BigMarker vs Livestorm

BigMarker and Livestorm both excel at professional event hosting but target different organizational needs. BigMarker offers massive scalability and deep feature sets for huge enterprise events. Livestorm provides an intuitive, security-focused, browser-based experience starting with a free plan.

BigMarker
BigMarker

Feature-rich platform, requiring premium investment.

Ciroapp review
4.3
#2 in Webinar

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.
Pricing
Not explicitly stated
Free trial
Money-back
Best for
Enterprise organizations with 50,000+ employees, Hosting annual customer conferences with 10k+ attendees, Virtual summits requiring integrated ticketing and payment processing
Livestorm
Livestorm

Comprehensive Webinar Tool, Complex Pricing.

Ciroapp review
3.8
#4 in Webinar

We find Livestorm provides a robust, browser-based platform ideal for businesses needing strong data security and high automation capacity. The feature set is excellent, but we must note the recurrent serious concerns regarding subscription policies and dramatic, unannounced price hikes. Overall, Livestorm is a powerful tool with significant financial risk flags for long-term users.

Pros

  • All-in-one browser-based platform (no software installation required).
  • Strong data security (EU hosted, ISO 27001, GDPR compliant).
  • Efficient automations and smooth event management processes.
  • Good user experience delivers high attendance duration.

Cons

  • Reports of sudden, major price increases for loyal customers (up to 350%).
  • Rigid and unfriendly subscription/cancellation policies noted by users.
  • Reliability issues reported, including constant freezing and delays.
  • Video streaming quality is sometimes poor, especially for presenters.
Pricing
$0/mo
Free trial
Money-back
Best for
Marketing teams focused on high-volume lead generation via weekly webinars, Organizations requiring strict GDPR and ISO 27001 compliance (EU focus), Teams needing unlimited host seats for frequent internal training
Quick verdict
Choose BigMarker if you must host large-scale virtual events with up to 500,000 attendees and require advanced features like SSO, MFA, and built-in monetization
Choose Livestorm if you prioritize GDPR/ISO 27001 compliance, need a simple browser-based tool for maximum attendance, and employ unlimited team members for frequent webinars

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.

AboutLivestorm

Livestorm is a powerful, unified platform offering dynamic discussions for any kind of online event. It is designed to be the webinar leader, ready for immediate use. You access Livestorm right through your browser, which means there is no software to install and no credit card required to start. This accessibility ensures you can achieve maximum participation every time. This platform serves thousands of customers, scaling easily from startups to large enterprises.

Highlights

Quick winners by category at a glance.
Scalability (Volume)
BigMarker supports up to 500,000 attendees for massive global virtual events. Livestorm capacity is limited to 3,000 attendees.
Pricing Transparency
Livestorm offers a public $105/month Pro option and a $0 Free plan. BigMarker uses opaque quote-based pricing only.
Feature Set Depth
BigMarker offers high-end features like integrated ticketing, SSO/MFA, and Simulive formats. Livestorm's depth is focused on compliance and integrations.
Ease of Use (Internal)
Livestorm is fully browser-based and offers unlimited host seats for easier team adoption. BigMarker strictly limits host licenses.
Customer Support
Livestorm offers VIP Support and SLAs. BigMarker support is frequently reported by users as poor and unresponsive.
Data Security & Compliance
Livestorm is EU-Hosted, ISO 27001 certified, and GDPR compliant by design. This is crucial for international data.

Feature Comparison

Compare key features side by side
Max Live Attendees
BigMarker:Up to 500,000
Livestorm:Up to 3,000 (Pro)
BigMarker
Pricing Model
BigMarker:Quote-based (No public pricing)
Livestorm:Usage-based (Active Contacts)
Livestorm
Free Plan Available
BigMarker:
Livestorm:
Livestorm
Host Licenses/Seats
BigMarker:Limited (1 to 6 licenses)
Livestorm:Unlimited Team Members
Livestorm
Browser-Based for Attendees
BigMarker:
Livestorm:
Tie
Advanced Security (SSO/MFA)
BigMarker:Enterprise+ tier only
Livestorm:Optional add-ons (SAML SSO)
Tie
Dedicated Customer Support Manager
BigMarker:Enterprise tier
Livestorm:Business tier
Tie
Service Level Agreement (SLA)
BigMarker:Enterprise tier
Livestorm:Enterprise tier
Tie
Event Monetization (Ticketing)
BigMarker:Enterprise tier
Livestorm:false (Not listed)
BigMarker
Automated Webinars (Simulive/Evergreen)
BigMarker:
Livestorm:
Tie
Max Session Length
BigMarker:N/A (Standard)
Livestorm:Up to 12 hours (Enterprise)
Tie
GDPR/ISO Compliance Focus
BigMarker:Negotiable DPA Terms
Livestorm:EU Hosted, ISO 27001, GDPR Compliant
Tie
White-Labeling/Custom Domains
BigMarker:Enterprise+ tier
Livestorm:Customizable Templates
Tie
API Access/Zapier Integration
BigMarker:Enterprise tier
Livestorm:
Tie
Multi-language Support/Translation
BigMarker:Enterprise+ tier (Live Translation)
Livestorm:true
Tie
Feature Comparison Summary
2
BigMarker
10
Ties
3
Livestorm

Features Overview

We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.

Scalability & Capacity

BigMarker handles massive virtual crowds; Livestorm is ideal for typical B2B webinar scale.

BigMarker

BigMarker is built to handle huge scale, supporting up to 500,000 live attendees. Its Enterprise+ plan provides maximum capacity for global events and training. This powerful architecture ensures reliability, even under extreme load situations. Livestorm focuses on high attendance rates for typical marketing webinars, supporting up to 3,000 attendees. While excellent for B2B scale, it doesn't match BigMarker’s extreme volume limits. BigMarker is for mission-critical, large events up to half a million users. Livestorm is better suited for high-volume lead generation webinars. Choose BigMarker for annual conferences; choose Livestorm for weekly customer demos.

Pricing Transparency

Livestorm has clear entry points; BigMarker uses completely opaque custom quotes.

Livestorm

BigMarker uses quote-based pricing across all three tiers (Basic, Enterprise, Enterprise+). You must talk to sales for any plan, meaning costs are opaque initially. There is no free plan or public price list. Livestorm offers a permanent, $0 Free plan to test the platform easily. Paid plans start at $105/month (annually) for 1,000 yearly active contacts. Livestorm offers clear tiers and a free plan to minimize initial risk. BigMarker requires a full sales engagement before revealing the total investment. Be warned: Livestorm users have reported sudden, major price increases upon contract renewal.

Data Security

Livestorm leads with explicit compliance; BigMarker offers proprietary advanced security.

Livestorm

Livestorm is EU-hosted and proudly ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant by design. This provides explicit assurance for organizations handling sensitive European data. This focus simplifies compliance concerns for many global teams. BigMarker offers advanced security features like SSO and MFA, but only in its Enterprise+ tier. It provides negotiable DPA terms for organizations needing compliance. Livestorm structures its foundation around explicit data governance and EU standards. This makes Livestorm the safer choice for highly regulated industries. BigMarker is better if internal control (SSO) is more important than EU data residency assurance.

Customer Support

Livestorm offers better support structures; BigMarker support is frequently criticized by users.

Livestorm

BigMarker users frequently report customer support responsiveness as “abysmal.” Issues often take too long to resolve, eroding trust in the platform experience. This is a critical drawback despite the robust features. Livestorm offers Standard Support on Pro and VIP Support in higher tiers. Enterprise users receive a Service Level Agreement (SLA) for guaranteed response times. Based purely on user reviews, Livestorm offers a better perceived support experience. Livestorm provides high-touch service via dedicated account managers. If you anticipate needing quick answers or white-glove service, prioritize Livestorm over BigMarker.

Event Monetization

BigMarker features integrated ticketing and payments; Livestorm lacks native monetization.

BigMarker

BigMarker supports integrated ticketing and payment processing starting in the Enterprise tier. This is vital for organizations monetizing large virtual summits or paid training sessions. It keeps the financial flow within their ecosystem. Livestorm focuses primarily on marketing functions and lead generation features. The platform does not explicitly list built-in ticketing or payment support for direct revenue generation. If you need to sell tickets directly within the system, BigMarker is the clear, all-in-one choice. Livestorm requires complicated third-party tools for payment processing. Generating revenue from ticket sales is easier and faster using BigMarker's included functionality.

Host/Team Access

Livestorm offers unlimited team seats; BigMarker limits usage via specific host licenses.

Livestorm

BigMarker plans strictly limit the number of host licenses, scaling from 1 (Basic) up to 6 (Enterprise+). This system can be restrictive for large internal teams. All paid Livestorm plans include unlimited team members and hosts. The pricing scales only based on attendee usage and 'Active Contacts,' not internal size. Teams with many internal presenters will find Livestorm’s unlimited seats far more flexible and predictable. BigMarker’s license structure favors centralized event management. Livestorm eliminates internal team friction and unexpected costs associated with adding new presenters.

Advanced Automation

BigMarker offers Simulive flexibility; both support evergreen and recurring content.

BigMarker

BigMarker unlocks advanced formats like Simulive, Evergreen, and 24/7 webinars in the Enterprise plan. Simulive protects production quality while allowing live Q&A interaction. This is excellent for marketing. Livestorm supports running automated recurring events using built-in schedulers. It provides instant replay generation and unlimited storage for evergreen access, enhancing content lifespan. BigMarker's specialized Simulive feature allows high-production pre-recorded content combined with crucial live chat interaction. This blends quality and high engagement seamlessly. Choose BigMarker to maximize content reuse with high-fidelity, automated options.

Platform Reliability

BigMarker boasts reliability and video quality; Livestorm users report occasional freezes and delays.

BigMarker

BigMarker users frequently praise its reliable video conferencing and superb sound quality. The system architecture is proven for high-demand, large-scale events, reducing stress on planners. Some Livestorm users reported reliability issues, citing "constant freezes and delays" during events. Presenter video quality is sometimes described as poor by reviewers. For mission-critical events where stability cannot be compromised, BigMarker appears to offer a more consistently reliable core experience. While Livestorm is praised for simplicity, BigMarker is praised for being the 'big beast' that performs when needed.

Our Verdict

Objective guidance based on features, pricing, and user fit.

The choice between BigMarker and Livestorm boils down to scale versus software structure. Are you hosting a virtual city, or are you running efficient marketing webinars? For massive enterprise events, BigMarker is unmatched in volume and feature depth. Livestorm is safer for organizations prioritizing explicit design and data compliance. BigMarker’s superpower is its undeniable, reliable scale and robust event management capabilities. It handles up to 500,000 attendees, perfect for global training or massive virtual conferences. BigMarker also integrates key monetization tools like ticketing, simplifying revenue generation. Livestorm shines with its intuitive, browser-based experience and explicit compliance stance. It's EU-hosted, meeting strict GDPR and ISO 27001 standards by design. Livestorm also offers unlimited team members, making it cost-effective for large internal teams. However, transparency and support are key trade-offs. BigMarker's customer support is often harshly criticized as poor, and pricing is quote-based only. While Livestorm enables easier starting points, users warn of severe, unannounced price hikes upon renewal. Choose BigMarker if you run mission-critical, large-scale events and need advanced monetization features built-in. Select Livestorm if you value a sleek, compliant, browser-based tool for efficient lead generation and internal collaboration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for lead generation: BigMarker or Livestorm?

Livestorm is slightly better for lead generation due to its marketing focus. Its pricing is based on 'Active Contacts,' reinforcing lead capture goals. BigMarker is better for managing the data from massive attendee lists.

Does Livestorm offer advanced security features like BigMarker?

Livestorm is GDPR compliant and ISO 27001 certified by default. BigMarker reserves high-end features like Single Sign-on (SSO) until the Enterprise+ tier. For overall explicit security frameworks, Livestorm has an edge.

Is BigMarker available for small businesses or testing use?

BigMarker requires custom quotes even for its Basic plan and has no free trial. Livestorm is more accessible, offering a lifetime Free plan perfect for testing core features before committing.

Can I sell tickets to my events using Livestorm or BigMarker?

Yes, BigMarker offers built-in ticketing and payments functionality starting at the Enterprise tier. Livestorm does not publicly list native payment support and requires external integration.

Which platform has better customer support: BigMarker or Livestorm?

Users frequently describe BigMarker's customer support as abysmal and very slow to respond. Livestorm offers VIP support and SLAs in higher tiers and is generally rated better.

How do the pricing models of Livestorm and BigMarker differ?

BigMarker uses quote-based pricing scaling on attendee volume and host licenses. Livestorm uses predictable usage-based pricing on annual Active Contacts. Livestorm carries a renewal price volatility risk.

Ready to Choose?

Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.