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🎫 Event Registration & Check-in

Register Attendees & Check Them In from One App

Adalo is the AI-powered no-code platform for building database-driven web and native iOS and Android apps from a single editor. Use SheetBridge to collect event registrations through your app and run day-of check-in from a phone or tablet—all synced to your Google Sheet in real time. One app, published to the App Store and Google Play—no complex development required.

Real-Time
Registration & Check-in
Instant
Attendee Lookup
100%
Mobile-Friendly
SheetBridge Event Check-in — Google Sheet to web, iOS and Android registration app

Build Any Event App You Can Imagine

From small meetups to large conferences—if you can organize it in Google Sheets, you can build it

🎫
Registration Forms
✅
Day-of Check-in
📋
Attendee Lists
🏷️
Ticket Management
📊
Event Dashboard
🔍
Attendee Search
📅
Multi-Event Manager
👥
Guest Lists
🎓
Workshop Sign-ups
🏢
Conference Tracker
🎉
RSVP Manager
📱
Self Check-in Kiosk
📈
Attendance Reports
🎪
Festival Pass
💼
Networking Events
📝
Registered
→
✅
Checked In
→
❌
Cancelled
The Challenge

Event Check-in Shouldn't Mean Clipboards and Chaos

Event organizers juggle registration spreadsheets, printed guest lists, and manual check-in. On event day, the pressure is on—and paper processes crack under it.

Traditional Challenges

  • Registrations collected via forms but check-in done from printed sheets
  • No live count of who's arrived vs. who's still expected
  • Last-minute registrations missed because the printed list is already final
  • Staff searching alphabetical lists while queues build up
  • No easy way for attendees to check their own registration status
  • Post-event reconciliation between paper and spreadsheet is painful

The SheetBridge Solution

  • Registrations and check-ins in one app, synced to one spreadsheet
  • Live attendee count updates as staff check people in
  • Last-minute registrations appear in the check-in list instantly
  • Search by name or email—find any attendee in seconds
  • Attendees can view their own registration status in the app
  • Your registration spreadsheet remains the single source of truth
Key Features

Everything You Need for Registration & Check-in

Built for event organizers who need seamless registration, fast check-in, and real-time visibility into attendance—all powered by their existing spreadsheet.

📝

Registration Form

Attendees register through a structured form that maps directly to your spreadsheet columns. Each submission writes a new row with a system-generated sheetbridge_id instantly.

✅

One-Tap Check-in

Staff search by name or email, tap to check in, and the status updates to "Checked In" with a timestamp—written back to Google Sheets immediately via SheetBridge.

🔍

Attendee Search

Use SheetBridge's contains operator to search attendees by name or email in real time. Find anyone on the list in seconds, even with hundreds of registrations.

👤

My Registration

Attendees can look up their own registration by email and see their status, ticket type, and event details. Built using SheetBridge's user-based filtering.

🔁

Bidirectional Sync

Registrations created in the app appear in the sheet instantly. Attendees added directly to the sheet show up in the check-in list automatically. Real-time sync in both directions.

📊

Live Attendance View

Filter by status to see who's checked in and who's still expected. Organizers get a real-time headcount without counting clipboards or reconciling paper lists.

Implementation

From Spreadsheet to Event App in Four Steps

Get your registration and check-in app up and running quickly—well before event day.

1

Prepare Your Registrations Sheet

Create a Google Sheet with your event registration data. Use one header row with clear, unique column names. SheetBridge reads row 1 as column headers and turns each column into a property in Adalo. If you run multiple events, either use separate tabs per event or include an event_name column and filter.

Essential Columns:
event_name
attendee_name
attendee_email
ticket_type
status
checked_in_at
notes
registered_at
Optional Columns:
company
role

Keep data types consistent within each column—don't mix dates and text. Avoid blank rows in the middle of your data and use clear, simple header names. SheetBridge will automatically add a sheetbridge_id column to uniquely identify each row—do not edit or remove it.

2

Connect the Sheet with SheetBridge

In Adalo, open your app and click the Database tab. Add an External Collection, select SheetBridge, and paste your Google Spreadsheet URL. Complete the Google Sign-In flow to grant access, then select your sheet and Run Test to verify the connection. SheetBridge automatically detects your columns and creates collection properties in Adalo.

Connection checklist:
✓ Sheet URL pasted
✓ Google account has edit access
✓ Run Test successful
✓ Fields map correctly

If you use separate tabs per event, repeat this process to create a separate External Collection for each tab. Use clear collection names—e.g., "Summit 2026 Registrations (SheetBridge)."

3

Create Registration Screens

Build the screens attendees use to register and check their status. Each form maps inputs to your spreadsheet columns and creates a new row via SheetBridge.

Attendee-Facing Screens:
Register
Form that creates a new row with name, email, ticket type, and registered_at
My Registration
Filter by attendee_email so attendees can view their status and details
Event Details
Basic event info, date, location, and current registration status
4

Create Check-in Screens for Staff

Build the screens your event staff use on the day. A fast search, one-tap check-in, and a live "who's here" view—all writing back to Google Sheets in real time via SheetBridge.

Staff-Facing Screens:
Attendee List
Searchable list of all registrations—find anyone by name or email
Check-in Action
Button that updates status to "Checked In" and sets checked_in_at
Checked In View
Filtered list where status equals "Checked In"—live headcount
Fields updated on check-in:
status
checked_in_at

The connecting Google account must have edit access to the spreadsheet for write-backs to work. You cannot have a column titled "id" in your sheet—it conflicts with SheetBridge's internal system and will throw an error when updating rows.

What You Should See

How You Know It's Working

Once everything is connected, here's what the experience looks like for your team and attendees.

Seamless Sync

  • New registrations created in the app show up in the Sheet instantly
  • Check-ins performed in the app update the Sheet immediately
  • Attendees added directly in the Sheet appear in the check-in list

Event Day Workflow

  • Staff search and check in attendees from a phone or tablet
  • Organizers see a live headcount of who's arrived vs. expected
  • Last-minute registrations flow into the check-in list automatically
Business Impact

Measurable Benefits for Your Events

SheetBridge transforms how you manage registrations and run check-in on event day.

⚡

Faster Check-in

Search by name or email and check in with one tap. No more scanning printed lists or flipping through pages while attendees wait in line.

👁️

Live Attendance Count

See exactly how many people have arrived in real time. Filter by "Checked In" for an instant headcount—no manual tallying required.

🎯

Cleaner Registration Data

Structured forms with consistent fields eliminate typos, duplicate entries, and missing information. Every registration follows the same format.

📈

No Post-Event Reconciliation

Check-in data lives in the same sheet as registrations. No reconciling paper lists with spreadsheets after the event—it's already done.

💪

Last-Minute Flexibility

Walk-up registrations and last-minute additions appear in the check-in list immediately. Your printed list is never out of date because there is no printed list.

🔧

Easy to Reuse

Duplicate the sheet for your next event, reconnect via SheetBridge, and you're ready to go. Add columns or adjust ticket types by editing the spreadsheet—no developer needed.

Best Practices

Tips for Success

Learn from teams who've successfully deployed SheetBridge for event registration and check-in.

📋 Consistent Status Values

Use a fixed list for status (Registered, Checked In, Cancelled). SheetBridge filters are case-sensitive—"Checked In" and "checked in" are treated as different values, so consistency is critical.

📅 Multi-Event Strategy

If you run multiple events, either use a separate tab per event (each connected as its own External Collection) or include an event_name column and filter by it in your app screens.

🆔 Add an attendee_id Column

For faster check-in searches, add an attendee_id column with a short unique identifier. Keep attendee names consistent and consider adding it alongside the system-managed sheetbridge_id.

🔤 Unique Column Headers

Every column header must be unique. Duplicate header names will result in missing data. Use clear, simple names—letters, numbers, and spaces only. Avoid merged header cells.

🚫 Don't Touch sheetbridge_id

SheetBridge automatically creates a sheetbridge_id column to identify each row. Do not rename, edit, or delete it—it's system-managed and required for check-in updates and cancellations.

📊 Prevent Duplicate Registrations

Enforce "one registration per email" in your process. SheetBridge doesn't block duplicates automatically, so build your app logic to check for existing registrations before creating a new row.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues & How to Fix Them

⚠️ Duplicate Registrations

If attendees can register twice, enforce "one registration per email" in your app logic. Check for an existing row with the same attendee_email before creating a new one. SheetBridge does not enforce uniqueness automatically.

⚠️ Slow Check-in Search

Keep attendee names consistent and spelled correctly. Consider adding an attendee_id column with a short unique code for faster lookups. SheetBridge's contains operator works well for partial name matches.

⚠️ Registrations Don't Show in the App

Confirm the sheet link is correct, row 1 contains headers, and there is at least one data row below. Empty tabs won't display anything. Also verify you've completed the Run Test step in Adalo.

⚠️ Check-in Updates Don't Write Back

Confirm the connected Google account has edit access to the spreadsheet. View-only access lets the app read registrations but not update status. If the issue persists, disconnect and reconnect to refresh permissions.

⚠️ Status Filter Shows No Results

Check that the filter value exactly matches what's in your sheet. Filters are case-sensitive—"Checked In" and "checked in" are treated as different values. Standardize your status values.

⚠️ Row Updates Fail

Check that you don't have a column titled "id" in your sheet—this conflicts with SheetBridge's internal system and will throw an error when updating rows. Rename it to "attendee_id" or "registration_id."

Requirements

What You Need to Get Started

💳

Adalo Plan

Professional, Team, or Business plan required for SheetBridge access

📊

Google Sheet

A registration spreadsheet you can edit, with unique column headers

📅

Event Structure

One tab per event, or an event_name column to filter multiple events in one sheet

📱

Mobile Access

Check-in staff need smartphones or tablets to run the app at the venue

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About Event Registration Apps

Can I build an event registration app with Adalo?

Yes. Adalo is the AI-powered no-code platform for building database-driven apps that work on web, iOS, and Android from a single editor. Event registration apps are a great fit because they need structured data collection, real-time sync for day-of check-in, and the ability to publish to the App Store and Google Play.

Can my event app be published to the App Store and Google Play?

Yes. Adalo builds native iOS and Android apps that can be published directly to the App Store and Google Play. This gives your attendees a professional, downloadable registration experience and your staff a reliable check-in tool—not just a web link.

Does SheetBridge sync in real time?

Yes. Changes to rows in Google Sheets and changes made from the Adalo app sync in real time. When a staff member checks someone in, the status and timestamp update in the Google Sheet immediately—and new registrations added to the sheet appear in the check-in list automatically.

How do I handle multiple events in one sheet?

You have two options. Use a separate tab per event and connect each as its own External Collection in Adalo—this keeps data cleanly separated. Or use a single tab with an event_name column and filter by it in your app screens using SheetBridge's equals operator. Both approaches work well.

Can attendees check their own registration status?

Yes. Build a "My Registration" screen that filters by attendee_email using SheetBridge's user-based filtering. Attendees enter their email or log in, and the app shows their registration status, ticket type, and event details—all pulled from the same Google Sheet.

Is SheetBridge read-only or read/write?

SheetBridge is fully read/write. Attendees can register (create rows), staff can check people in (update rows), and organizers can cancel registrations (update or delete rows)—all reflected in Google Sheets immediately. The connecting Google account needs edit access for write-backs to work.

What happens if I add a new column to my sheet?

Add the new column in Google Sheets, then go to External Collections → Edit Collection → Run Test in Adalo. The new property will appear in your collection automatically. Column names must be unique—if multiple columns share a name, only the second will load correctly.

Learn more about Adalo's no-code app builder, turning Google Sheets into apps, or explore how to publish to the App Store and Google Play.

Next Steps

Take Your Event App Further

📊 Capacity Indicator

Add a capacity tracker by counting rows with status "Registered" or "Checked In" in Google Sheets. Display the count in your app so organizers know when an event is filling up.

📧 Confirmation Emails

Add automated confirmation emails triggered by new registrations. Use a third-party integration or Google Sheets automation to send a welcome email when a new row is created.

🏷️ Ticket Type Views

Build filtered screens by ticket_type (General, VIP, Speaker, Staff) so organizers can see attendance by tier. Use SheetBridge's equals operator to create precise filtered views.

Ready to Streamline Your Event Check-in?

Join event organizers who've eliminated printed guest lists, reduced check-in wait times, and gained real-time visibility into attendance—all built on their existing registration spreadsheet.

Build Your Event App with Adalo → Explore More Use Cases