Paperless Post and TwistInvite are both online invitations with RSVP, but they start from opposite ideas. Paperless Post is digital stationery: a designed card or flyer, with optional envelopes, backdrops and stamps, priced per recipient in Coins or through an annual subscription. TwistInvite is a video invitation: an animated template that plays on the guest's phone, created in an app, with a free plan and a Premium subscription.
Here's how they compare on price, guest experience, design and sending. Paperless Post facts come from its official pricing page, checked November 3, 2026. To build one in a few minutes, try the video invitation maker.
Quick Answer
- Choose Paperless Post for a formal wedding, gala, fundraiser or corporate event where a stationery look matters, you want to design on a computer, or you need features such as guest surveys, password protection, a custom URL, guest check-in or CRM integrations.
- Choose TwistInvite when you'd like the invitation to play as a video, you'll share it by text or in a group chat, you want guests to have a Maybe option with no account or email required, and you'd like to start free.
At a Glance
| Paperless Post | TwistInvite | |
|---|---|---|
| What the invitation is | Designed card or flyer, with optional envelope, backdrop, stamp and page styles | Animated video invitation template |
| Where you create it | On the Paperless Post site | In the TwistInvite App (iPhone or Android), not on the web |
| Pricing model | Pay per event in Coins: Coins per recipient × number of guests; or Paperless Pro annual subscription by guest count | Free plan; Premium $2.99/week, $8.99/month or $39.99/year (USD) |
| Free option | Free designs: the first 50 invitations sent by email or text through Paperless Post are free; unlimited guests via a free Shareable Link; 1 Coin per recipient after 50 | 3 events/month, free templates, RSVP tracking, sharing by SMS or link |
| Example paid prices | Calculator example: 3 Coins/guest = $1.44 for 1 guest; Plus bundle +200 Coins; Pro $250/year for 250 annual guests, $400 for 500 | $2.99 for a week of Premium |
| Guest RSVP | Through the invitation or a Shareable Link | In the browser: Going / Can't make it / Maybe; no account, password or verification; email optional |
| Extra guest features | Plus: Premium Blocks, Guest Surveys, Custom URL, Password Protection. Pro: Guest Check-In, Analytics view, CRM integrations | RSVP tracking in the App |
| Your own media | Upload Your Own Card (JPEG recommended; PNG and HEIC accepted), a paid design option; Flyers also take GIFs and soundless videos up to 5 seconds | Upload photos and video clips, import audio, hold to record a voice message |
| Sending | Directly by email or SMS through Paperless Post, or a Shareable Link | Text message (SMS) or share link in any chat |
| Nonprofit pricing | 25% discount for eligible nonprofits | — (not covered here) |
Pricing: Coins per Guest vs a Free Plan
Paperless Post has two ways to pay.
- Pay per event with Coins. Each design has a Coin cost per recipient, and you multiply by your guest count. Paperless Post's own example: a design at 5 Coins per recipient sent to 40 guests needs 200 Coins. Optional elements add to the per-recipient cost: envelope (1 Coin), backdrop (1), stamp (1), premium page style (1), custom colors (1), custom logos or stickers (2). The Paperless Post Plus bundle adds a flat 200 Coins and unlocks Premium Blocks, Guest Surveys, Custom URL and Password Protection. Unused Coins carry over to future events. The pricing page calculator showed $1.44 for inviting one guest at 3 Coins per guest.
- Paperless Pro subscription. An annual plan priced by your total guests across the year, with all features included and no Coins. The pricing page shows $250/year for 250 annual guests, and upgrading from 250 to 500 guests costs the $150 difference ($400 total). A guest counts each time you invite someone by SMS or email through Paperless Post, or someone RSVPs through a Shareable Link, and the same person invited to three events counts three times.
TwistInvite has a free plan covering 3 events a month, with free templates, RSVP tracking and sharing by SMS or link. Premium is $2.99 a week, $8.99 a month or $39.99 a year (USD); local App Store prices apply elsewhere. Pricing is by time period, not per guest.
Rule of thumb:
- Large formal event, design-heavy: Paperless Post's per-recipient Coins scale with your list. Use its calculator with your real guest count.
- Casual parties, several a year: TwistInvite's free plan or a single week of Premium is usually simpler than counting Coins per guest.
- An organization sending hundreds of invitations a year: compare Paperless Pro with your annual guest total.
Guest Experience
Paperless Post invitations can be sent directly by email or SMS through the site, or shared with a Shareable Link. Guests view the card or flyer and RSVP to the event. With Plus or Pro, you can add guest surveys and password protection.
TwistInvite guests tap a link in a text or group chat, the video invitation plays in their phone's browser, and they answer Going, Can't make it or Maybe. There's no app to download, no account, no password and no verification code, and email is optional. You see replies in the App.
The Maybe option is useful for casual events: it turns "I'll let you know" into an answer you can follow up on.
Design and Personal Touches
Paperless Post is built around stationery design: cards and flyers, with options like envelopes, backdrops, stamps, custom colors and premium page styles. It's well suited to an invitation that should feel like a formal printed card, delivered digitally.
TwistInvite starts from a short animated video template. In the App, you add your event details and can upload your own photos and video clips, import a song, and hold to record a short voice message. The template's own artwork and text can't be edited, so your personal wording goes in the message you send with the link. Template content is in English, and the App interface is available in 19 languages.
Templates that suit occasions people often choose Paperless Post for:
- Midnight Opera Gala: black velvet curtains part over a marble staircase and chandelier, for a black-tie evening or fundraiser.
- Christmas Gala Ballroom: a formal holiday look for a company or society party.
- Watercolor Garden Vows: soft watercolor florals for a garden wedding.
Sending and Managing the Event
Paperless Post sends invitations for you by email or SMS, or gives you a Shareable Link. Pro subscribers can send broadcast messages, such as reminders and thank-you notes, to invited guests at no extra charge, and Pro includes Guest Check-In, an Analytics view and CRM integrations.
TwistInvite gives you one link to share by text or in any chat (WhatsApp, iMessage, Messenger and so on), and tracks RSVPs in the App. It's designed for hosts who already talk to their guests in group chats.
Which Should You Pick?
Paperless Post is the better fit when:
- You want a classic stationery look with envelopes and stamps.
- You're running a formal or professional event that needs guest surveys, password protection, check-in, analytics or CRM sync.
- You'd rather design on a computer.
- You're an eligible nonprofit and can use the 25% discount.
TwistInvite is the better fit when:
- You want the invitation to play as a video on guests' phones.
- You're inviting by text or group chat.
- You'd like Going / Can't make it / Maybe replies with no account or email required.
- You'd like to start free, or pay by the week instead of per guest.
- You want to add your own voice, photos or clips.
Try TwistInvite
Download the TwistInvite App, choose a template, add your details and share one link. The free plan covers 3 events a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Paperless Post cost?
It depends on the design and your guest count: multiply the design's Coins per recipient by your number of guests, plus any optional elements or the 200-Coin Plus bundle. For frequent senders, Paperless Pro starts at $250/year for 250 annual guests (checked November 3, 2026).
Is TwistInvite cheaper than Paperless Post?
For casual hosts, often yes: TwistInvite's free plan covers 3 events a month, and Premium is $2.99/week. For a single large formal event, compare Paperless Post's calculator for your guest list with the TwistInvite Premium period you'd need.
Do guests need an account to RSVP?
TwistInvite guests don't need an account, password or verification, and email is optional. Check Paperless Post's help center for its current RSVP requirements.
Can I upload my own design?
Yes, as a paid option: Paperless Post's Upload Your Own Card accepts JPEG (recommended), PNG and HEIC files, and Flyers also accept GIFs and soundless videos up to 5 seconds (Paperless Post Help Center, checked November 3, 2026). TwistInvite starts from its own video templates; you can add your own photos, video clips and audio, but not replace the template artwork.
Can I send a Paperless Post or TwistInvite invitation by text?
Paperless Post can send by SMS or give you a Shareable Link. TwistInvite gives you a link to share by text or in any chat.
Make your invitation with TwistInvite
Pick a video invitation template in the TwistInvite app, add your details and a voice message if you like, and share one link. Guests reply Going, Can't make it or Maybe in their browser, with no account needed.
Sources
- Paperless Post pricing page, paperlesspost.com/pricing (checked November 3, 2026).
- Paperless Post Help Center: "Is Paperless Post free? Can I send for free?" and "Upload Your Own Image, Photo, GIF, or Video to Your Card or Flyer" (checked November 3, 2026).
- TwistInvite: product details and pricing in the TwistInvite App.
Related guides
- Evite vs TwistInvite: Price, Ads, RSVP and Video Compared
- Greetings Island Alternatives: 6 Invitation Makers Without the Watermark
- Paperless Post alternatives
- Paperless Post vs Evite
- Greenvelope vs TwistInvite
- Blast vs TwistInvite
- Alternativas a Paperless Post (ES)
Create it in the TwistInvite app
Download free on iPhone or Android, then share one link with your guests.