Software · head to head
Luma vs Partiful
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Luma 5% platform fee on paid events in free tier can add up for high-volume organizers; Partiful no automatic email or SMS delivery to guests, requiring manual link sharing for event invitations
- They diverge on capability: Luma covers Event pages, Partiful covers Digital invitations.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Luma and Partiful actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Luma
- Event pages
- Registration
- Ticketing
- Community features
- Zoom
- Stripe
- Discord
Only in Partiful
- Digital invitations
- RSVP tracking
- Guest messaging
- Photo sharing
- iMessage
Both cover
- Calendar sync
- Google Calendar
- Apple Calendar
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Luma
- Event planning
- Ticket sales
- Attendee management
- Virtual events
- Event marketing
Partiful
- Event planning
- Ticket sales
- Attendee management
- Virtual events
- Event marketing
Both are used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events, event marketing, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Luma
- 5% platform fee on paid events in free tier can add up for high-volume organizers
- Limited discovery features compared to established platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite
- Smaller organizer community means fewer network effects than larger competitors
Partiful
- No automatic email or SMS delivery to guests, requiring manual link sharing for event invitations
- Ticketing fees are not disclosed until setup time, making budget planning difficult for event hosts
- No support for interactive seat maps or assigned reserved seating for ticketed events
- Designed primarily for informal social events and works best for gatherings under 300 people
Pricing, plan by plan
Luma
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited events
- Unlimited guests
- Up to 500 invites per week
- Plus$59/month
- No platform fee
- 5,000 invites per week
- Tax collection
Partiful
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Partiful review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Luma if
- You need event pages.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want registration.
Choose Partiful if
- You need digital invitations.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want rsvp tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is Luma or Partiful better?
- Neither clearly leads. Luma starts at Free and Partiful at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Luma or Partiful?
- Luma starts at Free and Partiful at Free.
- Does Luma or Partiful run on more platforms?
- Luma runs on Web, iOS, Android. Partiful runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use Luma for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Luma best used for?
- Luma is most often used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events.
- What can Luma do that Partiful cannot?
- Luma covers Event pages, Registration, Ticketing, Community features. Partiful covers Digital invitations, RSVP tracking, Guest messaging, Photo sharing. Both handle Calendar sync, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Luma: Does Luma have a free plan?
Yes. Luma offers a free plan with unlimited events, unlimited guests, and up to 500 invites per week. Free users pay a 5% platform fee on paid events.
SourcePartiful: Is Partiful free to use for creating events?
Yes. Creating events and inviting guests is completely free. Ticketing features are available with variable fees based on ticket price and event size, but the basic event creation and RSVP collection has no cost.
SourceLuma: How much does Luma Plus cost?
Luma Plus costs $59 per month when billed annually, or $69 per month for month-to-month billing. It removes the platform fee, increases invites to 5,000 per week, and adds tax collection and API access.
SourcePartiful: Does Partiful support assigned seating or seat maps?
No. Partiful Ticketing supports tiered pricing and capacity limits but does not currently support interactive seat maps or assigned-seat reserved seating.
SourceLuma: Can I integrate Luma with other tools?
Yes. Luma Plus includes API access and supports enterprise CRM integrations for larger organizations managing events at scale.
SourcePartiful: How does Partiful notify guests about events?
Partiful primarily uses link sharing rather than automated email or SMS delivery. Hosts must share event links with guests, typically via text message or social media.
SourcePartiful: What ticketing features does Partiful support?
Partiful Ticketing supports tiered pricing for different ticket tiers, capacity limits with QR code check-in, and promo codes. However, it does not support ticket add-ons, waitlists for ticketed events, or individual refunds from the dashboard.
Source