How we compare
Cut the Cake vs Punchbowl
Both send invitations and take RSVPs. Here is where they differ, feature by feature, from each company’s own help pages and pricing in October 2026.
Only with Cut the Cake
- A countdown to the day
- The weather forecast
- Different start times for different guests
- Song requests guests upvote
- A map of where guests are coming from
- Seating chart
- Nametags guests design
- Check guests in at the door
- A photo booth on a tablet
- Tonight's photos on the TV
- A wifi card for guests
- Awards guests vote onPunchbowl: Polls only
- One album guests add to
- A guestbook
With Punchbowl, partly or for a fee
- Your own colors, fonts and cover photoPunchbowl: Your own photo needs a membership
- Meal choices and dietary needsPunchbowl: Adults and children counted; polls are paid
- No ads on your invitationPunchbowl: Ads show below the Platinum membership
- Co-hostsPunchbowl: Premium membership or higher
- Download your guest listPunchbowl: On the web, with a membership
- Plan it in a browserPunchbowl: New events on the web need a membership
Where Punchbowl does more
- Invitations by textCut the Cake: Text your invitation link yourself, from your own phone
Both include
An envelope guests open · Allow plus-ones · Guests answer without an app · Import your guest list · Invitations by email · Reminders to guests who haven't answered · Potluck sign-ups · iPhone and iPad app · Android app
Price
Cut the Cake
Your first published event is free and stays live for good, with invitations to 50 email addresses and no credit card. After that, one plan covers unlimited events with every feature included: $10 a month or $95 a year.
Punchbowl
Free in the app up to 50 guests, with ads. Memberships from $2.99 a month.
Questions
- What does Cut the Cake have that Punchbowl doesn't?
- Cut the Cake includes a countdown to the day, the weather forecast, different start times for different guests, song requests guests upvote, a map of where guests are coming from, seating chart, nametags guests design, check guests in at the door, a photo booth on a tablet, tonight's photos on the TV, a wifi card for guests, awards guests vote on, one album guests add to and a guestbook. Punchbowl's own help pages and feature lists did not offer them when we compared in October 2026.
- How much do Cut the Cake and Punchbowl cost?
- Your first published event is free and stays live for good, with invitations to 50 email addresses and no credit card. After that, one plan covers unlimited events with every feature included: $10 a month or $95 a year. Punchbowl: Free in the app up to 50 guests, with ads. Memberships from $2.99 a month.
- Does Punchbowl do anything Cut the Cake doesn't?
- Invitations by text: Punchbowl includes it. With Cut the Cake, text your invitation link yourself, from your own phone.
Where these facts come from
- www.punchbowl.com/upgrade
- help.punchbowl.com/
- help.punchbowl.com/article/52-how-do-i-customize-my-invitation
- help.punchbowl.com/article/79-how-do-i-remove-ads-on-my-invitation-or-save-the-date
- help.punchbowl.com/article/179-how-can-i-add-a-potluck-list-to-my-invitation
Compared October 2026. A feature counts as not offered when it appears nowhere in Punchbowl’s help center and feature lists, or was not there when tried.