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Software · head to head

Luma vs Whova

Luma logo

Luma

Software

Delightful events for communities

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Whova logo

Whova

Software

Award-winning event management app

From
$1500/event
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Luma has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Luma 5% platform fee on paid events in free tier can add up for high-volume organizers; Whova mobile app experiences slow loading and occasional crashes during large events
  • They diverge on capability: Luma covers Event pages, Whova covers Event mobile app.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Luma and Whova actually diverge.

Attributes where Luma and Whova differ
AttributeLumaWhova
Starting priceFree$1500/event
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20202012

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Luma

  • Event pages
  • Registration
  • Calendar sync
  • Ticketing
  • Community features
  • Google Calendar
  • Apple Calendar
  • Stripe

Only in Whova

  • Event mobile app
  • Agenda management
  • Attendee networking
  • Live polling
  • Virtual sessions
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • Mailchimp

Both cover

  • Zoom
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Luma

  • Event planning
  • Ticket sales
  • Attendee management
  • Virtual events
  • Event marketing

Whova

  • Event planning
  • Ticket sales
  • Attendee management
  • Virtual events
  • Event marketing

Both are used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events, event marketing, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Luma

  • 5% platform fee on paid events in free tier can add up for high-volume organizers
  • Limited discovery features compared to established platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite
  • Smaller organizer community means fewer network effects than larger competitors

Whova

  • Mobile app experiences slow loading and occasional crashes during large events
  • Limited customization options to align with specific event branding needs
  • Notification overload can overwhelm attendees with too many messages
  • Default privacy settings include contact sharing concerns and data hosting in the US

Pricing, plan by plan

Luma

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited events
    • Unlimited guests
    • Up to 500 invites per week
  • Plus$59/month
    • No platform fee
    • 5,000 invites per week
    • Tax collection

Whova

$1500/event
  • Basic$1500/event
    • Event app
    • Agenda builder
    • Networking
  • Professional$3000/event
    • Virtual event support
    • Gamification
    • Analytics
  • Enterprise$6000/event
    • Custom development
    • API access
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Luma if

  • You need event pages.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want registration.
Luma review

Choose Whova if

  • You need event mobile app.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want agenda management.
Whova review

Questions people ask

Is Luma or Whova better?
Neither clearly leads. Luma starts at Free and Whova at $1500/event, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Luma or Whova?
Luma has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Luma and $1500/event for Whova.
Does Luma or Whova run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Luma for free?
Yes. Luma has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Whova starts at $1500/event.
What is Luma best used for?
Luma is most often used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events.
What can Luma do that Whova cannot?
Luma covers Event pages, Registration, Calendar sync, Ticketing. Whova covers Event mobile app, Agenda management, Attendee networking, Live polling. Both handle Zoom, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Luma: Does Luma have a free plan?

Yes. Luma offers a free plan with unlimited events, unlimited guests, and up to 500 invites per week. Free users pay a 5% platform fee on paid events.

Source
Whova: How much does Whova cost?

Whova uses a quote-based pricing model. Final cost depends on event size, frequency, and features required. Contact their sales team for customized pricing.

Source
Luma: How much does Luma Plus cost?

Luma Plus costs $59 per month when billed annually, or $69 per month for month-to-month billing. It removes the platform fee, increases invites to 5,000 per week, and adds tax collection and API access.

Source
Whova: Does Whova offer a free tier or trial?

Whova does not publish a permanent free plan, but offers no per-ticket registration fees for free events. A demo/trial is available by request.

Source
Luma: Can I integrate Luma with other tools?

Yes. Luma Plus includes API access and supports enterprise CRM integrations for larger organizations managing events at scale.

Source
Whova: What platforms does Whova support?

Whova provides native apps for iOS and Android covering 97% of mobile users, plus a web portal accessible from any device including browsers on laptops and desktops.

Source
Whova: Does Whova integrate with other tools?

Yes, Whova integrates with Zoom, Slack, and Mailchimp through Zapier for automation, enabling seamless data flow between platforms without manual data entry.

Source
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