Cvent vs Whova (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Whova grades higher than Cvent: 2.0 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Whova grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Which one is for you
Pick Cvent if
- Fits if you run large corporate events and buy through a sales team
- Works for organizations that want registration and check-in under one license
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a price before talking to sales, as none is published
- Skip it if you want a free plan or trial, as none is listed
- Tight if you have more than 15 users, since Professional is limited to 15 logins
- Watch out: API access and SSO need Enterprise
- Watch out: add-ons such as LeadCapture and Appointments are licensed on top of the base platform
Pick Whova if
- Fits if you run multi-session conferences or expos
- Works for events that want an attendee app next to registration
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you run a small gathering, as it is aimed at multi-session events
- Watch out: no prices are published, only a quote form
- Watch out: it says its ticket fee is lower than others but gives no figure
- Not for you if you want a free plan or a trial, as neither is listed
How we grade them
| 1.8GPACventWeak | 2.0GPAWhovaFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CNo price is published; every plan is a quote through sales, so it sits at C by default. | CNo prices are published; the pricing page is a quote request. It sits in the middle by default. |
| Free plan and trial | FNo free plan and no trial on record; the pricing page asks for a quote. | FNothing free: no free plan and no trial are on record for this listing. |
| Features | BRegistration, an Attendee Hub, OnArrival check-in and add-on modules cover the event job, though many add-ons are licensed on top. | BRegistration and ticketing, custom flows, abandoned-registration reminders, exhibitor and sponsor registration, attendee segments and fee handling. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. It is sold through sales and set up per event, so there is a learning curve. | CNo store rating on record. Registration flows and an event app are set up for each event. |
| Platforms and integrations | CA web platform; the listing names no integrations and no apps. | BWeb, iPhone and Android, with HubSpot, MemberClicks, Mailchimp and Eventbrite. |
| Best for | enterprise event registration and check-in | event app, registration and ticketing for conferences |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Cvent and Whova. How we grade
Where they differ
- Cvent also covers webinars.
- Whova also covers forms and surveys.
In commonWebReportsEmail campaignsTicketing
At a glance
| Cvent | Whova | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Paid |
| Starts at | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Cvent Inc | Whova |
| Price read from | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Cvent
- No prices are published: the pricing page asks for a quote, so every plan here is sold through sales.
- Professional licenses are limited to 15 user logins, and API access and SSO need Enterprise.
- Many add-ons, such as LeadCapture and Appointments, are licensed on top of the base platform.
- Non-profits can get special rates by asking sales.
Whova
- No prices are published: the pricing page is a quote request form that asks about event format, length, attendance and events per year.
- The site says its ticket fee is lower than other platforms but gives no figure on the pages we read.
- Aimed at multi-session events rather than a quick sign-up page for a small gathering.
Key features
Cvent
- Registration
- Personalized registration paths, agenda and session management, no-code event websites, payment tools, built-in email promotion and housing and travel management.
- Attendee Hub
- A mobile event app and virtual experience with chat, Q&A, polling, networking tools, sponsor activation and live or on-demand video.
- OnArrival check-in
- Kiosk check-in, on-demand badge printing, onsite registration and payment, session check-in and real-time attendance dashboards.
- Professional and Enterprise licenses
- Professional licenses the solutions you pick with 15 user logins. Enterprise includes all of them with all user logins, API access, SSO and multi-factor authentication.
- Add-on modules
- Optional products include LeadCapture, Appointments, Abstract Management, Passkey room blocks, Event Diagramming, Surveys Premium and Webinar Premium.
- Services
- Paid services include implementation, event build, integration services and consulting, alongside 24/7 support for all customers.
Whova
- Registration and ticketing
- Free or paid tickets with several ticket types, early-bird pricing, discount codes, group tickets, add-ons, and member-only or invite-only tickets.
- Custom registration flows
- Custom fields and questions that change by ticket type or answer, plus session sign-up so organizers know headcount early.
- Abandoned-registration reminders
- Automatic follow-ups to people who started registering but did not finish, along with campaign tracking links and email campaigns to past attendees.
- Exhibitor and sponsor registration
- Separate registration pages for exhibitors and sponsors, tiered packages, a la carte options and booth selection on a floor map.
- Attendee segments
- Group attendees to send targeted messages, print details on badges and export lists for caterers or transport.
- Fee handling
- Organizers can pass fees on to registrants and accept offline payments such as check, cash or wire.
Plans
Cvent
Pricing could not be confirmed. See cvent.com.
Whova
Pricing could not be confirmed. See whova.com.
Ways to pay less
Cvent
- Nonprofit
Special rates for non-profits
Cvent says it extends special rates to non-profit organizations, which sales will discuss on request.
Whova
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Cvent or Whova?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Cvent has no price we could confirm, and Whova has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Cvent or Whova?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither Cvent nor Whova has a free plan.
Which platforms do Cvent and Whova run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Whova lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.