Comparison4 min read

Grip alternative: why event organisers choose All Along for smart matchmaking

Looking for a Grip alternative? All Along delivers smarter B2B matchmaking in 5 minutes setup. Compare features, pricing & when to choose each platform.

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Cate Trotter

Co-founder and Product Lead, All Along

Grip dominates the B2B trade show and conference space with sophisticated AI matchmaking powered by 70 million data points and 16 simultaneous algorithms. It excels at pre-event scheduling and lead management for large, complex exhibitions. But for many event organisers, Grip's enterprise pricing and lengthy implementation timeline create friction. All Along takes a different approach: instead of trying to power every aspect of event management, we focus entirely on attendee matchmaking - matching every single person with the 3 people they should meet - and we do it in under 5 minutes of setup. This comparison explores where each platform shines and which might be right for your event.

If you are still scoping the category more broadly, it is worth reading how to judge event matchmaking software on match quality, not features and the three questions to ask before you buy an event networking platform. This page is the head-to-head once Grip is already on your shortlist.

How Grip and All Along compare

DimensionGripAll Along
Matchmaking approach70+ million data points, 16 AI strategies simultaneously, badge scanning integrationIntelligent algorithm matching each attendee with 3 specific people, designed for instant mutual relevance
Setup timeDays to weeks with implementation team5 minutes - upload attendee list, set matching preferences, done
Attendee experiencePre-event and onsite meeting booking, AI recommendations, interactive floor plans, exhibitor directoriesInstant personalised matches in the event app, easy 1:1 booking, no friction
Organiser insightsComprehensive lead capture, CRM sync, badge scanning ROI, attendance analyticsAttendee intelligence (who should meet whom, matching heatmaps, no-show prediction)
Pricing modelCustom enterprise pricing (no published rates)Simple per-attendee pricing
Best suited forLarge trade shows (500+ exhibitors), exhibitions, complex B2B conferences requiring lead managementAny event where attendee networking is the priority - conferences, summits, association meetings, community events

When to choose All Along instead

If your event's success hinges on meaningful attendee connections rather than lead capture and exhibitor ROI, All Along is a better fit. You get setup in minutes instead of weeks, no hefty implementation costs, and organisers report higher meeting quality because matchmaking is laser-focused. All Along also works equally well for smaller, more intimate events - there's no "too small" threshold and no bloated feature set you don't need. Choose All Along if you want attendees to leave saying "I met the right people," not just "I saw a lot of booths."

When Grip might be better

Grip is the stronger choice if your event is a large, complex B2B trade show where exhibitors need comprehensive lead management, badge scanning, and post-event CRM integration. If you require sophisticated pre-event meeting scheduling across hundreds of exhibitor booths and need deep analytics on lead quality and follow-up ROI, Grip's mature ecosystem justifies the enterprise investment. Grip's network effects also matter - if many of your competitors already use Grip, the existing community can be valuable.

The honest summary: Grip and All Along are built for different jobs. If getting the right people to actually meet is the outcome you are judged on, see how All Along works, or run the free networking gap calculator to see where your current set-up falls short before you commit to either platform.

Frequently asked questions

Does All Along integrate with registration systems like Cvent?

All Along accepts attendee data via CSV upload. Unlike Grip, which has native integrations with major registration platforms, we keep setup simple - one spreadsheet, five minutes, done. No integration complexity.

Can All Along replace Grip for trade shows?

Not if lead capture and exhibitor ROI are your main metrics. All Along excels at matchmaking quality; Grip excels at lead lifecycle management. For lead-focused trade shows, Grip is the better tool. For connection-focused events, All Along is.

What about pre-event scheduling like Grip offers?

All Along focuses on in-event matchmaking. You can promote your All Along matches before the event to get attendees excited, but our core strength is on-the-day connections when people are physically present and ready to meet.

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About the author

Cate Trotter

Co-founder and Product Lead, All Along

Cate is co-founder and product lead at All Along. She's spent 15+ years helping organisations turn emerging tech into commercial results, and founded and sold two retail-focused businesses before building All Along. She writes about how events can turn networking from a happy accident into a repeatable outcome.

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Ready to make networking the reason people come back?

All Along gives every attendee three people they should actually meet, and gives you a complete picture of what your audience wants.

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