Software · head to head
CVent Events vs Planning Pod
The short version
- Each has a real cost: CVent Events pricing is by quote only: the pricing page publishes no rate, no minimum and no per seat cost and routes buyers to sales; Planning Pod subscription pricing is metered by concurrent event volume rather than seats: the vendor states "Subscription pricing is based on the number of events your venue manages at any given time" and that "most single-location venues land between $199 and $319 per month."
- They diverge on capability: CVent Events covers Event registration, Planning Pod covers Lead management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CVent Events and Planning Pod actually diverge.
| Attribute | CVent Events | Planning Pod |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1500/month | $59/month |
| Founded | 1999 | 2012 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in CVent Events
- Event registration
- Mobile event app
- Attendee hub
- Event marketing
- Advanced analytics
- Salesforce
- Marketo
- Microsoft Dynamics
Only in Planning Pod
- Lead management
- Floor plans
- Budgeting
- Timeline
- Client portal
- QuickBooks
- Stripe
- PayPal
Both cover
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
CVent Events
- Managing event registration and attendee data for large eventsnot Planning Pod
- Running a virtual or hybrid event attendee hubnot Planning Pod
- Onsite check in and badge printingnot Planning Pod
Planning Pod
- Event planningnot CVent Events
- Ticket salesnot CVent Events
- Attendee managementnot CVent Events
- Virtual eventsnot CVent Events
- Event marketingnot CVent Events
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CVent Events
- Pricing is by quote only: the pricing page publishes no rate, no minimum and no per seat cost and routes buyers to sales
- The Professional tier includes 15 user logins; unlimited logins require Enterprise
- Professional licenses individual solutions such as Registration, Attendee Hub and OnArrival separately rather than bundling them
- Bundled access to all solutions requires the Enterprise tier
Planning Pod
- Subscription pricing is metered by concurrent event volume rather than seats: the vendor states "Subscription pricing is based on the number of events your venue manages at any given time" and that "most single-location venues land between $199 and $319 per month."
Pricing, plan by plan
CVent Events
$1500/month- Professional$1500/month
- Event registration
- Email marketing
- Basic analytics
- Enterprise$4000/month
- Mobile app
- Advanced analytics
- Integrations
- Ultimate$8000/month
- Full suite
- Dedicated support
- Custom development
Planning Pod
$59/month- Planner$59/month
- Basic planning tools
- 5 events
- Email support
- Professional$99/month
- Unlimited events
- Floor plans
- Budget tracking
- Business$199/month
- Team features
- Client portal
- API access
Which should you pick?
Choose CVent Events if
- You need event registration.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want mobile event app.
Choose Planning Pod if
- You need lead management.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want floor plans.
Questions people ask
- Is CVent Events or Planning Pod better?
- Neither clearly leads. CVent Events starts at $1500/month and Planning Pod at $59/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CVent Events or Planning Pod?
- CVent Events starts at $1500/month and Planning Pod at $59/month.
- Does CVent Events or Planning Pod run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is CVent Events best used for?
- CVent Events is most often used for managing event registration and attendee data for large events, running a virtual or hybrid event attendee hub, onsite check in and badge printing. Of those, managing event registration and attendee data for large events and running a virtual or hybrid event attendee hub are not what Planning Pod is typically brought in for.
- What can CVent Events do that Planning Pod cannot?
- CVent Events covers Event registration, Mobile event app, Attendee hub, Event marketing. Planning Pod covers Lead management, Floor plans, Budgeting, Timeline. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.