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Who's In

6 Best Conference Apps in 2026

We tested Who's In Conference, Sched, Whova, Bizzabo, Cvent, and Hopin from the attendee's perspective. Here's which app delivers the best mobile conference experience.

Last updated: May 2026 · Hands-on testing · 6 apps compared

By Craig Pollard, Founder & CEO · Reviewed May 2026

Quick Comparison

AppBest ForPricingFree TierNo App Download
Who's In ConferenceOur Pick
Community conferencesFrom $49/month, or $40.83/month billed annually (Starter) — 0% Who's In fee on ticket sales
Sched
Multi-track conferencesPer-attendee or per-event pricing
Whova
Professional networking conferencesCustom per-event (quote-based)
Bizzabo
Enterprise conferencesCustom (quote-based)
Cvent
1,000+ attendee conferencesCustom enterprise (quote-based)
Hopin
Virtual conferencesPublished tiers or custom pricing

Detailed Reviews

#1

Who's In Conference

Editor's Choice

Best value conference app for attendee registration and check-in

Pricing
From $49/month, or $40.83/month billed annually (Starter) — 0% Who's In fee on ticket sales

Pros

  • Starts at $49/month ($40.83/month billed annually) — no per-event or per-attendee fees
  • Mobile-first web app — no download required by attendees
  • QR code check-in, print-ready badges and WhatsApp sharing of your event link

Cons

  • Newer platform — less brand recognition than established apps
  • No native iOS/Android app (works via mobile browser)

Best For:

Community conferencesTech meetupsNon-profit summitsDay conferencesUnconferencesAcademic events

Our Verdict

Best value conference app for community and mid-size events in 2026. From $49/month ($40.83/month billed annually), attendees access everything via mobile browser with no app download needed — dramatically higher adoption than apps requiring installs. QR check-in and badge printing included.

Try Who's In Conference — From $49/mo
#2

Sched

Best conference app for personalised agenda building

Pricing
Per-attendee or per-event pricing

Pros

  • Best-in-class personalised agenda building for attendees
  • Mobile-friendly schedule view with real-time updates
  • Session ratings and feedback collection

Cons

  • Per-attendee pricing scales poorly for large events
  • Mobile experience functional but not as polished as native apps

Best For:

Multi-track conferencesAcademic conferencesLarge festivals

Our Verdict

The strongest conference app for events where attendees need to build personalised schedules across multiple tracks. The agenda builder is genuinely useful for complex multi-day conferences. Per-attendee pricing is the main drawback.

#3

Whova

Best conference app for attendee networking and engagement

Pricing
Custom per-event (quote-based)

Pros

  • Excellent attendee networking and matchmaking within the app
  • Interactive features: live polling, Q&A, virtual business cards
  • Branded conference app experience

Cons

  • Requires attendees to download the Whova app (adoption barrier)
  • Per-event pricing with no free tier

Best For:

Professional networking conferencesIndustry trade showsCorporate events

Our Verdict

Best conference app for events where attendee networking is the primary value. In-app matchmaking and networking features are genuinely strong. But requiring an app download creates a significant adoption barrier — and every attendee has to install it first.

#4

Bizzabo

Enterprise conference app with marketing integration

Pricing
Custom (quote-based)

Pros

  • Polished branded app experience for attendees
  • Deep integration with marketing tools (HubSpot, Salesforce)
  • Strong analytics on attendee engagement and session popularity

Cons

  • Enterprise pricing puts it out of reach for most
  • Over-engineered for single-day or community conferences

Best For:

Enterprise conferencesMarketing-driven eventsMulti-day corporate conferences

Our Verdict

The premium choice for enterprise conferences where marketing attribution and CRM integration matter. Polished attendee app experience, but enterprise pricing means this only makes sense for organisations running multiple large conferences annually.

#5

Cvent

Legacy enterprise conference app for the largest events

Pricing
Custom enterprise (quote-based)

Pros

  • Most feature-complete conference app for massive events
  • Hotel block management and venue sourcing built-in
  • Decades of enterprise event management experience

Cons

  • Very expensive with opaque enterprise-only pricing
  • App experience feels dated compared to modern alternatives

Best For:

1,000+ attendee conferencesMulti-venue corporate eventsEnterprise event portfolios

Our Verdict

If you're running conferences with 1,000+ attendees, hotel blocks, and complex venue logistics, Cvent's app handles all of it. But the mobile app experience itself feels dated, and the enterprise pricing means smaller conferences should look elsewhere.

#6

Hopin

Best conference app for virtual and hybrid attendee experiences

Pricing
Published tiers or custom pricing

Pros

  • Purpose-built virtual conference experience with breakout rooms
  • Built-in live streaming and virtual expo halls
  • Interactive features for remote attendees (polls, chat, Q&A)

Cons

  • In-person conference features are thin compared to dedicated tools
  • Platform stability has been inconsistent through company pivots

Best For:

Virtual conferencesHybrid eventsOnline summits

Our Verdict

Best conference app for fully virtual events where the app IS the venue. Breakout rooms, virtual expo halls, and live streaming work well for remote audiences. But for in-person conferences, the mobile experience is secondary to the desktop streaming platform.

How We Evaluated

Mobile Experience

App quality, load speed, and ease of use on phones

Attendee Adoption

How many attendees actually use the app

Engagement Features

Networking, polling, Q&A, and interaction tools

Value for Money

Features you get relative to what you pay

Ranked #1 in this guide:Who's In ConferenceConference management software

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best conference app for mid-size events in 2026?
Who's In Conference is the best value conference app for community and mid-size events in 2026. Starting at $49/month ($40.83/month billed annually), it provides mobile-first attendee registration, QR check-in, badge printing, and real-time attendee management. No app download required for attendees, which means higher adoption than native app competitors — with no per-attendee fees.
Do conference attendees need to download an app?
Not with Who's In Conference — it works as a mobile-optimised web app, so attendees access everything via their phone's browser. No download: attendees sign in once with a free account when they register. Whova, Glofox, and some Cvent features require native app downloads, which adds a download step for every attendee.
Which conference app is best for attendee networking?
Whova has the strongest attendee networking features with in-app matchmaking, virtual business cards, and networking conversation starters. However, it is priced per event and requires attendees to download the app. For simpler networking needs, Who's In Conference provides attendee lists and contact sharing via QR codes.
How much do conference apps typically cost?
Conference app costs range dramatically: Who's In Conference starts at $49/month or $40.83/month billed annually (Starter), or $149/month (Growth), with a 0% Who's In fee on ticket sales (Stripe's standard processing applies). Sched, Whova, Bizzabo and Cvent price per attendee, per event or by contract; check each vendor's current pricing page. For most community and mid-size conferences, Who's In delivers the essentials without enterprise pricing.
What's the best conference app for small events under 200 attendees?
Who's In Conference is the best choice for small conferences under 200 attendees. At $49/month ($40.83/month billed annually) it requires no attendee app download and includes registration, check-in, and attendee management. Enterprise tools like Cvent, Bizzabo, and Whova are overkill for events this size.
Can conference apps handle both in-person and virtual attendees?
Hopin is the strongest option for hybrid conferences with both in-person and virtual audiences. It provides built-in live streaming, breakout rooms, and virtual networking. Who's In Conference handles in-person registration and check-in well. For a true hybrid experience, you may need to combine an in-person check-in tool with a streaming platform.

Ready to try the #1 pick?

Join conference organisers using Who's In — from $49/month ($40.83/month billed annually), no app download required

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