There are dozens of ways to send a digital wedding invitation, and they’re not the same thing. Some are beautiful but charge by the guest; some are free but look it; some are really a wedding website with an invite bolted on. The “best” one is the one that matches how you actually want to invite people — so here’s what to compare, and how the main options stack up.
What actually matters when choosing
- Pricing model. The biggest hidden difference. Some tools charge per recipient (a credit or “coin” for each send), so the cost grows with your guest list. Others are a single flat price regardless of guest count.
- The opening moment. A flat image or PDF delivers the facts; an animated invitation your guests open like a wax-sealed envelope is the part they remember and share.
- Built-in RSVP. Does it collect replies and plus-ones inside the invitation, or push you to a separate form or spreadsheet?
- No app, no sign-up for guests. The best ones are just a link that opens in any phone browser.
- Edit after sending and language support — change a venue without re-sending, and invite international guests in their language.
Flat price vs per-guest: the difference that adds up
For 40 guests, most options feel similar. For 120+, the pricing model decides the bill. A per-recipient tool that costs a little per send can quietly reach paper-level totals on a big list; a flat one-time price doesn’t move.
| Guest list | Per-recipient pricing | Flat one-time price |
|---|---|---|
| 40 guests | Low — feels cheap | €59 |
| 100 guests | Climbs with each send | €59 |
| 160 guests | Can rival printed costs | €59 |
The main types of digital invitation
- Per-recipient design tools (e.g. Paperless Post). Strong on design, but priced with credits that scale with how many you send — beautiful, can get expensive on a large list.
- Free all-in-one wedding sites (e.g. Zola, Joy). Generous free tiers and registries, but the invitation itself is usually a web page rather than an envelope-style reveal, and design is more limited.
- Premium stationery brands (e.g. Minted). Lovely, design-led, generally the higher end on price.
- Free casual tools (e.g. Evite). Quick and free, but they look casual and often carry ads — fine for a party, less so for a wedding.
- Flat-price, animated invitations (sealdate). One flat price, a wax-seal envelope that opens, with RSVP, schedule, maps and music built in.
Pricing and features change, so check the current terms of any tool before you decide — the useful thing is the model: per-guest or flat, and what’s included.
Where sealdate fits
sealdate is the flat-price, animated option: €59 one-time for the whole invitation, with an unlimited number of guests and RSVPs included — not a subscription and not per guest. Guests open it like a wax-sealed envelope from one link, no app required; you can edit details after sending, and it works in English, German, Italian and Croatian. Building the draft is free — you only pay to publish.
If you’re weighing it against paper, see digital vs paper invitations, or how much wedding invitations cost. Or just open the live demo.
Frequently asked questions
- What’s the best value digital wedding invitation?
- It depends on your guest count. Per-recipient tools can be cheapest for very small lists, but a flat one-time price wins as the list grows. sealdate is €59 once for unlimited guests, so the value improves the more people you invite.
- What’s a good Paperless Post alternative?
- If you like the design but not paying per recipient, a flat-price tool is the usual alternative. sealdate gives you a wax-seal animated invitation with built-in RSVP for one flat €59, regardless of guest count.
- Which digital invitations have a built-in RSVP?
- Look for ones that collect replies inside the invitation rather than linking to a separate form. sealdate has RSVP and plus-ones built in, with a live count and export.
- Do guests need an app?
- With the better options, no — the invitation is just a web link that opens in any phone browser, with no app or sign-up for guests.
- Can I send a digital invitation in another language?
- Some tools are English-only. sealdate supports English, German, Italian and Croatian, so you can invite international guests in their own language.