Mobile event apps carry your show in every attendee’s pocket. They guide people to the right rooms, drive participation in sessions, create sponsor visibility, and keep exhibitors busy. This comparison focuses on the attendee-facing mobile experience and the mobile workflows that directly support it. The goal is to help you evaluate how the Accelevents mobile app and the Cvent mobile app perform on show day and during the planning window leading up to it.
How to evaluate a mobile event app
Most teams focus on nine areas that matter when the doors open:
- App creation and branding
- Agenda and personalization
- In-app engagement including Q&A, polls, surveys, chat, and gamification
- Networking and meetings
- Exhibitor tools and lead capture
- Continuing education credits
- Analytics and reporting for mobile behavior
- Integrations, offline reliability, and data flow
- Onsite check-in, badging, and staff tools
The sections below explain what each product does, why it matters, and what to ask for in a live demo. You will also find a decision guide, a side-by-side comparison, an implementation checklist, a focused FAQ, and an SEO and AEO pack. Relevant internal reading is linked naturally throughout and kept on accelevents.com.
1) App creation and branding
Accelevents
You can launch a branded attendee app quickly. The builder lets you set colors, upload logos and hero images, and arrange the home screen with tiles for agenda, speakers, sponsors, maps, announcements, and custom pages. The app pulls from the same event data you already manage for registration and your web agenda, so you are not rebuilding content twice. If you need deeper control, a white label option publishes your own listing in the app stores using your name and icon while keeping the same feature set and data model.
If you are considering a branded app for a flagship conference or a series, this overview of why white label matters will help frame the decision: <a href="https://www.accelevents.com/blog/why-branded-event-apps-are-the-key-to-impactful-events">Why Branded Event Apps Are The Key To Impactful Events</a>.
Cvent
Cvent’s attendee app runs inside the Cvent Events container. You theme your specific event with logos, colors, banners, and a configurable home layout. Organizations that want their own listing can license a branded multi-event container. Content flows from the Cvent platform into the app and you choose which modules are visible inside Attendee Hub.
Why this matters
Brand control affects perception, sponsor value, and attendee trust. If your team wants its own app store listing and icon, confirm the white label path, the required assets, and the publishing timeline. If you prefer to move fast inside a shared container, confirm how much of the home layout you can change without professional services and how sponsor placements are managed.
2) Agenda and personalization
Accelevents
The agenda supports tracks, tags, rooms, and capacity indicators. Attendees add sessions to a personal schedule and receive reminders. Speaker pages include bios, session lists, links, and files. Sessions link to rooms on the venue map, and last-minute updates publish to phones in seconds. You can add custom agenda views for different roles or ticket types if you segment your audience.
For a deeper look at what attendees expect to find in a mobile schedule and how to structure it, see The Ultimate Guide To Mobile Apps For Events.
Cvent
The agenda is configurable and can enforce limits. Attendees build a personal schedule and receive reminders. Capacity and permissions can restrict who can add specific sessions. Speaker pages include bios and resources, and interactive maps support navigation. Updates propagate as you publish changes in Attendee Hub.
Why this matters
Clear schedules increase room fill and reduce help desk traffic. Capacity rules and visible locations cut confusion at the door. In a live demo, ask each vendor to add several sessions, change a time and a room, and show how quickly an attendee phone reflects the update. Then ask how schedule changes can trigger automatic reminders for those who bookmarked the session.
3) In-app engagement
Accelevents
Sessions include Q&A with moderation and upvoting. You can run live polls, collect post-session surveys, and keep conversations going with 1:1 chat and topical lounges that function like group chats. Gamification uses a challenge catalog tied to real actions such as visiting booths, checking in to sessions, responding to polls, or posting in discussions. Push notifications can target roles and segments and can be sent immediately or scheduled in advance.
If you want to socialize the value of an app to your audience before launch, this explainer helps: Why Your Attendees Want An App. For practical engagement ideas that translate well to mobile, review Gamification For Events: 7 Excellent Ways Gamification Boosts Engagement.
Cvent
Sessions support Q&A, polls, and surveys inside Attendee Hub. Attendees can send direct messages and join topic discussions. Gamification is available with point rules and leaderboards. Push notifications support targeted messaging and scheduling.
Why this matters
Engagement drives learning and sponsor value. In a demo, ask a presenter to push a poll and Q&A to a test session, collect at least ten responses, moderate a question, and display poll results in the room while you watch the reporting view update in real time.
4) Networking and meetings
Accelevents
Attendees can search a directory with privacy controls, send messages, request meetings, and join topical lounges that create group conversations beyond the session room. QR connect lets two people scan and connect instantly without searching by name. Organizers can enable or restrict networking by ticket type or role, and you can set meeting availability windows by day.
For advice you can send to attendees in your pre-event emails, use <a href="https://www.accelevents.com/blog/create-real-relationships-in-events">How to network at an event and survive it</a> to coach people on building meaningful connections.
Cvent
Attendees can view profiles, send direct messages, and post in discussion areas. Recommendation features can suggest people to meet and sessions to attend based on interests and behavior. If the appointments module is enabled, meetings can be coordinated and managed across participants.
Why this matters
Good networking is often the top reason people return. In testing, time how long it takes two strangers to find each other, connect, and add a meeting. Confirm how the meeting appears in each person’s schedule and what reminders are available on mobile.
5) Exhibitor tools and lead capture
Accelevents
Exhibitors get rich profiles with logos, descriptions, media, staff, and meeting links. Lead capture runs inside the attendee app with exhibitor permissions, so booth teams do not install a separate tool. Staff scan attendee QR badges, add notes and qualifiers, rank priority, and work offline when the hall is congested. Scans sync into the same data model that powers registration, the app, and onsite, which simplifies analytics and exports.
If you are formalizing your lead process for the first time or you need to align an existing team, share <a href="https://www.accelevents.com/blog/what-are-top-solutions-for-event-lead-capture-automation">Top Solutions for Event Lead Capture Automation</a>. Once the floor closes, send exhibitors this follow-up guide to protect ROI: <a href="https://www.accelevents.com/blog/beyond-the-booth-the-ultimate-guide-to-after-hours-follow-up">Beyond the Booth: The Ultimate Guide to After-Show Follow-Up</a>.
Cvent
Exhibitor profiles appear in the Attendee Hub app with media and clear calls to action. Lead capture runs in a separate mobile app designed specifically for scanning badges or business cards. Exhibitors apply qualifiers and sync leads into Cvent, and licensing is typically managed per exhibitor or device.
Why this matters
A simple scan flow increases lead volume and note quality. During the demo, ask vendors to provision two exhibitor users, scan three leads on two devices, go offline for a minute, and sync when back online. Confirm how exhibitor admins download their leads, how booth managers monitor real-time counts, and how the organizer can roll up totals across all exhibitors.
6) Continuing education credits
Accelevents
Session participation is recorded through check-in or dwell time. Credits apply based on your rules. Attendees can view progress in the app and retrieve certificates when enabled. Exports support LMS or association systems.
Cvent
Attendance is recorded and credits apply based on configuration. Credit tracking lines up with the event program structure and reporting in the broader deployment.
Why this matters
Clear visibility reduces support tickets and speeds post-event compliance reporting. Ask vendors to show a session with a scan at entry, a time threshold, a credit assignment, and the attendee view of progress, then download a certificate from a phone.
7) Analytics and reporting for mobile behavior
Accelevents
Registration, onsite, the app, and lead capture share one data model. Organizers see real time dashboards that combine app adoption, session interactions, check-ins, and exhibitor lead counts. You can segment by ticket type, role, or track and share live reports with stakeholders during the show.
If you are building an internal scorecard for leadership, this primer helps define what to track: <a href="https://www.accelevents.com/blog/9-key-metrics-for-tracking-event-success">9 Key Event Metrics You Need To Track</a>.
Cvent
Mobile engagement, onsite check-ins, and exhibitor lead data aggregate across Attendee Hub, OnArrival, and the lead capture module. Reports are available in the admin environment, and exports support downstream analysis.
Why this matters
Live analytics let you act before a session ends. In a demo, ask vendors to show an active dashboard for a test event, send a targeted push notification to attendees who have not added a session, and watch the adoption curve change over the next ten minutes.
8) Integrations, offline reliability, and data flow
Accelevents
Native integrations, webhooks, and REST APIs connect to CRM and marketing automation. The mobile app uses the same attendee, session, exhibitor, and order objects as registration and onsite tools. Agenda and tickets cache for spotty coverage. Lead scanning works offline and syncs when the device reconnects.
If your team works in HubSpot, this playbook shows how to capture and act on event data end to end: <a href="https://www.accelevents.com/blog/how-to-capture-and-use-event-data-in-hubspot-best-practices">How to Capture and Use Event Data in HubSpot</a>.
Cvent
Integrations connect the app to the wider ecosystem. Mobile data flows into the platform across modules. OnArrival and the lead capture module support offline operation. The attendee app caches core content for temporary outages.
Why this matters
Reliable sync and offline behavior protect the show when Wi-Fi dips. Test scanning and check-in with a device in airplane mode, then bring it back online and confirm complete data in reporting and any connected systems.
9) Onsite check-in, badging, and staff tools
Accelevents
Attendees present a QR ticket in the app. Staff use the Accelevents admin app to scan and check in. Badge printing can be triggered through supported setups. Kiosk mode supports self scan options for entry. Because the admin app runs on standard devices, volunteers can process lines with minimal equipment.
If you are shaping your lobby plan and communications, this resource is useful for your ops runbook: <a href="https://www.accelevents.com/blog/event-check-in-make-everyone-feel-like-a-vip">Event Check-In: Make Everyone Feel Like A VIP</a>. When you finalize your badge plan, hand design rules to your designer: <a href="https://www.accelevents.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-badge-printing">The Ultimate Guide To Event Badge Printing</a>.
Cvent
Attendees present a QR code from the app or email. Staff handle check-in and printing with the OnArrival application and supported hardware. OnArrival is tuned for high volume desks and print stations and is typically deployed at dedicated registration zones.
Why this matters
Fast lines and accurate badges set the tone for the day. Ask vendors to check in five test attendees and print five badges in under one minute, then show the live attendance roll-up on a mobile dashboard and the per-session counts.
Decision guide
Choose Accelevents if you want one attendee app that also powers exhibitor scanning and a mobile admin app for staff. This approach reduces moving parts, speeds training, and helps you act on real time analytics from a single data model. It is a strong fit for teams that need to publish changes quickly and keep exhibitors, speakers, and attendees aligned without deploying multiple tools.
Choose Cvent if you prefer a modular stack where the attendee app, check-in, and exhibitor lead capture are separate tools. This can suit large portfolios already standardized on Cvent or organizations that want to continue running established capacity rules, approvals, and governance across many events with a branded container app.
Both choices cover the fundamentals. Your best option depends on how you want to run the floor, how you license exhibitor tools, and how your staff likes to work when time is tight.
Side-by-side comparison
Implementation checklist for live demos
Ask each vendor to perform these steps live during the demo and provide a test state your team can open on personal devices.
- Build a branded home screen and publish a test state your team can open.
- Create a multi-track agenda with capacity on one session. Change the time and room of a session and confirm an attendee phone receives the update within seconds.
- Launch a live poll in a test session and collect at least ten responses from your team. Moderate a question and display poll results on an attendee phone while the reporting view updates.
- Scan three test attendee QR badges as an exhibitor on two devices, turn one device offline, add notes and qualifiers, then reconnect and show the complete synced lead list.
- Check in five test attendees and print five badges. Show the live attendance roll-up and per-session counts in a mobile dashboard.
- Send a targeted push notification to attendees who have not added a session to their schedule. Show the change in adoption within ten minutes.
- Export app engagement, session attendance, and lead reports as CSV, then confirm field names align with your CRM or MAP fields.
Migration considerations
If you are moving from a web-only schedule to a full mobile app, prepare your content so mobile users succeed. Shorten session titles, add a one-sentence summary for every session, and tag sessions by track, role, and level. Upload venue maps that are easy to read on a phone. If you plan to use gamification, define two or three behaviors to reward and publish the rules clearly in the app. If you plan to track credits, add a help page that explains how credits are earned and where certificates appear.
If you are moving between platforms, align your data model before import. Map ticket types to roles. Map exhibitor products and qualifiers. Decide which push segments you will use on day one and test offline flows before you arrive onsite. For frontline staff training on arrival flow, this walkthrough is useful: <a href="https://www.accelevents.com/blog/how-to-streamline-event-check-in">How to Streamline Your Event Check-In Process</a>.
Conclusion
Both apps meet modern expectations for agenda, engagement, and networking. The difference is in how you want to run your event. Accelevents concentrates attendee interactions, exhibitor scanning, and staff check-in into a single mobile workflow with one data model behind it. Cvent separates attendee, onsite, and exhibitor functions into focused tools. Pick the approach that matches your staffing model, exhibitor licensing plan, and how quickly you need to act on live analytics during the show.
See the Accelevents mobile app in action
Give us 20 minutes and we’ll show you how one data model powers agenda personalization, exhibitor lead capture, onsite check-in, and real-time mobile analytics, so you can run show day with fewer tools and more control.
Plan your walkthrough: Request a demo and we’ll tailor it to your event type and tech stack.
Frequently asked questions
Do Accelevents and Cvent both offer native mobile event apps for iOS and Android?
Yes, both Accelevents and Cvent provide native attendee apps for iOS and Android distributed through the major app stores. Accelevents uses a single data model across web, onsite, mobile, and virtual, so the app stays aligned with your agenda, registration, and exhibitor data. Cvent delivers its attendee experience through the Cvent Events container and, on certain plans, branded multi-event containers.
How do Accelevents and Cvent mobile apps perform when venue Wi-Fi is unreliable?
Both apps cache core content so attendees can still access schedules and key details during brief outages. Accelevents supports offline lead scanning inside the app, then syncs scans and updates as soon as the device reconnects. Cvent offers offline behavior in its onsite and lead capture tools with later synchronization, so you will want to test how each workflow behaves in airplane mode during your demo.
Can I launch a fully branded mobile event app with Accelevents or Cvent?
Yes, both platforms support branded experiences, but the paths are different. Accelevents offers a white label attendee app with your own name and icon in the stores, plus branding across web, mobile, and virtual surfaces using the same underlying data. Cvent provides theming inside its container and branded multi-event containers on eligible tiers, so be sure to confirm requirements, timelines, and any additional licensing.
How do exhibitors scan and manage leads in Accelevents versus Cvent?
In Accelevents, exhibitors use the main attendee app with exhibitor permissions to scan QR badges, add notes and qualifiers, work offline, and see leads roll into unified reports without extra licenses per device. Cvent typically uses a dedicated lead capture app that exhibitors download and license separately, with scans syncing into the broader Cvent platform. During your proof of concept, ask both vendors to provision exhibitor users, scan test badges on two devices, and show how leads export to CRM.
What does onsite check-in and badge printing look like for staff on each platform?
Accelevents gives staff a mobile admin app to scan QR tickets, check attendees in, and trigger badge printing when connected to supported printers, with kiosk options for self check-in. Cvent uses its OnArrival application with compatible hardware to run high volume check-in desks and print stations at dedicated registration areas. For both tools, rehearse checking in five test attendees and printing five badges in under a minute so you can see how they perform under pressure.
Can Accelevents and Cvent mobile apps manage continuing education (CE) credits and certificates?
Yes, both platforms track attendance and apply CE rules based on your configuration. Accelevents lets you record participation via scans or dwell time, then display progress in the app and allow attendees to retrieve certificates when enabled. Cvent aligns credit tracking with its broader program setup and reporting, so you should confirm how learners view their status and how your team exports audit-ready reports.
Do Accelevents and Cvent support targeted push notifications to specific attendee segments?
Both systems allow you to segment audiences and send targeted or scheduled push messages. With Accelevents, push campaigns tie directly into the same data model as registration and sessions, so you can easily reach specific roles, ticket types, or engagement segments during the show. Cvent also supports targeted messaging through Attendee Hub, and you should ask each vendor to send a real push to a test segment while you watch the impact on adoption in analytics.
Can I monitor live analytics from the mobile event app during the event with Accelevents and Cvent?
Yes, both platforms surface real-time analytics, but the structure is different. Accelevents combines app interactions, session check-ins, onsite activity, and exhibitor lead counts in one dashboard that shares a single data model, which makes it easier to share consistent reports with stakeholders mid-event. Cvent aggregates data across Attendee Hub, OnArrival, and its lead capture module, so you will want to review how cross-module dashboards look and how easily you can export aligned CSV files for your CRM or marketing automation platform.
