Virtual summits have exploded in popularity over the last few years. More coaches, creators and experts are hosting online events to grow their audience, authority and revenue.
But with that growth, the tech stack now matters more than ever.
Choose the wrong tools and you end up overpaying, overcomplicating everything or wrestling with clunky software when you should be focused on content and connections.
Most hosts do one of two things: either they stitch together too many tools and create a fragile setup, or they buy an expensive all-in-one platform they barely use.
In this guide, I will walk you through the best virtual summit platforms, tools and software so you can choose a setup that actually fits your goals, budget and experience level rather than guessing or copying someone else’s stack.
What Is a Virtual Summit Platform?
A virtual summit platform is a tool or software stack that helps you host an online event with multiple sessions, speakers and attendees.
It usually covers things like registration pages, session delivery, replays and sometimes email or community features.
Some tools are full platforms that aim to do everything in one place. Others are focused tools or add-ons that handle one part of the puzzle, like landing pages, email automation or video hosting.
You might choose a full virtual summit platform if you want simplicity and an all-in-one experience, or you might prefer a DIY stack if you already have tools you love and want more flexibility and control over each piece.
You can also follow this complete summit checklist to map out the entire event.
How to Choose the Best Virtual Summit Platform (Decision Framework)
There is no single best platform for everyone… and some hosts even hire help for setup or strategy. If that’s you, here’s a breakdown of available summit services.
The right choice depends on how you plan to run your event and what resources you already have.
Use this simple framework to narrow down your options:
- Budget – Decide how much you are willing to invest in tools versus manual work. Higher-priced platforms can save time but are not always necessary for a first summit.
- Audience size – Consider whether you are expecting dozens, hundreds or thousands of attendees. Larger events may need stronger infrastructure and better analytics. Recent virtual event statistics help guide those expectations.
- Live vs pre-recorded – Some platforms are optimized for live sessions, others for pre-recorded or hybrid summits. Choose based on how you and your speakers prefer to deliver.
- Monetization needs – If you plan to sell VIP passes, upsells or backend programs, look for platforms with solid checkout, order bumps, upsells or integrations with your cart. If authority-building is a major priority for your summit, review what drives long-term brand authority before choosing your platform.
- Speaker count – The more speakers you have, the more important speaker management, scheduling and communication tools become.
- Community features – If engagement, networking and long-term community are core goals, look for platforms with built-in groups, chat or integrations with your existing community tools… all the core components behind the benefits of virtual events.
- Automation level – Decide how much you want automated (emails, reminders, session unlocking) versus what you are willing to handle manually.
- Tech comfort – Be honest about your tech skills. It is better to use a simpler platform you can fully control than a powerful system that overwhelms you.
Once you have answered these questions, it becomes much easier to pick a short list of virtual summit platforms that match your real needs instead of chasing whatever looks impressive on the surface.
If you want a complete deep dive into virtual summits, check out my virtual summit guide.
32 Best Virtual Summit Platforms for Every Budget
These tools allow you to host the entire summit experience – pages, sessions, replays, and sometimes even email.
Best All-In-One Tools for Summits
1. HeySummit
The most popular virtual summit hosting tool.
- Host multi-day events
- Manage speakers
- Built-in ticketing + upsells
- Integrates with Zoom, Vimeo, YouTube
Best for: Most coaches running their first or second summit.
2. Airmeet
A polished virtual event platform with community networking.
- Beautiful stage layouts
- Expo booths
- Chat + engagement
- Great analytics
Best for: Larger summits with sponsors.
3. Zoom Events
Zoom’s full summit / conference product.
- Multi-track events
- Backstage for speakers
- Webinar + meeting modes
- Trusted by most audiences
Best for: Live summits with lots of sessions.
4. BigMarker
One of the strongest webinar + virtual event platforms.
- Automated sessions
- Evergreen funnels
- Landing pages built in
Best for: Hybrid summits and automated replays.
5. RingCentral Events (formerly Hopin)
One of the biggest event platforms in the world.
- Expo booths
- Multiple stages
- Networking rooms
- Sponsors
Best for: Large summits with big attendance.
Built specifically for summits.
- Easy session scheduling
- Speaker management
- Drip-release summit content
Best for: Simple, pre-recorded summits.
Best Email + Automation Tools for Summits
7. Keap (I use this)
Still my favourite for summits.
- Visual automations
- Tagging workflows
- Checkout + order bumps
Best for: Summits + funnels + upsells.
8. HighLevel
A fast-growing all-in-one platform.
- Email + SMS automation
- Pipelines
- Funnels
- Calendars
Best for: Coaches who want everything in one place.
Powerful email automation with great segmentation.
- Behavior-based triggers
- Easy speaker segmentation
Best for: Advanced logic + personalization.
10. Beehiiv
A newsletter platform becoming popular for events.
- Email blasts
- Simple landing pages
- Audience growth tools
- Paid tiers + monetization
Best for: Newsletter + summit promotion in one place.
11. Substack
Great for audience-building and warm-up content.
- Free email list
- Built-in recommendation engine
- Easy posting
Best for: Warming up attendees with long-form posts.
12. Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
Very simple, very clean.
- Automation
- Broadcasts
- Creator-focused
Best for: Beginners running their first summit.
Best Landing Page + Funnel Builders
13. ClickFunnels
Reliable and simple.
- Summit opt-in pages
- VIP checkout pages
- Order bumps + upsells
Best for: Monetizing summits.
14. HighLevel
Great for funnels too (listed again in this section).
- Landing pages
- Checkout
- Automation
Best for: All-in-one funnel building or connecting them to a virtual workshop offer.
15. Webflow
For custom-built summit pages.
- Beautiful design
- Highly flexible
Best for: Hosts with a designer or developer.
16. WordPress + Elementor (I use this)
A budget-friendly combination.
- Total control over design
- Lots of summit templates
Best for: Custom WordPress summit sites.
Best Video Hosting & Streaming Platforms
17. Zoom
The gold standard for summits.
- Live sessions
- Breakout rooms
- Easy for speakers
Best for: Live summits.
18. Vimeo (I use this)
Advanced video hosting.
- High-quality playback
- Organize all summit sessions
- Great for replays
Best for: Pre-recorded summits.
19. YouTube
Perfect for budget summits.
- Free
- Reliable
- Easy embedding
Best for: First-time hosts.
20. StreamYard
Best for interview-style summits.
- On-screen graphics
- Multistreaming
- Simple for guests
Best for: Talk-show style summits.
Best Community & Networking Platforms
21. Facebook Groups
Still one of the best for summit engagement.
- Free
- Everyone is already there
- Great for Q&A threads
Best for: Community engagement.
22. Circle
Beautiful, clean community platform.
- Courses + community
- Events
- Great onboarding
Best for: Long-term member communities.
23. Discord
Great for younger or tech-savvy audiences.
- Text + voice rooms
- High engagement
Best for: Interactive summits.
24. Mighty Networks
All-in-one community + events.
- Live rooms
- Courses
- Chat
Best for: Membership-driven summits.
Best Affiliate & Monetization Tools
25. ThriveCart (I use this)
The best checkout for summits.
- One-time fees
- Upsells
- A/B testing
- Affiliate management
Best for: VIP upgrades + backend sales.
26. Kajabi
Great for post-summit offers.
- Courses
- Coaching
- Pipelines
Best for: Long-term customer journeys.
27. SamCart
Simple checkout with upsells.
- Order bumps
- One-click upsells
- Great reporting
Best for: Selling all-access passes + bundles.
Best Tools for Speaker Management
28. Calendly
Perfect for booking interviews.
- Time-zone friendly
- Automated reminders
Best for: Coordinating multiple speakers.
29. Loom
Great for sending instructions.
- Quick videos
- Explain tasks easily
Best for: Speaker onboarding.
30. Google Drive
Still the best for organizing assets.
- Upload headshots
- Collect bios
- Share files
Best for: All backstage operations.
31. Notion
Use it as a summit HQ.
- Tracking speakers
- Tasks
- Assets
Best for: Hosts with a team.
32. Talks.co (I use this)
The fastest way to find great speakers and get booked on other events.
- Match with speakers or hosts instantly
- Unlimited interest-based outreach
- Speaker profiles with media kits
- Built-in messaging + booking workflow
Best for: Summit hosts who want high-quality speakers without cold outreach.
If you need creative inspiration for your sessions or engagement plan, here are my favourite summit ideas to boost authority, leads and sales.
Pick a Platform. Make an Impact.
There is no perfect all-in-one platform for every summit host.
Each tool has strengths, weaknesses and trade-offs, and the right choice depends on your goals, audience, budget and tech comfort.
The best virtual summit platforms are the ones that support your strategy rather than dictate it. In many cases, a simple stack of tools working together beats an expensive all-in-one solution you never fully use.
Use this guide to choose a lean, focused setup that gives you confidence instead of complexity. You can always expand and upgrade your tools as your events experience grows.
Want Help Choosing the Right Platform?
If you want help choosing the right platform and mapping out a summit tech stack that fits your goals and budget, join my Virtual Summit Masterclass.
I walk you through the exact tools, setups and decisions I use to run high-performing summits without overcomplicating the tech.
