04 Apr
Top Paperless Post Alternatives
Online invitation services have gained immense popularity, offering convenience and efficiency to busy hosts who are looking to send out invites without the hassle of traditional mail. Paperless Post has become a well-known name in this space, but it is not the only option. If you’re looking for an alternative, there are plenty of good options available, each with its own unique set of features, pros, and cons. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the best Paperless Post alternatives on the market.
Punchbowl
Punchbowl is a digital invitation platform that offers a unique experience with its ‘virtual envelope’ design, making it a popular choice for users seeking aesthetically pleasing and interactive online invites. Punchbowl stands out due to its vast selection of invitation templates, including designs featuring licensed characters from brands like Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars. It allows users to make basic design customizations such as changing fonts and adding personal event details.
Pros of Using Punchbowl
- Wide Range of Designs: Punchbowl provides an extensive library of invitation templates, from simple themes to licensed character designs, catering to a variety of events and audiences.
- Customizations: Users can make simple design adjustments, such as selecting different fonts or colors, to personalize their invitations.
- Virtual Envelope Feature: Punchbowl’s unique envelope-opening animation adds a touch of elegance and interactivity to the invite, making the experience more special for both the sender and the receiver.
- Popular Licensed Characters: The inclusion of popular characters from Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars adds value, especially for events like children’s parties.
Cons of Using Punchbowl
- Advertisements: A significant drawback is that ads are displayed to both the event host and the guests, which can detract from the overall user experience.
- Limited Customizations for Free Users: While basic customizations are available, advanced design features and ad-free invitations require upgrading to a paid plan.
- Cost for Removing Ads: Free users cannot remove ads from their invitations without subscribing to one of Punchbowl’s premium plans, potentially making it less appealing for those looking for a fully free solution.
Pricing
As of the latest update, Punchbowl offers the following pricing tiers:
Free Plan:
- Includes basic features with ads displayed to both hosts and guests.
- Access to a limited number of designs and features.
Premium Plan: Starting at $6.99 per month.
- Removes advertisements for both the host and the guests.
- Unlocks access to premium designs, including licensed characters.
- Provides enhanced customization options and other additional features.
Premium Plus Plan: Starting at $12.99 per month.
- Includes everything in the Premium Plan.
- Additional features like the ability to add custom logos, more advanced customizations, and priority customer support.
Evite
Evite is a well-known online invitation platform that, similar to Punchbowl, provides users with a virtual experience that mimics the traditional paper invitation style. Evite offers both free and premium options, with its premium offering featuring a more refined invitation design, including virtual envelopes. The free version, however, utilizes a simpler banner-style invitation format. One standout feature of Evite is the ad-free design experience, allowing users to create their invitations without the distraction of advertisements.
Pros of Using Evite
- Ad-Free Design Process: Unlike some other platforms, Evite does not show ads during the invitation creation process, which helps users focus on designing without interruptions.
- User-Friendly Interface: Evite’s design process is simple and straightforward, making it accessible to users of all tech abilities.
- Wide Reach: Evite is a widely recognized platform, meaning many users are already familiar with how it works, which can make it easier for guests to respond quickly.
- Free Option Available: Evite offers a basic banner-style invitation for free, allowing users to send out invites without any cost.
Cons of Using Evite
- Advertisements in Free Invitations: While the creation process is ad-free, guests may still see ads when they receive a free Evite, which can detract from the invitation’s appearance.
- Limited Design Options for Free Users: The free version offers fewer design choices and lacks the more elegant features, such as the virtual envelope, found in the premium version.
- Basic Features Without Upgrade: For users wanting more customization options or advanced features, a paid subscription is necessary.
Pricing
Evite offers a variety of pricing plans depending on the user’s needs:
Free Plan:
- Basic banner-style invitations with advertisements displayed to guests.
- Limited selection of designs and features.
Premium Plan: Starting at $12.99 for a single event.
- Ad-free invitations for both the host and guests.
- Access to a wider selection of designs, including premium templates.
- Enhanced features like the virtual envelope, RSVP tracking, and customization options.
Evite Pro Plan: Starting at $249.99 per year.
- Ideal for businesses or users who host multiple events annually.
- Includes all premium features plus advanced tools such as custom branding, event planning tools, and priority customer support.
GreenEnvelope
GreenEnvelope is a sophisticated digital invitation service that offers a polished, paper-style envelope design, providing a premium and stylish alternative for online invites. While GreenEnvelope is relatively newer compared to platforms like Punchbowl and Evite, it offers a variety of customization options, including the ability to add photos, videos, and other personalized touches to your invitations. Although it offers a free trial, GreenEnvelope operates as a paid service, requiring users to purchase credits in order to send invitations. This platform is an excellent choice for those seeking high-end features and design.
Pros of Using GreenEnvelope
- Customizable Invitations: GreenEnvelope allows users to fully personalize their invitations, including adding photos, videos, and custom colors, making it a standout option for those who value creativity.
- Stylish and Professional Designs: The platform offers modern, elegant designs with the ability to include a virtual envelope-opening animation, adding to the overall aesthetic.
- Eco-Friendly: GreenEnvelope markets itself as an environmentally conscious choice, using fully digital invites to reduce paper waste.
- Advanced Tracking and RSVP Features: GreenEnvelope offers detailed tracking tools, including real-time delivery notifications and advanced RSVP management, making it convenient for event organizers.
Cons of Using GreenEnvelope
- Paid Service: While there is a free trial, GreenEnvelope requires the purchase of credits to send invitations, which can make it more expensive than other platforms with free options.
- Limited Free Features: The free trial is more of an introductory feature, so users will quickly need to upgrade to a paid plan to continue sending invites.
- Newer Platform: Being relatively new, GreenEnvelope may not yet be as widely recognized as other platforms like Evite, which could make it slightly unfamiliar to guests.
Pricing
Free Trial:
- Users can explore the platform’s features with a free trial, but sending invitations requires purchasing credits.
Pay-per-Use Credits: Pricing starts at $19 for 20 invites.
- Credits are required to send invitations, with the price depending on the number of invitations sent.
- Includes all customization options, virtual envelopes, and advanced features like RSVP tracking.
Annual Plan: Starting at $195 per year.
- Unlimited invitations for an entire year.
- Includes all premium features, ideal for users who frequently host events and need a high-end invitation service with no recurring per-invite cost.
RSVPify
RSVPify is a fantastic option for those looking for an advanced and customizable online invitation and event management platform. Although there is no option for a traditional envelope-style invitation, RSVPify makes up for it with its suite of event management features. These include the ability to collect detailed RSVP responses, manage private invite lists, and even collect event payments. The free offering can accommodate up to 100 invited guests and basic feature access.
You can learn more about RSVPify’s pricing and plan options here.
No matter the reason, if you’re looking for an alternative to Paperless Post, there are plenty of great options available. Whether you’re looking for a simple and straightforward platform, or a more advanced and customizable service, there’s something out there for everyone. As you browse for an ideal event platform, these options all offer unique feature sets that might best fit the event planning process for your specific needs.
