12 Best Event Check-in Apps to Get Attendees In Faster

Smooth-sailing event check-in can help set the stage for an excellent event, but if done poorly, it can lead to a rough start. That is why using a reliable check-in mobile app is essential to make the whole process smoother. You don’t want to get stuck during the process or end up with technical glitches on the day of the event. 

It is also important to use an app that comes with tech support in case you run into any problems. This way you can save yourself and your event attendees from any frustrations and ensure a fast check-in experience. Understanding app badging meaning is crucial as well, as it helps to highlight important updates or notifications within the app, ensuring that users stay informed and engaged.

Host Your In-Person Events Now

Whether you need event registration, badge printing, check-in tech, or mobile event app, our in-person event platform offers end-to-end services & tools to simplify the event management process.

Request A Demo Take a Guided Tour

But with so many event check-in apps available, how would you choose one? We’ve done a little compare and contrast for you to help you make the right decision when choosing an event check-in software. 

Must-have Features of  Event Check-In App

Having an efficient check-in system for events is crucial to ensuring a smooth experience for both attendees and organizers.

Comprehensive event check-in app offers end-to-end solutions, including on-site check-in and badge printing. These apps should support multiple methods such as QR codes, RFID, or manual entry, to accommodate all attendees. 

Besides supporting the basic functionalities, a good check-in app ensures seamless integration with third-party apps and smooth configuration with other features of the event tech platform. 

Features like easy search and filter options, instant guest profile access, and customizable check-in forms are essential in any guest check-in app. Detailed insights into attendee behavior, such as session attendance and engagement levels, are also important for post-event analysis.

Best Paid Event Check-in Apps for 2024 

Here’s an overview of the 7 best event check-in apps covering key features benefits and drawbacks as well customer reviews. 

1. vFairs 

vFairs is an all-in-one event management platform that offers a highly functional event mobile app to support hybrid and onsite events. The app has several functions beyond easy check-in,   custom registration forms, marketing, sponsorships, attendee networking, engagement opportunities, and detailed event reporting. 

Users have the option to make use of all built-in features or just check in and badge printing. Here we will discuss all the features of the event check-in software and app by vFairs.

vFairs Event Check-in App Features 

QR-Based Event Check-In 

Event QR code check-in feature assigns unique QR codes to each attendee and email the code. When attendees reach the venue, they can quickly scan the QR code using a self-check-in kiosk. The personalized QR codes will be used to check in attendees easily with the mobile event check-in app. 

vFairs check-in software for events is simpler as you can use your regular iPads, smartphones, and computers as check-in kiosks. 

vFairs is one of the best check-in apps for its ability to connect with badge-printing gear. By doing this you can print badges for attendees directly from the app. 

You can also pre-print the badges in bulk to save time and avoid any hassle on the day of the event. But if you want to avoid printing badges of attendees that won’t show up, you can do it onsite. 

Synced Check-in Tech and Registration for Payment

You will be able to automatically sync the online registration data with the event sign-in app to make sure the ticket is paid. At the time of registration, there are secure payment options such as Stripe and PayPal to pay for the ticket. 

The attendees who paid at the time of registration can easily enter the venue with their mobile event app as it will update their status as paid/registered. 

Reporting and Data Visualization 

During onsite events, it is hard to keep track of attendance rates and get your hands on important event data. However, data analytics and reporting are much easier with the right event attendance software.

The best event attendance tracker app comes with QR-based check-in and scans. All the QR-scanned check-ins will be recorded and you will be able to check who showed up at the venue. The vFairs real-time event reporting dashboards allow the event organizers to track the attendance rate of the event audience. They can even follow individual user journeys and find out the popular parts of the event. 

Search and Capture Leads

Once the event ends, it is imperative that you get to reach out to your event leads. With this event check-in app, you can search for different profiles and access their contact details. The exhibitors can mark any lead as a favorite and contact them later on. 

The CRM integrations allow exhibitors to easily move the data to and from the vFairs event check-in app. The captured leads can be easily exported in CSV format for later use. 

Other Features

You can either get the check-in app or choose the entire mobile app that comes with the following features to manage your onsite and hybrid events:

• Networking Features: Within the event, your attendees can get to know each other and connect using chats, calls, contact exchanges, and booking meetings through the meeting scheduler. 
• Sponsorship Opportunities: You can display branded ads on prominent positions by offering event sponsorship packages within the white-labeled app.  
• Event Engagement & Gamification: To keep the attendees engaged during the event, there are a number of gamification features such as leaderboards and scavenger hunts. You can also collect essential data via polls and Q&As within the app.  
• Event Floor Map: The navigation feature within the app makes conference check in easy. Also, the attendees to easily locate meeting halls and exhibit booths on site.

Pros and Cons

Customers love the smooth event check-in experience with the vFairs app and badge printing software. The vFairs app has a 4.7/5 rating on G2 with 1400+ reviews. Here are some of those reviews: 

Pros

• “vFair’s on-site badge printing was easy and fast and made the check-in process a breeze. Both our attendees and our check-in admins were thrilled with the easy and speedy process. The app was a big success for three groups of people: attendees, exhibitors, and our staff.” – Jessica C., Mid-Market
• “vFairs was extremely easy to use, the system was intuitive, and really took our annual event to the next level. The onsite badge printing solved so many prior years’ headaches for us.” – Darci P., Mid-Market

Cons

• “We really didn’t have many downsides, because they turned our event around so fast there were some modifications we were not able to make due to the coding time it would have taken, but overall vFairs really nailed it!” – Darci P., Mid-Market
• “There aren’t any significant shortcomings or challenges in using this platform that I can think of.”- Irshad R., Enterprise

2. Cvent OnArrival

The Cvent event check-in app is designed to automate the check-in process of a physical event. The OnArrival app also helps event organizers understand the attendance and engagement of each user during the event. 

The app offers event check-in with real-time notifications to help coordinators efficiently manage attendees. However, users think that the app doesn’t properly sync with the registration software and the offline functionality is a bit flimsy. 

Let’s have a look at the key features of Cvent’s app:

Cvent OnArrival Key Features

Onsite Attendee Check-in and Registration 

This event check-in app allows you to easily search for your attendees by scanning a barcode or entering their name, email, company name, or confirmation number. The exhibitors can access and modify the attendee details using any regular computer or tablet as kiosks. You get check-in alerts in real-time. 

When hosting a career fair, companies can access the records of each interviewee and know their agenda. The app also allows you to register candidates for walk-in interviews. 

Onsite Payments

You will be provided with a credit card reader to allow attendees to pay for the event onsite. All you need to do is set up your merchant account and turn on payment collection in the OnArrival event check-in app.

Real-Time Reports

You can check your event stats and share them with stakeholders via the Cvent OnArrival event check-in app. All the data displayed on the dashboards is updated in real-time. You can download the app on iOS or Android, log in to your account, open the event, and view statistics.

The available stats include overall status, event check-ins over time, check-ins by type, and active sessions. You can filter these reports by date or time. Detailed reports of individual sessions can also be accessed within the event check-in app.

Use the App Offline

You can check in attendees, edit their information, and scan their badges offline with Cvent. To use this feature, you will have to make sure that you are logged in and the event is downloaded to your device when WiFi is available. 

However, the offline functionality is extremely limited. You need to be online to log in to the app, accept online payments, sync with Cvent, and use the remote badge printing option. You also need the internet to add optional registration items and substitute a registrant. 

Pros and Cons

The Cvent OnArrival app has a 4.3/5 rating on G2 with around 12 reviews. Here are some pros and cons extracted from the G2 reviews:

Pros

• “I love the efficiency of getting sessions into OnArrival, this is automatically completed through Cvent or can be uploaded from another document if you’re not using Cvent Events to host your conference agenda.” – Kara H., Education Coordinator
• “Our conference attendees are not all tech savvy, but everyone can use this app to check themselves in and print their name badges right there onsite!” – Selena F., Marketing Specialist

Cons

• “Sometimes we have to scan offline if the connection isn’t great and it skews results.” – Verified User., Enterprise
• “Little difficult to set up and requires an email for each attendee. Some attendees don’t want to share their email and either get upset or enter a fake email that places trash in your database.” – David B., Mid Market

3. Whova

Whova is an event management platform offering event check-in software, online registration, event management, and event marketing for onsite, virtual, and hybrid events. The mobile app aims at making event check-in a fast process for attendees and event organizers. Users have noted that sometimes the app randomly starts updating during the check-in, impacting the overall user experience and adding frustration on the day of the event.  

Whova Key Features

Onsite Event Check-In 

The Whova app allows a paperless event check-in process to reduce the need for staff onsite. It offers both contactless self-check-in and staffed check-in. Here are 4 ways you can check your attendees into the event using the Whova event check in platform:

1. Web Dashboard Check-In: The staff can check in attendees using laptops or tablets. 

2. App Search: They can search for the name of the attendee on the mobile event app and check them in. 

3. QR-Code Scanning: The attendees can be instantaneously checked-in through the Whova app with their onsite QR codes. 

4. Self Check-In: Without the need for onsite staff, attendees can check in at the event on contactless onsite stations. The Whova platform also offers session-based self-check-in. 

Attendance Tracking to Issue Certificate 

The Whova app allows you to track event attendance in real-time. The event attendance tracker measures your session’s popularity by tracking the attendance rate of individual sessions. The Whova certificate issuance tool uses attendance data to generate and distribute certificates for attendees. 

Targeted Messages for Attendees

You can use the session attendance data to send targeted surveys or messages to the attendees. This can be done directly on the Whova event check-in app with the announcement feature. 

Shareable Attendee List for Sponsors 

The app generates a clear list of attendees that you can share with the sponsors. Such data can help sponsors see who is interested in the content and develop future marketing campaigns accordingly. 

Synced Registration Information

In the Whova event check-in app, the registration information is synced across all devices. This way it helps all staff members and users access the same data in real-time.

Pros and Cons 

A detailed Whova review can give you an insight into the features and if it is the right option for you or not. Here are some pros and cons of the Whova event check-in app according to G2 reviews:

Pros

• “I liked the ease of starting and following discussion threads, the scheduling, and the use of QR codes for check-in and information exchange.” –  Verified User., Mid Market
• “It’s making it much easier to check people in and get them in and out of registration quickly. It helps things run much smoother, and we can move people through faster.” –  Tierra D., Small Business

Cons

• “I know they have the ‘personal’ agenda tabs, but perhaps there could be an added check-in option it’d be helpful to the person looking to meet up with their team if they could then see which seminar their team “checked in” to.” – Lindsey F., Public Relations Liaison
• “Throughout a ~2-3 days conference, the app asked to update ~3-4 times and that was annoying.” – Rebecca L., Mid Market

You can also check out Whova alternatives to find out better options for your event check-in and management. 

4. SplashThat 

The Splash Host mobile app is designed to check in event attendees onsite. It allows organizers to register walk-ins and print badges in bulk. It also has self-registering and check-in features to reduce the need for a huge onsite staff. However, users found that check-in gets a little hard when using multiple devices. 

Splash Host App Key Features

Swipe or Scan Event Check-In

There are built-in registration filters and search options to organize the attendee check-in process. The audience segmentation feature will divide the attendees into groups based on the information collected at the time of registration. 

Organizers can assign staff check-in attendees or let them scan QR codes to self-check in.

Reporting and Analytics 

You get real-time data and insights into the event at every stage. There are tools to measure check-ins, ticket purchases, and page views. The Splash Host app also allows you to track individual attendee journeys and analyze user behavior. 

Along with RSVP and check-in data, the app also records check-out data to analyze how much time each attendee spent during the event. However, the check-out time feature is only for virtual events, not for onsite and hybrid events. 

Synced Data

The live check-in counts system is synced across the platform in real-time. This data is also backed up to make sure no attendees are missed. You can continue check-ins even if your device is not connected to the internet. Syncing across devices and systems will be resumed once the internet is back on. 

Pros and Cons 

A detailed review of SplashThat can give you detailed insights into the features of this platform to compare and choose. SplashThat has a rating of 4.5/5 on G2 with around 249 reviews. Here are some pros and cons of the event check-in app according to the G2 reviews:

Pros

• ”It is easy to download guest lists and check-in process. I like that Splash can be synced with SFDC and that recordings can be hosted. It is also easy to view events for the company and add collaborators.” – Jess L., Senior Strategic Marketing Manager
• “I appreciate how easy it is to check attendees in at an event through the Splash app. We checked in over 900 attendees in 45 min.” – Madison B., Division Marketing Lead

Cons

• “Check-in gets a little hard when using multiple devices.” – Verified User, Small Business
• “Why does the check-in make your participants check in with their email instead of their name? This causes confusion every time as many people have personal and professional emails, and they can’t remember which they registered with.” – Verified User, Small Business

5. Stova 

Stova mobile app is developed for easy event check-in and also offers information, navigation, networking, and engagement tools. The event management platform also provides onsite check-in through the app. The payment integrations of the app, however, don’t work properly and users found it difficult to get payments with PayPal. 

Stova App Key Features

QR-Based Check-In

Attendees can access the event site with a contactless onsite check-in. This app will have all the registration details of an attendee so it also works as a digital badge. The QR code event check in helps with a smooth for check-in and scanning experience. 

Analytics and Reporting

The real-time dashboards displayed within the event check-in app allow organizers to gauge the attendance rate of their event. You can also create custom dashboards to display key information for stakeholders.  

Pros and Cons 

Stova has a 4.2/5 rating on G2 with around 166 reviews. Check out this Stova review to understand the features better and compare them to your requirements. 

Here are some pros and cons of using the Stova event check-in app as per G2 reviews: 

Pros

• “Unlike other platforms, MP’s design team simplifies the coding and design work, allowing you to focus on the program.” – Matt W., MWP
• “The team is very quick to respond and be available to your urgent needs. They are also willing to be very innovative and take the time to understand your specific needs.” – Monique H., Small Business

Cons

• “Their system simply doesn’t handle PayPal transactions properly and after years of trying to work around it, it’s clear, they don’t see it as a problem worth fixing.” Gerald G., Executive Producer 
• “It takes a long time and a lot of practice to figure out how the platform and settings work. At least a few months of testing it and chatting with support to learn the ins and outs of this platform. This is a bit frustrating when you have no time to do this.” – Verified User., Small Business

6. Eventbrite

The Eventbrite event check-in app allows you to access all the required data for an easy registration and check-in process. The app allows organizers to manage attendees, let them book for the event online, and promote the event to increase registrations. 

The Eventbrite app doesn’t have offline check-in functionality so it gets really hard to check attendees in with a bad internet connection. 

While we’re sharing an overview here, a detailed comparison between Eventbrite and vFairs would be helpful for you to make the right decision.

Eventbrite Key Features

Scanning Tickets to Check-in Attendees

Each ticket comes with a QR code that you can scan on the app to check in attendees. You can also manually mark the attendance of each attendee. The app allows you to prevent fraud by verifying online registrations to make sure that attendees are showing valid tickets. You can also access the attendee’s data by scanning their QR-code on the mobile app for organizers. 

Tracking Ticket Sales & Attendance 

The app allows you to manage the event and monitor ticket sales and registrations in real time. You can keep track of the attendance rate, registrations, and on-site sales with complete access to check-in data.

Accept Secure Payments

There are secure payment integrations for ticket sales and purchasing of onsite merchandise. The event organizer app has a bunch of safe payment options to choose from. 

Pros and Cons 

Eventbrite has a 4.4/5 rating on G2 with around 750 reviews. Here are some pros and cons of using the Eventbrite check-in app:

Pros

• “The e-tickets with QR codes and ease of check-in makes it a valuable tool.” – Julie H. 
• “Eventbrite is the all-in-one platform to… manage the attendees through Eventbrite mobile app which is equipped with the QR scanner which will provide you with real-time monitoring for the check-ins.” – Yousef L., IT Specialist

Cons

• “Offline ticket check-in isn’t available for venues or equipment that does not have a reliable internet connection.” Verified User., Small Business
• “Though it’s convenient to be able to process payments through either PayPal or Authorize.net, there is an extra fee on top of that which I think might be a little too high of a percentage for the extra convenience that it adds compared to just linking to an external website for payment.” – David Y., Marketing Consultant

7. RegFox

Next on our list is RegFox, offering a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance the event experience. A notable feature of RegFox is its Check-In App, which facilitates a smooth and efficient on-site check-in process. The app allows organizers to check in attendees using QR codes or registration details, with real-time synchronization to the main system. It also supports multiple check-in stations or devices, making it well-suited for events of varying sizes. Some users have mentioned that while the app is functional, it lacks flexibility in terms of tailoring the check-in process to specific event needs or branding requirements.

RegFox Key Features

QR Code Scanning

The RegFox Check-In App features QR code scanning, allowing event organizers to quickly and efficiently check in attendees. By scanning QR codes on tickets or mobile devices, the app reduces wait times and minimizes manual entry errors. This streamlined process enhances the overall attendee experience by speeding up entry and ensuring that check-ins are accurately recorded.

Real-Time Synchronization

Real-time synchronization with the main RegFox system is another key feature of the Check-In App. This ensures that attendee check-ins are updated instantly across all devices and check-in stations. The real-time updates help organizers monitor attendance levels and manage the flow of guests effectively, providing a seamless check-in experience and up-to-date information.

Support for Multiple Check-In Stations

The app supports multiple check-in stations or devices, making it adaptable to events of varying sizes. Organizers can set up several check-in points to handle high volumes of attendees more efficiently. This feature helps to reduce bottlenecks and congestion at entry points, contributing to a smoother and more organized event check-in process.

Pros and Cons 

RegFox has a 4.7/5 rating on G2 with around 470 reviews. Here are some pros and cons of the Hopin event check-in app: 

Pros

• “I have used several event software in my company, and the only downside for me is the check-in procedure. The platform should allow to check-in a couple of people at a time.” – Yuliet G., Small-Business
• “It allows me to add custom branding and the logic is very easy to use. I also like the onsite QR code check in. Plus the staff is amazing! I can do an online chat and get help instantly and expertly saving me time and energy.” – Jan A. Partner, Good Plan Jan, LLC

Cons

• “The mobile app could be enhanced, as we received reports from attendees about delays in audio/video. Additionally, customer support response times occasionally left us waiting for assistance on time-sensitive issues.” – Mary P., Marketing Program Manager
• “Some of the report exporting, check-in, and back-end registration editing are clunky and frustrating. Some features promise more than they can deliver, or counter-act other helpful features. It can be a lot of trial and error to learn the program – which means a steeper learning curve for those who are new. We have people in our Region who are well-acquainted and others who are lost.” – Mia R., Mid-Atlantic Region Administrator and Digital Staff Minister

Best Free Check-In Apps

By now, you have likely understood the benefits that come with the paid event apps. However, all these event management luxuries come with a price. If you’re not ready to commit to a paid solution, we have a solution for you – free event check-in apps.

Free check-in apps can be a relief for those on a tight budget. They are also good for organizers who want to test an app at a small-scale event before committing to a paid event check-in mobile app for bigger events.

If you find yourself in any of the above situations, check the list of best free check-in apps below.

1. One Tap

One Tap Visitors App makes check-in convenient and faster for visitors. The free check-in app comes with a user-friendly interface. The app also offers features like attendee tracking that lets you auto-track check-in and check-out times and view visit durations. 

If you are interested in the One Tap free check-in app, it is important to know that the app only offers free check-in capabilities through its “individual level” package. This package allows only 1 admin profile and 20 attendee profiles to check in for free. 

2. Zoho Backstage

Zoho Backstage is an event management software that offers a free event check-in app. Zoho Backstage event mobile app is an easy-to-use tool that comes with several event management features. For instance, the app offers contactless check-in, QR code scanning, and badging solutions.

While the Zoho Backstage app is free, it is only suitable for small-scale business events. The app accommodates up to 100 attendees, three sessions/speakers, and 45 minutes per session. 

3. Google Forms

Google Forms can’t be categorized as a dedicated check-in app, but it does offer free check-in capabilities. You can create a form for attendees to fill out upon arrival, serving as a check-in method.

Google Forms allows you to create an online registration form so people can sign up for your event anytime and anywhere. You can also customize fields for attendee names, titles, and contact information.

Google Forms is free to use. All you need is an active Google account to access the free check-in service and more. This is a convenient option for a small event with limited number of attendees, not for bigger scale events that require better check-in and reporting capabilities.

4.  Splash

Splash Host app is a free event registration software that comes with a free event check-in app. The app offers a number of event management services, such as registering walk-in attendees, printing event badges on-site, and self-registration. 

Splash is free for personal use, but it is also a good solution for small-scale business events. Through the app, you can access a free mobile check-in app, a branded registration form, guest list management, and the ability to import/export a contact list. Unfortunately, the app does not offer advanced check-in capabilities such as real-time attendee tracking for a better event experience. 

5.  Eventleaf

Eventleaf is an all-in-one event management software that also offers a free event check-in app.

The Eventleaf event check-in app offers a user-friendly interface that is aligned with different check-in capabilities. For example, attendees can self-check in through the app by scanning their event badges, selecting them from the guest list, or searching for their names through a smart device. 

If you’re interested in Eventleaf’s free event check-in app, it is important to note that only the free-to-use option is limited to 100 attendees per year. 

While free check-in apps can be helpful when you’re on a budget, they have limitations. For example, you can only use free event check-in apps for a limited number of attendees. Some of the free check-in apps above are restricted to only 1 admin profile, which means only a single organizer can access the event app at the event. 

For a better user experience with unlimited registration, advanced features, and complete admin control, it’s better to consider event check-in software like vFairs. The good part is that with vFairs’ custom pricing options, you can have the best event app features, including event check-in, in a reasonable package. 

Final Verdict: Choosing the Right Event Check-in App 

As an event organizer, it can be really frustrating and time-consuming to allow attendees to enter the event venue manually. Not to mention the difficulty of keeping an eye on event attendee tracking. On the other hand, event attendees have to wait in long queues. A solid event check-in system can kickstart your event for success. 

While choosing an event check-in app for your next event, you need to consider a few factors. The quality of the app must be top-notch to ensure that it doesn’t create problems for you or your attendees. It must be backed by exceptional customer service and an onsite technical support team so that you are not left alone at the time of the event.

If you want value for money, make sure the mobile app provider actually offers other functionalities alongside event check-in. It will also give attendees more options to interact during the event. 

Check how user-friendly the app is, how much customization it offers, whether you can scale it as per your event, and if it provides any analytics and reporting features. You should also consider past customer experiences by checking reviews. Lastly, book a demo to understand the ins and outs of the event check-in app before you choose one. 

FAQs