In today’s fast-paced event landscape, attendees expect more than just a printed schedule and a name badge. A great event app does more than deliver information — it enhances engagement, supports networking, streamlines logistics, and opens doors for sponsors. Whether you’re planning a conference, trade show, or corporate gathering, here are 10 must-have features for a powerful event app experience.
#1 Easy Access to the Schedule
Your app should provide an intuitive and mobile-friendly schedule that attendees can filter by day, track, speaker, or session type. Real-time updates are essential — if a room changes or a session is canceled, attendees need to know immediately. Bonus points for allowing users to build a personalized agenda.
#2 Session Presentations and Evaluations
Make session materials accessible right in the app. Whether it’s PowerPoint slides, PDFs, or videos, attendees should be able to review content before, during, and after the session. Don’t forget session evaluations — they provide valuable feedback and can be triggered immediately after sessions for the highest response rates.
#3 Speaker Bios and Photos
Let attendees connect with your event’s thought leaders. A well-designed speaker profile page should include a photo, short bio, social links, and a list of sessions they’re leading. This builds credibility and allows attendees to identify the voices that matter to them.
#4 Lead Generation Tools
If your event includes exhibitors or sponsors, robust lead retrieval tools are a must. Empower them to collect leads via badge scans, in-app interactions, or QR codes. Integrations with CRM systems make it even more powerful and ensure that leads aren’t lost post-event.
#5 Attendee List
A searchable attendee directory allows for spontaneous connections and better networking. Depending on your privacy settings, attendees can opt in to share their profile information, initiate private chats, or set up meetings. It turns a static list into a dynamic networking tool.
#6 Community: Chat and Post
Foster interaction through public discussion boards, topic threads, and private messaging. Giving attendees a place to post, share photos, ask questions, or discuss sessions adds an essential social layer to your event app — and keeps the momentum going between sessions.
#7 Gamification
Boost engagement with leaderboards, challenges, badges, and interactive quests. Gamification encourages app usage, drives traffic to key sessions or exhibitor booths, and makes the event more fun. When designed well, it can even support your event goals — like learning, networking, or sponsorship visibility.
#8 Feature Exhibitor and Company Profiles
Give exhibitors and sponsors space to shine with multimedia-rich profiles. These should include logos, product descriptions, contact info, and links to brochures or videos. Enhanced profiles help exhibitors tell their story and allow attendees to explore offerings at their own pace.
#9 Revenue Opportunities: Banner Ads and Featured Listings
Your event app can also serve as a revenue generator. Offer banner ads, sponsored push notifications, or featured exhibitor placements to give sponsors more exposure. These tools deliver measurable ROI and help justify the cost of sponsorship.
#10 Ease of Use, Content Management, and Cost
Even the most feature-rich app won’t succeed if it’s hard to use. Your event app should offer a seamless experience for both attendees and organizers. Look for intuitive navigation, fast performance, and a backend CMS that makes content updates easy. And, of course, it needs to be cost-effective — especially for small to mid-sized events.
A powerful event app isn’t just a digital program — it’s the backbone of the attendee experience. By prioritizing these 10 must-have features, event organizers can deliver a smarter, more engaging, and more memorable event. Whether you’re hosting an internal corporate summit or a multi-day conference, the right event app can transform how your audience connects, learns, and engages.