Comparing Trade Show Lead Capture Apps: The Ultimate Guide for 2025
As in-person marketing becomes more central to pipeline generation, the tools your team uses to capture leads at events matter more than ever. In 2025, high-growth GTM teams are turning away from single-use, show-specific apps and embracing platforms they own—solutions that provide consistency, context, and real-time CRM integration across every event.
This guide breaks down the strengths and limitations of top lead capture platforms, helping you make the right investment for scale, speed, and ROI.
Why the Shift to Owned Lead Capture Is Accelerating
Most event organizers offer their own badge scanning apps—but these are built to support the event, not to optimize your pipeline. Meanwhile, owned platforms like Popl standardize your approach, improve data quality, and dramatically reduce time-to-lead.
| Category | Show-Provided | Owned Platform (e.g., Popl) |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Single event only | Works across all events |
| CRM Sync | Manual, delayed | Real-time sync |
| Enrichment | Limited or none | AI-powered |
| Setup Time | Per event | One-time setup |
| Analytics | Basic counts | Full ROI + rep visibility |
| Use Cases | Booth-only | Booth + dinners + hallway chats |
How the Top 2025 Platforms Compare
Popl
Best for: Enterprise teams needing end-to-end in-person lead generation, enrichment, and automation.
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Universal compatibility (badge, card, QR, manual)
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AI enrichment for complete contact profiles
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Digital business cards included
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Real-time CRM syncing to HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho & more
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Offline-first performance
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Full visibility into team and event ROI
Popl is more than lead capture—it’s the first platform to unify in-person GTM into one cohesive system.
Cvent LeadCapture
Best for: Teams already using Cvent for event logistics and registration.
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Strong badge scanning capabilities
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Deep integration with the Cvent ecosystem
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Best suited for Cvent-managed events
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Requires additional configuration for CRM syncing
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Less flexible for non-booth or non-Cvent scenarios
TL;DR: Cvent is powerful inside its own walls, but lacks the flexibility, enrichment, and day-of usability that modern field teams need across all event types.
Captello
Best for: Organizations that prioritize gamification and engagement activations at their booth.
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Offers customizable games and interactive experiences
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Includes lead capture via badge or manual entry
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CRM integration available (with setup)
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Lead enrichment depends on integrations
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More setup-heavy, with a steeper learning curve for teams
TL;DR: Captello is a fit for booth engagement, but not ideal for scalable, rep-driven lead capture across dinners, activations, and meetings.
Mobly
Best for: Budget-conscious teams focused on basic badge or form capture.
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Simple mobile lead capture tools
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Limited enrichment or CRM sync features
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Minimal setup, but also minimal customization
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Better suited for smaller teams or local activations
TL;DR: Mobly is a starter option, but lacks the depth and automation that enterprise or scaling teams require to maximize event ROI.
Why Popl Is the Platform Built for Modern GTM
Popl is the only solution designed to:
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Capture leads everywhere—not just at the booth
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Standardize your process across events, reps, and formats
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Enrich every contact instantly, so your team can segment and follow up fast
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Sync directly to your CRM without waiting for CSVs or third-party support
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Track team and event ROI with clear dashboards and rep-level data
Whether you're capturing a badge scan, sharing a digital business card, or hosting a private dinner, Popl turns every touchpoint into a pipeline event.
Summary: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Popl | Cvent | Captello | Mobly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Lead Capture | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Digital Business Cards | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Real-Time CRM Sync | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| AI Lead Enrichment | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Works Offline | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cross-Event Use | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Setup Time | Fast | Slow | Slow | Moderate |
The Verdict
Most tools in the market solve part of the puzzle—badge scans, booth games, or basic forms. Popl solves the whole thing. It brings together the tools your GTM team needs to capture leads, enrich them instantly, sync to your CRM, and follow up fast—no matter where the conversation happens.
“Popl empowers sales and marketing teams to stop chasing CSVs and start converting real conversations into real revenue.”
See Why GTM Teams Are Standardizing on Popl
Book your demo and discover why teams are switching from legacy tools to a modern lead capture platform that moves at the speed of your team.
