Head-to-head · checked October 2026
Zola vs Joy
Both are free websites with a registry, paid for by what they sell and by vendors. Zola lists more planning tools.
Verdict
Zola if you want a seating chart and budget with your registry; Joy if a free website, guest list and registry are enough.
Zola and Joy side by side
Every criterion from how we compare, in each platform’s own terms. The ones that decide this matchup come first.
| Criterion | Zola | Joy |
|---|---|---|
| Seating chart | Yes, drag and drop, with a print-ready PDF. Listed as a US$14.99 extra in the App Store. | Table tags on the guest list. No seating chart listed. |
| Budget tracker | Yes, a budget tool. | Not listed among its tools. |
| Gift registry | Yes, Zola's own registry store. Check shipping to your country on zola.com. | Yes, Joy's own registry. |
| Guest list and dietaries | Yes. Guests can be tagged by meal or dietary need on the seating chart. | Yes, free, unlimited guests, with dietary needs on each guest. |
| Who pays for it | Free for couples. Zola sells registry gifts, invitations, paper and app extras, and charges vendors for leads. | Free for couples. Joy's pricing page says it earns from registry gifts it sells, optional upgrades and connecting couples with vendors. |
| Currency | USD. | Not stated on the pages we read. Check withjoy.com/pricing. |
| Price to the couple | Free. App extras include a US$14.99 seating chart and Premium SMS from US$59.99 (App Store, US). | Free. Paid upgrades include custom domains, text messaging and premium designs; prices on withjoy.com/pricing. |
| Where it's made | United States. | Not stated on the pages we read. |
| Wedding website | Yes, free. | Yes, free. |
| Online RSVPs | Yes. | Yes, free, with meal choices. |
| Seat finder for guests | Not mentioned on its seating chart page. | Not listed among its tools. |
| Vendors | A vendor marketplace. Vendors pay Zola for leads, and its Say Hello feature lets them contact couples first. | Joy says it connects couples with vendors. |
| Connected tools | The seating chart pulls in your Zola guest list. | Guest details, RSVPs and dietary needs sit in one list. |
| Guest experience | A free website with RSVPs, and a registry guests can shop. | A free website with RSVPs and meal choices, and a registry. |
| Planner support | Not mentioned on the pages we read. | Not mentioned on the pages we read. |
Sources
Where they differ
Planning tools
Zola has a drag and drop seating chart (a US$14.99 app extra) and a budget tool. Joy lists table tags on the guest list and no budget tool.
Registry
Both run their own registry. Compare the stores and shipping to your country on each site.
What each doesn’t do
Zola
- Prices are in US dollars.
- Vendors pay for leads and can reach out to you first.
- The seating chart is a paid extra in the app.
Joy
- No seating chart or budget tool listed.
- Earns from vendor connections as well as registry sales.
Which suits whom
More head-to-heads
- WedBuild vs WedSites
WedBuild for most couples: the website and RSVPs are free, and seating and the budget start at A$99 where WedSites puts them on its A$319 Pro plan.
- WedBuild vs Zola
WedBuild for Australian couples and anyone planning seating and budget in AUD; Zola for US couples who want a registry store with their free website.
- WedBuild vs Joy
WedBuild if you need a real seating chart and a budget; Joy if you only need a free website, RSVPs and a registry.
- WedBuild vs The Knot
WedBuild for planning without a marketplace around it; The Knot for US couples still finding vendors.
- WedBuild vs Easy Weddings
Both are Australian: WedBuild for planning tools with no supplier leads; Easy Weddings for browsing a supplier directory.
- WedBuild vs Say I Do
WedBuild for the whole plan, budget included; Say I Do for a website and RSVPs with texts to guests.
- Zola vs The Knot
Zola if the registry and stationery matter most; The Knot if finding vendors does.