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Software · head to head

Cvent vs Universe

Cvent logo

Cvent

Software

Event technology for every event

From
$10000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Universe logo

Universe

Software

Ticketing and event management made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Universe 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; Universe limited design customization for event pages and branding control
  • They diverge on capability: Cvent covers Event registration, Universe covers Ticketing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cvent and Universe actually diverge.

Attributes where Cvent and Universe differ
AttributeCventUniverse
Starting price$10000/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, iOS, Android
Founded19992011

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
  • Salesforce
  • Marketo
  • Microsoft Dynamics

Only in Universe

  • Ticketing
  • Event pages
  • Guest lists
  • Check-in app
  • Analytics
  • Stripe
  • PayPal
  • Facebook

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

  • Event planning
  • Ticket sales
  • Attendee management
  • Virtual events
  • Event marketing

Universe

  • Event planning
  • Ticket sales
  • Attendee management
  • Virtual events
  • Event marketing

Both are used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events, event marketing, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Universe

  • Limited design customization for event pages and branding control
  • User interface becomes unintuitive for advanced features and complex event types
  • No ability to transfer attendees between time slots; requires full refund and repurchase
  • Difficult walk-up/credit card sales processing at physical events
  • Slow customer support for refunds and technical issues

Pricing, plan by plan

Cvent

$10000/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Cvent review.

Universe

Free
  • Free EventsFree
    • Free event creation and ticketing
  • Starter$0.79/per ticket
    • 2% + $0.79 per ticket
    • Capped at $19.95 per ticket
    • Basic event management
  • Standard$1.99/per ticket
    • 2.5% + $1.99 per ticket
    • Capped at $19.95 per ticket
    • Advanced features
  • Pro$null/custom
    • Dynamic pricing
    • RFID access control
    • Ticketmaster distribution

Which should you pick?

Choose Cvent if

  • You need event registration.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want venue sourcing.
Cvent review

Choose Universe if

  • You need ticketing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want event pages.
Universe review

Questions people ask

Is Cvent or Universe better?
Neither clearly leads. Cvent starts at $10000/month and Universe at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cvent or Universe?
Universe has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10000/month for Cvent and Free for Universe.
Does Cvent or Universe run on more platforms?
Cvent runs on Web, Mobile. Universe runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Universe for free?
Yes. Universe 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.
What can Cvent do that Universe cannot?
Cvent covers Event registration, Venue sourcing, Attendee management, Mobile event app. Universe covers Ticketing, Event pages, Guest lists, Check-in app. Both handle 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.

Source
Universe: What platforms does Universe support?

Universe is available on web, iOS, and Android, with support across 25 countries and 9 languages. Organizers can accept online, mobile, onsite, kiosk, and print-at-home tickets.

Source
Cvent: 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.

Source
Universe: Does Universe integrate with other tools?

Yes. Universe integrates with 5,000+ partner applications through Zapier, allowing automation of ticket sales data to CRM, invoicing, and other business tools without code.

Source
Cvent: 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.

Source
Cvent: 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.

Source
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