The 3 main types of webinars: which one is right for you?
Pam
07 February 2025 - 5 min
Webinars have become an essential tool for businesses, educators, and content creators. But did you know there are three main types of webinars? Understanding the difference between live, automated, and on demand webinars will help you choose the best format for your goals.
So, let’s dive in!
Live webinars
Live webinars happen in real-time. This means you are presenting live to your audience, just like a physical event.
When to use live webinars:
Interactive sessions like Q&As
Product launches
Live training sessions
Key feature: You can answer questions directly and interact with your audience through chat and Q&A features. This makes live webinars great for building strong connections and engagement.
Automated webinars
Automated webinars are pre-recorded but play as if they were live. This is useful when you need to share the same content multiple times.
When to use automated webinars:
Training sessions
When you can’t be available every time
Key feature: You can schedule automated webinars to go live at specific times—daily, weekly, or even monthly. Your audience gets a real-time experience without you needing to be there.
On demand webinars
On demand webinars, like automated webinars, are also pre-recorded but are available at any time.
When to use on demand webinars:
Training sessions
Educational content
When your audience wants flexibility
Key feature: Your audience can pause, rewind, and watch as many times as they want. This makes on demand webinars perfect for reaching a global audience and sharing evergreen content.
Quick recap
Live webinars are great for real-time interaction.
Automated webinars are perfect for sharing the same content multiple times.
On demand webinars let your audience watch whenever they want.
Each type has its strengths, so choose the one that best fits your needs.
Which type of webinar do you prefer? Start a trial today to discover!
Try webinar today
Related articles
WebinarGeek and GDPR
Read everything you need to know about the influence of the GDPR on webinars and your WebinarGeek account.
Webinar vs. Meeting
Which tool is the best for your online meeting and which software do you use to host a webinar? We have listed the pros and cons.
Privacy and webinars: How WebinarGeek protects your data
Webinars are a great way to share knowledge, but how is your data protected? Learn how WebinarGeek handles personal data, complies with GDPR, and ensures security for both hosts and participants.
/f/110864/617x610/445d6c9238/pam_2.png)

/f/110864/870x400/77c38937f7/webinargeek-and-gdrpat2x.jpg)

/f/110864/870x400/22911dfc4f/photo-of-webinar-and-online-meeting-side-by-side.jpg)

/f/110864/1200x630/114eced60d/privacy-at-webinargeek.png)
