Cost and method
What exhibition lead retrieval actually costs in the UK.
A benchmark you can check, not a brochure. Every figure below is either our own published price or a range exhibitors have reported being quoted, with the method and the date attached.
- UK trade shows and exhibitions only.
- A three-day show with one or two people on the stand.
- Between 300 and 600 badge-carrying visitors over the show.
- Prices exclude VAT, stand build, electrics and everything else on the exhibitor order form.
The cost of one three-day show
| Option | Pricing basis | Per show | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organiser scanner rental | GES / Freeman, quoted per order | £1,000 – £2,500 | Plus per-lead charges where the package carries them, and any deposit on the device. |
| Enterprise event platform | Cvent / Swapcard / Stova, annual | Not comparable | Sold as an annual contract scoped by events and modules. A per-show figure would be a guess, so we do not publish one. |
| Exhibitor capture subscription | Captello / iCapture, quoted | Quote only | Scoped by users, events and CRM connectors. Ask for a per-event total, not a monthly headline. |
| StandProof, single stand | Published | £149 | One-off, one device, unlimited scans, CSV export. |
| StandProof, team | Published | £299 | One-off, up to four devices on the same event, everything in single plus pooled leads. |
Excludes VAT and stand costs. Ranges are reported quotes, not list prices. The comparison of every vendor is on the lead retrieval comparison page.
How these numbers were produced
A benchmark is only useful if you can see how it was made and disagree with it.
What we count as a source
Exhibitor quotes shared with us directly, organiser exhibitor manuals and order forms where the line item is printed, and suppliers’ own published pages. An anecdote from a LinkedIn thread is not a source, however often it is repeated.
Why every competitor figure is a range
None of the vendors on this page publishes a UK list price for lead retrieval, because the price moves with show size, device count, contract length and how the organiser bundles it. Publishing a single number for them would be inventing it.
What we leave out
VAT, stand build, rigging, electrics, lead-file release fees charged after the show, and the internal cost of a rep’s time. We also leave out any quote we could not tie to a specific show and device count.
What would change the answer
If an organiser mandates its scanner, the rental is a cost you cannot avoid, and StandProof becomes an additional £149 rather than a replacement. We say so on the comparison page instead of pretending the rental is optional at every show.
How you check it
Ask your organiser for the lead-retrieval line on your exhibitor order form, and ask two capture vendors for a written quote for the same show. Three numbers, one afternoon, and you no longer need this page.
Ten questions to ask before you sign
Send these to your organiser and to any vendor quoting you. The answers turn a benchmark into your own number in about an afternoon.
- 01What is the total lead-retrieval line on my exhibitor order form, in writing, including VAT?
- 02How many devices does that cover, and what does an extra device cost per day?
- 03Is there a per-lead charge, a lead-release fee, or a charge to export the file?
- 04Do I get the full record, or only name, company and email?
- 05Can I export CSV on the last day of the show, or does the file arrive weeks later?
- 06What happens if a device fails mid-show — is there a swap desk on site?
- 07Is there an exclusivity clause stopping me using my own app on my stand?
- 08How long does the vendor keep my leads, and can I have them deleted?
- 09Does the platform support business cards, or badges only?
- 10What is the total price for the same show next year, so I can see the increase?
Update log
- 3 November 2026Benchmark re-issued. Comparison hub rebuilt with named vendors, functionality matrix and the “when they are the better buy” section.
- 31 October 2026First published benchmark: organiser scanner range of £1,000–£2,500 for a three-day show.
If a figure here disagrees with a quote you have received, we would like to see it — the benchmark is reissued when the evidence changes.
£149 is the whole price of a single stand.
Paid once per show, with unlimited scans, enrichment, scoring and CSV export. Nothing per lead, nothing per seat, nothing to rent.
See the pricing