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As an event planner, your tech stack can make or break your productivity. Whether you're managing a multi-day conference or a regional networking event, having the right event management software is essential. Two names often come up in the conversation: Zoho Backstage and Cvent.
While Cvent is widely known as an industry powerhouse, Zoho Backstage is quickly gaining attention—especially among planners looking for flexibility, affordability, and seamless integration. So which one should you choose?
Let’s break it down.
Part of the Zoho ecosystem, Zoho Backstage is a cloud-based event management platform built for planners managing everything from internal corporate meetings to public conferences. It offers tools for event websites, agendas, speaker management, mobile apps, check-in, attendee engagement, and virtual/hybrid events.
Cvent is a robust, enterprise-grade platform used by large corporations and institutions for complex event needs. It offers an all-in-one suite: registration, event marketing, venue sourcing, mobile apps, check-in, surveys, lead capture, and more.
Zoho Backstage offers clear, tiered pricing starting at around $99/month for up to 100 attendees, with scalable plans. Cvent, on the other hand, typically operates on custom pricing, often requiring a demo and sales negotiation. This can be cost-prohibitive for small to midsize organizations or independent planners.
Zoho Backstage = Ideal for SMBs and lean teams.
Cvent = Better suited for enterprise-level budgets.
If you're already using Zoho CRM, Zoho Campaigns, Zoho Meetings, or Zoho Analytics, Backstage fits like a glove. It allows data to flow naturally between tools without complex API setups or middleware.
No need to juggle platforms—Backstage works within the Zoho ecosystem, saving hours in tech setup.
Backstage’s intuitive dashboard is perfect for planners who don’t want a steep learning curve. Cvent’s powerful features come at the cost of complexity—training is often required, especially for smaller teams.
Backstage lets you launch events faster, with less friction.
Backstage includes a customizable mobile app under its subscription—ideal for in-person and hybrid experiences. With Cvent, mobile functionality is powerful, but often an additional cost or product.
While Zoho Backstage is more agile and cost-effective, Cvent offers unmatched depth and scale for very large or highly complex events. If you need advanced venue sourcing, onsite check-in hardware, enterprise-level compliance, or custom-built reporting dashboards—Cvent might be the better fit.
PlatformEntry-Level PricingNotable Extras Zoho Backstage Starts at ~$99/monthTransparent tiers, mobile app included. Cvent Custom pricing (often thousands per event/year)Add-ons for Attendee Hub, App, Onsite services.
If you're looking for a modern, easy-to-use event management platform that doesn’t break the bank—Zoho Backstage is a strong contender. It empowers you to focus on your attendees and experience design, not backend headaches.
Choosing the right event management software can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to figure it out alone. The experts at AMP Event Group have hands-on experience with both Zoho Backstage and Cvent, and can help you evaluate what’s best based on your event size, goals, and tech stack.
👉 Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and get tailored advice from planners who’ve seen it all.
Let’s make your next event seamless—from strategy to execution.