WedSites vs Zola
Comparing wedding planning platforms and wondering which one fits your style? Both WedSites and Zola offer beautiful websites and planning tools, but they're designed with different priorities in mind.
Zola started as a wedding registry platform and has grown into a popular wedding planning service. With over 600 design options, a dedicated mobile app, and a sleek interface, they've become a favorite among couples who want their registry seamlessly integrated with their website. Their platform is free to use, with revenue generated through registry purchases and optional premium features like custom domains starting at $14.95/year. The convenience of having your registry, website, and guest list in one ecosystem is a genuine strength.
WedSites is a wedding-focused planning platform that puts planning tools and guest communication first. The platform focuses on giving you integrated digital stationery, multi-language support, and design flexibility while letting you link to any registry you choose. If you want a platform with detailed planning features that works with any registry, let's explore how the two compare.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | WedSites | Zola |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $39 Basic, $99 Standard, $199 Pro (one-time) | Free (custom domain from $14.95/year) |
| Custom Domain | ✅ Native DNS + SSL certificates included | ✅ Available from $14.95/year (recurring) |
| Website Templates | ✅ Flexible, customizable designs | ✅ 600+ modern designs |
| Font Selection | ✅ Extensive font library | ✅ Template font options |
| Custom CSS | ✅ Full design control | ✅ CSS customization available |
| Switch Templates | ✅ Anytime without losing content | ✅ Switch designs (some customizations may need adjustment) |
| Multi-Language | ✅ Full website translation | ❌ Not available |
| Privacy Controls | ✅ Password protection, SEO blocking | ✅ Password protection |
| Digital Stationery | ✅ Included with Standard/Pro | ⚠️ Separate purchase required |
| Email Tracking | ✅ Opens, clicks, integrated with guest list | ❌ Not available |
| Email Drafts & Outbox | ✅ Complete email management | ❌ Not available |
| RSVP Management | ✅ Multi-event, custom questions | ✅ Smart RSVP system |
| Guest List | ✅ Households, groups, A/B lists | ✅ Guest list with spreadsheet import |
| Mobile App | ❌ Web-based platform | ✅ iOS and Android apps |
| Collect Guest Details | ✅ Custom form to gather info | ❌ Not available |
| Stationery Tracking | ✅ Track what you sent to each guest | ❌ Not available |
| Planning Checklist | ✅ Pro: Pre-populated + custom tasks | ✅ Personalized checklist |
| Budget Tracker | ✅ Pro: Expense categories & tracking | ✅ Budget breakdown tools |
| Vendor Management | ✅ Pro: Contacts, files, payment tracking | ✅ Vendor contacts |
| Payment Tracking | ✅ Pro: Links to vendors & budget | ❌ Not available |
| Seating Chart | ✅ Pro: Drag-and-drop with groups | ❌ Not included |
| Timeline Builder | ✅ Pro: Day-of runsheet with highlighter | ❌ Not available |
| Registry Integration | ❌ Links to external registries (no built-in registry) | ✅ Built-in registry with zero-fee options |
| Cash Funds | ❌ Links to external services | ✅ Integrated (0% bank/Venmo, 2.5% card) |
Pricing Comparison
Zola's wedding website is completely free, which is attractive for couples just getting started. If you want a custom domain like "yournames.com" instead of "yournames.zola.com," pricing starts at $14.95-$17.99/year depending on domain availability. Zola's registry charges 2.5% on cash gifts paid by credit card, but offers zero-fee options when guests pay via bank transfer or Venmo. Zola's ecosystem of website, registry, and stationery in one place is genuinely convenient.
WedSites offers three tiers with one-time payments:
- Basic Plan: A one-time payment of $39 gets you started with core website features
- Standard Plan: A one-time payment of $99 includes digital stationery and guest management
- Pro Plan: A one-time payment of $199 unlocks the full planning suite including checklist, budget, vendors, payment tracking, seating chart, and timeline
There are no recurring charges with WedSites, and your website remains accessible after your wedding. Note that WedSites' planning tools (budget, vendors, seating, timeline) are only available on the Pro plan.
The WedSites business model is straightforward: you pay for planning tools, and the platform lets you link to any registry. Zola's model is equally straightforward: a free platform supported by registry purchases and premium add-ons. Both approaches are valid -- it depends on what you value most.
Custom Domain & Technical Control
Zola offers custom domain purchasing starting at $14.95, handling the registration process for you. This is convenient if you don't want to deal with DNS settings, though it's a yearly recurring charge.
WedSites provides native custom domain integration with DNS configuration and custom SSL certificates at no additional cost. If you've already purchased a domain from GoDaddy, Namecheap, or any other registrar, you can connect it directly to your WedSites wedding website. The platform walks you through the DNS records setup and provides a secure SSL certificate for your domain automatically.
This technical flexibility matters for couples who already own a domain they'd like to use. Native DNS integration gives you control over your domain's configuration, and there are no recurring hosting fees from WedSites. Your one-time payment covers everything.
Design Flexibility & Fonts
Zola offers over 600 beautifully designed templates, giving couples an impressive variety of styles to choose from. You can customize colors, choose from their available fonts, and make layout adjustments within the template structure. They also offer CSS customization for couples who want to go beyond the standard options. The sheer number of design options means most couples will find something that matches their aesthetic.
WedSites focuses on deep customization rather than template quantity. WedSites has a smaller template library than Zola, so there are fewer starting designs. However, the font library includes hundreds of typefaces. WedSites supports full custom CSS, giving you control over every visual element of your site.
One of the most appreciated features: you can switch between design templates at any time without losing your content or customizations. Testing out different looks for your wedding website is risk-free. Many couples start with one design and switch to another as their wedding style evolves, and all their carefully crafted content moves seamlessly to the new template.
Multi-Language Support for International Couples
Zola doesn't offer multi-language website capabilities. If you're having a bilingual wedding or have international family members, you'll need to manually create bilingual content within your pages.
WedSites includes website translation functionality. Create a full version of your wedding website in another language, and guests can toggle between languages with a simple switcher. Your RSVP forms, event details, timeline, and all other content work seamlessly in multiple languages.
This is valuable for multicultural weddings. When your Japanese-speaking grandmother can navigate your entire site in her language while your American friends use English, everyone feels welcomed and informed. All the functionality, including RSVP submission and guestbook messages, works perfectly in both languages.
Digital Stationery & Guest Communication
Zola focuses primarily on the website and registry experience. While you can send messages to guests through their platform, there's no integrated digital stationery suite for save-the-dates or invitations. You can purchase those separately through Zola's paper goods store or use a third-party service.
WedSites Standard and Pro plans include a digital stationery platform built into your account. Design save-the-dates and invitations that match your website, customize the wording to sound like you, and send them directly to your guest list.
Every email you send gets tracked automatically. See who opened your save-the-date, who clicked through to RSVP, and who needs a reminder. This tracking data integrates directly into your guest list database, so you always know each guest's communication status. You can save drafts for emails you're working on and access your complete outbox to see exactly what you've sent and when.
The stationery tracking feature records every piece of communication in each guest's profile. You'll never wonder "Did I send Jenny her save-the-date?" because it's all documented in your guest list. This level of integration eliminates the spreadsheet juggling that comes with using separate services for invitations and websites.
Advanced Guest List Management
Zola provides a solid guest list system where you can import guests from a spreadsheet, track RSVPs, meal selections, and plus-ones. The mobile app makes it easy to add guests on the go, and the interface is straightforward for guest tracking.
WedSites offers additional features designed for complex modern weddings. The household system groups families and couples together so they can RSVP as a single unit, useful for families with children or couples with plus-ones. Create groups like "College Friends" or "Bride's Family" to organize your guest list strategically.
The A/B list functionality helps you manage large guest lists tactfully. Invite your must-have guests first, then send invitations to your B-list as you receive regrets, all tracked seamlessly in the system.
The "Collect Guest Details" feature helps gather information efficiently. Send your friends and family a custom form to collect their email addresses, phone numbers, and mailing addresses before you send save-the-dates. This ensures your database is accurate from day one.
Planning Tools
Zola offers a personalized checklist customized to your wedding date and a budget tool that breaks down costs by category. These tools are well-designed and accessible through their mobile app, making it easy to track progress on the go.
WedSites Pro plan ($199) includes additional planning tools for couples who want more detailed organization. The pre-populated checklist generates based on your wedding date with recommended deadlines, and you can add unlimited custom tasks and reminders. The budget calculator includes detailed expense categories, and you can reallocate funds between categories to create a realistic budget.
The vendor management system stores all your vendor contacts, contracts, files, and notes in organized profiles. The payment tracking system connects directly to both your vendor profiles and your budget categories. Set up a payment reminder for your florist, and it automatically links to your "Flowers & Decor" budget category and your florist's vendor profile. This three-way connection gives you a picture of your wedding finances.
The drag-and-drop seating chart tool uses the groups you've created in your guest list, color-coding each guest by their group for easy table arrangement. Switch between label views — group, dietary, age, country, and more — to see different guest details while arranging. Print your seating chart for your venue coordinator and make last-minute adjustments without starting over.
The timeline builder helps you create your day-of wedding runsheet with time blocks for every event. Use the virtual highlighter to mark critical moments, add notes for your vendors and bridal party, and print copies to distribute so everyone stays on the same schedule.
The Registry Question
Zola offers a built-in registry with physical products, experiences, and cash funds. Their zero-fee options for bank transfers and Venmo make cash gifts particularly attractive, and having your registry, website, and guest list all in one place simplifies the experience. The 2.5% fee on credit card cash gifts is comparable to other platforms. For couples who want an all-in-one ecosystem, Zola's integrated approach is a genuine advantage.
WedSites does not offer a built-in registry. You can link to any external registry -- Zola, Amazon, Target, a honeymoon fund, or any combination -- but the registry itself lives outside WedSites. This means couples who want a tightly integrated registry-and-website experience will need to manage their registry separately. The upside is flexibility: you can choose registries based purely on what's best for you and your guests, without being tied to one platform's offerings.
For couples who prioritize having their registry and website tightly integrated, Zola's approach is more convenient. For couples who want flexibility to mix and match registries or already have registries set up elsewhere, WedSites lets you link to anything.
Privacy & Security
Zola offers password protection for your wedding website, which works well for couples who want to keep their information private.
WedSites provides privacy controls including password protection for your entire site or specific pages, the ability to block search engines from indexing your wedding (keeping it off Google), and granular control over what information is publicly visible. Custom SSL certificates ensure your website is secure, which is especially important when collecting sensitive guest information through RSVP forms or the collect guest details form.
WedSites also makes it easy to manage your data. When you're done with your wedding planning, you have full control over your account and can export or delete your information at any time.
Who Should Choose WedSites
WedSites is a strong choice if you:
- Need integrated digital stationery: Send tracked save-the-dates and invitations directly from your platform
- Have a bilingual or international wedding: Multi-language support creates complete website versions in different languages
- Value deep design customization: Extensive fonts, full CSS control, and template switching without losing work
- Want advanced guest organization: Households, groups, A/B lists, and the ability to collect guest details systematically
- Prefer one-time payments: Pay once instead of annual domain fees, with no recurring charges
- Want planning tools in one place: Pro plan includes seating chart, timeline, payment tracking, and budget tools
Keep in mind that WedSites has no built-in registry, no mobile app (it's web-based and mobile-responsive), and a smaller template library than Zola.
Who Should Choose Zola
Zola is a strong choice if you:
- Want an integrated registry experience: Zola's built-in registry with physical gifts, experiences, and cash funds keeps everything in one place alongside your website and guest list
- Prefer zero-fee cash gift options: Bank transfer and Venmo contributions have no fees, and the 2.5% credit card fee is competitive
- Want maximum template variety: With 600+ designs, you'll have a wide selection of styles to browse
- Like using mobile apps: Zola's iOS and Android apps let you manage your wedding planning on the go
- Value an all-in-one ecosystem: Registry, website, guest list, paper stationery, and planning tools all from one platform is genuinely convenient
- Want a free website: If you're comfortable with a zola.com subdomain, the website is completely free
- Already have a Zola registry: If you've already started your Zola registry, keeping your website there simplifies things
- Appreciate a large, established platform: Zola has a large user community and brand recognition in the wedding space
Making Your Decision
Both WedSites and Zola are strong platforms with different strengths. Zola excels with its integrated registry ecosystem, large template library, mobile app, and free entry point. WedSites excels with digital stationery and email tracking, multi-language support, deep design customization, and one-time pricing with permanent website retention. We recommend trying both platforms to see which feels right for your wedding.
This comparison is based on publicly available information as of February 2025. Features and pricing for both platforms may have changed since publication. We recommend visiting both platforms to confirm current offerings before making your decision.