Here's What You'll Need from the Conference App of 2024. (+ 8 Choices) |
The year before, many members of the Mighty Team went to Craft and Commerce ConvertKit's annual conference in Boise, Idaho. The highlight was using the app for conference!
The event apps market is growing, with over 72% of event organizers agreeing the app was crucial to the success of a recent conference. The research conducted by G2 found that 65% of organizers plan to use a conference app to facilitate check-ins, AI, QR codes, or even VR experiences.
In this post we'll draw from our experience and research to explore what constitutes a top app for conferences. We'll cover:
- What is the best conference software.
- What is the best way to select a mobile conference app.
- Ten of the top conference app options.
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What exactly is an app for conferences?
A conference app delivers an immersive experience similar to an event that is live, or hybrid. Initial versions of conference apps were basically calendars for conferences that were mobile. With the advancement of technology the conference app has evolved to include more features to serve members-things like managing members' tickets, ticketing and better interactive scheduling.
However, a contemporary conference application goes way beyond just a convenient timetable. Technology can make conferences better. More enjoyable. More effective.
A conference application could refer to software that
- Aids guests to find and make life-changing friends.
- Empowers attendees to create new content, and then add it to the experience.
- Takes care of payment, registrations, and tickets.
- The conference is delivered via the own app with your logo.
What we learned at a meeting using our application
Boise, Idaho was baking in the heat of summer. And as the conference got underway, we could feel the excitement. The event featured amazing speakers like Ali Abdaal and Cody Sanchez in addition to a presentation about establishing a million-dollar community from our own CEO-Gina Bianchini.
The magic of the event came through a stellar lineup of speakers, an amazing venue, and-of course-300incredible creators that came together to create the event. It's true. This is the stuff each conference should have.
In the background there was a different thing taking place:
- The conference app chat was blowing up with "strategic selfies" (speaker John Meese suggested that we use these")
- Participants were organizing, posting, and organizing their own meetups for things like white-water rafting, running and the hike to the canyon at sunrise (for people who can take the wake-up call at 5:00 AM up).
- Creators were sharing the projects they'd been up to, or soliciting help, and the mobile conference app was blowing over with replies!
- While walking around the Boise, you'll see new friends grabbing lunch in some of Boise's best dining establishments (and it's likely that this included potatoes in some form).
The app has made it possible!
The app for conference wasn't only to schedule and manage tickets. It was an active virtual conference that took place alongside the real one. It was clear that the app was loaded with the conference basics, which was super helpful!
It was actually those who attended that made the conference app come alive with stories, pictures asking for help and ideas for all kinds of business-related ideas, from gluten-free restaurants within Boise.
This is what helped it function so well. This is what you need to look for in a conference app.
What to look for in conference apps
- A conference schedule (obviously) however, you can also access RSVPs and session engagement inside the application.
- Excellent communication tools to use for messages and emailing participants in addition to handling support or questions.
- Instruments to connect participants with others: like high-quality profiles, social networks Chat and messaging. The real people magic in an app for conferences is that attendees are able to meet virtual connections and spill onto reality.
- The app has features that unleash the creativity of attendees. Let attendees develop content, post images, write short or long-form text, post videos and even ask questions. When the engagement happens in the app-without you being involved, it will increase the worth of your conference. And it keeps the momentum up until the next event.
- Registration, payments and the registration. If your app is supporting the backend for your event, ensure you can collect payments and member lists and connect members after.
- Simple building hosting, hosting, and maintaining --it should not take your entire team long to build an application for conferences off the ground, and running beautifully.
The things we loved that worked about the app
When we consider how we made our mobile-based conference app successful Here's our favorite part of the app:
- Attendees organically shared their notes during sessions on the discussion feeds that were specifically designed for them.
- Live icebreakers, which resulted in people using the app to meet people in real life (ie. "Find people who are exactly the same height and take a selfie ).
- Local Boiseans (is that right?) hosting meet-ups in conjunction with some of the best restaurants in their area and outings. (The singing contest was an absolute hit. )
- The chat that runs in the days before, during, and following the conference continues to give. As an example, Natalie Parmenter (the creator of Primary Focus), gave the shoutout above when fellow attendees helped to in making her debut a hit!
- ConvertKit opened studio and recording areas for users to stop in and record content. (If you're ever in Boise, you can schedule an appointment to visit and use them for free! )
The best mobile conference apps available
1. Mighty Pro
the best app for conference participation. app
Mighty Pro builds conference apps deployed on G2's top-rated community management platform. Mighty is the platform with over $1 million more communities, more than any other which includes incredible community for conferences.
Mighty Pro has been building branded apps since 2017. The app portfolio includes more than 400 branded apps that are designed by brands and creators such as Tony Robbins, TED, Mel Robbins, Marie Forleo, Jim Kwik, and Matthew Hussey.
What can you do accomplish with Mighty Pro.
Interactive scheduling
Mighty lets you build an interactive schedule for your attendees to engage with. You can build landing pages for each session and attendees can RSVP and communicate or chat during the conference. Members can see who else is coming to the session and even connect.
Also it is possible to create livestreams directly from the session and/or post session videos to relevant Spaces.
Membership Engagement Like No Other
Mighty is the top community management software on G2 for years, and not only because of "features."
It's a good idea to attend a conference to get acquainted with people, don't you? and Mighty provides the tools to make this possible! Every attendee is prompted to create a bio-they can utilize AI to make one in case they're not able to.
The software builds interactive member lists that can be sorted by interest, activity, or even geography. Profiles of member fly-outs help you focus on interesting people, and the AI engine is able to tell that you share something in the same and help you start a conversation.
Community after the conference
Mighty provides you with more information options than just conference essentials, but. It's a great platform to keep community going over and above the conference.
You can custom build Spaces using 8 core options: activity feeds, chat, members, tables of contents (for the course) or events, a page, a single occasion, or hashtag. Here are some ways current Mighty Hosts use the features following a conference:
- Regional meetings hosted by supermembers.
- Re-cutting the conference materials to create a virtual class or any other type of learning.
- All the time, you post articles on subjects that members of your organization care about.
- The announcement of themes, tickets, places, etc. for the next conference and building buzz.
- The livestreaming or virtual event in between conference calls.
Mighty does a great job to keep the excitement and discussion going well beyond the conference-if that's your thing.
The conference is running
In terms of running the event, Mighty can handle payments in 135 different currencies. The app can offer different tiers and bundles, as well as control over who can use which parts of the application.
And Mighty has data that you can't get in any other place. They provide the data you need to know what worked and what didn't, to see where members spent the most time and effort, and to understand conference revenue.
Apps for conferences with brand names
If you want your conference application to be featured in the App Store or Google Play Store under your name then this is the route to go.
Here are some of the highlights of Mighty Pro:
- The support for branding and splash screens, notifications branding, and best practice for app development
- Proactive updates and app submissions
- Includes integration with ConvertKit's professional plans (up to 10,000 users).
- Help by community strategists who work with you to make your conference successful with respect to attendance as well as revenue and also how you can grow the community of your conference that manages the conference.
Based on the most recent data from 400+ companies with 6- and 7-figure revenues, we'll show you not just how to achieve your goals, but exceed those goals.
You can find out more about Mighty Pro here.
or, if you're not ready for a branded conference app yet it's possible to get started with no cost.
2. Accelerated events
Branded conference management app
Accelevents conference application provides the tools to register and check-in to the conference, accessing the conference program and creating an individual calendar. The app is equipped with smart features such as live streaming and a virtual exhibit hall, it is able to be used to manage live and hybrid conference.
Accelevents offers features for managing members, such as bios and profiles to assist attendees in connecting and finding each other. On the day of the event you are able to do check-ins, print badges, and even run challenges and polls in the app.
The only downside is the fact that Accelevents users have noted challenges in managing breakout rooms. It's great for managing conferences. But it's not as strong when it comes to connecting attendees to each other.
Accelevents offers
- Apps with branding to manage the registration for your conferences, badge printing, and the schedule.
- Certain in-app network and connection options such as livestreaming, QR scans, virtual sponsorship tables, polls and tables
3. Swapcard
Great conference management app
Swapcard is a great idea as a conference software packed with great features. Like Accelevents, Swapcard is good for managing conference agendas. Attendees can print badges, scan QR codes and build a custom schedule with their RSVPs.
It is a great platform for sponsors to promote their content as well, creating places for sponsorship content, chats, and meeting administration.
The best of Swapcard's features are for networking. With attendee profiles and networking-friendly UX for finding and messaging potential contacts or leads (plus integrations with social media profiles), Swapcard is great to make introductions.
Swapcard Features
- conference app (with branding options) to manage registrations and badges as well as access control
- A feed for discussion, event guide, personalized sessions, recommendations, and livestreaming
- Networking tools: AI matchmaking, profiles and messages
4. Stova
Stova (formerly Aventri & Meetingplay) is a conference planning and management platform which is ideal to organize conferences. It is crucial to be aware that Stove does not offer branded apps (you can host your conference on the Stova application).
Stova was built for online events and does give it some interesting characteristics for conference. Its most notable features include conference delivery: breakout rooms, livestreaming and chat. Additionally, it comes with an online scheduler for networking it is a useful tool.
Stova also offers some options that can be useful for organizing and planning an event, like the use of email marketing for conference planning and budgeting.
Stova includes
- Excellent virtual-first conference software including livestreaming, breakouts and networking rooms, and the virtual lobby
- Planning conferences as well as event marketing devices including budgeting and emails
5. Bevy
Bevy was initially an app that could be used for events, both virtual and in-person events, and it has recently pivoted towards community-based events. This is great to manage a conference by providing the ability to check in, register, tickets and management of lists. It is also a great tool for hosting an online conference as well, using chats, virtual meetups as well as webinars and recordings. Additionally, it comes with an option for discussion. Bevy even includes a drag-and-drop tool for building web pages for events and landing pages.
Bevy has great virtual features however, its community-based features are basic. In essence, Bevy hosts forums that offer chat and message features. But these are really quite simple. They're not designed for the relationships that genuine community platforms give users.
Bevy features
- Combines events and community together with event management and production of virtual events
- Live engagement features like chat and messaging forum webcasts, meetups and webinars
- Drag-and-drop conference page builder
6. CVent
CVent is another app for conference management that was created for virtual events and event management. Similar to other apps on the list, it is able to create conferences websites, sell tickets and host events. The toolkit for event management is that can be integrated into live events (things like hotel and venue choices) as well as a webinar-like feature for online events. In fact, it's probably the best for planning events.
However, CVent has no chat or community options It's not designed to link attendees to one others.
CVent features
- Application for managing an event. It includes planning, promotion, as well as "day-of" management options.
7. ON24
ON24 is a straightforward online conference system which can function as a virtual conference application. There are polls and chat features to go along with the webinar. They've also recently added new features such as breakout sessions as well as video chats.
With registration and form-builder as well as the ability to personalize conference rooms with different colours, fonts, as well as hero images, it's a good, basic virtual conference app.
ON24 features
- Webinar-based platform that engages with built-in features
8. VFairs
VFairs is a digital and live event software that concentrates on features to manage conferences. It includes registration forms, badge printing, QR check-in, venue maps and agenda creation, it's a good participant-focused app for helping attendees navigate a conference.
VFairs offers branded mobile conference apps and also onsite assistance for live conferences. The app can be connected to your CRM, too. VFairs offers valuable event analytics to know what's happening in your conference.
VFairs features
- Registration & ticket printing, badge printing and various other day-of-management tools.
- Platform for hosting virtual events which incorporates networking, gamification and other presentation features.
Conclusion
We know how amazing an event can be making attendees grow, learn and form connections that which they'll cherish for years to come. However, a conference could also help grow your brand too, increasing awareness while boosting your bottom line.
And a great conference app makes all these things happen!
If you're looking to find out more information about how to get an individual conference with your own branding and community app, be sure to check out Mighty Pro .