You’re planning a party. You need to send invitations and track RSVPs. You Google it, and the same two names keep coming up: Evite and Paperless Post.
They’re very different products. Evite gives you a massive template library with a free (but ad-heavy) tier. Paperless Post gives you gorgeous designer invitations that cost money per guest. Which one is actually better? Depends on your event. But there’s a third option most people haven’t heard of that might beat both. More on that later.
Here’s how Evite and Paperless Post actually compare in 2026.
Key Takeaways
– Evite is free (with ads) or $17.99–$99.99 per event ad-free. Paperless Post charges via a Coin system starting at $12.
– Evite wins on template variety and Android app support. Paperless Post wins on design quality and no ads.
– For most everyday parties, neither platform is the best option — there’s a free alternative with no ads and no per-event charges.
– “Evite” is short for “electronic invite” — it’s been around since 1998 and the name became a common word for any digital invitation.
Evite vs Paperless Post: quick comparison
| Feature | Evite | Paperless Post |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (with ads) / Premium $17.99+ per event | Free (limited) / Coins starting at $12 |
| Ads on invitations | Yes (free tier) | No |
| Design quality | Template-heavy, casual feel | Designer collaborations, premium feel |
| RSVP tracking | Yes | Yes, with analytics |
| Guest messaging | Yes, group chat | Yes |
| Max guests | 2,500 (Pro plan) | 15,000 |
| Mobile app | iOS and Android | iOS |
| Custom RSVP questions | Limited | Yes (host-to-guest surveys) |
| Kid vs adult headcount | No | Yes |
| Shareable link | Yes | Yes (Flyers format) |
| Account required to RSVP | Prompted but optional | No |
What is Evite?
Evite has been around since 1998. It basically invented the digital invitation. The name itself is a mashup of “electronic” and “invite” — and it’s become so common that people now use “evite” (lowercase) to mean any digital invitation, regardless of platform. Today Evite sends more than 6 million invitations per year, reaching an average of around 30 guests per event (LA Business Journal, 2024). Parties tracked on the platform grew 4% between 2023 and 2024.
If someone has ever said “I’ll send you an Evite,” you already know the platform, because the name has become shorthand for any online invitation.
The free tier gives you access to thousands of templates organized by occasion. Birthday, baby shower, holiday party, retirement, graduation — Evite has a template for almost anything. You also get RSVP tracking, guest messaging, and reminders. The catch? Your guests see banner ads on your invitation page.
To remove ads, you’ll pay for Evite Premium. Pricing is per event and scales by guest count:
- Silver (up to 15 guests): ~$17.99
- Gold (up to 40 guests): ~$36.99
- Platinum (up to 100 guests): ~$68.99
- Diamond (up to 750 guests): $99.99
There’s also Evite Pro at $249.99/year for unlimited premium invitations and up to 2,500 guests per event. That’s aimed at people who host professionally or very frequently.
Is Evite Free?
Yes — with a catch. Evite’s free tier is genuinely functional. You can send invitations to up to 750 guests, track RSVPs, message guests, and send reminders without spending anything.
The catch is ads. On the free tier, your guests see banner ads on your invitation page — ads for products that have nothing to do with your event. For many hosts, that’s a dealbreaker.
To go ad-free, you pay per event based on guest count. The cheapest option (up to 15 guests) is $17.99. For 40+ guests, you’re looking at $36.99 or more.
So: Evite is free to use, but “free” means your guests will see ads.
What is Paperless Post?
Paperless Post takes a different approach. Instead of trying to be free-for-everyone, they focused on design quality. Their invitations look like real stationery — clean typography, elegant layouts, collaborations with designers like Rifle Paper Co., Oscar de la Renta, and Kate Spade.
Paperless Post has two formats:
Cards are the classic Paperless Post experience. Recipients get an envelope-opening animation when they view the invitation. You can customize the envelope, liner, stamp, and backdrop. These are what people think of when they hear “Paperless Post.”
Flyers are newer and more casual. They’re shareable via link (text, social media, DM), look more like a modern event page, and don’t use the envelope format. Free Flyer templates are actually pretty good.
The pricing model uses “Coins.” Premium designs cost 2 Coins per recipient for Cards, plus extra for add-ons. Coin packages range from 25 Coins for $12 to 1,000 Coins for $115. It gets confusing fast — more on that in a minute.
There’s also Paperless Pro at around $250/year, which gets you unlimited premium customization for up to 250 guests annually.
Where Evite wins
Credit where it’s due. Evite has the edge in a few areas.
Template variety
Nobody beats Evite’s template library. Thousands of designs organized by occasion. Cinco de Mayo taco night? There’s a template. Unicorn-themed kids’ birthday? Multiple options. Retirement luau? Covered. If you want to pick a theme and go without making any design decisions, Evite makes that easy.
Paperless Post has beautiful designs, but fewer of them. And many of the best ones cost Coins.
Truly free tier
Evite’s free tier actually works. You can send invitations to 750 guests, track RSVPs, message guests, and send reminders without spending anything. Yes, there are ads on your invitation page. But if ads don’t bother you (or your guests), you get a lot for $0.
Paperless Post’s free tier is more limited. The free Card designs are basic, and the moment you want a nicer design, a custom stamp, or a photo upload, you’re buying Coins.
Simpler pricing
This might sound counterintuitive given Evite’s tiered premium pricing. But at least you know what you’re paying. Pick a tier based on your guest count, pay one price, done.
Paperless Post’s Coin system requires math. A premium Card might cost 2 Coins per guest, plus 1 Coin for a custom liner, plus 1 Coin for a backdrop. Sending 50 premium Cards with all the extras could run 200+ Coins ($35-58 depending on your Coin package). It’s not immediately obvious what your total cost will be.
Native app on both platforms
Evite has apps for both iOS and Android. Paperless Post only has an iOS app. If you’re on Android, Evite is the better mobile experience.
Where Paperless Post wins
Design quality
This is the big one. Paperless Post invitations just look better than Evite’s. That’s not a dig at Evite; they serve different aesthetics. Evite templates lean casual and clip-art-adjacent. Paperless Post designs look like they came from an actual design studio.
If you’re hosting a wedding, a milestone birthday, or a corporate gala, Paperless Post’s design quality is hard to beat. The designer collaborations (Rifle Paper Co., Kate Spade, Kelly Wearstler) give you options you won’t find anywhere else.
No ads, ever
Paperless Post doesn’t show ads on any tier. Free or paid, your guests see your invitation and nothing else. Evite puts banner ads right next to your event details on the free tier. For some people that’s fine. For others, it’s a dealbreaker.
Better RSVP features
Paperless Post offers RSVP tools that Evite doesn’t have. Custom survey questions let you ask things like “What’s your meal preference?” or “Are you bringing kids?” The kid vs. adult headcount feature is useful for weddings, seated dinners, and catered events where that distinction actually matters.
Evite’s RSVP tracking covers the basics (yes, no, maybe) but doesn’t go deeper than that.
Higher guest capacity
Paperless Post supports up to 15,000 guests per event. Evite caps at 2,500 on their Pro plan. For most personal events this doesn’t matter at all, but if you’re running large-scale events or conferences, Paperless Post gives you more room.
The Flyers format
This is worth knowing about. Paperless Post Flyers are shareable via link, look modern and casual, and have solid free options. For a barbecue, a game night, or a casual birthday, Flyers give you a Paperless Post-quality design without the Coin cost. And since they’re link-based, your guests don’t need an email invitation to see the event page.
What it actually costs: real numbers
Neither platform makes pricing obvious upfront. So let’s do the math for a common scenario: sending invitations to 50 guests.
Evite for 50 guests
- Free tier: $0 (but guests see ads on your invitation)
- Premium (ad-free): ~$36.99-$68.99 depending on tier
Paperless Post for 50 guests
- Free Flyer: $0 (limited design options, no Coins required)
- Free Card: $0 (basic designs only)
- Premium Card: 100 Coins minimum ($22) for a basic premium design. With envelope liner, custom stamp, and backdrop: 200-250 Coins ($35-58). A fully loaded premium Card to 50 guests could easily cost $50+.
The hidden cost problem
Both platforms have pricing that feels like it’s working against you.
With Evite, the jump from free (with ads) to premium is steep. There’s no middle ground. You either accept ads on your birthday dinner invitation or pay $37+ to remove them.
With Paperless Post, the Coin system is confusing by design. You buy Coins in bulk, use some, and the rest just sit there. It’s the gift card economy applied to invitations. And costs scale with guest count, so the bigger your party, the more you pay.
For a single formal event where design quality matters most, Paperless Post is worth the cost. For everything else, both platforms are charging more than they should.
The biggest drawbacks
Evite’s drawbacks
Ads, ads, ads. The number-one reason people search for Evite alternatives. Your guest opens your birthday invitation and sees a banner ad for laundry detergent. It cheapens the whole thing. And since Evite’s business model depends on those ads, they’re not going away from the free tier.
Dated design. Evite’s templates haven’t changed much in the last decade. They work for casual events, but they don’t look modern. Side by side with a Paperless Post invitation, the gap is obvious.
Delivery problems. This comes up constantly in user reviews on Trustpilot and Sitejabber. Invitations landing in spam folders. Guests never receiving them. Tracking showing “sent” when emails never arrived. Not universal, but common enough that you should have a backup plan for important events.
Aggressive upselling. Every step of the Evite experience nudges you toward spending money. Upgrade prompts during event creation, gift card suggestions, premium template teasers. A lot of friction when you just want to invite people to dinner.
Paperless Post’s drawbacks
The Coin system is confusing. Users on Trustpilot describe it as a “bait and switch.” You browse beautiful designs, build your invitation, and then discover you need to buy Coins to actually send it. The pricing isn’t transparent until you’re already invested in the design process.
Costs add up fast. A premium Card with all the design elements can cost 4-5 Coins per guest. For 100 guests, that’s 400-500 Coins ($58-115). A single invitation for a large event can cost more than a month of most software subscriptions.
Editing updates all sent invitations. If you make a change to your Card after sending it, every previously sent version updates too. This catches people off guard, especially if you’re fixing a typo and accidentally change information that some guests have already seen.
Limited customization on free tier. The free designs are basic. If you want the “Paperless Post look” that made the platform famous, you’re paying for it.
Which platform should you choose?
It comes down to what kind of event you’re hosting.
Choose Evite if budget is your top priority and you don’t mind ads. Also if you want a massive template library for themed events, need Android app support, or want gift registry integration.
Choose Paperless Post if design quality is the top priority. Weddings, galas, formal events where the invitation sets the tone. You’re paying for aesthetics, and for those occasions, it’s worth it.
But here’s the thing. For most everyday events (birthday parties, dinner parties, game nights, holiday gatherings, housewarmings) neither platform is the best option. You’re either paying to avoid ads or paying per guest for nice designs. There’s a better way.
A better free alternative: Mixily
Mixily is a newer event platform that skips the ads and the confusing pricing entirely.
No ads on any plan. No Coins to buy. No per-event premium charges. Your guests see your event page and nothing else.
You upload your own photos (or pull from Unsplash), add GIFs if you want, and get a clean, modern event page that looks custom-made. Guests RSVP by clicking a link. No account required, no app to download.
The free plan includes features that Evite and Paperless Post charge for: custom RSVP questions, date polling, scheduled invitations, automatic reminders, guest comments, co-hosting, and password protection. You get 100 guests per event and 700 emails per week.
If you host regularly, Mixily is especially useful. Contact lists carry across events. A dashboard tracks who’s attended what. Public listing pages show your upcoming events. If you run a monthly dinner or a weekly running club, Mixily remembers your people and gets easier each time.
| Feature | Evite (Free) | Paperless Post (Free) | Mixily (Free) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ads | Yes | No | No |
| Custom RSVP questions | No | Limited | Yes |
| Date polling | No | No | Yes |
| Account required to RSVP | Prompted | No | No |
| Scheduled invitations | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Co-hosting | Limited | No | Yes |
| Contact management | Basic | Basic | Full dashboard |
| Design approach | Templates | Designer stationery | Custom photos + modern layouts |
Mixily was acquired by The 2-Hour Cocktail Party author Nick Gray in January 2026. The focus is on simplicity and helping people actually host, not on monetizing guest lists.
Other platforms worth knowing
If you’re exploring beyond Evite and Paperless Post, a few other platforms are worth a look.
Partiful is popular with younger crowds. Free, fun, social. Think animated event pages and emoji reactions. It feels more like a group chat than a formal invitation. Google named it App of the Year in 2025. Less suited for professional or community events, but great for casual parties.
Punchbowl caters to parents planning kids’ parties. Character-themed designs (Disney, superheroes) and a layout that’s built for children’s birthdays. If you need a specific cartoon theme, Punchbowl probably has it.
Luma is built for professional and tech communities. Ticketing, analytics, Zapier integrations. The Plus plan runs $59/month, so it’s for people running conferences or recurring professional events, not casual hosts.
For a deeper comparison of all these platforms, check out our guide to the best free RSVP websites.
The bottom line
Evite has the biggest free template library. Paperless Post has the most beautiful digital stationery. For formal, one-time events where the invitation is part of the experience, Paperless Post is worth the cost.
But for most events, you don’t need to choose between “free with ads” and “premium per guest.” Mixily gives you modern design, real features, and zero ads without paying anything.
Create your free event on Mixily and see the difference. Questions? Email us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “evite” mean?
“Evite” is a combination of “electronic” and “invite.” It’s the name of a digital invitation platform that launched in 1998, one of the first of its kind. The name became so widespread that “evite” (lowercase) is now used informally to mean any digital invitation, regardless of which platform was used to send it.
Is Evite free?
Yes, Evite has a free tier that works. You can send invitations to up to 750 guests, track RSVPs, and message guests at no cost. The downside: your guests will see banner ads on your invitation page. To remove ads, you pay per event: $17.99 for up to 15 guests, $36.99 for up to 40 guests, $68.99 for up to 100 guests.
How much does Evite cost?
Evite’s free tier is $0 (with ads). Premium (ad-free) tiers are priced per event: Silver (up to 15 guests) ~$17.99, Gold (up to 40) ~$36.99, Platinum (up to 100) ~$68.99, Diamond (up to 750) $99.99. An annual Evite Pro plan ($249.99/year) covers unlimited events up to 2,500 guests each.
Is Paperless Post free?
Paperless Post has a free tier, but it’s limited. Basic Flyer templates are genuinely free. Basic Card designs are free. The moment you want premium designs, custom envelopes, or extra features, you need Coins. Coin packs start at $12 for 25 Coins. Premium designs typically cost 2+ Coins per guest, so costs scale quickly with larger guest lists.
Evite vs Paperless Post: which is better?
It depends on the event. Evite is better if you want a large template library, free (ad-supported) invitations, or Android app support. Paperless Post is better if design quality is the priority — weddings, milestone birthdays, formal events. For casual everyday parties, both have pricing friction that a free alternative like Mixily avoids entirely.
Can guests RSVP to Evite without creating an account?
On Evite, guests are prompted to sign in or create an account to RSVP, but it’s technically optional — they can RSVP as a guest. In practice, many guests find the sign-in prompt confusing and either skip it or abandon the process, which is a common complaint in user reviews.
