# bzar vs BoothCentral

BoothCentral is an application and jurying tool for craft shows and expos, priced per event. bzar is free for organizers and adds a visual booth map, QR check-in, a public vendor directory and a built-in DMV audience.

## Choose bzar if

- You want to run your event without a monthly subscription or a per-event fee.
- You want vendors placed on a visual booth map.
- You check attendees in by QR code.
- You want DMV vendors and attendees who follow you on bzar to hear the moment you publish or open applications.

## Choose BoothCentral if

- You need jurying for a craft show today.
- You need a built-in local audience outside Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. bzar's organizer tools work anywhere in the US, but its community of vendors and shoppers is in the DMV.

## Features

| Feature | bzar | BoothCentral |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor applications with your own questions | Yes | Yes |
| Application scoring and jurying | No | Yes |
| Vendor badges and track record | No | Not listed |
| Booth types with prices and limits | Yes | Yes |
| Booth map | Yes | Not listed |
| Booth fees paid by card | Yes | Yes |
| Refunds from the platform | Yes | Yes |
| Insurance and permit collection | Yes | Yes |
| Vendor agreements to sign | Yes | Partly |
| Free and paid ticketing | Yes | Yes |
| QR check-in | Yes | Not listed |
| Promo codes | Yes | Yes |
| Public vendor directory | Yes | Not listed |
| Messaging and announcements to vendors | Yes | Yes |
| Email automations | Yes | Yes |
| One inbox for platform messages, email and Instagram | No | Not listed |
| AI operator | No | Not listed |
| Organizer page with followers | Yes | Not listed |
| Built-in audience of vendors and attendees | Yes | Yes |
| Payouts and revenue analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Shopper preorders from vendors | Yes | Not listed |
| Weekly market seasons | Yes | Partly |
| Organizer mobile app | No | Not listed |

## Fees for the same event

### Market with paid entry: 40 booths at $75, 300 tickets at $10

| Platform | Total fees |
|---|---|
| bzar | $313 |
| BoothCentral | $1,329 |

### Free-entry market: 40 booths at $75

| Platform | Total fees |
|---|---|
| bzar | $223 |
| BoothCentral | $594 |

### Festival: 120 booths at $150, 2,000 tickets at $5

| Platform | Total fees |
|---|---|
| bzar | $1,598 |
| BoothCentral | $5,293 |

## Switching from BoothCentral

1. Create a free organizer account and set up your event.
2. Copy your application questions into the bzar application form, and recreate your booth types and prices.
3. Lay out booths on the venue map and set up your automatic emails.
4. Send your new application link to returning vendors. Anyone following you on bzar is notified when applications open.

Checked 2026-10-09 against BoothCentral's own website. All comparisons: https://bzar.app/compare