Software · head to head
Planning Pod vs Luma
The short version
- Only Luma has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Planning Pod subscription pricing is metered by concurrent event volume rather than seats: the vendor states "Subscription pricing is based on the number of events your venue manages at any given time" and that "most single-location venues land between $199 and $319 per month."; Luma 5% platform fee on paid events in free tier can add up for high-volume organizers
- They diverge on capability: Planning Pod covers Lead management, Luma covers Event pages.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Planning Pod and Luma actually diverge.
| Attribute | Planning Pod | Luma |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Founded | 2012 | 2020 |
Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 Planning Pod
- Lead management
- Floor plans
- Budgeting
- Timeline
- Client portal
- QuickBooks
- PayPal
- Zapier
Only in Luma
- Event pages
- Registration
- Calendar sync
- Ticketing
- Community features
- Apple Calendar
- Zoom
- Discord
Both cover
- Stripe
- Google Calendar
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Planning Pod
- Event planning
- Ticket sales
- Attendee management
- Virtual events
- Event marketing
Luma
- 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.
Planning Pod
- Subscription pricing is metered by concurrent event volume rather than seats: the vendor states "Subscription pricing is based on the number of events your venue manages at any given time" and that "most single-location venues land between $199 and $319 per month."
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
Pricing, plan by plan
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
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
Which should you pick?
Choose Planning Pod if
- You need lead management.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want floor plans.
Choose Luma if
- You need event pages.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want registration.
Questions people ask
- Is Planning Pod or Luma better?
- Neither clearly leads. Planning Pod starts at $59/month and Luma at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Planning Pod or Luma?
- Luma has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $59/month for Planning Pod and Free for Luma.
- Does Planning Pod or Luma run on more platforms?
- Planning Pod runs on Web, Ios, Android. Luma 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 Planning Pod best used for?
- Planning Pod is most often used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events.
- What can Planning Pod do that Luma cannot?
- Planning Pod covers Lead management, Floor plans, Budgeting, Timeline. Luma covers Event pages, Registration, Calendar sync, Ticketing. Both handle Stripe, Google Calendar, 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.
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.
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.
Source