Top 11 Event Apps & Software: A Side-By-Side Comparison

In today’s technology-focused, smartphone centered world, the event industry continues to become increasingly saturated with event apps and software, each with its own set of unique features.

When there are so many to choose from, it can be tough to determine which one is right for you and your organization. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive list of top event apps and software. We’ll compare, contrast, and (hopefully) help make your decision easier.

To start, let’s break things down into three reasons event planners search for an event app or software: to better connect attendees, to manage all aspects of an event, and to increase engagement among attendees. Once you determine your organization’s main objective, it becomes a lot easier to start narrowing it down.

Here are some of our recommendations.

Top event apps to better connect your attendees:

Using technology to better connect your attendees can go a long way in enhancing your events and improving networking opportunities for event-goers. Often, networking is listed as the number one reason people attend large conferences and events, so it’s an important thing to get right.

Gone are the days when you can offer a simple cocktail mixer and call it good. Attendees today expect there to be structured sessions, online and social networking, and a myriad of other opportunities for them to connect with their peers.

Here are some top event apps and software to improve networking at your conferences and events.

1. Speed Networking:

Speed Networking is an event technology company that takes the traditional value of face-to-face networking and combines it with advanced matching software to create highly targeted networking events. It’s strategic, structured, effective, and fun.

Attendees are able to pre-select the types of people they’re interested in meeting based on a short survey they fill out when registering. The software takes those survey responses and uses an advanced algorithm to pair people together based on mutual interests.

At the event, participants receive a customized schedule of meetings based on their individual preferences. The customized schedule includes relevant information about each individual that participants are scheduled to meet with at the event, as well as starter questions to kick off the conversations.

Speed Networking also assists with registration, marketing, room set-up, event facilitation, post-event survey, and ROI analysis. In addition to speed networking, event planners can also choose from round tables or targeted connection event formats. 

Who uses it: General Electric, Deloitte, UBM, Nielsen, American Medical Women’s Association, Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, and more

2. Bizzabo:

Bizzabo takes a more digital approach to networking. With private one-on-one messaging, individual attendee profiles, and an option to integrate social media networks, their platform is designed to give event attendees all the tools they need to make valuable business connections online and in-person.

With their networking app, event planners are also able to measure data to drive ROI. At its core, their event app is designed to increase engagement and optimize the user experience. With it, you can build a community to create an unforgettable experience.

Who uses it: Vice, Gainsight, BDO, Franchise Update Media, The Lean Startup Conference, The South Summit, and more

3. Presdo Match:

Presdo Match helps event planners deliver high impact events by creating business opportunities for attendees, increasing engagement with a robust event app, and providing data on attendee behavior. With a focus on networking, their industry-leading event app offers rich LinkedIn profiles, matchmaking services, secure messaging, meeting scheduling, hosted buyer meetings, and business card exchanges. 

Who uses it: Fortune, Bloomberg, Motorola, Association Forum of Chicago, and more

4. Hubilo:

Hubilo is an easy-to-use DIY platform that fulfills all of a planner’s event tech needs. Tech-savvy or not, event planners can set up their entire event tech and go live with just a few clicks. The platform is entirely automated for maximum convenience.

It aids the planning process by automating multiple event planning tasks such as event communication, event application, attendee management, event marketing, attendee engagement, and event analytics. 

Planners can further reflect their brand across all platforms by customizing every feature as per their requirements. With a range of solutions available as part of a single automated software, Hubilo is highly time and cost-effective.

Who uses it: UBM, Encompass, Global Entrepreneurship Summit, The African Tech Summit, Data Security Council of India, and more

5. Meeting Application:

Meeting Application is a tool that enhances communication during events. This solution fits events of any type and size providing special attendee experience and increased engagement. It’s intuitive and easy in use for both, attendees and organizers.

Thanks to drag-and-drop interface, it enables full customization of components such as agenda, speakers, exhibitions, maps, sponsors, etc. Features like networking or gamification boost socializing and help to initiate business contacts.

Meeting Application allows making changes in real-time, e.g. adjusting agenda or speakers list. Thanks to rich company profiles and PUSH notifications, the application can be used to promote event sponsors. The app enables organizers to get pre-, at-, and post-event feedback with surveys and polls.

Who uses it: DHL, COTY, Oriflame, Sephora, CARE, Accor Hotels, Cinemark, US Health Department, European Commission, and more

Top event apps and software that manage all aspects of an event:

6. Eventzilla:

Eventzilla is an all-in-one event management platform to manage all aspects of conferences and events from beginning to end. Eventzilla lets event planners manage registration, create event websites, process payments, reduce no-shows, collect abstracts, publish event schedules and sessions, and automate attendee communications.

This all-in-one approach helps event planners stay organized, on-task, and on-target in an effective and efficient way.

Who uses it: Honda, TEDx, Penn State University, Habitat for Humanity, Methodist Hospitals, and more

7. Whova:

Whova offers an award-winning event app that can be customized specifically for conferences/community events or expos/trade shows. The event app features mobile brochures that include personal agendas, interactive maps, document sharing, note-taking, and more.

Their event app is designed to effortlessly boost attendee engagement through announcement capabilities, live-polling, community boards, and other gamification extensions.

That’s not all though – Whova also focuses on improving networking opportunities for participants. With their app, attendees can see fellow attendees’ smart profiles, scan business cards, and participant in one-on-one and online group chats. For trade shows and expos (or conferences that have exhibitors), there are options to highlight sponsors and exhibitors.

The exhibitor list/showcase feature allows each exhibitor to build a company profile, set up coupon/discount, and upload pictures (just like Yelp), to allow attendees to interact more. It’s everything you need in an event app and more!

Who uses it: American Heart Association, the American Marketing Association, NASA, Yale, and more

8. Core-apps:

Core-apps is one of the leading providers of technology for the trade show, exhibition, and events industry. Their platform offers event management software, mobile apps, beacons, and kiosks as four tier-one solutions.

Between associations, corporations, independent events, conferences, and trade shows, they take an individualized approach to each event with over 300 features for event planners to choose from.

Founded in 2009, the company has quickly grown and currently supports more than 50% of the top 250 trade shows.

Their specialized support team comes standard with Core-apps and helps with everything from navigating the complexities of data integration to managing the build of your customized event app to ensure and support your success.

Who uses it: American Water Works Association, Association of Legal Administrators, Special Olympics, Informa, SPE International, and more

Top event apps to increase engagement among attendees:

9. Attendify:

Attendify is one of the top mobile apps to boost engagement among event attendees. Through an in-app private social network, attendees can interact, engage, like, comment, and message fellow event-goers. Event planners can also use the app to keep everyone informed through schedules, session descriptions, and speaker bios.

All this (and then some) give sponsors measurable ROI to generate leads.

Who uses it: Google, Facebook, Columbia University, Amnesty International, and more

10. DoubleDutch:

DoubleDutch is an event app and registration software designed to turn passive participants into active attendees. It drives pre-event networking, enables real-time communication among attendees, helps keep everyone on the same page through status updates, and encourages further engagement through surveys, live polling, topic channels, and easy-to-schedule meetings.

Who uses it: Centurylink, asae, Gainsight, Blackline, Akamai, and more

11. MeetApp:

MeetApp is a custom-branded event app designed to create better event experiences with a focus on audience engagement. MeetApp’s powerful suite of dialogue tools simplifies and increase audience interaction. You can poll your audience during presentations, field questions from the audience during panel discussions, and socialize the event experience through MeetApp’s Activity Feed and Networking features.

Whether you have one event or a series of events throughout the year, event attendees can easily access all their information in one easy-to-use place in real-time. MeetApp lets event planners share agendas, speaker bios, presentations, travel, venue information, and more.

Monetize your conference app with in-app advertising and sponsorship. MeetApp helps event planners engage attendees, foster meaningful interactions, and create more inspiring meetings.

Who uses it: UPS, United Airlines, Microsoft, General Electric, Volvo, Bisnode, and more

At the end of the day, when it comes to deciding which event app or software is right for your organization, the most important thing to consider is your overall goal. Focus on what’s most important, and use that as a starting point. With proper prioritization, consideration, and exploration, event apps can make your life so much easier.