Best free event management software
Six tools compared on what their free plans actually let you run, and where the free plan stops.
Free event management software is a good fit for small or casual events, and the limits differ by tool. Zoho Backstage and Eventleaf offer the broadest free plans for conferences, Eventbrite and Luma cover simple ticketed or guest-list events, Partiful suits social gatherings, and Map D is not free to run but lets you build a floor plan free before you choose a plan.
Written by Map D. Map D appears on this list and also publishes it, which is a conflict of interest — read it with that in mind. Claims about other platforms are limited to what those companies publish on their own sites, and each is sourced at the foot of the page. Last verified October 2026.
Hall A
LiveHall A revenue
$184,600
Trusted by leading associations
How this list is ranked
- Ranked by how much of a real event a free plan lets you run, such as registration, check-in, badges and apps, rather than by our own product.
- Each free plan's stated limit counts, because it decides when you outgrow it. Limits are paraphrased from the vendors' own pages, without figures.
- Map D is included because organizers search for it with this term, but it is not a free event platform and is listed last for that reason.
6 of 6
publish their rates on their own site.
| Vendor | Rates on their site |
|---|---|
| Zoho Backstage | Published |
| Eventleaf | Published |
| Eventbrite | Published |
| Luma | Published |
| Partiful | Published |
| Map D | Published |
Publishing a rate does not make a product better. It decides whether you can size a budget before committing to a sales cycle, which is a different and more checkable question than which tool is best.
Map D's rates
Every vendor here publishes rates, so the comparison to make is how each one scales. Map D's rates are per event, listed on the pricing page, and do not change with the number of attendees, booths or tickets.
| # | Vendor | Best for | Published pricing | Where it is weakest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zoho Backstage | Small conferences that want a broad free feature set | Yes | The free plan is limited per event, including a cap on the number of attendees. |
| 2 | Eventleaf | Small events and registration-heavy conferences with little or no exhibit floor | Yes | Paid tiers are priced per attendee, so cost grows with turnout, and its top tier is quote-only. |
| 3 | Eventbrite | Public, ticketed events and free events with no exhibit floor | Yes | On paid events it charges a per-ticket service fee plus a payment-processing charge, so cost scales with tickets sold. |
| 4 | Luma | Community and meetup-style events with a simple guest list | Yes | The free plan caps the number of invites or newsletters sent each week, and a platform fee applies on paid events. |
| 5 | Partiful | Casual social gatherings and invitations | Yes | A fee applies when you sell tickets, and premium invite designs are optional paid extras. |
| 6 | Map D | Organizers who sell booth and sponsorship space and will pay per event | Yes | Map D is not a free event platform: building a floor plan is free, but running and publishing an event is on a paid per-event plan. |
- 1
Zoho Backstage
Small conferences that want a broad free feature set
Strengths
- A free plan that includes a website builder, RSVP management, sessions, check-in and badging, and organizer and attendee mobile apps.
- Unlimited events on the free plan.
Limitations
- The free plan is limited per event, including a cap on the number of attendees.
- Aimed at conferences and sessions; selling booths off a floor plan is not what the free plan is for.
- 2
Eventleaf
Small events and registration-heavy conferences with little or no exhibit floor
Strengths
- A free tier for small events, which is useful for a first event or a very small show.
- Deep registration functionality: an event website builder, multiple registration paths, discounts, invoicing, waitlists and abstract and speaker submission.
- Badge printing and a lead-retrieval app for scanning attendee badges.
Limitations
- Paid tiers are priced per attendee, so cost grows with turnout, and its top tier is quote-only.
- Built around registration and content management more than around selling booth inventory off a live floor plan.
- 3
Eventbrite
Public, ticketed events and free events with no exhibit floor
Strengths
- Free events are free to publish, with no limit on how many, according to its pricing page.
- Reserved seating: tickets for specific, assigned seats, sold from an interactive venue map.
- A free organizer app that scans QR codes on tickets, tracks attendance in real time and can take payments onsite.
- Rates are published on its own pricing page.
Limitations
- On paid events it charges a per-ticket service fee plus a payment-processing charge, so cost scales with tickets sold.
- Its event management software page does not list a floor plan, booth sales or exhibitor management, so a show that sells exhibit space would need other tools alongside it.
- 4
Luma
Community and meetup-style events with a simple guest list
Strengths
- A free plan with an unlimited number of events and guests per event.
- Email and SMS reminders and guest check-in are described as part of the free plan.
Limitations
- The free plan caps the number of invites or newsletters sent each week, and a platform fee applies on paid events.
- Built for simple guest-list events rather than exhibitor, floor plan or booth workflows.
- 5
Partiful
Casual social gatherings and invitations
Strengths
- The core platform is free for hosts, and free events have no fees.
- Simple invitations and guest management without a sales process.
Limitations
- A fee applies when you sell tickets, and premium invite designs are optional paid extras.
- Built for social invitations; it is not designed for trade shows, exhibitors or conference registration.
- 6
Map D
Organizers who sell booth and sponsorship space and will pay per event
Strengths
- You can build your floor plan free before choosing a plan, which lets you see the event take shape first.
- Pricing is published and flat per event, so there are no per-ticket, per-booth or per-attendee charges.
- Floor plan, booth sales, exhibitor portal, registration, badging, lead retrieval and reporting run on one record.
Limitations
- Map D is not a free event platform: building a floor plan is free, but running and publishing an event is on a paid per-event plan.
- If your event has no sellable floor, such as a casual meetup or a small conference, a free tool is likely a better fit.
When another tool on this list is the better buy
Named, not hedged. If one of these describes your show, the vendor beside it is the honest answer and Map D is not.
- Zoho BackstageYou want to run a small conference at no cost. Zoho Backstage's free plan covers registration, check-in and badging, and mobile apps.
- EventbriteYou run free events and want to publish them at no cost. Eventbrite says free events are free to publish.
- LumaYou are organizing a community or meetup-style event with a guest list, where a free plan with unlimited events and guests is enough.
Stop reading about it. Build one.
Upload the floor plan you already have and place your booths on it yourself, in Map D’s editor. Free to build, no contract, and nothing to install.
“I am really excited about this. The staff met with me this morning and we all LOVE the platform. People are already filling out their booths.”
Frequently asked questions
Is free event management software enough?
For small, simple events, yes. Free plans usually cap attendees, invitations or features per event, and ticket fees often apply once you sell tickets. If your event sells booths or sponsorships, free tools generally do not cover exhibitor workflows.
Is Map D free?
Not to run an event. You can build your floor plan free before choosing a plan, but running and publishing an event is on a paid per-event plan, starting with the Starter plan listed on the pricing page.
When should an organizer move to a paid platform?
When you need to sell exhibit space, run exhibitors, print badges at volume, or exceed the attendee or invitation caps. Map D prices per event rather than per attendee, booth or ticket.
Where can I check the current free-plan limits?
Each vendor's free plan and limits are described on its own pricing page, linked in the sources below. Limits change, so check the current terms before you commit.
Keep exploring
Related event solutions
Sources
- Zoho Backstage pricing (free plan documented) · checked 2026-10-06
- Eventleaf pricing page (rates published) · checked 2026-09-22
- Eventbrite organizer pricing (rates published) · checked 2026-10-06
- Luma pricing (free plan documented) · checked 2026-10-06
- Partiful help: does Partiful cost money · checked 2026-10-06
- Map D pricing · checked 2026-09-18
- Map D free interactive floor plan · checked 2026-10-06
