…And Why Your Conference Deserves Better
Let’s cut to it: Zoom was never built for conferences. It was built for Monday morning stand-ups and awkward team socials, not 500-person industry events, sponsor showcases, or dynamic networking experiences.
And yet, too many organisers are still forcing their events into this square peg, round hole setup—usually because it's familiar, or "free", or “good enough.”
Spoiler: it's not.
Here’s the thing—your attendees expect more. Your sponsors demand visibility. And your brand? It deserves a platform that reflects your professionalism, not a tab in someone’s browser next to Google Docs and Slack.
Event apps were built for this.
Here’s why they win. Every. Single. Time.
1. Zoom Looks Like Zoom. Event Apps Look Like You.
💡 Brand control isn’t a luxury. It’s the first impression.
Zoom’s branding is Zoom’s branding. Your attendees are greeted with Zoom’s logo, Zoom’s interface, and Zoom’s UX—because it’s Zoom’s platform, not yours.
Compare that to a modern event app, where:
- Your logo and colours are front and centre
- The event URL is fully custom (no random meeting links)
- The entire experience looks and feels like your event, not just another webinar
If your conference looks like every other Zoom call, what’s setting it apart?
Pro tip: With Presso, you get a branded event hub with zero downloads. Just a simple link and a slick interface tailored to your look—not Silicon Valley’s.
2. Zoom Is a One-Way Street. Event Apps Are Built for Connection.
🧠 Networking is where the magic happens—and Zoom kills it.
There’s no faster way to flatten networking than putting everyone in the same digital room and hoping for the best.
Event apps flip that:
- Smart matchmaking connects attendees based on interests, roles, or goals
- 1:1 chat and video inside the app—no awkward breakout room roulette
- Group discussions around topics, sessions, or sponsor content
- Interactive attendee profiles that actually drive real-world follow-ups
Zoom wasn’t made for this. Event apps were.
3. Sponsors Pay for Visibility—Not a Logo in the Corner
💸 If your sponsors can’t track ROI, they won’t be back.
Let’s be blunt: a 10-second mention at the start of a Zoom session isn’t “sponsor visibility.”
Event apps offer:
- Dedicated sponsor pages with videos, CTAs, and lead capture
- Clickable logos throughout the platform
- Integrated sponsor-led sessions with real-time engagement metrics
- Lead generation tools that turn views into conversations
Sponsors need eyeballs, clicks, and data—not just “exposure.”
An event app turns sponsorship from a favour into a funnel.
4. Zoom’s Agenda? A Shared Calendar. Event Apps Are a Personal Planner.
📅 Custom agendas are the backbone of a good attendee experience.
On Zoom, you get a spreadsheet with times. Maybe an email.
On an event app, you get:
- Interactive agendas with filtering by track, topic, or speaker
- Personalised schedules that attendees can build themselves
- Live session reminders and push notifications (no missed talks!)
- Session ratings and polls baked into the experience
Zoom can host the talk. But it can’t guide the journey.
Presso Insight: 93% of users say having a personalised agenda improves how much value they get from an event.
5. Zoom Can’t Handle Real Engagement
🔥 “Are you still there?” is not a vibe.
Zoom fatigue is real. And passive viewers don’t remember passive events.
Event apps turn viewers into participants with:
- Live polls, quizzes, and Q&A inside every session
- Emoji reactions and chat that don’t disrupt the flow
- Gamified challenges to drive interaction across sessions
- Real-time analytics to see what’s working (and what’s not)
You’re not just hosting content. You’re creating an experience.
Zoom’s tools stop at “unmute.” Event apps go all the way to “inspired.”
6. Zoom = One Format. Event Apps = Endless Flexibility
📱 Event apps aren’t just video—they’re the whole experience.
While Zoom is great for one thing—streaming live video—it stops there.
Event apps give you the full conference toolkit:
- On-demand replays
- Expo booths
- Speaker profiles
- Interactive maps (for in-person)
- Lead retrieval
- Push updates and announcements
- Downloadable resources and content hubs
And yes, you can still use Zoom for the video feed if you want. But now it’s one piece of the puzzle—not the whole (underwhelming) picture.
7. Zoom Makes You Look Cheap
🧨 Real talk: People judge your event by the platform you choose.
If you’re charging £200 for a ticket but delivering it via Zoom, you’re creating a mismatch between price and experience.
With an event app, your conference feels:
- Premium and polished
- Organised and easy to navigate
- Professional and future-focused
Your attendees don’t want another Zoom link.
They want an event.
Give them one.
Zoom’s Fine for Meetings. It’s Not Fine for Conferences.
🧭 The takeaway? You wouldn’t host a wedding on Google Calendar. So why run a conference on Zoom?
Event apps are purpose-built for everything Zoom isn’t:
Networking, branding, sponsor ROI, engagement, and growth.
Whether you're hosting 100 or 10,000 attendees, a great event experience is more than just streaming video—it’s about creating connection, community, and conversion.
And you won’t get that from a link in someone’s inbox.
Ready to Ditch the Download?
Presso is the world’s simplest event app.
No downloads. No app store faff. No bloated features. Just one sleek browser link and a powerhouse event experience your attendees will actually use.
- 💸 Just £1 per attendee—flat rate
- 🌱 Every event funds real climate action
- 🚀 Instant setup, 100% friction-free
- 💬 Networking, branding, sponsor tools, and replays—built in