Choosing between Swapcard and Accelevents for your mobile event app affects everything from how fast attendees move through the door to how many qualified leads exhibitors take home. Both platforms cover check-in, agendas, networking, and lead capture, but they emphasize different strengths. Review sites often highlight Accelevents for mobile check-in performance and onsite workflows, while Swapcard is known for AI-powered networking and attendee discovery. This guide is written for enterprises, associations, and others such as agencies, mid-market companies, and nonprofits who need to evaluate mobile apps, compare real-world workflows, and prepare for live demos or proofs of concept.
How to evaluate a mobile event app
A mobile event app is no longer just a digital agenda, it is the control center for onsite experience, check-in, and lead capture. When you evaluate options, it helps to think in terms of how staff and attendees will actually use the app hour by hour on show day. You also want to understand how data flows from registration into onsite tools, exhibitor reports, and downstream systems like your CRM. Built on one consistent data model across registration, onsite, mobile, and virtual, creating a seamless experience for event organizers, attendees, exhibitors, and speakers, Accelevents aims to reduce handoffs and manual work, while Swapcard focuses on discovery and recommended connections inside the app.
The sections below follow eight evaluation areas you can use in RFPs, demos, and internal discussions:
- Mobile check-in and badging
- Onsite attendance tracking and CE credits
- Attendee networking and meetings
- Event day app experience and engagement
- Exhibitor tools and lead capture
- Branding and multi-event control
- Integrations, API, and data model
- Pricing, value, and typical customers
1) Mobile check-in and badging
Accelevents
Accelevents connects event registration data directly to mobile check-in, so staff can scan QR codes from tickets, look up names, or handle walk-up sales from phones or tablets. Drag-and-drop pages and forms feed the same database that powers onsite lists, so there is no need to import separate files on the morning of the event. Teams can support self-service kiosks, staff-led scanning at doors, and dedicated VIP lines using the same badge types and rules.
Onsite, staff can trigger badge printing from mobile devices with supported printers over WiFi or Bluetooth. This reduces pre-print volume and lets you handle reprints, name changes, or upgraded access on demand. Offline behavior keeps lines moving if the venue network is unreliable, then syncs check-ins when connectivity returns. Many planners also appreciate that Accelevents is known for reliability, with no references to outages in reviews.
Swapcard
Swapcard supports QR-based check-in at the door, with staff scanning codes from printed badges or mobile tickets. The platform is often used with staffed registration desks and fixed hardware, which can work well for events that centralize all arrivals in one area. Badge printing typically runs through separate onsite setups that connect to the platform, so planners should confirm how mobile devices, printers, and desktop stations work together in their configuration.
Swapcard can track arrivals and ticket status, but handling complex on-the-spot changes, such as upgrading access or moving a guest into a different category while in line, may involve more steps between the app and desktop tools. Organizers in venues with patchy WiFi should ask specifically how offline scenarios are handled for doors and badge stations.
Why this matters
Check-in is the first impression for attendees and the most stressful moment for staff. If lines stall because printers disconnect or data is out of sync, stakeholders notice. A mobile app that links registration, check-in, and badging in a single workflow reduces risk and makes it easier to set up multiple entrances, VIP flows, and last-minute sales.
- In a demo, ask each vendor to simulate a VIP arriving late, upgrading their access, and printing a new badge on the spot from a mobile device.
- Have them disconnect WiFi during test check-ins, then reconnect, and show how data catches up.
- Request a walk-through of how staff would add a brand-new walk-up attendee from the mobile app and issue a badge.
- Confirm whether you can configure separate lines and permissions for exhibitors, speakers, and staff using mobile tools only.
2) Onsite attendance tracking and CE credits
Accelevents
Accelevents uses the same QR codes that power entry to also track session-level attendance. Staff can scan badges at room doors, or you can set up self-scan stations where attendees tap in as they enter. Attendance flows into real time analytics dashboards that show capacity, no-shows, and room utilization across tracks.
For programs that offer continuing education credits, Accelevents can assign credits automatically based on rules you define, such as time in room or completion of required sessions. Automated credit assignment, a flexible program builder, instant certificate generation, self-service retrieval, audit trails, and LMS integration help associations and training teams reduce manual reconciliation after the event.
Swapcard
Swapcard offers tools to record which sessions attendees join, usually by scanning QR codes or using app interactions tied to specific sessions. Organizers can export attendance data and use it to confirm participation. For CE programs, some workflows may rely more on manual checks or external systems to create certificates and manage compliance, so it is important to map the full process from room entry through documentation.
Why this matters
Accurate attendance data is central to fire code compliance, CE requirements, and content strategy. When attendance and credits are tied directly to your mobile app and onsite scanners, you can make in-the-moment decisions, such as reopening a waitlisted session or moving a popular talk to a larger room.
- Ask each vendor to demonstrate scanning attendees into parallel sessions and then show a live view of room counts.
- Request a demo of configuring CE rules and generating sample certificates for a track-based program.
- Have them export attendance for a single attendee and a single session so you can see what fields are available for audits.
3) Attendee networking and meetings
Accelevents
Accelevents centers networking around searchable directories, interest tags, and filters. Attendees can browse people, exhibitors, and speakers, then send connection requests or direct messages. Profiles can include roles, industries, and focus areas, so participants can quickly find peers or prospects that match their objectives.
Meeting tools let attendees propose time slots, accept or decline requests, and add confirmed meetings to their personal schedule. Organizers can associate meetings with designated lounges, rooms, or tables, so onsite teams know how many hosted buyer or partner conversations are scheduled in each space.
Swapcard
Swapcard is well known for AI-powered matchmaking that recommends connections and sessions based on profile data and behavior in the app. The system can surface suggested people to meet and curated lists of contacts that align with an attendee’s interests. One-to-one and group messaging support conversations before, during, and after the event.
Meeting booking in Swapcard can integrate with personal calendars so confirmed sessions appear alongside other commitments. Organizers can use these capabilities to drive hosted buyer programs or structured networking blocks that rely on large volumes of scheduled meetings.
Why this matters
Networking outcomes are often how senior sponsors judge event success. The right app can help attendees find the right people faster, but teams need to balance automation with attendee control and comfort.
- Have each vendor show how an attendee would filter the audience to find a specific job function in a target industry, then request a meeting.
- Ask for a live example of how recommendations change after an attendee favorites sessions or exhibitors.
- Confirm how blocked or unwanted contacts are handled from the attendee’s perspective.
4) Event day app experience and engagement
Accelevents
In the Accelevents app, attendees can build personal agendas by adding sessions, exhibitor meetings, and social activities to a single timeline. Capacity indicators can warn when sessions are nearly full, reducing frustration at the door. Multi-level venue maps link sessions and exhibitor booths to specific locations so attendees can navigate large conference centers without confusion.
Push notifications let organizers send targeted updates based on ticket type, track selection, or other fields. During sessions, speakers can run live polls and Q&A from within the session view, with results feeding back into real time analytics. Gamification options can tie points to actions such as session check-ins or booth visits, which encourages engagement without requiring separate tools.
Swapcard
Swapcard also offers personal agendas, session reminders, and interactive maps that highlight booths and rooms. The app uses recommendations to suggest sessions and exhibitors that match attendee interests, which can help drive traffic to under-discovered content. In-app engagement includes polling, Q&A, and discussion threads connected to specific sessions.
Organizers can send broadcasts or targeted notifications to segments of the audience, such as people registered for a certain track. It is useful to clarify in demos which targeting options are available in your plan, and how last-minute changes propagate to attendee devices.
Why this matters
On show day, a clear agenda, simple navigation, and timely alerts reduce staff questions at help desks and improve satisfaction scores. Engagement tools make sessions more interactive and give presenters data they can use to refine content for future programs.
- Ask vendors to create a sample agenda for a multi-track conference and show how an attendee personalizes it in the app.
- Request a demonstration of indoor maps for a two-level venue, including how attendees move from one session to another.
- Have them run a live poll and Q&A during your demo and display the reporting view side by side with the attendee view.
5) Exhibitor tools and lead capture
Accelevents
Accelevents includes lead capture directly inside the mobile app, so booth staff use the same tool as attendees. Exhibitors can scan badges with mobile QR scanning, capture unlimited users per booth, and work offline when the hall network is inconsistent, with real time reports updating as soon as devices reconnect. Lead scoring, note-taking, and qualifiers help sales teams understand context for every contact.
Exhibitor management features include digital booths, demo booking links, team coordination tools, and ROI tracking that compares leads, traffic, and engagement across sponsors. Because lead capture, exhibitor profiles, and analytics all sit in one system, organizers can provide clear post-show reports without merging exports from separate apps.
Swapcard
Swapcard offers exhibitor tools for managing profiles, staff, and content, alongside badge scanning for lead capture. Exhibitors can collect contact details by scanning attendee badges or using interaction data tied to booth visits and content views. Depending on licensing, there may be per-exhibitor or per-device considerations for lead tools, so it is important to surface these during pricing discussions.
Exhibitors can typically export leads for follow-up and view basic performance metrics. When comparing, buyers should clarify whether any features require additional modules or separate apps for staff on the show floor.
Why this matters
For trade shows and expos, exhibitor satisfaction often drives renewals and sponsorship revenue. Lead capture that is easy for booth staff and transparent for organizers reduces manual work and gives sponsors clearer proof of value.
- Ask each vendor to log in as an exhibitor, scan a few test badges from different devices, and show how quickly leads appear in reports.
- Request a demonstration of lead scoring, notes, and qualifiers, and how those fields map into your CRM.
- Have them generate a sample exhibitor ROI report comparing leads and engagement across two or three sample sponsors.
6) Branding and multi-event control
Accelevents
Accelevents offers full white label branding across web, mobile, and virtual environments with customizable themes, so the app feels like an extension of your organization rather than a separate product. Colors, logos, banners, icons, and module visibility can be configured per event while still following global brand guidelines. This is helpful for enterprises that share visual standards across many internal and external events.
Multi-event support lets teams manage conferences, trade shows, fundraisers, internal meetings, and continuing education events within one account, with templates they can clone from one program to the next. Returning participants do not need to re-enter core profile information each time, which shortens registration and app onboarding.
Swapcard
Swapcard provides branding controls for colors, logos, and imagery, and it supports recurring and multi-event programs. Full white label treatment, where the technology brand is not visible to attendees, is typically tied to higher-tier plans, while lower tiers may keep some platform branding in key locations.
Central teams can oversee multiple events, though specific layout and design options may depend on your package and any custom work completed during onboarding.
Why this matters
Branding influences how attendees, sponsors, and internal stakeholders perceive your program. Multi-event structures affect how quickly you can launch new events and how consistent the experience feels across a portfolio.
- Ask each vendor to show a fully branded sample event and explain which elements you can update without vendor involvement.
- Request a walk-through of cloning an event, updating branding, and publishing a new mobile build or configuration.
7) Integrations, API, and data model
Accelevents
Accelevents provides native integrations without added fees to systems such as Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, and multiple association management systems. Public REST APIs and webhooks allow teams to sync data with other internal tools or data warehouses. Because analytics and reporting stay unified across registration, onsite, mobile, and any virtual components, planners can share real time, shareable views of registrations, check-ins, session attendance, engagement, and leads with stakeholders.
Security and compliance features include custom roles, SSO, MFA, SOC 2 and ISO 27001 practices, and detailed audit logging. This helps enterprises control who can view or edit sensitive data while still giving onsite staff the access they need to run check-in and lead capture.
Swapcard
Swapcard offers integrations with marketing automation platforms and CRMs, as well as API access for custom connections. Some organizations use middleware or custom projects to align Swapcard data with internal systems, so it is important to understand which integrations are native and which rely on third parties.
Buyers should also confirm how attendee, session, and engagement data are modeled across modules, and how quickly updates travel between systems during live events.
Why this matters
Integrations determine how much manual work your team does before and after each event. A clear data model and modern API options make it easier for IT and marketing operations to connect your mobile app to registration, CRM, and analytics tools without building fragile one-off scripts.
- Ask each vendor to diagram how registration, mobile app, onsite, and CRM data flow together for a typical event.
- Request sample API documentation and have your technical team review authentication methods and rate limits.
- In the demo, confirm how quickly a field change in registration appears in the mobile app and exports into your CRM.
8) Pricing, value, and typical customers
Accelevents
Accelevents uses transparent, scalable pricing with pay-only-for-what-you-need modules and no surprise add-ons, so budgeting is clearer during planning. Core mobile app, registration, onsite, and lead capture features are available without stitching together separate products. Organizations of all sizes, including large enterprises, mid-market corporations, associations, agencies, and nonprofits, use the platform, and 1,847 customers rely on it to run recurring event portfolios.
Teams that want an all-in-one, highly customizable environment with strong customer success often look to consolidate tools into Accelevents as they grow. The same platform that powers mobile check-in can also handle call for papers workflows, abstract review, exhibitor management, and analytics, which reduces the number of vendors IT needs to oversee.
Swapcard
Swapcard typically follows a custom-quote model, with pricing influenced by attendee volume, feature set, and level of support. Organizations that lean heavily on AI matchmaking and networking, or that have already rolled the app out to large communities, may view this as a strategic investment.
As with any custom pricing, it is important to clarify what is included, how lead tools and sponsorship features are licensed, and whether additional modules affect total cost of ownership.
Why this matters
Pricing and packaging affect not only budget but also governance, procurement effort, and how easily smaller teams inside an organization can adopt the platform. Clarity around what is included at each tier helps you avoid surprises when you expand from a single flagship conference to a wider event program.
- Ask each vendor to price a scenario with multiple regional events plus one flagship conference, specifying mobile, onsite, and lead capture needs.
- Request a clear list of what is included and any add-ons that sponsors or exhibitors might need to purchase separately.
Decision guide
Accelevents is typically a strong fit when you want one platform to handle registration, mobile apps, onsite check-in, lead capture, CE tracking, and analytics through one consistent data model. Teams that value quick deployment, clear pricing, and tight alignment between onsite operations and downstream CRM data often prefer this approach, especially when multiple departments or regions share a common stack.
Swapcard can be appealing when your highest priority is networking and AI-driven matchmaking or when you have a large, recurring audience that benefits from recommendation engines. Organizations that already use Swapcard for community engagement or long-term attendee networks may choose to deepen that investment, particularly if they have staff comfortable managing a more complex configuration.
In some enterprises, existing contracts, data governance, or integration work will influence the decision. A side-by-side pilot, where both vendors support a segment of a portfolio or a single event, can make it easier to compare admin effort, exhibitor satisfaction, and reporting quality in context.
Side-by-side comparison
The table below summarizes how the Accelevents and Swapcard mobile apps compare across key feature areas, from home screen layout and navigation to lead capture, analytics, and white label options. Use it alongside your own requirements list to prioritize which differences matter most for your team.
Implementation checklist for live demos
- Ask each vendor to configure a sample event with at least three ticket types, build a branded home screen, and show the attendee experience on iOS and Android devices.
- Have them run a full check-in flow including scanning a QR code, printing a badge from a mobile device, and handling a walk-up registration with payment.
- Request a demonstration of session-level attendance tracking, including scanning into parallel sessions and generating a CE credit report.
- Walk through attendee networking by searching for a target persona, sending a meeting request, and adding that meeting to the personal agenda.
- Log in as an exhibitor and capture leads on multiple devices, both online and offline, then review notes, scores, and exports.
- Send targeted push notifications to different segments, such as exhibitors versus attendees in a specific track, and display where these messages appear on the device.
- Have each vendor show real time dashboards for registrations, check-ins, session engagement, and lead capture, then export CSVs for your CRM or marketing automation platform.
- Review admin roles and permissions so you understand how to grant access to registration, mobile content, and onsite tools without overexposing data.
Migration considerations
Many teams are moving from simple web-only agendas or single-purpose mobile apps to full event platforms that combine registration, mobile, onsite, and analytics. When you introduce a new mobile app into this mix, it is important to map how ticket types map to access levels, how session data will be structured, and how exhibitors will receive their leads. In Accelevents, ticket bundles, conditional form logic, and role-based access can help align attendee types with permissions in the app and onsite tools.
If you are migrating between platforms, such as from Swapcard to Accelevents or vice versa, plan for how historical data will be archived and how upcoming events will transition. This may include importing contact lists, templates, session catalogs, and exhibitor objects, as well as redefining lead qualifiers and CE rules. Testing these mappings in a small pilot event can surface mismatches before your flagship conference.
Before going onsite, both vendors should help you validate push notification segments, offline behavior for scanning, and badge workflows in a realistic environment. Training for registration staff, room monitors, and exhibitor teams is just as important as admin configuration. Clear runbooks for how to handle lost badges, access changes, or scanning issues will reduce stress during peak times.
FAQs
How does this article help compare Accelevents with another event management platform?
Accelevents is discussed in this article alongside an alternative platform to support direct comparison. By reading how each option is described in the same context, you can more easily see where they differ and where they are similar. This can help you shortlist which platform warrants deeper evaluation based on your own event goals and constraints.
What should I consider before choosing between Accelevents and the other platform here?
Accelevents is one of the options outlined, and the article gives you information you can map to your own priorities. Before deciding, think through factors such as your budget, team resources, and the types of events you run. Then, compare those needs against how each platform is portrayed to see which seems more aligned.
Can I use this Accelevents comparison article for both small and large events?
Accelevents is evaluated in a way that can be relevant regardless of your event size. The key is to read each section through the lens of your own scale, from small meetups to large conferences. If the information aligns with your requirements, you can use it as part of your decision-making process, and follow up with vendors for any missing details.
How should I interpret differences between Accelevents and the competing platform described here?
Accelevents is presented next to the competing platform so you can compare them on equal footing. Rather than focusing on which is “better” overall, pay attention to which strengths and trade‑offs matter most for your specific use case. Use the contrasts highlighted in the article as prompts for deeper questions you might ask during demos or conversations with each vendor.
Is this Accelevents comparison enough to choose an event platform without a demo?
Accelevents is covered here in written form, which is helpful for an initial evaluation but not a complete substitute for hands‑on experience. The comparison can narrow your shortlist and clarify what to ask vendors, yet a demo or trial is usually needed to confirm usability and fit. Treat the article as a starting point rather than the only source for your final decision.
Conclusion
Accelevents and Swapcard both deliver capable mobile event apps, but they differ in how they approach data, onsite operations, and networking. Accelevents emphasizes a single platform for registration, onsite check-in, CE tracking, exhibitor management, lead capture, and analytics, with security controls such as custom roles, SSO, MFA, and audit logging. Swapcard leans into AI-driven discovery and networking, building on recommendations and meeting schedules to help attendees find people and content that matter to them.
For teams focused on operational control, exhibitor ROI, and a direct link between registration, onsite behavior, and CRM data, Accelevents often provides a clearer fit. Organizations that center their strategy on networking experiences, AI recommendations, or established adoption of Swapcard may choose to deepen that footprint instead. In all cases, it helps to compare data models, admin workload, exhibitor licensing, onsite hardware needs, and analytics expectations side by side.
As you evaluate options, factor in how quickly each platform can be rolled out across your portfolio, how the support team that responds in less than 21 seconds, 24/7, will partner with you on show day, and how the mobile app will scale from a single conference to a year-round program.
To see how these mobile workflows perform in a real environment, from check-in to lead capture and reporting, request a demo.
