Ripluo vs Dubsado: Which Is Right for You?
Dubsado is a powerful CRM with deep workflow automations for service businesses. Ripluo combines CRM with full event planning tools. Here is how they compare.
Feature Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | Ripluo | Dubsado |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Management | ||
| Sales Pipeline | ||
| Proposals & Contracts | ||
| E-Signatures | ||
| Invoicing & Payments | ||
| Workflow Automations | ||
| Custom Forms / Questionnaires | ||
| Client Portals | ||
| Drag-and-Drop Timelines | ||
| Budget Tracking | ||
| Task Management | ||
| Vendor Management | ||
| Guest Management | ||
| Volunteer / Sponsor Tracking | ||
| Team Collaboration | ||
| AI Assistant | ||
| Lead Capture Forms | ||
| Free Plan Available |
= Full support = Partial / Limited = Not available
Pricing Comparison
Ripluo Pricing
- Free$0/mo
- Plus$15.99/mo
- Pro (full CRM + planning)$49.99/mo
- Enterprise$89.99/mo
Dubsado Pricing
- Starter$35/mo
- Premier$55/mo
Additional users: 4–10 for $25/mo, 11–20 for $45/mo, 21–30 for $60/mo (3 users included free). Check Dubsado's website for current pricing, as plans and prices may change.
Total cost of ownership:Dubsado's Premier plan at $55/mo covers CRM and automations. If you also need event planning tools, you would add a second platform. Ripluo's Pro plan at $49.99/mo includes CRM, event planning, and AI in one subscription.
CRM and Workflow Automations
Where Dubsado excels
- Advanced multi-step workflow automations with branching logic
- Highly customizable forms and questionnaires
- Dedicated client portals where clients can view their projects, sign documents, and make payments
- Strong community with shared templates and workflow recipes
Where Ripluo excels
- CRM features built into the same platform as event planning
- Sales pipeline, proposals, contracts, and e-signatures
- BCC email logging for automatic communication tracking
- Buildr AI assistant for event planning recommendations
Event Planning Tools
Like HoneyBook, Dubsado does not include event planning features. It is a CRM and workflow automation tool for service businesses in general. Photographers, consultants, designers, and coaches all use Dubsado, but it was not designed specifically for event planning.
If you are an event planner using Dubsado today, you are likely also using a spreadsheet or a second tool for timelines, budgets, and vendor coordination. Ripluo consolidates that into one platform.
Ripluo event planning features not found in Dubsado:
Integrations
Dubsado integrates with Zapier, QuickBooks, and several email marketing tools, giving it flexibility to connect with your existing tech stack. It also offers a public API for custom integrations.
Ripluo integrates with Stripe for payments, Google Calendar, and email services. Because Ripluo includes event planning tools built-in, you may need fewer third-party integrations overall.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Ripluo if you...
- Are an event planner who needs CRM plus planning tools
- Want to stop juggling multiple platforms
- Need timeline, budget, and vendor management built-in
- Want AI assistance for event planning tasks
- Prefer starting with a free plan to test the platform
Choose Dubsado if you...
- Run a service business that is not event-specific
- Need advanced workflow automations with branching logic
- Want highly customizable forms and client portals
- Already have a separate event planning tool you love
- Value deep automation over built-in planning features
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dubsado have event planning tools?
No. Dubsado is a CRM and workflow automation platform designed for service-based businesses. It does not include event-specific tools like timeline builders, budget trackers, guest management, or vendor databases. If you need those features with Dubsado, you would need a separate event planning tool.
Are Dubsado's workflow automations better than Ripluo's?
Dubsado is widely recognized for its deep workflow automation capabilities. You can build complex multi-step automations that trigger emails, forms, invoices, and status changes based on various conditions. Ripluo offers workflow features but Dubsado's automation engine is more mature and flexible for complex sequences.
Which is more affordable, Ripluo or Dubsado?
Ripluo offers a free plan ($0/month for up to 5 events). Dubsado's Starter plan begins at $35/month. However, if you need event planning tools alongside Dubsado, the total cost of two platforms will be higher. Check both websites for current pricing.
Can I switch from Dubsado to Ripluo?
Yes. You can export your client data from Dubsado and import it into Ripluo. The transition works best if you are looking to consolidate event planning and CRM into one platform rather than managing two separate tools.
Real Wedding, Planned in Ripluo
“Loved how organized it was. All the prompts were laid out and all we had to do was fill in - super easy to use overall. Even things we might've forgotten were on there to remind us.”
Try Ripluo Free - No Credit Card Required
See how Ripluo combines event planning and CRM in one platform. Start with our free plan and upgrade when you are ready.