Is Who's In really free?

Yes. All event management features are free forever — recurring events, waitlists, QR check-in, reminders, custom branding, analytics, and more. The only fee is 2.7% on paid event tickets (no per-ticket fee, no monthly subscription). Free events cost nothing.

How does Who's In compare to Eventbrite?

Eventbrite charges 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket, plus monthly fees for advanced features. Who's In charges just 2.7% flat on paid events with all features included free. That saves organizers 50-70% on fees for a typical 100-person paid event.

Do attendees need to create an account?

No. Attendees can RSVP with one tap — no account, no app download required. They receive a shareable link via WhatsApp, email, or any messaging app and can respond instantly.

How do automated waitlists work?

When an event reaches capacity, new RSVPs are automatically added to a waitlist. If someone cancels, the next person on the waitlist is instantly promoted and notified — no manual management needed.

Can I collect payments for events?

Yes. Who's In integrates with Stripe for secure payment processing. Organizers can set ticket prices, and payments go directly to their bank account. The platform fee is just 2.7% flat — the lowest in the market.

What does Who's In Conference include?

Conference includes multi-track agenda building, speaker management, sponsor tiers, badge printing, attendee check-in, session RSVPs, and a branded attendee portal — everything Cvent charges $5,000+/yr for, starting at $49/mo.

Can I manage speakers and sponsors?

Yes. Add speakers with bios and session assignments, create sponsor tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver) with logo placement and benefits, and manage all communications from one dashboard.

Does Conference support multi-track agendas?

Yes. Build multi-day, multi-track agendas with drag-and-drop scheduling. Attendees can browse sessions, add them to their personal schedule, and receive reminders before each session starts.

10 Best Conference Management Software in 2026

We compared every major conference management platform on pricing, features, and real-world usability. Here's who wins — and who's overpriced.

Last updated: March 2026 · 10 platforms compared · Hands-on review

Quick Comparison

#	Platform	Best For	Pricing
#1	Who's In ConferenceTop Pick	Community conferences	From $49/month (Starter) + 2.7% on paid tickets
#2	Cvent	Large enterprise conferences	Custom enterprise — typically $15,000+/year
#3	Bizzabo	Enterprise marketing conferences	Custom — typically $10,000+/year
#4	Whova	Networking-focused conferences	Custom — typically $2,000–$10,000/event
#5	Swapcard	Networking-first conferences	Per-attendee — typically $3–$6/attendee + platform fee
#6	Hopin	Virtual conferences	From $99/month or custom pricing
#7	vFairs	Virtual trade shows	$5,000+ per event (custom enterprise pricing)
#8	Splash	Branded corporate events	Custom per-event or monthly team plans
#9	Brella	Networking-focused events	Custom per-event pricing
#10	Airmeet	Virtual summits	From $99/month for basic tier

Detailed Reviews

Who's In Conference

Editor's Choice

Best value conference management software for mid-size and community conferences

Pricing

From $49/month (Starter) + 2.7% on paid tickets

Pros

Flat $49/mo — no per-event or per-attendee fees
AI attendee matchmaking included from Starter plan
QR + LinkedIn + custom badge printing, multi-track agendas, sponsor portals all included

Cons

Newer platform — less brand recognition than Cvent or Bizzabo
No native iOS/Android app (PWA works via mobile browser)

Best For:

Community conferencesTech summitsAcademic eventsHybrid events

Our Verdict

The best value conference management platform in 2026 for events up to 5,000 attendees. Everything a conference needs — agendas, badges, networking, sponsors — at $49/month. No per-event fees, no contracts, no vendor onboarding required.

Cvent

Enterprise conference management for 1,000+ attendee events

Pricing

Custom enterprise — typically $15,000+/year

Pros

Most feature-complete platform for very large conferences
Built-in hotel sourcing and RFP management
Decades of enterprise conference management experience

Cons

Enterprise pricing excludes most conferences
Complex setup and mandatory vendor onboarding

Best For:

Large enterprise conferencesMulti-venue eventsHotel block management

Our Verdict

The most powerful conference management software available — and the most expensive. For events over 1,000 attendees with hotel blocks and complex venue logistics, Cvent handles everything. For everyone else, it's overkill.

Bizzabo

Enterprise event marketing platform with conference management

Pricing

Custom — typically $10,000+/year

Pros

Strong marketing attribution and CRM integration
Polished attendee app experience
Good analytics on session engagement and attendee behaviour

Cons

$10,000+/year pricing excludes most organisations
Sales-driven process — weeks to go live

Best For:

Enterprise marketing conferencesMulti-event programmesCRM-integrated events

Our Verdict

The premium choice when conference management needs to integrate deeply with enterprise marketing stacks. Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo — Bizzabo connects to all of them. But the price point limits it to large, marketing-driven organisations.

Whova

Best conference app for attendee networking and engagement

Pricing

Custom — typically $2,000–$10,000/event

Pros

Excellent in-app attendee networking and matchmaking
Interactive features: live polling, Q&A, virtual business cards
Strong session engagement tools

Cons

Per-event pricing scales poorly for frequent conferences
Attendees must download the Whova app

Best For:

Networking-focused conferencesProfessional associationsIndustry trade shows

Our Verdict

The best platform when attendee networking is the primary conference value. In-app matchmaking is genuinely strong. But per-event licensing and mandatory app downloads are significant barriers for community conferences.

Swapcard

AI matchmaking and networking platform for conferences

Pricing

Per-attendee — typically $3–$6/attendee + platform fee

Pros

Strong AI matchmaking and attendee connection features
Good sponsor portal and exhibitor management
Mobile app with in-event networking tools

Cons

Per-attendee pricing makes growing conferences expensive
App download required for full networking features

Best For:

Networking-first conferencesTrade showsProfessional events

Our Verdict

Solid conference management with strong networking features — but per-attendee pricing means every successful event costs more than the last. For conferences over 300 attendees, the fees compound quickly.

Hopin

Hybrid and virtual conference platform

Pricing

From $99/month or custom pricing

Pros

Purpose-built virtual conference experience
Built-in live streaming and virtual networking
Good breakout room and expo hall features

Cons

Platform has undergone multiple ownership changes and pivots
In-person features secondary to virtual experience

Best For:

Virtual conferencesHybrid eventsOnline summits

Our Verdict

Strong for fully virtual conferences. For hybrid or in-person events, the virtual-first DNA creates friction. Platform instability through company changes is a concern for events planned months in advance.

vFairs

Virtual conference and trade show platform

Pricing

$5,000+ per event (custom enterprise pricing)

Pros

Strong virtual expo and trade show features
Branded 3D virtual environments
Good lead capture for exhibitors

Cons

$5,000+ per event with complex vendor onboarding
Primarily virtual — limited in-person conference support

Best For:

Virtual trade showsOnline job fairsVirtual expos

Our Verdict

The best platform for virtual trade shows and online job fairs with 3D environments. Not designed for in-person or hybrid conferences — and the $5,000+ per-event cost puts it out of reach for most.

Splash

Branded event management for single-session corporate events

Pricing

Custom per-event or monthly team plans

Pros

Beautiful event page design and branding
Good for single-session invite management
Clean guest list and check-in experience

Cons

No multi-day agenda builder or session management
Not designed for multi-track conference programmes

Best For:

Branded corporate eventsProduct launchesVIP dinners

Our Verdict

Excellent for polished single-session corporate events. Not suitable for multi-day conferences — there's no agenda builder, no session tracks, and no speaker management.

Brella

Networking-focused conference app with AI matching

Pricing

Custom per-event pricing

Pros

Strong AI networking and meeting scheduler
Good 1:1 meeting scheduling between attendees
Sponsor visibility and matchmaking

Cons

Per-event pricing with no transparent rates
Networking-only — limited full conference management

Best For:

Networking-focused eventsBusiness conferencesTrade shows

Our Verdict

Best-in-class for 1:1 meeting scheduling and AI-powered networking at conferences. Limited as a full conference management platform — most organisers use it alongside a primary event tool.

#10

Airmeet

Virtual and hybrid event platform with social lounge

Pricing

From $99/month for basic tier

Pros

Social lounge feature for informal virtual networking
Good for small-to-medium virtual events
Clean interface with reasonable pricing

Cons

Limited in-person conference management features
Less suitable for large-scale multi-day conferences

Best For:

Virtual summitsOnline meetupsHybrid webinars

Our Verdict

A solid affordable option for small virtual summits and online community events. The social lounge creates informal networking that's better than standard webinar formats. Not a full conference management platform for in-person events.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best conference management software in 2026?

Who's In Conference is the best value conference management software in 2026 for mid-size and community events. Starting at $49/month, it includes multi-track agendas, AI matchmaking, QR badge printing, sponsor portals, and hybrid support. For large enterprise conferences (1,000+ attendees with hotel blocks), Cvent remains the most complete solution despite its $15,000+/year cost.

How much does conference management software cost?

Conference management software costs range dramatically. Who's In Conference starts at $49/month plus 2.7% on paid tickets. Swapcard charges $3–$6 per attendee. Whova charges $2,000–$10,000 per event. Bizzabo and Cvent both start at $10,000–$15,000+/year. For most mid-size conferences, Who's In Conference delivers the best features-to-cost ratio.

Which conference management platform is best for networking?

Who's In Conference, Whova, Swapcard, and Brella all have strong AI networking features. Who's In Conference delivers AI matchmaking from $49/month. Whova and Swapcard have excellent networking but charge per-event or per-attendee fees. Brella focuses exclusively on 1:1 meeting scheduling.

What conference software is best for hybrid events?

Who's In Conference and Hopin are the strongest options for hybrid events. Who's In Conference is hybrid-first — designed around in-person with virtual access built in. Hopin is virtual-first with in-person features added. For conferences that are primarily in-person with a virtual component, Who's In Conference is the better fit.

Do attendees need to download an app for conference management software?

Not with Who's In Conference — it's a Progressive Web App (PWA) that works in any mobile browser. No download, no account creation, maximum adoption. Whova, Swapcard, and Brella all require attendees to download their app from the App Store or Google Play, which typically reduces adoption to 40–60% of attendees.

Related Resources

Best Virtual Conference Platforms →Best Conference Networking Apps →Best Badge Printing Tools →Best Hybrid Event Platforms →Best Sponsor Management Tools →Bizzabo Alternative →Whova Alternative →Swapcard Alternative →Who's In Conference Product →

Ready to try the #1 pick?

Join conference organisers worldwide using Who's In Conference — from $49/month, no contracts