Guide
Is there a seating chart app with no subscription?
Why a subscription is a poor fit for a wedding
You plan a wedding once, over a few weeks or months. A weekly or monthly subscription keeps renewing until you remember to cancel it, often well after the day. A one-time purchase costs the same whether you plan for three weeks or nine months, and the plan stays yours afterwards.
Seating chart apps by how you pay
| App | How you pay | US App Store price | Free version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headtable | Once | US$12.99 for Headtable Pro | Up to 50 seated guests, with an unlimited guest list |
| Seatsy | Subscription, or once for lifetime | US$0.99 a week, US$4.99 a month, US$9.99 a year, or US$19.99 lifetime | A free starter plan; limits not published |
| Zola | In-app purchase to seat more guests | US$14.99 for the seating chart | Up to 15 guests |
| Seat Puzzle | Subscription | US$5.99 a week, US$19.99 a month, US$69.99 or US$129.99 a year | A free demo; limits not published |
| PlanWed | Subscription (Premium) | US$4.99 or US$19.99 | Seating for 10 guests, one table per shape |
| Printable templates | Free | — | You fill in the names yourself |
Prices are from each app's App Store page in the US on October 17, 2026. They vary by country and can change, so check the In-App Purchases list before you buy. The full comparison of seating chart apps also covers platforms, offline use, printing and RSVPs.
How to tell before you download
- Scroll to In-App Purchases on the App Store page. Names with "Weekly", "Monthly", "Annual" or "Membership" are subscriptions. "Lifetime" or a single unlock usually means you pay once.
- Read the end of the description. Subscription apps usually explain there that the plan renews automatically.
- Check what the free version covers: how many guests you can seat, whether you can export or print, and whether RSVPs are included.
- Check Family Sharing if you and your partner use different Apple Accounts in one family group.
What Headtable's one-time price covers
The free version plans the whole event: your whole guest list, unlimited tables and seating rules, up to 50 seated guests with Auto-arrange, online invitations with your first 8 replies, the seating chart as a PDF or image and the guest list as a CSV. Headtable Pro, paid once, adds:
- Everyone seated, at every table
- Every RSVP reply
- The full print pack: a clean chart, per-table lists, an alphabetical escort list, caterer meal counts, place cards, table numbers and an 18×24 in poster
- A find-my-seat QR code for the door
- Your venue photo under the plan, and several events
- Planning together with up to four people (joining a shared plan is free)
Already paying for a seating chart subscription?
On iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions, and cancel the plan. Export your guest list as a CSV first if the app lets you, then in Headtable open Guests, tap + and choose Import CSV file. Headtable is on the App Store at apps.apple.com/app/id6807763163.
Plan the whole chart on your phone.
Download on theApp StoreFrequently asked questions
Is there a seating chart app without a subscription?
Yes. Headtable for iPhone and iPad is free for up to 50 seated guests, and Headtable Pro is a one-time purchase (US$12.99 in the US) that seats everyone. Seatsy also sells a US$19.99 lifetime option alongside its subscriptions.
Is Headtable a subscription?
No. Headtable Pro is a single purchase with nothing to renew or cancel, and it works with Family Sharing.
Which seating chart apps are subscriptions?
On the US App Store in October 2026, Seat Puzzle (weekly, monthly or yearly), PlanWed Premium, and Seatsy's weekly, monthly and yearly plans are subscriptions.
Is there a free seating chart app?
Headtable is free for up to 50 seated guests, with no limit on the guest list and the chart as a PDF. Zola's seating chart is free for up to 15 guests, and PlanWed's free plan seats 10.
Does Headtable work on Android?
No. Headtable runs on iPhone and iPad. Your guests don't need it: they answer invitation links and use the find-my-seat page in any web browser.