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Vowesta vs The Knot
Both give couples a free website with RSVPs. The Knot adds a vendor marketplace and a huge inspiration archive; Vowesta adds AI planning, seating charts, raffle tools and the Kept guest camera without a paid tier. The Knot shows advertising and vendor listings across its site; Vowesta runs no ads.
About The Knot
The Knot is one of the largest wedding brands in North America, owned by The Knot Worldwide. It offers a free wedding website, a registry that links to major retailers, a vendor marketplace and a large editorial library. Revenue comes mainly from vendor advertising and retail partnerships.
Vowesta is a free wedding planning platform from RentalTide Inc.: website, RSVPs, guest list, seating, invitations, registry, raffle tools, AI planning and the Kept guest camera. There is no premium tier and no advertising. Revenue is a 2.5% fee on money guests send through a couple's site.
Side by side
| Feature | Vowesta | The Knot |
|---|---|---|
| Free wedding website | Included free | Included free |
| Custom domainThe Knot sells custom domains as an add-on. Vowesta registers or connects one for a yearly registrar fee with no markup for hosting. | Included free | Paid plan or add-on |
| Unlimited guests and RSVPs | Included free | Included free |
| Meal choices and dietary notes on RSVP | Included free | Included free |
| Drag and drop seating chart | Included free | Included free |
| Universal registry (any store) plus cash funds | Included free | Included free |
| Cash fund feeBoth take a processing fee on cash gifts. Vowesta: 2.5% plus card processing, deducted from the gift. The Knot publishes its own cash fund fee; check their registry page. | Partly, see note | Partly, see note |
| Raffle and stag and doe ticket sales | Included free | Not offered |
| AI wedding planner and design studio | Included free | Not offered |
| Disposable camera for guests (Kept) | Included free | Not offered |
| Vendor marketplace and reviews | Not offered | Included free |
| Ad-free experience | Included free | Not offered |
| Dashboard in French and Spanish | Included free | Not offered |
| Day-of timeline and wedding party tools | Included free | Partly, see note |
- Included free
- Paid plan or add-on
- Partly, see note
- Not offered
The Knot column based on their public pages, read 2026-09, at theknot.com. Features and prices change often. Check each provider before deciding, and tell us at hello@vowesta.com if something here is out of date.
Which should you pick?
Pick The Knot if
- You want to browse and book vendors inside the same account.
- You lean on a large library of inspiration articles and real weddings.
- You are already using their registry with family who know the brand.
Pick Vowesta if
- You want every planning tool free with no upgrade prompts and no ads.
- You are running a stag and doe or raffle to help fund the day.
- You want guests to shoot on a shared disposable camera.
- You plan in French or Spanish, or your guests do.
Questions couples ask
Is The Knot wedding website really free?
Yes. The Knot's website builder is free to use. Custom domains and some premium designs are paid add-ons. Vowesta's builder is also free, and a custom domain costs only the registrar's yearly fee.
Does Vowesta have a vendor directory like The Knot?
No. Vowesta does not sell vendor advertising, which is also why there are no ads. The AI planner will suggest vendor categories and budgets but does not list vendors.
Can I move my guest list from The Knot to Vowesta?
Yes. Export your guest list as a spreadsheet, then paste it into Vowesta's bulk add. Households, plus-ones and addresses are recognized automatically.
Which is cheaper for cash gifts?
Vowesta charges nothing for planning tools. A 2.5% fee applies only when a guest sends money through your site, and it comes out of the gift. The Knot publishes its own fee on its registry pages; compare the two before choosing where to collect cash gifts.
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