Choose a replacement RSVP tool by matching it to the part of the job you use most: invitations, registration, ticket sales or door check-in. Few tools do all four equally well, so name your main job first, shortlist two tools built for it and run one real event through a trial, check-in included.
Invitations, registration, ticketing, check-in. RSVPify bundles all four, which is handy until you notice you only use two of them.
The nine tools below are listed in no particular order and grouped by the job they're built for. Most are small independent companies, which tends to mean focused products with a clear idea of who they serve. Each line comes from the tool's own website, and anything that reads like a boast is marked as the vendor's claim.
Which of the four jobs matters most to you?
- Invitations. A designed invite, sent by email or text, with replies tracked for you.
- Registration. A form that collects names, sessions and dietary needs for a conference or corporate day.
- Ticketing. Selling or issuing entry from a box office you control, often with a public event page.
- Check-in. A guest list on a phone or tablet at the door, so arrivals move quickly and you know who came.
If one of those jobs is most of your work, start with the group below that's built for it. If you need all four for every event, go straight to the event-management suites.
Invitations and RSVP tracking
Greenvelope sends digital invitations with an animated envelope and RSVP tracking built in, by email or text, and the vendor points out that its invitations carry no ads. It's built around the invite itself, so it's a good match for gatherings where the look of the invitation matters.
Luma is a platform to host events, invite guests and sell tickets, with public event discovery that can bring in people who don't already know you. That makes it a natural fit for community meet-ups and networking nights.
Ticketing and registration platforms
Tito is event registration software aimed at developer, technology and B2B conferences, and the vendor says it's the easiest event platform to use and to integrate. Ticket Tailor lets you design, manage and sell tickets from your own box office.
Humanitix describes itself as a not-for-profit ticketing platform that directs its booking profits to charitable causes, which may matter if your audience cares where the money goes. Eventzilla covers creating, promoting, managing and measuring events alongside registration, and the vendor promises more registrations and less work.
Event-management suites with check-in
zkipster focuses on guest lists and door check-in at premium events. Whova combines an event app, online registration and management tools for in-person, hybrid and virtual events. EventCreate starts with an event website builder and adds registration, RSVPs, ticketing, check-in and name badges.
Check-in is the step most people skip in a trial, and it's the one guests remember. Try it with a real guest list on the device you'll use at the door, and ask the vendor what happens if the venue wifi drops.
Nine event tools compared
| Tool | Built for | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| EventCreate | Event website and registration | All-in-one event website |
| Eventzilla | Event management platform | Registrations with reporting |
| Greenvelope | Online invitations with RSVP | Designed invites with RSVPs |
| Humanitix | Not-for-profit ticketing | Tickets that back good causes |
| Luma | Event pages and ticketing | Community events and discovery |
| Ticket Tailor | Event ticketing | Your own box office |
| Tito | Conference registration | Tech and B2B conferences |
| Whova | Event app and registration | Event app plus registration |
| zkipster | Guest list and check-in | Guest lists and door check-in |
A line on each event tool
Listed alphabetically, which is no comment on merit.
EventCreate
Best for: Organisers who want an event website with registration, RSVPs, ticketing, check-in and name badges in one platform.
Eventzilla
Best for: Creating, promoting and managing events and their registrations, with tools to measure how each event went.
Greenvelope
Best for: Hosts sending designed digital invitations by email or text, with RSVP tracking built in.
Humanitix
Best for: Organisers who want a ticketing platform that directs its booking profits to charitable causes.
Luma
Best for: Hosting community events, inviting guests and selling tickets, with public event discovery.
Ticket Tailor
Best for: Selling tickets online from your own box office, with tools to design and manage each event.
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Tito
Best for: Developer, technology and B2B conferences that need straightforward registration.
Whova
Best for: Conferences needing an event app plus online registration for in-person, hybrid or virtual events.
zkipster
Best for: Premium and luxury events where guest lists and door check-in matter most.
My advice for event organisers
Start from your next event, not your ideal one. Write down what guests have to do, from getting the invite to walking through the door, and what you need to know afterwards. Then shortlist the two tools whose main job matches the step that gives you most trouble today. A tool built for that job usually beats an all-in-one that does it as a side feature.
If you run a mix, such as one large conference plus small dinners in between, it's fine to use two tools. Just keep the guest data somewhere you control. If you also take bookings for classes or appointments, my guide to online booking tools for clinics, salons and trades covers that side, and if you send text reminders before events, see my roundup of the best SMS marketing software.
Test the door, not only the form
Run one real event, however small, through your top choice before you commit:
- Send real invitations or open registration to a small group.
- Change a guest's details after they've replied and check the list updates.
- Export the guest list and open it in a spreadsheet.
- Check guests in on the day using the same phone or tablet you'll use at bigger events.
- Look at what the tool tells you afterwards: who came, who didn't and who registered late.
If all five steps feel easy, you've found your tool. If one of them felt clumsy with ten guests, it'll be worse with three hundred.
Do you make event registration or RSVP software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an RSVP tool and a ticketing platform?
An RSVP tool tracks who's coming to an invite-only event. A ticketing platform sells or issues entry to anyone who registers, often with a public event page. Some tools on this list do both.
Do I need a separate check-in app?
Not always. Several event-management suites include check-in. If door arrivals are the busiest part of your events, a tool built around guest lists and check-in is worth a look.
Which kind of tool works for a conference?
Look at the registration group first, and the suites if you also want an event app. Run a trial with your real sessions and ticket types before choosing.
What should I ask about guest data?
Ask where guest data is stored, who can export it and how long it's kept. Data protection rules vary by country, so check your regulator's guidance.
Can I use these tools for free events?
Many organisers use registration and RSVP tools for free events. Check each vendor's own site for what's included before you sign up.
Are these event tools ranked?
No. They're in no particular order and grouped by the job each one is built for.
