Cactoide vs InviteDrop
Cactoide
cactoide.org
InviteDrop
invitedrop.comSide by side
| Figure | Cactoide | InviteDrop |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $20.83/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 0 | 6 |
| Spec score · Invitation Maker Software | 7.2 (#20) | 7.9 (#12) |
| Audience | The project README describes Cactoide as an alternative to Meetup, Eventbrite, and Partiful for small companies and groups. | InviteDrop describes itself as an independent, self-funded business and presents its product for people organizing celebrations and other special events. |
| Support | The README describes the project as community-supported and provides [email protected] for direct contact. | The About page says email support is handled by a real person within 24 hours, with no premium queue. |
Plans
InviteDrop
- FreeFree
- Event Pass$15.99, paid once
- Event Pass Plus$29.99, paid once
- Event Pass Pro$44.99, paid once
- Event Pass Unlimited$74.99, paid once
- InviteDrop Pro$249.99 a year
In their own words
Cactoide
Cactoide is a free, open-source event RSVP platform for web use or self-hosting. Organizers create events without accounts, receive a unique URL, and share it through platforms or messaging apps. Guests follow the link and enter their name without registering. Events can accept unlimited responses or use a capacity limit, and special invite links can restrict participation to people who have them. Public events may be discovered and shared across connected Cactoide instances. Event pages provide ICS or webcal calendar links, with Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, and Outlook listed as compatible. Self-hosting documentation uses Docker Compose and a database; operators can enable federation with the FEDERATION_INSTANCE environment variable and configure instance details. The project is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and described as community-supported. Its README positions it as an alternative for small companies and groups. Proper internationalization is not implemented, although translation files are included.
InviteDrop
InviteDrop is a web app for creating digital invitations, sending them, and following event responses. Its catalog has more than 1,200 templates for occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and baby showers. Hosts can customize wording, colors, photos, stickers, event details, and RSVP options; invitations may open with an animated envelope. They can be sent by text, email, or shareable link, and guests can open them in a browser without an app or account. An event page shows replies and a running headcount, and hosts can remind guests who have not answered. The free plan costs nothing and includes five invitations per event, all designs, RSVP tracking, and email or text delivery, without ads or watermarks. A single invite counts once even when addressed to a couple or household. One-time Event Pass plans cost $15.99 as a one-time purchase for up to 25 invites, $29.99, paid once for up to 50, $44.99, paid once for up to 100, or $74.99, paid once for unlimited invites. InviteDrop Pro costs $249.99 a year for unlimited events with up to 1,000 guests each.