A free toolkit for event planners

Too many tools, not enough time to compare

Search for event planning software and you get hundreds of results, many of them listicles written for clicks. Each tool claims to do everything. Working out which one actually handles registration well, which is best for agendas, and which is overkill for a 60-person event takes hours you don't have.

Then there are the other questions: which suppliers to trust, and what the venue can really do.

A curated tools directory

We list tools event professionals use and look for, grouped into clear categories: planning, registration and ticketing, agendas and speakers, communication, marketing and promotion, show running, streaming and production. Each tool gets a short write-up explaining what it does and where it fits, so you can build a shortlist in minutes.

We add tools regularly, prioritising what event people search for. If a tool you rely on is missing, suggest it through our homepage form and our editorial team will review it.

Suppliers and venues

The supplier directory groups agencies, production companies and other specialists by category. For participating venues, BES gathers floor plans, capacities, screens with their specs, rigging, power and access, keeps it accurate, and lets the venue share it through a secure link created for a specific request, with an expiry date. See the example venue pack; the venue is fictional, and real coverage is growing as founding venues join.

How planners use BES

1. Browse a category for the job in front of you.
2. Read the write-ups and shortlist two or three tools.
3. Find suppliers by category.
4. Ask venues with BES packs for a link to their details.

Choosing a tool without regret

Before committing to a tool, it's worth checking a few things: whether it suits the size of your events, what happens to your data if you leave, whether attendees need to download anything, how it handles changes on the day, and whether the pricing is per event, per attendee or a subscription. The write-ups on BES give you a starting point, and the tool's own site will have the current pricing and terms.

Start small: trial a tool on a lower-stakes event before relying on it for a flagship one. Keep notes on what worked, and share them with your team so the next planner doesn't start from scratch.