Show Sourcing vs CardFlow Expo
CardFlow Expo and Show Sourcing are both made for buyers at trade shows. They start from different places. CardFlow Expo starts from the supplier: scan the card, build a supplier profile, follow up. Show Sourcing starts from the product: photo, price, MOQ and landed cost, linked to the vendor who quoted it.
Facts about CardFlow Expo come from its own website, checked on October 20, 2026. Plans and prices change, so check cardflowexpo.com for the latest.
The short answer
- Choose CardFlow Expo if you use Android, want a free tier, and mostly need supplier contacts, follow-up reminders and per-event pricing.
- Choose Show Sourcing if you use iPhone, iPad or Mac, and you need product photos, price breaks, landed cost with US tariffs and a team that sees each other's finds live.
Side by side
| Show Sourcing | CardFlow Expo | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Mac, plus a web portal | Android and web (no iOS app listed) |
| Business card scan | Yes, into vendor records | Yes, with OCR and AI suggestions |
| Product records with photos | Yes, photos, video and voice notes | Product interests with price, MOQ and notes; photos not listed |
| Price terms and price breaks | FOB, CIF, EXW, DDP; price per quantity | Price field; price breaks not listed |
| Landed cost with US tariffs | Yes (HTS codes, Section 301, freight per unit) | Not listed |
| Works offline | Yes | Not listed |
| Team | Live sync for every seat | Team workspace on the Business plan (5 members) |
| Follow-up | Statuses and vendor email templates | Reminders, manual WhatsApp follow-up, QR lead forms |
| Export | Excel with photos and landed-cost formulas | CSV (Pro and up) |
| Languages | English | English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Turkish |
| Free option | 30-day free trial | Free plan (100 suppliers, 10 OCR scans, 1 exhibition) |
| Paid price | $60 per seat for 6 months, or $102 per seat per year | Pro $19/month or $49/event; Business $49/month or $149/event; Event Kit $99 one time |
Where CardFlow Expo is stronger
- Android. Show Sourcing has no Android app.
- A free plan with real limits, and per-event pricing for buyers who go to one show a year.
- More interface languages.
- Exhibitor-side tools such as QR lead forms.
Where Show Sourcing is stronger
- Products, not only suppliers. Every product keeps its photos, video, voice note, price, price breaks and MOQ, linked to the vendor.
- Landed cost. Show Sourcing adds packaging, US tariffs by HTS code and freight per unit, so you compare quotes on what they really cost. See how to compare supplier quotes.
- Search inside photos. Words printed on the product or its box become searchable.
- Live team sync on every plan, not only on a business tier.
- Apple platforms, including iPad and Mac with list and details side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Does Show Sourcing work on Android?
No. Show Sourcing runs on iPhone, iPad and Mac, with a web portal for viewing your catalog. CardFlow Expo lists Android and web.
Which is cheaper, Show Sourcing or CardFlow Expo?
CardFlow Expo has a free plan and per-event plans from $49. Show Sourcing costs $60 per seat for 6 months or $102 per seat per year, with a 30-day free trial. Which is cheaper depends on how many shows you attend and how many people use it.
Which one calculates landed cost?
Show Sourcing calculates landed cost (LDP) with US tariffs and freight per unit. CardFlow Expo's website does not list landed cost.