Why switch
Why planners look for a different seating tool
Most people who land on a comparison page have already hit one of a few walls. The plan lives on a single laptop, so the other half of the couple can't touch it. The export is a screenshot, so the venue asks for something they can actually pin to a clipboard. Or the mobile app is charming until you try to fit 180 guests on a phone screen.
- “I can't share my plan without emailing a new PDF every time something changes.”
- “My planner uses a different tool and we keep ending up on different versions.”
- “The free tier cuts out at 15 guests — our wedding is 180.”
- “I paid for the software once, then paid again to upgrade, then paid a third time for the feature I actually needed.”
If any of those feel familiar, the alternatives below are worth a look.
How to choose
What to look for when you compare
Feature lists all look similar on paper. These are the dimensions that actually change whether a tool gets finished or abandoned halfway through.
Drag-and-drop that feels like drag-and-drop
The best tools let you move a table with a finger or cursor without fighting a grid. Spreadsheet organisers and generic design apps both fail here in different ways.
Guest list and floor plan in one place
You shouldn't manage RSVPs in one tool and positions in another. Look for CSV import, dietary requirements, and per-guest notes that travel with the seat.
Sharing without a download
A link your partner, planner, or venue can open on any device beats “please install this app” every single time.
Exports the venue can actually use
PDFs with table numbers, per-table guest lists, and name cards. If the export is a screenshot, the caterer will ask for a real one.
Pricing that matches how you'll use it
A couple planning one wedding shouldn't pay a planner's subscription. A venue running forty events a year shouldn't pay per-event fees.
Works on whatever device you have
Browser-based tools reach further than Apple-only apps or Windows-only desktop installers. The more collaborators involved, the more this matters.
SeatPlan.io vs Plan Seats
Free online seating chart creator
SeatPlan.io vs PerfectTablePlan
Desktop seating software for Windows and Mac
SeatPlan.io vs Wedding Seating Chart Planner
Mobile app for wedding seating
SeatPlan.io vs Please Find Your Seat
QR code digital seating charts for weddings
SeatPlan.io vs Zola
Wedding registry platform with seating tools
SeatPlan.io vs Canva
Generic design tool with templates
SeatPlan.io vs Tableplan.io
Online table planner for weddings and events
SeatPlan.io vs Seat Puzzle
iOS and Mac seating chart app
SeatPlan.io vs Planning.Wedding
Free wedding planning assistant with seating tools
At a glance
Side-by-side summary
The short version. Click any row for the full comparison.
| Tool | Where it runs | Collaboration | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SeatPlan.io | Web, any device | Real-time link sharing | Free · from £8 one-time · £25/mo | Couples, planners, venues |
| Plan Seats | Web | None | Free | Quick basic layouts |
| PerfectTablePlan | Desktop (Win/Mac) | Export only | $29.95–$299.95 + paid upgrades | Desktop power users |
| Tableplan.io | Web | None | £15 per event | Guest data organisers |
| Canva | Web | On design, not seating | Free · $12.99/mo Pro | Graphic design, not seating data |
| Zola | iOS app + website | None | Free to 15 guests, bundled above | Couples inside the Zola ecosystem |
| Seat Puzzle | iOS + Mac only | iCloud sync | App Store subscription | Apple-only households |
| Planning.Wedding | Web suite | Limited | $28/project ($9 with loyalty) | All-in-one wedding planners |
| Please Find Your Seat | Guest-facing QR display | N/A (display only) | Free to 50 guests, per-event above | Arrival experience, not planning |
| Wedding Seating Chart Planner | Mobile app | None | Free + in-app purchases | Quick charts on a phone |
Pricing and device support verified in April 2026. Your local currency and current offers apply on each tool's own site.
By situation
Which option fits your situation?
Different tools fit different needs. Here's an honest take on when to pick what.
Couple planning one wedding
If you want to design the layout visually and share it with family or a planner, SeatPlan.io's free tier lets you build the whole thing without signup, then pay £8 once when you're ready to save and export. Zola works if you're already committed to their registry and stationery bundle. For a quick single chart with no guest list behind it, Plan Seats is free.
Wedding or event planner running 5+ events
Per-event pricing (Tableplan.io at £15/event, Planning.Wedding at $28/project) stacks up fast. The SeatPlan.io Event Manager tier is £25/month for unlimited events with reusable venue templates and real-time client collaboration. PerfectTablePlan is one-time but needs new installs on every machine and charges for major upgrades.
Venue or corporate coordinator
You need professional exports for the kitchen, AV, and security, plus a view-only link for the client to sign off without changing the layout. SeatPlan.io handles both, including an optional check-in-only link for the door team on event day. Most other tools force a choice between “fully editable share” or “static PDF”.
Apple-only household planning at home
Seat Puzzle has a polished native app if everyone involved is on iOS or Mac. As soon as one collaborator — the photographer, the caterer, the planner — is on Windows or Android, browser-based tools are the only option that doesn't break. SeatPlan.io runs anywhere without a download.
FAQ
Common questions
What's the best free alternative to PerfectTablePlan?
SeatPlan.io's free tier covers the full drag-and-drop designer with no signup and no guest cap — you can plan the whole wedding before deciding whether to pay £8 once for saving and exports. PerfectTablePlan is desktop-only, starts at $29.95, and charges again for major version upgrades.
Is there a seating chart tool that works on both Windows and Mac?
Any browser-based tool does. SeatPlan.io, Plan Seats, Tableplan.io, and Canva all run in a browser on any operating system. PerfectTablePlan ships separate Windows and Mac builds that don't share plans, and Seat Puzzle is Apple-only.
Which alternative supports real-time collaboration?
SeatPlan.io is the only tool in this list with real-time co-editing — multiple people edit the same chart at once and see each other's changes instantly via a share link. Most alternatives either export a static PDF or offer no sharing at all.
Can I try a seating chart tool before paying?
With SeatPlan.io, yes. The full designer is free with no account required. You only pay when you want to save, share, or export. Other options either require an upfront purchase (PerfectTablePlan), per-event payment (Tableplan.io, Planning.Wedding), or limit the free tier to very small guest counts (Zola caps at 15, Please Find Your Seat at 50).
I already use Canva. Can I just use their seating chart templates?
You can, for the visual layout. But Canva treats guest names as text boxes — there is no guest list, no RSVP tracking, no dietary field, and nothing re-flows automatically when someone cancels. For a fixed 20-person dinner it works. For anything that changes, a purpose-built tool saves hours of copy-paste.
Which option is best for wedding planners running multiple events?
SeatPlan.io Event Manager is £25/month for unlimited events with reusable venue templates, real-time client collaboration, and optional guest check-in links. Per-event tools like Tableplan.io (£15/event) and Planning.Wedding ($28/project) add up quickly once you pass two or three events a month.
More questions? See the full FAQ.