---
title: "Event planner apps for conference organizers (2026): 8 apps compared"
description: "Cvent, Eventbrite, Bizzabo, Whova, Eventee, EventMobi, Luma and AgendaForge: which app is for the organizer, which is for attendees, and what each costs. Checked Nov 3, 2026."
canonical: "https://agendaforge.app/blog/event-planner-apps-for-conference-organizers"
last-updated: 2026-11-03
---
# Event planner apps for conference organizers (2026): 8 apps compared
> Cvent, Eventbrite, Bizzabo, Whova, Eventee, EventMobi, Luma and AgendaForge: which app is for the organizer, which is for attendees, and what each costs. Checked Nov 3, 2026.
Canonical page: https://agendaforge.app/blog/event-planner-apps-for-conference-organizers
Last reviewed or updated: 2026-11-03
Content type: article

Author: The AgendaForge team
Published: 2026-11-03

## Key takeaways

- "Event planner app" covers two different products. Organizer apps help you run the event (registration, agenda, speakers, check-in). Attendee apps put the agenda, networking and tickets on your guests' phones. Most platforms do the planning in a web dashboard and ship phone apps for the door and for attendees.
- Of the eight checked on November 3, 2026, every one has a phone app staff can use at the door. Eventbrite's Organizer app also sells at the door and shows live sales, and Whova's app helps organizers communicate with attendees. None of the eight presents its phone app as the place to build the whole program.
- Six ship an attendee app with the agenda or tickets on the guest's phone: Cvent (Attendee Hub), Bizzabo, Whova, Eventee, EventMobi and Luma. Eventbrite's consumer app holds tickets and event discovery. AgendaForge has no attendee app.
- Free options exist but are narrow: Eventbrite charges nothing for free events, and Luma's free plan has unlimited events with a 5% platform fee on paid tickets. Cvent, Bizzabo, Whova, EventMobi and AgendaForge have no free plan; Eventee is free until you launch.

## Where AgendaForge stands

- The organizer side runs in the browser: one-question-at-a-time forms and a call for papers with blind review rounds, a drag and drop agenda with clash flags, a speaker portal, sponsor tiers and one contact CRM across events.
- The door has a native app: AgendaForge Check-In for iPhone and Android, joined with a code and able to keep scanning offline in flow mode. Scanning also works in any phone browser and on an iPad kiosk.
- A published price: $2,000 per event for Core and $4,000 per event for Pro, on the pricing page. No platform fee on the first 250 paid tickets (Core) or 1,000 (Pro), then 1% capped at $20 a ticket.
- Where it stops: no native attendee app with the agenda and networking on the guest's phone, and no organizer app for planning on a phone. There is no free tier and no self-serve trial.

**The short answer:** most "event planner apps" are two products sold under one name. The
**organizer** side, where you build registration, the agenda, the speaker list and the door, runs
in a web dashboard on every platform below, with a phone app for the event day. The **attendee**
side is a separate app (or a separate mode) that puts the schedule, networking and tickets on your
guests' phones. Pick the organizer platform for the work you do before the event, then check
whether it ships the attendee app you want.

This guide compares eight: **Cvent, Eventbrite, Bizzabo, Whova, Eventee, EventMobi, Luma and
AgendaForge**. Every competitor fact below was read on the vendor's own site, help center or app
page on **November 3, 2026**. Nothing comes from an app-store aggregator, a review site or memory.
Where a vendor's page did not say something, we say so rather than fill the gap.

Disclosure: we build AgendaForge. Its row uses the same columns as everyone else's, and its section
says where it stops.

## Eight event planner apps at a glance

"Organizer phone app" means a native app that the event team (organizers, staff or volunteers) uses
on a phone or tablet. "Attendee app" means a native app guests use for this event: tickets, agenda
or networking.

| App | Who it is for | Organizer phone app | Attendee app | Price unit | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Cvent** | Enterprise event and meeting programs | Yes: OnArrival check-in app | Yes: Attendee Hub event app | Quote only | No |
| **Eventbrite** | Ticketed public events of any size | Yes: Organizer app (check-in, door sales, live sales) | Consumer app for tickets and discovery | Fee per paid ticket | Free events are free |
| **Bizzabo** | Corporate event teams | Yes: Onsite Command App for check-in | Yes: mobile event app | Per user per month, billed annually | No |
| **Whova** | Conferences that want an engagement app | Yes: organizers check in and announce from the Whova app | Yes: Whova event app | Quote only | No (free for attendees) |
| **Eventee** | Events that center on a branded attendee app | Yes: check-in app with PIN access | Yes: mobile app and web app | Per event, or per year for 3 or 6 events | No; free until you launch |
| **EventMobi** | Conferences buying registration, app and onsite in one | Yes: Event Check-in App (iOS, Android) | Yes: Event App product | Per event or per year | No; trial on request |
| **Luma** | Community events and meetups | Yes: Luma app for hosts and check-in staff | Yes: same Luma app | Free, or Luma Plus per month | Yes, 5% fee on paid tickets |
| **AgendaForge** | Conferences with a reviewed program, 200 people and up | Yes: Check-In app for the door only | No | Per event | No |

Checked on each vendor's own pages on November 3, 2026. Sources are linked in each section below.

## Organizer apps and attendee apps are different jobs

Most "best event planning apps" lists rank both kinds of product in one list, which is why a
networking app and a ticketing platform end up side by side. It helps to split the work:

- **Before the event (organizer, mostly on a laptop):** registration forms and ticket types, the
  call for speakers and its review, the agenda grid, speaker and sponsor follow-up, emails.
- **On the day (organizer, on phones and tablets):** scanning tickets, finding a name, selling at
  the door, badge printing, live counts, sending an announcement.
- **For guests (attendee app):** their ticket, the schedule and a personal agenda, venue maps,
  networking and messages, session feedback.

None of the eight vendors below presents a phone app as the place to build the program. The phone
apps cover the second and third rows. So "does it have an app?" is really two questions: is there
an app my door team can use, and is there an app my attendees will download?

## Cvent

Cvent is an enterprise event management suite. Its pricing page lists two plans, **Professional**
and **Enterprise**, with no price and a "Get pricing" form. Professional lets you "license only the
solutions above that you need" and includes 15 user logins, session management and speaker
management. Enterprise bundles the Registration, Attendee Hub and OnArrival licenses and includes
all user logins. Cvent says it offers special rates to non-profits. There is no free plan.
([cvent.com pricing](https://www.cvent.com/en/event-management-software/cvent-pricing))

- **Organizer phone app:** OnArrival, which Cvent's support site calls "Cvent's newest mobile app",
  is "available in the App Store and Google Play" and is "free for Event Management users", with
  paid OnArrival Premium and OnArrival 360 tiers above it. Cvent notes that "some features are not
  yet available for OnArrival Android." The product page covers kiosk check-in, on-demand badge
  printing and session attendance.
  ([OnArrival support article](https://support.cvent.com/articles/en_US/Topic_Hub/Meet-Our-OnArrival-Check-In-App),
  [OnArrival product page](https://www.cvent.com/en/event-marketing-management/onarrival-event-check-in-software))
- **Attendee app:** Attendee Hub, listed on the pricing page with "Mobile event app and virtual
  experiences."

**Fits:** organizations running many events a year that want registration, venue sourcing, an
attendee app and onsite check-in from one vendor.

## Eventbrite

Eventbrite is a ticketing and discovery marketplace. Its pricing page says the platform is "always
free for events with free tickets, with no ticketing platform fees." Paid tickets carry a "3.7% +
$1.79 service fee per ticket" plus a "2.9% payment processing fee per order", paid by buyers by
default or absorbed by you. Eventbrite Pro, for marketing email, starts at $15 per month.
([eventbrite.com pricing](https://www.eventbrite.com/organizer/pricing/))

- **Organizer phone app:** the Eventbrite Organizer app for iOS and Android. Eventbrite's page says
  it lets you "scan QR codes on tickets", sell "tickets and merchandise on-site", and see
  "check-ins and registrations, attendance, and on-site sales in real-time." It does not describe
  creating events in the app.
  ([Eventbrite check-in app page](https://www.eventbrite.com/organizer/features/organizer-check-in-app/))
- **Attendee app:** the Eventbrite consumer app, where people discover events and keep their tickets
  "in a dedicated tab, or saved to your phone wallet." It is a ticket wallet and discovery feed for
  every Eventbrite event, not a per-conference agenda app.
  ([Eventbrite app page](https://www.eventbrite.com/consumer/eventbrite-app/))

**Fits:** public, ticket-led events where discovery on the marketplace matters, and free events.
If you are weighing it for a conference with a program, see our
[Eventbrite alternatives guide](/blog/best-eventbrite-alternatives).

## Bizzabo

Bizzabo publishes "$499/user Per month, billed annually (3 user minimum)" and "Starting at $17,999
Per year." The plan lists unlimited events and registrations, ticketing and registration, an event
website builder and a "Mobile app". Its FAQ says "we require an annual subscription to use
Bizzabo," and the page lists no free plan or trial.
([bizzabo.com pricing](https://www.bizzabo.com/pricing))

- **Organizer phone app:** the Onsite Command App, which Bizzabo says "enables quick event or
  session check-in using the attendee's name or a QR code." The pricing page lists it both among
  the included onsite features and inside the paid Advanced Onsite add-on, without spelling out the
  difference.
  ([Bizzabo onsite page](https://www.bizzabo.com/event-management-software/onsite-event-management-software))
- **Attendee app:** a mobile event app is listed under attendee engagement. A custom-branded app is
  a paid add-on.

**Fits:** corporate marketing teams running several events a year on an annual contract.

## Whova

Whova sells an event app plus event management tools. Its pricing page shows no price, only a
"Price Quote Request" form that asks about format, length, attendee count and events per year.
([whova.com pricing](https://whova.com/pricing/))

- **Organizer phone app:** Whova's check-in page says organizers can check people in "through QR
  codes, check in kiosks or manually through the app", and that "an event check in app is a mobile
  app that allows organizers to check in attendees easily." Its app page says the app "can help
  organizers manage check-ins, communicate to attendees efficiently, track sessions."
  ([Whova check-in page](https://whova.com/event-management-software/paperless-check-in/))
- **Attendee app:** the Whova event app, with a personal agenda, maps, attendee chat and meeting
  scheduling. Whova says attendees "can download the Whova event app for free from the App Store and
  Google Play" or use a web version, and that "event organizers pay for the Whova conference app."
  ([Whova event app page](https://whova.com/whova-event-app/))

**Fits:** conferences where attendee networking and engagement in the app is the main goal.

## Eventee

Eventee describes itself as an "event app platform". Its pricing page lists single-event plans at
$1,499, $2,499 and $3,499 per event (200, 500 and 1,000 attendees per event), and annual plans at
$2,999 for 3 events and $4,999 for 6 events, with Enterprise on request. Prices exclude VAT and
sales tax. "All plans include an event homepage, a web app, and a mobile app." There is no free
paid tier; the homepage says "Eventee is free until you are ready to launch" and offers an
"Unlimited free trial."
([eventee.com pricing](https://eventee.com/pricing), [eventee.com](https://eventee.com/))

- **Organizer phone app:** a check-in app that staff open from a link with a 6-digit PIN, without
  access to the Eventee administration. They "scan the attendee's unique QR code or manually check
  them off the list." Eventee notes that "the check-in feature is not available to all plans."
  ([Eventee check-in help article](https://help.eventee.com/en/articles/201-how-does-the-check-in-feature-work))
- **Attendee app:** the core product, on iOS, Android and the web, with white-label apps on the App
  Store and Google Play.

**Fits:** events where a branded attendee app is the centerpiece and pricing per event suits you.

## EventMobi

EventMobi publishes "Starts at $3000 per event" and "Starts at $8,900 per year and includes
unlimited events." It charges "no fees for free or paid tickets" beyond card processing. There is no
free plan; "free trial access is available upon request" after a demo.
([eventmobi.com pricing](https://www.eventmobi.com/pricing/))

- **Organizer phone app:** the Event Check-in App. EventMobi says you "can check-in attendees on any
  iOS or Android device with our new app available in your app stores", check people in and out of
  sessions, search by name and switch to "kiosk mode" for self check-in. Staff log in with their own
  logins.
  ([EventMobi check-in app page](https://www.eventmobi.com/event-check-in-app/))
- **Attendee app:** the Event App, priced as its own product alongside registration, check-in and
  lead capture.

**Fits:** conferences that want to assemble registration, an attendee app and onsite tools from one
vendor and price only the parts they use.

## Luma

Luma is built for community events. Its free plan is "Free, forever" with unlimited events and
guests and a "5% platform fee for paid events." Luma Plus is $59 per month billed annually, with a
0% platform fee. Stripe's card fee applies on both.
([luma.com pricing](https://luma.com/pricing))

- **Organizer phone app:** the Luma app for iOS and Android. Hosts open their event, "tap Manage,
  then Check In," and Luma says "we recommend the apps for the smoothest scanning experience."
  Check-in staff who can scan without editing the event require Luma Plus.
  ([Luma check-in help](https://help.luma.com/p/check-in))
- **Attendee app:** the same Luma app, where guests can show their QR code.

**Fits:** meetups, community events and free or low-price events. Its pricing page lists no call
for papers or agenda builder.

## AgendaForge

AgendaForge is conference management software for organizers who run a reviewed program. The
organizer side runs in the browser: one-question-at-a-time forms and a call for papers with blind
review rounds, a drag and drop agenda with clash flags, tracks and rooms, a speaker portal with
tasks and file requests, sponsor tiers and one contact CRM across events. Tickets sell from a hosted
page into your own Stripe account. You can also run it from Claude: see
[how to manage your event from Claude](/blog/how-to-manage-your-event-from-claude).

- **Organizer phone app:** **AgendaForge Check-In**, on the App Store and Google Play. It is for the
  door: volunteers join with a code, scan in flow mode, see live door stats, and keep scanning
  offline from a roster downloaded earlier. Scanning also works in any phone browser and on an iPad
  kiosk. There is no organizer app for planning the program on a phone. Our
  [conference check-in guide](/blog/how-to-run-conference-check-in) walks through the door setup.
- **Attendee app:** none. AgendaForge has no native attendee app. Attendees get their tickets by
  email, each with its own QR code, and see the program on your event website through embeds.

Pricing is **$2,000 per event** for Core and **$4,000 per event** for Pro, with no platform fee on
the first 250 paid tickets (Core) or 1,000 (Pro), then 1% capped at $20 a ticket. There is no free
tier and no self-serve trial: after you sign up, you book a 25-minute walkthrough. Details are on
[the pricing page](/pricing), and our
[published pricing comparison](/blog/conference-management-software-with-published-pricing) sets it
beside seven other conference platforms.

**Fits:** conferences of 200 people and up with a call for papers, speakers and sponsors, that want
a price before the first call. If an attendee app with networking is central to your event, pair it
with one or choose a platform from above that includes one.

## How to choose an event planner app

1. **Start with the work before the event.** List what your team does in the months before the
   doors open: a call for speakers with review, a multi-track agenda, sponsor packages, paid
   tickets. That decides the organizer platform. The phone apps all look alike next to that list.
2. **Decide whether you need an attendee app at all.** A networking app earns its cost when
   attendees will use it: multi-day conferences, large audiences, sponsor meetings. For a one-day
   event, an emailed ticket and a schedule on your website may be enough. Ask the vendor what share
   of attendees usually download the app.
3. **Check who uses the door app and how they get in.** Volunteers should not need an admin
   account. Eventee uses a PIN, AgendaForge a join code, Luma a check-in staff role (on Luma Plus),
   EventMobi separate staff logins.
4. **Test it offline.** Venue Wi-Fi fails at the worst moment. Ask what happens when a scanner loses
   its connection, then try it with the phone in airplane mode.
5. **Turn the price into one number per event.** Divide annual prices by the events you will
   actually run, add per-user costs, and add ticket fees on your expected revenue. Our
   [pricing comparison](/blog/conference-management-software-with-published-pricing) works an
   example.
6. **Look for the "free" fine print.** A free plan with a percentage fee can cost more than a paid
   plan once ticket revenue grows.

## Free event planning apps

For free events, Eventbrite charges no platform fee and Luma's free plan covers unlimited events and
guests. For paid events, both take a share of each ticket: Eventbrite 3.7% plus $1.79 per ticket
plus 2.9% processing, Luma 5% on its free plan plus Stripe's fee. Eventee lets you build for free and
pays only when you launch. Whova is free for attendees but not for organizers. The conference
platforms in this list (Cvent, Bizzabo, EventMobi and AgendaForge) have no free plan, because they
are sold to teams running programs rather than single gatherings.

A free plan is the right call for a meetup. For a paid conference with speakers and sponsors, add
up the license, the per-ticket fee on your expected sales and the hours your team would spend
around the missing pieces before deciding it is cheaper.
## Frequently asked questions

### What is the best event planner app for conferences?

It depends on which side you need. For running a conference program (call for papers, agenda, speakers, sponsors, tickets and check-in) look at the organizer platform first: Cvent and Bizzabo for enterprise programs, AgendaForge for a reviewed program at a published per-event price. If your priority is the attendee experience (personal agenda, networking, announcements on the guest's phone), Whova, Eventee and EventMobi are built around an attendee app. For community meetups, Luma and Eventbrite are simpler and have free options.

### Are there free event planning apps?

Yes, with limits. On November 3, 2026, Eventbrite's pricing page said its platform is 'always free for events with free tickets', and Luma's free plan covered unlimited events and guests with a 5% platform fee on paid tickets. Eventee is free while you build, until you launch. Whova's attendee app is free for attendees, but organizers pay. Cvent, Bizzabo, EventMobi and AgendaForge have no free plan. For a paid conference, compare the paid tier you would actually use.

### What is the difference between an organizer app and an attendee app?

An organizer app is for the team running the event: building registration, publishing the agenda, managing speakers, checking people in and watching sales. An attendee app is for the guests: their ticket, the schedule, maps, networking and announcements. Some vendors ship one app with both modes (Whova, Luma), some ship separate apps (Eventbrite's Organizer app and its consumer app; Cvent's OnArrival and Attendee Hub), and most do the planning itself in a web dashboard.

### Can I run a whole conference from my phone?

Not fully on any of the eight platforms checked. Each one does setup in a web dashboard: registration forms, the agenda and speaker management. The phone apps cover the event day: check-in, door sales, live counts and, on some, announcements. Plan on a laptop for setup and phones for the door.

### Does AgendaForge have a mobile app?

It has one for the door: AgendaForge Check-In for iPhone and Android, which scans tickets, shows live door stats and keeps scanning offline in flow mode. It has no native attendee app and no organizer app for planning on a phone. The organizer side runs in the browser, and scanning also works in a phone browser or on an iPad kiosk.

---

AgendaForge is an AI-native event-management platform. Public machine-readable index: https://agendaforge.app/api/ai