The Cvent alternative with a Free plan

Cvent is an enterprise event platform, and its own registration guide says platforms like it are usually quote-based. If you run seminars, workshops or events for a few hundred people, you want a price you can see. Vantage Events has a Free plan, gives you a turnout forecast before you book the room, and checks guests in from any phone browser.

Vantage Events Bizzabo Swoogo A2Z Events Eventbrite Luma Cvent
Free plan Yes, never expires, 25 events, 250 guests each Free plan unavailable Not found Not found Yes, free events unlimited Yes, free forever Free to build; pay per registration to launch; expiry not stated
A price you can see $0, $39, $99, $249 a month $499/user/mo, 3-user minimum, from $17,999/yr $11,800/yr for 1 user Quote only Free to publish; Pro email marketing from $15/mo Free; paid plan $59/mo billed annually Professional and Enterprise: quote only; free to build; pay per registration
Start without a sales call Yes Demo first Demo first Demo first Yes Yes Registration trial only
Check-in at the door Any phone browser Onsite Command App Go Onsite check-in app Kiosks and badge printing Organizer app scans QR Web or app scanner OnArrival scans QR
Predict the turnout Vantage Forecast, every plan Not found Not found Not found Not found Not found Registration Predictions: counts with ranges; in design, not released

Details from each vendor's own website as of September 25, 2026, shown as each vendor publishes them. "Not found" means we could not find it on the vendor's public site on that date. Vantage charges a flat 3 percent platform fee on paid tickets, plus processing.

Free. No card.
Why smaller teams look past Cvent
  • No list price. Cvent's pricing page asks for a quote, and its registration guide says: "More comprehensive platforms, such as Cvent, are usually quote-based."
  • A conversation before a single event. Most Cvent products start with a demo or "Let's Talk".
  • Free events that still cost money. On Cvent's self-serve registration trial, "if the cost of registration doesn't cover our fees, such as in the case of a free event, the credit card will be charged."
What to look for in a Cvent alternative
  • A price you can see before you talk to anyone.
  • A free plan you can run a real event on.
  • Check-in that works on the phones you already have.
  • Ticket money paid to your own Stripe account.
  • A turnout forecast before you commit to the room.
Six Cvent alternatives, compared
  • Vantage Events. Best for seminar hosts, small teams and community events. The Free plan never expires: 25 events, 250 guests each, no card. Paid plans are $39, $99 and $249 a month, billed monthly. Vantage Forecast gives you a turnout number and range before the doors open, Co-Planner drafts your invitations and follow-ups, and QR check-in runs in any phone browser.
  • Bizzabo. Best for B2B event teams running a portfolio of conferences. Bizzabo publishes $499 per user a month, billed annually with a three-user minimum, starting at $17,999 a year. It has no free plan.
  • Swoogo. Best for corporate event teams that want per-user pricing with unlimited events. Swoogo publishes $11,800 a year for one user, booked through a demo.
  • A2Z Events. Best for associations and show organizers that run trade shows with exhibitors and floor plans. Pricing is by quote.
  • Eventbrite. Best for public events that want marketplace discovery. Free events are free to publish; paid tickets carry per-ticket fees.
  • Luma. Best for community events that want a free event page.
Which one fits
  • Choose Vantage Events if you run seminars, workshops, trainings or community events and want a Free plan today.
  • Choose Cvent or Bizzabo if you run large conferences with sponsors, exhibitors and room blocks, and your team buys through a sales process.
  • Choose A2Z Events if your association's show runs on an exhibit floor.
  • Choose Eventbrite if marketplace discovery is how people find your events.

Before you ask, here's what other organizers asked.

Is there a free alternative to Cvent?
Yes. Vantage Events has a Free plan that never expires: 25 events, 250 guests each, QR check-in in any phone browser and Vantage Forecast, with no card.
How much does Cvent cost?
Cvent does not publish list prices; its pricing page asks you to request a quote. Its self-serve registration trial charges a per-registration fee plus a share of revenue, shown when you open registration.
What is the best Cvent alternative for seminars?
Look for a free start, a price you can see, check-in from a phone and a turnout forecast before you book the room. Vantage Events was built for seminar hosts first.
Can I bring my attendee list over?
Yes. Import your attendee list as a CSV file into a Vantage event.