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
Zola bundles a basic seating chart with their registry, but it's limited in features and flexibility. PlanSeats is a dedicated seating chart tool: free, powerful, and works with any registry.
No credit card · No registry required · Free forever
Zola's seating chart only works if you use their full wedding planning suite
Basic table shapes and limited customization options for complex venues
Your seating data lives inside Zola: hard to export or share with vendors who don't use Zola
Zola is great for registries, but their seating chart is a secondary feature: not a dedicated tool. PlanSeats focuses solely on seating charts, giving you more power and flexibility without any registry strings attached.
The fundamental difference between PlanSeats and Zola's seating chart tool comes down to focus. PlanSeats is built from the ground up as a dedicated seating chart application, while Zola's seating feature is a secondary addition to their wedding registry and planning platform. This means PlanSeats offers deeper functionality for the specific task of managing event seating.
One significant advantage of PlanSeats is independence from any wedding ecosystem. Zola requires you to create a Zola wedding account and ties your seating data to their platform. PlanSeats works as a standalone tool: use it with any registry (Amazon, Target, Crate & Barrel) or no registry at all. This flexibility is especially valuable for non-wedding events like corporate galas, birthday parties, or conferences.
PlanSeats Pro includes features that Zola simply doesn't offer: real-time collaboration so multiple planners can work simultaneously, and intelligent auto-assign that suggests optimal seating based on groups, meal preferences, and guest relationships. Zola's seating chart is entirely manual, which becomes tedious for larger events.
For sharing with vendors, PlanSeats generates a universal shareable link that anyone can view: your caterer, venue coordinator, or wedding planner doesn't need any account. Zola's sharing is more limited and works best within their ecosystem. This makes PlanSeats the better choice when coordinating with external vendors.
See how PlanSeats stacks up against Zola Seating Chart on the features that matter most.
| Feature | PlanSeats | Zola |
|---|---|---|
| Starting priceBoth tools offer free plans, but Zola requires a full wedding account with registry; a PlanSeats account is just an email and takes seconds. | Free | Free (with Zola account) |
| Standalone toolPlanSeats operates independently of any wedding platform, whereas Zola's seating chart is bundled with their registry and website tools. | Yes | No |
| Works with any registryUse PlanSeats alongside Amazon, Target, Crate & Barrel, or any registry. Zola's tools are designed to work within the Zola ecosystem. | Yes | No |
| Drag-and-drop builderBoth platforms offer visual drag-and-drop interfaces for placing guests at tables. | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple table shapesPlanSeats supports round, rectangular, oval, square, and custom table configurations. Zola offers basic shapes with limited customization. | Yes | Partial |
| Custom floor plansPlanSeats allows fully custom venue layouts with precise positioning. Zola provides template-based floor plans with basic customization. | Yes | Partial |
| Guest list import (CSV)Both tools support importing guest lists from spreadsheets, making migration straightforward. | Yes | Yes |
| PDF/Image exportExport your completed seating chart as a PDF or image for printing and sharing with vendors. | Yes | Yes |
| Shareable linkPlanSeats generates universal view-only links. Zola sharing works best for users already in the Zola ecosystem. | Yes | Partial |
| Real-time collaborationPlanSeats Pro lets multiple planners edit the seating chart simultaneously. Zola doesn't support real-time collaboration. | Pro | No |
| Auto-assign with rulesPlanSeats Pro intelligently suggests seating based on groups, relationships, and meal preferences. Zola requires all manual placement. | Pro | No |
| Meal preferencesTrack dietary restrictions and meal choices per guest in both platforms. | Yes | Yes |
| RSVP integrationPlanSeats works with various RSVP systems. Zola's integration is limited to their own RSVP tools. | Yes | Zola only |
| Mobile appPlanSeats is a responsive web app that works on any device. Zola offers a native mobile app. | Web (mobile-friendly) | Yes |
Transparent pricing so you know exactly what you're getting.
$0/month
$8.99/month
Free (with Zola account)
See the specific scenarios where PlanSeats outshines Zola.
Already have an Amazon, Target, or Crate & Barrel registry? PlanSeats works independently: use any registry you want while still getting a professional seating chart.
Zola is wedding-focused. PlanSeats handles corporate events, galas, birthday parties, and any event where seating matters.
Got a tricky venue with mixed table types, columns, or unusual shapes? PlanSeats gives you more flexibility to match your exact floor plan.
Caterers, venues, and coordinators can view your PlanSeats chart via a shareable link: no Zola account needed.
PlanSeats Pro can auto-assign guests based on groups, meal preferences, and keep certain guests apart. Zola's seating chart is entirely manual.
Work on seating with your partner or planner in real-time with PlanSeats Pro. Zola doesn't support simultaneous editing.
Yes, Zola includes a free seating chart tool, but only if you create a Zola wedding account. It's part of their wedding planning suite and is tied to their registry and website tools. PlanSeats is a standalone tool that works independently: no registry or wedding account required.
For seating charts specifically, yes. PlanSeats is a dedicated seating chart tool with more table customization, auto-assign features (Pro), and real-time collaboration. Zola's seating chart is a nice add-on to their registry but lacks advanced features.
Absolutely! PlanSeats is completely independent. Keep your Zola registry and website, but use PlanSeats for a more powerful seating chart experience. You can import your guest list from Zola via CSV.
There's no direct integration, but you can export your guest list from Zola as a CSV file and import it into PlanSeats with one click. Most couples do this in under 5 minutes.
Yes! PlanSeats generates a shareable link that anyone can view: your caterer, venue coordinator, or wedding planner doesn't need an account. With Zola, sharing outside the platform is more limited.
Yes! The PlanSeats free plan covers your first event with up to 20 guests. No credit card needed, no registry required. The Planner plan is $8.99/month for unlimited guests and tables.
PlanSeats is a web app optimized for mobile browsers: it works great on phones and tablets without needing to download anything. Zola has a native mobile app, which some users prefer.
Yes! PlanSeats Pro includes auto-assign with rules. You can group guests, set meal preference requirements, and even keep certain guests apart. The tool suggests optimal seating based on your rules. Zola's seating is manual only.
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.