WhoGoes vs Scan2Lead: Event Attendee Data Comparison

Quick answer: Scan2Lead and WhoGoes serve completely different stages of the event sales cycle. Scan2Lead is a badge scanner that captures leads who visit your booth during a trade show. WhoGoes provides attendee lists sourced from LinkedIn posts, covering the full event, before, during, or after. You don't need a booth to use WhoGoes. Most teams use both: WhoGoes for pre-event outreach to the full attendee base, Scan2Lead for on-site lead capture at the booth.

This isn't really an apples-to-apples comparison. Scan2Lead and WhoGoes solve different problems at different points in the event timeline. But sales teams often ask which one they need, so here's the honest breakdown.

Scan2Lead is Europe's leading badge scanning and lead capture solution for trade shows. Exhibitors use it to scan visitor badges at their booth, qualify leads on the spot, and sync data to their CRM. It's been the standard at European trade fairs (Messe Dusseldorf, Messe Munich, and others) for over 20 years.

WhoGoes provides event attendee lists sourced from public LinkedIn posts. You get names, titles, companies, verified emails, and a link to each person's LinkedIn post about the event. No booth required.

What Matters Most

• Scan2Lead captures booth visitors during the event; WhoGoes captures the broader attendee base before, during, and after
• Scan2Lead requires exhibitor presence; WhoGoes works without a booth
• Scan2Lead captures 50-500 leads per event (your booth traffic); WhoGoes provides hundreds to thousands of verified attendees
• Scan2Lead integrates with major CRMs for real-time lead routing; WhoGoes delivers CSV exports and dashboard access
• They're complementary, not competitive. Most teams benefit from both

What Scan2Lead Does Well

Scan2Lead has been the standard in European trade fair lead capture for two decades. There's a reason:

• Instant badge scanning: Scan a visitor's badge with a smartphone, tablet, or handheld scanner. Contact data populates immediately. No manual entry.
• On-site lead qualification: Add notes, voice memos, photos, importance ratings, and interest areas right at the booth. Your team qualifies leads while the conversation is still fresh.
• Multiple capture methods: App-based (SMART), handheld scanner (COLLECT), or laptop-based. Pick what fits your booth setup.
• Real-time CRM sync: Leads flow into Salesforce, HubSpot, or your CRM in real time. Your inside sales team can start follow-up before the event ends.
• Messe ecosystem integration: Native integration with Messe Dusseldorf, Messe Munich, and other major European organizers. Badge data is pre-loaded and accurate.
• Post-event analytics: Measure booth traffic, lead quality, and conversion metrics across events.

If you're exhibiting at European trade fairs, Scan2Lead is likely already part of your exhibitor package or available as an add-on. It's proven, reliable, and purpose-built for booth lead capture.

Where WhoGoes Wins

1. You don't need a booth

This is the fundamental difference. Scan2Lead only captures people who physically visit your booth. WhoGoes gives you the attendee list for the entire event, including everyone who walked right past your booth, attended different sessions, or was in meetings on the other side of the venue.

At a 10,000-person trade show, your booth might see 200-400 visitors. WhoGoes can surface 1,000-3,000+ verified attendees. That's 5-10x more contacts from the same event.

2. Pre-event outreach

Scan2Lead works during the event. WhoGoes works before it. Many professionals announce their attendance on LinkedIn weeks before a conference. WhoGoes captures those early signals, letting your team book meetings before the show floor opens.

The SDR teams that fill their calendars pre-event aren't relying on badge scans. They're using attendee data to reach out 3-5 weeks early.

3. Post-event coverage

After the event, attendees post recaps, share photos, and tag sessions on LinkedIn. WhoGoes captures these post-event signals too, giving you contacts days or weeks after the show. Scan2Lead's data is frozen at the moment the event ends.

4. No exhibitor cost required

Exhibiting at a major European trade fair can cost $15,000-$100,000+ for booth space, travel, and setup. WhoGoes gives you access to the attendee base for $29 per 200 contacts. For events where you're not exhibiting but your buyers are attending, WhoGoes is the only option.

When to Use Each

Use Scan2Lead if:

• You're exhibiting at the event and need to capture booth visitors
• You want real-time lead qualification with notes and tagging
• You need CRM sync during the event for immediate follow-up
• You're at a European Messe event where Scan2Lead is the standard

Use WhoGoes if:

• You want the full attendee list, not just your booth visitors
• You're not exhibiting but your buyers are attending
• You need pre-event data for outreach weeks before the show
• You want post-event data from attendees who posted LinkedIn recaps
• You want LinkedIn proof of attendance for personalized outreach

Use both if:

• You're exhibiting and want maximum coverage. Use WhoGoes for pre-event outreach to fill your booth calendar. Use Scan2Lead to capture and qualify everyone who visits. Use WhoGoes again post-event to catch attendees you missed on the floor.

That's the strongest play: WhoGoes for breadth (the whole event), Scan2Lead for depth (your booth interactions).

For a complete guide to all attendee data methods, see How to Get a Trade Show Attendee List in 2026.