Comparing Event Software

So you’re going to put on an event! Whether it’s a conference, a silent auction, or something else, that means you’re going to need some type of event software. Event software systems are different from donor database CRM systems. Donor databases specialize in tracking the relationship you have with your supporters year over year. Event software specializes in all the tools you need for tracking and managing the details of your event, including ticketing and guest management, grouping folks together for tabling, assigning bid numbers, handling day of event sales, check-in, check-out, etc. Each system is important and necessary for good data management.

So, how do you choose from the hundreds of event software vendors out there? Well, it depends on your needs and what is most important to your organization. Here are some things to consider:

• How important is integration between your donor database and your event database?
• Are you filling the room with mostly single ticket sales or table sales/sponsorships?
• Do you need to assign table numbers to each guest?
• Are you using bid paddles in the room and do you want to pre-assign them to guests?
• Do you plan on having an auction? If so, will you have a live auction, silent auction, online auction or any other games or activities?
• Do you want to send emails or text messages to event attendees directly from the event software?
• Do you want your guests to be able to check in with a QR code?
• Do you have a data manager at your organization dedicated to managing your data? Or are you relying on volunteers or executive staff to fill in that role?
• Are you looking to integrate a hybrid event with in-person and virtual components?

Your answers to these questions will help inform what event software you need. We have three recommendations for you to consider that are able to handle any type of event, from big to small. Since they are able to do all the things you need to run a successful event, we have listed the most interesting feature that might make a difference for your organization.

Greater Giving

We love the tried and true workhorse system that Greater Giving has provided over the years. They have been in the industry for over 20 years and have one of the best support centers for their software, including how-to videos and articles, as well as great text and phone support.

OneCause

We love the sleek and modern design of OneCause. They release regular, relevant updates to their system and are on top of the trends happening in the sector. For instance, they just launched a way for you to be able to use AI to generate auction descriptions right in the platform.

ClickBid

If you’re tired of your event database not playing nicely with your donor database, we love how ClickBid integrates well with other databases. Their integrations include Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT, Salesforce for Nonprofits, Neon One, Classy, Double the Donation and TravelPledge.

Here’s a chart with common features compared across the three different platforms: