Tools
Tools We Love
Hardware, software, services, and products. On this page you will find some of our favorite tools that will not only improve your life as a meeting and event professional but will also help you create amazing in-person, hybrid, and virtual events.
Some links are affiliate links which help support our mission but know that we only recommend products and services that we use and trust. It is always important to test any product to ensure it works for your event or organization.
Event/Conference Planning Platforms
Joi Events
Can event planning platforms be a joy to work with? Up till now, not really but Joi is aiming to change our perception... From scheduling speakers and collecting sponsor and exhibitor information to staff schedules and room sets, we find Joi Events to be an absolute pleasure to work with.
Planning Pod
PP is a single spot to organize all of your event details, automate processes, communication, and even floor plans. We started with PP back in the early days and have watched them grow into a powerful suite of tools for events of any size. Check out our post featuring Jeff Kear, Co-Founder of PlanningPod from back in Pre-Covid times!
Virtual and Hybrid Event Platforms and Apps
Airmeet
I cannot say enough about Airmeet. This platform does it all from single sessions to multiday conferences with exhibitors and sponsors with an easy to use professional streaming component. Most platforms charge 3x the amount for the same level of features but price is not why it is one of my favorites... It is one of my favs because attendees love Airmeet and that is the highest recommendation of all.
Eventee
Eventee is not the prettiest platform but it fills the space that was crushed when Hopin decided to sunset Attendify. Pulling triple duty as a mobile app, hybrid, and virtual platform, Eventee will surprise you with its ease of use and price point. If you are on a budget, this should be your first stop.
Hubilo
Hubilo. What was just another platform at the start of Covid has blossomed into our goto virtual and hybrid solutions for many of our client events. Multilingual capable with lounge tables and a variety of streaming options, Hubilo has positioned itself as one of the top tier tools for the industry.
Vii Events
Vii Events is an All-in-One 3D 360° Virtual & Hybrid Events Multi Award-Winning Platform which we love. You can host events from 100 to 100,000 attendees with an amazing metaverse feel. It is not cheap, but once you take a demo you will know why... It is stunning. Check out our Bullet List Podcast episode that features Stas Zaslavsky, founder of Vii as we talk through the platform and the current state of the metaverse for events.
InEvent
Love. Love. Love InEvent. This is a virtual events platform that stopped me in my tracks at PCMA back in January. If you want your virtual or hybrid event to have a TV show feel, this is the platform for you. Check out this episode of the Event Tech Pull Up where Pedro Góes and Cecilia Lavin of InEvent give Tess and I a full platform walk-through.
Live Streaming Services
Restream
Restream is live streaming platform that allows you to go live to LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and 30 other platforms simultaneously. You can add lower thirds, use pre-recorded videos, and more. It is simple, it works, and is our daily driver for recording interviews, podcast episodes, and we even use it for some virtual events.
StreamYard
StreamYard is a live streaming studio in your browser. It is really good... And we won't let the fact that it is now owned Hopin stop us from loving it. You bring in guests, add lower thirds and other graphics, play pre-recorded videos, and a bunch more. With StreamYard, you can send your broadcast directly to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and even some virtual event platforms. I hope that Hopin keeps this as a standalone product. I really do.
Audience Engagement
Hypersay
Hypersay is a web-based tool that helps engage your audience by adding live interactions including questions, quizzes, polls, and video to PowerPoint.
Kubify
If your conference has poster sessions, you NEED Learning Toolbox by Kubify. Seriosly. This product is so good we featured them on the Event Tech Pull Up and Bullet List podcasts.
Sli.do
Sli.do empowers your audience to ask questions, vote in polls, and be a part of the discussion. It works just as well in a live setting as it does for a virtual or hybrid event.
Hardware
Logitech C920 HD Pro Webcam
Your laptop's built in camera sucks. Get a good camera. This Logitech is one of the best and less than $100.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Gaming Laptop
Meeting and event professionals need to stop using underpowered laptops. Bad laptops kill your productivity, slow you down, and make you want to cry. The Lenovo Ideapad 3 Gaming laptop checks a lot of boxes for me including a 15.6" screen, 4GB of NVIDIA GeForce Graphics goodness, a 6 core AMD Ryzen CPU, 16GB RAM, and a 1TB PCIe SSD. This machine is my daily driver and chews up most tasks that I throw at it including PowerPoint, Video Editing, Virtual Events, and more.
RODECaster Pro Bundle
The RØDECaster Pro™ is an amazing all-in-one solution for podcasting and for those that produce virtual events or webinars in-house. It features amazing audio quality has a slate of features that are easy to use for beginners and professionals alike. In addition to the four microphone inputs with preamps, you can get audio from a variety of sources including your smartphone, a USB input, and even Bluetooth, making it easy to bring in remote guests. Save time in post production by triggering music and sound effects via the eight sound pads.
Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro
The ATEM Mini Pro is a low cost, multi camera, live production video switcher with advanced broadcast features. This little peice of hardware powers all of our virtual and hybrid events... even Zoom webinars. From this little beast you can switch live from up to eight high quality video cameras, computers for PowerPoint slides... Heck, you can even connect to an iPad...
