booths and event features, facilitating a cohesive branding experience. This enables both event organizers and exhibitors to enhance their brand visibility and connect more meaningfully with attendees. Remember different platforms offer different levels of customization – for example, on Hexafair you can only choose from templates, whereas on Remo, you can create fully bespoke environments yourself. It’s also important to make note of the ease of customization – it’s great if a platform offers customization, but it’s not useful if it takes months just to brand your event.
4. Lead Capture Tools
These tools refer to an exhibitor's ability to track who at the event was interested in their product/service. With this vital information, exhibitors create highly targeted lead lists for their sales team that can help them close sales and drive revenue. For most exhibitors, beyond just driving revenue, it also acts as a way to measure their ROI of participation. Now, this may not apply to all exhibitions, as it does depend on your exhibitors goals and the nature of your exhibition, but the same tools can also be used to track interest towards specific exhibitions. So, look for platforms that offer features like downloadable content, contact forms, measurable call-to-action buttons, and most importantly, analytics that track engagement and clicks on all these features. These tools help exhibitors quantify their success and may be the key to securing their partnership at your next exhibition.
5. Technical Support and Customer Service
Reliable and quality technical support is vital for addressing any issues during the event quickly. Nothing can slow the pace or excitement of an expo down as much as technical issues, like pixelated videos, audio lags, or connection problems. Of course, as an organizer you hope and plan for all issues you can, but regardless of which platform you go for, most of the time technical issues are inevitable. So, make sure you choose a platform that has some channel for you to use should you face issues. For example, Remo offers live chat and email support with a human representative for both guests and organizers. Moreover, the support you receive should be of high quality – it doesn’t mean much if a platform responds in 1 minute but does not actually offer a solution.
6. Live Presentation Capabilities
Live presentations, including industry talks, panels or webinars, are integral components of virtual expos, along with networking. The best platforms offer robust tools to host these presentations, featuring high-quality video and audio capabilities, interactive elements, such as live polls and Q&A, and seamless integration with the overall event agenda. This functionality enriches the event’s content and engages audiences in real-time discussions. Look for platforms that offer both networking and presentation capabilities in-house, as this will make managing your event far easier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Best Virtual Expo Platforms
Here, we address common questions about the choosing the best virtual expo platform and planning for your virtual expo:
1. What are the essential features to look for in a virtual expo platform?
When selecting a virtual expo platform, prioritize user-friendly interfaces that ensure ease of navigation for both organizers and attendees. Look for robust engagement and networking tools like live chats, forums, and interactive sessions that facilitate real-time interaction. Additionally, reliable technical support, comprehensive analytics, and customization capabilities are crucial for tailoring the expo to specific needs and ensuring smooth operation regardless of event size.
2. How can I ensure a virtual expo platform is user-friendly?
A user-friendly virtual expo platform will have an intuitive layout, straightforward navigation, and easily accessible support resources. It should minimize the learning curve for new users and provide seamless integration with other tools. Platforms like Remo excel in these areas by offering environments that mimic physical expos, enhancing the familiarity and comfort of users. You can test a platform’s user-friendliness by trying the platform out for yourself, whether it’s through a free trial or a demo.
3. What makes Remo a superior choice for virtual expos compared to other platforms?
Remo stands out due to its highly interactive and immersive environment, which closely replicates the feel of an in-person expo. It offers unique features like interactive floor plans and dual networking/presentation modes, fostering a sense of presence and connectivity. Additionally, Remo's advanced customization options allow organizers to brand the entire expo while also providing individual exhibitors the flexibility to personalize their booths with their own branding and content. This dual-layer customization ensures that the overall event maintains a cohesive look and feel, while exhibitors can still showcase their unique identities, enhancing engagement and creating a memorable experience for attendees.
4. How do virtual expo platforms handle scalability and reliability?
Top virtual expo platforms are built on robust infrastructures that can accommodate a wide range of event sizes, from small meetings to large-scale international conferences. They ensure reliability through redundant systems and scalable cloud services to handle high traffic and data loads without performance dips. Platforms like Remo are tested for scalability and performance, ensuring that they maintain stability and speed, even during peak usage or large event sizes.
5. What kind of analytics and reporting should I expect from a virtual expo platform?
You can expect comprehensive analytics that tracks key performance indicators such as attendee engagement, booth visits, session attendance, and overall interaction within the expo. These metrics should be accessible in real-time and post-event to help organizers measure success and plan future strategies.
6. Can virtual expo platforms be customized to fit different themes and branding requirements?
Yes, customization is a key feature of leading virtual expo platforms. They allow organizers to modify layouts, design elements, and functionalities to align with their event's theme and company branding. This includes everything from the color schemes of virtual booths to the features available at each virtual expo. Platforms like Remo provide extensive customization options to ensure each online event feels unique and tailored.
7. What should I consider regarding the cost-effectiveness and ROI of a virtual expo platform?
Evaluate the platform's pricing structure against the features and benefits it provides. Consider whether the platform can deliver high engagement and operational efficiencies that justify the investment. Additionally, look for a pricing model that ensures you only pay for what you need, such as platforms that charge by actual attendees rather than registrations, as not everyone who registers will ultimately show up. This approach maximizes the value for the dollars spent, ensuring you get the most out of your investment.