Swapcard alternative: Swapcard pricing, strengths, and other options
Swapcard is a strong event platform for trade shows and association meetings, with AI matchmaking and deep exhibitor tools. People look for a Swapcard alternative when the annual contract and attendee-volume pricing are more than one conference needs, or when they want a simpler app their committee can run. This page covers what Swapcard costs, what it does well, and the realistic options, ConferenceTap included.
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What Swapcard does well
Swapcard is built around connections between people. Its matchmaking uses profile data, in-app activity, and stated interests to suggest who attendees should meet, and the suggestions improve as people use the app. In January 2026 it added hosted buyer and smart meetings, where buyers mark exhibitors as must meet, nice to meet, or exclude, and the system builds meeting schedules within the organizer's rules and quotas.
Exhibitors are the other half of the product. Swapcard's exhibitor tools include badge scanning by QR code and NFC in its iOS and Android apps, offline scanning that syncs later, lead scoring and qualification forms, and export to a CRM. Swapcard also sells its own registration product and has an AI assistant called Sherlock. In July 2026, ASAE named Swapcard its official event app partner. Reviewers on G2 and Capterra mostly praise ease of use, support, and matchmaking.
Pick Swapcard if exhibitors and buyers are the reason your event exists: a trade show, an expo, or an association meeting where sponsors measure success in qualified leads and booked meetings. It also fits organizers who run a portfolio of events and want one annual platform for all of them.
Look further if you run one or a few conferences a year, your sponsors need a booth and a profile more than a lead scoring system, and you want a price that does not move with attendee or exhibitor counts.
What Swapcard costs
Swapcard does not publish a full price list. Its pricing page describes three parts: an annual license fee for platform access, a charge based on the volume of attendees and exhibitors during the subscription, and add-ons and services. All plans are annual subscriptions with net-30 payment terms. There is no monthly billing and no per-event price; the subscription costs the same whether you run one event or several.
The entry price is small, but it is not what most conferences pay. Swapcard's pricing page has listed a self-service starting price of about $610 a year, and Capterra lists the same figure. Event plans with real attendance are quoted. Swapcard's organizer terms say that if you exceed the attendee or exhibitor block in your plan, you move to the next available plan. Its terms also ask for 90 days' notice before the end date to cancel. Some features, such as advanced registration, floor plans, and onsite services, can be priced separately depending on the package.
Questions to put to Swapcard. How many attendees and exhibitors does my quote include? What happens to the price if registrations run 20% over? Which features in the demo are add-ons? Is there a free plan for a small first event? What is the renewal price, and when is the cancellation deadline?
How ConferenceTap prices it. One flat price per event, or one price for a year of events, quoted for your calendar. The price does not go up with attendance, organizer seats, or features. Paid tickets carry 3% plus Stripe processing; free tickets are free. See how the plans work.
ConferenceTap and Swapcard side by side
We only fill in what we can verify from a published source. Where we could not confirm a Swapcard detail, the cell tells you to ask Swapcard.
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| What to compare | ConferenceTap | Swapcard |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat price per event or per year, quoted by email. No per-attendee fee. | Annual license plus a charge for attendee and exhibitor volume, plus add-ons. No per-event or monthly option. |
| Starting price | Quoted for your event or calendar. | Self-service plans from about $610 a year, per its pricing page and Capterra. Event plans are quoted. |
| Attendees included | Unlimited registrations. | A block per plan. Going over moves you to the next plan, per its organizer terms. |
| Organizer logins | Unlimited. | Ask Swapcard. |
| How attendees get in | In the browser on any phone or laptop, with a free account. Nothing to install. | iOS and Android apps, plus a web version. |
| Networking | Attendee directory, direct messages, forum, and 1:1 video speed networking. | AI matchmaking, meeting booking, and hosted buyer scheduling. |
| Exhibitors and sponsors | Sponsor pages and expo booths. | Exhibitor profiles, QR and NFC badge scanning, lead scoring, CRM export. |
| Live video | Built in. Up to 15,000 attendees per session, with breakouts, Q&A, polls, and recordings. No Zoom license. | Ask Swapcard for session limits and what is included in your plan. |
| Registration and check-in | Registration pages and QR check-in from any phone. | Swapcard Registration and onsite check-in. Some registration and onsite features can be priced separately. |
| Paid ticket fees | 3% + Stripe processing (2.9% + 30¢). No fee on free tickets. | Ask Swapcard. |
| Onboarding | 1:1 onboarding and a designated customer success manager on both plans. | Dedicated implementation and strategic support may be priced separately, per its pricing page. |
| Contract terms | One Event, or Unlimited Events for a year. Nonprofit discount on request. | Annual, net-30, 90 days' notice to cancel before the end date. |
Sources checked October 13, 2026: the Swapcard pricing page (annual plans, license and volume pricing, net-30, no monthly or per-event price, starting price, separately priced features); Swapcard organizer terms (plan overage, notice period); Capterra's Swapcard pricing listing; Swapcard's pages on networking, hosted buyer and smart meetings, exhibitors, and the AI assistant; the Swapcard Registration release note; ASAE partner announcement (July 8, 2026); and reviews on G2 and Capterra. Third-party prices can lag the vendor's. ConferenceTap details are from conferencetap.com and our knowledge base on the same date. Confirm current terms with each provider before you sign.
Other Swapcard alternatives worth a look
The right replacement depends on what you use Swapcard for. If exhibitor leads and buyer meetings are the point of your event, look at platforms with the same focus. If attendees mostly need the agenda, live sessions, and a way to meet each other, a simpler conference app may do.
Networking-first apps such as Brella compete with Swapcard on matchmaking and meeting booking. Compare them if one-to-one business meetings are the main thing attendees come for.
Large suites such as Cvent and Bizzabo cover registration, venues, and marketing for big event teams. See our Cvent comparison and Bizzabo comparison.
Association-friendly event apps such as Whova have an installed app many attendees already know. See our Whova comparison.
ConferenceTap fits a conference that wants agenda, live sessions, networking, sponsors, and check-in on one flat price, with no app to install and a founder you can email.
What to check before switching from Swapcard
Do this with a real agenda and made-up attendee records before your Swapcard renewal date. Swapcard's terms ask for notice 90 days before the end of the subscription, so start early.
- Find your Swapcard renewal and notice dates. Put the notice deadline on the calendar.
- Export attendee lists, exhibitor leads, meeting data, and session content while you still have access. Check the file formats.
- List what your exhibitors use. If they rely on lead scoring and CRM sync, confirm what the new platform offers before you promise them anything.
- Ask us to import a sample agenda with at least two tracks. Open it on a phone and check every session, room, and speaker.
- Run a test live session with a few colleagues. Try Q&A, a poll, and a breakout room.
- Get both quotes in writing: platform, ticketing fees, and anything sold as an add-on.
These are evaluation steps, not a promise that every Swapcard export maps cleanly into ConferenceTap. Download the quote comparison worksheet (CSV) to keep both quotes side by side.
Swapcard questions organizers ask
How much does Swapcard cost?
Swapcard sells annual subscriptions only. The price is a license fee plus a charge for the volume of attendees and exhibitors, plus any add-ons. Its pricing page has listed a self-service starting price of about $610 a year, and event plans are quoted. There is no monthly billing and no per-event price, as of October 13, 2026.
Does Swapcard have a free plan?
Third-party listings disagree, and Swapcard's pricing page does not settle it. Ask Swapcard directly for a small first event.
Is ConferenceTap cheaper than Swapcard?
It depends on your attendance, exhibitor count, and which Swapcard features you need. Swapcard's price grows with attendee and exhibitor volume. ConferenceTap quotes one flat price per event or per year, with unlimited registrations and organizers included. Send us your dates and expected attendance and we will send a number you can put next to Swapcard's quote.
Is Swapcard better for trade shows?
For exhibitor-heavy events, Swapcard has more depth: badge scanning in its apps, lead scoring, CRM export, and hosted buyer meeting scheduling. ConferenceTap gives sponsors pages and expo booths, which suits a conference with sponsors more than a show built around exhibitor leads.
Do attendees need to download an app?
Swapcard has iOS and Android apps and a web version. ConferenceTap runs in the browser on any phone or laptop. Attendees create a free account when they register, and there is nothing to install.
Can I see ConferenceTap with my own event before my Swapcard renewal?
Yes. Book a demo and we will build a sample of your event with you, so you can try the attendee app and organizer tools before you decide.
See ConferenceTap run an event like yours
Bring your agenda, your sponsor list, and your attendance numbers. We will show you the attendee view, the organizer portal, and the price for your event.
- Your event format, tracks, and expected attendance
- What your sponsors and exhibitors need from the app
- Your renewal date, timeline, branding, and budget