MiniVAN Touch vs Guidebook
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MiniVAN Touch
This app digitizes political canvassing by allowing users to collect data directly on their mobile devices. It syncs with NGP VAN, streamlining the process of uploading and integrating canvass results into databases.
- Mobile data collection
- NGP VAN integration
- Offline data entry
- Real-time data upload
- Streamlined data management
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miniVAN Touch is a mobile canvassing application that integrates with websites provided by NGP VAN. The miniVAN system allows users to export canvassing lists from VAN onto an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Canvassers can then enter data into their device as they talk to people on their list. When the canvassers connect their device to the Internet over a wireless or cellular network, they can upload their data back to the VAN with the touch of a button. Administrative users on the VAN can then review the data and apply it to the database in one quick step. Canvassing with miniVAN allows NGP VAN clients to spend more time and resources on actually contacting people instead of on data entry. What’s more, it virtually eliminates the lag time between collecting canvass results and putting that data to work.
Guidebook
This application serves as a comprehensive guide for events, conferences, and campuses. Users can build personalized schedules, access detailed information about speakers and sponsors, and navigate venues with interactive maps. It also facilitates attendee engagement through messaging and a social feed.
- Personalized schedule and to-do lists
- Speaker and sponsor information
- Venue and local area maps
- In-app search functionality
- Attendee messaging and engagement
- Interactive social feed
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Guidebook is your guide to events, conferences, campuses, and more. Download the app to: [+] Build your personal schedule and to-do lists. [+] Easily access speaker, sponsor, exhibitor information, and more. [+] View maps of the venue and local area. [+] Simply search for information within the app. [+] Connect and engage with other attendees through private messages. [+] Share photos, likes, and comments on the interactive social feed.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Guidebook at 4.7 against MiniVAN Touch's 3.3. Guidebook also leads on review sentiment (52% vs 25%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Guidebook holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Guidebook has 3.7K ratings behind it against 288, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of MiniVAN Touch's written reviews are positive against 52% of Guidebook's.
MiniVAN Touch ships an update every 2 months, Guidebook every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.
| Parameter | MiniVAN Touch | Guidebook |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (288 ratings) | 4.7 (3.7K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 25.5% of reviews | 52.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 288 | 3.7K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | #200 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 16.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 57 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | NGP VAN | Guidebook Inc |
Customer experience
MiniVAN Touch
Guidebook
User reviews
MiniVAN Touch
From 288 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to learn interface
- 🚀 Eliminates need for paper lists and clipboards
- 📱 Efficient data entry in the field
- 🔄 Auto-sync functionality works well when functioning
- 📍 Map view helps identify locations
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🔋 Severe battery drain on phones
- 📍 Inaccurate GPS and map positioning
- 🔄 Syncing fails frequently between canvassers
- 💾 Data loss and disappearing entries
Guidebook
From 3.7K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Stable and easy to navigate
- 📚 Helpful for planning schedules and events
- 🗺️ Provides maps and venue information
Room to improve
- 🔆 Lack of dark mode option
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Confusing search functionality
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🗓️ Difficulty managing old event data
Bugs and requests
MiniVAN Touch
Reported bugs
19 issues- App crashes when downloading lists
- Login loops and authentication failures
- Two-factor authentication stuck or unresetable
- Data disappears after switching lists
- Synced data not visible the next day
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- App resets to top of list when screen locks
- Map zooms out unexpectedly when panning
- Inconsistent swipe gestures for marking status
- App freezes during extended use
- Password reset emails not arriving
- Training video stuck with no exit option
- Filters not functioning properly
- App incompatible with some older devices
- Turf sending only works for one campaign despite selection
- Data loss on Android devices
- Keyboard not accessible on iPad for authentication
- Sync button accidentally triggered during canvassing
- Randomly logs out without syncing data
- Cannot edit notes while person marked 'Not Home'
Requested features
18 requests- Ability to load and switch between multiple lists simultaneously
- Geographic sorting instead of alphabetical ordering
- Automatic route optimization that persists
- Bulk marking of inaccessible addresses
- Integrated navigation/directions from map
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- Progress indicators and motivational messages
- Spanish language version
- Ability to see all household members at once
- Settings to disable repeated training prompts
- Toggle between different canvass campaigns
- Mock/training lists for practice
- Customizable symbology and icons
- Filter by party affiliation and voter status
- Phonebanking integration
- Bulk operations for household management
- Dark mode toggle option
- Persistent app state in background
- Shared notes visible to all canvassers
Guidebook
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes when trying to view event details
- Inability to add custom events to schedule
- Incorrect location pinpointing on maps
- Notification issues and unwanted alerts
Requested features
5 requests- Dark mode option
- Ability to sync schedule across devices
- More customization options for user profile
- Better event filtering and search capabilities
- Integration with calendar apps
In-app purchases
MiniVAN Touch
No in-app purchases
Guidebook
No in-app purchases
