The main alternatives to an all-in-one event app fall into three groups: quick-launch attendee apps you can build without developers, networking apps built around matchmaking and one-to-one meetings, and fuller event platforms with an app inside. Pick the group that matches your event, then ask how each one gets attendees to fill in their profiles before the day.
Your conference app has one job on the day: getting the right people talking to each other. Whova has done that for plenty of organisers, and the eight tools below are what people look at when they want something different, whether that's a faster setup, sharper matchmaking or one platform that runs registration and the app together.
They're grouped by what they're built for, and the list itself is alphabetical and in no particular order. Most of them cover in-person, hybrid and virtual formats, so the real decision is how much of your event you want one system to run, and how much effort you're willing to put into getting attendees to use it.
Matchmaking only works when attendees fill in their profiles
Here's the part that gets skipped in most demos. A networking app can only match people who've told it who they are and what they want. If half your delegates download the app on the morning, skip the profile and go straight to the agenda, the matchmaking screen has nothing to work with, however clever the algorithm behind it.
That matters most for the apps that lead with networking. Conferras says attendees join with one link, get AI-matched and book one-to-one meetings. Grip describes itself as an AI-powered platform for networking, matchmaking and lead generation. Eventify's page headings cover tag-based matchmaking, chat and meetings, and Eventee puts networking and live Q&A on its front page. Every one of those features depends on the profile data going in.
So ask each vendor two questions before you sign. First, how does the app prompt attendees to complete their profiles before they arrive: an email nudge, a step inside registration, a reminder in the app itself? Second, can you export attendee and exhibitor data once the event is over, in a format your CRM or your next event can read? If either answer is vague, you'll be starting from scratch every time.
Three kinds of event app, and who each one is for
No-code and quick-launch attendee apps. Yapp is built for organisers who want a branded iOS and Android app without developers or designers, and its page walks you from a blank project to the app stores in a few steps. The quick-setup app from the networking group above also belongs here if speed is what you're after.
Networking and matchmaking apps. These are the four named in the section above. They're for events where the meetings between attendees are the point, such as trade shows, summits and member conferences, and where exhibitors expect leads they can follow up afterwards.
Fuller event platforms with an app inside. Webex Events, formerly called Socio, is a fuller platform than a plain app: its page lists registration, onsite tools, a mobile event app, a production studio and a virtual event platform in one product. Sched is schedule-first and leans towards education and professional development, including school districts. Guidebook is built for higher education, so it suits orientation days and campus tours more than a trade conference.
The eight apps side by side
| Tool | Kind of app | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Conferras | White-label networking app | White-label networking with AI matching |
| Eventee | Quick-setup attendee app | Quick setup with live Q&A and networking |
| Eventify | Event platform with matchmaking and community | Matchmaking plus registration and ticketing |
| Grip | Matchmaking platform for commercial events | Matchmaking and lead generation at commercial shows |
| Guidebook | Event and campus app for higher education | Campus events and student engagement |
| Sched | Schedule-first conference platform | Schedule-led conferences and professional development |
| Webex Events | Full event platform with mobile app | One platform for registration, app and virtual |
| Yapp | No-code branded event app builder | A branded app built without developers |
What each app does well
Listed A to Z, so the order says nothing about which is better.
Conferras
Best for: Conferences, summits and meetups where attendees join with one link, get AI-matched, chat and book one-to-one meetings inside an app carrying your brand.
Eventee
Best for: Organisers short on time who want networking, a social wall, live Q&A and notifications in one attendee app with a quick setup (vendor claim).
Eventify
Best for: Events that need tag-based matchmaking, chat, meetings and an event community alongside registration, ticketing and exhibitor features, with AI agents on top (vendor claim).
Grip
Best for: Commercial shows and trade events where matchmaking and lead generation matter most, paired with registration on an AI-powered platform (vendor wording).
Guidebook
Best for: Universities running orientation, admissions events, campus tours and student engagement through one branded app the vendor says is built for higher education.
Sched
Best for: Conference, education and professional development programmes run from one platform covering registration, scheduling, websites, apps, check-in and reporting (vendor wording).
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Webex Events
Best for: Teams wanting one platform for in-person, hybrid and virtual events, with registration, onsite tools, a mobile app and a production studio together.
Yapp
Best for: Professional events that want their own iOS and Android app built without developers or designers, using a no-code builder (vendor wording).
My advice for organisers changing event apps
Start from what your attendees come for. If it's the sessions, a schedule-first platform or a quick-launch app will do the job without much setup. If it's the people they meet, choose from the networking group and plan the profile push as part of registration, not as an afterthought. If you're also replacing your registration and ticketing system, look at the fuller platforms so you're not stitching two tools together.
Ask for a test event before you commit, and put your own agenda and a handful of colleagues through it. You'll learn more from ten minutes on your own phone than from an hour of slides. For the wider picture, my guide to the touchpoints that shape an attendee's journey is worth reading before you brief any vendor, and if your events are smaller and community-led, my list of Meetup alternatives covers tools built for that.
Before the doors open: an attendee app checklist
- Profile questions built into registration, so people fill them in before they arrive.
- A first push notification planned for the week before, not the morning of the event.
- Exhibitor and attendee data export agreed in writing, including the file format.
- One person on your team who owns the app on the day and answers delegates' questions.
- A short feedback survey inside the app while the event is still fresh in people's minds.
None of these depends on which app you pick. They're the difference between an app people open once and one they keep using for the whole event.
Do you make an event app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What should an event app include for a conference?
At minimum, the agenda, speaker details, notifications and a way for attendees to find each other. Networking, live Q&A and exhibitor pages are the next layer, and they're only useful if people complete their profiles.
Do attendees need to download an app, or is a web link enough?
It depends on the tool. Several offer native iOS and Android apps, and some let people join through a link. Ask each vendor which options it supports, because a download step can put some attendees off.
How far ahead should we launch the event app?
Early enough that people have time to fill in profiles and book meetings before they travel. Launching on the day leaves the matchmaking with very little to work with.
Can I keep attendee data after the event?
Usually, but check how. Ask whether attendee, exhibitor and meeting data can be exported, and in what format, before you sign rather than when you're planning your next event.
What's the difference between an event app and an event management platform?
An event app is what attendees use on their phones. An event management platform also runs registration, ticketing, check-in and often the website, with the app as one part of it.
Is a white-label event app a good idea?
A white-label app carries your event's brand instead of the vendor's, which matters for associations and recurring conferences that want their own identity. For a one-off internal meeting, it matters less.
