For curated, invite-only events, Luma builds the cleanest event pages and handles guest management end to end. For large public events where discovery matters, Eventbrite’s built-in audience and multiple ticket tiers do more work. Canva handles the visuals, ChatGPT does the planning and strategy, and Notion tracks every detail in between — a full stack that runs about $10/month beyond the tools you already pay for.
Quick Verdict Best overall: Luma for curated events * Best for large ticketed events: Eventbrite * Best for design: Canva * Best for planning & strategy: ChatGPT * Best for project management:* Notion
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What You Need to Know
| Tool | Core Use | Quick Verdict | | --- | --- | --- | | Luma | Guest management & clean event pages | Best for curated events | | Eventbrite | Ticketed events & discovery | Best for large events | | Canva | Visuals & design | Best for design | | ChatGPT | Planning & strategy | Best for strategy | | Notion | Project management | Best for tracking | | Google Forms | Alternative RSVP | Free fallback |
How I Evaluated ThisI judged this on which tool owns which part of the event workflow — guest management, ticketing, design, planning, or tracking — rather than ranking every tool against every other one, since most events need several of these working together. Every price below was re-verified in July 2026.
Why it’s #1: Luma creates the cleanest event pages I’ve seen. Share a link, people RSVP, and you have a guest list with communication tools built in. Email, SMS, push notifications, even WhatsApp… all from one dashboard.
For LATT3 events, I create the event page in Luma, share the link, and manage RSVPs without spreadsheets or email chains. The check-in feature on the day of the event works from a phone. Scan guests in as they arrive.
What I like:
What I don’t like:
Best for: Premium events, community gatherings, and curated experiences where the event page quality matters. If your events are invite-only or curated (like mine), Luma’s clean aesthetic matches.
Why it’s here: Eventbrite is the default for ticketed events. Everyone knows it. Your guests know how to use it. The search engine and discovery features can bring new attendees you didn’t market to directly.
For larger events where you need multiple ticket tiers (early bird, VIP, general admission), built-in marketing, and robust analytics, Eventbrite handles the complexity.
What I like:
What I don’t like:
Best for: Public ticketed events, workshops, conferences, and any event where discovery matters. If you want strangers to find your event through search, Eventbrite’s built-in audience helps.
Why it’s here: Every event needs visuals. Invitations, social media announcements, day-of signage, post-event recap graphics. Canva handles all of it with templates designed specifically for events.
For LATT3, I create the event announcement graphics in Canva using our brand colors and style. The AI features (Magic Design, Magic Write) speed this up dramatically. I describe the event and Canva generates a complete invitation design. Tweak the details, export, share. Five minutes.
What I like:
What I don’t like:
Best for: Every event planner. Regardless of which event platform you use, you need Canva for the visuals.
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Why it’s here: ChatGPT is the best brainstorming partner for event planning. I use it for:
Timeline creation: “I’m hosting a 50-person dinner event on April 15. Create a detailed planning timeline starting from today with all the tasks I need to complete, organized by week.”
Vendor research: “I need a DJ, a caterer, and a photographer in Austin for a premium morning event. What should I budget for each, and what questions should I ask when vetting them?”
Guest list strategy: “I’m curating a list of 30 people for an investor dinner. I want a mix of tech founders, investors, and real estate professionals. Help me think through the ideal balance and what makes a good mix.”
Day-of logistics: “Here’s my event timeline. Walk through every possible thing that could go wrong and tell me how to prevent each one.”
Post-event follow-ups: “Draft a personalized thank-you email for each category of guest at my event: speakers, sponsors, VIPs, and general attendees.”
The key to using ChatGPT for events is specificity. “Help me plan an event” gives you generic advice. “Help me plan a 30-person investor dinner at a private venue in Austin with a $5,000 budget and a focus on AI technology” gives you actionable plans.
Best for: The thinking and planning phase. ChatGPT doesn’t manage your event… it helps you think through every detail before you start executing.
Why it’s here: Once the event plan exists, every detail needs tracking. Notion is where I manage:
A principle I keep coming back to: everything should have a home. Event planning has a hundred details. Without a central system, things fall through cracks. Notion is that system.
Best for: Anyone planning events regularly who needs a central hub for all details. The database structure handles the complexity that spreadsheets struggle with.
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My Event Planning Stack (Actual Setup)Here’s what I use for LATT3 and other events:
Total cost: $10/month (Canva Pro) + tools I already pay for (ChatGPT, Notion, Luma free tier, Lindy)
The key principle from my event experience: price events to attract the right audience. Quality over quantity in attendees. And never let yourself be the default operator… delegate logistics so you can focus on curation, which is the part that actually matters.
The $0 Event Planning Stack ChatGPT free — planning and brainstorming * Notion free — task and detail tracking * Canva free — basic event graphics * Luma free — event page and RSVPs (5% fee if charging) * Google Forms* — alternative for RSVPs if you want to avoid Luma fees
This handles everything a small event needs without spending a dollar.
FAQLuma or Eventbrite?Luma for curated, premium events where the page aesthetic matters. Eventbrite for large, public events where you want discovery and multiple ticket tiers. For most small to medium events, Luma’s free tier is the better starting point.
Do I need a separate event management tool?For small events (under 50 people), Notion + Luma covers everything. For large events (100+), you might want dedicated event management software. But for most AE readers hosting workshops, meetups, or small gatherings, the stack above handles it.
How far in advance should I start planning?For a simple gathering: 2-3 weeks. For a premium dinner or workshop: 6-8 weeks. For a conference or large event: 3-6 months. ChatGPT can generate a reverse timeline from your event date to tell you exactly when each task needs to happen.
What about virtual events?Add Zoom or Google Meet for the platform. Luma handles virtual event RSVPs and calendar invites natively. The rest of the stack (planning, design, project management) works the same whether the event is in-person or virtual.
Next StepTry Canva free