Anime Expo 2026 wrapped up with first looks at Bleach: The Calamity, Persona 4 Revival, and Black Clover Season 2, and the schedule chaos was as bad as ever. Panels overlap, exclusive drops sell out in the first hour, and the map to the artist alley never quite matches the paper program. We tested seven anime convention planning apps for desktop that handle the pre-con schedule build, the on-site logistics for groups, and the post-con haul and photo archive.
Everything here works in a browser on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and every option has a companion mobile app you’ll hand off to on the con floor. The desktop side is where the planning actually happens.
What to look for in a convention planner
Convention planning splits into three distinct phases, and the tools that shine in one often fumble the others:
- Pre-con schedule build. Reading a 200-panel program, marking priorities, resolving overlaps, and sharing a plan with the group.
- On-site coordination. Group chat, real-time schedule changes, meetup pins on the con floor map, budget splits.
- Post-con archive. Cataloguing artist alley haul, storing photo galleries, saving contact cards, planning next year’s return.
Different tools handle each phase. The best stacks pair a schedule tool (Sched or Guidebook) with a coordination tool (Notion, Airtable, Discord) and a note-taking layer for the archive.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Starting price | Standout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sched | Official schedule import for big cons | Yes | $500+/year for organisers | Anime Expo, AX Chibi, Sakura-Con all use it |
| Guidebook | Con-specific guide apps | Yes for attendees | Organiser plans vary | Interactive maps, sponsor spotlights |
| Whova | Business-conf-grade planner used by AnimeNYC | Yes for attendees | Organiser tiers | Attendee networking, group polls |
| Notion | Custom schedule + haul database | Yes | $10/user/mo Plus | Full database, block editor, kanban |
| Google Calendar | Ical import from any con schedule | Yes, fully | Free | Shared calendars, mobile sync |
| Airtable | Group budget and haul tracker | Yes | $12/user/mo | Rich fields, group views, photo uploads |
| Discord | Group chat plus con-specific servers | Yes, fully | Free | Voice, event scheduler, custom bots |
The 7 anime convention planning apps we tested
1. Sched — best official schedule import
Sched is the platform Anime Expo, AX Chibi, Sakura-Con, and a growing list of anime cons use for their official programme. Log in as an attendee, click every panel you want, and the app handles overlap warnings, priority ranking, and export to Google Calendar. The web app is where the browsing feels fastest; the mobile handoff on con day is smooth.
Where it falls short: Some cons don’t publish the full schedule until a week before, which limits pre-con planning. The web UI is dated.
Pricing: Free for attendees. Organisers pay $500 to $5,000+ per event.
Platforms: Web (Windows, macOS, Linux). iOS and Android.
Download: sched.com
Bottom line: The pick when your con uses Sched — that alone makes it the starting point. Import into Google Calendar to share with friends.
2. Guidebook — best con-specific guide apps
Guidebook is behind the branded “download our official app” experience for many mid-size anime cons. Each event ships as its own guide with schedule, exhibitors, floor maps, sponsor spotlights, and push notifications for schedule changes. The desktop preview mode lets you plan your day before the con opens.
Where it falls short: Not every con is on Guidebook. The desktop UI is a preview of the mobile UI rather than a proper web app.
Pricing: Free for attendees. Organisers pay per event.
Platforms: Web preview (Windows, macOS, Linux). iOS and Android.
Download: guidebook.com
Bottom line: Pick this when your con offers a Guidebook. Skip if your con is on Sched or has its own custom app.
3. Whova — best business-conf-grade planner
Whova is business-conference software that AnimeNYC and a handful of larger anime cons now use. The attendee networking (opt-in profiles, message threads, “who’s here” search), group polls, and community feed are stronger than Sched or Guidebook’s. Overkill for a small local con; excellent for a big one.
Where it falls short: Overkill for casual attendees. Networking features can feel corporate and off-putting for a fan crowd.
Pricing: Free for attendees. Organisers pay per event.
Platforms: Web (Windows, macOS, Linux). iOS and Android.
Download: whova.com
Bottom line: Pick this when your con is on Whova and you plan to network. Skip if you’re there for panels and shopping only.
4. Notion — best custom con planning workspace
Notion is where a lot of dedicated con-goers build their own planners. A page per con, a database of panels with priority tags, a kanban of “must-do / hoping-to / drop if it overlaps,” a budget page, and a haul tracker after the con. Sharing the page turns it into a shared group plan.
Where it falls short: Setup takes an evening the first time. Free tier caps team blocks; you’ll want Plus for group planning.
Pricing: Free personal tier. Plus at $10/user/month, Business $20/user/month.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (native app and web). iOS and Android.
Download: notion.so
Bottom line: The pick when the official con apps aren’t flexible enough and you want a durable, reusable planning system.
5. Google Calendar — best universal schedule import
Google Calendar is the lowest-friction way to bring a con schedule into the calendar you already live in. Sched, Guidebook, and Whova all export iCal feeds; drop the URL into “add calendar by URL” and every panel appears next to your regular events. Shared calendars mean the group sees the same schedule.
Where it falls short: No panel-priority ranking, no notes, no overlap warnings beyond the standard conflict indicator.
Pricing: Free.
Platforms: Web (Windows, macOS, Linux). iOS and Android.
Download: calendar.google.com
Bottom line: The pick when you want the con schedule to sit inside your regular calendar and be dead simple. Combine with Notion for priority ranking.
6. Airtable — best group budget and haul tracker
Airtable is Notion’s structured-database cousin, and it shines for the money side of con planning. Budget line items, haul tracking with photo attachments, artist alley wishlist, exhibitor comparison, split expenses across the group. Views let each person filter to their concerns without breaking the shared source of truth.
Where it falls short: Free tier caps record count. Overkill for a solo attendee.
Pricing: Free tier. Team $12/user/month, Business $24/user/month.
Platforms: Web (Windows, macOS, Linux). iOS and Android.
Download: airtable.com
Bottom line: The pick when a group of four wants a shared budget and haul tracker that survives past the con.
7. Discord — best real-time group coordination
Discord is where con groups actually coordinate on the day. Voice channels for meetups, event scheduler for “we’re all meeting at the fountain at 3pm,” bots that ping when a specific panel is starting, custom emoji for merch drops. Con-specific fan servers are already active on Discord for most big anime cons.
Where it falls short: Not a planner in itself; you’ll pair it with Notion or a calendar. Server discovery can be scattered.
Pricing: Free. Nitro $10/month for extras.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (native app and web). iOS and Android.
Download: discord.com
Bottom line: The pick for group coordination on the day of. Every con group ends up here.
How to pick the right one
- Start with your con’s official app (Sched, Guidebook, or Whova) — that’s non-negotiable for the actual schedule.
- Layer Google Calendar or Notion on top for planning across multiple friends.
- Add Airtable if the group needs a real budget and haul tracker.
- Use Discord for day-of coordination — voice and event scheduling live there.
For a solo attendee, Sched (or your con’s app) plus Google Calendar plus Discord is enough. For a group of four planning three cons in a year, Notion or Airtable earns its keep.
FAQ
What app does Anime Expo use for its schedule? Sched. The full 2026 programme lives there and imports cleanly into Google Calendar.
Is there a single app that handles con schedule, budget, and haul? Notion or Airtable come closest. Neither replaces the con’s official schedule tool; use them alongside.
Do these work offline on the con floor? Sched, Guidebook, and Whova cache schedule data on mobile. Notion and Airtable have offline modes; Google Calendar syncs on next connection.
How far in advance do anime cons publish their schedules? Most publish 2–4 weeks before the event, though the biggest cons (Anime Expo, AnimeNYC) tease sessions earlier. Start planning around the tentative panel list, then refine when the full schedule drops.
What’s the best way to coordinate with a group at the con? Discord voice channels and the event scheduler beat SMS for real-time meetups. Set up the server before the con and add every friend before you land.
