The 10 Best Event Planning Tools

Even the most skilled and talented planner is only as good as their toolkit. Planning an event is an immensely complicated process, and veterans know that any advantage they can get that streamlines running an event—is invaluable. Thankfully, tools exist in droves to this end, and here’s ten tools I think are some of the best event planning tools, and explain how they can help you.

#1: Google Maps

We’ll start with one of the most well known event planning tools, Google Maps. Google Maps is without a doubt the most widely-used mapping service in the world. Every Android device comes with it as default, and iPhones have it just an App Store away. In other words, there’s a good chance most of your attendees will have access to it.

Google Maps is useful not only because it’ll help you plan event, but also because it can help your attendees find the event.

• You can use it to create a map featuring your venue.
• Google Maps can be used on your event’s website for your attendees to see how to get to the event.
• And you can create customized maps that shows your guests places of interest (such as nearby hotels, restaurants, and parking).

#2: Slideshare

Slideshare is probably one of the best ways for your event’s speakers to share their slides the Internet. Using the platform, you can upload your event’s documents, PDFs, slideshows, videos, and related webinars so that they’re all in one place (if you have an event website, you can embed this stuff there, too). It’s clear to see why most everybody utilizes it: because it works.

#3: Facebook Events

Facebook is the largest social network in the world, and for many events quite a few of your attendees are probably on it. What’s more, Facebook Events is actually surprisingly versatile; with a few clicks, you can create an event for just about any occasion with a hub on which you can easily post updates. Co-ordination of attendees, venue, and location are all nearly effortless as well.

#4: YouTube

The popularity of video continues to skyrocket, and YouTube is leading the way. Why not hop on the bandwagon? YouTube offers a huge laundry list of valuable tools and features including event support, branding control, advertising, and more.  We have a whole article on how YouTube can enhance your event, if you’re interested in learning more.

#5: Eventbrite

Eventbrite is an incredibly powerful event registration platform which allows organizers to easily promote, publish, and sell tickets to their events.

Using the Eventbrite platform, you can quickly and easily create a professional-looking registration page (accessible on both desktop and mobile devices), and you can also embed that registration form on your event’s website. Further more, Eventbrite allows you to send personalized invitations, set up paperless registrations and make use of a bunch of different built-in promotion tools—all for free.

Disclosure: Tweetwall and Eventbrite are partners.

#6: Hopin

Hopin is an all-in-one event platform that helps you create immersive virtual, hybrid, and in-person event experiences for your audience, no matter where they are. You can create events, accept attendee registrations, setup ways for the attendees to connect using chat, and even see all the analytics around the event.

#7: Cvent

With all the options that Cvent offers to help you manage your event (in-person, virtual, or hybrid), they may seem complicated at first, but those options bring something very important—flexibility. Whether you’re putting on just a single event, or hundreds of them per month, Cvent makes it easy for you.

You can simultaneously have multiple events in progress at different venues, and easily do instant collaboration with other involved parties. They help also with the organization of schedules, meetings, and contacts, maps, information on area attractions, and applications.

#8: Social Tables

Social Tables, now owned by Cvent, is a a service that helps you plan something often overlooked until far too long into the event planning process—the floor plan of your venue. Using Social Tables, you can diagram out your seating arrangement, you can create interactive floor plans, and you can even use it to help you find venues that fit your needs.

#9: XING Events (Formerly Amiando)

XING Events is one of the world’s leading event management services, and with good reason. Its award winning selection of tools make event creation, promotion, and management a snap—and creating an account on the site is completely free. Using XING Events, you’ll be able to customize virtually every step of the management process, including your website, ticket sales, attendance, and payment handling.

#10: The Event Manager Blog

I’ll preface our last entry by saying that the Event Manager Blog technically isn’t a tool—however, it be the most valuable item on this list. The Event manager Blog was created by Julius Solaris in 2007 and he lead the helm until 2019, when it was acquired by Skift. Even though Julius isn’t there anymore (he moved on to SwapCard), there’s still tons of great resources for event planners.