We’ll get right to the point: You gotta knock the whole check-in experience out of the ballpark.
Check-in is the very first time you’re interacting with your guests in-person. And you know what they say: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Luckily, if you’re planning to rent iPads, iPhones, or laptops, there are tons of event registration apps that help your check-in process flow quickly, smoothly, and professionally.
Over the years, we’ve loaded dozens of different event check-in apps onto our technology. There are hundreds to choose from, but below we’ve pulled together a list of great apps to start with so you can find the best check in app for your event.
OnArrival by Cvent
OnArrival offers speedy registration, a self-service kiosk mode, payment processing, and more. Upon checking-in, it’s easy for guests to automatically print their own badges, meaning you save table room and reduce the number of necessary staff. There are also three levels of features, so you can pick the right fit for your budget.
Most unique feature: Syncs seamlessly with all the features in Cvent’s entire event management platform, which is an industry-leading platform.
Splash That
Splash That prints customizable badges from the app on the spot, and also lets you send texts to all attendees about time changes or any other announcements. Kiosk mode saves your staff time by letting attendees check-in themselves. After your event, your attendance data is automatically synced to your CRM and/or MAP.
Most unique feature: The app lets you register walk-ins with a simple picture of their business card — no more frantic typing as the line grows longer. This feature is ideal for events where you expect plenty of walk-up attendees who haven’t registered before the event.
Event Farm
Event Farm’s check-in app lets you easily swipe or scan-in guests. It also stores your data safely even if WiFi drops out. Its biggest bonus is its integration with more than 1,000 other apps. For example, you can push check-in alerts to Slack, send surveys through SurveyMonkey, or use the Salesforce integration to understand your event’s impact on your bottom line.
Most unique feature: For event planners juggling lots of other apps, Event Farm’s check-in a great option to add to the mix thanks to the fact it can “talk” to tons of programs that you’re already using.
Social Tables Check-In
With minimal set-up and a user-friendly design, the customizable Social Tables Check-in app is a great option for simplified check-in. You can also collaborate and add or remove people from your guest lists in real-time with your team. The sign-in app is one part of a full event services software, which includes many more features.
Most unique feature: It’s simple enough for your team to pick up and start using without any training, but is robust enough to handle more complex events. It also syncs seamlessly with Social Table’s entire event management and event planning platform.
Guest Manager
Add Guest Manager’s straight forward check-in app to as many devices as you’d like. This app works offline, too, so you’ll never miss a check-in. The real time name search makes it easy to quickly check-in your guests, and there are multiple ways to create and add to your guest list including by text message or within the app itself.
Most unique feature: The app has unlimited custom fields so you can add as much information as you’d like to each attendee (for example, table number, title, etc.)
Zkipster
The Zkipster check-in app lets you also wirelessly print name badges and send mass texts to guests or event organizers from the app. The check-in controls are designed for speed, so it’s a breeze to check-in guests and multiple plus-ones at the same time.
Most unique feature: The check-in app integrates seamlessly with the rest of the Zkipster platform, but if you prefer to use other tools for sending invitations and creating your guest list, it’s easy to load the list into the app.
CertainArrive
Previously called Check-in Easy, Certain Arrive works across all mobile, tablet, and desktop devices. In addition to a smooth, initial check-in experience, you can also use CertainArrive to capture data on session attendance, sales meetings, and booth visits.
Most unique feature: The app quickly scans barcodes and badges so your attendees can enter sessions seamlessly, and you’ll have plenty of data to examine afterwards.
Boomset
Boomset’s user-friendly interface lets you collect on-site registrations, check-in guests on the app, scan QR codes, print badges, and even scan RFID (radio frequency identification) wristbands or badges. If you like using a different tool for registration, it’s simple to upload lists from Excel.
Most unique feature: Its ability to scan RFID badges or wristbands at check-in is a secure, quick way to track attendance and keep a smooth event flow. RFID badges or wristbands are especially helpful for large-scale events to speed up the entry process.
