Communal
Communal is an all-in-one solution designed for member-based nonprofits to manage memberships, programs, events, facility rentals, donations, and volunteers in one centralized system.
Whova
Whova is an all-in-one event management software designed to increase attendee engagement and simplify logistics for organizers hosting in-person, hybrid, and virtual conferences or community events worldwide.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Communal | Whova |
|---|---|---|
| Website | getcommunal.com | whova.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Custom |
| Starting Price | $75/month | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 0 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Calgary, Canada | San Diego, USA |
Overview
Communal
Communal is a comprehensive platform built for community and member-based organizations like community centers, nonprofits, and associations. It helps you run memberships, bookings, programs, and payments from a single member record, eliminating the need for scattered tools and spreadsheets. You can manage sign-ups, renewals, and digital cards, alongside volunteer shifts, donor history, and program registrations.
The software is designed for non-technical users and volunteer-run boards, offering unlimited training and human support. It centralizes operational data, allowing you to automate tasks like renewals and receipts, track giving history, and coordinate volunteers efficiently.
Whova
Whova helps you create engaging event experiences while taking the stress out of logistics. Whether you are planning a local workshop or a massive international conference, you can manage registrations, build complex agendas, and facilitate networking through a single, unified platform. You can easily transition between in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats without losing your data or attendee momentum.
The platform focuses heavily on community building, allowing you to spark discussions and help attendees connect before the event even starts. You can save hours of manual work by using automated check-in tools, name badge generation, and real-time announcement features. It is a go-to choice for academic institutions, non-profits, and corporate planners who need a reliable way to keep their audience active and informed.
Overview
Communal Features
- Membership Management Automate sign-ups, renewals, and digital membership cards, allowing members to manage their own accounts through a branded portal.
- Program & Event Registration Run classes, camps, and events with online registration, waitlists, and automatic member pricing, all on a unified calendar.
- Facility & Booking Management Manage rooms, courts, and halls with instant bookings or approval flows, automatically invoiced and added to your calendar.
- Volunteer Management Track volunteer shifts, hours, and rewards alongside your member list, making coordination simple and efficient.
- Donor Management Accept online donations with automatic tax receipt generation and track full giving history on each member's profile.
- Point of Sale Process in-person payments for memberships and programs at the front desk, with transactions synced to member profiles.
Whova Features
- Mobile Event App. Give your attendees a digital guide where they can view agendas, speaker profiles, and floor maps right from their smartphones.
- Attendee Networking. Break the ice with community boards and attendee profiles that let your guests message each other and set up meetups.
- Online Registration. Set up your ticket sales in minutes and track your revenue in real-time with integrated payment processing and custom forms.
- Live Polling and Q&A. Keep your audience involved during sessions by letting them submit questions and vote in live polls directly through the app.
- Exhibitor Management. Empower your sponsors to collect leads digitally and showcase their products with virtual booths and promotional tools.
- Name Badge Generation. Design and print professional name badges for all your attendees with just a few clicks using your registration data.
Pricing Comparison
Communal Pricing
- Apple/Google Wallet passes
- Automated renewals
- Custom member fields
- Family & household memberships
- Volunteer management
- Donor CRM & fundraising
- Everything in Membership Platform, plus:
- Online registration & payments
- Waitlists & capacity
- Member-only pricing, auto-applied
- Custom forms, file uploads & waivers
- Attendance, drop-ins & instructor rosters
Whova Pricing
Pros & Cons
Communal
Pros
- All-in-one solution reduces need for multiple tools.
- User-friendly interface simplifies booking and scheduling.
- Excellent and responsive customer support.
- Automated membership renewals increase revenue.
- Seamless migration from previous systems.
Cons
- Occasional glitches and functions not working as intended.
- Limited customization options for membership appearance.
- Invoicing system currently only allows for whole hours for rentals.
- Some users desire more integrations with third-party tools.
- Loading times can sometimes be slow.
Whova
Pros
- High attendee engagement through the community board
- User-friendly interface for both organizers and guests
- Excellent customer support during live event days
- Streamlined badge printing and check-in processes
Cons
- Pricing is not transparent on the website
- Occasional notification delays on older mobile devices
- Limited customization for the app's visual branding