- RSVP apps side by side
- Ten RSVP apps to try
- Which RSVP app fits your event
- Why your headcount matters to the licence
- How to get more people to reply
- Party invites, text RSVPs and sign-up sheets
- RSVP mistakes hosts make
- Questions to ask before you send invites
- Signs your RSVP process is working
- My plain advice on RSVP apps
- Frequently asked questions
An RSVP app sends an invitation or event page, collects yes, no and maybe replies, and keeps a live headcount so you can plan food, space and seating. The useful ones send reminders, ask custom questions such as dietary needs, and work for guests without an account. Ten options follow, in no particular order.
Chasing replies is nobody's idea of fun when you're hosting. Half the guests answer in a group chat, a few text you privately, and someone always says maybe and then turns up with a friend.
An RSVP app puts every answer in one list. The ten below range from party invite apps and text message RSVP tools to sign-up sheets and event registration software. They're listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and each description comes from the app's own website, read this week. For seasonal invites, my guide to making Thanksgiving invitations with free AI pairs well with any of them.
RSVP apps side by side
I checked the free plan column on each app's own website or store listing, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page names the app, an account or a plan or version of it as free. Trial only means a time-limited trial or demo. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a download button or a free first scan, so check before you commit.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackbird RSVP | Online invitation and RSVP service | Stylish invites with RSVP tracking | Not stated |
| Evant | Text message RSVP platform | RSVPs by text message | Trial only |
| Evite | Online invitations and event pages | Birthday and holiday party invites | Not stated |
| Greenvelope | Online invitation designer | Envelope-style invites with live replies | Not stated |
| Heylo | Community and group events app | Recurring club and group events | Not stated |
| Joy | Wedding website and planning app | Wedding RSVPs on the website | Yes |
| Luma | Event pages and registration app | Community meetups and launch parties | Not stated |
| Partiful | Party invitation app | Casual parties with friends | Yes |
| RSVPify | RSVP and event registration software | Galas, brand events and conferences | Not stated |
| SignUpGenius | Sign-up sheet and group organiser | Volunteer slots and who-brings-what | Yes |
Ten RSVP apps to try
Blackbird RSVP
Best for: Hosts who want beautiful online invitations for personal, corporate or promotional events, with RSVP tracking and guest management.
Evant
Best for: Community groups, campus organisations and nonprofits collecting RSVPs by text, with check-in, scheduled sends and event analytics.
Evite
Best for: Birthdays, baby showers, holidays and business parties, with online invitations and event pages that collect replies from guests.
Greenvelope
Best for: Sending one-of-a-kind online invitations with photos and music, then following real-time RSVP tracking as guests reply.
Heylo
Best for: Run clubs, parent groups and volunteer teams that want events, messages and member payments in one shared space.
Joy
Best for: Couples collecting wedding RSVPs through their wedding website, alongside save the dates, a guest list and contact collection.
Luma
Best for: Creating event pages for run clubs, launch parties and community meetups, with a discover feed that helps new people find them.
Partiful
Best for: Sending free party invites with RSVP tracking and keeping everyone on the same page with one place for details and updates.
RSVPify
Best for: Organisers of galas, product launches, conferences and client events who need RSVP forms with automated reminders.
SignUpGenius
Best for: Groups organising volunteers, potlucks and school events through sign-up sheets, with tickets and fundraisers in the same account.
Which RSVP app fits your event
- A casual party with friends: Partiful.
- Guests who reply faster by text: Evant.
- A gala or company event: RSVPify.
- A club that meets every week: Heylo.
- Volunteers and potluck dishes: SignUpGenius.
Why your headcount matters to the licence
GOV.UK says an event held under a Temporary Events Notice in England and Wales must have fewer than 500 people at all times, including staff running the event, and can last no more than 168 hours. A TEN is used for things like selling alcohol or putting on entertainment where the venue's licence doesn't already cover it.
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So a firm headcount isn't only about catering. If you're running a community party, a fundraiser or a pop-up event that needs a TEN, your RSVP list is how you show you'll stay under the limit. Count staff and volunteers in the total, not just guests.
How to get more people to reply
- Set a reply-by date and put it in the first line of the invite.
- Ask one question at a time: are you coming, how many, any dietary needs.
- Send one reminder a few days before the deadline, then a final nudge.
- Don't make guests create an account or download anything to reply.
- Thank people who replied and share the details only with those coming.
Party invites, text RSVPs and sign-up sheets
Party invite apps are built around a pretty event page and quick replies, which suits birthdays and dinners. Text message RSVP tools reach people who never open email, which is why community groups and campus organisations like them.
Sign-up sheets solve a different problem: who's bringing what or covering which shift. Event registration software adds forms, tickets and reminders for bigger events. You'll do better picking the type that matches your guests' habits first, and the features second.
RSVP mistakes hosts make
- No deadline. Without a date, maybe won't turn into yes.
- Too many questions. Long forms get abandoned halfway.
- Forgetting plus-ones. Ask for the number in each party.
- Ignoring the maybes. Chase them, or plan as if half will come.
Questions to ask before you send invites
- Can guests reply without making an account?
- Will the app send reminders, or do I chase people myself?
- Can I ask about dietary needs or accessibility?
- Can I export the final list for the venue or caterer?
Signs your RSVP process is working
- Most replies arrive before the deadline.
- You know the number of guests, not just invites.
- Dietary needs are in the list, not in your texts.
- The venue gets one final number, once.
Do you make RSVP or invitation apps? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on RSVP apps
Choose the RSVP app your guests will find easiest, not the one with the longest feature list. A simple page with a clear reply-by date and one reminder beats a complex form nobody finishes.
Keep the final headcount in one place and share it with the venue a few days before the event. If you're planning a regular community programme, my community event programming template helps you map the whole season.
Frequently asked questions
What is an RSVP app?
A tool that sends an invitation or event page, collects replies and keeps a live guest count.
Are RSVP apps free?
Some apps on this list say their invitations or sign-ups are free on their own website, as the table shows.
Can guests reply without downloading an app?
Many RSVP tools use a web link, so guests can reply in a browser without installing anything.
How do I get guests to RSVP on time?
Give a clear reply-by date, keep the form short and send one reminder before the deadline.
Can I collect dietary needs with an RSVP app?
Most let you add custom questions, so you can ask about dietary needs or accessibility.
Does headcount matter for event licences?
In England and Wales a Temporary Events Notice event must stay under 500 people, including staff, at all times.
