Event app development for conferences, festivals and corporate events
Custom event apps that engage attendees, support organisers and give sponsors measurable exposure. From intimate boardroom sessions to multi-day festivals with thousands of visitors.
What we build: event apps that strengthen your event
An event app is more than a digital programme booklet. It is the central hub where attendees build their agenda, discover speakers, make connections and interact in real time. We develop custom event applications that fit seamlessly with your event concept, whether it's an intimate networking event or a multi-day international conference.
Our event apps run on iOS and Android and are optionally available as a Progressive Web App, so attendees can get started straight away without installing anything. The back end is built on scalable cloud infrastructure that handles thousands of simultaneous users without difficulty, including real-time updates and push notifications.
Conference apps
Personal schedules, speaker profiles, session ratings and interactive floor plans. Ideal for business conferences, seminars and corporate kick-offs with personalised tracks.
Festival apps
Line-up browsers, stage timetables, location maps with GPS navigation and food and drink locators. Built for traffic peaks and offline availability on busy festival grounds.
Hybrid event platforms
Live streaming integration, virtual networking spaces, on-demand content and parallel engagement for both in-person and remote attendees. The same experience, wherever you are.
Core features of our event apps
Every event app we develop is made up of modular building blocks that you combine based on your event type. Below are the features that make the difference between a generic app and a tool that attendees keep using.
Real-time polls and Q&A
Attendees ask questions, vote on each other's contributions and answer live polls directly from the app. Speakers see results in real time on their presentation screen. Moderators filter and prioritise submissions for a structured interaction.
Networking and matchmaking
AI-driven matchmaking based on profile, interests and goals. Attendees schedule one-to-one meetings via a built-in calendar, see who else is attending a session and receive suggestions for relevant connections.
Badge scanning and check-in
QR code or NFC badge scanning for swift check-in at the event and for individual sessions. Organisers see occupancy levels in real time. Attendees also visit sponsor stands, where scans unlock digital goodie bags.
Multi-day agenda with personalisation
Attendees build their own schedule from parallel tracks and receive session reminders. When the programme changes, real-time notifications push the update to everyone affected.
Sponsor exposure tools
Integrated sponsor profiles, branded notifications, in-app advertising and interactive sponsor challenges. Measure sponsor ROI through impressions, clicks and badge scans. Give sponsors their own dashboard to see their reach.
Event analytics and ROI dashboard
Real-time dashboards showing visitor numbers, session popularity, engagement scores, networking activity and app adoption. Export data to your CRM or marketing platform for post-event follow-up and ROI reporting.
Event types where our apps excel
From corporate boardrooms to open-air festival grounds, every event places different demands on technology. We tailor the architecture, features and scalability to your specific scenario.
Business conferences
Multi-track agendas, speaker directories, live voting during plenary sessions, matchmaking for B2B networking and lead capture via badge scanning at expo stands.
Festivals and concerts
Line-up schedules with set times, GPS maps with points of interest, cashless payments via NFC wristband integration and social sharing of favourite acts.
Trade fairs and exhibitions
Interactive floor plans with stand locations, meeting schedulers for visitors and exhibitors, product catalogues per stand and lead scanning for exhibitors.
Corporate events and team days
Gamification elements, team challenges, internal communication, photo-sharing walls and live leaderboards. Integration with internal systems such as Microsoft Teams or Slack.
Hackathons and workshops
Team formation, challenge briefs, mentor booking, submission portals and jury scoring modules. Real-time scoreboards and countdown timers keep the energy high.
Hybrid and virtual events
Low-latency live streaming, breakout rooms, virtual exhibition halls, chat and reactions, and equal engagement tools for in-person and online attendees.
Technology and architecture
Our event apps are built on a modern, scalable stack that performs reliably under peak load. Think thousands of simultaneous poll responses or push notifications to every attendee at once.
Frontend and mobile
Cross-platform development with React Native or Flutter, so iOS and Android are served from a single codebase. Optionally, a PWA variant gives attendees direct access through the browser without installing an app.
Backend and real-time
Cloud-native backend on Node.js or Python with WebSocket connections for live updates. Auto-scaling infrastructure that effortlessly scales from 50 to 50,000 concurrent users without any loss of performance.
Integrations
Integration with your existing event ecosystem: ticketing platforms, CRM systems, marketing automation and payment platforms. Via REST APIs and webhooks, the app communicates seamlessly with your tools.
Live streaming and video
Integration of professional streaming solutions for hybrid events. Adaptive bitrate streaming, multi-camera support and interactive overlays for polls and Q&A during live sessions.
Our development process for event apps
Event apps have one distinctive requirement: they must work flawlessly on a fixed date. Our process is built around this, with generous testing phases and clear, deadline-driven planning.
Discovery and event analysis
We map out your event: type, scale, target audience, desired features and existing systems. This results in a functional design and technical architecture that suits your deadline and budget.
UX design and prototyping
Interactive prototypes show the complete flow, from onboarding to session check-in. Your team tests the flow before a single line of code is written, so changes are quick and inexpensive.
Sprint-based development
Agile development with demos every two weeks. You see the app take shape and can steer its direction. The backend and real-time features are developed in parallel and integrated continuously.
Load testing and dress rehearsal
Stress tests simulate peak load on the day of the event. We test push notifications, poll responses and check-in flows under realistic conditions, so you can go live with confidence.
Launch and live support
On the day of the event, our team is on standby. Monitoring dashboards, hotfixes within minutes and direct communication with your organising team. Afterwards: data export and an evaluation report.
Why choose Appfront for your event app
We combine in-depth app development expertise with an understanding of the events industry. The result is apps that are not only technically solid but also suited to the dynamics of live events.
Deadline-driven development
An event cannot be postponed because the app isn't ready. Our planning accounts for App Store review times, content population by your team and extensive rounds of testing.
Scalable by design
From 200 to 20,000 attendees: the architecture scales with you. Auto-scaling infrastructure ensures the app never crashes at the moment everyone logs in at once.
Post-event value
The app lives on after the event: on-demand sessions, networking follow-ups, surveys and community building for your next edition. Not a disposable app, but an ongoing platform.
Frequently asked questions about event app development
How long does it take to develop an event app?
+A full-featured event app is typically ready in 8 to 14 weeks, depending on complexity and the number of integrations. Simpler conference apps with standard features can be quicker. We recommend starting at least three months before the event, so there is sufficient time for testing and content population.
Can the app be built for both iOS and Android?
+Yes, we build event apps cross-platform with React Native or Flutter, so iOS and Android are served from a shared codebase. This saves development time and ensures a consistent experience on both platforms. Optionally, we can also deliver a PWA version for direct browser access.
How is the app populated with content and programme information?
+You get a user-friendly CMS dashboard that lets your team manage speakers, sessions, sponsors and practical information independently. Changes appear in the app straight away. For recurring events, the programme can be duplicated and adjusted for the next edition.
Does the app also work without an internet connection?
+The app is designed on offline-first principles. The programme, maps and personal agendas are cached locally. Attendees can consult the schedule without coverage. Interactive features such as polls and chat do require a connection, but they synchronise automatically as soon as the network returns.
Can the app be integrated with our ticketing system?
+Certainly. We integrate with common ticketing platforms such as Eventbrite, Ticketmaster and Momice, as well as custom registration systems via API. Attendees log in with their ticket details and see their personalised programme straight away.
What happens to the data after the event?
+Afterwards, you receive a full data export with engagement statistics, session attendance, networking activity and sponsor metrics. All personal data is processed in line with GDPR guidelines. You can choose to keep the app active for community building or on-demand content until the next edition.
Ready to take your event to the next level?
Tell us about your event and discover how a custom app enriches the experience for attendees, speakers and sponsors.