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Events · head to head

Luma vs Planning Pod

Luma logo

Luma

Events

Delightful events for communities

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Planning Pod logo

Planning Pod

Events

Event planning software that works

From
$59/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Luma has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Luma 5% platform fee on paid events in free tier can add up for high-volume organizers; Planning Pod no transparent pricing table published; pricing determined individually per venue during demo
  • They diverge on capability: Luma covers Event pages, Planning Pod covers Lead management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Luma and Planning Pod actually diverge.

Attributes where Luma and Planning Pod differ
AttributeLumaPlanning Pod
Starting priceFree$59/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20202012

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Events).

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
  • Calendar sync
  • Ticketing
  • Community features
  • Apple Calendar
  • Zoom
  • Discord

Only in Planning Pod

  • Lead management
  • Floor plans
  • Budgeting
  • Timeline
  • Client portal
  • QuickBooks
  • PayPal
  • Zapier

Both cover

  • Google Calendar
  • Stripe
  • 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

Planning Pod

  • 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

Planning Pod

  • No transparent pricing table published; pricing determined individually per venue during demo
  • Pricing based on event volume complexity rather than standard tiers
  • Requires personalized demo to determine exact pricing

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

Planning Pod

$59/month
  • Planner$59/month
    • Basic planning tools
    • 5 events
    • Email support
  • Professional$99/month
    • Unlimited events
    • Floor plans
    • Budget tracking
  • Business$199/month
    • Team features
    • Client portal
    • API access

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.
Luma review

Choose Planning Pod if

  • You need lead management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want floor plans.
Planning Pod review

Questions people ask

Is Luma or Planning Pod better?
Neither clearly leads. Luma starts at Free and Planning Pod at $59/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Luma or Planning Pod?
Luma has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Luma and $59/month for Planning Pod.
Does Luma or Planning Pod run on more platforms?
Luma runs on Web, iOS, Android. Planning Pod runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Luma for free?
Yes. Luma has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Planning Pod starts at $59/month.
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 Planning Pod cannot?
Luma covers Event pages, Registration, Calendar sync, Ticketing. Planning Pod covers Lead management, Floor plans, Budgeting, Timeline. Both handle Google Calendar, Stripe, Web support, Ios 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.

Source
Planning Pod: How does Planning Pod pricing work?

Planning Pod uses volume-based pricing determined by the number of events your venue manages at any given time. Pricing typically ranges from $199-319/month for single-location venues, but you only pay for the volume you actually run.

Source
Luma: 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.

Source
Planning Pod: Does Planning Pod publish a public pricing table?

No, Planning Pod does not publish a detailed public pricing table. To determine your specific rate, you must schedule a personalized demo and discuss your venue's event volume with their team.

Source
Luma: 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.

Source
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