Picking between Evite and Paperless Post is the digital invitation equivalent of choosing between Costco and Trader Joe’s. They cover similar ground but the experience and price tag could not be more different. If you are debating Evite vs Paperless Post for your next party, wedding, baby shower, or company event, here is what you actually need to know.
The Quick Verdict
Use Evite if you want something completely free, do not mind ads inside your invitation, and your guests skew older. Use Paperless Post if you care about design quality, want a more luxe experience, and are willing to pay per stamp. Consider a third option (more on that below) if you want both the free price and the modern design.
What Evite Does Well
Evite has been the default name in online invitations since 1998. It is free for the basic tier, includes a huge template library, and is recognizable to almost any guest list. Setup takes about five minutes. Reminders go out automatically. The downside is the experience feels dated. Free invitations have ads embedded. Custom branding is limited. And many templates have not aged especially well since the late 2010s.
Best for: casual parties, last-minute gatherings, kids birthday parties, and situations where budget is the main concern.
What Paperless Post Does Well
Paperless Post leans into design as the main selling point. Its templates feel like a luxury stationery brand turned into pixels, with envelope-opening animations, custom typography, and lots of editorial care. The experience for guests is delightful. The catch is the pricing model. Paperless uses a coins system, and a single elegant invitation can cost $1 to $3 worth of coins per recipient. For 150 guests, you are looking at $150 or more.
Best for: weddings, formal events, brand launches where aesthetics matter, anyone who wants a high-touch invitation experience.
The Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Evite | Paperless Post |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes, with ads | Limited, then pay per send |
| Design quality | Adequate | Excellent |
| RSVP tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Custom domain | No | No (paid plan only) |
| Reminders | Automatic | Manual |
| Mobile experience | Decent | Excellent |
| Cost for 150 guests | Free | Around $150 and up |
What Neither Platform Does Well
Both Evite and Paperless Post share some weaknesses. Neither has truly modern templates that fit current design taste across every category. Both put their branding in your invitations on free or low-cost plans. Both lack proper integrations with calendars and event planning tools. And both charge more as you scale (Paperless explicitly, Evite by removing ads only through paid Pro).
A Third Option Worth Considering
If you want the design quality of Paperless Post at the price of Evite, with smarter reminders and zero ads, take a look at RSVPingo. It includes 100 guests per event on the free forever plan, modern templates that do not look like clip art, custom branding (your domain, your colors, no software watermark), and automated reminders that nudge non-responders without spamming the people who already replied. For weddings, conferences, and corporate galas, it scales well past where Evite and Paperless start charging serious money.
So, Which Should You Pick?
For a casual birthday or housewarming where ads do not bother you, Evite is fine and costs nothing. For a wedding or formal event where design matters and budget allows, Paperless Post earns its keep. For everything else, particularly modern weddings and any event where you want the invitation to look custom-designed without the per-recipient cost, RSVPingo is the better fit.
Try RSVPingo free at app.rsvpingo.com/quick and see whether it fits your event. No credit card required, and you can compare it directly against your current Evite or Paperless draft before deciding.