Top Whova Alternatives for Event Management

Whova has been a popular choice for years, but is it still the best fit for your specific event goals this year? As we move into 2026, expectations have changed. Organizers now look for Whova alternatives that support detailed workflows, stronger data tracking, and more control over branding and pricing.

Many Whova competitors now offer specialized tools for academic, enterprise, and hybrid events that go beyond basic event apps. Whova works well for general engagement, but some events need features like advanced submission management, full white-label options, or pricing that stays predictable as events grow. This guide looks at the top Whova alternatives in 2026, each with its own strengths, so you can find a system that fits the way your event actually runs.

What is Whova Event Management Software?

Whova is a comprehensive event planning and management software that lets event planners organize, host and track attendance. It automates many of the time-consuming processes involved in planning and running an event, such as attendee check-in, lead tracking, and registration.

Along with event logistics, Whova provides many ways to engage the attendees as well. Some examples include gamification, live polls, and community boards. Many organizations (including universities, large corporations, and conference organizers) use the platform to manage their complex events while simultaneously tracking attendee interactions with Whova’s analytics tool.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Whova Alternative

When choosing a Whova alternative, consider the problems you faced before, such as unclear pricing, limited branding control, or mobile issues during live events.

• • Check long-term usability and make sure the platform still works well when your event grows from small meetings to multi-day conferences
  • Look for role-based access so admins, speakers, reviewers, and exhibitors can each have their own permissions and dashboards
  • Review data export options and confirm you can download attendee lists, reports, and submissions without limits
  • Test multi-event management to see if the system lets you reuse past event data, templates, and settings
  • Check sponsor and exhibitor tools to ensure partners can manage booths, files, and leads from their own portal

Why Do Event Organizers Look for Whova Alternatives?

Many organizers are looking for Whova competitors, and some also search for free Whova alternatives, as pricing can increase at an unknown rate and costs become unpredictable. While the mobile app is generally easy to use, some users looking for Whova app alternatives feel the interface is outdated and navigation can take time to learn.

Some other reasons organizers start comparing Whova competitors include:

• • High costs for smaller or budget-limited events
  • Pricing can increase because of multiple paid add-ons
  • Limited control over branding and event design
  • Admin dashboard can take time to learn
  • Reporting tools may not provide detailed analytics
  • Personalized messaging options feel restricted
  • Integrations with CRM and marketing tools are limited
  • Some management tasks work better on a desktop
  • Support response times can vary during live events
  • Offline use can be difficult when WiFi is weak

How Do I Choose the Right Whova Alternative?

First, decide what type of events you plan to host (virtual/hybrid/in person), and make a list of all the things that didn’t go as planned with Whova. Once you have that, compare different Whova competitors and choose an alternative platform that is affordable and within your team’s skill level.

Also, check if the platform can easily connect with the other CRM or marketing tools that you currently use. Pay close attention to the attendee experience. Test the mobile version of the platform, the networking features and how easy the platform is to use.

Here is a quick checklist:

• • Decide your budget: Pricing is best when it is transparent, especially if you are comparing paid tools with free Whova alternatives or flat fee platforms.
  • Check how user friendly it is: Select an application with a clean organizer dashboard and a simple interface for users.
  • Review customization options: Make sure that the event pages, emails and apps are customizable to your brand.
  • Look at engagement tools: Matchmaking, polling, and networking tools should work smoothly inside the mobile app, which is important when choosing a Whova app alternative.
  • Verify what integrations are provided: The platform should integrate with tools such as Salesforce and HubSpot to keep your event data updated. 

Which Whova Alternative Is Best for Academic Conferences?

Dryfta is a complete and one-stop solution to simplify the complex logistics of scholarly events and university-sponsored symposia. Unlike Whova, which focuses primarily on attendee engagement, Dryfta offers a single set of tools built to handle the administrative and technical demands of the academic community.

• • Abstract management: An advanced system to collect, track, and manage scientific abstracts using customizable submission forms that include specialized characters, images, and file uploads required by researchers. 
  • Peer-review workflow: Advanced tools for assigning reviewers based on their area of expertise, collecting blind scores from them, and managing the entire multi-level peer review process within one secure admin dashboard.
  • Schedule builder: A scheduling feature that will help you build your large conference agendas with as many different tracks, sessions, posters and keynote talks as needed. Once built, the agenda can be easily edited using drag-and-drop functionality so that when there are scheduling conflicts, they can easily be fixed.
  • Registration and ticketing: The system allows for different registration pathways to be set up for students, faculty, speakers, and guests. It also supports invoicing, purchase orders, and special pricing common to university and research group registrations. 
  • Networking features: Attendees can search for other participants based on research interests, institutions, or keywords from the submission. This will help scholars locate potential collaborators at the event.
  • Mobile event app: Attendees can view schedules, save sessions, review speakers, and open presentation files, making it a strong Whova app alternative for conferences that rely on mobile access.
  • Flexible pricing: The pricing model stays predictable with flat fee plans, which helps academic departments and non-profit organizations manage events without unexpected costs.

Why Choose Dryfta Over Whova?

While Whova offers strong attendee engagement features, Dryfta includes a number of features that are specific to academic conferences. Those features matter greatly to organizers managing complex submission workflows, multi-track programs and recurring events that require precise data tracking. 

Universities will benefit from having many of these tools built into the system, as they save time and effort by automating much of their event planning process.

More reasons to choose Dryfta over Whova:

• • Custom domain hosting: Dryfta supports full custom domain hosting, allowing the entire event site to run on your own URL (eventname.yourdomain.com). However, when you choose Whova, events are often hosted at Whova-managed pages(xxx.events.whova.com/registration), and therefore offer less flexibility in how domains will be structured.
  • White-label mobile app: Dryfta offers a fully branded event app, making it a strong Whova app alternative that aligns with the organization’s branding. Whova is a container app where users must first download the “Whova” app and then search for their specific event.
  • Native abstract and review system: Dryfta has a built-in abstract management and peer-review system to assist with academic workflows. Whova provides speaker submission options. However, the review process is more limited and not suitable for complex academic evaluation.
  • Private hosting options: Dryfta offers private hosting, primarily through its Enterprise Private Cloud and On-Premise solutions for organizations that require better control of event data and access. On the other hand, Whova does not have private hosting options such as a self-hosted version or a dedicated private cloud. Whova is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution built on top of Amazon Web Services (AWS).
  • Abstract book publishing: Dryfta has a native abstract book publishing system. Organizers can create and generate a complete and printable abstract book within minutes. However, Whova requires manual compilation of an abstract book. 
  • Support for institutional billing: Dryfta supports all types of institutional billing and offline payment workflows, and is specifically designed for universities and large enterprises. On the other hand, Whova does not have a built-in institutional billing module that generates and sends third-party department invoices.

Comparison Table- Dryfta vs Whova

Feature	Dryfta	Whova
Core focus	Academic, research, and association events	Corporate, expos, and general events
Abstract management	Full built-in lifecycle (submission, review, decisions)	Not supported natively
Peer review system	Yes, supports blind review workflows	Yes, but limited
Multi-stage submissions	Yes, configurable workflows	Not supported natively
Reviewer assignment	Manual and automated matching	Yes
White-label mobile app	Yes	No
Networking	Profile-based + AI interest matching	Community boards, messaging
Engagement tools	Polls, Q&A, chat	Gamification, polls, live chat
Virtual & hybrid support	Fully integrated with event workflows	Supported, engagement-focused
Event website builder	Yes	Yes
CRM capabilities	Built-in attendee and submission tracking	Basic attendee management
Best fit	Academic and content-heavy conferences	Social, marketing-led events

Top Whova Alternatives in 2026

Here are some of the strongest Whova competitors for different event types.

1. Dryfta- Best for academic events

One of the most specialized Whova competitors is Dryfta. Dryfta is an all-in-one event management platform built for academic conferences, research societies, and non-profit organizations that require more than just simple event tools. It includes the entire call for papers process, meaning that submissions, reviews, and final outputs are all managed under one platform.

Who Uses? Academic societies and university research departments prefer Dryfta.

Key Features

• • Community and networking site: Attendees can create detailed profiles that include research interests, affiliation, and past work. The platform enables participants to share contact information, join discussion groups, and connect with other attendees through intelligent matching tools to get acquainted with others with similar interests or areas of study.
  • Multi-stage submission procedures: Organizers can initiate the full submission process across multiple stages, including abstract submission, full paper upload, revision and final submission. Each phase may include its own deadline, regulations, and announcements to make the overall review process manageable.
  • Self-service dashboards: Each user is provided with a dashboard tailored to their position. Authors can monitor progress of the submissions, reviewers can access their assigned papers, speakers are able to add their presentations and attendees can manage their schedules without having to rely on the admin team’s help.
  • Abstract assignment tools: Admins can use automatic matching or assign reviewers manually. The system will match reviewer expertise and selected topics, while imposing workload limits, to ensure each paper is directed to the appropriate reviewer.
  • Submissions to event schedule: Once a paper has been accepted, the system can add it directly to the event schedule. Sessions and author information, as well as the presentation file, remain linked, saving time and eliminating errors.

Pricing

The Small plan begins at $1,499/year and includes core event management capabilities for small teams and conferences. Medium and Large plans are custom-priced plans dependent on the number of events, users, and features needed. Final price is determined by the size of the event, the level of use and configuration requirements.

2. Cvent

Cvent is one of the most integrated competitors for comprehensive, complex events involving large numbers of attendees.

Who Uses? Fortune 500 companies, large universities, and major associations running global conferences and trade shows.

Features

• • Venue sourcing: A directory of in-app 340K venues and RFP.
  • Management suite: 3D room diagramming, budgeting, and speaker/attendee travel management.
  • Enterprise integrations: Integration with CRMs such as Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and HubSpot.

Pricing: Personal quote-based pricing. 

3. Bizzabo

As an Event Experience OS, Bizzabo delivers insights into attendee behavior and marketing ROI.

Who Uses? B2B marketing departments of businesses like Amazon, Bloomberg, and the Financial Times, who are required to demonstrate how the event influences the sales pipelines.

Features

• • SmartBadge technology: Wearable Klik SmartBadges allow attendees to be tracked and connect with each other with a tap.
  • Command centre: A centralized dashboard tracking real-time performance and cross-event analytics.
  • AI networking: Matching software that utilizes attendees’ data as a basis to suggest relevant contacts.

Pricing: Annual subscription tiered pricing. The published price is approximately $17,999 annually, with certain plans offered to users starting at $499 per user/month.

4. Guidebook

Guidebook focuses on the attendees’ mobile experience, specifically the campus life and corporate event.

Who Uses? Professional associations and corporate teams focused on student orientation or employee training.

Features

• • Native-first app: High-performance iOS and Android apps, which will work consistently offline, which is essential when a venue has a weak WiFi network.
  • No-code builder: An easy-to-use drag-and-drop platform allowing non-technical people to create branded event guides.
  • Revenue tools: Sponsorship tools, such as banner ads and sponsored posts in the feed, can be built to help planners monetize their app.

Pricing: The Event plan starts at $3,750, while the Year-round plan begins at $4,750 for organizations that need an ongoing event hub. The Unlimited plan uses custom pricing for teams managing multiple events. Final cost depends on event size and required features.

5. Swoogo

Swoogo is known for its flexible registration processes and user-friendly features.

Who Uses? Teams and marketing agencies working on 5-15 events annually and requiring additional branding functionality beyond what Whova provides.

Features

• • Advanced registration: An advanced drag-and-drop registration tool with unlimited custom logic, conditional fields, and support for group registration.
  • Unlimited events: Subscription plans can include unlimited events and registrations.

Pricing: The Professional plan starts at $11,800 per year and supports full event portfolios. The Enterprise plan uses custom pricing and includes additional automation, branding, and reporting tools. Final cost depends on usage and required features.

6. EventMobi

EventMobi is a mobile-first event platform. It stands out in creating engaging attendee experiences as well as developing personalized event applications for in-person, virtual and hybrid events.

Who Uses? Corporate event associations or nonprofits aiming to increase attendee engagement through their own customized event application.

Features

• Mobile event app: Custom-branded mobile applications for agendas, networking, live updates, and attendee engagement tools.
• Live polling and Q&A: Interactive features to engage the audience during sessions.
• Event analytics: Reporting dashboards that provide insights into attendee activity, engagement, and session participation.

Pricing: EventMobi’s pricing model starts at $ 3,500 per event. The pricing model offers annual options beginning at $7900, which include unlimited events and extended post-event access.

7. RingCentral Events

RingCentral provides a virtual and hybrid event platform that supports webinars, digital conferences, and audience interaction.

Who Uses? Marketing teams and organizations that host enterprise-level webinars, summit events, and hybrid conference events.

Features

• Multi-session streaming: Simultaneous session support, breakout rooms, and large-scale virtual audiences.
• Backstage production tools: Separate presenter areas for speaker prep and stream management.
• Audience engagement tools: Includes live chat, polls, networking, and virtual expo features.

Pricing: RingCentral Events offers a free 30-day trial. Pricing starts at $99 per month/organizer for Events pro (billed annually), then $199 per month/organizer for Events pro+ (billed annually), and finally $299 per month/organizer for Events Enterprise (billed annually).

8. vFairs

vFairs focuses on immersive virtual and hybrid event experiences with strong expo and career fair features.

Who Uses? Universities, career fair organizers, trade shows, and enterprises hosting virtual expos or recruiting events.

Features

• Virtual expo halls: Exhibitors can create an interactive booth to display information about their organization/ products/services. The attendee can download additional information and engage in a real-time conversation with the exhibitor via live chat.
• Career fair management: scheduling recruiters, communicating with candidates prior to meetings, and coordinating interviews.
• Custom event environments: Create your own fully branded 3D environment to represent your event.

Pricing: Custom pricing. Contact vFairs team to get a quote.

9. Swapcard

Swapcard is an AI-driven event and networking platform for data-driven engagement.

Who Uses? Conference organizers, trade shows, and B2B event teams focused heavily on networking and lead generation.

Features

• AI matchmaking: Smart networking suggestions based on attendee interests and behavior.
• Lead capture tools: Exhibitors can capture, manage and qualify leads directly on the platform.
• Engagement analytics: In-depth attendee data including networking activity, session engagement, and exhibitor interaction.

Pricing: Swapcard’s Registration & Management Platform pricing is custom, based on the number of registrants and complexity of the events, while its Event Engagement Platform plan begins at $610 per year.

10. Eventee

Eventee is simple to use and keeps attendees engaged through a user-friendly mobile app and web interface.

Who Uses? Smaller conferences, workshops, corporate meetings, and community events that prioritize ease of use and attendee participation.

Features

• Engagement tools: Polls and live questions, which enable audiences to interact directly during sessions.
• Interactive agenda builder: Customized agendas that update in real-time and remind you of upcoming sessions.
• Networking feed: Social-style activity feeds that promote interaction between attendees at events.

Pricing: Starts at $1,499 per event for single-event plans with up to 500 attendees, while annual subscriptions include the Business plan at $2,999 for 6 events with 1,000 attendees per event and the Enterprise plan at $4,999 for 12 events with support for up to 3,000 attendees per event.

Best Whova Alternatives Compared

Platform	Best Use Case	Mobile App	CRM Support	Networking	Academic Support
Dryfta	Academic, research & multi-track conferences	Native event app with live updates & schedules	Built-in attendee & event data management	Advanced attendee networking	Strong built-in support
Cvent	Enterprise conferences & trade shows	Yes	Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics	Yes	Moderate support
Bizzabo	B2B enterprise events	Yes	Enterprise integrations	AI networking & SmartBadge	Limited support
Guidebook	Campus & corporate event apps	Strong mobile app	Limited public info	Basic networking	Limited support
Swoogo	Flexible registration workflows	Yes	Yes	Basic networking	Moderate support
EventMobi	Engagement-focused events	Strong branded app	Yes	Live polls & attendee engagement	Moderate support
RingCentral Events	Virtual & webinar events	Yes	Yes	Chat, polls & expo networking	Limited support
vFairs	Virtual expos & career fairs	Yes	Yes	Virtual booths & networking	Moderate support
Swapcard	Networking-focused conferences & trade shows	Yes	Yes	AI matchmaking & lead capture	Moderate support
Eventee	Small conferences & workshops	Strong mobile app	Limited public info	Social feed & live interaction	Limited support

Best Whova Alternatives for Enterprise Events

Enterprise organizations need a scalable, robust technical infrastructure when they move beyond small conference environments. That is why leading Whova alternatives like Cvent, Bizzabo and vFairs are better suited.

Features of these platforms include:

• The ability to handle a massive number of participants at scale as well as manage many simultaneous events in various parts of the world.
• Much better multi-event tools so large enterprises can manage all their events through a single system, regardless of location.
• Deeper integration of CRMs, marketing automation tools, and sales platforms will make it easier to integrate your own systems.
• Dashboards that allow you to collect, analyze and measure more accurate information about attendee behavior.
• Better sponsor and exhibitor features (including lead capture) and reporting for virtual booths.
• Enterprise-level security for permission-based access while meeting the needs of compliance and scale.

Best Whova Alternatives for Academic Conferences

If you’re looking for an academic event platform, no other generic event app can match the specialized features of Dryfta.

See how Dryfta outperforms all other platforms in the market:

• The platform offers an easy abstract management system via a smart online form that groups and organizes research papers.
• Dryfta’s sophisticated peer review processes support single-blind, double-blind and triple-blind grading cycles, ensuring that the entire grading process is transparent and free from name recognition.
• For complete research symposium management, Dryfta brings together ticket sales, speaker lists, and schedules in one simple dashboard, eliminating planning errors before they occur.
• The drag-and-drop schedule builder creates multi-track event schedules, enhancing complex speaker and session workflows.
• It works perfectly for scientific conference management so that different campus departments can run their own workshops and seminars.
• The automated reviewer assignment workflows use smart rules to send papers directly to the right reviewer based on their area of expertise.
• The built-in proceedings management tool collects all accepted papers, author details, and final text into neat, ready-to-print digital abstract books.

Best Whova Alternatives for Hybrid & Virtual Events

Today’s organizers require a platform capable of handling live streaming, networking, attendee engagement and digital event experiences without technical glitches that could disrupt the flow of the event. Because of that, many teams searching for Whova alternatives often consider platforms like RingCentral Events, Swapcard, and EventMobi for more flexible virtual and hybrid event management.

Features include:

• A reliable live-streaming integration prevents frequent buffering which disrupts participants’ attention.
• The virtual networking features boost engagement, allowing attendees to chat, match and arrange online meetings.
• Hybrid attendee engagement tools make it easier to keep remote participants engaged, rather than having to watch in a separate browser tab.
• Built-in session recording helps reuse presentations and access events at a later time.
• Online sponsor booths offer exhibitors exclusive virtual spaces to showcase their products.
• Virtual agenda management maintains multiple sessions, tracks, and attendee time zones.
• Interactive Q&A tools make presentations and discussions more dynamic, with the audience able to participate live.

Event Platforms With Better CRM Integrations Than Whova

For organizations that rely heavily on sales tracking and marketing automation, CRM connectivity can make or break an event platform decision. Many teams exploring Whova Alternatives eventually move toward platforms like Dryfta, Cvent, Bizzabo, and Swapcard because stronger integrations create better workflows.

These platforms include:

• Salesforce integrations: To help teams connect attendee engagement directly with lead generation and sales pipeline tracking.
• HubSpot integrations: Make it easier to automate campaigns and manage follow-up communication after events.
• Marketo integrations: Support advanced marketing automation workflows for larger enterprise campaigns.
• Dynamics CRM: Works well for organizations already operating inside a Microsoft-focused business.
• Lead tracking features: Help sponsors and exhibitors capture and organize prospects more efficiently during events.
• API flexibility: Gives technical teams more control when building custom workflows and integrations.
• Data synchronization and reporting automation: Reduce manual reporting work across multiple systems.

Why Choose Dryfta Over Whova?

For organizers handling research-driven events and multi-track conferences, Dryfta offers a more specialized approach than many general-purpose event platforms.

Some notable features are:

• An all-in-one conference management platform for submissions, reviews, registrations, communication, and scheduling.
• Academic conference specialization makes the platform especially useful for universities, associations, and research-focused organizations.
• Abstract management workflows streamline paper submissions and the peer-review process for large conferences.
• Registration and agenda management features help organizers plan sessions more efficiently.
• Hybrid event support lets organizers manage both virtual and in-person attendees in a single environment.
• Better workflow flexibility gives organizers more customization over event operations.
• End-to-end conference lifecycle management supports planning stages from CFP launches to final proceedings and analytics.
• Cost-effective pricing works well for organizations trying to scale events without massive enterprise costs.
• Integrated event website builder tools help teams launch branded conference websites without needing third-party tools.
• Suitable for scientific and professional conferences that require more structured content management.

The Bottom Line

Choosing an alternative should focus on aligning the platform with the event’s goal, not just on lowering costs, even when considering free Whova alternatives. Research conferences often need structured submission tools, while large enterprise events may need deeper integrations and reporting. 

Platforms like Dryfta work well for academic conferences, while others, such as Cvent or Bizzabo, may suit large marketing-driven events. Comparing features, pricing, and flexibility helps you select a platform that supports both organizers and attendees. Ready to make the switch? Book a free demo with Dryfta today.

FAQs

1. What is the difference between Whova and Eventify?

Whova is most popular for its powerful networking and engagement features. Eventify, on the other hand, is simpler and faster, with an easier-to-use interface that costs a lot less. Whova is more academically focused, whereas Eventify is streamlined toward corporate events and trade show exhibitions, which need a more “B2B-first” approach.

2. What is the difference between Whova and EventMobi?

The first difference is customization and branding. Whova is a template-based, structured, and simple-to-launch platform. EventMobi offers a much more versatile platform with enhanced branding capabilities, allowing planners to create custom home screens and pages. Gamification and live polling are also more integrated and native in EventMobi than in Whova.

3. What is the difference between Whova and Dryfta?

Whova is a generalist event platform, while Dryfta is a specialist platform designed for academia. The main advantage of Dryfta is its high abstract management and multi-stage peer-review process, which Whova does not have. Where Whova is excellent at social interaction, Dryfta serves the sophisticated needs of research communities.

4. What features should I look for in Whova alternatives?

Find a platform that can combine networking with your content requirements. Crucial characteristics include a native mobile application and offline functionality, strong registration logic, and automatic communication tools. If it’s a professional conference, make sure the alternative offers abstract management, speaker portals, and fixed, simple prices.

5. Which Whova alternatives are best for hybrid and virtual events?

Dryfta is a top-tier platform for hybrid and virtual events. It streamlines live HD video and supports up to 500 interactive users simultaneously. Organisers can also record the sessions to monetize or distribute as on-demand content even after the event is over.

6. Is there a cheaper alternative to Whova?

Yes, Dryfta is an affordable alternative because it uses a predictable flat-fee pricing model from the start. In contrast to most competitors, whose pricing is per-attendee or per-registration, Dryfta plans start at $1,499/year for professional events. This clear system prevents academic departments and NGOs from incurring unwanted expenses that sometimes accompany quote-based pricing in Whova.

7. Can Whova alternatives support large events?

Dryfta is well-suited for large, complex events, especially those with parallel tracks and a high number of attendees. It is designed to operate on extremely large volumes of data, including thousands of research abstracts and multi-day schedules, without slowing down. It also has capacity management tools that enable admins to set individual session limits and run automated waiting lists to keep large crowds in check.

8. What is the primary difference when comparing Whova vs Eventbrite? 

When looking at Whova vs Eventbrite, both platforms support event registration, but they are built for different use cases. Eventbrite focuses on ticketing and public event discovery, while Whova provides a broader event management system with networking tools.