Most UK event platforms focus on the introduction: they connect an organiser with a supplier, and the rest happens over email. Build My Event manages matching, proposals, contracts, payments, messaging, and coordination end to end, so the whole booking stays in one place.
You only want introductions — a list of names to ring — and you are happy to handle quotes, agreements, and payments yourself over email and bank transfer.
You want the whole booking handled: proposals you can compare, a signed contract, a payment schedule, and every supplier for the event coordinated in one workspace.
Lead marketplaces handle step one. We stay for every step after it.
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| Capability | Build My Event | Add to Event | Bark | Togather | Poptop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you find suppliers | Algorithm matches suppliers to your event (scored on fit, distance, availability, budget) | You browse leads and spend credits to contact them | Broadcast to local pros; you pay credits to unlock each contact | Concierge team hand-picks suppliers for you | Browse directory and instant-book fixed packages |
| Proposals | Suppliers send structured proposals you compare side by side (pricing, inclusions, availability) | Off-platform (email/phone after buying the lead) | Off-platform (email/phone after buying the lead) | Quotes via concierge (not self-service) | Fixed-price packages only (no bespoke quoting) |
| Contracts | Auto-generated from accepted proposal; dual digital signature; terms, pricing, cancellation locked in | None | None | None | None |
| Payment management | Deposits, multiple instalments, balance payments, invoices, auto-pay, overdue tracking, cancellation refund calculation | None (you arrange payment privately) | None | Deposit taken at booking; balance handled around the event | Single payment at booking |
| Multi-supplier coordination | One workspace per event: all suppliers, contracts, payments, messages, and readiness in one view | None (each lead is a separate conversation off-platform) | None | Single-vendor bookings (no cross-supplier view) | Single-vendor bookings |
| Messaging | In-platform threads per supplier per event; on the record alongside the contract | Off-platform after lead purchase | Off-platform | Via concierge (not direct) | Off-platform after booking |
| Supplier verification | ID verification via Stripe Identity before payouts, plus reviews from completed bookings | Basic profile checks | Pro screening (limited) | Hand-picked and vetted | Profile-based |
| Cost to the organiser | Free. No subscription, no commission, no booking fees. You only pay your suppliers. | Free (suppliers bear credit costs) | Free (suppliers bear credit costs) | Free (commission embedded in supplier's quote) | Free (commission embedded in price) |
| Cost to the supplier | Free tier (6% platform fee on bookings) or paid plans (0% fee, from £29/mo) | Pay-per-lead credits, charged per quote attempt | Pay-per-lead credits, priced per lead | Commission deducted from every booking | Commission on each transaction |
Competitor descriptions are based on publicly available information about how each platform works and may change; check each provider for current details. Build My Event pricing is set out in full on our pricing section.
Features on a comparison table are abstract. Here is what the difference feels like when you are actually planning an event.
On other platforms
On credit-based platforms, suppliers pay to contact every lead, whether or not the organiser ever replies — the cost lands before the conversation starts.
On Build My Event
On Build My Event, suppliers only invest time when they write a proposal for an organiser who has already described their event in detail and is actively comparing quotes. No credits, no wasted spend.
On other platforms
Once a lead moves to email, there is no record of what was agreed, no contract, no payment schedule, and no recourse if things go wrong.
On Build My Event
Every agreement is captured in a signed contract generated from the accepted proposal. Payment schedules are tracked with reminders and overdue handling. Both sides have a clear record.
On other platforms
With lead marketplaces, every supplier is a separate conversation in a different inbox. Keeping track of who confirmed what, who is paid, and what still needs doing falls entirely on you.
On Build My Event
Build My Event gives each event a workspace: every supplier's proposal, contract status, payment progress, and messages visible in one view with a readiness score that tells you what still needs attention.
Create your first event in two minutes. Suppliers matched to your brief will send proposals you can compare, contract, and pay, all without leaving the platform.
Free for organisers. No booking fees. No credit card required.
