Not for sending. Punchbowl's help centre says new events need a paid membership. Premium is $9.99 a month after a 7-day trial, and only Platinum removes ads.

Is there a free Punchbowl alternative?

Paper&Seal is free for up to 25 guests, with the sealed envelope and RSVPs included and no ads. Bigger lists are $19 once per event.

Do I need a subscription?

No. Paper&Seal charges once per event and never renews. There is nothing to cancel.

Can guests RSVP without an account?

Yes. Each guest opens a private link and replies for their whole party on the invitation, with no app and no account.

Punchbowl alternative

Paper&Seal vs Punchbowl

Paper&Seal is a Punchbowl alternative with no subscription: free for up to 25 guests with no ads, or $19 once per event for unlimited guests, where Punchbowl needs a paid monthly membership to send and only Platinum removes ads.

Punchbowl has an animated envelope and a big shelf of licensed characters, and every new event needs a paid membership, billed monthly until you cancel. Ads stay on unless you pick Platinum. Paper&Seal is free to start, ad-free on every plan, and charges once per event.

Start free Open a sample invitation

Paper&Seal and Punchbowl, side by side

Paper&Seal compared with Punchbowl
Feature	Paper&Seal	Punchbowl
Save the date and invitation, 100 guests	Yes: $19, paid once	$9.99 a month on Premium (100 guests), with ads
How you pay	One price per event. Unlimited guests, every round included	Paid monthly. Caps of 50, 100 or 500 guests an event
Free option	Yes: Free for up to 25 guests, envelope included	No free sending. A 7-day trial with a card
Animated envelope opening	Yes: On every plan, the free one too	Yes: Animated envelope on its designs
Envelope and seal design	Yes: Wax seal shape, colour, finish and monogram, plus liner and card	Envelope matched to the design
A different design per guest	Yes: Yes, on Signature ($35)	One design per event
Wedding website	Yes: Schedule, travel, FAQ, wedding party and more	An event page with guest chat and updates
Registry	Links any registry, plus gift ideas guests reserve	Yes: Adds a gift registry
Live guest photo wall	Yes: Photo wall and venue slideshow, no app	A guest of honour photo on select designs

Prices in US dollars, checked October 22, 2026 on Punchbowl membership plans and Punchbowl help: what's new. Prices change, so check before you buy. Punchbowl is a trademark of its owner.

Why hosts choose Paper&Seal over Punchbowl

Pay once, not every month

Punchbowl bills a membership each month until you cancel. Paper&Seal is free for up to 25 guests, or $19 once for the event: every round, unlimited guests, nothing renewing.

No ads, on any plan

Punchbowl removes ads for you and your guests only on Platinum. Every Paper&Seal plan is ad-free, the free one too.

A seal you design

Guests break a wax seal and the card slides out, on every plan. On paid plans, choose the seal's shape, colour and monogram, then the liner and card to match.

When Punchbowl is the better pick

Punchbowl is the better pick for a child's party built around a favourite character: it carries licensed Disney, Marvel and preschool designs Paper&Seal does not. It also suits someone sending many invitations in one month on one membership.

Questions

Is Punchbowl free?: Not for sending. Punchbowl's help centre says new events need a paid membership. Premium is $9.99 a month after a 7-day trial, and only Platinum removes ads.
Is there a free Punchbowl alternative?: Paper&Seal is free for up to 25 guests, with the sealed envelope and RSVPs included and no ads. Bigger lists are $19 once per event.
Do I need a subscription?: No. Paper&Seal charges once per event and never renews. There is nothing to cancel.
Can guests RSVP without an account?: Yes. Each guest opens a private link and replies for their whole party on the invitation, with no app and no account.

Try it before you decide

Every event starts free, with no card. Paid plans are one price per event with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Start free See pricing

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