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SocianaSociana vs Guidebook: an honest comparison for association & member events (recurring)
Guidebook is a no-code app builder with fixed-fee licences, now led by higher-education campus apps and still serving conferences.
Pick Guidebook for campuses, universities and associations that want a fixed-fee app with a template-led build. Pick Sociana for a participation-heavy event with games, rewards, hospitality and WhatsApp.
Who should pick which
Choosing between Guidebook and Sociana
Pick Guidebook when
You want Guidebook
- campuses, universities and associations that want a fixed-fee app with a template-led build
- organisers who value a live showcase of apps and accessibility documentation
Pick Sociana when
You need what Guidebook is not built for
- a participation-heavy event with games, rewards, hospitality and WhatsApp
- a managed, rupee-billed programme or wedding
Feature by feature
Sociana vs Guidebook, row by row
Checked on 19 Oct 2026 against public sources. Each row links to the page it was read from.
Found a wrong cell? Report a correction and we will fix it or reply within 5 working days.
| Capability | Guidebook | Sociana | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp OTP, invites and campaign templates | ✗ NoNot listed on guidebook.com as of 19 Oct 2026. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Agenda with personal schedule and Live / Up Next | ✓ YesSchedules and real-time updates are core to the app. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| AI face-match photo finder | ✗ NoNot listed on guidebook.com as of 19 Oct 2026. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| AI avatars and creative activations | ✗ NoNot listed on guidebook.com as of 19 Oct 2026. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Push, in-app and scheduled announcements by group | ✓ YesNotifications replace ignored email and repeated questions. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Live polls, quizzes and session feedback | ◐ PartialForms and surveys are listed. | ✓ YesWord clouds are Custom: built per occasion | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| No-login public voting with venue-screen display | ✗ NoNot listed on guidebook.com as of 19 Oct 2026. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Games library: bingo, trivia and puzzles | ✗ NoNot listed on guidebook.com as of 19 Oct 2026. | ✓ YesBranded games (KBC-style quiz and similar) are Custom: built to order | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| AR marker cards and QR scavenger hunts | ✗ NoNot listed on guidebook.com as of 19 Oct 2026. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Wallet points and reward store with QR redemption | ✗ NoNot listed on guidebook.com as of 19 Oct 2026. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Tournaments, contests and KPI submissions with approvals | ✗ NoNot listed on guidebook.com as of 19 Oct 2026. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Self check-in and entry pass | ✓ YesSession and QR check-in are listed. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Step and wellness sync via Health Connect and Apple Health | ✗ NoNot listed on guidebook.com as of 19 Oct 2026. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Per-guest hospitality publishing (My Stay, My Flights, cab, liaison) | ✗ NoNot listed on guidebook.com as of 19 Oct 2026. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| ID-document, PNR and travel-detail tasks per participant | ✗ NoNot listed on guidebook.com as of 19 Oct 2026. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Tickets, payments and invoices | ◐ PartialRegistration and event websites are listed; payments depth is not described. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Multi-occasion or agency app with per-occasion branding | ◐ PartialA Multiple Events annual licence and a campus-wide department licence. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Group-scoped content, polls, chat and notifications | ✗ NoNot listed on guidebook.com as of 19 Oct 2026. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Managed delivery team included | ◐ PartialA dedicated account manager is listed. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Branded app on the client's own store listing | ✓ YesBranded apps are a headline feature; a showcase links about 89 live apps to their Google Play listings. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Public API and integration marketplace | ◐ PartialA Slate integration is a Platinum Preferred partnership; CSV import is available. | ✗ NoWebhooks, Google Sheets and Airtable connections; no public API | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Security certifications shown publicly (SOC 2, ISO 27001) | ✗ NoNo security certifications are listed; the security page covers encryption, pen tests and disclosure, and the site stresses accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA, VPAT). | ✗ No | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Pricing figures published on the vendor site | ◐ PartialSingle Event flat fee, Multiple Events annual and a campus licence are described without dollar figures; a G2 page cites from 1,999 dollars. | ◐ Partial"From" prices per package on the pricing page | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Rupee pricing, GST invoicing and UPI | ✗ NoPriced in US dollars with US and UK support. | ✓ YesRupee quotes with GST; Razorpay and PhonePe checkout | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Interactive floor plan and booth booking | ◐ PartialInteractive maps are listed; booth booking is not. | ✗ NoVenue maps and floor-plan images; no interactive booth booking | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Wedding and social-celebration guest experience | ✗ NoNot listed on guidebook.com as of 19 Oct 2026. | ✓ Yes | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
| Free tier or self-serve sign-up | ✓ YesTemplates let visitors start building without a sales call. | ✗ No | source, 19 Oct 2026 |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Sources and dates (6)
- guidebook.com · checked 19 Oct 2026
- guidebook.com/compare/cvent-alternative · checked 19 Oct 2026
- guidebook.com/demo · checked 19 Oct 2026
- guidebook.com/legal/security · checked 19 Oct 2026
- guidebook.com/pricing · checked 19 Oct 2026
- guidebook.com/showcase · checked 19 Oct 2026
Fair is fair
Strengths on each side, said plainly
Where Guidebook is strong
- Fixed-fee licensing with no per-attendee charge, a real advantage for large audiences.
- A verifiable proof wall: about 89 live apps in the showcase linked to store listings, and 21 case studies with before and after metrics.
- Strong accessibility documentation, including WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 508 and VPAT.
- Comparison pages that concede rivals' strengths and quote paired G2 reviews.
Where Sociana is weaker
- Free tier or self-serve sign-up. Sociana does not offer this today.
- Public API and integration marketplace. Webhooks, Google Sheets and Airtable connections; no public API
- Interactive floor plan and booth booking. Venue maps and floor-plan images; no interactive booth booking
- Pricing figures published on the vendor site. "From" prices per package on the pricing page
- Pure webinars, venue sourcing and dues-based membership management are not what Sociana is for.
Where Sociana differs
- Sociana adds participation: polls, games, rewards and recurring community, plus hospitality publishing; Guidebook lists content and schedule tools.
- Sociana's app is branded and run by a managed team per occasion, with store submission in the delivery plan; Guidebook is a self-serve builder.
- Sociana quotes in rupees with GST and WhatsApp; Guidebook bills in dollars with US and UK support.
Pricing and India
What it costs, and how it bills
- Guidebook pricing
- Fixed-fee, not per attendee. The pricing page describes a Single Event flat fee, a Multiple Events annual licence and a Campus-Wide Department License, with nonprofits 10 percent off and no setup fees; it shows no dollar figures. A G2 learning page cites licences from 1,999 dollars, which we have not verified. (source, checked 19 Oct 2026)
- Sociana pricing
- Rupee quotes with GST, per occasion or annual programme. See the packages.
- India presence
- Rupee billing: not listed · WhatsApp: not listed · Indian associations use it as a container-style builder; prices are in US dollars. No GST invoicing or WhatsApp channel is listed as of 19 Oct 2026.
“Not listed” means we could not find it on the vendor’s pages that day, not that it does not exist. “Not verified” means the row was not checked page by page, so we make no claim either way.
FAQ
Sociana vs Guidebook: questions
When is Guidebook the better choice than Sociana?
Choose Guidebook for a campus, university or association event where you want a template-led, fixed-fee app, a live showcase to check and strong accessibility documentation. Choose Sociana when members should return through the year for polls, games, awards and a leaderboard, with hospitality handled in the same app.
Why do organisers look for a Guidebook alternative?
Cited reasons on 19 Oct 2026: the homepage now centres on campus apps, the conference line is secondary, pricing figures are not shown, and the site lists no certifications beyond its security practices. Some case studies quote the wrong customer. These are content gaps rather than product verdicts.
How does Guidebook pricing compare with Sociana?
Guidebook publishes a fixed-fee structure without dollar figures; a G2 page cites licences from 1,999 dollars. Sociana quotes per event or annual programme by scope in rupees. A fixed fee with no attendee cap and a per-occasion managed price differ in what they include, so compare on the same scope.
Is Guidebook available for Indian associations?
Yes, as an international self-serve builder billed in dollars with US and UK support. It lists no GST workflow or WhatsApp OTP as of 19 Oct 2026. Sociana's EEMA Connect combined an event-industry association's conference, awards, hospitality and discussion in one multi-occasion app.
What do we lose by moving off Guidebook?
You lose the template library and the Slate sync used by campuses. You gain group-scoped content, recurring engagement and hospitality. Export content and attendee lists as CSV, import them into Sociana and plan about three days to configure and a week to launch the branded store listing.
Disclosure. Published by Sociana, which sells a competing event platform and is not affiliated with the Guidebook or its owner. Other product names are trademarks of their owners. Facts were checked against public vendor pages on 19 Oct 2026. Spot an error? Report a correction or email hello@sociana.in; we correct or reply within 5 working days.
Not sure Guidebook or Sociana fits?
Tell us the event, the guests and the date. We will say plainly whether Sociana is the right tool, and point you elsewhere if it is not.