7 Best Aisle Planner Alternatives
for Event Planners
Aisle Planner is a beautiful tool for wedding-specific planning and client presentations. But it is built narrowly for weddings, lacks a full CRM pipeline, and has no AI assistant. Planners running multiple event types or who want everything in one platform often look for alternatives. Here is a full breakdown.
Start Free with RipluoWhy Event Pros Look for Aisle Planner Alternatives
Aisle Planner built its reputation on beautiful design tools and a polished client experience. For wedding planners who prioritize mood boards, visual proposals, and a dedicated client portal, it delivers on those promises.
The limitations become clear when you need more. Aisle Planner does not include a full CRM with a visual deal pipeline, AI-generated timelines, or BCC email logging. Planners who also run corporate events, fundraisers, or galas find that its wedding-only templates do not translate. And because it lacks the business management side, many planners end up pairing it with HoneyBook or another CRM - paying for two tools that never fully connect.
The common Aisle Planner stack for event planners:
- Aisle Planner at $49/mo (planning tools, client portal)
- HoneyBook at $59/mo (proposals, contracts, CRM pipeline)
- Total: $108+/mo for tools that do not share data
Common reasons planners search for Aisle Planner alternatives include: the need to manage non-wedding events, wanting a built-in CRM with a sales pipeline, the lack of AI tools, or simply looking for one platform that covers both planning and the business side without double data entry.
How We Evaluated These Alternatives
Each tool was evaluated on four criteria:
- Event planning tools -- timelines, budgets, guest lists (floor plans coming soon)
- CRM and business tools -- proposals, contracts, invoicing, pipeline
- Pricing -- true cost including any add-ons required
- Fit for event professionals -- weddings, corporate, multi-event-type support
The 7 Best Aisle Planner Alternatives
Ranked for event professionals who need planning tools, CRM, or both.
Ripluo
Best PickAll-in-one event planning and CRM platform built specifically for event professionals.
Pros
- Combines event planning (timelines, budgets, guest lists, with floor plans coming soon) with full CRM
- Free plan with real planning tools — no credit card required
- AI assistant (Buildr) generates timelines, checklists, and email templates
- One-click deal-to-event conversion keeps all client data connected
- Supports weddings, corporate events, galas, 5Ks, and more
- 25 team members on Pro plan at $49.99/mo
Cons
- No native mobile app (web-based, works on any browser)
- No mood board or visual design presentation tools
- Workflow automation is on the roadmap, not yet released
HoneyBook
Client management platform for creative professionals with polished proposals, contracts, and invoicing.
Pros
- Beautiful proposal and contract templates out of the box
- Integrated invoicing and online payments in one flow
- Guided onboarding makes setup straightforward
- Dedicated mobile app for iOS and Android
Cons
- No event planning tools (no timelines, budgets, floor plans, or guest lists)
- Much less visual design capability than Aisle Planner
- No free plan; pricing increases after promotional period
- No BCC email logging to CRM contacts
Dubsado
Business management platform for freelancers with powerful workflow automation and customizable client forms.
Pros
- Advanced workflow automation with conditional logic
- Highly customizable forms, questionnaires, and lead capture
- Client portals for proposal and contract management
- No platform fee on payments (Stripe fees only)
Cons
- No event planning tools (no timelines, budgets, floor plans, or guest lists)
- No mood boards or visual design tools
- Steep learning curve to set up automations
- No AI assistant
Planning Pod
Event management software with strong venue management tools, room booking, and BEO generation.
Pros
- Full venue management with room availability calendars
- BEO (Banquet Event Order) generation built in
- Event timelines, budgets, and guest lists included (floor plans coming soon)
- Established platform with many integrations
Cons
- Starts at $59/mo with no free tier
- No mood board or design presentation tools
- No AI assistant
- Overkill for independent planners who do not manage a venue
Cvent
Enterprise event management platform for large conferences, trade shows, and corporate events.
Pros
- Enterprise-grade attendee registration and ticketing
- Venue sourcing network (Cvent Supplier Network)
- Event marketing, email campaigns, and virtual event support
- Robust reporting and analytics for enterprise teams
Cons
- Pricing starts at $5,000+/year, far out of reach for small businesses
- No mood board or visual design tools
- Complex setup requiring dedicated implementation time
- Overkill for independent planners and small event businesses
17hats
Simple all-in-one business management for solo creative professionals with a focus on ease of use.
Pros
- Very easy to learn and set up
- Includes proposals, contracts, invoicing, and basic workflows
- Affordable entry price for solopreneurs
- Bookkeeping and expense tracking built in
Cons
- No event planning tools (no timelines, floor plans, budgets, or guest lists)
- No design presentation or mood board tools
- Designed for solopreneurs, not event teams
- No AI assistant
Tave
Studio management software for photographers and creative professionals, focused on booking and client communication.
Pros
- Deep photography studio management features
- Strong contract and invoice workflow for creatives
- Good automation for client follow-up sequences
- Integrates with photography-specific tools
Cons
- Built specifically for photo and video studios, not event planners
- No event planning tools (timelines, budgets, floor plans, guest lists)
- No mood board or design tools
- No AI assistant
Best Aisle Planner Alternative by Use Case
Best for Wedding Planners
Ripluo
Covers timelines, budgets, and guest lists (with floor plans coming soon), while also including a full CRM pipeline, contracts, and invoicing in one platform - at a lower total cost than Aisle Planner plus a CRM.
Best for Corporate Event Teams
Ripluo
Supports speaker booking, sponsor management, volunteer coordination, multi-event budgets, and team permissions. Aisle Planner's wedding-focused design does not adapt well to corporate workflows.
Best Free Alternative
Ripluo
The only alternative with a genuinely free plan that includes real planning tools. No credit card required, up to 5 active events with full access to timelines and budgets, with floor plans coming soon.
Best for Visual Design Presentations
Aisle Planner (or stay)
If mood boards and visual design presentation tools are non-negotiable for your client experience, Aisle Planner still leads in this area. Ripluo does not currently include mood board functionality.
Best for Venue Managers
Planning Pod
If you own or manage a venue and need room booking calendars, availability management, and BEO generation, Planning Pod is purpose-built for that workflow.
Best for Solopreneurs
Ripluo
Ripluo's free plan gives solo planners access to real event planning tools without a subscription. For those who also need business management, the Plus plan at $15.99/mo covers both sides.
Aisle Planner vs. Ripluo: Feature Comparison
A direct side-by-side of what you get from each platform.
| Feature | Aisle Planner | Ripluo |
|---|---|---|
| Event Planning Tools | ||
| Timeline / Run-of-Show Builder | Breakout sessions, team instructions | |
| Budget Tracking | Multi-event budgets | |
| Floor Plan Designer | Soon | |
| Guest List and RSVP | Public RSVP forms | |
| Vendor Management | Quote pipeline | |
| Mood Board / Design Tools | ||
| Multi-Event Type Support | Weddings, corporate, galas, 5Ks | |
| CRM and Business Tools | ||
| Sales Pipeline | Deal values + probability | |
| Proposals and Contracts | ||
| E-Signatures | ||
| Invoicing and Online Payments | ||
| BCC Email Logging to CRM | ||
| Convert Deal to Event (1-click) | ||
| Lead Capture Forms | ||
| AI and Team | ||
| AI Assistant | Buildr AI (timelines, checklists, budgets) | |
| Team Members | Varies by plan | Up to 25 on Pro |
| Pricing | ||
| Free Plan | Full planning tools, no card needed | |
| Starting Price (Paid) | $49/mo | $15.99/mo |
| All-In-One Price | $108+/mo (Aisle Planner + CRM) | $49.99/mo (Pro, everything included) |
See How Much You Could Save
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Frequently Asked Questions
Start free. No credit card required.
Full event planning tools included on every plan.
Plan your first event today with timelines, budgets, and guest lists, with floor plans coming soon. Upgrade when you are ready for CRM, contracts, and invoicing.
Start Free with Ripluo