# Webinar and virtual event platforms: what AI models recommend, September 2026

Gane Index, September 2026 Edition. Asked as "webinar and virtual event platform" and as "platform for hosting webinars and virtual events", six framings each, to six frontier models with search on, on behalf of a mid-market B2B software company. Page: https://www.gane.ai/index/gtm/marketing/webinar-virtual-events/2026-09-expanded

This is the permanent record of the September 2026 Edition, published September 9, 2026 and superseded since. The current standing: https://www.gane.ai/index/gtm/marketing/webinar-virtual-events/index.md

**Standing:** Goldcast leads with 41% of first choices; verdict clear leader. 27 first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts.

## First-choice share

| Rank | Product | Share | Negative rate | Labels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Goldcast](https://www.gane.ai/index/gtm/vendors/goldcast/index.md) | 41% | 6% | 17 |
| 2 | [Livestorm](https://www.gane.ai/index/gtm/vendors/livestorm/index.md) | 15% | 0% | 20 |
| 4 | [Zoom Webinars](https://www.gane.ai/index/gtm/vendors/zoom-webinars/index.md) | 7% | 29% | 35 |
| 5 | [Demio](https://www.gane.ai/index/gtm/vendors/demio/index.md) | 7% | 16% | 19 |
| 6 | [ON24](https://www.gane.ai/index/gtm/vendors/on24/index.md) | 7% | 42% | 26 |
| 11 | [Cvent Event Marketing & Management](https://www.gane.ai/index/gtm/vendors/cvent-event-marketing-management/index.md) | 0% | 31% | 13 |
| 12 | [Webex Webinars](https://www.gane.ai/index/gtm/vendors/webex-webinars/index.md) | 0% | 25% | 12 |
| 14 | [GoTo Webinar](https://www.gane.ai/index/gtm/vendors/goto-webinar/index.md) | 0% | 33% | 15 |
| 15 | [Microsoft Teams](https://www.gane.ai/index/gtm/vendors/microsoft-teams/index.md) | 0% | 33% | 15 |
| 29 | [RingCentral Events](https://www.gane.ai/index/gtm/vendors/ringcentral-events/index.md) | 0% | 41% | 17 |

Rank is by share of first choices among all 41 products named; products with the same share are tied, and the order among them carries no meaning. The table lists those with at least 10 labels.

## Each model's first choice on the direct prompt

- Claude Opus 5: Goldcast; alternatives BigMarker, Livestorm, Zoom Webinars
- Claude Opus 4.8: Goldcast; alternatives Airmeet, GoTo Webinar, ON24, Zoom Webinars
- GPT-6 Astra: Goldcast; alternatives Livestorm, ON24
- GPT-5.6 Sol: Goldcast; alternatives Livestorm, ON24, Zoom Webinars
- Gemini 3.1 Pro: Goldcast; alternatives Demio, Livestorm, Zuddl
- Perplexity Sonar Pro: Demio; alternatives Bizzabo, Livestorm, Zoom Webinars

## Sources the answers cite

34 of 36 answers came back with a source list, from 6 of 6 models. Sites named in the most answers:

- easywebinar.com: 19 answers, 39 citations
- on24.com: 17 answers, 20 citations
- livestorm.co: 16 answers, 28 citations
- webinarninja.com: 16 answers, 22 citations
- goldcast.io: 13 answers, 22 citations
- capterra.com: 11 answers, 19 citations
- zoom.com: 11 answers, 11 citations
- bizzabo.com: 10 answers, 13 citations

Pages named in the most answers:

- https://ventureharbour.com/webinar-software-10-best-webinar-platforms-compared (9 answers)
- https://bizzabo.com/blog/best-webinar-platforms (8 answers)
- https://on24.com/blog/the-best-webinar-platforms-of-2026 (8 answers)
- https://easywebinar.com/blog/webinar-software-comparison-feature-guide (7 answers)
- https://webinarninja.com/blog/best-webinar-platforms (7 answers)
- https://whova.com/blog/best-webinar-platforms (7 answers)
- https://livestorm.co/free-webinar-software (6 answers)
- https://scalegrowth.digital/resources/best-webinar-platforms (6 answers)
- https://easywebinar.com/blog/top-webinar-platforms-comparison (5 answers)
- https://easywebinar.com/blog/webinar-platform-reviews (5 answers)

## Warned against

- Zoom Webinars: 10 of 35 labels negative. "it is generally not recommended as the primary choice for B2B software marketing" (Gemini 3.1 Pro, paraphrase prompt)
- GoTo Webinar: 5 of 15 labels negative. "criticized in one review as too expensive for what it offers" (Perplexity Sonar Pro, negative prompt)
- ON24: 11 of 26 labels negative. "potentially expensive and cumbersome. Reviews frequently mention learning curve, confusing administration, integration limitations and upcharges." (GPT-5.6 Sol, negative prompt)
- Microsoft Teams: 5 of 15 labels negative. "This specific legacy product retired on June 30, 2026... Avoid when… You’re planning any new event program or integration." (GPT-5.6 Sol, negative prompt)

## Record

- Method: https://www.gane.ai/index/gtm/methodology
- License: CC BY 4.0. Cite as Gane Index, September 2026 Edition, www.gane.ai/index/gtm.