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Free Event Planning Software in 2026: An Honest Comparison

PlanIt Team · May 28, 2026 · 8 min read

We tested every major free event planning tool and ranked them by what actually matters: ease of setup, guest management, and zero hidden paywalls.

What We Tested

Six free event planning tools across: time to create a live event, RSVP management quality, team collaboration features, check-in capability, and where the paywall actually kicks in.

PlanIt

Setup time: under 10 minutes

Fastest path from signup to a live shareable event. RSVP builder with custom fields, dietary flags, and accessibility fields — free. Seating chart, QR check-in, and team messaging all included at no cost. The paywall sits around white-label and enterprise analytics features that 95% of planners never need.

Best for: Any event needing RSVP + check-in + team coordination without a monthly subscription.

Eventbrite (Free Tier)

Setup time: 15–20 minutes

Solid for public events. Free for free-ticket events (revenue share on paid tickets). Good discoverability. Missing: no seating chart, no team messaging, limited custom RSVP fields.

Best for: Public conferences where discoverability matters more than operational depth.

Google Forms + Sheets

Setup time: 5 minutes + ongoing manual work

Truly free, infinitely flexible, but every feature (confirmation emails, QR codes, check-in) requires manual setup or a third-party integration.

Best for: Internal events under 50 people where you already live in Google Workspace.

Splash (Free Tier)

Setup time: 20–30 minutes

Beautiful event pages. Free tier caps at 100 registrations, no team collaboration, no check-in.

Best for: Small, design-forward events where the registration page matters most.

The Bottom Line

For most planners, PlanIt covers the core use case without a subscription. Start there. Add a specialized tool only if you hit a specific gap it can't fill.