Top 19 Event Check-in Apps to Streamline the Process
For event organizers, a reliable event check-in app can mean the difference between excited and frustrated attendees from the moment the venue doors open. Choosing the right tool will not just streamline the check-in process; it will help set the tone for everything that follows at your event!
However, with so many options on the market, identifying the best event check-in software for your conference attendance tracking can be a daunting task.
In this introduction to the best event check-in apps, we’ll explore the following topics:
- What Is An Event Check-in App?
- Why Do You Need Event Check-in Software?
- What Should You Look for When Evaluating Event Check-in App or Software Options?
- 19 Best Event Check-In App Options
Whether you’re planning a single workshop or a large-scale conference, there’s software tailored to transform your check-in woes into check-in wows. Stay tuned as we unveil our top picks for creating the right check-in experience at any event!
What Is An Event Check-in App?
An event check-in app is designed to streamline the attendee arrival experience at the registration desk. It replaces traditional paper-based methods with a digital solution, ensuring a quick and easy check-in process at any meeting or conference.
This type of software needs to integrate with your registration system, often supports live badge printing, and can provide event organizers with real-time check-in data. Some high-value check-in app features include:
- Live badge printing
- Detailed analytics
- Self-service check-in kiosks
Many event planners prefer to use a check-in app from a comprehensive event management platform like EventMobi, to ensure easy data syncing between tools and to minimize the number of different vendors they need to work with. Be sure to ask any event management platform you evaluate for your events if they offer an event check-in app, as this will save you valuable time, money, and headaches!
Why Do You Need Event Check-in Software?
The event check-in process isn’t just about ticking off names—it’s the gateway to your overall event experience. Event check-in software helps you start on the right foot by ensuring a smooth, efficient, and welcoming start to your attendees’ journey.
To understand how event check-in apps can transform the main entry point of your events and beyond, let’s dive into the main benefits of these tools:
- Streamlines the check-in process: Event check-in software allows attendees to check themselves in with a few taps on a screen, reducing lines and wait times. This efficiency will improve the attendee experience and free up staff to focus on other important tasks.
- Provides contactless check-in: In a world where health and safety are more important than ever, offering touchless or contactless check-in options is a necessity. An event check-in app that offers kiosk mode provides a safe way for attendees to check themselves in.
- Puts your brand at the forefront: Your event check-in software represents the first in-person touchpoint attendees have with your brand. Some platforms offer fully customized check-in kiosks, offering another opportunity to showcase your event branding on-site.
- Tracks attendee sessions: These event check-in apps aren’t just for saying “welcome” and printing badges. They’re also valuable session attendance tracking tools, providing programming insights, managing room capacities, and keeping tabs on attendance to award continuing education (CE) credits.
- Measures event success: Understanding the return on investment (ROI) of your event is critical. By collecting data on attendee participation and behavior through your event check-in software, you can gain insights into what worked and what didn’t, which can help prove the value of your event and improve future events.
Each of these points demonstrates the indispensable nature of event check-in apps in modern event planning. From increasing efficiency to ensuring health safety and capturing data analytics, these tools are crucial to event success.
What Should You Look for When Evaluating Event Check-in App or Software Options?
Finding the right event check-in app or software for your needs involves weighing a variety of features and considerations. Here are some offerings you may look for as you search for that perfect conference check-in software:
Event-Specific Features
The primary purpose of your event check-in app is to assist in providing an efficient, effective event experience. Make sure the platform you choose has features that enhance check-in and the event itself, such as:
- Versatile check-in options: Flexibility is key. Your software should support multiple check-in methods and devices, including self-check-in, manual check-in, and QR code check-in. This variety will cater to different attendee preferences and reduce bottlenecks, ensuring a smooth start to your event.
- Session check-in: Particularly for conferences, session check-in is invaluable. It allows you to track attendance for breakout sessions, workshops, panels, and keynotes, which is critical for providing insights to inform programming at future events. Look for software that works on any mobile device so staff can use their own!
- Additional event features: The best event check-in solutions will offer more than just attendee check-in. Look for features like personalized agendas, networking opportunities, and engagement analytics. These offerings transform a simple check-in platform for events into a comprehensive event management tool.
Some event management platform pricing packages include event check-in for free, typically with an annual subscription. Be sure to ask this when evaluating vendors, as if you plan multiple events over the year you may be able to reduce your overall costs.
General Software Considerations
Any new technology you adopt should fit your organization’s needs and offer a seamless user experience. Check out these general software considerations to keep in mind when looking for an event check-in software platform:
- Pricing structure: Ensure the pricing aligns with your event budget. Consider the cost of your program over the year, as purchasing an annual license will likely offer better value than per-event pricing.
- Customer support: When your event is underway, it’s important to have reliable access to support in case of any technical issues. For peace of mind, choose a software provider that offers 24/7 customer support.
- Tech requirements: Find out if your event check-in software requires you to rent or buy any specialized hardware that could affect your budget and logistics.
- Ease of use: The best check-in app is simple for anyone to use, making it easy for your team to set up and manage without extensive training. To fill in any gaps in how to use the software, your vendor should provide onboarding or training materials for your team to reference.
- Security and privacy: In an age where data breaches are common, security and privacy features are a necessity. Ensure that your event check-in software complies with relevant regulations and takes measures to protect your attendees’ information.
To assist you in the software selection process, look for reviews that point to other event organizers’ experiences with each platform. You can also request demos from the event check-in app providers to test them out for yourself and ensure they’re easy for both your team and attendees to use.
19 Best Event Check-In App Options
Different event check-in app options may look similar, but it’s important to consider your unique event needs before making a final decision. For example, do you need conference attendance tracking, or are you focused on a QR code event check-in app? Finding the best check-in software for your event hinges on distinctions like these. Here are our top 19 to get you started:
- EventMobi
- Attendium
- Certain
- CrowdPass
- Cvent OnArrival
- Eventdex
- Eventbrite
- Eventleaf
- EventX
- Google Forms
- Guest Manager
- RingCentral Events
- OneTap
- RSVPify
- Sched
- Stova
- Webex Events
- Whova
- Zoho Backstage
Let’s begin with our highest recommended platform: EventMobi.
1. EventMobi
EventMobi offers a flexible event management solution with a range of check-in options to fit your event size, needs, and budget. With advanced event technology, EventMobi has supported 30,000+ event organizers in pulling off thousands of successful events for hundreds of thousands of attendees.
Top Features:
- Self-service kiosks: Allow attendees to check in at their own pace with dedicated kiosks. To turn any device into a self-service check-in point, organizers can use EventMobi’s Onsite App for Event Check-in to set up tablets or laptops in “Kiosk mode” and leave them on the registration desk or near the venue entrance. Not only does offering a self-service check-in process reduce the need for extra staffing, but it also leads to a smoother arrival experience for attendees.
- QR code scanning: With QR code check-in, attendees simply scan their unique QR codes at a self-check-in kiosk or at the registration desk.
- Onsite badge printing: Want to make an amazing first impression? Offer onsite badge printing so attendees can print their badges live on the spot once they’ve checked in.
- Session check-in: With EventMobi’s Onsite App, you can check attendees both into your event and in and out of specific sessions. Event staff can download the app onto their own devices to monitor session popularity, track attendance for CE credits, and gather valuable insights for future events.
Pricing:
Available upon request. Please fill out the pricing form for more details.
2. Attendium
Attendium allows event organizers to invite, manage, and check in attendees from any device. This event check-in app works online and offline so event staff can continue checking in guests even if their internet connection is unreliable.
Top Features:
- Ability to find guests directly from the guest list, using custom fields, or by name
- Plus one tracking
- Attendance reports
- Automatic syncing across devices
Why Attendium stands out:
Attendium simplifies guest list management, allowing event organizers to easily check in attendees and save time.
Why Attendium could be better:
Attendium is pretty limited to event check-in, so if you’re looking for additional event functionality, you won’t find it with this platform.
Pricing:
Starts at $249 per month.
3. Certain
Certain is ideal for conferences and conventions. This event check-in app aims to help event organizers from enterprise brands manage large amounts of attendees.
Top Features:
- Text alerts to notify event staff when VIP attendees arrive for check-in
- Registration, attendance, and interest data tracking
- Ability to create attendee personas
- Integrations with platforms like Salesforce, Slack, and Zoom
Why Certain stands out:
Certain is built for enterprise brands to check in and manage many attendees for large events.
Why Certain could be better:
Some users report experiencing glitches that prevent attendees from checking in.
Pricing:
Available upon request.
4. CrowdPass
CrowdPass pivots the check-in experience towards safety without sacrificing speed. It’s great for event planners who are serious about safety, as it includes access control measures that ensure only authorized personnel and ticket holders can check in.
Top Features:
- Ability to assign access levels based on ticket tiers or VIP status
- On-site badge printing
- QR code scanning
- Attendee photo verification
Why CrowdPass stands out:
CrowdPass’s focus on access control allows event organizers to segment attendees and easily check them into the event areas they belong in.
Why CrowdPass could be better:
Some users find that CrowdPass’s customer support could be more responsive.
Pricing:
Available upon request.
5. Cvent OnArrival
Cvent OnArrival allows for quick check-in and a smooth attendee experience. It also helps event organizers understand how attendees engage with their brands and the event itself.
Top Features:
- Ability to access or change attendee details from desktop, phone, or tablet
- Real-time check-in alerts
- Self-service check-in kiosks
- On-site badge printing
Why Cvent OnArrival stands out:
Most users find Cvent OnArrival to be user-friendly for both event staff and attendees.
Why Cvent OnArrival could be better:
Some users have had trouble syncing Cvent OnArrival with Cvent’s registration solution, causing a disconnect between registration and check-in data.
Pricing:
Available upon request.
6. Eventdex
Eventdex offers an array of tools to streamline every aspect of event management. It focuses on helping event organizers manage in-person, hybrid, and virtual events and includes a check-in feature as part of its in-person event platform.
Top Features:
- On-site badge printing
- QR code scanning
- Self-check-in kiosks
- Tap to pay
Why Eventdex stands out:
Most users find Eventdex easy to use and customize to their event needs.
Why Eventdex could be better:
Some users find that their reporting feature is difficult to navigate.
Pricing:
Starts at $4,000 for one event.
7. Eventbrite
Eventbrite is well-known as an event marketing hub, but it also has a check-in app. Event organizers can manage their events from end to end with Eventbrite’s solution.
Top Features:
- QR code scanning
- Real-time event data
- Secure payment processing
- Integrations with over 100 apps
Why Eventbrite stands out:
Since many attendees recognize Eventbrite, it comes across as trustworthy.
Why Eventbrite could be better:
Eventbrite doesn’t offer offline check-in, which can make it difficult to check in attendees if you lose internet connection.
Pricing:
The Flex plan starts at $9.99 per event, and the Pro plan starts at $29 per month.
8. Eventleaf
Eventleaf allows event organizers to check in attendees with the click of a button. This event check-in app makes it easy to welcome attendees to events from a smartphone or tablet.
Top Features:
- Confirmation email barcode scanning
- On-site badge printing
- Offline check-in
- Check-in agreements
Why Eventleaf stands out:
Eventleaf is available in several different languages, allowing attendees to check in using their native language.
Why Eventleaf could be better:
Some users wish that the platform has more customization options.
Pricing:
Paid options start at $1 per attendee.
9. EventX
EventX claims to eliminate long queues and wait times with their event check-in app. The platform caters to many different event types, so any event organizer can use it.
Top Features:
- QR code scanning
- Self-check-in kiosks
- Offline check-in
- Instant VIP check-in alerts
Why EventX stands out:
Users appreciate that EventX is constantly innovating and improving its platform.
Why EventX could be better:
EventX is localized to Asia, so it might not be the best option if your organization doesn’t run events in that region.
Pricing:
Available upon request.
10. Google Forms
Google Forms is free and flexible, allowing event organizers to construct a simple check-in process from the ground up with minimal fuss.
Top Features:
- Easily shareable check-in forms
- Multiple question types
- Customization options
- Charts that update in real time
Why Google Forms stands out:
Most people are familiar with Google Forms, so it’s easy for attendees to use.
Why Google Forms could be better:
Google Forms isn’t specifically designed for event check-in, so it may not cater to your event needs.
Pricing:
Free for personal accounts and $12 per user per month for Business Standard accounts.
11. Guest Manager
Guest Manager is an event registration and check-in software with both web admin and mobile app options. This platform allows event organizers to manage event attendees at scale.
Top Features:
- Offline check-in
- Support for unlimited devices
- On-site badge printing
- Attendee reports
Why Guest Manager stands out:
Guest Manager offers Apple Wallet tickets, allowing attendees to easily store their tickets on their phones and check in.
Why Guest Manager could be better:
Since Guest Manager only has registration and check-in features, it’s not as comprehensive as other providers.
Pricing:
Paid options start at $39 per month.
12. RingCentral Events
RingCentral Events is an event check-in app that empowers event organizers to manage in-person, virtual, and hybrid events, as well as webinars. Its customers include both large and small businesses.
Top Features:
- QR code scanning
- Attendee reports
- Over 40 integrations
- AI writer for landing page copy
Why RingCentral Events stands out:
Many users claim RingCentral Events is easy to set up and use.
Why RingCentral Events could be better:
Some users wish there were a check-in option for hybrid events.
Pricing:
Starts at $1,490 per license per year for up to 100 attendees per event.
13. OneTap
OneTap delivers a quick, smooth check-in process, allowing event organizers to easily track attendance. This provider works with businesses, universities, and individual event organizers alike.
Top Features:
- QR code scanning
- Self-check-in kiosks
- Text-to-check-in
- Ability to track the location of each check-in
Why OneTap stands out:
OneTap caters to various use cases, including traditional events, meetings, classes, and trainings.
Why OneTap could be better:
OneTap doesn’t offer offline check-in.
Pricing:
Paid plans start at $119.99 per year for 100 profiles.
14. RSVPify
RSVPify focuses on using automation to streamline event management. They work with a variety of organizations, including businesses, educational institutions, nonprofits, and churches.
Top Features:
- QR code scanning
- Real-time syncing across devices
- Ability to integrate with RSVPify’s registration tools or import an existing guest list
- Check-in and check-out activity dashboard
Why RSVPify stands out:
RSVPify is available for iOS, Android, and browsers, making it easy to manage check-in from any device.
Why RSVPify could be better:
Some users wish RSVPify was more affordable.
Pricing:
Starts at $39 per month for professional events and $499 per month for enterprise events.
15. Sched
Sched offers a full suite of event management tools for planners who want everything in one place. This event check-in app leverages AI to automate different event management tasks.
Top Features:
- Session-specific check-in
- Room capacity management
- Offline app access
- Self-check-in
Why Sched stands out:
Many users find that Sched has a simple user interface that’s easy to use.
Why Sched could be better:
Some users wish they could more easily filter their attendee lists and message certain groups.
Pricing:
Starts at $600 per event or $100 per month for unlimited events.
16. Stova
Stova defines itself as an “event technology ecosystem” for events of any size. From large conferences to sales kickoffs to trade shows, this event check-in app works for a variety of different event types.
Top Features:
- Mobile check-in carts
- Customizable badges
- Integration with Stova Registration or other registration providers
- QR code scanning
Why Stova stands out:
Stova is flexible and allows event organizers to host a variety of different events.
Why Stova could be better:
Some users find Stova difficult to use.
Pricing:
Starts at $600 per event or $100 per month for unlimited events.
17. Webex Events
Webex Events offers a check-in process that ensures networking starts the moment attendees step through the door. This platform aims to take the stress out of check-in and kick off your event on the right foot.
Top Features:
- QR code scanning
- Session-specific check-in
- Custom branded badging
- Check-in and badge printing metrics
Why Webex Events stands out:
Many users report that Webex Events is intuitive and easy to use.
Why Webex Events could be better:
Some users wish there were more customization options.
Pricing:
Available upon request.
18. Whova
With Whova, check-in is just the beginning of an engaging, interactive event journey. In addition to check-in, it offers a variety of other event features.
Top Features:
- Automatic syncing of attendee, exhibitor, and sponsor information
- QR code scanning
- Ability to add volunteers as check-in staff
- Self check-in
Why Whova stands out:
Many users find Whova extremely easy to use.
Why Whova could be better:
Some users wish there were a way to filter notifications as they can quickly become overwhelming.
Pricing:
Available upon request.
19. Zoho Backstage
Zoho Backstage is a great choice for business events that demand sophistication and efficiency in their check-in process. With Zoho, professional event check-in becomes part of a suite of powerful management tools.
Top Features:
- Self check-in
- Zone or area-specific check-in
- QR code scanning
- On-site badge printing
Why Zoho Backstage stands out:
Some users report that Zoho Backstage has excellent customer support.
Why Zoho Backstage could be better:
Some users wish Zoho Backstage had offline capabilities.
Pricing:
Paid plans start at $299 per event or $99 per month for a subscription.
Sealing the Deal: Why Top Event Check-In Software Leads to Success
As we wrap up our exploration of the best event check-in apps, it’s clear that the right tool can significantly improve the attendee experience while increasing efficiency for event staff. From mitigating long lines at the registration desk to providing insightful event data, the right check-in software is critical to your event’s success.
The EventMobi Onsite App stands out as a flexible solution that supports a variety of check-in methods, ensuring your event starts on a high note and continues to resonate with attendees throughout. It doubles as a session tracking tool and helps you measure the ROI of your event with precision. Moreover, it’s your ticket to offering a touchless, hassle-free check-in experience.
Ready to streamline your event check-in process? Embrace the future with EventMobi’s Onsite App for event check-in. It’s time to turn those first moments into lasting impressions and set the stage for an unforgettable event journey.
Want to learn more about tools that can help create a positive event experience? Check out these additional resources:
- 15 Best Event Registration Software to Boost Sign-ups [2024]. Before check-in, attendees must register for your event. Boost sign-ups with these top event registration software picks.
- 23 Best Event Management Software and Tools for 2025. Looking for an all-around event solution? Check out the best event management tools on the market.
- The 25+ Best Mobile Event & Conference Apps for 2024. The right conference app can increase engagement, facilitate communication, and simplify event logistics. Review these top options today.
