Comparison · updated 20 August 2026
Shaadify vs Zola: registry-first vs WhatsApp-first
Zola started as a wedding registry and grew into a free website builder around it: couples collect RSVPs and meal preferences, share a schedule of events, and let guests browse gifts without leaving the site. It is a strong, well-designed US product.
For an Indian wedding the question is different: do you need a registry, and do your invitations go out by email or on WhatsApp? That decides most of this comparison.
Shaadify wrote this page. Zola facts were read from their public pages on 20 August 2026; “Not stated” means we could not verify it. Features change, check both before deciding.
At a glance
| Feature | Shaadify | Zola |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to start, no card | Free to create and publish; custom domains from $17.99 |
| Built for | Indian weddings (India) | United States (registry, USD pricing) |
| Multi-event schedule | Yes | Yes, share “the weekend’s schedule of events” |
| WhatsApp invites (personal link per guest) | Yes: personalised link per guest, one tap from the Guests tab | Not stated, share a custom URL yourself |
| Event-scoped invites | Yes: invite some guests to only the reception, etc. | Not stated |
| RSVP | Yes: yes/no/maybe per event, plus-ones, meal preference, notes | Online RSVPs with meal preferences |
| Guest list + export | Yes: families/party sizes, stays, CSV export | Guest list synced with RSVPs |
| Themes / design | 3 themes (Royal, Modern Minimalist, South Indian Classic) with palette options | Large template library |
| Custom domain | Not yet | Yes, paid (from $17.99) |
| Password protection | Not yet | Yes, optional |
| Registry | A “Gifts & Blessings” section with your UPI ID and a note, no retailer registry or cash-fund platform | Core feature, registry linked on the site |
| Mobile | Web (works in WhatsApp’s in-app browser) | Web + mobile app |
Where Zola is stronger
- If a registry is central, Zola is the product: it is what Zola is built around.
- Password protection and a paid custom domain; Shaadify has neither yet.
- A big template library and a mobile app.
Where Shaadify is stronger
- WhatsApp invites with a personal link per guest and event-scoped invites: the way Indian guest lists actually work.
- Indian multi-event structure and themes (mehendi, haldi, sangeet, ceremony, reception) rather than a “weekend schedule”.
- Per-event RSVP headcounts with plus-ones and meal preferences, exported to CSV for caterers.
- Free throughout; no USD pricing or US-centric registry.
Who should pick which
Zola: Pick Zola if you are planning a US-style wedding with a registry at the centre and email invitations.
Shaadify: Pick Shaadify for an Indian wedding with several functions, WhatsApp invitations and per-event RSVPs.
Common questions
Can Indian couples use Zola?
You can create a Zola website from anywhere; its registry and pricing are built for the US market, so check whether the registry and shipping work for your guests before relying on it.
Does Zola support multiple wedding events?
Yes: its sites carry a schedule of events with location, date and time. Shaadify additionally gives each event its own RSVP and lets you invite some guests to only some events.
Is this comparison independent?
No: Shaadify publishes it, so read it as our honest view, not a neutral review. Every competitor fact was taken from their own public pages on the date shown, we mark anything we could not verify as “Not stated”, and we say plainly where the other product is stronger. Features change; check both before you decide.
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