{"question": "best event management software for small businesses", "category": "event-management-software", "category_name": "event management software", "audience": "small-businesses", "audience_name": "small businesses", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-10-09T23:57:27Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/event-management-software-small-businesses-2026-10-09", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/event-management-software/small-businesses", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "Luma", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "Stripe", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Eventbrite", "label": "compared"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "Cvent", "label": "compared"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "Whova", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "Zoho", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "Zoho Backstage", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 8, "brand": "Zoho One", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 9, "brand": "Tripleseat", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 10, "brand": "Perfect Venue", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 11, "brand": "Constant Contact", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 12, "brand": "Mailchimp", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 13, "brand": "Hopin", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 14, "brand": "RingCentral", "label": "mentioned"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://help.lu.ma/p/luma-vs-eventbrite", "domain": "help.lu.ma", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.capterra.com/resources/best-event-management-software-for-small-business/", "domain": "capterra.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://costbench.com/compare/cvent-vs-eventbrite/", "domain": "costbench.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://g2.com/compare/eventbrite-vs-whova", "domain": "g2.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://www.zoho.com/backstage/event-management-software/best-platforms.html", "domain": "zoho.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://capterra.com/venue-management-software/s/small-businesses/", "domain": "capterra.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://www.constantcontact.com/blog/best-event-marketing-software/", "domain": "constantcontact.com", "source_type": "vendor"}, {"url": "https://www.g2.com/products/cvent/pricing", "domain": "g2.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://meetings.skift.com/hopin-fire-sale-confirmed/", "domain": "meetings.skift.com", "source_type": "other"}], "answer_text": "Searched. One thing up front: \"event management software\" splits into pretty different products, and the honest answer depends on which you are. So here's my ranked list with the fork called out.\n\n## If you sell tickets to public events (workshops, classes, meetups, pop-ups)\n\n**1. Luma (lu.ma)** - my default recommendation for small businesses now. Free events cost nothing; paid tickets are 5% + Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢, and the ~$59-69/mo Plus plan drops the platform fee to 0% so you only pay card processing. On 500 tickets at $40, that's roughly $789 on Plus vs ~$2,215 through Eventbrite. The other underrated win: money hits your Stripe account as tickets sell, instead of being held until after the event. Best for recurring events to an audience you already have. ([Luma's own comparison](https://help.lu.ma/p/luma-vs-eventbrite))\n\n**2. Eventbrite** - the one to pick when you need *discovery*, not just checkout. Its marketplace genuinely sends you strangers, which Luma mostly doesn't. Free for free events, paid plans from about $15/mo, and roughly 3.5% + $1.79 per ticket plus processing on the Flex plan. Pay the premium only if you're counting on Eventbrite's traffic; if you're emailing", "answer_truncated": true, "measurement": "One answer from one engine on one date. Not a ranking and not a claim about the world; brands the engine did not name are not recorded.", "limitation": "Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.", "alerts": {"name": "Answer Watch Pro", "price_usd": 79, "period": "month", "gets": "daily change alerts for up to 5 brands in what one AI answer engine says, history, CSV export. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included", "url": "https://bikoosh.com/answers"}}