Managing event registrations through spreadsheets works until check-in day arrives—then you're stuck printing attendee lists and manually crossing off names while a line of frustrated attendees grows longer. The solution isn't abandoning your familiar Google Sheets workflow but transforming it into a professional mobile app with SheetBridge, Adalo's purpose-built integration that converts spreadsheet data into native iOS, Android, and web applications in hours rather than months. Organizations implementing no-code solutions achieve 362% average ROI while cutting development time by 90%, making spreadsheet-to-app conversion the fastest path from registration chaos to professional event management. Adalo's agnostic builder lets you publish the same app to the web, native iOS, and native Android, all without writing a line of code or rebuilding. If your plan is mass distribution through the app stores vast marketplaces, then this is a great option.
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Key Takeaways
- SheetBridge connects existing Google Sheets to Adalo apps in 10-15 minutes with automatic schema detection and real-time bidirectional sync
- Build a functional event registration app prototype in 3-5 hours—production-ready apps take 1-2 weeks
- Avoid custom development costs of $40,000-$60,000 by using Adalo's no-code platform
- Save hours weekly per organizer through automated registration, payments, and check-in workflows
- Reduce registration errors with mobile validation and real-time capacity tracking
- Publish to web, iOS App Store, and Google Play Store from a single Adalo project starting at $36/month (annual billing)
Why Choose Adalo and Google Sheets for Your Event App?
Event organizers already trust Google Sheets for managing attendee data, ticket sales, and scheduling. The problem isn't your spreadsheet—it's the gap between backend data management and the mobile-first experience attendees expect. Adalo bridges this gap by treating your existing spreadsheet as the database while delivering a polished app interface.
The combination delivers specific advantages:
- Familiar data management: Continue editing events, pricing, and attendee records in Google Sheets—changes sync automatically to your app
- True native apps: Unlike progressive web apps (PWAs), Adalo produces apps that publish directly to the App Store and Google Play
- Rapid prototyping: Visual drag-and-drop building means if you can make a slide deck, you can make an app
- Cost efficiency: No-code platforms deliver results 90% faster than traditional coding at a fraction of the cost
The platform supports more than one million apps created, proving the infrastructure handles real event loads without performance issues.
Preparing Your Google Sheet for Event Data
Clean data structure prevents 80% of integration issues. Before connecting to Adalo, organize your spreadsheet following these requirements:
Essential columns for event data:
- Event_Name (text)
- Date (consistent date format)
- Location (text or address)
- Ticket_Price (number)
- Capacity (number)
- Description (text)
Data hygiene checklist:
- Place headers in row 1 with no spaces or special characters
- Use consistent data types per column (don't mix text and numbers)
- Remove merged cells, empty rows, and blank columns
- Format phone numbers as plain text, not numbers
- Verify dates use a single consistent format
Structuring Related Data
For complex events, create separate sheets for Events, Attendees, and Tickets rather than cramming everything into one flat table. This relational approach enables queries like "show all attendees for Event X" and reduces data duplication. The Adalo database system automatically recognizes relationships when sheets share common identifiers.
Connecting Your Google Sheet to Adalo
SheetBridge eliminates the technical complexity of API configuration. The connection process takes 10-15 minutes:
- Navigate to SheetBridge.adalo.com and authenticate your Google account
- Select your target spreadsheet from the list
- Review the auto-detected schema—SheetBridge identifies column headers and infers data types
- Adjust any misidentified types (phone numbers often default to numbers instead of text)
- Confirm the connection to create collections in Adalo matching your spreadsheet structure
The integration establishes real-time bidirectional sync: registrations submitted through your app appear in Google Sheets within seconds, while edits made directly in Sheets update the app automatically. This preserves your existing workflow while adding mobile capabilities.
For complex multi-app workflows, Zapier integration offers an alternative with 5,000+ app connections. The free tier supports 100 monthly tasks with 15-minute polling. Some Zapier triggers are “instant” (webhook-based) when supported by the connected app.
Designing Your Event Registration App in Adalo
Adalo's visual builder operates on a what-you-see-is-what-you-get principle. Start by adding a List component connected to your Events collection:
Event Discovery Screen (1-2 hours):
- Add a List component displaying event cards with name, date, location, and price
- Configure search input allowing attendees to filter by event name
- Add filter buttons for date ranges, categories, or price (free vs. paid)
- Include a Map view toggle showing event locations
Design considerations:
- Use app templates as starting points—templates can provide many of the common screens and structure you’d otherwise build from scratch
- Maintain consistent spacing and typography across screens
- Test responsiveness using Adalo's preview modes for phone, tablet, and web
The platform includes unlimited screens and actions across all paid plans, so complex registration flows with multiple steps don't incur additional costs.
Implementing Event Details and Registration Workflows
Build the core user journey from event discovery through registration confirmation:
Event Detail Screen
Display full event information including:
- Event name, date, time, and location with map integration
- Detailed description and speaker/performer information
- Ticket types with pricing (General Admission, VIP, Early Bird)
- Real-time capacity indicator showing available spots
- Registration button triggering the purchase flow
Registration Form
Create form screens capturing:
- Attendee name, email, and phone number
- Ticket quantity selection with calculated totals
- Optional fields for dietary restrictions or accessibility needs
- Terms acceptance checkbox
Confirmation and QR Code Generation
After successful registration:
- Display confirmation screen with order summary
- Generate unique QR code per registration for event-day check-in
- Trigger automated confirmation email via Zapier
- Write registration data back to Google Sheets
The workflow configuration requires 2-3 hours, with most time spent designing the visual layout rather than technical configuration.
Adding Advanced Features
Payment Integration
Install the Stripe component from the Adalo Marketplace to process ticket payments:
- Configure Test API keys (pk_test_/sk_test_) during development
- Map ticket selection totals to payment amount fields
- Handle success and failure states with appropriate user feedback
- Switch to Live keys only when ready for real transactions
Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction—no Adalo markup applies.
QR Code Check-In System
Install QR Code Generator and Scanner components to streamline event-day operations:
- Generate unique QR codes linked to each registration record
- Build an organizer-only Check-In screen with scanner functionality
- Update attendance status in Google Sheets when codes scan successfully
- Display attendee information for verification before marking checked-in
QR scanning can significantly speed up check-in compared to manual list checking, especially for larger events.
Push Notifications and Reminders
Configure automated communications:
- Event reminder notifications 24 hours before start time
- Last-minute updates for venue changes or schedule adjustments
- Post-event follow-up requests for feedback
Testing Your Event Registration App
Thorough testing prevents launch-day disasters. Follow this validation sequence:
Functional testing:
- Complete full registration flow with test Stripe payments
- Verify data syncs bidirectionally between app and Google Sheets
- Test filters and search returning correct results
- Confirm QR codes scan successfully on multiple devices
Cross-platform validation:
- Preview on iOS and Android devices using Adalo's mobile preview
- Test responsive web layouts across screen sizes
User acceptance testing:
- Invite 5-10 pilot users to test the complete attendee journey
- Collect feedback on confusing steps or missing information
- Validate organizer check-in workflow with mock event simulation
Budget 1-2 hours for testing, plus time to address any issues discovered.
Publishing Your Event App
Adalo offers three publishing destinations from a single project:
Web App Publishing
Available on the free plan:
- Publish to custom domain (yourcompany.com/events)
- Or use Adalo subdomain (yourapp.adalo.com) for testing
- Instant updates without app store review delays
iOS App Store
Requires Starter plan ($36/month annual billing or $45/month monthly) and above plus:
- Apple Developer Program membership ($99/year)
- App Store review process (typically 24-48 hours)
- Compliance with Apple's Human Interface Guidelines
Google Play Store
Requires Starter plan ($36/month annual billing or $45/month monthly) and above plus:
- Google Play Developer account ($25 one-time fee)
- Store listing assets (screenshots, descriptions)
- Review process (typically faster than Apple)
Managing and Updating Your Event App
Post-launch maintenance leverages the Google Sheets connection:
Real-time updates:
- Add new events by creating rows in your spreadsheet
- Adjust pricing, capacity, or descriptions—changes appear in the app within seconds
- Archive past events by filtering based on date
App modifications:
- Update branding, colors, or layouts in Adalo without republishing to app stores (web apps update instantly)
- Add new features using marketplace components
- Scale database capacity by upgrading plans as attendance grows
SheetBridge maintains sync even as your event calendar grows, though Google Sheets performance degrades above 100,000 rows. For high-volume operations, consider migrating to Adalo's internal database or Xano integration available on Team plans.
Why Adalo Stands Apart for Event Registration Apps
While multiple no-code platforms connect to Google Sheets, Adalo delivers unique advantages for event organizers transforming spreadsheets into professional applications.
SheetBridge: Purpose-Built Spreadsheet Integration
SheetBridge represents Adalo's dedicated solution for spreadsheet-to-app conversion, offering capabilities competitors lack:
- Automatic schema detection: SheetBridge reads your spreadsheet headers and infers data types, eliminating manual field mapping that other platforms require
- Bidirectional real-time sync: Changes in your app write to Sheets instantly; edits in Sheets appear in your app within seconds
- Preserved workflows: Your team continues managing data in familiar spreadsheet interfaces while attendees interact with a polished mobile experience
- One-click authentication: OAuth 2.0 connection handles Google permissions without API key management
The 10-15 minute setup time compares favorably to competitors requiring hours of API configuration or middleware tools.
Native App Publishing
Unlike platforms limited to progressive web apps, Adalo produces true native applications:
- Push notifications for event reminders and updates
- Native camera access for QR code scanning
- Full App Store and Google Play distribution
Event-Specific Component Ecosystem
The Adalo Marketplace includes pre-built components addressing common event requirements:
- QR code generation and scanning
- Stripe payment processing
- Google Maps integration for venue discovery
- Calendar components for scheduling
- Push notification configuration
Proven Scale
Adalo infrastructure handles real event loads with 99% uptime and capacity for millions of users across the platform.
For organizations ready to transform spreadsheet-based event management into professional mobile applications, Adalo's plans start at $36/month (annual billing) for web publishing, with Team plans at $160/month (annual billing) for organizations needing multiple apps and editors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an existing Google Sheet for my Adalo event registration app?
Yes. SheetBridge connects to any Google Sheet where you have Editor access. The integration reads your existing structure and creates matching collections in Adalo without modifying your original spreadsheet. Clean up headers and ensure consistent data types before connecting for best results.
Do I need any coding knowledge to build this app with Adalo?
No coding required. Adalo operates on the principle that if you can make a slide deck, you can make an app. The visual drag-and-drop builder handles all technical implementation. Event registration apps typically take 3-5 hours for a functional prototype without any programming background.
How secure is the data in an event app built with Adalo and Google Sheets?
Data transfers use HTTPS/TLS encryption. Google Sheets inherits Google's SOC 2 Type II certified security. Adalo databases encrypt data at rest. For payment processing, Stripe handles PCI DSS compliance—Adalo never stores credit card data. The platform supports role-based access control and row-level filtering to show users only their own registration data.
Can I add custom branding to my event registration app?
Yes. Starter plans and above include custom branding options: upload logos, configure brand colors, select fonts from Adalo's library, and publish to your own custom domain. The visual builder provides complete control over layouts, spacing, and design elements.
Does Adalo support features like waitlists or promo codes for events?
These features require custom configuration but are achievable without code. Waitlists use conditional logic checking capacity against registrations. Promo codes implement through database records with discount values applied via custom formulas. The Adalo Marketplace includes components that simplify complex features, and Adalo Experts can assist with advanced implementations.
