Compare
Shaadi Planning vs Joy, The Knot and Zola
What each platform offers for a multi-event South Asian wedding, from tradition-aware planning to shagun and RSVPs by event.
- YesOffered
- PartlyOffered with limits, or on a paid plan
- Not offeredNot offered
- Not foundNot found on their own pages
Where Shaadi Planning Excels
Every Ceremony, Every Family
Events, tasks, RSVPs and budgets set up for Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and fusion weddings, with shagun, milni and ritual roles built in.
A Budget That Answers Back
Ask where to save and get the answer from your own quotes, with the math. Compare what-ifs side by side before you sign anything.
Family Photos Without the Shouting
Photo Groups: the photographer's list in order, a QR finder for guests, and a text when their group is next.
RSVPs the Way Families Actually Reply
One link per family, events only they are invited to, addresses collected for the cards.
One Price, Everything Included
$100 once. No subscription, no per-guest fees, and no extra charge for the seating chart, the website or Photo Groups.
Private by Default
No public couple search, every family sees only their own invitation, and support needs your OK to look.
Built for South Asian Weddings
| Feature | Shaadi Planning | Joy | The Knot | Zola |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Events and checklist set up from your tradition (Hindu by region, Sikh, Muslim, fusion) | YesMehndi to walima, with tradition tasks | Not foundGeneral events; a blog guide for Indian weddings | Not foundPrivate events, no tradition tools found | Not found |
| Shagun tracker, milni list, ritual roles and ceremony programs | YesAll included | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Budget by ceremony, and who pays (couple, bride's family, groom's family) | Yes | Not foundNo built-in budget found | PartlyCost estimates; no split by event | PartlyBy category; no split by event |
| Vendors who know South Asian weddings (mehndi, dhol, mandap, priest) | PartlyFree directory, just getting started | Not foundNo vendor directory found | PartlyAbout 200,000 vendors, no South Asian category | Partly12 categories, no cultural filters |
| Sangeet running order with MC intros, getting-ready slots and a baraat planner | YesAI writes the MC intros; each person gets their slot by message | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Hotel rooms for each family, and airport pickups from RSVP arrival dates | YesA rooming list for the hotel; each driver gets their ride by message | PartlyHotel room blocks | PartlyHotel room blocks | PartlyHotel room blocks |
| Visa invitation letters for family coming from abroad | YesUS, UK, Canada and Schengen; passport numbers are never saved | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Lena-dena: the gifts both families give | YesShagun, jewelry, clothes, mithai and return gifts, by event and by who gives | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Replies to guests' questions, drafted by AI in their own language | YesFrom your website only; guest names are never sent | Not found | Not found | Not found |
Budget and What-Ifs
| Feature | Shaadi Planning | Joy | The Knot | Zola |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI budget analyst that answers from your own quotes and plan, and shows the math | YesAsk “where can we save $10,000?” and get the answer from your quotes | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| What-if scenarios: change guest counts, venues and packages and compare totals side by side | YesSave as many what-ifs as you like; each family member keeps their own | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Vendor quotes compared with tax, service charge and food-and-drink minimums included | YesThe real total, not the sticker price | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Budget estimator for your city and guest count, with the usual split by category | Yes | Not found | PartlyA general cost guide | PartlyA general budget tool |
| Payment timeline with reminders before each deposit is due | YesPush and email reminders | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Receipt scanner: snap a receipt and AI adds the expense | Yes | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Contributions from each family, and a split of who pays for what | Yes | Not found | Not found | Not found |
Guests and RSVPs
| Feature | Shaadi Planning | Joy | The Knot | Zola |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Each family sees and answers only the events they are invited to | YesOne link per household | Yes | YesPrivate events | Yes |
| Invitations sent from your own phone, each with the family's own RSVP link | YesFrom your phone's share sheet, one family after another | PartlySuggests sharing card links by WhatsApp | Not found | Not found |
| Bulk email and text messages to guests | PartlyEmail in groups from your own email app; one family after another from your phone, each with their own link | PartlyEmail free; texts are a paid add-on | PartlyEmail or text, set templates only | PartlyEmail free; texting needs a paid plan |
| Collect addresses and phone numbers from families | YesOne link for everyone (share it, with a QR code), or each family's RSVP page; numbers and emails are checked; prints Avery labels | YesContact Collector | Yes | YesContact Collector |
| Custom RSVP questions | YesRequired questions and follow-ups, by event or by tag | YesPer event | Not found | Not found |
| Import the guest list from a spreadsheet | YesCSV or a pasted list, read on your device | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Seating chart | YesEvery event, with auto-seat | PartlyPaid, per event | Not found | PartlyFree up to 15 guests, then paid |
| Shared photo album for guests | YesYou approve each photo | Yes | Not found | PartlyFree for 5 guests, then paid |
Family Photos (Photo Groups)
| Feature | Shaadi Planning | Joy | The Knot | Zola |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family photo groups, with a QR finder for guests | YesPhoto Groups: guests find their group by name; texts when it is up | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Smart Import: turn any guest list or spreadsheet into photo groups | YesAI sorts names into groups; phone numbers and emails never go to the AI | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| A live run of show for the photographer, with Now and Next | Yes | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| A text or email to each family when their photo group is next | Yes$10 add-on with 1,000 texts; top-ups $10 per 1,000 | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Guests add their own mobile number for photo alerts, with consent and STOP to opt out | Yes | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Sold on its own for one event, then upgrade to the whole planner | Yes$25, or $75 more for everything | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
Your Wedding Website
| Feature | Shaadi Planning | Joy | The Knot | Zola |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wedding website | YesIncluded in the one-time $100 | YesFree | YesFree | YesFree |
| Digital save-the-dates and invitation cards | YesSave-the-dates and a card for every ceremony | YesBasic cards free, premium paid | PartlyFree save-the-dates; no digital invitations found | PartlyDigital save-the-dates only |
| Live stream links for family far away | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not found |
| Password protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Your own domain | YesBuy one through us, or connect yours free | YesPaid add-on | Yes$19.99 a year | YesFrom $17.99 |
| Hotel room blocks | PartlyHotels, group codes and deadlines; no booking service | YesWith booking links | YesBooked through a partner | Yes |
| AI that answers guests' questions from your website | Yes | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Guestbook for blessings and messages | YesYou approve each one; print a Blessings book | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Photo slideshow for the reception | YesFull screen on any TV; new guest photos join | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Events only invited families see on the website | YesFrom each family's RSVP link | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Event times in each guest's own time zone | Yes | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Local guide for out-of-town guests | YesFood, Indian groceries, temples and gurdwaras | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Video on the website | YesYouTube or Vimeo | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Section order, accent colors and fonts | YesEight accents; a Devanagari-friendly font | Not found | Not found | Not found |
Registry and Gifts
| Feature | Shaadi Planning | Joy | The Knot | Zola |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registry with gifts from any store | YesGuests mark what they bought | YesPlus group gifting | YesUniversal registry | YesUniversal registry |
| Cash funds and shagun without fees | YesStraight to you by Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, Zelle, Interac, UPI or card (only Stripe's card fee) | YesVenmo, PayPal and Cash App free | PartlyNo Knot fee; guests pay 2.5% by card | PartlyNo Zola fee; 2.5% by card |
| Cash gifts by credit card | YesStraight to your own Stripe account; guests can cover the card fee | Not found | Yes | Yes |
| Paper invitations | PartlyPrint-ready files (5 × 7 and 4¼ × 5½ in) for our printer or yours | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Planning Together
| Feature | Shaadi Planning | Joy | The Knot | Zola |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family and planners with their own sign-in and access level | YesUp to 12 people, full or limited | Yes | Not offeredOne shared login | YesInvite your partner |
| A branded portal for wedding planners, paid per client wedding | YesYour own address, logo and team; $20 a wedding | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Day-of timeline and a run sheet for vendors | YesLive on the day | PartlyGuest schedules | PartlyEvent schedule only | PartlyEvent schedule only |
| AI that plans with you and does the work | YesAdds events, tasks, budget lines and guests; speeches, vows, contracts, receipts | PartlyAI writing for vows, toasts and notes | PartlyVendor discovery in ChatGPT | PartlyThank-you notes and a GPT |
| Phone app | PartlyWorks on any phone and can be added to the home screen; App Store and Google Play apps in progress | YesiOS and Android | YesiOS and Android | PartlyiOS only |
| Vendor marketplace with reviews | YesFree directory with reviews from couples who planned here | Not found | YesAbout 14.6 million reviews | PartlyVendor directory |
| Sign in with Apple, Google or an emailed code | YesNo password to remember | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Delete your account or your wedding yourself, any time | YesFrom Account, on the web and in the apps | Not found | Not found | Not found |
| Notifications when families reply, and reminders before what is due | YesOn phones and computers, chosen per device; a daily email summary | Not found | Not found | Not found |
What It Costs
| Shaadi Planning | Joy | The Knot | Zola | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $100 once for the whole wedding: every tool, the website, RSVPs, the registry and Photo Groups. No subscription, nothing renews, no per-guest fees. Photo Groups alone: $25. Texts to guests: $10 add-on for 1,000. Wedding planners: $20 per wedding, with their own branded portal. | Free, with paid add-ons (domain, texting, premium designs, seating chart) | Free, with a paid custom domain | Free, with paid add-ons (domain, seating chart over 15 guests, texting, guest camera) |
Plan the Whole Shaadi in One Place.
Your website, every RSVP, the registry and shagun, and each ceremony, together in one private plan.