Whova Alternative? All In The Loop vs Whova 2026 Comparison
Looking for a Whova alternative? Compare All In The Loop vs Whova for event apps, AI matchmaking, networking, integrations, pricing, lead retrieval and exhibitor ROI.
Get my demoQuick Answer: Whova is one of the best-known event apps, but it is not the right fit for every event. This guide compares Whova with All In The Loop across attendee experience, networking, AI, integrations, lead retrieval, sponsor ROI, pricing and support to help organisers choose the right platform.
If you are comparing All In The Loop vs Whova, the short answer is that both platforms can deliver a strong event app experience, but they take different approaches.
Whova is a strong choice for organisers looking for an established all-in-one event management platform with agenda management, attendee networking, community engagement, registration and exhibitor tools.
All In The Loop is a strong Whova alternative for organisers who want an open event app platform that works alongside their existing registration technology, provides AI-powered matchmaking and recommendations, gives exhibitors deeper buyer-intent insight and allows organisers to start building without waiting for a sales process.
There is no universally “better” event app. The right choice depends on what you need the platform to do. This comparison looks at where Whova is strong, where All In The Loop takes a different approach and what organisers should consider before choosing between them.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
All In The Loop vs Whova: Quick Comparison
| Feature | All In The Loop | Whova |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Events wanting an open, flexible event experience platform | Events wanting a broad all-in-one event management platform |
| Event app | Yes | Yes |
| Personalised agendas | Yes | Yes |
| Attendee networking | Yes | Yes |
| 1:1 meetings | Yes | Yes |
| AI matchmaking | Yes | Yes |
| AI attendee assistant | Sophie AI | AI-powered networking and recommendations |
| Exhibitor lead retrieval | Yes | Yes |
| Buyer-intent signals | Strong focus | Lead and exhibitor engagement tools |
| Sponsor & exhibitor profiles | Yes | Yes |
| Event analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Registration | Integrates with existing registration systems, with additional registration options available | Native registration available |
| Open integrations | Core part of AITL's positioning | Integrations available |
| Self-service start | Yes (Free Launch plan available) | Quote/demo-led onboarding for new customers |
| Managed support | Yes | Yes |
| In-person, hybrid & virtual | Yes | Yes |
Whova publicly positions itself as an all-in-one event management platform covering areas including its event app, online registration, management tools, abstract management, event marketing and exhibitor management. All In The Loop takes a deliberately more open approach, positioning its app as the event experience layer that can work alongside registration platforms, CRMs and other event technology.
What is Whova?
Whova is an established event management and attendee engagement platform used for conferences, associations, academic events, trade shows and other professional events.
Its event app brings together features such as personalised agendas, attendee messaging, networking, live polls, event information, sponsor and exhibitor visibility and lead retrieval.
Whova also offers broader event management products including registration, abstract management, exhibitor management and event marketing.
Whova has a particularly strong reputation for attendee engagement and community features. Recent verified reviews frequently praise its agenda, attendee profiles, community discussions and ability to help attendees communicate during conferences.
That makes Whova a credible option and an important platform to consider.
But an all-in-one platform is not necessarily what every organiser wants.
What is All In The Loop?
All In The Loop is an open event app platform designed for conferences, exhibitions, associations and event programmes.
Rather than requiring organisers to replace the technology they already use, All In The Loop can sit alongside existing registration platforms, CRMs and wider event technology.
The platform combines attendee experience tools such as agendas, networking, meetings, real-time updates and AI recommendations with a strong focus on exhibitor outcomes.
All In The Loop's Sophie AI helps attendees understand who they should meet, which sessions may be relevant and why particular recommendations have been made.
For exhibitors, attendee activity such as profile views, bookmarks, meeting requests and stated interests can become buyer-intent signals, giving sales teams more context than a badge scan alone.
Why do organisers look for Whova alternatives?
Searching for a Whova alternative does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with Whova.
Often, an organiser simply needs a different approach.
You may be looking for a Whova competitor because you want:
- More control over your event technology stack
- To keep your existing registration provider
- A platform you can start building without booking a demo first
- More transparent event app pricing
- Stronger AI functionality
- More emphasis on exhibitor ROI
- Deeper buyer-intent data
- More flexibility around integrations
- A different approach to sponsor and exhibitor success
- More hands-on project management or event support
- An event app that can adapt around a complex existing ecosystem
If any of these are priorities, it is worth comparing All In The Loop with Whova before making a decision.
All In The Loop vs Whova: Key Differences
1. Open platform vs all-in-one event platform
This is probably the most important difference between All In The Loop and Whova.
Whova offers a broad suite of event management products. For organisations that want registration, attendee engagement, event management and other functions within one ecosystem, that can be attractive.
All In The Loop takes a different approach.
Our philosophy is:
You own registration. We power the event experience.
If you already use a registration provider that works well for your organisation, you should not necessarily have to replace it just to get a better event app.
All In The Loop is designed to connect into the event technology you already trust.
That can be particularly useful for:
- Associations with established member systems
- Organisers managing multiple registration providers
- Events using specialist registration platforms
- Enterprise organisations with existing CRMs
- Event agencies working across different client technology stacks
- Exhibitions with specialist registration and onsite suppliers
The objective is not to become another closed ecosystem.
It is to make the attendee and exhibitor experience better while allowing the rest of your technology to continue doing its job.
Who wins?
Choose Whova if: you specifically want more of your event management functionality within one platform.
Consider All In The Loop if: you want a flexible event experience layer that works with the systems you already use.
2. Getting started
The buying process is another noticeable difference.
Whova's current pricing page asks organisers to request a price quote, while new customers looking to test the platform can book a one-to-one demo to access a trial.
All In The Loop allows organisers to create an account and begin building an event app directly.
There is a genuine free starting plan, and organisers can move into paid per-event or annual plans as their requirements grow.
That means you can explore the platform before deciding whether you need help from our team.
Who wins?
Choose Whova if: you prefer a guided sales and demo process before starting.
Consider All In The Loop if: you want to get into the platform, create an event and see how it works immediately.
3. Whova pricing vs All In The Loop pricing
One of the most common searches around the platform is “How much does Whova cost?”
Whova states that pricing depends on event size and the services organisers choose. Its public pricing journey currently directs prospective customers to request a quote.
All In The Loop publishes an event app pricing structure with:
- A free Launch option
- Per-event pricing
- Annual licences
- Options that scale based on event size, features, integrations and support requirements
That does not automatically mean one platform will be cheaper than the other.
For a genuine cost comparison, organisers need to compare equivalent requirements including attendee numbers, integrations, branding, lead retrieval, support and additional services.
The important difference is that All In The Loop gives organisers an option to start without committing to a paid contract.
4. Attendee networking
Networking is one of Whova's strongest areas.
Whova provides attendee profiles, messaging, community discussion features and networking tools designed to encourage participants to interact throughout an event. Its community and networking functionality is also regularly highlighted positively in independent user reviews.
All In The Loop also provides attendee networking, messaging, matchmaking and 1:1 meeting booking.
Where our approach increasingly differs is in the use of AI to explain why a connection is worth making.
Instead of simply presenting another attendee, a recommendation can consider shared interests, relevant sessions, objectives and other event information to help someone understand why the connection might matter.
The objective is not:
“Here are 200 people you could meet.”
It is:
“Here are the people most relevant to what you came here to achieve.”
5. AI matchmaking and recommendations
AI is becoming an increasingly important difference between event apps.
All In The Loop has built AI directly into the attendee experience through Sophie AI.
Sophie can help attendees discover:
- Relevant people
- Potential meetings
- Relevant sessions
- Exhibitors
- Products
- Content
Recommendations can also include an explanation of why something is relevant.
For example:
“You are both attending the CleanTech panel and looking for sustainability investment partners.”
That makes AI matchmaking easier for attendees to understand and act upon.
Whova also provides networking, attendee recommendations and tools designed to help attendees identify useful connections.
The question organisers should therefore ask is not simply:
“Does the platform have AI?”
Ask:
“What does the AI actually do for my attendees, exhibitors and sponsors?”
6. Exhibitor lead retrieval
Both Whova and All In The Loop provide exhibitor lead retrieval.
Whova allows exhibitors to capture leads using QR scanning or manual entry and export captured leads after the event. Whova also offers exhibitor profiles and tools designed to help sponsors and exhibitors generate more exposure and connections.
All In The Loop also supports badge scanning, lead qualification, notes and lead retrieval.
But our product direction goes deliberately beyond the scan.
Because an attendee might show interest in an exhibitor before ever walking onto their booth.
They may:
- View the exhibitor profile
- Bookmark it
- View relevant products
- Attend a related session
- Request information
- Book a meeting
- Share matching interests
- Finally visit the booth and get scanned
All of those interactions can add context.
That brings us to one of the biggest differences in the All In The Loop proposition.
7. Buyer intent and exhibitor intelligence
Traditional lead retrieval answers:
“Who did we scan?”
All In The Loop is designed to help exhibitors answer:
“Who is showing genuine interest, and why should my sales team care?”
Profile views, bookmarks, meeting requests, interests and event behaviour can be used alongside captured leads to identify stronger signals of intent.
Rather than every lead appearing equal, exhibitors can see additional context around the opportunity.
For example:
- High intent
- Viewed your profile three times
- Bookmarked your company
- Attended a relevant session
- Requested a meeting
That is substantially more useful to a salesperson than a name and email address alone.
All In The Loop's exhibitor proposition is therefore built around the journey: Signal → context → conversation → follow-up.
Who wins?
Choose Whova if: you want established exhibitor profiles and lead retrieval within the wider Whova environment.
Consider All In The Loop if: exhibitor ROI, buyer-intent signals, qualification and understanding why a lead matters are major priorities.
8. Sponsor ROI
Sponsors increasingly need evidence that an event delivered value.
Both platforms provide ways to give sponsors visibility inside an event app.
But organisers should look beyond the number of logo placements available.
Ask:
- Can I measure sponsor profile engagement?
- Can sponsors understand who interacted with them?
- Can we measure meetings?
- Can we connect lead capture with digital behaviour?
- Can exhibitors qualify leads?
- Can I demonstrate which content attracted attention?
- Can we show sponsors something useful during renewal conversations?
All In The Loop places significant emphasis on combining event engagement with exhibitor and sponsor outcomes.
In one published All In The Loop client case study, CREA recorded an 88% increase in saved sessions, a 33% increase in exhibitor engagement per profile and a 204% increase in advertising clicks year-on-year.
The goal is simple:
Give sponsors more reasons to return.
9. Event analytics
Both All In The Loop and Whova provide event data and analytics.
For All In The Loop, the key question is what organisers can do with those signals.
Event activity can help organisers understand:
- Which sessions attracted interest
- What attendees bookmarked
- How people networked
- Which exhibitors attracted attention
- Where sponsor engagement occurred
- What content attendees interacted with
- How many meetings were generated
- Where buyer intent may be developing
This information can then support post-event reporting, sponsor conversations and future event planning.
For us, analytics should not simply produce another dashboard.
It should answer: What worked?
10. Event support
Technology is only one part of delivering an event.
All In The Loop offers both self-service technology and hands-on support.
Organisers who want to manage everything themselves can do so.
Organisers who need additional support can work with people who regularly deliver conferences and exhibitions and understand the realities of getting an event live.
That can include:
- Platform setup
- Data management
- Integrations
- Project management
- Exhibitor onboarding
- App adoption
- Event support
- Onsite support
- Post-event reporting
This hybrid approach means the same platform can support a smaller self-service conference and a much more complex event programme.
Whova also promotes dedicated customer support and states that support is available on business days, weekends and holidays.
So again, this is less about whether support exists and more about the delivery model your team needs.
Is All In The Loop the Best Whova Alternative?
It depends on why you are searching for a Whova alternative.
If you want another platform that simply recreates Whova feature for feature, there are several established event management products to evaluate.
But if the reason you are exploring Whova competitors is because you want a different event technology model, All In The Loop is worth considering.
All In The Loop may be a better fit if you want:
- To keep your existing registration platform: You do not need to rebuild your entire event technology stack just to change the attendee app.
- To start building before speaking to sales: Create an event and explore the platform directly.
- A genuine free starting option: Launch with the free plan and add additional functionality as you grow.
- Strong AI matchmaking: Use AI to help attendees understand who and what is relevant to them.
- More focus on exhibitor ROI: Combine lead capture with engagement and buyer-intent signals.
- Open integrations: Connect registration, CRM and event technology rather than forcing everything into one ecosystem.
- Human support when you need it: Run self-service or add project and event support depending on the complexity of your event.
When Should You Choose Whova?
We do not believe every organiser searching for “Whova alternative” should automatically move away from Whova.
Whova may be the better fit if:
- You already use Whova successfully
- Your attendees strongly engage with its community functionality
- You want its broader all-in-one event management ecosystem
- Native registration and abstract management are important to your workflow
- Your team is already trained on the platform
- You have an established event process built around Whova
Whova is highly rated on major software-review platforms and its attendee networking and agenda functionality receive considerable positive feedback.
Changing event technology for the sake of changing technology rarely makes sense.
You should switch when the alternative solves a specific problem better.
Whova vs All In The Loop: Which Should You Choose?
Here is the simplest way to think about it.
Choose Whova if:
You want a mature, broad event management ecosystem with a strong attendee community experience and functionality spanning event apps, registration, event management and additional organiser tools.
Choose All In The Loop if:
You want an open event app platform that works alongside your existing event technology, is easy to start, uses AI to improve attendee discovery and places greater emphasis on exhibitor intelligence, buyer intent and measurable sponsor value.
For many organisers, the key question is therefore not:
“Is All In The Loop better than Whova?”
It is:
“Which platform better fits the event experience we are trying to create?”
Frequently Asked Questions About Whova Alternatives
What is the best alternative to Whova?
The best Whova alternative depends on your event requirements. All In The Loop is worth considering if you need an event app with attendee networking, AI matchmaking, meetings, personalised agendas, exhibitor lead capture, buyer-intent data and open integrations with your existing event technology. Other Whova competitors may be more appropriate if your primary requirement is enterprise event management, ticketing, webinars or another specialist function.
Is All In The Loop similar to Whova?
Yes. Both All In The Loop and Whova provide event apps with agendas, attendee engagement, networking, meetings, sponsor and exhibitor functionality, lead retrieval and analytics. The platforms differ in philosophy. Whova provides a broad all-in-one event management ecosystem, while All In The Loop positions itself as an open event experience platform that can integrate with the systems an organiser already uses.
Is All In The Loop a Whova competitor?
Yes. All In The Loop and Whova both provide event app and attendee engagement technology for conferences, exhibitions and professional events. However, All In The Loop differentiates itself through its open-platform approach, self-service starting option, Sophie AI, integrations and focus on exhibitor buyer-intent intelligence.
Is there a free alternative to Whova?
All In The Loop offers a free Launch plan that allows organisers to start creating an event app before moving to paid per-event or annual options as requirements grow. Whova allows attendees to use its event app without charge, while organisers pay for Whova services. Prospective organisers can request a quote and arrange a trial.
How much does Whova cost?
Whova does not currently display a single standard event-app price on its main pricing page. Whova states that organiser pricing depends on the size of the event and the service options selected, with prospective organisers asked to request a quote. If price is an important consideration, compare quotes based on equivalent attendee numbers, functionality, integrations and support rather than headline prices alone.
Does Whova have lead retrieval?
Yes. Whova provides exhibitor lead retrieval including QR code scanning, manual lead capture and lead export. All In The Loop also provides lead retrieval, but adds a strong focus on connecting scanned leads with attendee engagement and buyer-intent signals.
Does Whova have networking?
Yes. Networking is one of Whova's most established features. Its platform includes attendee profiles, messaging and community engagement tools, and networking is frequently mentioned positively in verified user reviews. All In The Loop also provides attendee networking, 1:1 meetings and AI-powered recommendations.
Does All In The Loop have AI matchmaking?
Yes. All In The Loop's Sophie AI can use attendee information and event data to recommend relevant people, sessions, exhibitors and content while helping users understand why a recommendation may be relevant.
Can All In The Loop integrate with my existing registration platform?
Yes. All In The Loop is designed as an open event platform and can work alongside existing registration systems, CRMs and other event technologies. Its pricing structure includes increasing levels of integration capability as event requirements become more complex.
Is Whova good for conferences?
Yes. Whova is a highly rated conference event platform with established functionality for agendas, attendee engagement, networking, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors. For organisers comparing options, the question should not be whether Whova is a good platform, but whether Whova's approach is the best fit for their particular event.
What should I look for when comparing Whova competitors?
Before choosing a Whova alternative, compare:
- Attendee experience
- Agenda management
- Networking
- AI matchmaking
- Meeting booking
- Exhibitor lead capture
- Sponsor ROI reporting
- Buyer-intent data
- Registration integrations
- CRM integrations
- Branding
- Analytics
- Pricing
- Support
- Ease of setup
Do not choose an event platform based purely on the number of features. Choose the platform that solves the most important problems for your organisers, attendees, sponsors and exhibitors.
Try a Whova Alternative Before You Decide
You do not have to sit through another product presentation just to understand whether a different event app could work for you. Create an event in All In The Loop, explore the platform and start building.
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