| Relevant to: | Guests | Speakers | Event Managers & Assistants | Account Owners |
| ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Remo offers three event access types: Public, Private, and Open Access.
Each one offers a different registration and join experience for guests, from more controlled access to a more frictionless way to join.
This article explains the differences between each type so you can choose the setup that works best for your event.
Table of Contents:
- Quick Comparison of Event Access Types
- Public Event
- Private Event
- Open Access Event
- Which Event Access Type Should I Choose?
- Frequently Asked Questions about Event Access Types
Quick Comparison of Event Access Types
| Event Access | Public | Private | Open Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event Registration? | Yes | Yes | No pre-event registration |
| Sign in Required? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Who can join? | Anyone with the link | Only those invited on the guest list | Anyone with the link |
| How do guests join? | Guests register and sign in | Guests must be invited first and then sign in | Guests join with name only |
| What guests see on the landing page? | Event details, Option to share on social media, Countdown timer Register button | Event details, Countdown timer, Register button | Event details, Option to share on social media, Countdown timer |
| Custom Questions? | Yes (when guests first register) | Yes (when guests first register) | Yes (when guests join the event) |
| Best For | Events that want broader access with pre-event registration | Events that need more controlled or restricted access | Events that want the simplest possible join flow |
Let’s go through each access type in more detail below.
Public Event
A public event is designed for general access while still giving organizers a standard registration flow.
Any guest with the link can register before the event and return later to join. With this option, at registration guests are also asked to create an account (there is also an option for guests to skip this requirement and join the event with just their name).
This is a good option when you want a relatively easy-to-access event, but still want to collect registrations and verified emails before entering.
Use Public events when you want:
- a standard event registration flow
- easy access for a wider audience
Public event is the default event access option selected
Private Event
A Private event gives you more control over who specifically can access your event.
This option is best when you want to limit attendance to invited guests or a more specific audience e.g. only employees at your company or community members.
With a private event, guests still go through the usual sign-in and registration flow, but only those specifically added to the event’s guest list can register and join.
Use Private events when you want:
- more control over who can attend
- a restricted or invite-only experience
Please check out this article for more information on how to create and invite guests to a private event.
Open Access Event
Open Access is the simplest event access type available.
With Open Access, guests can join using name only. There is no sign-in required and no pre-event registration flow.
Before the event starts, guests visiting the landing page will see the event details and a countdown timer. Once the event is live, they can join by entering their name.
TIP: If you still want the easy access but want to collect information from guests like their email address, phone number, interests e.t.c., you can also use custom questions to collect this information when guests join.
Use Open Access when you want:
- the fastest possible join experience
- a simple, low-friction event entry flow
- do not need to collect pre-event registration numbers
Note for hosts and speakers: In an Open Access event, hosts and speakers must join with their email address to access their event controls. To do this, click “Are you a speaker or host? You’ll need to join with your email instead” on the join screen.
If accessing the event before it starts, hosts can enter from their My Events page, and speakers can enter using the link in their speaker invite email.
Which Event Access Type Should I Choose?
Here’s a quick way to decide which access type is best for your event?
1. Do you want to restrict attendance or do you want anyone to be able to join?
- If you want to restrict attendance, choose Private Event
- If you do not want to restrict attendance, continue below
2. Do you want to collect registrations before the event?
- If you want guests to register before the event, choose Public Event
- If you do not need pre-event registration, choose Open Access Event
Frequently Asked Questions about Event Access Types
- Can I change the event access type after creating my event?
Yes. Event access can be updated in real time if you decide you want to change
- How do hosts and speakers join Open Access events?
For event hosts, they can join Open Access events prior to the event starting through their My Events page.
For event speakers, they should use the speaker invite email received to join the Open Access event and make sure they enter the same email address they were invited with to get their speaker controls inside the event.
- Can I still use anonymous login for Public events?
Yes, for Public events anonymous or name-only login is still an option you can offer guests when joining a public event (anonymous or name-only login is not supported during event registration).
- How can I collect emails if I select Open Access events?
If you do not need to collect this information prior to the event starting, you can simply add a custom question to your event. This way, when joining guests will enter their name and then answer your custom questions.