BigMarker vs Crowdcast
BigMarker and Crowdcast are top virtual event platforms, but they target different users. BigMarker excels at massive scale and advanced corporate features. Crowdcast focuses on community building and simple creator monetization. Your choice depends on event size and budget predictability.
Feature-rich platform, requiring premium investment.
We found BigMarker delivers one of the most robust and highly-rated feature sets available for virtual event hosting, focusing on superb reliability and deep audience data capture. Overall, the platform is a feature powerhouse for enterprise events, though prospective users should weigh the reported high cost and documented inconsistencies in customer support responsiveness.
Pros
- All-in-one platform supports meetings, webinars, and virtual/hybrid events.
- Reliable video conferencing with superb sound quality.
- No software installation needed for event attendees.
- High feature depth: includes polls, tickets, autoresponders, and breakout rooms.
Cons
- Customer support responsiveness is frequently reported as poor or "abysmal."
- Considered an expensive service compared to alternative solutions.
- Backend interface is currently only available in English.
- Pricing is quote-based across all tiers, requiring contact with sales.
Advanced, Intuitive Livestreaming Platform for Creators
We found Crowdcast delivers on its promise to provide an advanced stage built specifically for modern creators focused on engagement and monetization. It offers a professional, intuitive interface with strong streaming stability and excellent audience interaction features. Overall, we recommend Crowdcast as a powerful tool for hosts looking to build and grow a dedicated live community.
Pros
- Highly intuitive interface, making it easy for beginners and guests to operate.
- Excellent audience engagement tools, including real-time Q&A and bringing attendees on screen.
- Designed specifically for creators with strong monetization and customized branding options.
- Reliable streaming stability and generally good audio/video quality reported by long-term users.
Cons
- Support responsiveness can be slow, especially for international users during critical live events.
- Full platform functionality may feel dated when compared to newer social streaming services.
- Offline video download is deliberately unavailable, as event hosts control access to replays.
- Overage fees apply if a plan’s limits for attendees or streaming hours are exceeded.
AboutBigMarker
BigMarker is a robust platform connecting professionals through virtual and hybrid events. 💡 It specializes in hosting interactive streams, helping organizations run impactful webinars that achieve real business outcomes. This solution supports comprehensive event planning, whether you are managing a small webinar series or planning a large annual customer conference. BigMarker gives event planners and marketers the tools needed to stand out from the crowd.
AboutCrowdcast
Crowdcast is an advanced online event platform completely re-designed for today’s creators. After hosting over 10 million attendees, the platform offers a groundbreaking new experience. It moves beyond simple streaming; it gives you the tools to create a dedicated community hub. If you host live shows, teach online courses, or run large virtual summits, this platform is built with your specific needs in mind. You get a customized stage where you control the entire attendee experience, from branding to live interaction. 💡
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Scalability & Capacity
BigMarker handles vastly superior attendee volumes compared to Crowdcast.
BigMarker is built for massive, high-volume virtual events. Highest tiers support an impressive 500,000 live attendees. This makes BigMarker ideal for global corporate conferences. Crowdcast is tailored for consistent community engagement, not stadium size. The Business plan maxes out around 1,000+ live attendees. BigMarker is the clear choice for mission-critical, large-scale events.
Pricing Structure
Crowdcast uses clear tiered pricing; BigMarker requires custom quotes.
BigMarker operates entirely on a custom quote-based model across all plans. You must contact sales for any pricing information. This structure points toward a premium, high-investment platform. Crowdcast offers three transparent monthly tiers starting at $49/month. This makes budget planning significantly simpler for smaller teams. Crowdcast provides predictable, self-service pricing while BigMarker offers only custom negotiated solutions.
Monetization & Ticketing
Crowdcast simplifies creator monetization with direct e-commerce integration.
BigMarker includes ticketing and payment capabilities in its Enterprise tiers. It supports sales for large-scale corporate events and trainings. Crowdcast excels by offering direct integration with both Stripe and Patreon. It charges low transaction fees, just 2% on the Business plan. Crowdcast is better for creators selling courses or managing paid membership access efficiently. BigMarker is focused on large-scale fee collection.
Advanced Automation
BigMarker excels at automated 'evergreen' and recurring webinar content delivery.
BigMarker offers powerful automated options like Simulive, Evergreen, and 24/7 webinars. This is excellent for constant lead generation funnels. This critical functionality unlocks starting in the Enterprise plan. Crowdcast focuses primarily on live shows and dynamic community interaction events. It is not designed for complex hands-off webinar automation funnels. If content automation is key, BigMarker provides robust, proven toolsets.
Audience Interaction
Crowdcast focuses on dynamic, two-way participation and community building.
BigMarker provides traditional Q&A, chat, and polling features. It allows sharing up to 64 webcams for large expert panels. Crowdcast allows hosts to instantly bring attendees onto the screen to participate. It also lets hosts timestamp Q&A answers for convenient replay viewing. Crowdcast is superior for interactive, community-focused engagement sessions. BigMarker manages interaction for large broadcast formats.
Security & Compliance
BigMarker offers crucial advanced security features for strict corporate requirements.
BigMarker's Enterprise+ plan is essential for high-security environments. It includes dedicated Single Sign-on (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). They also offer negotiable DPA terms and Enterprise SLAs. Crowdcast makes no mention of enterprise security features like SSO or MFA. BigMarker is clearly built for compliance and protecting sensitive corporate data.
Multistreaming
Crowdcast natively handles simultaneous streaming to social media platforms.
BigMarker relies on Zapier or API access for complex setup integrations. Native simultaneous distribution is not a primary selling point. Crowdcast includes multistreaming up to 3 locations in the Business plan. This feature is easy to set up for maximizing social media reach. Crowdcast simplifies getting your content out to YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch easily.
Customer Support Sentiment
Crowdcast generally receives better support reviews than BigMarker.
User reviews consistently label the BigMarker support team as 'abysmal' or unresponsive. The response time is often reported as very slow. Crowdcast offers standard email/chat support aiming for a 24-hour response time. Its general user sentiment around support is more positive. BigMarker provides a dedicated Customer Success Manager only on its most expensive tiers.
Our Verdict
The decision between BigMarker and Crowdcast simplifies to scale versus community focus. BigMarker provides unmatched infrastructure and features for massive corporate events. Crowdcast offers the streamlined tools needed by creators and community builders. BigMarker is the enterprise heavyweight, supporting event capacities up to 500,000 live attendees. It offers critical security features like SSO and advanced automation controls. Choose BigMarker if you run large, high-stakes events and require deep CRM data integration. Crowdcast is championed for its dynamic, two-way audience interaction capabilities. It simplifies monetizing content with easy integrations like Patreon and Stripe. Crowdcast allows you to instantly bring attendees on screen for discussions. The main deciding factor is budget predictability and event style. Crowdcast provides clear, affordable monthly pricing starting at $49/month. BigMarker is quote-based, custom, and intended for large enterprise budgets. Both tools offer superb audio and video quality for professional events. If you host interactive courses or shows, Crowdcast is your stage. If you organize massive annual conferences requiring 10,000+ capacity and corporate security, BigMarker is technically superior.
Frequently Asked Questions
How large of a virtual event can BigMarker handle versus Crowdcast?
BigMarker offers massive scalability, supporting up to 500,000 live attendees. Crowdcast capacity is limited, maxing out at 1,000+ attendees in its Business plan. BigMarker is built for stadium-sized events, while Crowdcast handles large communities comfortably.
Does Crowdcast allow you to monetize events easily?
Yes, Crowdcast is excellent for monetization and integrates directly with Stripe for payments. It also supports exclusive events via a direct Patreon integration. BigMarker also offers ticketing systems, but Crowdcast makes it easier for creators.
Which platform offers better security features, BigMarker or Crowdcast?
BigMarker offers significantly better security controls for corporate users. Enterprise+ includes necessary features like Single Sign-on (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Crowdcast does not highlight these advanced security features.
Is Crowdcast easier to use than BigMarker?
Yes, Crowdcast is reported as highly user-friendly and intuitive for beginners. BigMarker is feature-rich and complex, making it potentially steeper to learn. If ease of use is your priority, Crowdcast often wins.
Why is BigMarker pricing quote-based, and Crowdcast pricing transparent?
BigMarker uses custom pricing because costs vary widely based on required capacity and features (like SSO). Crowdcast caters to a wider market with standardized, tiered monthly plans. This makes Crowdcast more accessible for users with standard needs.
Which is better for automated webinars: BigMarker or Crowdcast?
BigMarker is significantly better for automation and evergreen content. Its Enterprise tiers unlock Simulive, Evergreen, and 24/7 constantly running webinars. Crowdcast focuses primarily on live, synchronous event delivery.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.