10 Best lead capture tools for trade shows

Trade shows remain a cornerstone of B2B marketing, but turning booth visitors into qualified leads requires the right strategy and software. Having a dedicated event lead capture app can dramatically improve lead management and conversion rates – exhibitors who use digital lead capture see 3× higher conversion rates than those relying on paper forms.

For event marketers, event directors, CMOs, business owners, exhibitors, trade show organizers, event organizers, event profs, sales reps, and sales directors, choosing the right lead capture tools is critical. The best solutions go beyond simple badge scanning. They incorporate features like AI-powered lead enrichment, real-time lead scoring, seamless CRM integration, and even event gamification to engage attendees.

Below, we compare the 10 best lead capture apps for trade shows in 2025 – using the feature benchmarks set by momencio, our top pick, to evaluate each competitor.

Key features to look for in trade show lead capture tools

• AI lead enrichment
• Lead nurturing
• Real-time engagement tracking
• Lead scoring analytics
• badge/business card scanning
• Offline lead data capture
• CRM integration
• Gamification

These capabilities ensure you capture richer data and follow up effectively on every lead.

Table: comparison of key features across top lead capture tools.

Now, let’s dive into the top tools that can help you maximize ROI from trade show leads.

1. momencio

momencio is an all-in-one event lead capture platform and our top choice for trade show exhibitors. It stands out for its AI-powered lead enrichment, robust lead nurturing, and real-time engagement tracking – a combination few others provide in a single tool. momencio enables teams to capture leads via badge scans or business card photos and instantly enrich those contacts with additional data (e.g., job titles, company info, LinkedIn profiles) using AI. This means you’re not just collecting names but building complete prospect profiles on the fly.

Key features of momencio:

• AI lead enrichment: momencio’s proprietary AI EdgeCapture automatically adds missing details to lead records (e.g., work email, title, social links) within seconds of scanning. This gives sales reps a 360° view of each prospect without manual research.
• Real-time lead scoring & analytics: Every interaction is tracked – momencio scores leads based on engagement level and content interactions, helping prioritize hot prospects. A real-time dashboard shows which booth visitors opened follow-up emails or viewed shared content, so sales can strike while the iron is hot.
• Seamless CRM integration: Captured leads sync instantly with your CRM or marketing automation system (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce, Marketo) with zero manual effort. This ensures no lead “falls through the cracks” – a known cause of lost opportunities.
• Automated lead nurturing: momencio triggers personalized follow-up emails and nurture campaigns the moment a lead is captured. It references the exact content discussed or requested by the attendee, creating a tailored follow-up while the conversation is still fresh. Leads contacted within 24 hours are 7× more likely to convert.
• Event gamification: To boost engagement, momencio includes gamification features like interactive quizzes and prize giveaways directly in the app. This draws in more booth traffic and encourages attendees to share their info in exchange for playing a game or entering a contest.
• Digital content library: Sales reps can present product videos, brochures, and slide decks from a built-in library and share them with leads on the spot. momencio then tracks which content each lead engages with (e.g., opened a PDF or watched a video) – invaluable insight for tailoring follow-ups.
• Offline capability: Even if Wi-Fi is spotty on the show floor, momencio works offline and will sync data once back online. This offline mode ensures you never miss a lead due to connectivity issues.
• Intuitive interface: Despite its power, users report momencio is easy to use. Its mobile app interface is straightforward for booth staff to scan badges, annotate notes, and qualify leads quickly – minimizing training time and maximizing adoption.

Why momencio is the preferred lead capture tool for in-person events

momencio essentially combines the best aspects of all other tools into one platform. It replaces the need for separate badge scanners, business card OCR apps, lead scoring spreadsheets, and email follow-up tools – it’s all integrated. This unified approach eliminates data silos and manual work, letting your team focus on meaningful conversations instead of tedious data entry.

Crucially, momencio addresses the biggest gap in trade show lead capture – ‘what happens after the scan?‘. By enriching lead data, engaging with personalized content, and scoring them based off their interests and behavior in real time, momencio prevents the drop-off where up to 80% of trade show leads are typically lost due to poor follow-up. Event marketing professionals can finally track exactly which leads turned into opportunities or sales, thanks to momencio’s end-to-end analytics. This proven impact on conversion and ROI makes momencio a superior choice for serious exhibitors and event teams.

Standout features:

• AI lead enrichment: Yes
• Lead scoring: Yes
• CRM integration: Yes
• Gamification: Yes
• Automated nurturing: Yes

2. iCapture

iCapture is a popular universal lead capture app designed to speed up booth lead collection and qualification. Exhibitors can use iCapture to scan trade show badges (2D barcodes/QR codes) or business cards and immediately capture contact info into the app. It’s known for being fast and reliable on the show floor, with an offline mode to ensure no leads are lost even if the internet drops.

Notable features:

Real-time lead scoring: iCapture automatically scores and categorizes leads in real-time based on qualifiers you set. For example, you can mark a lead as “Hot” if they answer certain questions or request a demo. This helps your sales team identify high-priority prospects immediately.

• Custom qualifiers & forms: Users can customize lead capture forms with qualifying questions (e.g., product interest, timeline, budget) and use skip logic to streamline data entry. This ensures you gather consistent info from every prospect.
• Instant CRM sync: Collected leads can sync directly to popular CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Marketo. As attendees provide information, iCapture pushes the data to your CRM in real-time, enabling reps to follow up within minutes after a conversation.
• Automated follow-up email: iCapture can send an immediate thank-you email or deliver a piece of literature to the lead right after scanning. For instance, you might configure it to automatically email a brochure or whitepaper to each scanned lead as an initial touchpoint.
• “Pick-a-winner” gamification: The app includes a simple gamification feature called “Pick-a-Winner,” essentially a digital fishbowl for prize drawings. Exhibitors can randomly select a winner from collected leads, useful for incentivizing visitors, though it’s less advanced than full gamified quizzes in other tools.
• Analytics dashboard: iCapture provides basic analytics such as the number of leads captured per event, lead qualification breakdown, and rep performance. This helps measure event ROI and compare lead quantity/quality across shows.

Where iCapture falls short

While iCapture excels at fast data capture and basic lead qualification, it lacks some advanced analytics and enrichment capabilities. Users note that its reporting on post-event engagement is limited—for example, it won’t show if a lead opened your email or visited your website (you’d need to check your CRM or marketing automation for that). iCapture also does not enrich leads with additional data beyond what’s scanned; it captures what’s on the badge or business card but doesn’t append LinkedIn profiles or other insights, a key differentiator for momencio.

Additionally, iCapture’s excellent features like real-time CRM integration and scoring come at a cost; some reviewers mention it can be pricey for smaller exhibitors or startups once you add on integrations. There’s also a small learning curve to set up custom qualifiers and automation.

Overall, iCapture is a strong lead capture app for quickly getting trade show leads into your CRM and ranked by priority. However, for teams needing deeper lead enrichment or multi-touch nurturing, you’ll need to pair it with other tools or consider a more comprehensive solution like momencio.

Benchmark comparison:

AI enrichment: No
Lead scoring: Yes
CRM integration: Yes
Gamification: Limited (basic prize draw)
Automated nurturing: Partial (sends one email)

3. Captello

Captello is a lead capture and event engagement platform that differentiates itself through event gamification. It provides a suite of interactive games and challenges to attract attendees to your booth and make lead capture more engaging. For exhibitors looking to boost engagement, Captello’s approach can help draw in crowds and encourage attendees to willingly provide their contact information in exchange for playing a game or participating in a contest.

Notable features:

• Interactive games & activations: Captello offers dozens of customizable game templates such as spin-to-win wheels, trivia quizzes, scavenger hunts, and memory games that run on tablets or kiosks at your booth. Attendees play these games, and at the end, they enter their info or scan their badge to get their score or prize. This gamification approach entertains attendees and collects their data in a less intrusive way. It’s an effective icebreaker—only genuinely interested prospects will participate, so you often get more qualified leads.
• Lead capture & qualification: Beyond games, Captello provides core lead capture functions: badge scanning, business card OCR, and custom lead forms. All leads from games or scans funnel into one system. You can include qualifier questions after games to gather key information from participants.
• Multi-event lead tracking: Captello supports enterprises that exhibit at many events. It lets you track leads across multiple trade shows or events in one place. This means you can analyze aggregate lead metrics and even identify if the same prospects visited you at different events.
• CRM & marketing integrations: Captello integrates with major CRM and marketing automation platforms (Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo) for real-time data synchronization. Data collected—including game engagement metrics—is immediately synchronized to your systems for follow-up.
• Analytics and segmentation: The platform provides analytics on game engagement (e.g., which game attracted the most participation) and lead outcomes. It also offers lead segmentation tools—you can segment and tag leads based on which game they played, their interests, or responses. This helps in sending targeted follow-ups.
• Ease of use and customization: Captello scores well on user-friendliness. You can create or edit your own custom games and lead forms without coding. Many users praise the ability to make on-the-fly changes during an event, like updating a survey question, without needing support.

Where Captello falls short

Captello’s focus on gamification can be limiting in industries or events where a game-based approach might not suit the audience, such as very formal or technical conferences. Some companies may find the gamified style doesn’t align with their brand image or attendee preferences. In such cases, Captello still works as a standard lead capture app, but you might not leverage its core strength.

Additionally, Captello does not emphasize AI-driven data enrichment like momencio—it captures what the attendee provides or what’s on their badge but won’t automatically append LinkedIn profiles or additional insights. Its analytics, while solid for engagement metrics, may not be as advanced in lead scoring algorithms as some other platforms. Users also note that cost can be a consideration; Captello’s rich feature set might come at a higher price point, a barrier for smaller exhibitors.

In summary, Captello is excellent for boosting lead quantity and attendee interaction through gamification. If your goal is to maximize booth traffic and initial lead capture in a memorable way, Captello delivers. Just be prepared to manage lead nurturing outside the app (via your CRM or marketing automation tools), since Captello’s strength is primarily at the top of the funnel. If gamification isn’t a good fit for your brand or audience, you might prefer alternative platforms more focused on data enrichment and follow-up.

Benchmark comparison:
AI enrichment: No
Lead scoring: Basic (via custom criteria)
CRM integration: Yes
Gamification: Yes
Automated nurturing: No (relies on external systems)

4. Leadature

Leadature is a long-standing lead capture solution by PRMconnect, designed specifically for exhibitions and conferences. It’s often described as a robust and reliable lead retrieval app that covers all the fundamentals of trade show lead capture. Exhibitors have used Leadature for years to scan badges, collect custom info, and immediately follow up with prospects. Think of it as a classic workhorse in this space – not flashy, but very capable.

Notable features:

• Multi-method lead capture: Leadature allows capturing leads by scanning conference badges, scanning business cards, or manual entry via forms. Its badge scanner is compatible with many trade show badge types (2D barcodes, QR codes, even RFID if available). For business cards, Leadature has built-in OCR: you snap a photo of the card and it automatically transcribes the text to create a contact record. This flexibility means you can gather leads at any event, whether or not the organizer provides scannable badges.
• Offline mode: The app works offline when connectivity is poor. This is crucial at busy trade shows where cell networks get overloaded. Leadature will store scanned data and sync it later once a connection is available, ensuring no lead data is lost.
• Custom qualifiers & surveys: Similar to others, you can set up custom qualifier questions to ask after a scan (e.g. product interest level, purchase timeline). It supports skip logic and required fields to guide booth staff through a standardized lead qualification process. This helps in qualifying and scoring leads with your own criteria on the spot.
• Instant literature emailing: One standout feature – Leadature can send a personalized “thank you” email to the lead with your literature attached, immediately after capture. For example, after talking to a visitor, you scan their badge and mark interest in Product A; the app can automatically email them your Product A brochure and a thank-you note before they’ve even left your booth. It also tracks whether the lead later clicks that email or downloads the content, providing an early engagement signal.
• Real-time dashboard & analytics: Leadature offers real-time dashboards for event managers and executives to monitor lead flow. You can see how many leads each rep has captured, lead qualification breakdowns, and other metrics during the event. Post-event, it provides reports to measure event ROI (leads captured, interactions, etc.).
• CRM integration and exports: The platform integrates with major CRMs and marketing automation (direct connections to Eloqua, Marketo, Salesforce are noted). Leads can flow directly into these systems. Additionally, you can export all your lead data to Excel/CSV at any time, which some exhibitors appreciate for backup or analysis.
• White-label branding: You can brand the app interface and emails with your company logo and colors. This is helpful for maintaining a consistent brand experience when emailing leads from the system.

Where does Leadature fall short

Leadature is often praised for being powerful and reliable, but it may not have some of the ultra-modern enhancements newer solutions boast. Notably, AI-driven enrichment is absent – it captures and uses the info given (and can OCR a biz card), but it won’t automatically append social media profiles or do predictive scoring. Its customization, while solid for forms, is said to lack some of the flexibility of newer platforms (for example, Captello’s highly customizable workflows or games).

The user interface, while functional, is a bit dated compared to slicker modern apps; new users might find it less intuitive or visually appealing. However, these are relatively minor issues and often a matter of preference. Leadature’s focus is clearly on data capture and immediate follow-up, which it does quite well.

Also, as an older solution, ensure it aligns with your IT preferences – some versions of Leadature might be deployed per event (with unique codes, etc.), so using it across many events could require coordination. In recent years, they’ve likely streamlined this, but it’s worth confirming the workflow if you plan to use Leadature at dozens of shows.

In summary, Leadature is a trustworthy lead capture app that nails the essentials: it captures leads in various ways, qualifies them, and triggers timely follow-ups. Many event professionals stick with Leadature for its consistency and offline reliability. Its real-time email follow-up feature in particular helps jump-start lead nurturing during the event itself, when prospects are most engaged. If your priority is a proven tool that your booth staff can rely on without fuss, Leadature delivers. Just be prepared to handle advanced enrichment or analytics elsewhere, as it has a somewhat traditional feature set.

Benchmark comparison:

AI enrichment: No (OCR only)
Lead scoring: Yes (via qualifiers)
CRM integration: Yes
Gamification: No
Automated nurturing: Yes (instant literature emails)

5. atEvent

atEvent is a B2B event lead management solution tailored for enterprises that demand seamless MA/CRM integration and rigorous lead qualification. It’s used by marketing and sales teams who want to go beyond basic lead capture and truly accelerate the sales cycle from events. atEvent’s mobile app equips your booth staff to capture leads anywhere – not just at the booth, but also at networking events, dinners, or anywhere during the show – and sync them instantly to your sales systems.

Notable features:

• Flexible lead capture (online & offline): With atEvent, reps can capture leads by scanning business cards or badges, or by manually entering contact info if needed. It covers the typical badge scan and OCR capabilities you’d expect. The app works offline and will upload data when connectivity is back, so roaming reps can even capture leads in hallways or off-site sessions without worry.
• Custom qualifiers and notes: atEvent allows adding custom qualifier questions and rich notes for each lead. Reps can quickly select qualifiers (like “Interest level: High/Medium/Low” or product categories of interest) and add any notes from the conversation. This on-the-spot context is incredibly useful for sales follow-up.
• Follow-up actions & triggers: A differentiator for atEvent is the ability to set follow-up actions for each lead at the time of capture. For example, a rep can flag a lead for a specific follow-up like “Send pricing info” or “Schedule demo,” which can trigger alerts or tasks in the integrated CRM. This ensures the next step is clear and can even automate parts of the follow-up process once the lead is synced.
• Deep MA/CRM integrations: atEvent is built with enterprise integration in mind. It offers flexible integrations with marketing automation and CRM systems (Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Marketo, Eloqua, HubSpot, etc.). Leads captured, along with all their qualifier responses and follow-up actions, are synced in real time to your systems for fast, personalized follow-up. Sales reps back at the office can get notified instantly when a hot lead comes in. atEvent prides itself on wide trade show coverage – meaning it can be used at virtually any event, and they’ve likely pre-mapped many events’ badge formats or provided solutions to capture data regardless of the badge type.
• Enterprise features: The solution includes things large organizations care about: GDPR consent capture (you can record consent at scan time), multilingual business card transcription (useful for international events), and account-level insights for ABM (it can tie leads to their companies and indicate if multiple leads from the same target account were captured). These features support complex B2B marketing strategies around events.
• Analytics and ROI tracking: atEvent provides dashboards to track event ROI, including number of leads, conversion of those leads (via the CRM integration you can see if they progressed), and other engagement metrics. It essentially closes the loop between an event lead and downstream sales activity, giving marketing teams data to prove event impact on pipeline.

Where does atEvent falls short

atEvent is laser-focused on quality and integration, which means it doesn’t try to gamify or heavily engage attendees within the app itself. There are no built-in games or fancy interactive features for booth visitors. The assumption is that your team will use atEvent to capture and qualify, then rely on your sales & marketing systems for nurturing. So, no AI enrichment or scoring is done within atEvent – rather, it pushes rich data to your CRM where scoring can happen (e.g. via your marketing automation). If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution that also does email marketing or content tracking, atEvent on its own doesn’t do that. It’s meant to work in tandem with your existing CRM/MA.

For smaller organizations, atEvent’s enterprise orientation can translate to a higher cost and perhaps more complexity than needed. It’s optimized for large sales teams and enterprise workflows. If you don’t need those, a simpler app might suffice.

Overall, atEvent is ideal for companies that have a well-defined sales process and tech stack and want their event leads to flow directly into it with minimal friction. It ensures that leads captured at a trade show are immediately actionable by sales – with proper qualifiers, follow-up steps, and CRM routing in place. For example, one can capture a lead and by the next day have a sales rep already emailing them with a meeting invite, because atEvent fed the data into Salesforce and triggered a sequence. It’s a powerful approach for accelerating event ROI.

Just know that it’s a tool for your team’s efficiency and data quality; it won’t itself drive attendee engagement (no attendee app component). Many exhibitors pair atEvent with other event engagement tactics, while relying on atEvent as the backbone for lead management.

Benchmark comparison:

AI enrichment: No
Lead scoring: No (relies on CRM)
CRM integration: Yes (excellent)
Gamification: No
Automated nurturing: Partial (triggers follow-up tasks to CRM/MA)

6. Whova

Whova is widely known as one of the best event mobile apps for conferences and trade shows, primarily for attendee engagement and event management. It offers an all-in-one platform (agenda, networking, floor plan, etc.), and includes an Exhibitor Hub with lead capture (lead retrieval) as an add-on feature. Many mid-size events in the USA use Whova as their event app, so if you exhibit at such an event, you might use Whova for lead scanning rather than bringing your own tool.

Notable lead:

• In-app QR code scanning: Whova’s lead retrieval allows your booth staff to scan attendees’ QR codes using the Whova mobile app. Each attendee registered in Whova has a unique QR code on their badge (and in their attendee profile on the app). Scanning it gives you that attendee’s contact details instantly on your phone. This removes the need for renting separate badge scanners – staff just use their regular smartphone with the app.
• Manual entry & card scanning: In case someone’s code won’t scan, or they don’t have a badge, Whova also supports manual entry of a lead’s info. The app even lets exhibitors exchange digital business cards with attendees within Whova. Any such connections through the app can count as a lead (with contact info exchanged mutually).
• Lead qualification and notes: After scanning an attendee, exhibitors can add notes and star-ratings to the lead in the app. For example, you might add a note “Interested in XYZ product, follow up next week” or mark them with 5 stars if they’re a hot prospect. This information is stored with the lead’s profile for later review.
• Lead list export: Exhibitors can export all collected leads through the Whova app dashboard. Typically, after the event, you would download an Excel/CSV file of your leads (including their contact info, any notes, etc.). This file can then be imported into your CRM or marketing system. In some cases, Whova can integrate or automate this, but generally it’s a manual export by the exhibitor.
• In-app messaging to leads: Whova has a unique perk – if enabled by the organizer, exhibitors can send messages to attendees via the app itself. For instance, Whova’s “Sponsored Messages” or the Passport Contest feature allow limited outreach. The Passport Contest is a gamification where attendees get stamps for visiting booths (in Whova, attendees scan a QR code at each booth to collect a stamp). This increases booth traffic and as an exhibitor you receive the contact info of those who scanned for a stamp (since they interacted with your booth in-app). It’s a creative way Whova helps you gain leads via gamification orchestrated by the event organizer.
• Attendee engagement data: If an attendee interacted with your virtual booth profile in the Whova app (such as viewing your company profile, downloading a brochure, or messaging you), that information may be available to you as a lead or at least as analytics in the exhibitor hub. It’s not exactly lead capture, but it indicates interested attendees you might reach out to during or after the event.

Where does Whova fall short

The biggest limitation of using Whova for lead capture is that it’s only available if the event organizer uses Whova and provides the lead retrieval option. You, as an exhibitor, typically have to purchase the lead retrieval add-on from the organizer (often an additional fee per exhibitor). If you attend a trade show not using Whova, you can’t use Whova on your own – it’s an integrated event app, not a standalone scanner you bring to any event. This lack of universality means Whova isn’t a solution you can standardize on for all your trade shows, only for those specific ones using it.

Another drawback is that data access is somewhat gated – Whova will give you attendee info that was captured via scans, but you do not have access to the entire attendee list (unless provided by organizers). In fact, some users complain that if the event doesn’t explicitly allow lead retrieval, exhibitors can’t get contact info at all through Whova. In other words, Whova’s system respects privacy/permissions set by the event. This can limit your targeting since you can only scan those who come to you or whom you proactively scan.

In terms of features, Whova’s lead capture is more basic compared to dedicated tools. It’s mostly scan-and-export. There’s no AI enrichment, no automated emailing from Whova on your behalf (besides whatever limited messages you send in-app). Integration to your CRM isn’t direct – it’s usually through exporting the CSV of leads and then importing to your systems. Essentially, Whova’s lead retrieval is convenient because it’s built into the overall event app that attendees are already using (so scanning is easy and no extra app is needed), but it’s not as feature-rich for post-capture processes.

Finally, because Whova is an all-in-one trade show event app focusing on attendee experience and attendee management (registration, check-in, agendas, networking), the lead capture component is a smaller piece of the pie. It works well for capturing contact info quickly, but exhibitors looking for advanced lead nurturing or scoring will have to do that outside Whova.

When to use Whova lead capture: If you’re at an event that uses Whova, definitely take advantage of its lead scanning to avoid manual data entry. It’s best suited for quickly collecting leads and basic qualification. Companies with a light event schedule or those who primarily attend Whova-powered events might find it sufficient. However, if you do many trade shows, you’ll likely need your own solution (like momencio, iCapture, etc.) for events where Whova isn’t provided.

Benchmark comparison:

AI enrichment: No
Lead scoring: No (aside from manual star-rating)
CRM integration: No (export only)
Gamification: Yes (via event-run contests)
Automated nurturing: No

7. Bizzabo (Klik)

Bizzabo is a leading end-to-end event platform used by large conferences and corporate events. In 2021, Bizzabo acquired Klik, a smart badge technology, to enhance in-person event experiences – and this brought a unique approach to lead capture. Bizzabo’s “Lead Booster” app and Klik smart badges together offer a modern spin on lead retrieval: instead of just scanning QR codes, exhibitors can capture leads with a simple tap of a badge.

Notable features:

• Klik smart badges: If the event deploys Klik wearable badges, each attendee wears a Bluetooth-enabled badge. Exhibitors can capture a lead by simply clicking the badge (or the attendee clicking their badge near a hub) to record an interaction. This removes the need for scanning barcodes – it’s instant and hands-free. It also captures engagement between attendees automatically (useful for networking analytics).
• Traditional QR scanning: For events not using the full smart badge system, Bizzabo’s Lead Booster app still allows scanning the QR codes on attendee badges (Bizzabo’s platform supports QR badges). Exhibitors can use a smartphone to scan and capture leads similarly to other apps.
• Custom qualifiers in exhibitor dashboard: Bizzabo provides an exhibitor portal (dashboard) where before the event, exhibitors can set up their team, custom lead qualification questions, and even upload digital collateral. During the event, when capturing a lead (either via scan or klik), reps can mark responses to those custom questions and add notes.
• Real-time lead data & analytics: Exhibitors get access to a dashboard with real-time lead analytics. You can see how many leads have been captured, and even see engagement metrics like unique booth visits, connections made, etc., if using Klik. Notably, Bizzabo’s system can show engagement levels and lead ratings all in one place. For example, booth staff can rate leads (1–5 stars or hot/warm/cold), and the dashboard will compile that along with any automated scoring.
• Lead scoring & qualification: Bizzabo (with Klik) enables lead rating on the spot. Booth reps can quickly rate the quality of a lead on their device after an interaction. Combined with answers to custom questions, this serves as a lead score for prioritization. Moreover, because the badge can track engagement (like how long a person stayed at your booth or which sessions they attended), organizers or exhibitors could glean an engagement score, though that data is more on the organizer side.
• CRM export/integration: Post-event, exhibitors can export their leads with all the details (contact info, ratings, answers, notes). Bizzabo’s focus is delivering the data; direct CRM integration for each exhibitor may require using Bizzabo’s API or manual import. However, because Bizzabo is an enterprise platform, it’s possible for an exhibitor who is also a Bizzabo customer year-round to integrate it directly. In most cases though, expect to export the lead list and then import to your CRM – a quick process with clean data.
• Additional engagement features: Bizzabo’s platform includes things like a live leaderboard of top-performing booths or reps (if enabled). This gamifies the competition among exhibitors (or sales reps) and can spur them to capture more leads. While not a direct lead generation feature, it’s a motivator for your team on the show floor.

Where does Bizzabo Klik fall short

Bizzabo’s lead capture capabilities shine when you’re at an event that is fully using the Bizzabo ecosystem (especially Klik smart badges). However, much like Whova, this is not a tool you can independently use at any trade show – it’s tied to the event platform. You can’t just decide to use Bizzabo’s lead app at a non-Bizzabo event. So, it’s usually the event organizer that dictates if you’ll use this system.

Another limitation reported by users is that the Bizzabo Lead Booster (especially earlier versions) had some technical glitches or usability issues. For example, some experienced difficulties syncing or viewing certain fields on the mobile app. Bizzabo has been improving this, but it’s something to consider – being part of a broader platform means the lead app might not get as much individual attention as a dedicated product would. Some exhibitors found it less straightforward compared to simpler dedicated lead capture apps.

Also, if the event uses the Klik badges, your team has to adapt to that system (which is fairly easy – clicking a badge – but it’s a different workflow than scanning QR codes). And if the event doesn’t use Klik, then you’re essentially just scanning QR codes and using an app similar to others, but possibly without the advanced enrichment.

Bizzabo doesn’t provide AI enrichment of leads beyond what the registration and badge capture yields. It relies on the event registration data. So, like Whova, the data captured is what the attendee provided to the event. This is usually good basic info, but you may want to enrich it later in your CRM.

To summarize, Bizzabo’s lead capture (with Klik) is innovative and frictionless – capturing a lead can be as easy as a button click, no app fiddling required during the interaction. For high-profile events that use this tech, it delivers a premium experience. Exhibitors benefit from rich context (sessions attended, etc.) if the platform shares it, and organizers often provide insight via Bizzabo on overall engagement.

However, as an exhibitor, you’re somewhat at the mercy of the event’s technology. If you frequently attend Bizzabo-powered events, it’s great. If not, you’ll need your own solution for other shows. Always check in advance: if an event uses Bizzabo, sign up for the lead retrieval and get your team trained on the app or badges. It can pay off with a trove of qualified leads and analytics.

Benchmark comparison:

AI enrichment: No
Lead scoring: Yes (manual rating)
CRM integration: Limited (export available)
Gamification: Partial (smart badge engagement, rep leaderboard)
Automated nurturing: No

8. vFairs

vFairs has become known as one of the strongest virtual and hybrid event platforms in recent years, powering virtual events and now increasingly hybrid events. While traditionally focused on virtual and hybrid events, vFairs now offers an onsite badge scanning and lead retrieval solution for trade shows and physical events as part of its overall event platform. If you frequently run both virtual and physical events, vFairs provides a cohesive experience, but it isn’t primarily designed as a standalone lead capture solution.

Notable features

• Badge scanning & business card OCR: vFairs’ onsite app lets exhibitors capture leads via badge scanning or business card OCR at physical events. The data syncs instantly into the exhibitor’s online portal, alongside any virtual leads captured through the virtual event platform. Like Whova and Bizzabo, it assumes events are hosted on the vFairs platform—so its usage relies on your event organizer selecting vFairs.
• Custom forms & lead qualification: You can create custom lead capture forms for your booth reps to fill out post-scan. Common fields might include product interest, lead quality, timeline, and notes. The form design is relatively basic but gets the job done—suitable for straightforward qualification.
• Real-time lead sync: All scanned leads and details sync in real time to the exhibitor’s vFairs dashboard. However, the depth of real-time analytics during the event is fairly basic (primarily tracking how many leads are scanned). You will typically export these leads post-event for deeper analysis or CRM import.
• Virtual-to-onsite integration: vFairs offers a unified system between virtual and physical events. If the same attendee participates virtually before the physical event, your team could see their prior engagement (e.g., downloaded brochures, attended webinars) when scanning them onsite. This contextual engagement tracking is helpful for prioritizing booth conversations and personalizing follow-ups.
• Custom exhibitor profiles & virtual booth integration: If the trade show has a virtual component via vFairs, exhibitors get virtual booths where attendees can engage digitally. Attendee actions (downloading content, chatting, attending presentations) become part of the lead profile, accessible in the onsite app. Again, this is valuable for follow-up context, especially in hybrid event scenarios.
• Lead export & reporting dashboard: Post-event, exhibitors can export all captured leads and engagement data into a CSV or directly into integrated CRMs. vFairs offers limited integration with leading platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot, but often manual import via export files is required. Reporting dashboards show basic engagement metrics (scans, form completions, document views) at both the booth and individual level.

Where does vFairs fall short

vFairs’ main limitation is that it wasn’t initially built with onsite trade shows in mind—it was designed primarily for virtual events and has expanded into hybrid/physical events. The lead retrieval features work, but they’re relatively basic compared to purpose-built onsite apps. It doesn’t offer lead scoring or AI enrichment beyond basic attendee data provided during event registration.

Additionally, vFairs heavily depends on the organizer’s setup. If the event organizer doesn’t offer badge QR codes or fully integrated registration, vFairs’ onsite app won’t function optimally, forcing exhibitors back into manual capture or business card scanning. Customization and flexibility are somewhat limited compared to more specialized lead capture solutions. The app interface, though functional, feels generic and isn’t particularly optimized for fast, high-volume scanning at large trade shows—potentially slowing booth staff efficiency at busy shows.

In summary, vFairs is a strong choice if you exhibit primarily at vFairs-run events or have a blended virtual/physical event strategy. The consistent virtual-to-physical experience makes it valuable for hybrid scenarios. However, if your main concern is maximizing data quality, automation, and immediate follow-up at physical trade shows, vFairs’ onsite features may feel limited. You’ll likely still want a dedicated lead capture app or CRM enrichment for optimal results. It’s best suited as part of a broader integrated virtual/physical event experience, rather than as your primary standalone lead capture app.

Benchmark comparison:

AI enrichment: No
Lead scoring: No
CRM integration: Partial (manual export/import common)
Gamification: Limited (organizer-driven, not exhibitor-controlled)
Automated nurturing: No

9. Zuddl

Zuddl has gained recognition as a user-friendly virtual and hybrid event platform, focusing strongly on attendee experience and interactive virtual environments. Similar to vFairs, it started as a virtual event platform, but now also offers basic onsite lead retrieval features at physical events. However, compared to dedicated onsite lead capture tools, Zuddl’s onsite capabilities are more modest, typically acting as an extension of its virtual experience.

Notable features:

• Badge scanning via mobile app: Zuddl’s onsite app allows exhibitors to scan attendee badges using smartphones at trade shows or conferences. Exhibitors scan attendee QR codes, which instantly populate attendee info within the app. If you’re exhibiting at a Zuddl-run event, this allows capturing leads digitally and eliminates manual data entry.
• Manual entry & qualifiers: Booth reps can also enter leads manually through Zuddl’s app and answer basic custom qualifier questions (e.g., interest area, follow-up urgency, or budget). This provides basic qualification and some lead prioritization on the spot.
• Real-time lead sync (virtual & onsite): Leads captured onsite immediately sync into your Zuddl exhibitor portal (also showing virtual engagement if any). This real-time sync means your onsite and virtual leads appear in a single location, helpful for continuity and simple follow-up management after hybrid events.
• Engagement tracking in hybrid scenarios: Because Zuddl supports both virtual and physical events, exhibitors can see combined lead activity from virtual sessions and onsite booth visits. This includes tracking if an attendee viewed your virtual booth materials, interacted with your online content, or previously registered for demos or sessions.
• Exportable lead data: Exhibitors can export captured leads into CSV files for importing into their own CRM or marketing systems. At the moment, Zuddl offers basic integrations with a few CRMs (like Salesforce) but often requires manual exports and uploads.

Where does Zuddl fall short

The most significant limitation is Zuddl’s simplicity as a lead retrieval tool. While it performs standard badge scanning and simple lead qualification, it lacks advanced lead enrichment, scoring, or automated nurturing. Exhibitors cannot automatically enrich lead data with LinkedIn profiles or detailed business insights directly from Zuddl—making post-event nurturing more cumbersome and manual.

Additionally, Zuddl does not directly integrate deeply with most CRMs. Exhibitors must typically export CSV files and manually upload to Salesforce or other systems post-event. Real-time CRM automation isn’t available, limiting quick follow-up capability. Gamification or advanced booth interaction features, like those offered by momencio or Captello, aren’t available either.

Another challenge reported by exhibitors using Zuddl is occasional UX confusion, particularly for onsite lead retrieval features. As a platform originally designed for virtual events, Zuddl’s onsite tools are still maturing. Some exhibitors report minor frustrations with setup, QR code scanning errors, or incomplete attendee profiles—especially at busy events or venues with poor connectivity.

In summary, Zuddl is ideal for companies who frequently exhibit at Zuddl-run events, particularly those who value a unified virtual-physical attendee experience and modest onsite lead capture. However, its lead capture feature set is basic and may fall short for companies looking for sophisticated automation or rich data insights. Exhibitors prioritizing AI-driven data enrichment, automated lead nurturing, and real-time CRM integrations would likely prefer more specialized, dedicated onsite lead capture platforms. If your primary goal is seamless data syncing between virtual and onsite, Zuddl works fine, but consider more robust options if you prioritize advanced lead nurturing capabilities.

Benchmark comparison:

AI enrichment: No
Lead scoring: Basic qualification only
CRM integration: Limited (via manual export/import)
Gamification: Limited (organizer-dependent)
Automated nurturing: No

10. Eventify

Eventify positions itself as an easy-to-use, budget-friendly event management platform primarily geared toward smaller to mid-sized events or businesses. It provides a basic but effective lead retrieval solution, suitable for exhibitors who need a straightforward, affordable way to capture leads at events without complicated setup or costly integrations.

Notable features

• QR code scanning: Eventify allows exhibitors to scan attendees’ badges with QR codes directly through its mobile app. The attendee’s basic profile information (name, company, email, etc.) is captured instantly. Booth reps can easily use their smartphones or tablets, making the scanning process simple, quick, and accessible to anyone.
• Custom qualification questions: The app supports customizable forms for booth reps to fill in additional attendee details post-scan. These questions are straightforward (e.g., product interest, purchase timeline, lead quality), and you can mark some as required or optional. This helps ensure your booth staff captures consistent data from attendees.
• Attendee messaging within the app: Eventify includes an in-app messaging feature (if enabled by the organizer), allowing exhibitors to follow up directly with attendees via the app. After an attendee visits your booth and scans their QR badge, your rep can immediately send a quick thank-you message or relevant digital collateral. This basic engagement capability provides an initial touchpoint right from the event.
• Real-time lead tracking dashboard: Eventify provides a simple, intuitive dashboard for exhibitors to track how many leads they have captured, qualification breakdowns, and other basic metrics in real-time. Post-event, you can export these leads as CSV files to use in your own CRM or marketing tools.
• Basic CRM integration/export: Eventify supports limited integration with CRMs (usually via CSV exports). Most exhibitors simply export captured leads post-event into CSV format and then manually upload them into their CRM or marketing software. Automated integration capabilities (like Salesforce or HubSpot APIs) appear limited or not commonly offered.

Where does Eventify fall short

Eventify, by design, is a simpler platform aimed at ease-of-use and affordability rather than advanced capabilities. Its biggest limitation is its lack of advanced automation, AI enrichment, and sophisticated lead scoring. While capturing basic information and some qualifiers is easy, you won’t automatically enrich attendee profiles with LinkedIn info, social data, or deeper insights, which you can find with more advanced solutions like momencio or dedicated enrichment tools.

Eventify’s CRM integration is quite limited as well, often requiring manual export/import post-event. There’s no built-in automated nurturing or triggered follow-up; you’ll need to manage lead follow-up manually once you have the data. Additionally, the simplicity comes with trade-offs—no gamification, limited customization, and basic analytics. Larger businesses or teams with extensive event calendars might quickly outgrow Eventify’s capabilities.

Also, it’s primarily dependent on the event organizer’s choice. If the organizer does not choose Eventify as their official event platform, exhibitors cannot independently opt-in or choose to use it. Like Whova and Zuddl, this limits its universality as your standard lead capture tool.

In summary, Eventify’s strength lies in its simplicity, affordability, and ease of deployment. It’s ideal for businesses new to digital lead capture, or those exhibiting at smaller events where minimal features are sufficient. If your event presence is infrequent or your CRM needs are minimal, Eventify is a convenient, low-cost option. However, if advanced automation, real-time nurturing, or deeper integrations are important, momencio and other more robust platforms offer superior value.

Benchmark comparison:

AI enrichment: No
Lead scoring: No (basic qualification only)
CRM integration: Limited (export/import only)
Gamification: No
Automated nurturing: No

After reviewing these ten tools – from momencio’s feature-packed platform to specialized apps like iCapture and Captello, and integrated event apps like Whova and Bizzabo – it’s clear that momencio emerges as the superior choice for trade show lead capture when you need a comprehensive solution. While each competitor has its merits, most have notable gaps in capabilities:

• Some, like Whova and Bizzabo, are convenient at events using those platforms but lack universal applicability and advanced follow-up features.
• Others, like iCapture and Leadature, excel at the on-site capture and basic qualification, yet don’t offer the AI-driven enrichment or built-in nurturing that momencio provides.
• Captello brings gamification to the table but doesn’t match momencio’s AI enrichment or deep analytics for post-event engagement.
• Newcomers like Zuddl are very promising with similar AI enrichment features, but as part of a broader event suite they may require adopting an entire platform or still undergoing refinement in real-world use.
• atEvent delivers strong integration for enterprise workflows, but it relies on external systems for many functions and doesn’t engage attendees directly.

In contrast, momencio combines the strengths of all these tools without the associated weaknesses: it’s as universally deployable as iCapture or Zuddl, as engaging as Captello (with gamification options), and as deeply integrated as atEvent (with real-time CRM sync), all topped by unique AI enrichment and automated nurturing capabilities that few others match. It’s essentially a one-stop shop: your lead capture, enhancement, follow-up, and analytics are all handled within one platform. This means less fragmentation, less manual work, and ultimately more converted leads and measurable ROI.

For event marketers, sales directors, and exhibitors who are evaluating options, consider your priorities:

• If you want to maximize lead quality and engagement – momencio’s AI enrichment and content tracking give you an edge by providing richer data and insight into each lead’s interest.
• If you need to act on leads immediately – momencio’s instant CRM integration and automated follow-ups ensure no time is wasted, addressing that critical 80% lead loss problem from poor follow-up​.
• If you value ease of use for your booth staff – despite its power, momencio is designed for quick scanning and an intuitive workflow, comparable to the simpler apps.
• If you attend many shows across different organizers – a universal tool like momencio means you’re not reliant on whether the event app has lead scanning; you always come prepared with the best tool in hand.

Each of the top 10 tools has a place depending on your situation. For example, if you’re at a one-off event that provides Whova, using Whova’s scanner might suffice. Or if you heavily emphasize booth gamification to draw crowds, Captello is a strong addition. But if we’re choosing the best overall lead capture app for trade show exhibitors and event professionals, the nod goes to momencio for delivering a data-driven, end-to-end solution that aligns perfectly with the ultimate goal: not just capturing leads, but converting them into customers.

Only momencio sets the benchmark that others strive to meet. For exhibitors and event professionals in the USA looking to supercharge their trade show ROI, momencio offers the most complete package to capture leads effectively and convert them through intelligent follow-up. While the other tools can be valuable in specific scenarios, momencio stands out as the top lead capture tool to invest in for sustained success across all your events.

FAQs

1. How does momencio automatically enrich leads captured at trade shows?
   1. momencio’s AI EdgeCapture enriches lead data with missing details like business emails, LinkedIn profiles, job titles, company name, and more after a badge or business card scan. This helps your sales team get a complete picture of each prospect, allowing them to have meaningful conversations and personalize follow-ups immediately after the show.
2. Can momencio integrate with my existing CRM or marketing automation software?
   1. Absolutely. momencio offers real-time integration with popular CRM and marketing automation platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Marketo. Leads captured at your event are instantly synced to your CRM, eliminating manual data entry and speeding up your sales follow-up.
3. What type of gamification features does momencio offer to increase attendee engagement at my booth?
   1. momencio includes interactive gamification tools such as quizzes, product trivia challenges, digital giveaways, and even customizable games and interactive experiences. These engaging activities encourage attendees to interact with your booth, increasing the number of captured leads and boosting overall booth traffic and engagement.
4. Can momencio track how leads engage with content post-event?
   1. Yes. momencio provides detailed insights into how your leads interact with shared digital content, such as brochures, videos, or even product demos. You’ll know exactly which content resonated with your prospects, helping your sales team tailor personalized follow-up conversations effectively.
5. Does momencio work if my booth has limited internet connectivity?
   1. Yes. momencio supports offline lead capture functionality, meaning you can scan attendee badges, business cards, and capture notes even without internet connectivity. All captured data securely syncs back to your CRM once you reconnect, ensuring no lead is ever lost due to poor event Wi-Fi.
6. Can I customize follow-up emails sent via momencio after capturing a lead?
   1. Yes, momencio provides customizable, automated follow-up emails that can be personalized based on the attendee’s specific interests or the conversation held at your booth. These automated emails can include digital content tailored to each lead, significantly improving engagement and conversion rates.
7. Is momencio suitable for events of all sizes and types?
   1. Yes. momencio is versatile enough for micro events and robust enough for large enterprise trade show deployments. Whether you’re attending a small regional event or a massive industry convention, momencio ensures you capture, enrich, and nurture leads effectively, providing scalability without complexity.