Swapcard is built around exhibitor ROI and AI matchmaking for large shows; Whova is a broader conference app. Trade shows weigh the first; associations and academic meetings often weigh the second.
At a glance
Facts as of 19 Oct 2026; publisher: Sociana. Swapcard: Paris, France. Whova: San Diego, California, USA. “Not listed” means not found on the vendor’s site that day.
What each is best at
Swapcard
- AI matchmaking, exhibitor tooling and meeting scheduling are the core of the product, built for trade shows and associations. (source)
Whova
- Most-reviewed attendee app in this comparison set: 4.8 stars from about 253,000 ratings on the US App Store (19 Oct 2026) and 4.8 on G2 as cited by learn.g2.com. (source)
Comparison table: 12 rows
| Dimension | Swapcard | Whova |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Quote-only. (source) | Quote-only. (source) |
| Attendee app | Platforms: iOS, Android, Web. (source) | Platforms: iOS, Android, Web. (source) |
| Networking | Yes: listed on swapcard.com; no detail recorded (checked 19 Oct 2026). and the Sherlock assistant are core to the app. (source) | Yes: listed on whova.com; no detail recorded (checked 19 Oct 2026). (source) |
| Gamification | Partly: listed on swapcard.com; no detail recorded (checked 19 Oct 2026). (source) | Yes: Gamification and leaderboards are listed on the app. (source) |
| Hospitality | Not listed on swapcard.com as of 19 Oct 2026. (source) | Not listed on whova.com as of 19 Oct 2026. (source) |
| Check-in | Yes: Onsite check-in and badge printing, plus Swapcard Go hardware. (source) | Yes: Kiosk self check-in is listed. (source) |
| Polls | Yes: listed on swapcard.com; no detail recorded (checked 19 Oct 2026). (source) | Yes: listed on whova.com; no detail recorded (checked 19 Oct 2026). (source) |
| Exhibitors | Yes: Lead retrieval, lead qualifiers, member roles and approval workflows in the Exhibitor Center. (source) | Yes: Lead retrieval by QR or business-card scan. (source) |
| Rupee billing | No rupee billing was found. (source) | No rupee billing was found. (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) | Not listed on whova.com as of 19 Oct 2026. (source) | |
| Support model | Managed or account support: Consulting, onboarding and integration management arrive on the Enterprise tier. (source) | Managed or account support: managed delivery team included. (source) |
| Status and ownership | Swapcard was named a G2 Fall 2026 Leader in its mid-market category and introduced the Sherlock AI assistant in Dec 2025. (source) | Whova pages and app listings were live and updated when checked on 19 Oct 2026. (source) |
Swapcard vs Whova pricing
Budget lens: Swapcard quotes on request; Whova quotes on request. No like-for-like total has been run.
Where they differ
On the public pages we read, Swapcard and Whova list the same dimensions as present or absent; the differences are in depth and price, not in checklist items.
- WhatsApp: only Swapcard lists it (partly); Whova shows nothing we could confirm.
- Both list: attendee app, networking, gamification, check-in, polls, exhibitors, managed support.
- Neither confirmed on the pages we read: hospitality, rupee billing.
Who should choose which
Choose Swapcard for large trade shows and associations where exhibitor ROI and AI matchmaking drive the budget. It also documents WhatsApp messaging, which Whova does not list.
Choose Whova for conferences and academic or association meetings that want a proven, widely installed attendee app. No single row on public pages separates it from Swapcard.
Scenario: a 5,000-visitor trade show with sponsor-paid meetings would shortlist Swapcard first; a 600-delegate medical society wanting abstracts and a familiar app would shortlist Whova first. Ask both for references from your own sector.
Where Sociana fits
Sociana is our product. If the two are your shortlist because of networking, we are a lighter alternative with a delegate directory and stall lead capture; for AI matchmaking at Swapcard’s scale, Swapcard is the better pick.
FAQ
Which costs less, Swapcard or Whova?
Neither publishes a price list as of 19 Oct 2026, so there is no fair answer without quotes. Ask both for a quote on the same attendee count and days.
When should I pick Whova over Swapcard?
Pick Whova for conferences and academic or association meetings that want a proven, widely installed attendee app; pick Swapcard for large trade shows and associations where exhibitor ROI and AI matchmaking drive the budget.
Do Swapcard or Whova support rupee billing, GST invoices and WhatsApp?
Swapcard shows no rupee billing and documents WhatsApp messaging in part; Whova shows no rupee billing and does not list WhatsApp. GST invoicing could not be confirmed from public pages.
What do people use instead of Swapcard and Whova?
See Swapcard alternatives and Whova alternatives, or Best event apps in India.
Sources and disclosure
Publisher: Sociana, a competing vendor unaffiliated with Swapcard or Whova; both names belong to their owners. Corrections: report a correction or email hello@sociana.in; we correct or reply within five working days.