Seat MakervsZolaWedding planning
Seat Maker vs Zola Seating Chart
Try your full guest list in Seat Maker’s browser tool, then use the native app for offline venue edits.
Free browser tools · no account needed. Full online access is paid.
Try a real seat change8 fictional guestsAlex is fixed in seat 1. Shuffle the other guests, or select two people to swap.
Why choose Seat Maker?
See what you can do.
Put every guest in a seat
Lock VIPs. Shuffle the others. Swap two guests. Undo a change.
Try the seat controls
Keep planning at the venue
Edit saved native seating plans offline on iPhone and iPad.
Explore offline planning
Start with your guest names
Import a list, review the fields, then place your people.
Try guest-list importReal Seat Maker views with fictional names. Native offline edits work in saved iPhone/iPad plans; online sync and RSVPs need internet.
The key differences.
Full feature breakdown ↓| Your decision | Seat Maker | Zola |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Guest seats & room changes | Seating synced with your Zola guest list |
| Tools | VIP locks, shuffle & undo | Automatic confirmed-guest import from the Zola guest list with group labels |
| Offline edits | Saved native plans on iPhone & iPad | Not verified in reviewed sources |
| Price | Free browser tools; paid online access & native upgrades | Free to 15 guests; Premium for larger charts |
Vendor-described capabilities. Unknown features are not scored as missing. Full terms & sources below.
The details, when you need them.
Pricing, transfers & official sourcesFull feature comparison8 topics, including devices and offline access
Zola supports seating on its iOS app and desktop, including individual-seat changes and PDF or Excel downloads. Its initial free allowance covers 15 guests. Seat Maker is another route for browser planning or native offline seating, particularly if you want to manage the room separately from your registry.
| What matters | Seat Maker | Zola |
|---|---|---|
| Planning focus | Named guests, individual seats and a practical room plan. | Build wedding seating directly from confirmed Zola guests, minimizing duplicate data entry and keeping related wedding events organized. Source ↗ |
| Guest and planning tools | Import names, arrange individual seats, lock VIP seats and shuffle other guests. | Automatic confirmed-guest import from the Zola guest list with group labels. Round/rectangular tables, seat counts, and room elements Source ↗ |
| Layouts and handoff | Room layout tools and native image/PDF exports. Browser tools include drafts, signs and place cards. | Separate plans for multiple wedding events; dietary/custom tags. PDF and Excel export; iOS/desktop synchronization and chart duplication Source ↗ |
| Access and devices | iPhone/iPad app, free browser tools and a paid online planner. Features vary by surface. | iOS app and desktop, with charts synced between them. Source ↗ |
| Offline work | Saved native seating plans can be edited offline. Online RSVPs, sync and published websites require internet. | Offline behavior is not established by the reviewed seating help article. Source ↗ |
| Price and access terms | Free browser tools. Paid online access and separate native upgrades. Review the complete offer before purchase. | Zola documents free use for up to 15 guests, then a Premium unlock for more guests. Source ↗ |
| Moving your data | Review a guest-list import. Rebuild room geometry and rules separately. Later updates need reconciliation. | Download Zola's Excel guest output when available, save a CSV copy for guest import, and check every field. Source ↗ |
| A reason to choose it | You want to work directly on guests and seats, and keep a local native plan for offline venue edits. | You already use Zola and want seating, guest records and the rest of your wedding planning together. Source ↗ |
Plans & pricingWhat is free, what is paid and what expires
Seat Maker
Start with account-free browser planning tools and an editable local draft. The full online planner requires paid access. Native upgrades have separate in-app offers.
Checkout shows the current currency, renewal period and total before purchase.
View online access options →Zola
Zola documents free use for up to 15 guests, then a Premium unlock for more guests. Confirm the current unlock amount in your account. No price or savings comparison is assumed here.
Official plan terms ↗Reviewed October 21, 2026. Confirm editors, exports, tax, renewal and access expiry for your region. A suite’s fee covers more than seating.
Bring your guest listImport, rebuild and review
Download Zola's Excel guest output when available, save a CSV copy for guest import, and check every field. An Excel report does not transfer an editable room.
- 1Keep an originalSave the source list and a dated visual plan.
- 2Test a small importReview names, duplicates, groups and accepted fields.
- 3Rebuild & reconcileCheck capacities, fixed seats and unassigned people.
A PDF is a visual reference, not an editable room transfer. A CSV snapshot does not create live sync; choose where future changes will be maintained.
Try Seat Maker’s guest-list import →When Zola makes senseIts strengths and documented workflow
You already use Zola and want seating, guest records and the rest of your wedding planning together.
- Automatic confirmed-guest import from the Zola guest list with group labels
- Round/rectangular tables, seat counts, and room elements
- Separate plans for multiple wedding events; dietary/custom tags
- PDF and Excel export; iOS/desktop synchronization and chart duplication
Build wedding seating directly from confirmed Zola guests, minimizing duplicate data entry and keeping related wedding events organized.
Editorial workflow illustration from Zola’s official documentation. Official positioning: “Wedding seating chart maker”.
Try a realistic sample120 fictional guests · downloadable CSV
Start with 120 fictional guests, 12 four-person families and four fixed VIPs in 16 eight-seat tables. Cancel Guests 105–108, add Guests 121–124, move Guests 117–120 into the four vacated seats and remove Table 16. The final plan has 120 guests and 120 seats. Keep families together, Guests 053 and 061 apart, and Guests 049–052 in their fixed seats.
Review imported names before setting groups and locks. Extra CSV fields may need manual mapping. This is a reproducible exercise, not a completed competitor benchmark.
Sources & comparison methodOfficial references · reviewed October 21, 2026
Seat Maker publishes this comparison. Recommendations are editorial judgments. Competitor features and prices come from official product, help and pricing materials reviewed October 21, 2026; no paid-account or timed head-to-head benchmark was performed.
- Zola: product & workflow ↗zola.com
- Zola: official reference 2 ↗zola.com
- Zola: official reference 3 ↗zola.com
Native images are Seat Maker v3.2.2 on iPhone 17 Pro; browser images are actual tool captures. Names are fictional. No competitor interface has been recreated.
Suggest a correction →Quick answers.
When should I keep Zola?
You already use Zola and want seating, guest records and the rest of your wedding planning together.
Can I move my Zola plan into Seat Maker?
Download Zola's Excel guest output when available, save a CSV copy for guest import, and check every field. An Excel report does not transfer an editable room.
Can I try Seat Maker before buying?
Yes. The public browser planning tools accept your own names and save a local draft without an account. The full online planner and native app upgrades have separate purchase terms.
What should I check about Zola’s price?
Zola documents free use for up to 15 guests, then a Premium unlock for more guests. Confirm the current unlock amount in your account. No price or savings comparison is assumed here.
Can I edit my plan without Wi-Fi?
Seat Maker’s saved native seating plans support local offline edits. Account sync, online RSVPs and published websites require internet. For Zola: Offline behavior is not established by the reviewed seating help article.
Make your seating plan.
Free browser tools · no account needed. Full online access is paid.