7 Best Dubsado Alternatives
for Event Planners
Dubsado is great for workflow automation, contracts, and lead forms. But it does not include timelines, budgets, floor plans, or guest lists - and its setup curve is steep. Most event planners end up paying for Dubsado plus a second planning tool. Here is a full breakdown of the best alternatives.
Start Free with RipluoWhy Event Pros Look for Dubsado Alternatives
Dubsado built its reputation on flexible automation. For creative freelancers - photographers, designers, copywriters - who need to automate client onboarding, send contracts, and collect payments, it is one of the most powerful tools available.
But event professionals need more than automation. When you book a corporate event or a wedding in Dubsado, you still have to open a completely separate tool to build the run-of-show, track the budget, lay out the room, and manage the guest list. Dubsado has no concept of event execution - only client management.
The common Dubsado stack for event planners:
- Dubsado at $35/mo (automation, contracts, forms)
- Aisle Planner at $49/mo (timelines, budgets, floor plans)
- Total: $84+/mo for tools that do not share data
Common reasons event planners search for Dubsado alternatives include: the steep onboarding time required to configure automations, no event planning tools, the inability to manage non-wedding event types well, or simply wanting one platform instead of two.
How We Evaluated These Alternatives
Each tool was evaluated on four criteria:
- Event planning tools -- timelines, budgets, floor plans, guest lists
- CRM and business tools -- proposals, contracts, invoicing, automation
- Pricing -- true cost including any add-ons required
- Fit for event professionals -- weddings, corporate, multi-event-type support
The 7 Best Dubsado 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 instantly
- One-click deal-to-event conversion keeps all client data connected
- Supports weddings, corporate events, galas, 5Ks, and multi-event-type businesses
- 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
- Guided onboarding makes setup faster than Dubsado
- Integrated invoicing and online payments in one flow
- Dedicated mobile app for iOS and Android
Cons
- No event planning tools (no timelines, budgets, floor plans, or guest lists)
- Less flexible automation than Dubsado — no conditional logic
- No free plan; pricing increases after promotional period
- No BCC email logging to CRM contacts
Aisle Planner
Design-forward wedding planning platform with mood boards, timelines, and a client-facing portal.
Pros
- Mood board and design tools for client presentations
- Comprehensive wedding-specific checklist templates
- Client portal for sharing timelines and seating charts
- Proposals, contracts, e-signatures, and invoicing included
Cons
- Built primarily for weddings, not multi-event-type businesses
- No AI assistant or automated timeline generation
- Weaker automation than Dubsado
- No sales pipeline with weighted deal values
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
- Overkill for independent planners who do not manage a venue
- No AI assistant
- No BCC email logging to CRM contacts
17hats
Simple all-in-one business management for solo creative professionals with a focus on ease of use.
Pros
- Very easy to learn — minimal setup time compared to Dubsado
- 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)
- Far less automation power than Dubsado
- 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 AI assistant
- Limited use cases outside photography and videography businesses
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
- Complex setup requiring dedicated implementation time
- No meaningful free tier
- Overkill for independent planners and small event businesses
Best Dubsado Alternative by Use Case
Best for Wedding Planners
Ripluo
Combines wedding-specific planning tools (timelines, seating, budgets) with CRM in one platform. Aisle Planner is a close second if you prioritize mood boards and visual design presentations.
Best for Corporate Event Teams
Ripluo
Supports speaker booking, sponsor management, volunteer coordination, multi-event budgets, and team permissions - features Dubsado was never designed to handle.
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, budgets, and floor plans.
Best for Automation-First Workflows
HoneyBook
If workflow automation is important but you want an easier setup than Dubsado, HoneyBook offers guided automation for client onboarding, proposals, and follow-ups.
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
17hats or Ripluo
17hats is simple and affordable for solo creatives who only need basic quoting and invoicing. For solo event planners who also execute events, Ripluo's free plan is the better choice.
Dubsado vs. Ripluo: Feature Comparison
A direct side-by-side of what you get from each platform.
| Feature | Dubsado | 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 | |
| Speaker Management | ||
| Volunteer and Sponsor Tools | ||
| CRM and Business Tools | ||
| Sales Pipeline | Deal values + probability | |
| Proposals and Contracts | ||
| E-Signatures | ||
| Invoicing and Online Payments | ||
| Workflow Automation | Advanced (conditional logic) | On roadmap |
| Customizable Lead Forms | ||
| BCC Email Logging to CRM | ||
| Convert Deal to Event (1-click) | ||
| AI and Team | ||
| AI Assistant | Buildr AI (timelines, checklists, budgets) | |
| Team Members | Unlimited (paid plans) | Up to 25 on Pro |
| Pricing | ||
| Free Plan | Full planning tools, no card needed | |
| Starting Price (Paid) | $35/mo | $15.99/mo |
| All-In-One Price | $84+/mo (Dubsado + planner tool) | $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, floor plans, and guest lists. Upgrade when you are ready for CRM, contracts, and invoicing.
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