The Zola seating chart alternative that prints the cards
Zola's seating chart is a free, on-screen planner inside a wedding account. It is good for arranging tables as you plan. What it is built to do is show the chart on your screen, not hand you the printed escort cards and place cards for the day. Seatwright is that second half, for a wedding or any other event.
Seatwright vs Zola, at a glance
| Seatwright | Zola | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19 once, per event | Free tool, within a Zola account |
| What it produces | Print-ready PDFs of the full card set | An on-screen seating chart for planning |
| Printed escort and place cards | Yes, laid out for US Letter | Not the focus of the tool |
| Events covered | Any event, from showers to galas | Built around weddings |
| Account needed | None to preview | Zola account |
| Best fit | Anyone who needs the cards printed | Couples already planning on Zola |
Zola pricing and features here were checked in August 2026 and can change. Confirm the current details on Zola's own site before you decide.
How Zola works
Zola offers a free seating chart tool as part of its wedding planning suite, which is tied to a Zola account and built around weddings. It is designed as an on-screen chart for arranging guests at tables while you plan, rather than a generator for print-ready escort cards, place cards, and table signs.
Seatwright is one payment of $19 per event. You preview the whole set free, with no account, and pay only when you want the clean, print-ready PDFs.
When Seatwright fits
Seatwright fits when you want the physical paper in hand: escort cards for the entrance, a place card at each seat, a tent number on every table, and one chart poster, all print-ready from your list. It works for any event, not only a wedding, and needs no account to preview.
When Zola fits
Zola is a natural fit if you are already using it for your wedding website, registry, and guest list. Keeping the seating chart in the same free account, next to everything else, is convenient while you plan.
Seating a specific event
Questions
Can I print place cards from Zola's seating chart?
Zola's seating tool is built as an on-screen planner for arranging guests at tables. If what you need is the printed escort cards, place cards, table numbers, and a chart poster, Seatwright generates all four as print-ready PDFs from the same guest list. Check Zola's current export options on their site.
Do I need a Zola account to use Seatwright?
No. Seatwright needs no account to build and preview the full watermarked set. You pay once per event only when you want the clean, print-ready files, and Seatwright is not tied to a wedding, so it works for showers, reunions, banquets, and more.
Is Seatwright only for weddings like Zola?
No. Seatwright handles any seated event, from a bridal shower to a church banquet to a corporate dinner. Paste the guest list and it prints the same day-of set regardless of the occasion.