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19 Must-Have Mobile Event Apps to Try in 2024

Mobile event apps enhance attendee engagement and streamline event planning. 

The Power of Mobile Event Apps

Mobile apps radically revolutionized the event industry.

With event apps, there’s no more hauling around bulky paper agendas or missing important sessions. Now the entire event is right at your fingertips! 

Attendees access the schedule, speaker bios, presentation slides, exhibit floor maps, and more in one convenient app.

Enhanced Attendee Data Tracking and Engagement

Event mobile apps allow organizers to track attendee data and engagement.

With user analytics, organizers see:

  • Which agenda items draw interest based on session views
  • Networking activity through messaging and meetings
  • Interactive booth visits, content downloads, and prospect contacts
  • Feedback and ratings on speakers, sessions, and the overall event
  • This granular data streamlines segmented messaging and personalized attendee recommendations.

    Personalizing experience through suggestions for sessions, exhibitors, and networking contacts increases engagement.

    Gamification through trivia, polls, leaderboards, and rewards encourages app participation.

    Attendees motivated by point systems and recognition will happily provide data.

    And with badge scanning integration, access point monitors track attendee traffic and engagement across venues.

    Heat maps visualize high-traffic areas versus underused spaces.

    Experience an unprecedented understanding of the attendee journey before, during, and after events.

    Data empowers organizers to refine future events for maximum impact.

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    One Event. Two Experiences.

    Skillfully engage both your in-person and online attendees through our cutting-edge hybrid event production services.

    Innovating Networking and Connection

    A group of people gathered during an event, with digital lines connecting over their heads, symbolizing the idea of networking and connection

    But mobile event apps provide so much more than just information. 

    They facilitate networking and engagement like never before. 

    Participants rate sessions, interact with other attendees, join discussion forums, and give organizers invaluable data and analytics.

    Attendees access exclusive content like live polls, quizzes, surveys, and gamification features. 

    These features make the event more interactive and fun. They provide valuable feedback and insights for the organizers and speakers.

    We’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible with mobile technology. 

    Event planners have yet to capitalize on the potential during live events. 

    Speakers today quickly promote the event app’s capabilities on stage and give attendees a few minutes to connect through the app. 

    Networking and lead generation increase exponentially. 

    People easily find and meet their perfect contacts without wandering a crowded expo hall.

    Rethinking Printouts and Embracing Virtual

    Event organizers still overspend time and money on wasteful printout materials. 

    It’s no wonder why the average event attendee produces 1.89 Kg of waste per day, 85% of which end up in a landfill!

    Tables get filled with unwanted flyers, brochures, and swag attendees don’t need. 

    This creates unsustainable clutter and information overload.

    Mobile event apps prevent clutter by digitizing brochures, flyers, and coupons and making them accessible through the app. 

    Attendees browse materials selectively and download only what interests them.

    Apps create virtual booths that maximize marketing opportunities for sponsors before, during, and after events. 

    Interactive mini-sites allow creativity impossible with printouts. 

    Videos, 3D demos, and multimedia content bring booths to life.

    After the event ends, the booth can remain open to provide continued value. 

    Organizers gain crucial data on booth visits and prospect interactions that printouts never could.

    Embracing virtual over physical printouts reduces waste and information overload for attendees. 

    Meanwhile, sponsors benefit from greater engagement, interactivity, and actionable insights.

    Event apps hold the key to preventing booth clutter in the digital age.

    Connecting In-Person and Virtual Attendees

    In-person and virtual attendees in a face-to-face zoom call

    Mobile event apps encourage seamless networking between in-person and virtual attendees. 

    Online participants browse attendee profiles and can request face-to-face video chats.

    Likewise, physical attendees can match with digital counterparts based on shared interests and goals. 

    Virtual meetups, socials, and networking sessions come to life through the app.

    Robust collaboration features like activity feeds, forums, and messaging foster an inclusive event community. 

    Conversations started in-person continue online.

    Polls, Q&As, surveys, and group chats bring all attendees together in real-time engagement, regardless of physical location. 

    The app becomes the hub uniting virtual and physical worlds.

    This omnichannel networking creates a unified event experience. 

    Physical limitations disappear as attendees collaborate and connect through the power of technology and community.

    Continuous Engagement Before, During, and After

    Online event apps encourage sponsors to continuously engage with attendees before, during, and after events.

    Sponsors set up one-on-one appointments, provide videos, and exchange brochures and information easily via QR codes. They have the power to market to qualified leads long after events end.

    Sponsors connect with qualified leads in private virtual meeting spaces. A safe place for personal conversations is much less intimidating than crowded physical booths.

    Apps reduce the need for expansive physical booths. 

    Sponsors and attendees enjoy a more comfortable experience. 

    Organizers focus less on managing exhibit halls and more on facilitating meaningful networking and engagement.

    Sponsor marketing and attendee interactions no longer have to end when events are over. The opportunities to connect extend far beyond the physical timeframe.

    It’s time to embrace the potential of mobile and web apps fully: 

  • Accurately capture event data. 
  • Segment target markets. 
  • Score leads. 
  • Nurture prospects while interest is hot.
  • Understand attendee behavior and make better business decisions.
  • Move from guesswork to data-driven insights. The future of events is now!

    Get “The Event Success Playbook”

    Our proven event planning playbook has step-by-step strategies to increase qualified leads 25%+, grow revenue, and boost engagement.

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    Picking the Best Event App: Key Factors to Consider

    Choosing an event app is one of the most crucial technology decisions when planning engaging virtual, hybrid, or in-person events. 

    The right app becomes the digital heart of your attendee experiences before, during, and after your event. 

    Carefully evaluate critical factors to pick the perfect app for your specific needs.

    Intended Use Case

    Events come in all shapes and sizes with diverse goals. What should you consider first?

    Match the app capabilities to your intended use case.

    • Conferences need robust agendas, speaker profiles, scheduling tools, live-streaming of sessions, and content downloads.
    • Trade shows require virtual exhibit halls and booths with lead retrieval integrations, giveaways, and multimedia content.
    • Corporate meetings demand secure access, select content restrictions, private messaging, and team collaboration features.
    • Webinars and online events prioritize engagement tools like polls, Q&A, surveys, and social integration.

    Take a needs-first approach, starting with must-have functionality based on your unique event format, objectives, and audience expectations. 

    This establishes a minimum viable baseline for app selection.

    Customization and Branding

    An event app becomes a direct extension of your brand. 

    Attendees will associate their experience within the app with your event and organization overall.

    Look for platforms that allow deep customization and white labeling options, such as:

  • Tailored welcome screens and dashboard layouts
  • Integration with brand fonts, colors, and logos
  • Custom URLs, icons, and naming conventions
  • Matching the app interface and design to your website and other touchpoints
  • Brand and configure the app to match your event creatives. 

    Create cohesion across touchpoints and enhance engagement through familiarity.

    Attendee Experience

    A crowd of attendees during an event

    Put yourself in your attendees’ shoes. Test drive the app interface through their perspective. 

  • Is the navigation intuitive and seamless?
  • Are vital features and content easy to locate?
  • Does the interface feel modern and polished?
  • Complex apps easily confuse and frustrate users. 

    Prioritize clean, simple designs on both desktop and mobile. Conduct user testing with target demographics to uncover pain points.

    Optimizing user experience ensures maximum adoption and participation. 

    The app should delight attendees, not distract them from their overall event participation.

    Data, Analytics, and Reporting

    Event organizers use app data to gain insights about attendee behavior and preferences before, during, and after the event.

    Determine what analytics matter most and select technology capable of delivering them. This may include:

  • Breakdowns of session attendance and content views
  • Exhibitor booth traffic and lead retrieval metrics
  • Engagement levels across networking features, surveys, and polls
  • Demographic and firmographic segmentation
  • Post-event satisfaction and feedback
  • The flexibility to extract and analyze data specific to your KPIs gives actionable insights to refine and improve event execution continually.

    Budget

    Avoid spending on unnecessary bells and whistles or underinvesting in core functionality that might frustrate users.

    Many platforms offer tiered packages or scalable pricing models. Pricing may be dependent on attendee numbers and use cases. 

    Take advantage of trials and demos to establish actual needs. Review attendee data and other ROI the app delivers.

    Your cost-benefit analysis should weigh capabilities, adoption, support, and total lifetime value. 

    Always allocate your budget based on what you really need for event success.

    Support and Training

    Even the most well-designed apps only succeed if properly implemented. Select a seasoned provider who offers robust live support and training resources.

  • Onboarding assistance gets your team up to speed on configuration and management.
  • Responsive ongoing support guarantees seamless adoption during events.
  • User conferences or online communities encourage peer knowledge sharing.
  • Don’t go it alone – leverage providers who support your team before, after, and during the event for the ultimate event success.

    Easy starting packages • Advanced options • Proven results

    Top Mobile Event Apps for 2024

    Innovative mobile apps provide digital solutions to enhance in-person events and virtual experiences alike:

    Airmeet

    Airmeet

    Airmeet is a feature-rich virtual and hybrid event platform. 

    It focuses on recreating authentic connections through modern tech like spatial audio, expertly designed stages, and intuitive networking capabilities.

    Notable features include:

  • Cloud-based company rooms for engaging private meetings
  • On-demand and live session schedules
  • Opportunity to network based on interests and roles
  • Polls, Q&As, and handraise interactions
  • Custom branding, Ticketing, and access management
  • Data analytics around engagement
  • Airmeet makes online events feel real and authentic, not like a series of passive speaker videos. The mobile experience allows attendees to network spontaneously from their phones.

    Cadence

    Cadence

    Cadence offers an end-to-end event app builder for creating interactive mobile experiences. Use it for conferences, summits, seminars, and more.

    Key capabilities:

  • Agenda builder with session details and speaker profiles
  • Interactive maps and wayfinding navigation
  • Photo and video sharing for attendee-generated content
  • Push notifications for real-time updates
  • Lead retrieval and sales reports
  • Surveys, live polls, and Q&As
  • Smart analytics around engagement
  • Cadence focuses on maximizing attendee participation before, during, and after events. The mobile app encourages social sharing and networking for a connected experience.

    Eventee

    Eventee

    Eventee focuses on networking and lead generation mobile apps. Meet quality prospects based on role, industry, and interests. Schedule 1:1 video meetings or group meetups.

    Notable features:

  • Matchmaking and recommendations engine
  • Manage meetings and build connections
  • Shared content library of presentations
  • Exhibitor search and favorites
  • Lead qualifier surveys and buyer persona scoring
  • Activity tracking and contact lists
  • Custom branding and event microsites
  • Eventee makes big events feel small and personal. Find your people and develop valuable connections from your phone.

    Welcome

    welcome

    Welcome offers a mobile event app builder with engagement features for virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. Drive participation before, during, and after.

    Notable capabilities:

  • Build fully branded native apps
  • Interactive floor maps
  • Photo sharing and event activity feeds
  • Live polls, surveys and Q&As
  • Exhibitor search and favoriting
  • Lead retrieval and sales analytics
  • 1:1 video chat for networking
  • Manage attendee lists and export data
  • Welcome places everything attendees need in one place. It captures data to provide impactful event insights. The mobile experience empowers participation.

    HeySummit

    heysummit

    HeySummit offers an intuitive event management platform with built-in marketing automation and lead nurturing capabilities. 

    Manage everything from registration to ongoing community engagement.

    Key features:

  • Customizable event websites and registration
  • Email automation for campaigns and reminders
  • Sponsor and exhibitor portals
  • Gamification and social features
  • Surveys, polls, and live Q&A
  • Reporting and data analytics
  • With its seamless event marketing integration, HeySummit simplifies end-to-end event execution and follow-up.

    BigMarker

    bigmarker

    BigMarker provides a full-service virtual event platform for webinars, conferences, and summits. Deliver engaging experiences with ease.

    Notable capabilities:

  • Live, interactive video sessions
  • Networking breakout rooms
  • Custom registration forms
  • Lead retrieval and analytics
  • White labeled branding options
  • On-demand video hosting
  • Polls, surveys, and Q&A
  • BigMarker makes running seamless virtual events simple, whether public or private.

    Hopin

    hopin

    Hopin delivers immersive virtual experiences on a flexible event platform. Ideal for multi-day conferences and trade shows.

    Notable capabilities:

  • Main stage for live sessions
  • Exhibit booths and sponsor areas
  • Networking via chat, 1:1 video, and group rooms
  • Gamification with points and leaderboards
  • Polls, Q&A, surveys, and quizzes
  • Analytics on engagement
  • Hopin allows organizers to recreate the feel of lively in-person events in a smooth virtual setting.

    Zoom Events

    zoom events

    Zoom Events combines the familiar Zoom Meetings platform with dedicated tools for large-scale event production:

    Key features:

  • Schedule and manage breakout sessions
  • Control registration, ticketing, and access
  • Exhibit booths, networking lounges, and hubs
  • Engagement features like polls and Q&A
  • Rich customization and branding
  • Reporting insights on participation
  • Zoom Events lets you leverage Zoom’s scalable architecture for immersive virtual attendee experiences.

    Want expert guidance & exclusive deals on top online event software? Contact us today and save!

    As a preferred production partner with top virtual event platforms, we get exclusive discounts and pass the savings along to our clients.

    Other Notable Mobile Apps

    While not complete event management platforms, these apps offer excellent solutions for engagement, networking, and gamification:

  • Mentimeter – Crowdsource opinions through real-time polls and word clouds. Gauge responses instantly to amp up audiences.
  • Slido – Engage attendees with live polls, quizzes, and Q&As. Gamify experiences and encourage participation.
  • Localyze – Trade contact info seamlessly via QR codes during events. Simple networking and lead gathering.
  • CFM Event App – Check-in capabilities, lead capture, and app-driven contests to drive booth traffic.
  • Conference Compass – Digital wayfinding and mapping make venue navigation a breeze.
  • Get Event Tech Upgrades with RFID Reader Apps

    A black and white RFID symbol on a white background for mobile event apps.

    Want to use RFID technology but don’t want to invest in hardware? These apps turn your smartphone into a digital scanner for event check-ins and data collection. Pretty cool, right?

    No more wait times in crowded lines. Just tap your phone to sign in via personalized RFID name badges instantly. Data flows into the event app in real-time.

    Organizers get up-to-the-second analytics on attendee traffic. And sponsors instantly retrieve info from scanned booth badges.

    Some top RFID reader apps to elevate your next event:

  • TagMatiks – Cloud-based RFID data platform with a mobile scanning app. Track attendance, assets, inventory, and more.
  • ClearStream RFID – Software streams RFID data from any reader to any system. App scans tags via NFC or Bluetooth.
  • Zebra RFID – Scanning app to operate Zebra’s handheld RFID readers. View, export, and act on tag data.
  • These apps offer less hassle for attendees, more data for organizers, and a smoother event for everyone.

    Event Apps of the Future Change Events Forever

    Event apps are evolving rapidly alongside virtual, augmented, and mixed-reality tech. Here are seven futuristic concepts that could soon be a reality:

    1. Apps that transport attendees into interactive 3D event environments using AR/VR headsets. Explore exhibits, view sessions, and network.
    2. AI-driven recommendation engines connect attendees with perfectly matched sponsors and exhibitors.
    3. Biometric face scanning for seamless check-in and lead retrieval at booths.
    4. Hologram technology “teleport” speakers in real-time across the globe without travel.
    5. 5G and neural networks enabling simultaneous translation into multiple languages in attendee headphones.
    6. Blockchain protocols to manage payments, contracts, and transparently track engagement data.
    7. Drone delivery from sponsors when a booth interaction triggers a personalized gift.

    The possibilities are endless! While some of these concepts seem far off, the pace of mobile technology means the event apps of tomorrow will arrive sooner than we think. 

    Here are three apps you can use right now to do some of these things:

    VRDirect Virtual Reality Environments

    The possibilities are endless! While some of these concepts seem far off, the pace of mobile technology means the event apps of tomorrow will arrive sooner than we think. 

    Here are three apps you can use right now to do some of these things:

    Zenus Facial Recognition

    The possibilities are endless! While some of these concepts seem far off, the pace of mobile technology means the event apps of tomorrow will arrive sooner than we think. 

    Here are three apps you can use right now to do some of these things:

    Grip Artificial Intelligence

    The possibilities are endless! While some of these concepts seem far off, the pace of mobile technology means the event apps of tomorrow will arrive sooner than we think. 

    Here are three apps you can use right now to do some of these things:

    Embrace the Future

    The event landscape 5 years from now will look different thanks to ever-evolving mobile tech. But for now, embrace the apps already revolutionizing today’s conferences. 

    The future will arrive faster than you imagine!

    Get a Free Consultation on the Best Event Software for Your Needs

    Choosing the right event app can be tricky. One size doesn’t fit all. 

    With 20+ years of virtual and hybrid event production, we’ve vetted hundreds of apps to find the perfect fit based on each client’s unique needs. 

    Lean on our insider knowledge to find the ideal app based on your event format, objectives, and target audience. We provide seamless integration with your other platforms and insightful ongoing training so you always get maximum value and unparalleled results!

    Schedule a free strategy session today. Tap into our event app marketplace expertise. With the right app and We & Goliath at your side, create memorable experiences that boost engagement and unlock invaluable data. Let’s find the perfect fit! Contact us today!

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    We & Goliath

    We & Goliath is an award-winning, top 100 worldwide event agency known for increasing conference attendance by 7X and profits by 3X through beautifully designed virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. Since 1999, their team of innovative strategists and creative designers has worked with global enterprises, SMBs, non-profits, and other organizations to engage audiences and exceed expectations.

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