Software · head to head
Social Tables vs Planning Pod
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Social Tables now owned by Cvent, reducing product independence; 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."
- They diverge on capability: Social Tables covers Floor plan design, Planning Pod covers Lead management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Social Tables and Planning Pod actually diverge.
| Attribute | Social Tables | Planning Pod |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $199/month | $59/month |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2011 | 2012 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Social Tables
- Floor plan design
- Seating charts
- Guest management
- 3D visualization
- Collaboration
- Cvent
- Salesforce
- Opera
Only in Planning Pod
- Lead management
- Floor plans
- Budgeting
- Timeline
- Client portal
- QuickBooks
- Stripe
- PayPal
Both cover
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Social Tables
- 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.
Social Tables
- Now owned by Cvent, reducing product independence
- Premium plan pricing not transparent
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."
Pricing, plan by plan
Social Tables
$199/month- Planner$199/month
- Floor plans
- Seating charts
- Guest management
- Professional$399/month
- 3D diagrams
- Collaboration
- Analytics
- Enterprise$799/month
- Full platform
- API access
- Dedicated support
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 Planning Pod if
- You need lead management.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want floor plans.
Questions people ask
- Is Social Tables or Planning Pod better?
- Neither clearly leads. Social Tables starts at $199/month and Planning Pod at $59/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Social Tables or Planning Pod?
- Social Tables starts at $199/month and Planning Pod at $59/month.
- Does Social Tables or Planning Pod run on more platforms?
- Social Tables runs on Web. Planning Pod runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- What is Social Tables best used for?
- Social Tables is most often used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events.
- What can Social Tables do that Planning Pod cannot?
- Social Tables covers Floor plan design, Seating charts, Guest management, 3D visualization. Planning Pod covers Lead management, Floor plans, Budgeting, Timeline. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Social Tables: What is Social Tables pricing in 2026?
Social Tables Pro plan is $199/month. Premium plans use quote-based pricing. Social Tables is now part of Cvent's Event Diagramming suite.
SourceSocial Tables: What features does Social Tables provide?
Social Tables offers drag-and-drop floor plan design, photo-realistic 3D walkthroughs, interactive floor plans, guest list management, visual seating charts, and meal management for venues and event planners.
Source