7 Best Event Planning Apps in 2026

TL;DR: We tested 7 event planning apps by actually planning real events with each one. LOMAevents came out on top for casual hosts, but every app has strengths. Here's the full breakdown.

How We Tested

We planned the same event — a 30-person birthday party with dinner, drinks, and an activity — using each app. We tracked:

• How long it took to set up the event from scratch
• How easy it was to manage the guest list and track RSVPs
• Whether it could handle a budget, timeline, and vendor coordination
• How guests felt using the RSVP flow (we asked 12 friends to test each one)
• Whether we'd actually use it again for our next event

Quick Comparison

1. LOMAevents — Best Overall for Casual Hosts

Full disclosure: this is our app. But we're going to be honest about it.

What it does well: LOMAevents is the only app that combines event creation, guest list management, RSVP tracking, budget tracking, AI-powered planning help, and a day-of timeline in a single mobile app. You create an event, add your guests, and the app handles the rest — from RSVP reminders to vendor categorization.

The AI assistant is the standout feature. Tell it "I'm planning a birthday for 30 people with a $500 budget" and it generates a timeline, suggests vendors, and creates a shopping list. It's like having a friend who plans events for a living.

Where it falls short: The product is still strongest when the host starts in the app and uses the browser RSVP surface for guests. If you want a desktop-first planning workflow or a pure designer-invite tool, that is not the main shape of LOMAevents.

Price: Core planning is free. Premium monthly and annual options unlock AI planning tools and premium invite experiences, with the current pricing shown in the app before purchase.

Best for: Someone who wants one app that does everything. You don't want to bounce between a spreadsheet, a group chat, and a calendar.

2. Partiful — Best for Quick Social Invites

Partiful has become the default invite app for twenty-somethings. It's fast, the invites look great on phones, and the RSVP flow is dead simple.

What it does well: Creating an invite takes about 90 seconds. The link works beautifully in iMessage and Instagram DMs. Guests can RSVP without creating an account. It's friction-free.

Where it falls short: It's an invite tool, not a planning tool. There's no budget tracking, no timeline, no vendor management, no shopping list. Once people RSVP, you're on your own for everything else.

Best for: Casual "come hang at my place" vibes where you just need a headcount.

3. Evite — Best for Formal Invitations

Evite has been around since 1998 and it shows — in both good and bad ways. The template library is massive for formal occasions (baby showers, retirement parties, anniversaries).

What it does well: If you need a polished invite for an older audience that expects a traditional RSVP experience, Evite still works. Great template variety.

Where it falls short: The interface feels dated. Ads on the free tier are aggressive. No planning tools beyond the invite itself. Mobile app is slow.

Best for: Parents planning a kid's birthday or family milestones where the invite aesthetic matters more than planning tools.

4. Google Sheets / Docs — Best for Total Control

Let's be honest — most people are still planning events in Google Sheets. And for simple events, it works.

What it does well: Infinite flexibility. You can build exactly the spreadsheet you want. Free. Shareable. Everyone already knows how to use it.

Where it falls short: There's no RSVP flow — you're copying and pasting links into texts. No reminders. No budget categories unless you build them yourself. After about 20 guests and 3 vendors, it becomes a mess fast. And planning your fun like a tax audit doesn't exactly spark joy.

Best for: People who already have a system and don't want to learn something new. Or events under 15 people.

5. Notion — Best for Planning Nerds

If you already live in Notion, there are solid event planning templates. You get databases, timelines, kanban boards — the works.

What it does well: Incredibly flexible. Great for collaborative planning with a co-host. The AI can help write vendor emails or brainstorm themes.

Where it falls short: There's no native RSVP system — your guests can't tap "Yes" from a link. You'd need to pair it with another invite tool. The learning curve is real if you're not already a Notion user. Overkill for most casual events.

Best for: Type-A planners who are already in the Notion ecosystem and want to over-engineer their event (no shade — we respect it).

6. AllSeated — Best for Seating & Floor Plans

AllSeated is a niche tool that does one thing exceptionally: 3D floor plans and seating charts.

What it does well: If you're planning a seated dinner for 50+ people or a wedding reception, the seating chart tool is unmatched. Drag-and-drop, real venue dimensions, guest grouping.

Where it falls short: Useless for casual events. No budget tracking, no RSVP management, no timeline. It's a single-feature tool at a premium price point.

Best for: Wedding planners and corporate event coordinators who need precise layouts.

7. Paperless Post — Best Invite Design

When the invite needs to look magazine-quality, Paperless Post is the gold standard. Their design library is stunning.

What it does well: The invites themselves are gorgeous. Physical-card feel in digital form. Great for formal events where first impressions matter. RSVP tracking is clean.

Where it falls short: You pay per invite (coins system). No planning tools at all — just invites and RSVP. Gets expensive fast for large guest lists.

Best for: Weddings, galas, milestone events where the invite is part of the experience.