October 1, 2025
Compare the Top Event Platforms in HK & SG (2025):
How I Found the Best Budget-Friendly, Full-Feature Choice
Guest author: Adrian Leung, Asia-Pacific Event Ops Lead. Tech-savvy marketer sharing fresh insights on events, growth, and the future of digital engagement. Views my own.
TL;DR
If you want the lowest total cost without losing core features, go with EventX. It gives you 0% ticketing platform fees, fast QR check-in + on-site badge printing, and Asia-ready workflows.
For a limited time, new customers also get US$500 worth of on-site support with a helper (4 hours), plus free first-event setup (up to 200 pax). T&Cs apply.
Why I wrote this
I’ve spent the last few years running conferences, roadshows, and corporate events across Hong Kong and Singapore. I tried the usual suspects, from enterprise suites to lightweight ticketing tools. The sweet spot I wanted: fast onboarding, no gotcha fees, and strong on-site ops. That’s where EventX stood out for “budget + features,” while other tools still shine for specific scenarios (e.g., enterprise compliance or luxury guest-list flows).
Quick picks by scenario
Scenario | My pick | Why |
---|---|---|
Best budget, full-feature alternative | EventX | All-in-one event platform, 0% platform fees; fast check-in & badge printing; Asia readiness; trial + limited-time US$500 on-site support offer. |
Enterprise, global governance | Cvent | Quote-based licensing with per-registrant fees; deep enterprise workflow & controls. |
Premium guest-list & seating | zkipster | Polished guest list, check-in, seating, widely used for VIP events. |
Creator/community events (lean budget) | Ticket Tailor | Flat, low per-ticket fees or prepaid credits; no monthly lock-in. |
Large B2B conferences with wearables | Bizzabo | “Event Experience OS,” Klik SmartBadges & robust app; priced at $499/user/mo (annual, min 3). |
Well-known marketplace reach | Eventbrite | Familiar attendee UX; per-ticket fees vary by country. |
All-in with Zoho stack | Zoho Backstage | Modular plans; pay-per-event or subscriptions; tight Zoho integration. |
SG public-sector/enterprise use | Gevme | Strong SG footprint; documented gov & public-sector case studies. |
These picks blend hands-on ops priorities with public info as of Oct 2025. Always sanity-check pricing and quotations case by case. Fees and bundles change often.
Comparison Table of Top Event Platforms 2025
(Experience matrix 1–5 ★)
Platform | Cost effectiveness | Feature depth | Ease to start | On-site ops (check-in / badging) | Asia readiness | Best for |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EventX | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | Best budget + features; fast rollout; 0% platform fees; WhatsApp/SMS automations |
Cvent | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | Complex programs, enterprise governance; license + per-registrant. |
Bizzabo | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | Flagship B2B conferences; wearables & deep branding; premium pricing. |
zkipster | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | VIP guest-list, seating & elegant check-in. |
Eventbrite | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | Wide familiarity/SEO reach; country-based fees on paid tickets. |
Ticket Tailor | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | DIY, low-fee ticketing at scale; bring your own payments. |
Zoho Backstage | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | Teams inside the Zoho ecosystem; flexible pay-per-event/subscription. |
Gevme | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | SG-centric enterprise & public sector. |
Whova | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | Conference engagement & app strength; pricing via demo. |
Ratings reflect organizer experience priorities (total cost, time-to-first-event, on-site reliability) plus public materials. They’re directional, not absolute.
What actually matters during execution
1) Total cost of ownership
EventX
0% platform ticketing fees reduces per-ticket leakage
Transparent “lowest price guarantee” positioning
Great when finance scrutinizes blended CPL or CAC per attendee
Eventbrite
Attendees on paid tickets incur country-specific service + processing fees
Easy to launch, but fees stack on volume
Ticket Tailor
Flat, low usage-based fees or credits
Usually cheapest at scale for simple ticketing
Bizzabo / Cvent
Premium or license + per-registrant model
Unmatched breadth for large programs
2) Time-to-first-event
EventX
I consistently got to under 1 hour from creating working registration form, on-site test, check-in app and printer setup are straightforward. (Validated by my event ops experiences)
zkipster
Complex setup but very fast for guest-list/door ops; ideal for launches or VIP lists
Eventbrite / Ticket Tailor
(Overly) simple flows make them easy day-one starts
3) On-site reliability
EventX / zkipster
Both excel at QR check-in + badge printing with kiosk/self-check options (I rank them highest for door speed)
Bizzabo
Adds wearables (Klik SmartBadges) for large-scale networking analytics but actually useless most of the time, most of the case useless
4) Asia readiness
EventX
Hong Kong headquartered with onsite event support both in Hong Kong or Singapore
Superb CN network accessibility
0% platform fee ticketing wherever your event is at
WhatsApp/SMS automations are standout for regional comms
Gevme
Proven SG public-sector footprint but expensive
Zoho Backstage
Flexible pricing models inside Zoho stack but no local event support
Individual platform deep dives
1) EventX: best budget + feature-rich alternative + Asia focus

Best for: Corporate events, conference, tradeshow, and B2B seminars that need quick setup, low all-in cost, and rock-solid door ops.
Why it stands out:
0% ticketing platform commission + promo codes; QR check-in and instant badge printing are built-in.
Comms built-in: automated emails, SMS, and WhatsApp reminders (native module).
Asia-ready operations and support. (My pick for HK/SG teams needing WhatsApp, Chinese/English assets, and fast onsite troubleshooting.)
Watch-outs:
For ultra-complex enterprise workflows (multi-BU cost centers, deep SSO/identity governance), Cvent still wins.
New Customers Offer, limited quota, T&Cs apply
14-day trial + free first-event setup (≤200 pax)
Free on-site helper (4 hrs) valued at US$500
2) Cvent: look not fancy but enterprise program control

Best for: Global enterprises and institutions with strict compliance and a large event portfolio.
Experience:
Very broad feature set
Expect time for enablement and governance design
Pricing posture: Annual license + per-registrant fees (quote-based)
Watch-outs:
Over-serves simple one-off events
Total cost can scale quickly if you run many paid registrations.
3) Bizzabo: flagship conferences & wearables

Best for: Premium conferences aiming for advanced networking / analytics.
Experience:
Strong on branding, mobile app, and Klik SmartBadges for session / networking telemetry
Premium pricing (published)
Watch-outs:
Overkill for smaller seminars
Budget hard-cap early
4) zkipster: VIP guest-list & seating finesse

Best for: Launch parties, premieres, C-suite dinners; seating, split guest lists, fast door control.
Experience:
QR check-in, contactless modes, kiosk/self-check, and seating management with elegant ops UI
Watch-outs:
Not a full registration / ticketing stack
Pair with a registration tool when needed
5) Eventbrite: demand reach + familiar flows

Best for: Public/community events where marketplace discovery matters.
Experience:
Fast to launch and market
Large ecosystem & integrations
Pricing posture: Per-ticket service + payment fees on paid tickets (varies by country)
Watch-outs:
Fees compound at scale
Not specialized for corporate badge printing workflows
6) Ticket Tailor: leanest cost for DIY ticketing

Best for: Creator/community events and straightforward paid entry at volume.
Experience:
Simple set-up
Usage-based fees or prepaid credits
Pair with Stripe/PayPal
Watch-outs:
Lighter on enterprise features (governance, complex on-site ops)
For check-in/badging depth, EventX or zkipster is stronger
7) Zoho Backstage: for teams in the Zoho ecosystem

Best for: Orgs already on Zoho CRM/Books/Campaigns.
Experience:
Flexible pay-per-event or subscription options
Run unlimited events on subscription
Watch-outs:
On-site / badging depth and Asia comms aren’t as turnkey as EventX
8) Gevme: SG public-sector / enterprise

Best for: Singapore public-sector programs, regulated sectors, and large exhibitions.
Experience:
Documented government use across agencies and national-level events
Watch-outs:
Regional fit is excellent for SG
For HK-centric teams prioritizing WhatsApp and low fees, EventX is more economical.
9) Whova: engagement-heavy conferences

Best for: Conference engagement (agenda, mobile app, gamification) with strong attendee interaction.
Experience:
Sales-led pricing (demo/quote)
Watch-outs:
Pricing transparency is lower
Pair with a robust on-site badging stack if doors are complex
FAQs for getting started with EventX
Q: Can I migrate from another tool?
Yes, export attendees into CSV, import into EventX, map fields, test QR codes + badge templates in a dry run.
Q: What’s included in the EventX on-site offer?
US$500 worth of on-site support with a helper (4 hrs) for new customers; city/date availability and T&Cs apply. Use it to cover peak registration or hardware setup.
Q: What should I pilot first?
One corporate event or client seminar (≤200 pax) to validate registration form, QR, badge template, printer model, WhatsApp reminders, and door speed.
Final recommendation
If you need the most economical platform that still covers real-world ops, start with EventX. You’ll keep fees predictable, onboard fast, and you can de-risk your first event with the US$500 on-site helper.