Festidy is a free birthday party planner you use in your browser. Pick the party and a theme, and you get an invitation with an RSVP link, a dated checklist, a shopping list sized to your guest count and a budget, all in one place. There's no sign-up, no trial and no paid tier for hosts. Guests reply in one tap without an account.
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What you get, free
- An invitation with an RSVP link. Choose from 495 designs across 83 themes, or use your own photo. Share one link by text, email or the group chat. Guests reply in one tap, without an account, and can note allergies.
- A plan, one step at a time. Six steps, each with its best timing: the invitation, the place, the guests, shop and book, party day, and after the party. The plan counts back from your party date and shows what needs attention next.
- Shopping sized to your guests. Pizzas, plates, cups, drinks, ice, favors and cake servings, worked out from your headcount. When replies come in, the amounts follow.
- A budget at three levels. Simple, Standard or Splurge, with a running total of what you've spent.
- Ideas for 83 themes. Decor, food, games and activities, plus free printables for each theme.
- Helpers without the chaos. Give a grandparent or a friend their own task list by link. They don't need an account either.
- A party-day run sheet. A 2-hour schedule from arrivals to goodbyes, which you can edit.
- A shared photo album for guests after the party.
How it works
- Pick the party and a theme. Kids' birthday is first, and the themes are sorted by season and your child's age. Add the name, the date, a rough guest count and where it is.
- Publish the invitation and share the link. Guests open the link, see the party and reply yes, maybe or no.
- Follow the plan. Each reply updates the headcount, and the shopping list and budget update with it. The plan tells you what to do this week, from booking the place to the day itself.
Your plan is saved in your browser, so it works without an account. If you want it on your phone and laptop, you can sign in with Google or an email code. That's optional.
Why it's free
Hosts never pay. That's a promise, not a trial. Festidy will earn money from two things, and we'll always say which is which:
- Affiliate links on supplies we recommend, marked as affiliate links.
- Listings and leads from local party vendors, starting in McKinney.
We don't sell your data, we don't rank vendors by who pays, and we don't put your guests on a mailing list. We only ask for children's first names.
What it does and doesn't do
Festidy plans the party: what to buy, how much, and when. It doesn't sell, deliver or book anything itself. The shop of hand-picked supplies is still on the way, and for now the shopping list gives you searches at stores you already use. Local vendors in McKinney, TX are being reviewed before they're listed.
How it compares
| Festidy | A printable checklist or spreadsheet | An invitation-only app | Hiring a party planner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to the host | Free | Free | Free or paid, depending on the app | A paid service |
| Invitation and RSVPs | Yes, no guest account | No | Yes | Often handled for you |
| Dated checklist | Yes, counts back from your date | A fixed list | No | Yes, done for you |
| Shopping amounts from your headcount | Yes, updates with replies | You do the math | No | Done for you |
| Budget | Three levels and a running total | You build it | No | Their fee plus the party |
| Sign-up needed | No | No | Usually | Not applicable |
A printable checklist is fine if you like paper. An invitation app is enough if you only need replies. Festidy is for the host who wants the invitation, the replies and the plan to talk to each other. For a fact-by-fact look at two popular invitation apps, see Festidy vs Evite vs Partiful.
The numbers it works out for you
Here's what Festidy plans for a 2-hour kids' party of 12 guests (7 kids and 5 grown-ups):
| What | How many |
|---|---|
| Large pizzas | 4 |
| Plates, cups, napkins | 24, 30, 36 |
| Kids' drinks | 14 |
| Grown-ups' drinks | 15 |
| Small (8 oz) waters | 19 |
| Ice | 24 lb, double on a hot day |
| Favors | 9 (one per child, plus 2) |
| Cake | 12 servings: an 8-inch round or a dozen cupcakes |
The rules behind it: 2 slices of pizza a kid and 3 a grown-up, 1 kids' drink a kid an hour, and about 2 lb of ice a guest. The budget follows the same headcount: about $15, $30 or $50 a guest, so $180, $360 or $600 for 12. Try other numbers in the party food calculator and the party budget calculator.
Every kind of party, not only birthdays
Kids' birthdays come first, from a first birthday to a sweet sixteen. The same planner adapts for a baby shower, a graduation party, a grown-up milestone birthday and a house or holiday party. The labels, tasks, schedule, budget and themes change with the party type.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free birthday party planner online?
Yes. Festidy is a free birthday party planner that runs in your browser on a phone or computer. It covers the invitation and RSVPs, a dated checklist, a shopping list sized to your guests and a budget. There's no sign-up and no paid tier for hosts.
Do I need to sign up or download an app?
No. You can plan a whole party without an account, and your plan is saved in your browser. Signing in with Google or an email code is optional and keeps your plan on all your devices. You can also add Festidy to your phone's home screen.
Is Festidy an app?
Festidy is a free website, not an app you download. It works in the browser on any phone or computer, with no download and no sign-up. If you like, you can add it to your phone's home screen so it opens like an app.
Do my guests need an account to reply?
No. Guests open the link, see the invitation and reply yes, maybe or no in one tap. They can add a note and any allergies.
Is it really free? What's the catch?
It's free for hosts, always. Festidy will earn money from labeled affiliate links and local vendor listings, never from hosts and never by selling your data.
How far ahead should I send birthday invitations?
Send them 3 to 4 weeks ahead and ask for replies a week before the party. For a busy weekend or a big guest list, send them closer to 4 weeks out. Festidy sets the reply-by date for you.
How many pizzas do I need for a kids' party?
Plan 2 slices per kid and 3 per grown-up, with 8 slices in a large pizza. That's 4 large pizzas for 12 guests and 6 for 20. Kids 5 and under eat about 1.5 slices.
How much does a kids' birthday party cost?
About $15 a guest for a simple home party, $30 with a bakery cake and one hired activity, and $50 with an entertainer and rentals. For 12 guests that's about $180, $360 or $600. Festidy keeps a running total as you buy.
How long should a kids' birthday party be?
Two hours suits most ages, and 90 minutes suits ages 1 to 3. Festidy's run sheet splits two hours into free play, a main game, snacks, cake and goodbyes.
Can I use my own photo on the invitation?
Yes. Upload a photo and it becomes the invitation, or pick one of 495 designs. You can also describe your own theme in your words, and the shopping list follows it.
Can I plan something other than a birthday?
Yes. Festidy also plans baby showers, graduation parties, milestone birthdays, and house and holiday parties like Halloween, Friendsgiving and Christmas.
Can other people help me plan?
Yes. Give each helper their own task list by link. They see only their tasks and don't need an account.
Is my information private?
Your plan stays in your browser unless you sign in. We ask only for children's first names, we don't sell data, and guests' replies are deleted 12 months after the party. Details are in our privacy policy.
About the author
Founder of Festidy, McKinney, TX
Anurag Reddy is a techie and a new dad in McKinney, Texas. Planning his 2-year-old's birthday party, he spent the day juggling vendors instead of enjoying the moments, so he built Festidy: one free place to plan the whole party. Why I built Festidy