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
SeatPlan.io is a quick browser-based seating designer with one-time pricing. PlanSeats is a full seating chart and floor plan tool with a saved free plan, more table shapes, and seating rules. See how they compare.
Free plan saves your work · No credit card
It depends on what you need to keep. If you want to sketch a chart without signing up and pay once, or you want Apple and Google Wallet seat passes for guests, SeatPlan.io fits. If you want your chart saved on a free plan, more table shapes, or rules that keep certain guests together or apart before auto-assign fills the room, PlanSeats is the better pick. Plus is $8.99 a month.
SeatPlan.io, launched in 2025 by a UK studio, is built around speed: open the designer with no signup, drag guests onto round or rectangular tables, and pay a one-time fee (from $8) when you want to save or export. The free tier lets you design but not save, so the chart is lost if you close the browser, and names on chairs show as initials until you upgrade.
PlanSeats takes the opposite approach to the free plan. It saves your work: one event with up to 20 guests and 4 tables, kept in your account for as long as you need it, with full names, drag-and-drop, and PNG and CSV export. Larger events move to the Plus plan at $8.99 a month with unlimited guests and tables, seating rules, auto-assign, bulk CSV import, and PDF exports.
On the chart itself, PlanSeats offers more room shapes and seating logic: round, rectangular, banquet, U-shape, sweetheart and head tables, ceremony row seating with sections and chairs, guest categories and tags, and rules that keep certain guests together or apart before auto-assign fills the room. Both tools import a floor plan from a photo or PDF, share a live link, and give guests a QR seat finder on the day.
SeatPlan.io has two features PlanSeats does not: Apple and Google Wallet seat passes emailed to each guest, and exact-scale CAD (DXF) import on its Event Manager plan. If either is essential, SeatPlan.io is the closer fit. For professional planners, PlanSeats Pro adds multi-event workspaces, reusable templates, client collaboration, and team seats.
See how PlanSeats stacks up against SeatPlan.io on the features that matter most.
| Feature | PlanSeats | SeatPlan.io |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan saves your workPlanSeats keeps a free event (20 guests, 4 tables) in your account. SeatPlan.io's free designer does not save; work is lost when the browser closes. | Yes | No |
| No signup to trySeatPlan.io opens its designer with no account. PlanSeats asks for a free account so the chart is saved. | No | Yes |
| Starting priceBoth start free. SeatPlan.io charges from $8 one-time to save and export; PlanSeats' free plan already saves and exports. | Free | Free (design only) |
| Drag-and-drop floor plansBoth tools place tables visually on a floor plan. | Yes | Yes |
| Round, rectangular and banquet tablesBoth support round and rectangular tables. PlanSeats also has banquet rows. | Yes | Yes |
| U-shape, sweetheart and head tablesPlanSeats includes U-shape, sweetheart and head table shapes. SeatPlan.io lists round and rectangular tables plus chair rows. | Yes | No |
| Ceremony row seatingPlanSeats plans ceremony sections, rows and reserved chairs with an usher list. SeatPlan.io offers cinema-style chair rows. | Yes | Chair rows |
| Guest list CSV importImport a spreadsheet of guests in either tool. | Yes | Yes |
| Guest categories and tagsPlanSeats tags guests by family, side, table group or meal for filtering and auto-assign. | Yes | Not advertised |
| Seating rules and auto-assignPlanSeats seats guests automatically by the groups and rules you set, then lets you fix the rest by hand. | Yes | Not advertised |
| Floor plan import from photo or PDFBoth read a venue floor plan image and place it as the canvas background. SeatPlan.io limits free users to a trial import. | Yes | Yes |
| CAD (DXF) importSeatPlan.io imports DXF files at exact scale on its subscription plan. PlanSeats works from images and PDFs. | No | Event Manager plan |
| Live share linkSend a view link to a planner, venue or caterer in either tool. | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time co-editingPlanSeats invites editors on any paid plan. SeatPlan.io adds two collaborators on its $14 one-time tier. | Yes | Collaborate plan |
| QR seat finder for guestsBoth let guests scan a code and find their table. SeatPlan.io reserves it for paid tiers. | Yes | Paid tiers |
| Apple / Google Wallet passesSeatPlan.io emails guests a wallet pass that updates when seats change. Not available in PlanSeats. | No | Yes |
| PDF exportPlanSeats exports the chart, guest list and place cards. SeatPlan.io exports after a one-time purchase. | Yes | Paid tiers |
| Printable seating chart signsPlanSeats turns the chart into designed seating chart signs for the entrance. SeatPlan.io exports name tags. | Yes | No |
| Multi-event workspace for plannersBoth offer a professional tier with unlimited events and templates. PlanSeats Pro adds client hubs and per-seat team billing. | PlanSeats Pro | Event Manager |
Transparent pricing so you know exactly what you're getting.
$0/month
$8.99/month
From $8 one-time (90 days)
See the specific scenarios where PlanSeats outshines SeatPlan.io.
A dinner party, shower or trial run fits PlanSeats' free plan and stays in your account. SeatPlan.io's free tier is a sandbox that clears when you close the tab.
Head tables, sweetheart tables, U-shapes and ceremony rows are built in. If your layout is more than rounds and rectangles, PlanSeats draws it.
Tag guests by side, family and group, set who sits together or apart, and let auto-assign do the first pass. Fix the last few by hand.
PlanSeats Pro gives a planning studio a multi-event workspace, reusable venue templates, client collaboration and team seats.
The SeatPlan.io designer is free to use without an account, but saving, exporting and full guest names require a one-time purchase starting at $8 for one chart with 90 days of access. PlanSeats' free plan saves one small event and exports it at no cost.
For a single small event, both can be free. For one full-size event, SeatPlan.io's $8 one-time Pro tier is cheaper than PlanSeats Plus at $8.99 a month if you only need a month or two, though SeatPlan.io access lasts 90 days and PlanSeats includes seating rules, auto-assign and more table shapes. For professionals, SeatPlan.io Event Manager is $25 a month and PlanSeats Pro is $39.99 a month with team seats.
No. PlanSeats gives guests a QR seat finder they scan at the door, which updates instantly when you move someone. It does not issue Apple or Google Wallet passes.
Yes. Both read a photo or PDF of the room and place tables on top of it. SeatPlan.io additionally imports CAD (DXF) files at exact scale on its Event Manager plan; PlanSeats calibrates the image scale from a known dimension instead.
Yes. Export your guest list from SeatPlan.io as Excel or CSV, import it into PlanSeats, and rebuild the floor plan with the drag-and-drop editor or by uploading the venue plan. Most charts take under 30 minutes to recreate.
Yes, especially if you want the free plan to save your work, need U-shape, sweetheart, head or ceremony seating, or want rules and auto-assign for a large guest list. If wallet passes or DXF import are essential, SeatPlan.io is the closer fit.
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.