Map D

Overview

Map D is an event-operations platform that links interactive floor plans with booth sales, exhibitor administration, attendee functions and reporting. It is most suitable for associations, trade-show planners and organizers who want one system for mapping space and running exhibitor workflows. The main buying decision is whether your event needs only a published map or the transaction and exhibitor tools reserved for higher tiers.

Key features

The map editor handles booth placement, numbering and sizing, then lets organizers embed the resulting plan on event websites. That makes Starter practical for presenting inventory and an exhibitor marketplace, but it is not an online checkout solution: booth sales are explicitly excluded. Growth changes the workflow by allowing exhibitors to choose and purchase space directly from the map, while Map D records orders and invoices. Discounts, sales reporting, and session and speaker management make Growth a broader event-management package rather than merely a map upgrade.

Scale extends the exhibitor side with a portal covering personnel, products, media, chat, insights and lead generation. Choose it when exhibitors need an ongoing workspace; otherwise, its extra cost is difficult to justify for a straightforward floor plan and payment flow. Integrations include Novi, MemberClicks and Salesforce connectors, WordPress, HubSpot and Wix embeds, REST API access and Zapier support. Stripe, Authorize.Net and Square are named payment gateways, while badge exports support Zebra and Epson printers.

Map D says its partner platform provides role-based administration, audit trails, SSL and automatic daily backups. Every plan includes onboarding, team training, and email and chat support. Phone support and a customer-success manager are optional add-ons, so organizations that require named, high-touch assistance should budget separately. A branded native iOS or Android app is optional; the web experience is responsive across devices.

Pricing

Free floor plan costs nothing, billed at $0 for one event with no card required.

Starter costs 1500.00 USD once, billed at $1,500 per event. It includes the interactive floor plan, event dashboard, exhibitor marketplace, website embeds and API. The missing online checkout is the decisive limitation: organizers must handle booth transactions outside the platform.

Growth costs 2500.00 USD once, billed at $2,500 per event. It includes Starter plus direct booth sales, invoicing, discounts, sales reports, and session and speaker management. This is the sensible starting point for events that must let exhibitors reserve and pay for assigned space. Scale costs 2750.00 USD once, billed at $2,750 per event, and adds the exhibitor portal and its personnel, product, media, chat, insight and lead-generation tools. Map D charges no transaction fee on booth sales, although the selected payment gateway's standard rates still apply. All plans include onboarding, training, and email/chat support; there is no free trial.

Platforms

Map D supports Android, iOS, web and API access. The native mobile event app is an optional branded product, while the responsive web experience covers device access without that add-on.

Who it's for

Associations, professional event planners and expo organizers are the natural audience, particularly those selling booths and coordinating exhibitors. Starter fits map-led events with external payment handling. Growth fits organizers needing built-in booth assignment and payment collection. Scale is for larger exhibitor programs that require a dedicated portal and lead-generation functions. It is less suitable when a simple attendee event, low-cost ticketing model or permanently free plan is the priority.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Interactive maps connect booth placement with direct purchasing from Growth upward.
• Orders, invoices, discounts and sales reports keep booth administration in one workflow.
• API, Zapier and named CRM, website, payment and badge integrations support broader event stacks.
• Onboarding, training and email/chat support are included with every plan.
• No Map D transaction fee is added to booth sales, beyond gateway charges.

Cons

• Starter lacks online booth checkout, forcing a separate payment process.
• Plans are priced per event, and pricing is otherwise on request, which complicates multi-event budgeting.
• The branded native app, phone support and customer-success manager cost extra.
• There is no free trial, and the free tier does not state publishing or booth sales.

Alternatives

For a broader directory of options, see Exhibitor Management Software. Choose WebMobi Trade Show Management when a freemium structure and participant-based plans are preferable. Zoho Backstage is a better fit for free events capped at 100 attendees with defined RSVP, session and speaker limits. Pick BoothHQ for a forever-free single event supporting up to 50 attendees and Stripe ticket sales. ExpoMap suits a free event capped at 49 exhibitors and 250 visitors with registration and an exhibitor portal. Marketspread is aimed at vendor profiles and product publishing rather than Map D's event-wide operations. xh is an open-source command-line HTTP client, not an event platform. Exhibitio fits ticket-led events with no fee on free tickets and a flat fee per paid ticket. ExpoFP is worth considering for self-built maps with up to 100 booths on its DIY plan.

Verdict

Choose Map D if your association or expo needs an interactive floor plan tied to booth assignment, payment collection and progressively deeper exhibitor operations. Growth is the practical sweet spot for direct checkout; Scale earns its premium when exhibitors need a full portal. Look elsewhere if you need a free trial, a permanently generous free plan, or a lower-cost ticketing-first tool.