CrewBrain vs. lasso.io

Quick Summary:

• CrewBrain scores with event-based crew planning, flexible time tracking, and transparent public pricing starting at $35 a month.
• LASSO shines as an all-in-one platform for event companies – from crew scheduling to payroll – and even offers a built-in crew marketplace of vetted freelancers. Pricing is custom (on request) and scales with usage.

What Are These Tools Built For?

CrewBrain was built from real-world event production and is tailored for job-based scheduling – perfect for events, tours, and gigs. Instead of fixed weekly rosters, it focuses on project-based planning, ideal for industries with constantly changing crew needs like AV teams, event agencies, or touring bands.

Its flexible, event-centric design includes time tracking, travel expenses, fleet management, and support for subcontractors. Fully web-based with a mobile app and open API, CrewBrain fits teams that plan one event at a time and need on-the-go access. If your schedule is driven by gigs rather than shifts, CrewBrain is made for you.

LASSO is an all-in-one platform for the live events industry, built to manage every step of event crew logistics—from onboarding, scheduling, and communication to travel, time tracking, and payroll. Designed by event pros, it’s ideal for mobile, project-based teams needing a unified system.

A standout feature is the Crew Marketplace, giving access to a national pool of vetted freelance AV and event talent – essentially a built-in staffing solution. LASSO also includes tools for inventory management, budgeting, quotes, and invoices, making it a full-scale ERP for production companies.

Price & Transparency

CrewBrain: Offers three straightforward packages – Essential, Standard, and Enterprise – with publicly listed prices. Essential starts at $35.00 per month (includes 10 users), Standard $59.00, and Enterprise $85.00 (each also including 10 users). If you have more than 10 users, additional user licenses are priced in transparent tiers (as low as $0.16 per user/month for larger teams in the Essential plan). All pricing info is openly available on CrewBrain’s website, and there’s even a 30-day free trial so you can test all features before committing. In short, you know exactly what it costs from the start – no surprises.

LASSO: Uses a custom pricing model. There are no fixed prices published on their site; instead, LASSO tailors a plan based on your company’s needs and seasonal usage. They emphasize flexible, pay-for-what-you-use pricing – for example, you may only be billed for active crew or modules you need. In practice, this means you have to contact LASSO’s sales team for a quote or demo. (Their philosophy: one-size-fits-all is for T-shirts, not for business software.) The upside is a pricing structure that can expand or contract with your busy and slow seasons; the downside is a lack of upfront price transparency. No public price list or self-service sign-up is available – you’ll typically go through a consultation to determine the modules (Scheduling, Payroll, Inventory, etc.) you need and get a custom proposal. So, LASSO’s pricing is “price on request” in contrast to CrewBrain’s published rates. Keep in mind that LASSO is a comprehensive system – it may come with a higher investment and is likely aimed at companies with larger scale operations (where the value of integration offsets the cost).

Typical Team Sizes & Use Cases

CrewBrain works for teams of all sizes – from 2-person crews or bands to organizations with thousands of users. Its sweet spot ranges from small AV firms and touring acts to mid-size production companies and large event service providers.

Affordable and easy to adopt, it’s ideal for companies without large HR teams. You can get started quickly, yet it scales up (some clients use it with over 5,000 crew). Typical use cases include scheduling stagehands, techs, or drivers; managing freelancers and subcontractors; and coordinating touring or regional event crews.

If you’re in live events or entertainment and need flexible, scalable scheduling—CrewBrain fits.

LASSO is best suited for mid-sized to large event production companies – especially those with complex, multi-city operations or large freelance rosters. Its all-in-one platform covers scheduling, communication, time tracking, travel, payroll, and even crew sourcing through the built-in Crew Marketplace.

LASSO serves AV providers, labor brokers, and national event companies – typically with dozens of internal staff and hundreds to thousands of freelancers. It’s built to handle scale and compliance challenges like multi-state labor laws.

It becomes most valuable when managing separate tools becomes a pain – usually once you have a core team of 20-50+ and regularly coordinate hundreds of crew. Smaller teams can use LASSO too, but setup and cost may be more than needed if you don’t need the full suite.

Strengths at a Glance

CrewBrain – Key Strengths:

• Project & Event Focus
  CrewBrain is built around jobs and projects – not fixed schedules. It matches how event teams actually work, letting you plan one event or tour at a time with exactly the crew you need.
• Easy Access – Cloud & Mobile
  Fully browser-based with a responsive mobile web app – no software installs needed. Crew can view gigs, respond to requests, and manage availability from any device.
• Flexible Extensions
  Start simple and expand as needed. Add modules for time tracking, travel expenses, fleet management, subcontractors, and more. Or connect other systems via API – all under one roof.
• Transparency & Low Entry Barrier
  Clear pricing, free trial, and self-service sign-up make it easy to test and adopt. No hidden fees – even per-user pricing is openly listed. Great for small teams moving off spreadsheets.
• Event Industry DNA
  Built by event professionals, CrewBrain handles real-world needs – multi-day events, freelance coordination, calendar sync, email invites, and more. Fast support and updates reflect direct user feedback.

LASSO – Key Strengths:

• End-to-End Crew Management
  LASSO lets you find, schedule, track, and pay crew – all in one platform. No need for separate tools or external payroll systems. Hours tracked in LASSO flow straight into payroll, with built-in handling for taxes and compliance (like multi-state filings in the US).
• Crew Marketplace – On-Demand Talent
  LASSO’s Crew Marketplace gives you access to vetted freelance AV and event pros across the country. Need extra hands in another city? Just book through the platform – LASSO vets, onboards, and even employs freelancers directly, so you skip the HR hassle.
• Integrated Travel & Logistics
  Plan more than just people. LASSO helps book flights, hotels, and manage crew travel – all synced with the mobile app. Paired with gear and inventory modules, you get full event logistics in one place, reducing errors and last-minute issues.
• Compliance & Payroll Strengths
  LASSO is built for complex event staffing needs – automating tax rules, overtime, and multi-state compliance. It handles full-time, part-time, and freelance crew payroll, and supports digital contracts, e-signatures, and onboardings.
• Crew Engagement & Mobile App
  Crew use LASSO’s mobile app to accept gigs, clock in/out, and communicate – a familiar tool for hundreds of thousands in the industry. For companies, this improves engagement and fills shifts faster. Client-facing portals and community features boost collaboration too.

Side-by-Side Comparison

(All information as of July 2025 – subject to change. Always check the providers’ websites for up-to-date details.)

When to Choose Which?

• CrewBrain is ideal if you have lots of one-off events and a small-to-medium team. It’s fast to set up, low-cost, and focused on event scheduling without the bloat of full HR systems. Perfect for companies with a mix of full-time staff and freelancers who need a flexible, easy-to-use tool. You get clear pricing, API access, and just the features you need to plan gigs efficiently.
• LASSO suits larger operations needing a full workforce management platform – including scheduling, payroll, and crew sourcing. If you’re juggling multiple events, hundreds of freelancers, or complex HR tasks, LASSO can consolidate your tools and workflows. It’s more powerful but also more complex, with a higher price tag and longer onboarding. Best for mid-to-large event providers who need end-to-end control and can invest in setup and process alignment.

Take-away:

CrewBrain shines with its low entry barrier, event-focused design, and clear pricing. It’s nimble and feels “built for crews on the ground” – ideal if you want to get scheduling and communication up and running fast, without red tape. Users love its job-based planning and simplicity.

LASSO shows its strength when you need full crew lifecycle management in one system – from recruiting to scheduling to payroll. It’s built for scale, and features like the Crew Marketplace and integrated payroll are game-changers for larger, complex operations.

In short:

• If you run shows, events, or tours and want agility and cost clarity – CrewBrain is likely the better fit.
• If you manage a large event workforce and need an all-in-one system – especially in the U.S. – LASSO is a powerful option.

Each tool fits different needs – your best choice depends on your team size, workflow complexity, and whether you prefer a lean tool or a full platform.

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