Whova is an all-in-one event management platform that has won multiple awards for its attendee engagement features and comprehensive event management toolkit. Founded in 2013, Whova serves primarily the conference and trade show market with tools for agenda management, attendee networking, exhibitor management, live polling, and session Q&A. According to industry data, Whova has been used for over 30,000 events across 100+ countries, with a particular strength in academic conferences, industry trade shows, and professional association events. The platform requires both organizers and attendees to download the Whova mobile app for full functionality, which includes features like digital business card exchange, community discussion boards, and session bookmarking. Whova's pricing is custom-quoted based on event size and features needed, but according to industry data, plans typically start at several hundred dollars per event and can scale into thousands for larger conferences. For organizers running simple events that just need a page and RSVP tracking, Whova's comprehensive toolkit creates far more complexity than necessary.
RealEvents strips away the complexity that Whova adds to event management. While Whova requires organizers to go through a setup process, configure agendas, manage exhibitor listings, and have attendees download a dedicated mobile app, RealEvents gives you a simple event page with RSVP tracking in about 10 seconds. No app downloads, no account creation, and no configuration needed. According to industry data, asking attendees to download a dedicated event app results in adoption rates of only 40-60%, meaning a large portion of your attendees may never engage with the platform. RealEvents works instantly in any browser, so 100% of your guests can access the event page and RSVP without installing anything. For community meetups, team gatherings, social events, and any gathering that does not need conference-grade features like exhibitor management or live polling, RealEvents is the faster, free alternative.
Yes, RealEvents is 100% free with no hidden fees, no per-event charges, and no premium tiers. Whova's pricing is custom-quoted, but according to industry data, plans typically start at several hundred dollars per event and can run into thousands for larger conferences with advanced features. Even for smaller events, Whova charges enough to make casual organizers think twice. RealEvents lets you create unlimited event pages with full RSVP tracking, QR codes, and CSV export without spending anything, making it accessible to everyone from individual organizers to small community groups.
If you have been using Whova primarily for event registration pages and RSVP tracking, RealEvents offers a dramatically simpler free alternative with faster setup and no account requirements for anyone. There is no migration process - just create a new event page on RealEvents in seconds. For events that require advanced features like attendee networking with digital business cards, exhibitor management, live session polling, and agenda building with multiple tracks, Whova may still be needed. But for the everyday events that make up the majority of gatherings, RealEvents provides the essentials without the overhead.
Whova provides comprehensive event management including attendee networking with digital business card exchange, exhibitor management with virtual booth setup, detailed agenda building with multi-track scheduling, live polling and Q&A during sessions, community discussion boards, and post-event analytics. These are features designed for professional conferences and trade shows with hundreds or thousands of attendees. RealEvents focuses on the core needs of most events: a clean event page, RSVP tracking, QR codes for sharing, and CSV export. For the majority of events that do not need conference-grade management tools, RealEvents delivers what matters.