Software · head to head
Cvent vs Eventbrite
The short version
- Only Eventbrite has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Cvent high cost prohibitive for small organizations and nonprofits; Eventbrite service fees total 6.59% + $1.79 per ticket (3.7% service + 2.9% payment processing), among the highest in the industry
- They diverge on capability: Cvent covers Event registration, Eventbrite covers Event Discovery.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cvent and Eventbrite actually diverge.
| Attribute | Cvent | Eventbrite |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $10000/month | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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
- Event registration
- Venue sourcing
- Attendee management
- Mobile event app
- Event marketing
- Marketo
- Microsoft Dynamics
- SAP
Only in Eventbrite
- Event Discovery
- Ticketing
- Event Management
- Marketing Tools
- Analytics
- Virtual Events
- Mailchimp
- Zoom
Both cover
- Salesforce
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Cvent
- Event planningnot Eventbrite
- Ticket salesnot Eventbrite
- Attendee managementnot Eventbrite
- Virtual eventsnot Eventbrite
- Event marketingnot Eventbrite
Eventbrite
- Selling tickets for concerts, festivals and nightlife eventsnot Cvent
- Running conferences and corporate events with registrationnot Cvent
- Nonprofit fundraising eventsnot Cvent
- Reserved seating and timed entry admissionnot Cvent
- Promoting events through the Eventbrite marketplace and paid adsnot Cvent
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Cvent
- High cost prohibitive for small organizations and nonprofits
- Complex modular pricing makes budgeting difficult
Eventbrite
- Service fees total 6.59% + $1.79 per ticket (3.7% service + 2.9% payment processing), among the highest in the industry
- Holds 20% of net sales in reserve until event completion and delays payout 3 days after event, creating cash flow problems for organizers
- Limited event page customization with no white-label option and events must be registered on eventbrite.com domain
Pricing, plan by plan
Cvent
$10000/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Cvent review.
Eventbrite
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited free events
- No platform fees for free events
- Pro$15/month
- Email marketing
- Custom branding
- Advanced analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose Cvent if
- You need event registration.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want venue sourcing.
Choose Eventbrite if
- You need event discovery.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want ticketing.
Questions people ask
- Is Cvent or Eventbrite better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cvent starts at $10000/month and Eventbrite at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Cvent or Eventbrite?
- Eventbrite has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10000/month for Cvent and Free for Eventbrite.
- Does Cvent or Eventbrite run on more platforms?
- Cvent runs on Web, Mobile. Eventbrite runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Eventbrite for free?
- Yes. Eventbrite has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Cvent starts at $10000/month.
- What is Cvent best used for?
- Cvent is most often used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events. Of those, event planning and ticket sales are not what Eventbrite is typically brought in for.
- What can Cvent do that Eventbrite cannot?
- Cvent covers Event registration, Venue sourcing, Attendee management, Mobile event app. Eventbrite covers Event Discovery, Ticketing, Event Management, Marketing Tools. Both handle Salesforce, Web support, Ios support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Cvent: Does Cvent offer a free trial or demo?
Cvent does not list pricing on its website but offers customized demos and evaluations. No free trial is publicly available.
SourceEventbrite: Is Eventbrite free for hosting free events?
Yes, Eventbrite is completely free for events with free tickets. You can publish unlimited free events with no platform fees, service fees, or payment processing fees. Features like custom branding and advanced analytics are only available on paid plans.
SourceCvent: What modules are available?
Core modules include Registration, Attendee Hub, OnArrival, event app, badge printing, and real-time reporting. Additional modules can be added based on event needs.
SourceEventbrite: What are the fees for paid-ticket events in the US?
Eventbrite charges 3.7% plus $1.79 per ticket sold, plus 2.9% payment processing fee per order. Organizers can pass these fees to attendees or absorb them.
SourceCvent: Does it support virtual and hybrid events?
Yes. Cvent Event Management supports in-person, virtual, and hybrid events with integrated registration, attendee engagement, and reporting across all formats.
SourceEventbrite: When do I receive payments from ticket sales?
Payouts are sent 3 days after your event ends (or on a custom schedule if you set one), and funds appear in your bank account within 5 business days in the US or 7 days internationally. Eventbrite also holds 20% in reserve until after the event to cover refunds and chargebacks.
SourceCvent: How much does it cost?
Cvent pricing starts at $10,000 per month and scales to $100,000+ for enterprise deployments, with costs based on selected modules and event volume. Exact pricing requires a sales consultation.
SourceEventbrite: Can I customize branding on my event page?
Customization is limited to basic colors and images. You cannot white-label the event page or remove Eventbrite branding, and all registration flows pass through Eventbrite's domain, not your own.
SourceEventbrite: Does Eventbrite offer an API for integrations?
Yes, Eventbrite provides an OAuth API for developers to build custom integrations. Full documentation is available on their platform portal with support for app authentication and API keys.
SourceRelated pages
Keep looking
Other head to heads
- Cvent vs Hopin
- Cvent vs Bizzabo
- Cvent vs Cisco Webex
- Cvent vs Airmeet
- Cvent vs Whova
- Cvent vs Google Meet
- Cvent vs Zoom Webinar
- Cvent vs Zoom Webinars
- Cvent vs Adobe Connect
- Cvent vs Crowdstream
- Cvent vs Goldcast
- Cvent vs Kaltura
- Cvent vs Microsoft Teams Live Events
- Cvent vs ON24
- Cvent vs Panopto
- Cvent vs Run The World
- Cvent vs Zuddl
- Eventbrite vs Hopin
- Eventbrite vs Bizzabo
- Eventbrite vs Cisco Webex
- Eventbrite vs Airmeet
- Eventbrite vs Whova
- Eventbrite vs Google Meet
- Eventbrite vs Zoom Webinar
- Eventbrite vs Zoom Webinars
- Eventbrite vs Adobe Connect
- Eventbrite vs Crowdstream
- Eventbrite vs Goldcast
- Eventbrite vs Kaltura
- Eventbrite vs Microsoft Teams Live Events
- Eventbrite vs ON24
- Eventbrite vs Panopto
- Eventbrite vs Run The World
- Eventbrite vs Zuddl


