PlanSeats Free
$0/month
- 1 event, up to 20 guests
- Up to 4 tables
- Drag-and-drop builder
- Guest management
- PNG/CSV export
- No credit card needed
PlanSeats is the modern seating chart software that makes event planning simple. Drag-and-drop simplicity, real-time collaboration, and pricing that works for everyone, from intimate gatherings to 500+ guest events.
Free plan for your first event, no credit card.
Airtable is an incredibly powerful database-spreadsheet hybrid, and many event planners have attempted to build seating systems in it. The fundamental limitation is that Airtable lacks any visual floor plan capability. You can create a table assignment column and track which guests are assigned to Table 1 or Table 2, but you can't see your actual venue layout or drag guests between seats visually.
The visual aspect of seating charts matters more than it might seem. When you're managing complex seating arrangements: keeping certain guests apart, grouping families together, balancing table sizes: you need to see the layout. Scrolling through rows and columns is error-prone and slow. PlanSeats shows your actual floor plan with guests placed on seats.
Building a seating system in Airtable requires significant setup time: creating the right fields, configuring views, possibly building automations. Most planners spend hours on this before they can even start seating. PlanSeats takes 5 minutes to set up a floor plan and begin placing guests.
If you're already using Airtable for broader event management, the good news is that they work well together. Export your guest list from Airtable as CSV, import into PlanSeats for visual seating, then reference the PlanSeats chart for your event. Use each tool for what it does best.
See why PlanSeats is the top Airtable alternative for seating charts.
| Feature | PlanSeats | Airtable |
|---|---|---|
| Visual floor planPlanSeats shows your actual venue layout. Airtable has no floor plan visualization: only table and gallery views. | Yes | No |
| Drag-and-drop seatingDrag guests directly onto seats in PlanSeats. Airtable requires editing fields to change table assignments. | Yes | No |
| Guest databaseBoth tools maintain guest data. Airtable offers more database flexibility; PlanSeats is purpose-built for events. | Yes | Yes |
| RSVP trackingBuilt into PlanSeats. Airtable requires custom configuration to track RSVPs. | Yes | custom build |
| Meal preference trackingPre-built in PlanSeats with common dietary restrictions. Airtable requires custom field setup. | Yes | custom build |
| Table assignment viewPlanSeats shows assignments on a visual floor plan. Airtable can group by table number but without visual layout. | Yes | custom view |
| Auto-assign seatingPlanSeats Pro suggests optimal placement. Airtable has no seating intelligence. | Pro | No |
| PDF/Image exportExport visual seating charts from PlanSeats. Airtable exports data tables, not floor plans. | Yes | No |
| Shareable seating chartPlanSeats generates shareable visual charts. Airtable shares database views. | Yes | Partial |
| Setup timePlanSeats is ready to use immediately. Airtable requires significant configuration for event seating. | 5 minutes | Hours (custom base) |
| Learning curvePlanSeats is intuitive. Airtable power requires learning its database concepts. | Low | Medium-high |
| Free tierBoth offer free tiers. Airtable limits records; PlanSeats limits guest count. | Yes | Yes |
Unlike Airtable, PlanSeats offers clear pricing with no hidden fees.
$0/month
$8.99/month
$0 - $20+/user/month
Yes, you can build a guest list database in Airtable, but it won't give you a visual floor plan. You'll have a table assignment column, but no drag-and-drop seating or visual layout. PlanSeats provides the visual experience.
Airtable is a spreadsheet-database hybrid: great for data, but seating charts need visual layouts. PlanSeats shows your actual floor plan with tables and seats. Drag guests directly onto seats instead of editing cells.
If you need a visual seating chart with drag-and-drop, use PlanSeats. If you're already deep in Airtable for event management and just need table assignments in a list, Airtable can work: but you won't get a visual chart.
Yes! Export your guest list from Airtable as CSV and import it directly into PlanSeats. Then use the visual drag-and-drop builder to create your seating chart.
PlanSeats: 5 minutes to set up a floor plan and start seating. Airtable: Hours to build a custom base with the right fields, views, and potentially automations. PlanSeats is purpose-built; Airtable requires DIY configuration.
Add your tables, import your guests, and share the chart with your partner, planner or venue.
Free plan for your first event, no credit card.