Top 6 Whova Alternatives & Competitors

Whova is one of the more recognized names in event management. But user reviews suggest some organizers find the platform more complex than expected, and as their events grow, their needs don’t always align with what Whova offers.

If you’re here, you’re probably at that crossroads. This guide breaks down the top Whova alternatives so you can make a confident, informed decision, not just based on features, but on what actually fits how your team works.

Key Takeaways

  • Is Whova worth sticking with? It works well for straightforward conferences, but if you need more customization, better support, or multi-format event handling, there are stronger options out there.
  • Which alternative is easiest to get started with? vFairs assigns a dedicated project manager to every event, meaning you're not figuring out a new platform on your own.
  • What if I run both in-person and virtual events? You need a platform built for both. vFairs and Cvent all support hybrid events.
  • Does switching platforms have to be complicated? Not if you plan. List what isn't working first, then evaluate alternatives specifically against those gaps.
  • Which platform offers the best overall value? vFairs includes full lifecycle management, dedicated support, and deep customization without the add-on costs that tend to surface elsewhere.

Detailed Comparison of Whova Alternatives and Competitors

What is Whova: Overview

Whova is an all-in-one event management platform built for in-person, hybrid, and virtual events. It covers the full event lifecycle, from registration and agenda management to attendee networking, sponsor engagement, and post-event reporting. Whova serves a wide range of organizations, including corporate teams, government agencies, and academic institutions.

Key Features

1. Event App

Whova’s event app is designed to streamline event management by replacing traditional paper programs with an interactive digital agenda. This app offers features such as personal agenda management, interactive maps, and document sharing, which significantly enhance the attendee experience. With Whovas’ platform, attendees can easily customize their schedules, navigate venues without hassle, and access important materials directly from their devices. 

Plus, the app’s branding capabilities allow event organizers to create a cohesive and professional look, while offline access ensures that information is always available, even without an internet connection. Real-time updates further enhance the app’s utility, enabling instant communication of any changes to the event schedule.

2. Registration and Ticketing

The Whova event app offers a cost-effective solution for managing event ticketing, particularly for free events. There are no fees charged for free tickets, and for paid tickets, organizers have the option to pass on a small fee to registrants, allowing them to pay nothing out of pocket. This software ensures that event organizers receive instant payouts as tickets are sold, providing a seamless and efficient ticketing process.

Whova’s registration software integrates smoothly with its all-in-one event platform, eliminating the need for third-party registration services. This integration means attendee information is automatically synced with event management tools, ensuring a cohesive and streamlined experience. 

3. Event Management Tools

With its comprehensive suite of tools, the system ensures that every step is easier and faster. One standout feature is the Speaker Center, which allows you to efficiently manage speaker information. Plus, the Name Badge Generation tool enables you to design and produce name badges for attendees with a single click, saving you significant time and effort.

Whova’s Event Management System also offers features that enhance attendee experience and engagement. You can quickly check in attendees with lightning speed, ensuring a smooth entry process.

4. Abstract Management

Whova’s abstract management software is designed to simplify the submission and review process from start to finish. The platform allows organizers to collect abstract submissions through a professional-looking web portal, with customizable submission forms that can be tailored to fit the event’s specific needs. 

Built-in email templates for invitations, confirmations, and notifications help automate communications, reducing manual effort and keeping submitters informed at every stage.

User Reviews

Pros

  • “Agenda and adding personal items to it while using it. Connecting with others, the convenience of it.” – Jessica M.
  • “The app is relatively easy to navigate. I could see and change my agenda as the conference moved along. I also really liked that I could see the presentation slides in the app so that I could refer to them even after the conference.” – Dara S.

Cons

  • “As a conference participant, it would be nice if there were a way to prioritize alerts. Much of what showed up as alerts wasn’t important to me and there were so many that I had a difficult time catching the things that were important, i.e., I missed a group notification of the time for when a conference planning team picture was taking place and ended up missing the opportunity to be included in the group photo.” – Melissa G.
  • “It is quite overwhelming for first-time users with a limited tech background, and I think the user guide could be improved to include some things that may be considered minor. Also, the mobile app should be updated to allow attendees to view event time in local time, as is the case on the web app.” – Piniel Tawanda Z.

What to Look for in a Whova Alternative

Switching event platforms is a big decision. Here are the key things worth evaluating as you compare your options:

  • Intuitive Navigation: If finding features in Whova has felt like a chore, prioritize platforms with a cleaner interface that does not require extensive training to figure out.
  • Manageable Communication: Look for platforms that give you control over notifications and announcements, so attendees only hear what matters.
  • Customization without Limits: A good alternative should let you control branding and design across all touchpoints without hitting restrictions.
  • Consistent Cross-Device Experience: Make sure the platform delivers the same experience on mobile and desktop, so attendees are not getting a different version depending on how they tune in.
  • Hands-on Support: Look for platforms that offer dedicated assistance throughout your event, not just during setup.

Top 6 Whova Alternatives & Competitors in 2026

  • Platform
  • vFairs
  • RingCentral Events
  • Cvent
  • Airmeet
  • ON24
  • Splash by Cvent
  • Best For
  • Organizations running in-person, hybrid, or virtual events that need an end-to-end solution with dedicated support
  • Teams focused on online and hybrid events with live broadcasting and breakout session needs
  • Organizers who need robust venue sourcing alongside their event management tools
  • Teams looking for interactive virtual and hybrid events with attendee engagement tools
  • Organizations primarily running webinars and digital content experiences
  • Marketing teams running repeatable, brand-driven field events with CRM integration

1. vFairs

On top of our Whova alternatives and competitors list is vFairs, one of the leading in-person, hybrid, and virtual events platforms. It was named as a leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™.

vFairs stands out for its flexibility and the depth of support it offers organizers. Where teams often find themselves navigating complex platforms on their own, vFairs assigns a dedicated project manager to every event. Combined with 24/7 live technical support and optional on-site assistance, organizers have hands-on help at every stage. 

The platform covers everything from event websites and registration to badge printing, check-in, mobile apps, and virtual experiences, making it a strong fit for teams that need one platform to handle it all.

Key Features

Mobile Event App

Attendee Networking

With vFairs’ mobile event app, users can enhance their events so attendees can enjoy learning and networking. Our event mobile technology offers numerous features that support hosts in maximizing their outcomes, irrespective of what their goals are.

The features include easy event check-ins, virtual and in-person attendee networking, completely customizable virtual exhibit booths, downloadable digital resources, webinars on the go, and post-event analytics.

Event Registration & Ticketing

header img Event registration

vFairs’ ticketing and registration solution offers a robust platform that allows organizers to efficiently manage attendees and process payments for their events. This user-friendly platform features a variety of customizable options, making it simple to create a seamless registration process for participants. 

Plus, vFairs provides organizers with valuable insights and analytics, enabling them to make informed, data-driven decisions.

With vFairs’ ticketing and registration tool, event organizers can tailor the entire registration experience to match the event’s branding, ensuring a cohesive and professional presentation. 

You can customize various aspects of the registration process, including registration forms, ticket types, and pricing, providing a personalized and smooth experience for attendees.

Event Gamification header img min 3

No event is complete without entertainment. vFairs event gamification offers various features that help increase traffic to key spaces within the event and keep the attendees engaged.

We offer virtual leaderboards, scavenger hunts, live polling, and trivia games. These activities serve as icebreakers and make the virtual attendees feel like a part of the actual event.

User Reviews

Pros

  • “I would recommend anyone that had to pivot to online events to use vFairs or for anyone that considers hybrid events. The platform serves as a hub for the meeting and really makes our virtual meeting feel like a real one. No attendees ‘got lost’ in the virtual space thanks to vFairs. The ability to customize each virtual space and make it on brand really made a difference to our attendees. The design team is simply amazing at creating whatever you need.” – Hanna L., Director
  • “Building our event platform from the ground up was seamless and simple with vFairs. The step by step instructions, detailed explanations and real time support we received made our first experience a huge success.” – Megan B., Production Operations Manager

Cons

  • I continue to learn about the platform and just need to ensure I am staying up-to-date with the latest feature enhancements to best relay that to attendees. The new integrations are really helpful. – Nicole R.
  • While vFairs is impressively feature‑rich, several tools are still maturing, which means some capabilities aren’t fully available to us yet. This can create occasional limitations in the short term, but the encouraging part is how quickly the platform is evolving. The team is clearly investing in continuous improvement, with new features and enhancements rolling out almost weekly. So although not everything is ready today, the pace of development gives us confidence that the platform is steadily moving toward its full potential.” – Verified User in Venture Capital and Private Equity

2. RingCentral Events

RingCentral Events takes the second spot on our list of the six best Whova alternatives. It is an all-in-one event platform designed for hosting both online and hybrid events. It supports pre-recorded content as well as live broadcasts, enabling hosts to balance simplicity with high-quality video production.

With RingCentral Events, attendees can engage in one-on-one networking via live video, participate in breakout sessions, and connect with fellow attendees. The platform is equipped to host full-scale events of various sizes, offering live video chats. 

Plus, event organizers can customize events to align with their brand and implement privacy measures such as password protection. 

However, some users have reported that the platform interface can be hard to navigate, especially if someone is using it for the first time. People have also shared that the customer support isn’t as responsive as they wished for.

User Reviews

Pros

  • “Account specialists are well educated with the product they are handling. So for setting up new accounts, removing or deleting unused extensions, and updating profiles are much easier with their help.” – Gladys M.
  • “With Ring Central for what it is, we used it at the time for on the desktop for my team, and as a backup solution on the phone (in case of power issues for our remote team), this allowed us to constantly have answering abilities.” – James B.

Cons

  • “One drawback I’ve noticed is occasional glitches during high-traffic periods, which can disrupt the flow of virtual events. Also sometimes it can be tough when there are multiple panelists that need to share the stage at the same time and four people can hear them but not everyone else, so it means that they have to keep leaving and coming back in until everyone can hear them.” – Verified User, Small-Business
  • “Nevertheless, there are a few cons. One of the most notable problems is the missing ticketing tool, which could be beneficial to us if we can sell conference access to attendees. Unfortunately, it is also not available, and we will have to wait for its release next year.” – Jovan M., Small-Business

3. Cvent

Cvent is a cloud-based event management solution that provides venue selection, event management, and marketing for virtual, onsite, and hybrid events. With Cvent, organizers can easily plan and create event calendars and sync them with their own schedules.

The platform allows hosts to track attendance and related data efficiently. Cvent also features its own training academy, where clients learn to set up, manage, and navigate their virtual events. These training sessions help make the process hassle-free and less time-consuming.

Despite the comprehensive training sessions offered to new clients, proper customer support remains crucial. Many users have reported that the service is not budget-friendly for everyone, making it difficult for some to justify the investment. The cost can be a barrier, especially for smaller businesses or individual users who need more affordable options.

User Reviews

Pros

  • “The system is pretty much easy to figure out for the early 30s and younger group as we’ve grown up with computers and have typically become proficient with figuring out how to navigate programs. There are a lot of options and templates that allow you to quickly put together a website that houses basic information.” – Julie-Michelle D., Meeting Manager
  • “Cvent helps you to create attendees in the platform and after using the secret key and help of the Api Integration , you can import the attendees into the other platform. you can create auto 25 attendees per page and the rest will be shown in the other page. IOn Email you can select invitation lists , event mails and planner alerts.” – Mnnav G., Mid-Market

Cons

  • “The cost is hard with a university budget. I wish there were a cheaper option if you do free events to discount things a bit. I also would love an easier way to connect Touchnet to Cvent. The connection is excellent, but if you need to make changes, you have to do it in both locations.’’ – Lesley I., Events Manager, External and Sponsored Events
  • “I wish Cvent had an app for Cvent Enterprise management – meaning I would like to be able to access supplier network not from a browser, but from my phone so when I’m at tradeshows and meet with hotels, I can easily go in and send an RFP to the hotel that I’m speaking to in real time.” – Margaret T., Enterprise

4. Airmeet

Airmeet is a virtual and hybrid event platform built from the ground up to support interactive, engagement-driven events. Unlike platforms that simply add virtual features onto physical event tools, Airmeet was designed with hybrid and virtual formats at its core, making it a strong fit for teams where attendee interaction is a top priority. 

Airmeet supports a wide variety of event types from town halls and product launches to conferences, career fairs, and sales kickoffs. That said, some users have shared that Airmeet’s mobile experience isn’t on par with its desktop experience. Given how important phone compatibility is, this can be a concern.

User Reviews

Pros

  • We really love how much audience participation Airmeet allows for. We receive a lot more questions now than previously, likely because of the ability to for attendees to see each others’ comments and questions.” – Verified User in Computer Software
  • Airmeet has implemented WebRTC technology, which is the best technology for this virtual webinar.” – Verified User in Information Technology Services

Cons

  • The onboarding process on Airmeet can be tricky for new users, especially for speakers or attendees who are less technically minded. Along with this, customization can be somewhat limited.” – John W.
  • “There’s a bit of a learning curve when setting up more complex events, and some features could use a bit more polish in terms of customization (like branding options and design flexibility). However, their support team is super responsive, and updates roll out frequently.” – Amanda T.

5. ON24

ON24 is a cloud-based platform that offers virtual management solutions, such as live-streamed virtual events, webinars, and conference planning. On24’s digital experience platform helps generate, gauge, and personalize experiences that ensure business growth. 

Users can now host small communal events or larger business conferences through the same platform. 

That said, some users have shared that the initial setup can take some time getting used to, and the level of hands-on support during onboarding may not meet the expectations of smaller teams who need more dedicated guidance getting started.

User Reviews

Pros

  • The simulated live function is brilliant, as well as the option to go from simu-live to live questions. These are both functions that I have not seen done so well by any other platform and give us the freedom to choose live or pre-record parts of the webinar to avoid issues on the day.” – Suzanne R.
  • “Some of the features freeze on us, such as moving from slide to next slide in presentation mode. We have done all the necessary steps to make sure the slides are uploaded appropriately. Still have not got to the bottom of that!” – Mara S.

Cons

  • “The integration with unique Salesforce instances is not easy to use or create. It needs a lot of customization and work from a marketing technology expert to ensure webinar data is appropriately passed through to Pardot or Salesforce. How your organization defines a “lead” will directly impact integration processes. Essentially, too much data comes with great responsibility.” – Matt R.
  • “There are some things I wish would be easier to view in the post-webinar analytics. It would be great if I could export an overall report of all attendees with the fields on which webinar they attended, which can be exported to Excel would be great. There are some times when I have to pull multiple reports to get all of the data that I need.” – Verified User in Small-Business

6. Splash by Cvent

Splash, now part of the Cvent family, is an event marketing platform built primarily for corporate marketing teams running repeatable, brand-driven events. It focuses on helping organizations create on-brand event pages, manage registrations, and measure event impact against pipeline and revenue goals. The platform is particularly popular among field marketing teams that need to run a consistent calendar of events without starting from scratch each time, thanks to its template-driven approach and CRM integrations.

That said, users have shared that customization options can feel limited, with several noting that advanced design controls are either restricted or only accessible on higher-tier plans. For teams that need more flexibility in how their event pages look and function, this is worth factoring in before committing.

User Reviews

Pros

  • “Splash has allowed me to scale event management across our entire B2B sales organization. The ability for me to control event creation through a form, to feed a specific theme based on the event, is a huge part of what makes our self-service event management a success.” – Jessica J.
  • “I think the user interface of Splash is very easy to learn. Their online instructional videos have a good sense of humor. We are currently planning 6 events using Splash, and it’s very easy to collect registrants’ data, send calendar invites, confirmations, and other reminders.” – Heather G.

Cons

 

  • “It feels like many of the extras and services come at an additional fee. Things that you assume are something you can simply set up on your own, like integrations, require their services at an added cost. Fees per user are also not ideal, and their webpage builder tool can be a bit hard to use at times if you aren’t working from a premade template.” – Danielle N., Industry Engagement Manager
  • “It’s got a bit of a steep learning curve, especially if the web has not been a primary skill for you. The Splash team provides plenty of guidance and resources, but be prepared to learn a lot in the process. The user interface is a little confusing at times, but generally

Whova Alternatives G2 Rating Comparison

The table below reflects G2 ratings (as of March 2026) from verified user reviews.

  • Tools
  • Whova
  • vFairs
  • RingCentral Events
  • Airmeet
  • ON24
  • Splash by Cvent
  • Overall Rating
  • 4.8/5
  • 4.7/5
  • 4.5/5
  • 4.6/5
  • 4.3/5
  • 4.4/5
  • Meets Requirements
  • 9.5
  • 9.2
  • 8.5
  • 8.8
  • 8.6
  • 8.6
  • Ease of Use
  • 9.3
  • 9.1
  • 8.8
  • 8.9
  • 8.3
  • 8.3
  • Ease of Setup
  • 9.3
  • 8.9
  • 8.6
  • 8.6
  • 8.3
  • 8.3
  • Quality of Support
  • 9.4
  • 9.8
  • 9.0
  • 9.2
  • 8.4
  • 8.7

Final Verdict

In conclusion, we would agree that there are some amazing Whova alternatives out there that can be considered. vFairs stands out with its intuitive interface and comprehensive real-time support, ensuring even first-time users can navigate the platform with ease. Additionally, vFairs provides a scalable solution with no restrictions on the number of attendees or virtual rooms, which is a limitation seen in platforms like 6Connex.

This combination of ease of use and flexibility makes vFairs a superior Whova alternative for event organizers looking for a reliable and user-friendly event management platform

At vFairs, we make sure we provide our clients with an experience they will never forget. Book a demo now to experience it firsthand.

Disclaimer: The information in this article about various platforms and their features was accurate at the time of writing. Technology and software platforms continuously evolve, and features, pricing, and capabilities may have changed since publication. This review is based on information sourced from third-party review sites and is not endorsed by any of the platforms mentioned.

FAQs

What is the best free Whova alternative for small events?

For small events with limited budgets, platforms like Meetup and Eventbrite offer free tiers that cover basic event listing and registration needs. However, if you need more control over the attendee experience, vFairs offers flexible pricing that scales with your event size, making it a strong option even for smaller organizations that don't want to compromise on features or support.

How does vFairs pricing compare to Whova?

Whova does not publicly list its pricing and requires organizers to request a quote, which can make budgeting harder upfront. vFairs follows a similar model with custom pricing based on event type and size, but includes a dedicated project manager and full platform access with each event rather than charging separately for support or add-ons.

Is vFairs better than Whova?

It depends on what you need. Whova works well for straightforward conference management, particularly if attendee networking and a mobile event app are your priorities. vFairs is a stronger fit for organizations that need more customization, dedicated hands-on support, and a platform that handles in-person, hybrid, and virtual events from a single place. If you've found yourself needing more flexibility or more support than Whova provides, vFairs is worth a closer look.

Which platforms offer better customization than Whova?

Several platforms on this list offer more customization flexibility than Whova. vFairs stands out for its fully branded event experiences across registration, mobile app, and virtual environments. Splash by Cvent is built around brand consistency for marketing-driven events, though some advanced customization options are tied to higher plans. For teams where branding and attendee experience are a priority, vFairs tends to offer the most control out of the box.

Do any Whova alternatives offer dedicated account managers?

Yes, vFairs stands out most strongly in this area. Every event on vFairs comes with a dedicated project manager assigned from the start, meaning organizers have a consistent point of contact throughout the entire event lifecycle

Top 6 Whova Alternatives & Competitors

Amna Akhtar

Amna is a content marketer at vFairs with a knack for crafting all kinds of content like blogs, paid ads, scripts, email campaigns, and more. Writing about event tech feeds her curiosity, giving her a front-row seat to one of the most fast-evolving spaces in tech. When she's not working on her latest piece, you'll find her outdoors, camera in hand, capturing the world around her.

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