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Events · head to head

Planning Pod vs Zkipster

Planning Pod logo

Planning Pod

Events

Event planning software that works

From
$59/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zkipster logo

Zkipster

Events

Guest management for luxury events

From
$299/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Planning Pod no transparent pricing table published; pricing determined individually per venue during demo; Zkipster the pricing page names three tiers but publishes no rate for any of them
  • They diverge on capability: Planning Pod covers Lead management, Zkipster covers Guest list management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Planning Pod and Zkipster differ
AttributePlanning PodZkipster
Starting price$59/month$299/month

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Events), founded (2012).

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
  • Stripe
  • PayPal

Only in Zkipster

  • Guest list management
  • Digital check-in
  • Seating charts
  • Real-time analytics
  • VIP tagging
  • Salesforce
  • Mailchimp
  • Google Sheets

Both cover

  • Zapier
  • 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 planningnot Zkipster
  • Ticket salesnot Zkipster
  • Attendee managementnot Zkipster
  • Virtual eventsnot Zkipster
  • Event marketingnot Zkipster

Zkipster

  • Guest list management and check in at invitation only eventsnot Planning Pod
  • Seating plans and name badges for galas and dinnersnot Planning Pod
  • Sending event invitations and RSVPs by email, SMS or WhatsAppnot Planning Pod

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

Zkipster

  • The pricing page names three tiers but publishes no rate for any of them
  • Essentials is capped at 60 events per year or 10 per month and Professional at 80 per year or 20 per month
  • Guests are capped at 10,000 per event on Essentials and Professional
  • Event communications, floor plans, seating and name badges require the Professional plan
  • SMS, WhatsApp and Wallet Pass require Professional or higher
  • API access requires an annual Professional plan or an Enterprise add on
  • Advanced security and compliance tools and priority support are Enterprise only
  • zkipster Audience is banded by contact volume, so cost rises with the contact list rather than with features

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

Zkipster

$299/month
  • Starter$299/month
    • Guest list management
    • Check-in app
    • Basic analytics
  • Professional$599/month
    • Seating management
    • Custom branding
    • Advanced reporting
  • Enterprise$1199/month
    • Multi-event
    • API access
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Planning Pod if

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

Choose Zkipster if

  • You need guest list management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want digital check-in.
Zkipster review

Questions people ask

Is Planning Pod or Zkipster better?
Neither clearly leads. Planning Pod starts at $59/month and Zkipster at $299/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Planning Pod or Zkipster?
Planning Pod starts at $59/month and Zkipster at $299/month.
Does Planning Pod or Zkipster run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Planning Pod best used for?
Planning Pod is most often used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events. Of those, event planning and ticket sales are not what Zkipster is typically brought in for.
What can Planning Pod do that Zkipster cannot?
Planning Pod covers Lead management, Floor plans, Budgeting, Timeline. Zkipster covers Guest list management, Digital check-in, Seating charts, Real-time analytics. Both handle Zapier, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Zkipster: How does zkipster billing work?

Monthly Events plans are billed every month on a rolling basis until manually canceled. Annual plans cost upfront for 12 months and offer up to 50% savings versus monthly billing.

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
Zkipster: What payment methods does zkipster accept?

zkipster accepts all major credit cards. Wire and bank transfer are available for certain plans. SMS and add-ons require credit card payment.

Source
Zkipster: Are there overage fees?

Events plans include annual allowances (60-100 events per year). Additional events incur charges in the next billing period. Audience has per-contact overage pricing.

Source
Zkipster: What happens if I cancel my subscription?

Accounts remain active through the current billing period after cancellation. Account owners can still access and download data even after the subscription lapses.

Source
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