start.gg
Start.gg is a specialized tournament management platform providing automated brackets, registration tools, and integrated communication features to help you organize and scale competitive gaming events efficiently.
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 | start.gg | Whova |
|---|---|---|
| Website | start.gg | whova.com |
| Pricing Model | Free | Custom |
| Starting Price | Free | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✘ No product demo | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2015 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, USA | San Diego, USA |
Overview
start.gg
Start.gg is a dedicated platform designed to help you organize, manage, and scale esports tournaments of any size. Whether you are running a local weekly meetup or a global professional circuit, you can handle the entire lifecycle of your event from a single dashboard. The platform simplifies complex logistics like player registration, payment processing, and seed management, allowing you to focus on the competition itself rather than administrative spreadsheets.
You can build dynamic tournament brackets including double elimination, round robin, and Swiss formats that update in real-time as scores are reported. The software also provides integrated communication tools to keep your players informed and a public-facing event page to showcase your brand. It is widely used by tournament organizers, game developers, and community leaders across the fighting game community and broader esports ecosystem to create professional competitive experiences.
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
start.gg Features
- Automated Bracketing Generate complex tournament brackets instantly including double elimination and Swiss formats that update automatically as matches conclude.
- Registration Management Collect player data and entry fees securely through customizable registration forms tailored to your specific event needs.
- Real-time Seeding Organize your players based on skill levels using automated seeding tools to ensure fair and balanced competition.
- Integrated Match Chat Communicate directly with players through dedicated match dashboards to resolve disputes and coordinate game starts quickly.
- Public Event Pages Create professional landing pages for your tournaments where fans can view live standings, schedules, and player profiles.
- API & Data Access Connect your tournament data to external broadcast overlays or custom websites using the robust developer API.
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
start.gg Pricing
- Unlimited tournament listings
- Automated bracket generation
- Player registration tools
- Real-time score reporting
- Public event landing page
- Basic seeding tools
- Everything in Core, plus:
- Secure payment processing
- Automated payout workflows
- Custom registration fields
- Attendee data exports
- Transaction fee per registrant
Whova Pricing
Pros & Cons
start.gg
Pros
- Industry standard for fighting game community events
- Highly reliable automated bracket progression logic
- Completely free to use for non-paid events
- Excellent public visibility for your tournament brand
Cons
- Learning curve for complex multi-phase seeding
- Mobile interface can be difficult for administrators
- Limited customization for non-gaming event types
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