A practical comparison of a floor-plan-first platform for trade shows and expos versus an all-in-one event management suite from the Zoho ecosystem.
Free
plan available
7-day
full-featured trial
$149/mo
published DIY pricing from
No app
needed for web wayfinding
Zoho Backstage is an all-in-one event management platform from Zoho Corporation, the company behind Zoho CRM, Zoho One, and dozens of other business applications. It covers the full event lifecycle for conferences and corporate events: a drag-and-drop event website builder, registration and commission-free ticketing, agenda and session management, check-in and badging, a mobile event app, sponsorship and exhibitor management, and virtual and hybrid event tools. Higher-tier plans add a floor planner, lead capture, AI-powered matchmaking, and integrations with Zoho CRM and other Zoho products, which makes Backstage a natural fit for teams already invested in the Zoho ecosystem.
ExpoFP takes a different, more focused approach: it is built around the interactive event floor plan. Organizers create or import a venue layout, manage booth inventory directly on the map, take booth reservations and online booth purchases, publish exhibitor profiles and listings, and embed the whole experience into their existing event website. Attendees get browser-based wayfinding — search for a company, booth, or category and get directions on any device, with no app download required. Reporting shows how exhibitors and attendees actually use the floor plan.
This page is for teams comparing ExpoFP vs Zoho Backstage, looking for a Zoho Backstage alternative for trade shows and expos, or deciding between a specialized interactive floor plan platform and an all-in-one event management suite. Both products are credible; they simply solve different core problems, and many organizers use tools like them side by side.
Both products are credible; they simply solve different core problems, and many organizers use tools like them side by side.
Your event revolves around a show floor: booth sales, exhibitor management, and helping attendees find their way around a venue. ExpoFP gives you a purpose-built floor plan editor, map-first booth inventory with reservations and online purchases, and browser-based wayfinding that works without an app — with transparent pricing starting at $149/mo for DIY plans and a free plan to start.
You are running a conference or corporate event where registration, ticketing, agenda, sessions, and an event app are the center of gravity — especially if your organization already runs on Zoho products. Backstage bundles a website builder, commission-free ticketing, badging, and a mobile app into one suite with published pricing, and its higher tiers include a floor planner for simpler expo layouts.
Zoho Backstage capabilities summarized from public Zoho materials as of July 2026; details and plan availability may change.
| Feature | ExpoFP | Zoho Backstage |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive event floor plans | Core productDetailed, fast, interactive maps built for trade shows and expos of any size | Included as a “Floor planner” feature on higher-tier plansDrag-and-drop layouts designed primarily for simpler expo setups |
| Floor plan editing | Full-featured editor for complex venues; import existing layouts and fine-tune every booth, aisle, and zone | Drag-and-drop builder with shapes, icons, and labels; publicly documented as supporting layout uploadsDepth for complex venues should be confirmed |
| Booth management | Map-first booth inventory: statuses, categories, pricing, and assignments managed directly on the plan | Booth spaces can be created and assigned on the floor plan; advanced exhibitor booth features are part of a paid “Exhibitor Pro” add-on |
| Booth reservations | Exhibitors reserve booths straight from the live map with organizer approval workflows | Exhibitors can browse the published plan and request/book available booths in real time |
| Booth purchases online | YesExhibitors can pay for booths online on paid plans (Subscription + Payments from $269/mo for up to 100 booths) | Booth requests and bookings are documentedTaking online payment for booth space is not clearly documented publicly and should be confirmed with Zoho |
| Real-time booth availability | YesAvailability updates live on the public floor plan as booths are reserved or sold | YesBooth availability updates in real time to prevent double bookings |
| Exhibitor profiles / listings | Rich exhibitor profiles linked to booths, with logos, descriptions, categories, and documents | Exhibitor profiles supported (unlimited exhibitors on paid plans); richer digital booths via the Exhibitor Pro add-on |
| Search by booth, company, or category | YesFast search across booths, companies, and categories on any device | Attendees can search for exhibitors on the published floor plan and in the event appSearch depth should be confirmed |
| Attendee wayfinding | Browser-based directions to any boothAttendees navigate the venue from a link or QR code | Attendees can view the floor plan and locate booths on web and in the event appTurn-by-turn navigation is not clearly documented publicly |
| Mobile / browser experience | Web-firstWorks in any mobile or desktop browser with no download; no app needed | Web floor plan viewing plus a dedicated mobile event appWhite-labeled app available on the top tier |
| Multi-floor / multi-building support | YesMulti-level and multi-building venues supported | Floor selection is referenced in public materialsMulti-building support should be confirmed for complex venues |
| Website embedding | YesEmbed the interactive floor plan and exhibitor list into any existing website | YesFloor plans can be embedded on the Backstage event website or shared via standalone link |
| Self-service setup | YesDIY plans let you build and publish a floor plan yourself; full-service options available | YesSelf-service product with optional paid “white glove” setup services |
| Lead retrieval / capture | Exhibitor lead capture supported so booth staff can collect and export attendee leads | YesLead capture app with QR/barcode scanning on higher tiers; advanced lead scanning per exhibitor via the Exhibitor Pro add-on |
| Public pricing | YesFree plan, 7-day full-featured trial, DIY plans from $149/mo published on the website | YesFree plan plus published subscription and pay-per-event tiers (Essentials, Premium, Ultimate); attendee limits and add-ons apply, so verify current rates on zoho.com |
| Product scope | Specialist: interactive floor plans, booth sales, exhibitor discovery, wayfinding | Generalist: registration, ticketing, event website, agenda, event app, virtual events, plus floor planning |
| Best fit | Trade shows, expos, conventions, and any event where the show floor drives revenue | Conferences, corporate events, and community events where sessions and registration lead |
| Ideal buyer | Show organizers and venue teams who need serious floor plan and booth-sales tooling | Teams wanting one bundled suite — especially existing Zoho CRM / Zoho One customers |
For events where the exhibit floor is the product, organizers tend to choose the specialist tool. The most common reasons we hear:
If your event is primarily a conference — sessions, speakers, registration, ticketing, and attendee engagement — Zoho Backstage covers that lifecycle in one place at published prices, including a free plan for small events. It is an especially reasonable choice for organizations already running on Zoho CRM, Zoho One, or Zoho Marketing Plus, where Backstage plugs into an existing ecosystem, and for budget-conscious teams that value commission-free ticketing and a bundled event website, app, and badging toolkit over deep expo-floor tooling.
The choice here is a classic specialist-versus-suite decision. Zoho Backstage optimizes for breadth: one subscription that handles registration, the event website, the agenda, the app, and virtual sessions, with a floor planner included at higher tiers. That breadth is genuinely valuable for conference-style events — but it also means the floor plan is one module among many, with attendee limits, add-ons like Exhibitor Pro, and feature depth that reflects a generalist's priorities.
ExpoFP optimizes for depth on a single problem: making the show floor work — for the organizer selling booths, the exhibitor choosing a space, and the attendee trying to find stand 4172 in hall B. If booth revenue and on-site navigation are what make or break your event, that depth is hard to replicate inside an all-in-one suite. If they are a nice-to-have next to your session agenda, a suite may be all you need.
This is not always an either/or decision. Because ExpoFP embeds anywhere and integrates via links and QR codes, plenty of organizers pair a registration-and-agenda platform with a dedicated floor plan layer.
A common setup for a trade show or conference-plus-expo looks like this:
The fastest way to decide is to see how your floor plan, booth inventory, and exhibitor list feel in practice.
Common questions for teams comparing ExpoFP and Zoho Backstage.
For the floor plan, booth sales, and exhibitor-discovery side of events, yes — ExpoFP is a strong Zoho Backstage alternative and typically goes deeper on those workflows. However, ExpoFP does not aim to replace Backstage's registration, ticketing, agenda, or virtual event features, so teams that need a full suite either keep both or pair ExpoFP with their existing registration platform.
Start free, import your layout, and publish a floor plan that sells booths and guides attendees.
Information on this page is based on publicly available product materials and may change over time. If you represent this product and would like us to correct or update anything, please contact us. This is ExpoFP's own comparison and reflects our perspective based on publicly available information and user-facing product research.