7 Best HoneyBook Alternatives
for Event Planners
HoneyBook is great for proposals, contracts, and invoicing. But it does not include timelines, budgets, floor plans, or guest lists. Most event planners end up paying $128+/mo for two tools that never fully connect. Here is a full breakdown of the best alternatives.
Start Free with RipluoWhy Event Pros Look for HoneyBook Alternatives
HoneyBook built its reputation on clean, polished client-facing documents. For solo wedding planners and creative freelancers who primarily need to send proposals, collect signatures, and process payments, it works well.
But most event professionals need more. When you book a wedding or corporate event in HoneyBook, you still have to open a second tool to build the run-of-show, track the budget, design the floor plan, and manage the guest list. That means two logins, two subscriptions, and two sets of data that never automatically sync.
The common HoneyBook stack:
- HoneyBook Essentials at $59/mo (CRM, proposals, contracts)
- Aisle Planner at $69.99/mo (timelines, budgets, floor plans)
- Total: $128.99/mo for tools that do not share data
Common reasons event planners search for alternatives include: the price increasing after the first year, missing planning tools, the need to manage non-wedding event types, or simply wanting everything in one platform without the 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 HoneyBook 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, 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 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 design presentation tools
- Workflow automation is on the roadmap, not yet released
Aisle Planner
Design-forward wedding planning platform with mood boards and a client-facing portal.
Pros
- Beautiful mood board and design tools for client presentations
- Comprehensive wedding-specific checklist templates
- Client portal for sharing timelines and seating charts
- Includes proposals, contracts, e-signatures, and invoicing
Cons
- Primarily built for weddings, not multi-event-type businesses
- No AI assistant or automated timeline generation
- No sales pipeline with weighted deal values or probability
- No BCC email logging to CRM
Dubsado
Business management platform for freelancers with powerful workflow automation and 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 AI assistant
- Steep learning curve to set up automations
- Not purpose-built for event professionals
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
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
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)
- Designed for solopreneurs, not event teams
- No AI assistant
- Limited scalability as your business grows
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
Best HoneyBook 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.
Best for Corporate Event Teams
Ripluo
Supports speaker booking, sponsor management, volunteer coordination, multi-event budgets, and team permissions. Cvent is an option only for large enterprise teams.
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 Automation-First Businesses
Dubsado
If workflow automation is your top priority and you do not need planning tools like timelines or budgets, Dubsado has the deepest automation logic with conditional branching.
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 true solopreneurs who only need basic quoting and invoicing. For solo planners who also do event execution, Ripluo's free plan is the better choice.
HoneyBook vs. Ripluo: Feature Comparison
A direct side-by-side of what you get from each platform.
| Feature | HoneyBook | 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 | ||
| BCC Email Logging to CRM | ||
| Convert Deal to Event (1-click) | ||
| Lead Capture Forms | ||
| AI and Team | ||
| AI Assistant | Email drafts only | Buildr AI (timelines, checklists, budgets) |
| Team Members | 2 on Essentials | Up to 25 on Pro |
| Pricing | ||
| Free Plan | Full planning tools, no card needed | |
| Starting Price (Paid) | $29/mo | $15.99/mo |
| All-In-One Price | $128+/mo (HoneyBook + planner tool) | $49.99/mo (Pro, everything included) |
See How Much You Could Save
Enter your current tools and see your potential annual savings by switching to Ripluo.
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