Brella centres on intent-based matchmaking and managed meetings; Swapcard adds exhibitor marketplaces and large-show ROI. Both are quote-led, so the useful test is a demo on your own attendee data.
At a glance
Facts as of 19 Oct 2026; publisher: Sociana. Brella: Finland. Swapcard: Paris, France. “Not listed” means not found on the vendor’s site that day.
What each is best at
Brella
- Intent-based matchmaking is the product: AI matches, managed meetings, group meetings and meeting ratings, with a claimed 9.5 out of 10 NPS (vendor-reported). (source)
Swapcard
- AI matchmaking, exhibitor tooling and meeting scheduling are the core of the product, built for trade shows and associations. (source)
Comparison table: 12 rows
| Dimension | Brella | Swapcard |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Not published. (source) | Quote-only. (source) |
| Attendee app | Platforms: iOS, Android, Web. (source) | Platforms: iOS, Android, Web. (source) |
| Networking | Yes: Matchmaking and networking, group meetings and meeting ratings. (source) | Yes: listed on swapcard.com; no detail recorded (checked 19 Oct 2026). and the Sherlock assistant are core to the app. (source) |
| Gamification | Not listed on brella.io as of 19 Oct 2026. (source) | Partly: listed on swapcard.com; no detail recorded (checked 19 Oct 2026). (source) |
| Hospitality | Not listed on brella.io as of 19 Oct 2026. (source) | Not listed on swapcard.com as of 19 Oct 2026. (source) |
| Check-in | Not verified in our review as of 19 Oct 2026. (source) | Yes: Onsite check-in and badge printing, plus Swapcard Go hardware. (source) |
| Polls | Not listed on brella.io as of 19 Oct 2026. (source) | Yes: listed on swapcard.com; no detail recorded (checked 19 Oct 2026). (source) |
| Exhibitors | Yes: Lead Scan is listed. (source) | Yes: Lead retrieval, lead qualifiers, member roles and approval workflows in the Exhibitor Center. (source) |
| Rupee billing | No rupee billing was found. (source) | No rupee billing was found. (source) |
| Not listed on brella.io as of 19 Oct 2026. (source) | Partly: Sherlock, the AI attendee assistant, can be reached on WhatsApp under the organiser’s brand. WhatsApp invites and OTP login are not described. Checked 24 Oct 2026. (source) | |
| Support model | Managed or account support: A consultative service and managed meetings are described. (source) | Managed or account support: Consulting, onboarding and integration management arrive on the Enterprise tier. (source) |
| Status and ownership | Brella pages and success stories were live on 19 Oct 2026. (source) | Swapcard was named a G2 Fall 2026 Leader in its mid-market category and introduced the Sherlock AI assistant in Dec 2025. (source) |
Brella vs Swapcard pricing
Budget lens: Brella describes its pricing but shows no figure; Swapcard quotes on request. No like-for-like total has been run.
Where they differ
- WhatsApp: only Swapcard lists it (partly); Brella shows nothing we could confirm.
- Gamification: only Swapcard lists it; Brella shows nothing we could confirm.
- Check-in: only Swapcard lists it (Yes: Onsite check-in and badge printing, plus Swapcard Go hardware); Brella shows nothing we could confirm.
- Polls: only Swapcard lists it; Brella shows nothing we could confirm.
- Both list: attendee app, networking, exhibitors, managed support.
- Neither confirmed on the pages we read: hospitality, rupee billing.
- Not verified for at least one of them: check-in.
Who should choose which
Choose Brella for conferences and associations where matchmaking depth and managed meetings drive value. No single row on public pages separates it from Swapcard.
Choose Swapcard when your brief leans on gamification, check-in, polls, where Brella showed nothing we could confirm.
Where Sociana fits
Sociana is our product. We offer a delegate directory and meeting-slot booking for a smaller occasion; we do not do algorithmic matchmaking, so a matchmaking-led brief belongs with these two.
FAQ
Is Brella cheaper than Swapcard?
We cannot say. Brella pricing was published with figures and Swapcard pricing was quote-only on 19 Oct 2026; get a written quote from each.
Which is better for my event, Brella or Swapcard?
Test the row your event depends on most. The clearest gap on public pages is gamification.
Do Brella or Swapcard support rupee billing, GST invoices and WhatsApp?
Brella shows no rupee billing and does not list WhatsApp; Swapcard shows no rupee billing and documents WhatsApp messaging in part. GST invoicing could not be confirmed from public pages.
What do people use instead of Brella and Swapcard?
See Brella alternatives and Swapcard alternatives, or Best exhibition apps in India.
Sources and disclosure
Publisher: Sociana, a competing vendor unaffiliated with Brella or Swapcard; both names belong to their owners. Corrections: report a correction or email hello@sociana.in; we correct or reply within five working days.