The 11 Best Webinar Software Platforms in 2023

Last Updated on February 19, 2023 by Alex Birkett

Webinars work.

To make them work, you need webinar software to host your amazing content.

What Features to Look for in a Webinar Platform?

Here are a few features that your webinar software should have, no matter what industry you’re in.

• Customization and Branding Options – Your webinar software should be able to help you brand each of your webinars. This includes adding your own logo with a small tagline like, “Hosted by <your company name>” or, even better, have your own custom header and footer on customizable landing pages, webinar screen, etc.
• Automated Emails – Your webinar software should automatically send emails before and after the event.
• Number of Attendees – Pick the right webinar software based on the type of webinar you plan to host. For example, if you want to host a large event with as many as 10,000 attendees, then make sure you check the maximum attendee limit beforehand.
• Live Vs. Pre-recorded – Again, check whether the webinar you are picking allows you to host the type of webinar you want.
• Interaction Features – Features like Q&A, polling in the real-time, whiteboard, etc., ensure that your webinar attendees are engaged with your event.

In addition, you might want to look out for features like YouTube and Facebook streaming, HD video, high-quality audio, third-party integrations, breakout webinar rooms, and more. Make sure to check out user reviews as well.

Although, I did it for you in this article so that you can pick the best webinar software without having to do any additional research yourself.

Editor’s note: I’m going to use some affiliate links when possible to try to earn some revenue from my content. These don’t change the opinions espoused in the content nor the style in which they are written. If I think a product sucks, I’m not going to say otherwise. This is just a bonus and a way to fund the whole operation. Anyway, enjoy the article!

11 Best Webinar Software Platforms Overview

Here’s a quick overview of the best webinar platforms

	Free Trial	Starting Cost (For Up to 100 attendees)	Max Attendees & Presenters	Live Webinars	Automated, On-Demand Webinars	Pre & Post Event Emails	One-click registration
ClickMeeting	Yes; 30-day	$60/mo/ billed annually	Up to 1,000 attendees; 4 presenters	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
GoToWebinar	Yes; 7-day	$89/mo/ billed annually	Up to 5,000 attendees; 6 presenters	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
WebinarJam	14-day trial for $1	$499/year (For up to 500 attendees)	Up to 5,000 attendees; 6 presenters	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Demio	14-day	$69/mo/ paid annually	Up to 1,000 attendees; 15 presenters	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Livestorm	14-day	$99/mo/ billed annually	Up to 1,000 attendees	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
EverWebinar	14-day trial for $1	$499/year (For up to 1,000 attendees)		No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Zoom Video Webinar	Free (For 100 attendees)	$79/mo (For up to 500 attendees)	Up to 50,000 attendees	Yes	No	Yes	No
EasyWebinar	14-day	$79/mo	Up to 2,000 attendees	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
GetResponse	30-day	$49/mo	Up to 1,000 attendees	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
BlueJeans	14-day	$83/mo	Up to 50,000 attendees	Yes	No	Only pre-event mails	No
BigMarker	7-day	$79/mo	Up to 50,000 attendees	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Now, let’s see how these webinar platforms fare when it comes to audience engagement and lead generation features.

	Clickable CTAs & Offers	Whiteboard	Polls & Surveys	Live Chat	Breakout Rooms	Live Stream on Facebook & YouTube
ClickMeeting	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Up to 20 breakout rooms	Yes
GoToWebinar	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
WebinarJam	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Only YouTube Live
Demio	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Livestorm	Yes	No (Native integration with Miro, though)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
EverWebinar	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Only YouTube Live
Zoom Video Webinar	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Up to 50 breakout rooms	Yes
EasyWebinar	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
GetResponse	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
BlueJeans	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Up to 75 groups	Yes
BigMarker	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (Available only to Enterprise customers)	Yes

The 11 Best Webinar Platforms in 2023

Here are the top contenders that I consider the best webinar software:

1. ClickMeeting

Best For: Easy setup; small and medium-sized businesses.

G2 Score: 3.9

From product demos to free and paid webinars, ClickMeeting is an all-in-one webinar solution that lets you host all types of virtual events. It’s also a browser-based webinar platform, which means you don’t have to install any app to start your webinar. And even your audiences can join the webinar with your invite link alone – without any hassle.

Usually, webinar software can be broken down into two major segments; live and automated.

Live webinars are very similar to in-person seminars; these webinars will include a speaker that will talk about a given topic. And as the name suggests, they are live-streamed.

Automated on-demand webinars, on the other hand, are pre-recorded and sent out for direct marketing purposes. These webinars run on autopilot and let your audience access the webinar whenever they want.

In many cases, webinar platforms provide only one of these two options.

However, ClickMeeting is a few webinar platforms that allow you to host live webinars and automated webinars.

What’s more, you can also run paid webinar sessions and sell access to virtual training and courses. Integrate your paid account with PayPal, and you’re all set!

Now, coming to the overall setup, it can be done in three simple steps. Schedule a webinar, invite attendees, and join the room. That’s it.

Here’s a quick glimpse into the admin area for setting up an automated on-demand webinar:

You can also configure your webinar’s waiting room, allow registration, and even change the appearance of the registration page. They also provide native integration with Unsplash so that you can spruce up your registration page with engaging images.

Finally, set up automatic functions of the event, such as whether you want to share it to your other social media pages. Plus, you can send out automated reminders before the event and even follow up after the event by setting up an automated Thank-You email campaign.

And if you plan to host another similar webinar or event, you can simply replicate your previous one. There’s no need to go through the whole setup process again.

The best part is that ClickMeeting assists you every aspect of the way with video tutorials and in-app suggestions.

Other key features include:

• Stream your events live on Facebook or YouTube.
• Screen sharing and screen control.
• Auto-sharing to social media platforms.
• Time zone management.
• Multi-language support.
• Integration with Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Google Tag Manager.
• Create and customize event landing pages (registration page, waiting room, etc.)
• Receive attendees’ feedback and get access to event analytics.

In addition, they also have an expansive list of interactive features, such as whiteboards, the ability to host Q&A sessions, receive feedback, and more.

Cons:

• Not very mobile-friendly.
• The host can’t adjust the attendees’ audio.

Pricing:

Start from $25 per month for up to 10 attendees. The cost changes based on the number of total attendees.

2. GoToWebinar

Best For: Enterprises and marketers that need to host virtual events with a massive audience.

G2 Score: 4.2

GoToWebinar is a great webinar tool for creating and hosting online meetings and events, whether you’re doing product launches, hosting seminars, or just giving updates to your team.

What’s more, they let you host up to 5,000 participants at once (with the quote-based Enterprise plan). Be prepared to pay for it, though. Even the plan that allows 3,000 participants costs as much as $429/month.

The good news is that GoToWebinar recently added the on-demand webinar and paid functionality. This means you can now use it to host pre-recorded webinars, live webinars, recurring webinar series, and even paid webinars. However, they only allow payments in USD for now.

Scheduling and configuring the webinar is also straightforward.

Once scheduled, you can add your branding elements, allow only paid subscribers to view your webinar, set up email reminders, surveys, polls, and more. You can also save your current webinar template to use for another event in the future.

There are enough features to engage your audience, but GoToWebinar doesn’t offer more advanced features like whiteboards or even the ability to chat during the webinar.

You’d also be glad to know that GoToWebinar doesn’t force potential attendees to create an account to attend webinars. They can join the webinar directly with the invite link, albeit only after filling in some details. Also, without the invite link, attendees need to install either the desktop app or the mobile app to join the webinar.

On the statistics front, you’ll get access to visual reports to identify metrics like the attendee rate, registrants, Q&As, Polls, Survey results, and more.

Cons:

• Doesn’t have breakout room technology.
• You have to install the app since GoToWebinar doesn’t allow you to host events directly from the browser.

Pricing:

Starts from $89 per month when billed annually. The base plan lets you host up to 100 participants.

3. WebinarJam

Best For: Companies that want to sell something or generate leads (because of their clickable, pop-up offers).

G2 Score: 3.7

WebinarJam is an easy-to-use, cloud-based webinar platform that lets you create webinars in minutes.

They provide a host of attractive features, such as automatic recording, branded pages, live webinar analytics, the ability to run polls, Q&As, and a lot more. WebinarJam also provides live chat and chat moderation capabilities.

And not just that, there are numerous other ways to interact with your audience. For example, they have an “Attendee Spotlight” that lets you propel someone from the audience onto the virtual stage.

And these cool features don’t end here.

You can also highlight specific comments, use sticky announcements, replay webinars even after the event, use the “Always-On” room, and more.

And the best part is that WebinarJam provides a one-click registration option. Your attendees don’t need to fill out lengthy forms. They simply have to click on the invite link, and voila, they’ll get redirected to the event, just like that.

Another selling point? The webinar platform allows you to pop clickable, pre-configured offers during the event. You can even create a sense of urgency by displaying countdowns or limiting the number of copies.

Then they’ve got the basics covered, such as

• Pre-event email reminders (and via SMS).
• Polls & Surveys.
• Performance stats in real-time.
• Host paid webinars and integrate with multiple payment gateways.
• Hand over control to your team members.
• Post-webinar follow-up campaign based on your attendees’ actions.
• Registration pages.

It’s also worth noting that WebinarJam even provides a library filled with attractive registration page templates and a simple page builder. Pick one and modify it the way you like to align with your brand’s colors.

WebinarJam has got some of the best features in the industry. They provide you with ways you didn’t even know you needed to engage your audience.

That said, they only allow you to host regular, live webinars. For automated webinars, you have to use WebinarJam in conjunction with EverWebinar (WebinarJam’s sister company that provides automated webinar service).

Although, they do allow you to host hybrid webinars, where you can play a pre-recorded video during the live webinar session.

You might also have a problem with the software’s pricing structure. While the software itself is reasonably priced, especially considering all the top-of-art features, they do not do monthly pricing. So, be prepared to pay for the whole year at once.

I also scythed through the internet, searching for unbiased reviews – and if those reviews are anything to go by, WebinarJam’s actual functioning is nothing to write home about. Numerous complaints are floating on the internet (Twitter, Reddit, G2 Reviews) about data loss, delay, clients not being able to view videos, and the like.

Here’s one G2 review, for example:

Their G2 Score, which is 3.7, is also something to be skeptical about.

And as I browsed through Twitter, I realized this is what the reviewer above is indicating:

So, if you’re a large enterprise and can’t afford even a few minutes of delay, it’s better to stick to more reputable platforms like Zoom. Otherwise, WebinarJam does offer some impressive lead generation features at a reasonable price.

Cons:

• No monthly plans.
• Lack of integration with AV tools.
• No breakout rooms.
• Can’t host automated, on-demand webinars.

Pricing:

Pricing plans start from $499 per year for up to 500 attendees. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 14-day free trial for $1.

4. Demio

Best For: All-in-one webinar platform for businesses of all sizes.

G2 Score: 4.7

With Demio, you can easily organize online events, webinars, and training with live screen sharing, PowerPoint, screen capturing, and Q&A hosting.

And the best part? It supports both live webinars and automated, on-demand webinars. Aside from this, Demio also lets you conduct hybrid webinars and a recurring series.

You and your audiences also get to experience the one-click registration and no-download experience.

Plus, the user interface is visually appealing and smooth – for you as well as your attendees.

They also have all the lead generation and engagement-based features for live events. For example, you can run polls, conduct Q&As, share handouts, launch clickable call-to-action buttons and offers, and more and get performance stats in real-time.

Other key features include:

• The ability to upload presentation slides and videos directly.
• Multiple templates to create registration pages.
• Send automated email reminders before a session.
• View, manage, and export contact details.
• Give speaking permission to your attendees.
• Private and public chat.
• Automatic webinar recording.

And one of Demio’s major selling points is its modern, intuitive user interface.

In a nutshell, Demio is a more snazzy and reliable version of WebinarJam. Better user interface, more flexible pricing, and most importantly, a better user experience (as evident by its G2 score and online reviews and response).

You’ll also get access to numerous self-help videos and content once you sign up to the platforms, which is convenient for complete novices.

One of the biggest downsides is that Demio doesn’t have a native paid webinar functionality. So, if you plan to run a series of paid webinars, Demio isn’t for you.

Cons:

• The base only lets you host up to 50 participants.
• No paid webinar option.

Pricing:

Demio offers four pricing plans, starting from $34/mo for up to 50 attendees and a 3-hour session limit.

5. Livestorm

Best For: People looking for an easy-to-use and visually appealing webinar platform.

G2 Score: 4.6

Livestorm is webinar software for hosting interactive live events and all types of webinars – automated on-demand webinars, a recurring series, and live webinars.

It’s also on par with Demio when it comes to user interface and interaction-based features. You’ve got the live chat option, automated email reminders, polls & surveys, automated CTAs, follow-ups, and even one-click invitations.

Plus, you can encourage participation and engage more personally with your attendees by letting them speak at the event. Integration with platforms like HubSpot is also convenient to automatically manage data and send it to your CRM.

Working in the backend to create the event is also pretty smooth. You can even map out the automation so that actions like email reminders, follow-ups, the audience getting redirected to your site, etc., can occur automatically.

However, it’s more expensive than most of its counterparts, with plans starting from $99 per month for up to 100 attendees and 1 host. What’s more, the cost increases if you need more hosting seats. For example, the $99/month plan rises to $198 if you require 2 hosting seats.

Livestorm doesn’t let you host paid webinars either unless you integrate it with Typeform. This is another strike against the platform.

Cons:

• More expensive than most other platforms.
• No paid webinars.

Pricing:

Starts from $99 per month. They also offer a free plan that allows you to host up to 10 attendees.

6. EverWebinar

Best For: Automated, on-demand webinars and companies hosting webinars to sell a product.

G2 Score: 4.1

EverWebinar must sound familiar. We talked about it while reviewing WebinarJam.

Both the webinar platforms are usually used in tandem since EverWebinar perfects in automated webinars, while WebinarJam is for live webinars.

Just like WebinarJam, EverWebinar also has a unique set of features. They allow you to fake your attendee count and convert live events into evergreen events in a click, for instance.

One of the best parts about EverWebinar is that they can make your pre-recorded webinar appear as a live webinar with features like live chatting. While your webinar runs automatically, attendees can chat in real-time.

The whole is designed to mimic a live event.

The impressive Live Chat Simulator adds another brownie point. The chat simulator lets you write or export your chat history and display it live through the event.

It’s a great way to make your webinar appear live and real – when, in fact, it’s pre-recorded. Wink-wink!

They also have this impressive “Just-in-Time” feature that tells attendees that the webinar is just about to start, creating the FOMO effect.

Not just that, you can allow attendees to join in an ongoing webinar or watch a previous event’s replay right away.

Plus, they have ready-to-use registration and “Thank You” page designs. You only have to plug in your details, and you’re good to go.

Other key features include:

• A time-zone-based flexible scheduling system.
• Browser-based software; no download required.
• Embedding polls and surveys.
• Real-time performance stats.
• Split test your landing pages.
• Pop clickable offers and CTAs. You can also create scarcity using countdowns and timers.
• Fully automated email and SMS system.

The number of unique lead generation features is second to none. Although, the platform appears just as commercially archaic as WebinarJam’s.

However, if you have a small budget and need all the bells and whistles to sell your product or service, EverWebinar is the tool for you.

It won’t even be wrong to say that it’s one of the best webinar systems (for automated webinars) on the market right now.

And this poster on r/Entrepreneur agrees:

My sentiments exactly!

Overall, EverWebinar has positive reviews on G2 Crowd as well, except for a handful of complaints.

Cons:

• The interface is too infomercial.
• A few complaints were indicating bugs.

Pricing:

Starts from $499 yearly. Or you can make the payment in three installments at $199 x 3.

7. Zoom Video Webinar

Best For: Enterprises that need to host large-scale virtual events (Zoom can scale up to 50,000 attendees).

G2 Score: 4.5

At this point, Zoom is synonymous with virtual conferences, meetings, and online events.

Zoom Video Webinar is a cloud-based webinar software, which provides video conferencing solutions for small and large businesses alike. Zoom has tons of different features, making it very easy to throw together a webinar and have your attendees participate in the conversation.

One key feature is that people can join a Zoom meeting without installing anything on their computer. It also has the capability to scale up to 50,000 in your live webinar. This is a huge plus point for large enterprises that conduct webinars on a large scale.

Other key features include:

• Branded registration page.
• Simultaneous screen-sharing.
• Live chat, Q&A, polls & surveys.
• Live poll and survey results.
• Detailed webinar reports.
• Up to 50 breakout sessions.
• Allow attendees to raise their hands and let them share audio and video as well.
• Virtual backgrounds and studio effects.
• The ability to adjust your event for low light and cancel background noise.
• Review your webinar and its video and audio settings before the final event.

It’s also free for up to 100 attendees and 40 minutes.

Another advantage of using Zoom is that you get access to other Zoom apps, such as CRM, marketing automation, monetization, and live video streaming.

However, note that Zoom doesn’t allow you to host automatic or on-demand webinars. And since it’s primarily a web conferencing software, there aren’t many advanced webinar features like you get with a tool like EverWebinar.

Cons:

• It doesn’t have many core webinar features like file distribution, waiting room, etc.
• You can’t remove Zoom’s branding, no matter the price tier.
• Almost non-existent customization option for webinar registration pages and other landing pages.

Pricing:

Starts from $79 per month or $690 per year for 500 attendees. The cost will vary based on the number of attendees.

8. EasyWebinar

Best For: Beginners and live streaming to YouTube and Facebook simultaneously.

G2 Score: 3.8

If you want to tap into your social media audience through your webinar, EasyWebinar is the tool for you. The platform supports automated webinars, evergreen webinars, and recurring webinars, AND live webinars – and can even live stream to YouTube and Facebook at once.

Plus, they’ve got sales funnels that allow you to map out and automate the entire attendee journey (using the plug and play page builder). You can also create CTA buttons and deadline timers to push your offer in front of your webinar audience.

Other key features include:

• Real-time chat.
• Polling and real-time results.
• Advanced analytics and reporting.
• Detect attendees’ time-zone stream accordingly.
• Make any attendee a presenter.
• Audio powered by TrueVoice technology and HD screen sharing.
• Up to 4 presenters.

EasyWebinar is actually a lead-building machine as well as a webinar platform.

Cons:

• There have been a few complaints about lax customer service.
• A bit on the expensive side.
• No whiteboard feature.

Pricing:

Starts from $78/month for up to 100 attendees.

9. GetResponse

Best For: Small and Medium-sized companies looking to generate leads and grow their email list.

G2 Score: 4.2

GetResponse is one of the best email marketing platforms that also allow you to host webinars – both live and on-demand.

This means you get access to a bunch of additional marketing tools to power your webinars, such as autoresponders, list management, lead magnet funnel, pre-built webinar funnels, landing page builder, signup forms, and various other marketing automation features.

Core webinar features include:

• Up to three presenters.
• Gather opinions and feedback using polls in real-time.
• One-click Facebook Pixel integration.
• Automated follow-up sequences.
• Share files in any format.
• The ability to share whiteboards and embed YouTube videos.
• Live streaming on YouTube and Facebook.
• Payment gateways and advanced subscription settings.

In a nutshell, GetResponse focuses only on core webinar features since it’s primarily an email marketing and automation platform. If you want additional bells and whistles, you’re better off with platforms like Demio, WebinarJam, and EverWebinar.

Cons:

• Primary focus on email marketing.

Pricing:

Starts from $49 per month for up to 100 attendees.

10. BlueJeans

Best For: Large-scale live events and town halls.

G2 Score: 4.4

With the ability to scale up to 50,000 attendees, BlueJeans is one of the best webinar platforms for town halls and huge live events. It also allows you to invite up to 150 presenters and provide advanced master control management.

Plus, you can define the admin area into three parts – moderators, attendees, presenters, for smooth management.

Here’s a quick overview of how everything functions during the webinar:

They don’t cut any corners when it comes to interaction-based features either. You get access to features like live chat, polling, Q&A, content sharing, and even hand-raising.

BlueJeans is also an excellent option for lengthy events. With their “Intermission/Pause” feature, you can even take a break midway.

Other key features include:

• Post-event reports and analytics.
• Waiting room for attendees.
• Greenroom for moderators and presenters.
• YouTube and Facebook Live.
• Event cloud recording.
• Automated closed captioning.
• AV equipment specification and recommendations.

Cons:

• Pricier than many other webinar platforms.
• Doesn’t do automated webinars.

Pricing:

Starts from $83 per month/paid annually for up to 100 attendees.

11. BigMarker

Best For: Large-scale virtual events.

G2 Score: 4.6

BigMarker is another great webinar platform for large virtual events. There’s no cap on the number of presenters, and you can invite up to 10,000 attendees.

Then, you’ve got all the core webinar features like public & private chat, email reminders, whiteboard, custom invites, polls, Q&A, handouts, and more.

Other key features include:

• Live, automated, and on-demand webinars.
• Over 15 landing page templates.
• Browser-based; no download required.
• Invite attendees on-screen.
• Facebook and YouTube live.
• Display clickable call-to-action pop-ups and offers during the webinar.

It has also got overall good reviews on G2 Crowd and social media platforms like Twitter.

Here’s one discussion I chanced upon on Reddit, where the original poster was contemplating between BigMarker, Zoom Webinar, and GoToWebinar.

On the other hand, both Zoom Webinar and GoToWebinar got mixed reviews.

Cons:

• There have been some complaints regarding the bugs, but the development team does take the feedback and resolves issues right away.

Pricing:

Starts from $79/mo for up to 100 attendees. You can also try out the 7-day free trial initially.

Wrapping-Up

All these webinar software have their strengths and weaknesses, and each delivers a great experience.

However, it all comes down to your requirements.

For instance, if you want to sell something through your webinar, WebinarJam, Demio, and EverWebinar are the best options. These three are also user-friendly and have some impressive webinar marketing features to bring in the audience and keep them engaged.

For large-scale virtual events and town halls, I would suggest using Zoom Video Webinar, BlueJeans, and BigMarker.

Review all of them and pick one that aligns the best with your requirements. Luckily, all of them come with a limited free trial period, allowing you to get hands-on experience before making the final commitment.