Both are good. They're built for different things. We break down who each tool is actually for — and show you the one alternative that beats both for most events.
TL;DR
Use Luma if…
You're running a professional or community event — a meetup, conference, product launch, or networking night. Luma is polished, has strong ticketing, and your attendees are probably already on it.
Use Partiful if…
You're throwing a personal social party — a birthday, house party, or themed get-together. Partiful has a fun, casual feel and your friends will recognize it. The free tier is limited though.
Use Eventreels if…
You want everything in one free tool: a beautiful invite, live RSVP tracking, QR check-in at the door, and a photo gallery from your guests. No platform fees, no paywalled features, no app download for guests.
Feature comparison
Side by side.
Feature
Eventreels
Luma
Partiful
Free for free events
LimitedPlatform fee on paid tickets
0% (Stripe only)2–8%AI poster generator
Guest disposable camera
AI highlight reel
QR check-in at the door
Live RSVP analytics
BasicCustom RSVP questions
LimitedNo app download for guests
Org / community pages
Ticket types (early bird, VIP)
Paid themes / invite styles
Some tiersYesDeep dive
Luma launched in 2020 as a tool for professional events, remote meetups, and community gatherings. Its design is clean and minimal — optimized for recurring community events, not one-off parties.
What it does well: Calendar integrations (Google, Apple, iCal), waitlists, ticket tiers, Stripe-native checkout, and a directory of events you can browse by city. Hosts get solid analytics and can embed their event calendar on a website.
Where it falls short:Luma charges a platform fee on paid tickets (2–8% plus Stripe fees), which adds up fast. The invite design feels corporate for personal events. There's no built-in guest photo feature and no AI content generation.
Best for: Tech meetups, startup events, recurring community events, conference-style gatherings where you need multiple ticket types.
Partiful started as a consumer app for college students and Gen Z throwing personal parties. It has playful invite designs, a social feel, and a focus on the guest experience rather than the organizer's tools.
What it does well: Fun, eye-catching invite templates, easy sharing, a simple guest experience, and a party-first aesthetic that feels right for birthdays and house parties. The notification experience is considered — guests get reminders without it feeling spammy.
Where it falls short:The free tier is limited — custom themes, some invite styles, and certain features require a paid plan. There's no QR check-in, no ticketing for paid events, no built-in photo collection, and no community/org pages.
Best for: Birthday parties, house parties, casual get-togethers where the vibe matters more than the logistics.
The alternative
We wanted Partiful's beautiful invites and Luma's event management in one free tool — plus the things neither platform built: a disposable camera that lets every guest contribute to a shared photo album, and an AI highlight reel you wake up to after the party.
Eventreels is free for free events. RSVP tracking, QR check-in, the disposable camera, and the AI highlight reel are all included. No platform fees, no paywalled features, no app download for guests.
Try Eventreels free →Common questions
Luma vs Partiful, answered.
It depends on the event. Luma is better for professional events — conferences, community meetups, launches. Partiful is better for social parties because of its casual invite feel. If you want RSVP tracking + QR check-in + guest photos in one free tool, Eventreels beats both.
Partiful has a free tier but gates custom themes and some invite styles to paid plans. Eventreels is completely free for free events — RSVP tracking, QR check-in, and guest photo galleries all included.
Luma is free for free events but takes a platform fee on paid tickets (typically 2–8% plus Stripe fees). Some features are gated behind higher tiers. Eventreels charges no platform fees on free events.
Eventreels. It combines Partiful's social invite feel (with AI posters) and Luma's event management tools (ticketing, QR check-in, analytics) — plus things neither platform has: a built-in disposable camera and an AI highlight reel. Free for free events.
Create your first event in 2 minutes. No credit card, no platform fees.
Try Eventreels free →Free forever for free events