Webinar & Virtual Events · head to head
Whova vs Anchorfree
Whova
Webinar & Virtual Events
Award-winning event management app
- From
- $1500/event
- Rated
- -
Anchorfree
Webinar & Virtual Events
Platform for hosting and distributing live events
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Anchorfree has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Whova mobile app experiences slow loading and occasional crashes during large events; Anchorfree the vendor's own domain (anchorfree.com), as captured by the Internet Archive on 11 January 2023, redirects to and displays the Pango Group corporate site, stating Pango Group is owned and operated by Aura and describes itself as a portfolio of consumer security brands; AnchorFree's original product (Hotspot Shield) survives only under the Pango/Aura ownership structure, confirming the acquisition in the vendor's own words rather than a third party account
- They diverge on capability: Whova covers Event mobile app, Anchorfree covers Live streaming.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Whova and Anchorfree actually diverge.
| Attribute | Whova | Anchorfree |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1500/event | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web |
| Category | Webinar & Virtual Events | Unknown |
| Founded | 2012 | 2017 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Whova
- Event mobile app
- Agenda management
- Attendee networking
- Live polling
- Virtual sessions
- Zoom
- Salesforce
- HubSpot
Only in Anchorfree
- Live streaming
- Audience management
- Recording
- Analytics
- Multi-platform delivery
- YouTube
- Twitch
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Whova
- Event planningnot Anchorfree
- Ticket salesnot Anchorfree
- Attendee managementnot Anchorfree
- Virtual eventsnot Anchorfree
- Event marketingnot Anchorfree
Anchorfree
- Professional Worknot Whova
- Content Creationnot Whova
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Anchorfree
- The vendor's own domain (anchorfree.com), as captured by the Internet Archive on 11 January 2023, redirects to and displays the Pango Group corporate site, stating Pango Group is owned and operated by Aura and describes itself as a portfolio of consumer security brands; AnchorFree's original product (Hotspot Shield) survives only under the Pango/Aura ownership structure, confirming the acquisition in the vendor's own words rather than a third party account
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Anchorfree
Free- FreeFree
- Basic streaming
- Limited audience
- Professional$49/month
- Advanced features
- Larger audience
- Enterprise$199/month
- Custom solutions
- Premium support
Which should you pick?
Choose Whova if
- You need event mobile app.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want agenda management.
Choose Anchorfree if
- You need live streaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want audience management.
Questions people ask
- Is Whova or Anchorfree better?
- Neither clearly leads. Whova starts at $1500/event and Anchorfree at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Whova or Anchorfree?
- Anchorfree has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1500/event for Whova and Free for Anchorfree.
- Does Whova or Anchorfree run on more platforms?
- Whova runs on Web, iOS, Android. Anchorfree runs on Web.
- Can I use Anchorfree for free?
- Yes. Anchorfree has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Whova starts at $1500/event.
- What is Whova best used for?
- Whova is most often used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events. Of those, event planning and ticket sales are not what Anchorfree is typically brought in for.
- What can Whova do that Anchorfree cannot?
- Whova covers Event mobile app, Agenda management, Attendee networking, Live polling. Anchorfree covers Live streaming, Audience management, Recording, Analytics. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceWhova: 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.
SourceWhova: 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.
SourceWhova: 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