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Software · head to head

Microsoft Teams Live Events vs BigMarker

Microsoft Teams Live Events logo

Microsoft Teams Live Events

Software

Enterprise live event and webinar platform by Microsoft

From
Free
Rated
-
BigMarker logo

BigMarker

Software

The webinar platform built for marketers

From
$99/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Microsoft Teams Live Events has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft Teams Live Events teams live events retired on June 30, 2026, and only events scheduled before that date remain supported through February 28, 2027; BigMarker no prices are published on any tier; all three require a quote
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Teams Live Events covers Live Q&A, BigMarker covers Live webinars.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Teams Live Events and BigMarker actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Teams Live Events and BigMarker differ
AttributeMicrosoft Teams Live EventsBigMarker
Starting priceFree$99/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Mac, IOS, Android, WebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19752010

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Microsoft Teams Live Events

  • Live Q&A
  • Attendee engagement
  • RTMP support
  • Recording
  • Microsoft 365 integration
  • Microsoft 365
  • Azure
  • SharePoint

Only in BigMarker

  • Live webinars
  • On-demand content
  • Virtual summits
  • Engagement tools
  • Landing pages
  • HubSpot
  • Marketo
  • Salesforce

Both cover

  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Microsoft Teams Live Events

  • One to many broadcast of company town halls to large internal audiencesnot BigMarker
  • Streaming an externally produced RTMP feed from a hardware encoder to Teams viewersnot BigMarker

BigMarker

  • Live and on-demand webinars with chat, polls and Q&Anot Microsoft Teams Live Events
  • Virtual events and conferences with breakout roomsnot Microsoft Teams Live Events
  • Evergreen and simulive webinars that run without a presenternot Microsoft Teams Live Events
  • Ticketed webinars with payment collectionnot Microsoft Teams Live Events
  • White-labelled webinar experiences on the top tiernot Microsoft Teams Live Events

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Microsoft Teams Live Events

  • Teams live events retired on June 30, 2026, and only events scheduled before that date remain supported through February 28, 2027
  • Microsoft directs users to the separate unified Teams events experience instead
  • Organizers must use the Teams web client to schedule a live event; scheduling is not available in the desktop client
  • Users cannot schedule meetings or live events when offline or running with limited bandwidth
  • Keeping internal broadcast traffic off the corporate network requires an eCDN, either Microsoft's own or a certified partner such as Hive, Kollective or Ramp

BigMarker

  • No prices are published on any tier; all three require a quote
  • Host licences are capped by tier, at 1 on Basic, 4 on Enterprise and 6 on Enterprise+
  • Attendee ceilings gate the tiers, at 1,000 on Basic against 10,000 on Enterprise
  • SSO, multi-factor authentication, white-labelled domains and live captioning are Enterprise+ only
  • API access and breakout rooms require Enterprise

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Teams Live Events

Free
  • Microsoft Teams FreeFree
    • Up to 300 participants
    • Live events
  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic$6/month
    • Enhanced live events
    • 10000 attendees
  • Microsoft 365 Business Standard$12.5/month
    • Advanced features
    • Unlimited events

BigMarker

$99/month
  • Starter$99/month
    • Live webinars
    • 100 attendees
    • Basic features
  • Elite$299/month
    • 500 attendees
    • On-demand
    • Custom branding
  • Summit$999/month
    • Virtual summits
    • 10000 attendees
    • Full features

Which should you pick?

Choose Microsoft Teams Live Events if

  • You need live q&a.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want attendee engagement.

Choose BigMarker if

  • You need live webinars.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want on-demand content.

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Teams Live Events or BigMarker better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Teams Live Events starts at Free and BigMarker at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Teams Live Events or BigMarker?
Microsoft Teams Live Events has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Microsoft Teams Live Events and $99/month for BigMarker.
Does Microsoft Teams Live Events or BigMarker run on more platforms?
Microsoft Teams Live Events runs on Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web. BigMarker runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Microsoft Teams Live Events for free?
Yes. Microsoft Teams Live Events has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. BigMarker starts at $99/month.
What is Microsoft Teams Live Events best used for?
Microsoft Teams Live Events is most often used for one to many broadcast of company town halls to large internal audiences, streaming an externally produced rtmp feed from a hardware encoder to teams viewers. Of those, one to many broadcast of company town halls to large internal audiences and streaming an externally produced rtmp feed from a hardware encoder to teams viewers are not what BigMarker is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Teams Live Events do that BigMarker cannot?
Microsoft Teams Live Events covers Live Q&A, Attendee engagement, RTMP support, Recording. BigMarker covers Live webinars, On-demand content, Virtual summits, Engagement tools. Both handle Android support, Web support.

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