Map D

Map D is an event-management platform that connects interactive floor plans with booth sales, exhibitor operations and attendee-facing tools. It is aimed at associations, trade-show planners and organizers running expos, especially those that want booth transactions tied to the map itself. The main buying decision is whether you need checkout and a full exhibitor workspace, because those capabilities start above the entry plans.

Overview

Map D combines map creation, sponsorship and booth sales, exhibitor workflows, attendee tools and reporting in one event system. The editor handles booth placement, numbering and sizing, and the resulting map can be embedded on an event website. That gives organizers a public-facing layout without maintaining a separate mapping product.

Its strongest use case is an expo where space assignment and exhibitor administration need to stay connected. Organizers seeking only a basic map may find the higher tiers unnecessary, while teams that need online reservations, invoices and exhibitor collaboration have a clear upgrade path.

Key features

Starter provides an interactive floor plan, event dashboard, exhibitor marketplace, website embeds and API access. It can publish and distribute the map, but online booth checkout is excluded. In practice, Starter fits an organizer that will handle sales or payment outside the platform; it is not the right tier for self-service booth purchasing.

Growth adds direct booth selection and purchase on the interactive floor plan. Orders and invoices are recorded in Map D, and the plan adds discounts, sales reports, plus session and speaker management. This is the practical threshold for a complete booth-sales workflow, although standard payment-gateway rates still apply even though Map D says it charges no transaction fees on booth sales.

Scale includes everything in Growth and adds an exhibitor portal with personnel, products, media, chat, insights and lead generation. Those tools make it better suited to events where exhibitors need an ongoing workspace rather than a one-time booking form.

Integrations cover Novi, MemberClicks and Salesforce, with website embeds for WordPress, HubSpot and Wix. REST API and Zapier support give technical teams additional connection options. Stripe, Authorize.Net and Square are named payment gateways, while badge exports support Zebra and Epson printers. Map D says its partner platform uses role-based administrator controls, audit trails, SSL and automatic daily backups.

Pricing

Map D uses per-event pricing, with custom pricing available on request outside the published plans. Every plan includes onboarding, team training, and email and chat support; phone support and a customer success manager cost extra. There is no free trial.

• Free floor plan — $0 for one event. You can edit one event's floor plan as often as needed, with no card required.
• Starter — $1,500 per event. You get the interactive map, dashboard, exhibitor marketplace, embeds and API. The missing online checkout is the material limitation, making this suitable for map-led planning and externally managed sales.
• Growth — $2,500 per event. It adds booth checkout, invoicing, discounts, sales reports, and session and speaker management. Choose it when exhibitors must select and pay for space directly.
• Scale — $2,750 per event. For $250 more than Growth, the exhibitor portal adds personnel, product and media management, chat, insights and lead generation. It is the better fit for complex exhibitor programs.

Because the paid plans are billed once per event, costs scale with each event rather than a monthly subscription. Payment-gateway charges remain payable separately.

Platforms

Map D supports Android, iOS, web and API access. Its web experience is responsive across devices. A branded native iOS and Android event app is optional, so confirm whether your event requires that add-on rather than assuming it is part of the core plans.

Who it's for

Map D is built for associations, event planners and organizers running expos and similar events. Growth is the sensible starting point for teams that want exhibitors to choose and pay for booths online. Scale is aimed at larger or more coordination-heavy programs that need exhibitor communications, assets and lead-generation tools. Organizations that only need a published plan should consider the free or Starter options instead of paying for capabilities they will not use.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Map-based booth checkout: Growth lets exhibitors select space on the live floor plan and records orders and invoices.
• No Map D transaction fee: Booth sales avoid an additional platform fee, although gateway rates still apply.
• Broad integration routes: Named CRM, membership, website, API, Zapier, payment and badge-printer connections reduce isolated data entry.
• Escalating exhibitor tools: Scale adds a dedicated portal and lead-generation features for more demanding events.

Cons

• Checkout is paywalled at Growth: Starter cannot process online booth purchases.
• Per-event pricing: Organizers running many events face a separate charge for each event.
• Native app is optional: A branded mobile app requires an add-on decision beyond the responsive web experience.
• Support extras cost more: Phone assistance and a customer success manager are not included by default.

Alternatives

For a wider shortlist, see Exhibitor Management Software.

WebMobi Trade Show Management is a better fit when a freemium structure and participant-based plans are preferable, including a free allowance of 50 participants per year.

Zoho Backstage suits organizers wanting a free tier with explicit attendee, RSVP, session and speaker caps, plus a free trial.

BoothHQ is worth considering for a free one-event plan with up to 50 attendees, Stripe ticket sales, an exhibitor directory and basic reporting.

Exhibitio is an alternative for ticket-focused events using a per-ticket fee model.

Expo Manager fits teams seeking unlimited events and multi-currency checkout on a free plan, with a 5% transaction fee.

ExpoMap is a choice for a free event capped at 49 exhibitors and 250 visitors, including a floor plan, registration and exhibitor portal.

Marketspread is oriented to vendor profiles, product publishing and event applications.

xh is an unrelated free, open-source command-line HTTP client.

Verdict

Choose Map D if your association or expo team wants interactive booth assignment and, at Growth or Scale, direct exhibitor checkout tied to invoices and reporting. Its integrations and optional exhibitor portal strengthen it for structured event programs. Look elsewhere if you need a low-cost monthly service, built-in checkout on the entry plan, or a native event app included without an add-on.