Show Sourcing vs the official Canton Fair and HKTDC apps
Big sourcing shows have their own free apps. The Canton Fair app and the HKTDC Marketplace app help you plan, find exhibitors and get through the door. They are not built to be your product database across shows. Most buyers should use both.
Facts come from the Canton Fair app's App Store listing and HKTDC's sourcing support pages, checked on October 20, 2026.
The short answer
- Use the official show app to register, find exhibitors, navigate halls and exchange contact details at that show.
- Use Show Sourcing to record each product you find, with photo, vendor, price, MOQ and landed cost, in one catalog across every show and factory visit.
What the official apps do
Canton Fair app (China Foreign Trade Centre Group): exhibitor and product search, including image search; booth navigation and route planning; itinerary planning; badge scanning to exchange digital business cards; meeting-note summaries; posting procurement needs; chat with translation; exhibitor videos and e-catalogs.
HKTDC Marketplace app: e-Badge check-in; Scan2Match to scan exhibitor QR codes, view details, book meetings and save favourites; product and fair search; a message centre; news; e-coupons.
Side by side
| Show Sourcing | Official show apps | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Every show and factory visit, in one catalog | One organizer's shows |
| Exhibitor search and hall maps | No | Yes, a core strength |
| Badge and entry | No | Yes |
| Your own product photos with price and MOQ | Yes | Not listed |
| Price breaks and landed cost with US tariffs | Yes | Not listed |
| Team catalog with live sync | Yes | Not listed |
| Export to Excel | Yes | Not listed |
| Price | $60 per seat for 6 months, or $102 per seat per year | Free |
How to use them together
- Before the show, use the official app to shortlist exhibitors and plan routes.
- At the gate, use it for your badge.
- At each booth, record the product in Show Sourcing: photo, card, price, MOQ.
- After the show, compare quotes on landed cost and follow up from Show Sourcing. It also holds products from the next show and from factory visits.
See our Hong Kong shows guide and Canton Fair checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the official Canton Fair app?
It helps with exhibitor search, navigation and exchanging digital business cards at the fair. It is not designed as a product database across shows, so many buyers also use a sourcing app.
What does the HKTDC Marketplace app do?
It provides e-Badge check-in, Scan2Match to save exhibitors and book meetings, product and fair search, and messaging with exhibitors.
Can I use Show Sourcing at Canton Fair and in Hong Kong on the same trip?
Yes. Show Sourcing records the show and booth with each product, so one catalog holds every show and factory visit, and you can filter by venue later.