- Invitation makers at a glance
- Ten invitation makers
- Which invitation tool for which event
- Make the details readable for every guest
- Printed card, online invite or event page?
- Six things to check before you send
- Signs your invite needs another look
- My plain advice on invitation makers
- Frequently asked questions
An invitation maker lets you design an invite from a template, add your event details and either print it or send it online, often with RSVP tracking built in. Some are design apps with invitation templates, some are event platforms that handle guests, and one specialises in video invites. Ten options follow in no particular order.
Sending an invite used to mean a trip to the printer and a week of waiting for replies by phone. Now most guests expect a link, a date in their calendar and a quick way to say yes.
The right tool depends on whether the design or the guest list matters more. The ten below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If you're planning a seasonal gathering, my guide to free AI Thanksgiving invitations has ideas you can reuse.
Invitation makers at a glance
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site says the tool, or a plan or version of it, is free or open source. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Express | Online design app | Designing a custom invite from a template | Not stated |
| Canva | Online design app | Printable invitation templates | Not stated |
| Evite | Online invitations and event pages | Kids' birthdays and family milestones | Not stated |
| Greenvelope | Online invitations with RSVP tracking | Weddings and formal events | Yes |
| Greetings Island | Invitations and greeting cards | Wedding and birthday invites with AI themes | Not stated |
| Hobnob | Event invites and organiser app | Video and photo invites with sign-up lists | Not stated |
| Paperless Post | Online invitations and cards | Polished designs for holidays and parties | Not stated |
| Partiful | Party invitations with RSVPs | Casual parties with friends | Not stated |
| Punchbowl | Online invitations and eCards | Themed invites for children's parties | Not stated |
| Smilebox | Video invitations | Animated video invites | Not stated |
Ten invitation makers
Adobe Express
Best for: People who want to start from a high-quality template and swap the text, images and colours in a few clicks.
Canva
Best for: Hosts who'd like a big library of custom invitation templates they can print at home or share online.
Evite
Best for: Families sending invites for birthdays, baby showers and milestones who want event pages and greeting cards too.
Greenvelope
Best for: Couples and planners who want one-of-a-kind digital invitations with music, photos and RSVP tracking, from a free account.
Greetings Island
Best for: Anyone who wants free online invitations and cards, including AI-themed wedding and birthday designs.
Hobnob
Best for: Organisers who want custom video and photo invites plus event sites, flyers and sign-up lists for groups.
Paperless Post
Best for: Holiday party planners who want free invitation templates as well as premium designs for holiday gatherings and parties.
Partiful
Best for: Younger hosts planning parties with friends who want quick invites, RSVP tracking and an app to discover events.
Punchbowl
Best for: Parents who want themed invitations, including character designs children love, with RSVP built in.
Smilebox
Best for: Families who'd like to send a video invitation rather than a still card for birthdays, weddings and holidays.
Which invitation tool for which event
- Designing from a template: Adobe Express or Canva.
- Family birthdays and milestones: Evite.
- Weddings and formal events: Greenvelope.
- Invites and greeting cards with AI themes: Greetings Island.
- Groups, sign-up lists and event sites: Hobnob.
- Holiday parties with premium designs: Paperless Post.
- Casual parties with friends: Partiful.
- Themed children's parties: Punchbowl.
- Video invitations: Smilebox.
Make the details readable for every guest
The W3C Web Accessibility Initiative's tutorial on informative images says images like these convey a simple concept or information, and that the text alternative should convey the meaning or content that is displayed visually.
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An invitation sent as one designed picture looks lovely, but a guest using a screen reader, or anyone whose email blocks images, sees nothing. Put the date, time, place and how to reply in plain text in the message or on the event page, and add alt text to the image if the tool allows it.
Printed card, online invite or event page?
A printed card still suits weddings and formal events where the invitation is a keepsake. Design apps let you make one and print it at home or through a printer.
Online invites are faster and easier: one link, instant delivery and replies collected for you.
Event pages go further, holding the schedule, location, sign-up lists and updates in one place, which helps when plans change.
Six things to check before you send
- Are the date, time and address in plain text?
- Does the RSVP ask only what you need to know?
- Can guests add the event to their calendar?
- Will it display well on a phone?
- Can you message everyone if plans change?
- Does the design read clearly at a small size?
Signs your invite needs another look
- Guests ask for the address. Put it in text.
- Replies arrive by text and email. Use one RSVP link.
- The design is hard to read on a phone. Simplify it.
- Plans changed after sending. Use an event page.
Do you make invitation makers? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on invitation makers
Decide what you need most before you choose a template. If it's replies and reminders, pick an event platform first and make the design fit. If it's a beautiful printed card, design it in an app and collect replies separately.
For a wedding, my roundup of AI tools that save wedding planners time covers the jobs that come after the invitations.
Frequently asked questions
What is an invitation maker?
It's an online tool for designing invitations from templates and either printing them or sending them digitally, often with RSVP tracking.
Are online invitation makers free?
Many offer free templates or a free account, with premium designs on top. Check the free plan column above and confirm on each site.
Can I track RSVPs online?
Yes. Several invitation platforms collect replies for you and show who's coming, who's declined and who hasn't answered.
Should wedding invitations be printed or digital?
Either works. Printed cards feel like a keepsake, and digital invites are quicker to send and track. Some couples send a printed card and collect replies online.
How do I make an invitation accessible?
Write the key details in plain text as well as in the design, and add alt text to the image, as the W3C's guidance on informative images suggests.
Can AI design an invitation for me?
Some design apps and invitation sites offer AI-themed designs or generative tools that suggest layouts and images, which you can then edit.
