Software Comparison
Class Reunion RSVP Software (2026 Comparison)
Seven tools compared side-by-side with real pricing, real fees, and an honest take on each one's tradeoffs. Reunly is one of the seven - we'll be transparent about where it wins and where another tool fits your class better.
The 30-Second Verdict
Under 30 classmates, free event
Evite or Punchbowl free tier
Pretty enough, costs nothing, low stakes.
30-75, charging $25-$50/head
Reunly free tier or RSVPify
You need payments and structured data. Reunly's free tier covers it; RSVPify if you want branching logic.
75-200, charging $50-$100/head
Reunly ($79 flat) or Eventbrite
Reunly is dramatically cheaper at scale. Eventbrite wins only on familiarity.
200+ classmates, large gala
Reunly + dedicated check-in workflow
At scale, per-ticket fees on Eventbrite become punishing. Flat-fee tools dominate.
Formal black-tie event
Paperless Post + Reunly
Use Paperless Post for the invite design, Reunly for RSVP/payments/check-in.
Annual class committee
ClassQuest or Reunly
ClassQuest for ongoing alumni database; Reunly for event-by-event with lower flat costs.
🎉 With Reunly
Try Reunly's class reunion RSVP free for under 50 responses
Set up the form in 6 minutes. Payments, plus-ones, dietary fields, and QR check-in are all built in.
Deep dives
Each Tool in Detail
We've used or audited every one of these for real class-reunion committees in the last 12 months. Here's the honest take on each, including where it loses to a competitor.
Reunly (class.reunly.io)
Class-reunion-specific - guest list, payments, QR check-in built in
Pricing
Free tier for under 50 RSVPs; $79/event for unlimited (one flat fee, includes payments)
Payment fee
Stripe pass-through: 2.9% + 30¢
Best for: Committees that want the whole stack in one place (RSVP + payments + check-in + email blasts) without juggling 4 tools.
✓ Strengths
- Plus-one tracking with name capture (most tools just count heads)
- Dietary restrictions field collected with the RSVP, not in a separate Google Form
- Payment + RSVP in one flow - classmates pay during RSVP, not in a second step
- QR check-in app for the night-of with no extra fee
- Email blasts to non-responders without exporting and re-importing
× Tradeoffs
- Newer product - smaller library of design templates than Paperless Post
- Not a general-purpose tool; if you're also running a 5K next month, you'd use something else for that
- No physical paper invitation print-and-mail integrated yet (workaround: export the design to PDF)
Verdict: If your class is 80+ people and you're collecting money, this is the lowest-friction option.
Punchbowl
Pretty digital invitations with RSVP
Pricing
Free with ads; Premium $4.99/mo or $34.99/yr
Payment fee
Does not process payments - you'd link out to Venmo/PayPal
Best for: Small classes (under 50) where the vibe is casual and you collect money separately.
✓ Strengths
- Beautiful animated invitations
- Cheap if you're an annual subscriber doing several events a year
- Simple RSVP yes/no/maybe with guest counts
× Tradeoffs
- No native payment processing - you'll need a separate Venmo/Stripe link
- Plus-one names aren't captured cleanly
- No check-in tool for the night of
- Dietary restrictions require a custom question and aren't structured for filtering
Verdict: Good for a quick, pretty invite. Not built for the full class-reunion job.
RSVPify
Wedding-grade RSVP collection with logic branching
Pricing
Free up to 100 guests; Essential $19/mo, Plus $39/mo, Premium $99/mo
Payment fee
2.9% + 30¢ on top of your Stripe fee (paid tiers only collect payments)
Best for: Mid-to-large classes where you need conditional questions (e.g., 'will you attend Friday mixer? if yes, dietary preference for Friday?')
✓ Strengths
- Branching logic - skip questions based on prior answers
- Clean Excel export of every response
- Multi-event RSVP (Friday mixer + Saturday gala) on one form
- Custom domain and white-labeling on higher tiers
× Tradeoffs
- Monthly subscription model means you're paying for months you don't use it
- Payments are an add-on cost on top of the plan
- No check-in app - you'd print the guest list and use paper or a separate tool
- Learning curve is steeper than Punchbowl or Evite
Verdict: Best-in-class form builder. Pair with a separate payment + check-in solution.
Evite
The OG digital invitation platform
Pricing
Free tier (with ads on the invite); Premium $19.99/mo or $59.99/yr
Payment fee
Does not process event payments directly
Best for: Casual gatherings, very small classes, or a free 'save the date' before you upgrade to a real platform.
✓ Strengths
- Massive design template library
- Almost every classmate has used Evite before - zero learning curve
- Reminders go out automatically
× Tradeoffs
- Free tier shows ads on your invitation (not ideal for paid events)
- No payment collection
- Plus-one tracking is loose
- No structured dietary field
- Check-in is on you
Verdict: Fine for a save-the-date or a small free gathering. Don't run a paid reunion through it.
Paperless Post
Premium-looking invitations that feel like real stationery
Pricing
Coin-based: $5-$40 per invitation send depending on design; subscriptions $9-$25/mo for Flex/Pro
Payment fee
Does not process event ticket payments
Best for: Formal reunions (25th, 50th, gala-themed) where the invitation is part of the experience.
✓ Strengths
- Designer-quality templates that look genuinely upscale
- Print-and-mail option for the older alumni without email
- RSVP collection is clean
× Tradeoffs
- Coin pricing is hard to budget against
- No payment processing for tickets
- No check-in
- Pricing scales with class size in unpredictable ways
Verdict: Pair it with a payment + check-in tool. Use it when the invitation matters as much as the event.
Eventbrite
Ticketing-first platform that handles payments natively
Pricing
Free for free events; 3.7% + $1.79 per paid ticket + 2.9% payment processing
Payment fee
Total ~6.6% + $1.79 per ticket on paid events
Best for: Large classes (150+) where you want public discoverability and don't mind the fee.
✓ Strengths
- Native payment processing
- Mobile check-in app (Eventbrite Organizer) included
- Public event page is good for finding lost classmates via search
- Robust reporting
× Tradeoffs
- Fee per ticket adds up fast - on a $75 ticket, Eventbrite takes ~$6.74 vs Reunly/Stripe pass-through at ~$2.48
- Public events page means anyone can buy a ticket (you'd need to gate it manually)
- Plus-one tracking is awkward - usually requires buying additional tickets
- No native email-blast tool to non-responders without exporting
Verdict: Easiest path if you've used Eventbrite before. Most expensive over the long run for paid events.
ClassQuest
Class-specific alumni-finder + event tool
Pricing
$2-$5 per classmate per year depending on class size and tier
Payment fee
Standard processor pass-through
Best for: Classes that want an ongoing alumni database between reunions, not just a one-event tool.
✓ Strengths
- Built specifically for class committees
- Alumni search features for finding lost classmates
- Decade-over-decade continuity
× Tradeoffs
- Per-classmate annual pricing can exceed Reunly's flat fee for a single event
- RSVP and check-in flows are less polished than dedicated event tools
- Smaller team - support response can be slower
Verdict: Good if you want a multi-year alumni database. Overkill for a single reunion.
🎉 With Reunly
Want the all-in-one path? Reunly bundles RSVP + payments + check-in for $79/event
Compare that to ~$300+ in Eventbrite fees or RSVPify + Stripe + Zkipster across three tools.
At a glance
Feature Matrix
The side-by-side. ClassQuest omitted from the table because its per-classmate annual model doesn't compare cleanly to per-event tools - see its deep dive above.
| Feature | Reunly | Punchbowl | RSVPify | Evite | Paperless | Eventbrite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes (<50 RSVPs) | Yes (with ads) | Yes (<100 guests) | Yes (with ads) | Limited | Yes (free events) |
| Flat per-event price | $79 | $35/yr (unlimited) | $19-$99/mo | $60/yr | Coin-based | Per ticket |
| Payment processing | Built-in (Stripe) | ❌ | Add-on | ❌ | ❌ | Built-in |
| Fee on $75 ticket | $2.48 | N/A | $2.48 + plan | N/A | N/A | $6.74 |
| Plus-one name capture | ✅ | Partial | ✅ | Partial | Partial | Awkward |
| Dietary field (structured) | ✅ | Custom Q | ✅ | Custom Q | Custom Q | Custom Q |
| Multi-event RSVP | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Workaround |
| QR check-in app | ✅ included | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Email blasts to non-responders | ✅ | Partial | ✅ | Partial | Partial | Export needed |
| Designer-quality templates | Good | Great | Functional | Great | Excellent | Functional |
| Public discoverability | Private | Private | Private | Private | Private | Public option |
The real cost
The Payment Math Most Committees Miss
Software fees are easy to compare. Payment processing fees are where the real cost hides. Here's what a 100-classmate reunion at $75/ticket actually costs to process on each tool:
| Tool | Per ticket | 100 tickets total | Net to class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reunly ($79 flat + Stripe pass-through) | ~$2.48 | $248 + $79 | $7,173 |
| Eventbrite | ~$6.74 | $674 | $6,826 |
| RSVPify Plus + Stripe | ~$2.48 | $248 + ~$120/mo | $7,132 |
| Punchbowl + separate Venmo | ~$0 (Venmo personal) | $35/yr | $7,465* |
* Assumes Venmo Friends & Family with no fee - which technically violates Venmo's terms for business use and risks account freezing. Venmo Business is ~1.9%. PayPal Goods & Services is ~3.49% + 49¢. Reality: you'll end up paying processing one way or another.
The real comparison
On a 100-person, $75/ticket reunion, Reunly vs Eventbrite is a ~$350 difference - roughly the cost of dessert for the whole class. On a 200-person event the gap doubles.
💰 With Reunly
Calculate your own cost - Reunly is $79 flat plus Stripe pass-through
No per-ticket fees, no monthly subscription, no surprises.
Decision guide
How to Pick - Four Questions
Answer these and your shortlist drops to one or two tools.
1. Are you collecting payments?
Yes: Reunly, Eventbrite, or RSVPify+Stripe. Skip Punchbowl, Evite, Paperless Post.
No: Any tool works. Pick on aesthetics: Paperless Post or Punchbowl.
2. How big is the class?
Yes: Under 50: free tier of anything. 50-150: Reunly flat fee wins. 150+: Reunly or self-hosted check-in.
No: Class size mostly affects fee math, not feature requirements.
3. Do you need check-in at the door?
Yes: Reunly or Eventbrite. Others require a separate tool ($199+/event for Zkipster) or paper.
No: Any tool. Print the list and check off names.
4. Is the invitation aesthetic part of the experience?
Yes: Paperless Post or Punchbowl for the invitation, paired with Reunly for RSVP collection and payments.
No: Reunly, RSVPify, or Eventbrite - they all look clean enough.
🚀 With Reunly
Reunly checks all four boxes - and you can try it free
Payments, scale, check-in, and a clean enough look. Most committees decide within an hour of trying it.
The RSVP Form That Actually Gets Responses
Regardless of which tool you pick, this is the form structure that performs best for class reunions across our user base. Aim for under 90 seconds to complete.
1. Name (full)
Pre-fill if possible from the invite link.
2. Maiden name
Critical for finding people in the seating chart and the directory.
3. Email + mobile
Mobile lets you text the night-of details.
4. Attending? Yes / No / Maybe
Allow Maybe - it converts to Yes about 40% of the time with a follow-up.
5. Bringing a guest? Yes / No
Branch: if Yes, capture guest's full name.
6. Friday mixer attending?
Optional - only if you have multiple events.
7. Dietary restrictions (dropdown)
None / Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-free / Other (with text field).
8. Memory or update for the program
Optional - but feed straight into the printed program book.
9. Payment
Inline with the RSVP, not a separate step. Drop-off doubles when payment is a second flow.
📄 With Reunly
This form structure is the Reunly default
Open a free account and the form is already laid out exactly this way. Customize from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best RSVP software for a class reunion?
It depends on what else you need. If you're only sending a pretty invite for a free casual gathering, Punchbowl or Evite is fine. If you're collecting payments, doing check-in, and tracking plus-ones for a paid event of 80+ people, Reunly's flat $79/event with built-in payments and check-in usually wins on total cost and friction. RSVPify is the best pure form builder if you want branching logic and don't mind pairing it with a separate payment tool. Eventbrite is the easiest if you've used it before but the most expensive for paid events.
How much does class reunion RSVP software cost?
Free options exist (Evite, Punchbowl free tier, RSVPify under 100 guests) but they don't include payment processing or check-in. Paid options range from ~$35/year (Punchbowl Premium) for invitations only, $79/event flat (Reunly) including payments and check-in, $19-$99/mo for RSVPify, to a per-ticket model on Eventbrite that averages 6-7% of the ticket price. For a 100-person reunion charging $75/head, expect to spend $79-$675 in software fees depending on the tool.
Can I collect payments with the RSVP?
Yes - but only with tools that include payment processing. Reunly and Eventbrite handle payments natively. RSVPify can collect payments as an add-on. Punchbowl, Evite, and Paperless Post do not process event-ticket payments at all - you'd need to link to Venmo, Zelle, or a separate Stripe page, which creates a second step where classmates drop off. Collecting payment as part of the RSVP flow (rather than after) typically increases payment compliance by 30-40%.
What about handling plus-ones?
Plus-one tracking is where most tools fall short. Reunly captures the plus-one's full name, meal preference, and dietary restrictions as part of the RSVP. RSVPify also captures names. Eventbrite forces plus-ones to be a separate ticket purchase. Punchbowl and Evite just count heads without names, which becomes a problem for printed name badges and seating. If badges and seating matter, pick a tool that captures plus-one names structurally.
Do I need check-in software too?
For classes under 50, paper works. For 75+, scanning a QR code is dramatically faster - 8-10 seconds per guest versus 45-60 seconds finding a name on a printed list. Reunly and Eventbrite include check-in apps. RSVPify, Punchbowl, Evite, and Paperless Post don't, so you'd be exporting a CSV and running check-in through a spreadsheet or a separate tool like Zkipster ($199+/event). See our full breakdown in the class reunion check-in systems guide.
How do I handle dietary restrictions?
Add a structured dietary field to the RSVP form rather than a free-text 'anything else?' question. Common options to offer: None / Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-free / Other (please describe). Reunly and RSVPify have this as a built-in field. With other tools you'd add a custom question. Export the list of restrictions to your caterer 7-10 days before the event so they can plan accordingly. Always over-order on vegetarian by 10-15%.
What's the deadline for closing RSVPs?
10-14 days before the event. Caterers need a final head count, the venue needs floor-plan confirmation, and printed name badges need to be assembled. Allow late RSVPs at a $10-$20 surcharge (covers the rush and discourages procrastination). Send the 'final call' email blast 7 days before the official close - this typically lifts response rate by 18-25%.
How do I get classmates to actually RSVP?
Three things move the needle: (1) make the form take under 90 seconds - every extra question drops completion by ~6%, (2) charge a small early-bird discount that expires 30 days before the event - economic incentive beats reminders, (3) email blast non-responders weekly with a personal subject line ('We need your answer, [first name]') rather than 'Reminder: RSVP'. A tool that lets you blast non-responders without re-importing the list saves hours of work.
🎉 With Reunly
Stop comparison-shopping. Open the free Reunly tier and test it.
If it doesn't fit, you've lost 10 minutes. If it does, you've saved 20 hours.
Ready to Send Your RSVP Form?
Reunly handles RSVP, payments, plus-ones, dietary fields, and night-of check-in - all in one flat-fee tool built specifically for class reunions.