Guidebook Reviews

“invite-only login is frustrating

Pros

It connects with Open Water which lets us use a single platform to organize and manage our conference. After the app is finally downloaded and an attendee gets through the very messy login process, it is easy for attendees to use.

Cons

Invite-only setup is extremely frustrating. We need access limited to people who have actually registered for our conference but forcing them to log in through an email link causes major problems, especially when some phones block that link. There should be a way for us to upload registered attendees' email addresses so they can sign in and set up their own password without relying on email links. It would also help a lot if we could download QR codes for each attendee to add to conference badges, so they would not need their phone to be scanned into a session. Attendees should also be able to view which sessions they were scanned into. On top of that, either we or the attendees should be able to print certificates of attendance directly from the platform instead of making us export attendance records, sort everything manually, build a separate certificate process and email them one by one.

“all-in-one orientation hub

Pros

Having everything in one place made a huge difference for our event. We were able to put agendas, maps, surveys, ads, reminders and more in a single location, so parents and students could quickly find whatever they needed. During New Student Orientation, it helped us stay on track and gave us a go-to spot for answers to most of the FAQs that would have otherwise flooded our administrative offices. The map feature was especially useful and even cut down on the number of people getting lost around campus.

Cons

We did run into a couple of technical problems while uploading our agenda but once we contacted support, they were quick to respond and very helpful. The issues were sorted out without much delay.

“familiar and user-friendly tool

Pros

It's very easy to use and most of my conference attendees already feel comfortable with it because it's so familiar.

Cons

Only thing I'd change is making the session import process less tough.

“perfect fit for our conference

Pros

This mobile app has been the perfect tool for running our academic conference. Adding information is very easy and it helped us organize 40+ sessions in a single day without trouble. The college community also really enjoys using it.

Cons

Edit button should be much more visible. Right now, it's tucked away under the three little dots in a spot that's easy to miss.

“quick setup

Pros

Getting everything up and running was really easy for us and attendees have no trouble using it.

Cons

I just wish there were a way to keep all the course materials in one central place so attendees could access everything there.

“great for flexible editing

Pros

Getting started was pretty easy and making changes when needed has been simple for us too.

Cons

Downside is that text messaging isn't included unless you pay extra for a costly add-on.

“user-friendly and flexible for events

Pros

Coming from a marketing background rather than IT, I appreciate how user-friendly the platform is for me. It's manageable even for non-technical admins and creating and navigating events as a host is free for us. The pricing model based on the number of users also makes the value clear and practical.

Cons

Pricing structure is a concern, though. I'd love to send live inquiries or surveys during events but those features are priced too high for what they offer.

“live updates that work instantly

Pros

One thing I really appreciate is that attendees can log in whenever they need to and the live update feature takes effect right away for everyone at the same time.

Cons

Explaining every feature can be a bit challenging at first but that's just part of learning any program and it takes a little time to get familiar with it.

“conference schedule at your fingertips

Pros

Getting to the conference schedule is really convenient and quick for me.

Cons

Interaction between attendees feels more complicated than it should be.

“conference tools that deliver

Pros

Hosting conferences has been much more manageable with this for us. Attendees can browse the available workshops, take their own notes and connect with colleagues all in one place which makes the overall event experience much more useful and engaging for us.

Cons

Only downside was the cost which felt a bit high for our non-profit since we only used it for a handful of large events and conferences. That said, their staff was willing to work with us and help us get the best possible deal.

“modern event app flexibility

Pros

Very few event apps let us store documents locally so 1,000+ attendees can access them reliably at the same time and that has been a big advantage for us. I also really appreciate the modern interface and how easily it can be customized across both the mobile and web versions.

Cons

Built-in PDF viewer still needs some important upgrades to be more practical, especially the option to jump to a specific page and to search within the document.

“conference app that delivered

Pros

Bringing this app into our conference turned out to be a really good decision for us. It was very simple to get everything set up, easy to use and the pricing was extremely affordable for us.

Cons

There were no problems at all from our side, only positive feedback about how well it worked. Our conference attendees also had nothing but complimentary things to say.

“simple conference navigation

Pros

Getting around the software feels very easy for me and it makes it easy to locate details for conferences and breakout sessions.

Cons

Nothing comes to mind at the moment that I dislike about the software.

“convenient backend for event builds

Pros

The backend interface is pretty simple. I've been able to get my event staff and interns up to speed on building powerful apps for our events without much trouble.

Cons

At the same time, it feels due for a bit of a refresh. The look has stayed basically the same for more than five years. It's not bad but as someone who builds in the platform every week, I'd really welcome an updated style and design.

“Instant updates for conventions

Pros

Having this is so much better than dealing with a printed convention schedule for us. It can be updated instantly and can show tons of different sections for events, panels and booths. It really helps us and our attendees find everything there is to do.

Cons

My only complaint is when convention organizers do not use it to its full potential and release it in an unfinished state. That is really it.

“handy searchable conference booklet

Pros

At conferences with digital event booklets, this has been really useful for us. Being able to search by keywords or numbers made the digitized version much more convenient to use.

Cons

Interface feels a bit crowded, with a lot of options that didn't seem very useful. It would be easier to get around if there were less clutter.

“flexible event setup win

Pros

Running our event app build with this as a first-time user went much better than I expected because it is very user-friendly and quick to learn for me. One thing that really helped was being able to build everything first and only publish it when it was ready to go live, so there wasn't constant stress about accidentally breaking something before the event. I also really appreciated how customizable the features were for us. We could add things like a map, speaker list, sponsors, surveys and more, then adjust those features to fit exactly what we needed. We even needed a project checklist and I was able to upload my own icon so it matched the custom feature which was a nice touch for me. Another feature that ended up being extremely useful was the schedule tracking, since attendees could see which workshops or sessions they were supposed to attend based on their team or track. That made managing a large group much more organized for us.

Cons

One area that was definitely harder than it should have been was the survey setup. It took some digging to understand that you can't just build the survey from inside the guide you're working on. You have to leave that area, go back to the dashboard, click into surveys and polls and then create and edit everything there before attaching each survey to the right event. Since we had separate surveys for every workshop, it became a little nerve-racking making sure each one was connected to the correct session. Downloading survey results was also not very simple, because that has to be done from the dashboard rather than the survey section itself. That part was confusing. It's also not especially simple to make edits once the guide is live, because some changes can be a bit complicated. I'd strongly suggest checking everything carefully before publishing. On the positive side, being able to test the guide before making it live was really helpful.

“useful campus event hub

Pros

As a central spot on the phone for visitors to check details about campus events, it does its job really well for us. For that purpose, it is genuinely useful and works nicely as a single place to direct people for information.

Cons

Customization options are very limited. Being stuck with their preset color palette is frustrating and it just doesn't make much sense.

“real-time scheduling powerhouse

Pros

One of the biggest strengths of this software for me was how scalable it is and how quickly updates can be pushed out in real time. That made a huge difference during orientation training for our student staff when I was working as a Resident Director. There were plenty of moments when room locations changed unexpectedly, or lunch breaks and sessions had to be shifted at the last minute. Being able to update the schedule directly in the app honestly saved us from chaos, because the alternative would have been trying to spread the word by email or by telling people one by one and our student staff definitely were not checking email during orientation. In situations like that, the live updates absolutely saved the day and made the whole event look organized and under control, even when the planning team behind the scenes was scrambling. It was also very valuable for CRM integration for us which mattered a lot for our tracking and reporting needs. Between the syncing features and list creation tools, there is a lot we can do. We were able to use it for student events, measure ROI for programs and budget planning and even identify new leads for possible future programs with vendors or campus groups. There is a lot of flexibility built in and we can tailor it to fit what our organization needs.

Cons

Biggest challenge for us was the pricing, especially since we were working with a limited budget and fairly large training groups. There are options between self-service and full-service, so there is at least some room to choose what fits best. Still, once budget cuts hit, we just could not afford to keep using it. That said, the full-service option does give you control over branding which is fantastic, so if that matters to your team it is definitely worth keeping in mind.

“reliable and professional app

Pros

Getting started with this platform felt very natural for me because it is incredibly simple to use. It offers a professional, functional and user-friendly app experience, whether I'm just starting to launch an app or need something more advanced. It works well both for the people building the app and for the people using it.

Cons

Only thing I'd love to see added is a lead retrieval option.

“simple setup and effortless use

Pros

Managing every part of the program feels very easy for us and it works really well for people using it onsite. Even users who aren't very comfortable with technology were able to download it without trouble and start using it right away.

Cons

For what I need it for, I haven't come across anything that felt confusing, hard to learn, or difficult to use.

“fantastic event guide tools

Pros

One thing that has worked really well for me is being able to send notifications to event attendees. Cloning guides is also a huge time-saver since I don't have to rebuild everything from scratch for the next event. Uploading documents is simple and the banner feature is a nice addition too.

Cons

A couple of things could still be improved. There's no Instagram icon available for social media and attendees sometimes get confused between a preview guide and a live guide. It would make more sense to have just one version of the guide visible when they download it.

“flexible scheduling that really helps

Pros

One feature that's been especially useful for me is My Schedule. Being able to customize my schedule makes a big difference, especially when there are so many options to sort through.

Cons

The only thing I'd really like to see improved is the ability to prevent people from downloading on multiple devices.

“our users loved it

Pros

Getting this application up and running was very easy for us and using it has been just as simple. I didn't have to deal with any programming-style tasks at all which was a huge plus. Their customer support team guided us through the setup step by step and was also there whenever we had questions later on. Best of all, our end users absolutely loved the app.

Cons

It is a little expensive but I still think it was worth paying for. We chose to pay for two years upfront so we could get a discount.

“simple setup and management

Pros

The app was getting up and running easy for me and managing it didn't take much effort. Even someone without a technical background can handle it without trouble.

Cons

The downside is that it costs noticeably more than other similar apps in this category.

“perfect fit for RA training

Pros

Right from the start, the platform felt very user-friendly for us and my students had no trouble finding their way around it. It also included a feature that matched exactly what I needed, especially for RA training.

Cons

Nothing really fell short on the functionality side. The only reason we aren't able to keep using it is that our budget is limited and the cost is too high for us right now.

“fast support and flexible guides

Pros

Getting around the platform feels very easy for me and whenever I'm unsure how to do something, the support team gets back to me incredibly fast. I really enjoy the customization options and the simple drag-and-drop setup. Being able to copy content from one guide into another is also a huge time-saver when I'm building things out.

Cons

Every now and then, there are minor glitches that make me refresh the page but it's nothing major. Any problems that come up feel pretty normal since no platform is completely perfect and they usually get fixed quickly. One thing I'd still love to see is the ability to copy sponsor cards into the next guide since they're often the same each time.

“excellent features and app quality

Pros

Using it has been very easy for us, both for admins and end users, the app quality feels excellent and the features are genuinely useful.

Cons

The only request I keep hearing from users is support for Google Calendar integration.

“more value every year

Pros

Every year, the event app keeps improving for us and becomes even more useful for my attendees. New features are added regularly which keeps increasing the overall value. The interactive social feed gives attendees a good way to connect with one another and push notifications help me highlight important events throughout the conference. I also really appreciate the session evaluation feature, since it gives our presenters immediate feedback after educational sessions.

Cons

There are still a few features I wish it had, such as the ability to jump to a specific letter of the alphabet when browsing presenters. That said, whenever I've suggested ideas for future updates, the responses have been positive. One thing I haven't loved is how often the interface for building the app seems to change. It's still simple to use but visually it feels like the design changes more often than I'd prefer.

“friendly gui and simple publishing

Pros

From the start, the interface felt very user-friendly for me. I was able to begin designing a page with no prior experience and didn't run into any issues. Editing content and publishing pages or updates was easy. It also helped that we could add plenty of information before making the guide live. Sending the guide out by text link during registration was simple as well.

Cons

Previously, searching for guides was a bit difficult, although that does seem to have gotten better.

“interactive scheduling done right

Pros

Putting together our conference schedule with this app worked really well for us and attendees could browse sessions and add the ones they wanted to their own agenda without any trouble. They especially enjoyed the interactive features, like posting pictures and asking questions that everyone could see.

Cons

The price is definitely high, although I honestly haven't come across a lower-cost option that offers the same level of quality.

“fantastic support and value

Pros

Between the guide app builder, the huge library of resources and the phenomenal support team, this platform delivers a lot of value for us. The system for creating your guide app is incredibly helpful and the pricing is hard to beat for everything that's included.

Cons

There aren't really any major downsides. If anything, I'd like a little more guidance or flexibility around customization so it can align more closely with branding standards but I can also see how adding that might increase the cost. I'd rather keep the pricing where it is.

“perfect for no-code app building

Pros

When my computer applications class let us pick outside software to build the app we wanted, I tried a few different options before landing on this one. Out of everything I tested, this was the simplest tool for putting together my own workout logging app and unlike the other programs, it didn't expect me to have any coding knowledge.

Cons

I don't have any real complaints about it, especially considering the price.

“helpful event details and reminders

Pros

Each event comes with detailed sections which I really appreciate and being able to set reminders makes it even more useful for me.

Cons

It would be even better if a dark mode option could be added.

“quick setup without coding

Pros

Getting started with it was incredibly easy for us. I don't have a coding background and that wasn't a problem at all. With very little help, I was able to launch something usable pretty quickly.

Cons

There wasn't anything in particular about the software that bothered me. I was testing several options for a specific use case and this one felt more focused on events and conferences which is why it didn't cover every single thing I needed.

“conference app builder shines

Pros

Even without any coding background, I've been able to use it comfortably to build an app for a large conference. The platform is very user-friendly for me and it works well for team collaboration since multiple people can be admins at once. We're all able to make edits, upload photos, add descriptions and keep everything looking polished. The finished app looks fantastic on mobile devices and really elevates our conference experience. I also appreciate the metrics, since they show us where we should focus our improvements and efforts.

Cons

Since we use it every year, one small annoyance is that when I sign in, it always opens the first app instead of the most recent one. It's not a major issue but it does get frustrating.

“cost-effective scheduling features

Pros

One thing I really appreciate is the pricing model for us, since organizations only pay for users who are actually downloading and using the app. Being able to upload schedules from a spreadsheet is helpful too.

Cons

One feature I seem to be missing is the ability for users to rate or review the sessions they attend during an event. Without that, collecting feedback can be more challenging.

“conference planning made effortless

Pros

After using it at several conferences, I've really appreciated how simple it is to use for us and how completely it replaces printed schedules and handouts. Being able to choose the sessions I want to attend, set calendar reminders and browse everything happening on a specific day or time slot makes planning incredibly convenient. Having maps, PowerPoints, speaker notes and even social networking features all in one app gives attendees quick access to everything they need.

Cons

For what I needed, I honestly didn't run into any issues with the software or how it worked.

“fantastic value and live updates

Pros

Right from the start, the pricing felt spot on for us and the setup was quick to get through. The WYSIWYG editor is a nice touch, push notifications are available and live updates keep event attendees informed in real time. There's also an optional social section you can enable which helps make the event more interactive for guests.

Cons

It doesn't always send every single update a user might expect to be pushed.

“conference schedule right in my pocket

Pros

As a conference attendee, I really enjoyed using this. Having the full conference schedule on my phone was incredibly convenient and being able to add my own sessions, check a map for room locations and read through details for each session made the whole experience much better.

Cons

When we used it at our university for an Open House event, setting it up for guests was more complicated than I expected. Because our Open House took place across the entire campus instead of in one building, it was hard to get the map feature working in a truly effective way. And whenever I ran into questions during setup, I was pointed to online help tutorials which weren't always very useful.

“simple setup our team loved

Pros

The platform is very easy to use and our employees really appreciated how simple it feels.

Cons

The only downside was needing a few support calls for certain customizations because the instructions were limited.

“fantastic UI and support

Pros

The UI is excellent and building apps feels very easy. Their customer service has also been outstanding. There are plenty of event app platforms out there but this one is easily my favorite, both as an end user and from the admin side.

Cons

Because the App Store no longer supports branded apps, you have to build your app inside their main app now. It's not a dealbreaker but I do wish Apple wasn't so restrictive.

“conference details all in one place

Pros

During Annual Conference, having everything organized in one list, events, dinners, speakers and more, made it much easier to keep up when there was already so much going on. It even gave me access to information I hadn't seen before. Back when the Conference relied on printed materials, I simply missed some of those details.

Cons

Since it was my first year and the Conference was so large, it felt a bit overwhelming at times depending on what I was trying to find, mainly because there was just so much information packed into it.

“handy conference companion

Pros

After using it for a few years, mostly as a conference attendee, it has really cut down my need for paper schedules which I appreciate. Unless I'm presenting and want a printed copy on hand, I can rely on the app instead. It's pretty easy to use in most cases and it lets you handle registration and check-in, add guides, schedules, reminders and send push notifications to users. I also looked into using it in my own office and even helped set up a trial. For our university training work with undergraduate student staff, it seemed like a very useful option. In the end, though, the cost felt a bit too high for how much value we would realistically get from it, so I chose not to move forward.

Cons

One part that still feels awkward is the schedule browsing. It can be a bit clunky, sometimes it loses your place or refreshes on its own which gets annoying. The search tool helps a lot when you already know exactly what you're trying to find but the overall organization isn't really built for any one specific setting. Because of that, it works reasonably well across different use cases but in each individual context it still feels like something is missing.

“paperless updates anywhere

Pros

Using this has been really easy and being able to make edits on the spot is something I really appreciate. It cuts down on a huge amount of paper and helps keep all the information current when accuracy really matters. I've used it while traveling and also when working with large groups and it has handled both situations very well.

Cons

I really haven't come across any of the usual issues or frustrations with this product. It feels easy and accessible to use.

“excellent for finding rare books

Pros

Tracking down hard-to-find books is very convenient for me with this software. It's easy to use and there's a wide variety of books available, including specialized titles. Overall, it works really well for us.

Cons

At times, it can be a little slow and may freeze briefly but overall it's still pleasant to use and works well in general.