Alf io
Alf.io is an open-source event ticketing and attendance management platform, built in Java/PostgreSQL and serving event organizers with a web app, mobile scan app, and Raspberry Pi check-in station, plus a commercial hosted tier via Swicket.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- Headquarters—
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Alf io does
Alf.io is an open-source event attendance management and ticket reservation system developed and maintained since 2014 by a distributed contributor community operating under the umbrella "The Alf.io contributors." The platform is purpose-built for event organizers — ranging from community meetups to corporate conferences — and covers the full ticketing lifecycle, including event configuration, online ticket sales, reservation handling, payment processing, and on-site check-in. The product is delivered as a Java-based web application backed by PostgreSQL, with a complementary mobile app (Alf.io Scan, Apache 2.0) and a Raspberry Pi-based check-in station (Alf.io-PI) for offline, clustered entry management. The codebase is released under GPLv3 (web application) and is designed for self-hosting across multiple cloud and PaaS environments, including Heroku, OpenShift, Cloud Foundry, SAP Cloud Platform, GKE, and Clever Cloud.
The platform supports nine or more languages and integrates with multiple payment gateways (Stripe, Mollie, PayPal, Revolut, and Bank Transfer), with PCI-DSS compliance handled through Stripe and Mollie and GDPR-aligned data handling for European use cases. The business model combines three monetization mechanics: (1) the free open-source self-hosted product, (2) a commercial hosted managed-service tier branded as Swicket, and (3) community funding via Open Collective donations and corporate sponsorships. There is no traditional legal entity, no disclosed VC funding, and no parent company; revenue is therefore a function of Swicket subscriptions plus sponsorship/donation inflows rather than enterprise license sales. The customer base consists of event organizers and conference networks, served predominantly through community channels rather than a direct sales motion.
Alf io firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alf io
- Legal name
- The Alf.io contributors
- Website
- https://alf.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Alf.io is an open-source event ticketing and attendance management platform, built in Java/PostgreSQL and serving event organizers with a web app, mobile scan app, and Raspberry Pi check-in station, plus a commercial hosted tier via Swicket.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alf io industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Event Ticketing Software
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Virtual & Hybrid Event Registration & Streaming Access Platforms (THAHAFAM)
Keywords
Alf io business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Open Source Software (Free): The core Alf.io software is free under GPLv3 license. Users can download, deploy, and use without paying licensing fees.
- Swicket Premium Hosted Service: Swicket is the commercial managed version of Alf.io offered by the creators. Provides hassle-free hosting, advanced features (CRM integrations, lead capture, badge printing), and dedicated support for professionals.
- Open Collective Donations: Financial contributions from individuals and organizations through Open Collective platform to sustain the open source community.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Companies invest in Alf.io development (even for single features) and are acknowledged as sponsors. Listed sponsors include Swicket, Exteso, Starplane, Offbeat Tickets, and Amici del Ticino.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Open Source Self-Hosted - Free |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Alf io product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alf.io is a free, open source (GPLv3) event attendance management system that covers the full lifecycle of an event from ticket distribution and reservation through event management to reporting. It provides a web application with a public ticket shop and a backoffice admin area, a mobile check-in app (Alf.io Scan) for iOS/Android, and RaspberryPI-powered offline check-in stations (Alf.io-PI) with on-site badge printing. Payments are processed through Stripe, Mollie, PayPal, Revolut, and bank transfer, with PCI-compliant handling. Swicket is offered as a premium hosted, managed version built on the same core.
Product overview
Alf.io is an open source event attendance management system comprising the core Alf.io Web Application (GPLv3), the Alf.io Scan mobile app (iOS/Android) for check-in operations, and Alf.io-PI, a RaspberryPI-powered offline check-in station with badge printing. The ecosystem covers the full event lifecycle from ticket distribution through event management to reporting. Commercial hosting is available via Swicket, a premium managed version built on Alf.io with additional enterprise features and dedicated support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- No overbooking guaranteed by design
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Alf io
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Alf io technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration20 records
Feature10 records
Alf io partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SwicketcoreSwicket is the premium hosted version of Alf.io, designed for event organizers who need hassle-free hosting, advanced features (CRM integrations, advanced lead capture, badge printing), and dedicated support. Built on Alf.io, enhanced for professionals.
- StripecorePayment gateway integration supporting credit card payments with PCI-compliant transaction handling. Supports Strong Customer Authentication (SCA/3DSecure 2.0).
- MolliecorePayment gateway supporting credit cards, iDEAL, Bancontact, ING Home Pay, Belfius, KBC/CBC, and Przelewy24.
- HerokucoreCloud platform with documented deployment tutorial for Alf.io installation.
- OpenShiftcoreRed Hat's cloud platform with detailed deployment documentation for Alf.io using OC CLI and S2I Java Builder.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Alf io competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eventzilla: Eventzilla is an online event registration and ticketing platform serving conferences, classes, and fundraisers. It directly competes with Alf.io in event registration and ticketing with similar features around payment processing and check-in.
- Webconnex (RegFox): Webconnex operates RegFox, an event registration platform with customizable forms, payment processing, and check-in tools. It directly competes with Alf.io for organizers needing flexible registration and ticketing workflows.
- Pretix: Pretix is an open-source ticketing platform with both self-hosted and hosted editions, serving conferences, festivals, and meetups. It is the closest direct competitor to Alf.io with a nearly identical open-source plus commercial model and similar target market of European event organizers.
- Tito: Tito is a simple, developer-friendly ticketing platform popular with conferences, meetups, and tech events. It directly competes with Alf.io in the SMB and conference ticketing segment with a similar clean UX philosophy.
- TryBooking: TryBooking is an event ticketing and registration platform popular with community events, fundraisers, and small-to-mid-sized events. It is comparable to Alf.io in serving event organizers with straightforward ticketing needs.
- Ticket Tailor: Ticket Tailor is a paid event ticketing platform aimed at small-to-mid-sized events with a flat-fee pricing model. It directly competes with Alf.io's Swicket offering for organizers who want straightforward, low-fee ticketing without per-ticket commissions.
Broad incumbents
- Eventbrite: Eventbrite is the dominant consumer-facing ticketing platform for events of all sizes globally. It competes with Alf.io in ticketing and registration but targets a broader consumer market and is far larger and better capitalized; Alf.io positions against it on privacy and pricing.
- Bizzabo: Bizzabo is an event experience platform offering registration, marketing, and analytics for B2B events and conferences. It competes with Alf.io for conference and trade show organizers but is a broader, enterprise-focused platform.
- Cvent: Cvent is a large-scale enterprise event management platform covering registration, venue sourcing, and attendee management. It is a broader incumbent that competes with Alf.io for mid-market and enterprise event organizers but operates at much greater scale and scope.
Emerging players
- Humanitix: Humanitix is a ticketing platform that donates booking fees to charity, popular with conferences, schools, and community events. It is comparable to Alf.io in serving mission-driven event organizers and competes in the same segment of ethical/pricing-conscious ticketing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Alf io social profiles
Digital presenceAlf io compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Alf io financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alf io leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Alf io funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alf io M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Alf io
What does Alf io do?
Alf.io is a free, open source (GPLv3) event attendance management system that covers the full lifecycle of an event from ticket distribution and reservation through event management to reporting. It provides a web application with a public ticket shop and a backoffice admin area, a mobile check-in app (Alf.io Scan) for iOS/Android, and RaspberryPI-powered offline check-in stations (Alf.io-PI) with on-site badge printing. Payments are processed through Stripe, Mollie, PayPal, Revolut, and bank transfer, with PCI-compliant handling. Swicket is offered as a premium hosted, managed version built on the same core.
Is Alf io a public or private company?
Alf io is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Alf io founded?
Alf io was founded in 2014.
How does Alf io make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Open Source Software (Free) is the primary driver. The others are swicket Premium Hosted Service, open Collective Donations and corporate Sponsorships.
Who are Alf io's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eventzilla, Webconnex (RegFox), Pretix, Tito, TryBooking and Ticket Tailor. Broad incumbents are Eventbrite, Bizzabo and Cvent. Humanitix is listed as an emerging player.
Does Alf io have an API?
Yes. Alf.io provides an extensions framework for integrating with external systems, documented under Dev Reference. Extensions are written in JavaScript and registered to Application Events. The system provides backend access through scope variables including Event, organizationId, Utils, SimpleHttpClient, and GSON. Extensions can integrate with billing/accounting systems, CRMs, email marketing services (Mailjet), and custom notifications (Slack, Telegram). The system also supports API key-based authentication for check-in operators. Developer documentation is at alf.io/docs/reference/extensions.
What industry is Alf io in?
Alf io's product category is Event Ticketing Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAFAM, Virtual & Hybrid Event Registration & Streaming Access Platforms. Its SIC code is 7370.