Nothing kills a small business webinar faster than clunky software that crashes mid-presentation or costs a fortune. You need tools that won't drain your budget or require an engineering degree to operate. The right webinar platform lets you focus on connecting with your audience, not wrestling with tech problems. We've tested the top contenders to find the best webinar software for small businesses that actually delivers.

Key takeaways

• Small businesses need webinar software that balances affordability with essential features like audience engagement tools and marketing integrations.
• Most pain points revolve around ease of use, reliable performance, and the ability to create professional-looking presentations without technical headaches.
• Descript stands out for its AI-powered editing capabilities that transform rough webinar recordings into polished, professional content in minutes rather than hours.

1. Descript

Descript transforms raw webinar footage into polished, professional content through AI-powered editing. It's not a webinar hosting platform itself, but it's the secret weapon for making your recordings look and sound amazing after the fact. Edit your webinar as easily as editing a text document. Cut the boring parts. Remove the "ums" and "uhs." Fix audio issues with one click.

Best For:

Seamless editing and AI-driven enhancements for pre-recorded webinars.

Key Features:

• Edit video by editing text - just delete words to remove that section of video.
• Studio Sound automatically cleans up audio quality and removes background noise.
• One-click filler word removal wipes out all those "ums," "uhs," and awkward pauses.

Pros:

• Ridiculously fast learning curve - if you can edit a document, you can edit video.
• AI tools handle tedious tasks like noise removal and caption generation automatically.
• Perfect for educational content creators who need to produce clear, professional tutorials.

Cons:

• Not a webinar hosting platform - you'll need to pair it with a hosting solution.
• Free plan limits watermark-free exports to one per month.
• Some advanced editing workflows take practice to master.

Pricing:

• Free: $0/month (1 transcription hour, 720p export)
• Hobbyist: $12/month (10 transcription hours, 1080p export)
• Creator: $24/month (30 transcription hours, 4K export, unlimited AI suite)
• Business: $40/month (40 transcription hours, advanced collaboration)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Try Descript for free

2. Livestorm

Livestorm eliminates the biggest webinar friction point: software downloads. Your attendees just click a link and they're in. No plugins, no waiting, no tech support calls. Plus, it packs serious marketing muscle with built-in email sequences, registration pages, and CRM integrations that turn webinar attendees into qualified leads.

Best For:

Browser-based solution with deep CRM integrations for marketing-focused teams.

Key Features:

• Run everything in a browser - no downloads for you or your attendees.
• Create breakout rooms for small group discussions during larger webinars.
• Automate email sequences for registration, reminders, and follow-ups.

Pros:

• Zero friction for attendees means higher show-up rates.
• Marketing automation features capture and nurture leads automatically.
• Works for small intimate sessions or larger presentations.

Cons:

• Free plan caps sessions at just 20 minutes - barely enough for a quick demo.
• Higher-tier plans get expensive fast as you add more contacts.
• Video quality depends heavily on everyone having solid internet connections.

Pricing:

• Free: $0/month (Up to 30 contacts, 20 min/session)
• Pro: $79/month (billed annually, 100 contacts, 4 hours/session)
• Business: Custom pricing (Starts at 500+ contacts)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing (Advanced features and integrations)

Check out Livestorm

3. Zoom Webinars

Zoom conquered video calls, and their webinar platform brings that same reliability to larger presentations. Everyone knows how to use Zoom by now, which means less time explaining how to join and more time delivering your content. The platform handles everything from registration to recording with rock-solid stability.

Best For:

Businesses seeking familiar interface, high reliability, and large audience capacity.

Key Features:

• Engage audiences with polls, Q&A, and hand-raising features.
• Scale from small sessions to massive webinars with thousands of attendees.
• Record locally or to the cloud for easy sharing afterward.

Pros:

• Nearly universal familiarity means attendees already know how to join.
• Rock-solid performance even with large audience sizes.
• Extensive brand recognition builds trust with attendees.

Cons:

• Requires a separate paid add-on to your Zoom subscription.
• Lacks the marketing automation features of dedicated webinar platforms.
• Total cost adds up quickly when you factor in the required Zoom Workplace Pro plan.

Pricing:

• Zoom Webinars Add-on: Starts at $79/month or $690/year for 500 attendees (Requires Zoom Workplace Pro plan at $159.90/year/license)
• Zoom Sessions: Starts at $99/month or $990/year for 100 attendees (Includes webinar features + event tools)
• Zoom Events: Starts at $149/month or $1,490/year for 100 attendees (Multi-session event platform)

Explore Zoom Webinars

4. BigMarker

BigMarker turns webinars into serious marketing machines. The platform handles everything from custom landing pages to automated follow-ups. It works entirely in the browser and scales from intimate product demos to massive virtual conferences. Plus, it integrates with your existing marketing stack to capture and nurture leads automatically.

Best For:

Marketing-focused businesses that need advanced lead generation and event flexibility.

Key Features:

• Build branded landing pages and registration forms that convert visitors.
• Run live, automated, evergreen, or on-demand webinars from one platform.
• Connect directly to your CRM to track leads from registration to sale.

Pros:

• Handles massive events with up to 500,000 attendees on top-tier plans.
• Provides detailed analytics on engagement and viewer behavior.
• Supports multiple webinar formats for different marketing needs.

Cons:

• No published pricing - you'll need to contact sales for a quote.
• Feature-rich interface can overwhelm new users.
• Likely overkill for businesses just starting with webinars.

Pricing:

• Basic: Contact Sales (Up to 1,000 attendees, 1 host)
• Enterprise: Contact Sales (Up to 10,000 attendees, 4 hosts, CRM integration)
• Enterprise+: Contact Sales (Up to 500,000 attendees, 6 hosts, advanced features)

Learn about BigMarker

5. WebinarGeek

WebinarGeek strips webinar hosting down to its essentials. No complicated setups. No bloated features you'll never use. Just a clean, straightforward platform that gets the job done without the headaches. It works entirely in the browser and focuses on making the basics work flawlessly.

Best For:

Small teams looking for a simple, intuitive interface without unnecessary complexity.

Key Features:

• Engage viewers with live chat, polls, and interactive surveys.
• Customize registration pages with your branding and messaging.
• Track performance with a straightforward analytics dashboard.

Pros:

• Browser-based platform works without downloads or plugins.
• Clean, intuitive interface gets you up and running quickly.
• Free trial lets you test all premium features before buying.

Cons:

• Lacks some of the advanced automation features of pricier platforms.
• Essential features like custom branding require paid plans.
• Lower tiers have restrictive viewer limits for growing businesses.

Pricing:

• Basic: $56/month (billed annually, 50 viewers, 2-hour limit)
• Premium: $78/month (billed annually, customizable viewers, 8-hour limit, automation)
• Enterprise: From $397/month (billed annually, custom domain, advanced integrations)

Try WebinarGeek

Ready to elevate your webinars?

Each platform tackles different small business pain points. Livestorm eliminates technical friction. Zoom brings rock-solid reliability. BigMarker turns webinars into marketing machines. WebinarGeek keeps things simple and affordable.

But here's the secret weapon: pair any of these platforms with Descript. Host your webinar with your platform of choice, then drag the recording into Descript to transform it into something truly professional. Remove the awkward pauses. Fix audio issues. Create highlight clips for social media. The combination creates a webinar experience that punches way above your weight class.

Get started today

Descript makes your webinars look and sound professional without the editing headaches. Record your session with any platform, then let Descript's AI clean up the audio, remove filler words, and generate perfect captions. Create highlight clips for social media in minutes instead of hours. Your audience won't believe you did it all yourself.

Sign up free for AI-driven editing

Pro tips for getting the most out of webinar software

• Optimize presenter workflow: Plan speaker roles in advance and create pre-recorded intros with Descript. This gives your webinar a polished, professional opening while live speakers get ready behind the scenes.
• Use CRM integration: Connect your webinar platform to your CRM system. This automatically syncs attendee data and engagement metrics, so your sales team knows exactly who to follow up with and what they showed interest in.
• Automate slice-and-dice editing: After your webinar ends, drop the recording into Descript. The AI will help you identify key moments and turn them into short clips perfect for social media, email newsletters, and your website.

Frequently asked questions about webinar software

Can small businesses afford these platforms?

Most platforms offer free or starter plans under $100/month. You'll get basic features to host simple webinars without breaking the bank. The fancy stuff like white-labeling, large audiences, and advanced marketing tools will cost extra, but you can add those as you grow.

Does webinar software require special equipment?

A decent webcam and microphone will get you started. Your laptop's built-in equipment works in a pinch, but investing $50-100 in a USB microphone makes a huge difference in audio quality. Good lighting helps too - even a simple ring light dramatically improves how professional you look on camera.

Do I need separate recording software?

Most webinar platforms include basic recording. But the magic happens when you take that recording into Descript afterward. It transforms even mediocre recordings by cleaning up audio, removing mistakes, and adding professional touches like captions and transitions. Your audience will think you hired a production team.