20 Event Planning Apps That Will Actually Save You Time
To be efficient in today’s hospitality industry, it’s crucial to be up-to-date on the technology that can shave valuable minutes or hours off of your to-do list.
Luckily, there are so many event planning apps out there that can save you time, and we’ve rounded them all up here today–divided into use cases.
The best event planning apps
Apps made for event planners
1. Super Planner
What it is: A business application for the professional event planner. Its features include calculators for venue capacity, staffing, catering, staging, projection and dance floor.
Cost: $9.99
Get the app: App Store | Google Play
2. Eventbrite
What it is: A platform to create an event, promote it, and sell tickets. It doubles as a social network, so people can discover and share events that match their passions.
Cost: Free
Get the app: App Store | Google Play | Web
3. Social Tables Check-In
What it is: This check-in app provides a fast, professional, and secure alternative to Excel or paper event guest lists. The web-based event diagramming and seating app also makes 2D or 3D diagramming and seating a breeze.
Cost: Free, with monthly service pricing
4. Certain Arrive
What it is: Formerly known as Check-In Easy, this app gives you a simple and fast method for guest registration, check-in, and management.
Cost: Free, with per attendee pricing
Get the app: App Store | Google Play | Web
5. Zkipster
What it is: Zkipster is a guest list management application designed to create simple online event invitations, plus an efficient and seamless check-in process.
Cost: Free, with a service charge per event
Get the app: App Store | Google Play | Web
6. MagicPlan
What it is: When you’re going on site visits, pull up this app. Just using pictures, it will automatically measure the room and draw a floor plan.
Cost: Free
Get the app: App Store | Google Play | Web
Photo, video, and audio apps for event planners
7. Decibel Ultra
What it is: An app that measures volume and compares it to a benchmark. This is especially essential if you’re hosting an event at a venue with noise restrictions.
Cost: Free
Get the app: App Store
8. AudioTools
What it is: A suite of professional-grade audio and acoustic analysis tools. If you know your way around an A/V system, you’ll appreciate the breadth of features including a SPL, RTA, FFT, Speaker Polarity Test, Generator, Audio Scope, CLF Viewer, and Recorder.
Cost: $19.99
Get the app: App Store
9. Spotify
What it is: A music streaming app that lets you make your own playlists and listen for free. For events, we recommend upgrading to Spotify Premium to get rid of ads.
Cost: Free, premium plans begin at $9.99
Get the app: App Store | Google Play | Web
Apps to connect with event attendees
10. CrowdCompass AttendeeHub
What it is: At events with multiple agenda options, this app helps attendees navigate the conference, convention or trade show. Your guests can quickly find what interests them, plan their experience, and connect with other attendees.
Cost: Free
Get the app: App Store | Google Play
11. Slido
What it is: An
Cost: Free to download, various pricing plans
Get the app: App Store | Google Play
Widely loved project management apps
12. Podio
What it is: A work management platform where you can build customized project management systems, based on your own processes and workflows.
Cost: Free, with charges for additional team members and features
Get the app: App Store | Google Play | Web
13. Basecamp
What it is: A project management app used by almost 3,000,000 business. The app includes loads of features, including assigning tasks, setting deadlines, group communication, and more. This option is great for large event planning teams.
Cost: Free
Get the app: App Store | Google Play
Popular communication apps
14. HeyTell
What it is: If you’ve ever wished your phone worked like a walkie-talkie, you need this app. Ask your whole staff to download it for instant communication, even in a crowded event venue.
Cost: Free
Get the app: App Store | Google Play
15. Dropbox
What it is: Dropbox lets you upload any photo, doc, and video to the cloud. That means you can easily share files with team members or access docs from anywhere, even on event day.
Cost: Free, with a charge for extra storage
Get the app: App Store | Google Play | Web
16. Google Drive
What it is: Similar to Dropbox, Google Drive is a cloud storage app. Upload your files, share them with team members, track all your edits, and access files from anywhere.
Cost: Free
Get the app: App Store | Google Play | Web
17. Evernote
What it is: Capture all your to-do lists, photos, notes, and more in an intuitive note-taking app. Then, access your notes from any device, anywhere
Cost: Free
Get the app: App Store | Google Play | Web
More apps for event planners
18. The Weather Channel
What it is: A weather app that’s more detailed and precise than the one built into your phone, with ultra-local, 150-minute forecasting. Since a change in weather can quickly make or break your event, keep this app handy so you know what’s coming.
Cost: Free
Get the app: App Store | Google Play | Web
19. CamCard Free
What it is: This app scans business cards and saves the info instantly to your phone contacts. And, if you run out of business cards, you can share your own info digitally.
Cost: Free
Get the app: App Store | Google Play
20. Square Register
What it is: If you plan on accepting credit card payments at your event, this mobile POS makes it easy.
Cost: Free, with Square taking small cuts of every transaction
Get the app: App Store | Google Play | Web
More like this:
15 Most Common Event Planning Problems & Solutions
The Event Software That Makes Check-In a Breeze
7 of the Best Check-In Apps for Speedy Event Registration
45 Event Planning Questions for Clients
Do you have any event planning apps that you use daily? Give us a shout on Twitter and link us to your favorite apps in the App Store or on Google Play!
Have more questions about event planning apps?
There are many great event planning apps, but it would be difficult to say that any one app covers everything you need.