Virtual events have become the backbone of modern communication. Whether you're a marketer trying to generate leads, an educator battling Zoom fatigue, or a business looking to expand globally, choosing the right webinar platform isn't optional—it's essential. Pick the wrong one, and your brilliant insights might vanish into the digital void, leaving you talking to an empty room of disconnected attendees.

Key takeaways

• The best webinar platforms excel at large-scale streaming, audience engagement tools, and converting passive viewers into active participants, whether for sales, education, or networking.
• When selecting software, prioritize attendee capacity, integration capabilities with your existing tech stack, and user experience for both hosts and participants.
• While platforms like Zoom and Webex handle live events well, Descript shines in post-production, turning raw recordings into polished, professional content that extends the life of your webinar investment.

Top webinar software tools in 2025

1. Descript

Descript doesn't host your webinars—let's get that straight. Instead, it rescues your recordings from the graveyard of "ums," awkward pauses, and technical glitches that plague even the best-planned events. Think of it as your post-production superhero, swooping in to transform rambling footage into tight, engaging content that people actually want to watch.

Best For:

Users who want to quickly transform raw webinar recordings into professional, shareable content.

Key Features:

• Text-based video editing: Edit your webinar by simply editing the transcript, like you're working in a document.
• Studio Sound: One-click audio enhancement that removes background noise and makes everyone sound like they recorded in a professional booth.
• AI-powered tools: Automatically transcribe content, remove filler words, and repurpose webinars into blog posts, social clips, and more.

Pros:

• Ridiculously easy interface that makes complex edits feel simple.
• AI tools handle tedious tasks like transcription and filler word removal without a steep learning curve.
• Real-time collaboration lets teams edit simultaneously, speeding up post-production workflows.

Cons:

• Not a live webinar platform—you'll need separate software for the actual event.
• Free plan limits transcription hours and export options.
• Advanced timeline editing workflows take some practice to master fully.

Pricing:

• Free: $0/month - 1 transcription hour/month, 720p export with watermark.
• Hobbyist: $12/month (billed annually) - 10 transcription hours/month, 1080p export.
• Creator: $24/month (billed annually) - 30 transcription hours/month, 4K export, unlimited AI features.
• Business: $40/month (billed annually) - 40 transcription hours/month, Professional AI suite.
• Enterprise: Custom - Tailored solutions, SSO.

2. Webex events & webinars

Webex doesn't mess around when it comes to enterprise-level security and massive events. Backed by Cisco's infrastructure, it's built for organizations that need Fort Knox-level protection while hosting what feels like a small country's worth of attendees. The platform handles scale with confidence, making it a go-to for corporations with serious security requirements.

Best For:

Large corporations and institutions that need secure, scalable virtual events with enterprise-grade features.

Key Features:

• Massive attendee capacity that supports events with up to 10,000 participants.
• End-to-end encryption and role-based access controls that satisfy even the strictest security teams.
• AI-powered noise cancellation that automatically filters out barking dogs, keyboard clicks, and other distractions.

Pros:

• Scales beautifully for very large audiences without performance degradation.
• Rock-solid security features that come standard with Cisco products.
• Integrates seamlessly with other Webex collaboration tools for a unified workflow.

Cons:

• Interface can feel overwhelming, especially for users new to the Cisco ecosystem.
• Higher-tier plans with advanced features hit the budget hard for smaller organizations.
• Less intuitive than newer, more streamlined platforms built specifically for webinars.

Pricing:

• Webex Free: $0/month - Unlimited meetings up to 40 min, 100 attendees, local recording.
• Webex Meet: $12/user/month (billed annually) - AI Assistant, 24-hour meetings, 200 attendees, 10GB cloud recording.
• Webex Suite (Meet + Call): $22.50/user/month (billed annually) - Business phone number, visual voicemail.
• Webex Enterprise: Contact Sales - Up to 1,000 attendees (can scale higher for webinars), unlimited cloud recording, FedRAMP security.

3. Livestorm

Livestorm strips away the friction of webinar attendance with its browser-based approach. No downloads, no plugins, just click and join. This platform shines for marketers who want to automate their funnels and host interactive sessions without forcing attendees through technical hoops. The focus on simplicity pays off in higher attendance rates and engagement.

Best For:

Marketing teams and businesses seeking a frictionless, browser-based platform with strong automation features.

Key Features:

• Zero-download access that lets attendees join with a simple link, boosting participation rates.
• Automated event workflows including reminders, follow-ups, and registration confirmation emails.
• Deep CRM integrations with HubSpot, Zapier, and other tools for seamless lead management.

Pros:

• Minimal barriers to entry for attendees, which typically increases show-up rates.
• Robust analytics dashboard that tracks engagement metrics and attendee behavior.
• Strong European privacy standards with GDPR compliance baked in from the ground up.

Cons:

• Free plan restricts sessions to just 20 minutes, which barely covers an introduction.
• Advanced features and higher attendee limits require stepping up to pricier tiers.
• Branding customization options lag behind some competitors, limiting your visual control.

Pricing:

• Free: $0/month - Up to 30 active contacts, 20 minutes/session, 30 live attendees.
• Pro: $79/month (billed annually for 100 active contacts) - Up to 4 hours/session, 100 live attendees, unlimited events.
• Business: Custom (from 500+ active contacts/month) - Up to 3,000 live attendees, advanced support.
• Enterprise: Custom (from 500+ active contacts/month) - Up to 12 hours/session, advanced integrations like Salesforce.

4. Zoom events and webinars

Zoom needs no introduction. The platform that became a verb during the pandemic has extended its familiar interface to webinars, offering high-capacity streaming with the same controls millions already know how to use. It leverages its ubiquity to provide a comfortable experience for hosts and attendees alike, though that convenience comes at a price for larger events.

Best For:

Organizations wanting a recognizable, reliable platform for hosting large virtual events with minimal learning curve.

Key Features:

• Enormous scalability that supports up to 100,000 view-only attendees with the right add-ons.
• Rich engagement tools including polls, Q&A, chat, and breakout rooms for interactive sessions.
• Cloud recording with searchable transcripts and detailed analytics on attendee engagement.

Pros:

• Nearly universal familiarity means minimal training for hosts and attendees.
• Comprehensive engagement features that keep audiences involved throughout presentations.
• Plays well with most CRMs and marketing automation platforms for lead tracking.

Cons:

• Webinar functionality requires add-ons that quickly inflate costs for large events.
• Heavy reliance on stable internet connections for both hosts and participants.
• The sheer number of settings and options can overwhelm new webinar hosts.

Pricing:

• Basic (Meetings): Free - Up to 100 participants, 40-minute limit for group meetings. (Webinars are a paid add-on)
• Pro (Meetings): $13.33/user/month (billed annually) - Adds 5GB cloud recording. (Webinar add-on from $79/month for 500 attendees)
• Business (Meetings): $18.32/user/month (billed annually) - Adds SSO, managed domains. (Webinar add-on pricing varies)
• Zoom Events & Webinars: Specific licenses start around $79/month for 500 webinar attendees, scaling up based on capacity.

5. BigMarker

BigMarker speaks directly to marketers who dream in conversion funnels and automation workflows. The platform packs serious tools for creating evergreen webinars, customizing every pixel of your branding, and generating leads on autopilot. It's less about one-off events and more about building a perpetual marketing machine that runs while you sleep.

Best For:

Marketing teams obsessed with customization, automation, and turning webinars into lead-generation powerhouses.

Key Features:

• Advanced marketing automation with evergreen webinars that run on schedules or on-demand.
• Extensive branding options for landing pages, emails, webinar rooms, and follow-up materials.
• Rich integration ecosystem that connects with major CRMs and marketing platforms.

Pros:

• Marketing features go deeper than most competitors, including pop-up offers and built-in ticketing.
• Scales impressively, supporting audiences up to 500,000 in top-tier plans.
• Flexible room layouts and interactive tools keep audiences engaged throughout presentations.

Cons:

• Pricing sits on the higher end, putting it out of reach for smaller teams and solopreneurs.
• Feature-rich interface creates a steeper learning curve for new users.
• No free tier makes it harder to test-drive before committing to a purchase.

Pricing:

• Basic: Request a Quote - Up to 1,000 live attendees, 1 host license, live & on-demand webinars.
• Enterprise: Request a Quote - Up to 10,000 live attendees, 4 host licenses, CRM integration, simulive/evergreen webinars.
• Enterprise+: Request a Quote - Up to 500,000 live attendees, 6 host licenses, white-labeled domains, live translation.

6. ClickMeeting

ClickMeeting strikes a balance between features and usability, making it particularly appealing for educational events and small to mid-sized businesses. The platform doesn't try to be everything to everyone. Instead, it focuses on delivering solid webinar functionality with interactive tools at a price point that won't make your finance team wince.

Best For:

Educators, trainers, and smaller businesses that need reliable webinar tools without enterprise complexity or cost.

Key Features:

• Engagement tools including polls, surveys, Q&A sessions, and interactive whiteboards.
• Automated webinar options that let you pre-record sessions and schedule them to run on autopilot.
• Built-in payment processing for monetizing webinars and online courses directly.

Pros:

• Clean, intuitive interface that doesn't overwhelm hosts with unnecessary options.
• Strong set of audience engagement features to maintain attention during presentations.
• Affordable add-ons for parallel events, extra storage, and other enhancements.

Cons:

• Attendee capacity tops out lower than enterprise-focused platforms.
• Limited branding and customization options on lower-tier plans.
• Takes a 5% cut of paid webinar revenue, which adds up for regular monetized events.

Pricing:

• Free Trial: $0/30 days - 25 attendees, basic features, 30 min recording storage.
• Live: $26/month (billed annually for 25 attendees) - Paid events, custom branding, 6 hours recording.
• Automated: $42/month (billed annually for 25 attendees) - Automated/on-demand webinars, certificates, 10 hours recording.
• Enterprise: Custom - Up to 10,000 attendees, dedicated advisor, white-label solutions.

7. Wistia

Wistia started as a premium video hosting platform and has expanded into webinars, bringing its video-first DNA to live events. The result? A platform that delivers exceptionally high-quality video experiences with analytics that track every second of viewer engagement. It's less about just hosting an event and more about integrating it into a comprehensive video marketing strategy.

Best For:

Video-centric brands and marketers who prioritize quality delivery and detailed analytics for their webinars.

Key Features:

• Premium video hosting that ensures smooth, high-quality playback for live and on-demand webinars.
• Granular analytics that track engagement down to the second and individual viewer level.
• Marketing integrations with HubSpot and other platforms for sophisticated lead nurturing.

Pros:

• Delivers exceptionally polished, professional-looking webinar experiences.
• Analytics go deeper than most platforms, showing exactly when viewers engage or drop off.
• Seamless embedding on websites maintains brand consistency across all touchpoints.

Cons:

• Primarily a video platform with webinar features added, not built as a webinar-first solution.
• Costs climb quickly with larger audience sizes and higher video storage needs.
• Some interactive features aren't as robust as dedicated webinar platforms.

Pricing:

• Free: $0/month - Up to 10 videos, basic player customization, 200GB storage (no webinar hosting).
• Plus: $19/month (billed annually) - 20 media uploads, 1TB storage, remove Wistia branding (no webinar hosting).
• Pro: $79/month (billed annually) - 50 media uploads, webinar hosting (1 hr, 100 attendees), lead capture.
• Advanced: $319/month (billed annually) - 250 media uploads, custom branded webinars (2 hrs, 500 attendees), marketing integrations.
• Premium: Contact Sales - Custom limits, unlimited users, 2TB+ storage, advanced webinar features.

Final thoughts on the best webinar software

Your choice of webinar software ultimately depends on your specific goals and audience. Need massive, secure enterprise events? Webex or Zoom have you covered. Looking for marketing automation? BigMarker or Livestorm might be your speed. Want polished video and deep analytics? Wistia stands out.

But here's the thing about webinars: the live event is just the beginning. What happens afterward matters just as much. That's where Descript becomes invaluable, transforming your raw footage into content people actually want to consume. It works with any webinar platform, making your recordings significantly better without requiring video editing expertise. As AI continues to reshape these tools, expect more intelligent engagement features and immersive experiences. But remember: the human touch in post-production remains essential, and that's where Descript shines brightest.

Get started today

After your webinar ends, the real work begins. Descript's AI-powered editing tools eliminate the tedium of cleaning up recordings. Remove filler words, enhance audio quality, generate perfect transcripts, and create shareable clips in minutes instead of hours.

Want to see it in action? Sign up for a free trial at Descript. You'll be amazed at how much time you save.

Pro tips for using webinar software

• Tip #1: Use your platform's built-in promotional assets to create a consistent brand experience before, during, and after your event.
• Tip #2: Connect your webinar platform to your CRM and email marketing system for seamless lead capture and automated follow-up sequences.
• Tip #3: Use Descript to quickly polish your recordings, create highlight reels for social media, and transform webinar content into blog posts, podcasts, and more.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need special hardware to host a webinar?

While you can host a webinar with just a laptop, investing in an external microphone and decent webcam dramatically improves quality. A stable internet connection is non-negotiable. Audio matters more than video, so prioritize a good mic if your budget is limited.

Can I repurpose webinar content for other platforms?

Absolutely. Smart creators squeeze every drop of value from their webinars. Tools like Descript make it simple to transform recordings into short video clips, podcast episodes, blog posts, and social media content. One hour of webinar content can fuel weeks of marketing materials.

Is there a limit to how many people can join a webinar?

Yes, and it varies widely by platform and plan. Free tiers typically cap attendance between 25-100 people. Mid-tier plans might allow several hundred, while enterprise options can host thousands or tens of thousands. Always check these limits before committing, especially if you expect large audiences.