Skip to content
invitebird

What counts as a guest

How InviteBird counts guests for pricing — named guests plus their plus-ones — and how the free cushion and draft building fit in.

Last reviewed 3 min read

On this page6 sections
  1. The count is people, not invitations
  2. Named guests and plus-ones both count
  3. The free 10-guest cushion
  4. Building before you pay
  5. Common questions
  6. Related articles

InviteBird plans are sized by how many guests you expect at the door, so it helps to know exactly what "a guest" means for pricing. The short version: every named guest counts as one, and every plus-one counts too.

The count is people, not invitations

Your plan size is measured in people at the door — the total of everyone on your list plus the extra people they're bringing. Each entry on your guest list counts as one guest, and each plus-one you've allowed adds to the total.

For example, a list of 20 named guests where each may bring one person is 40 guests for pricing, not 20. That's the number your plan needs to cover. If you're not sure how many plus-ones to expect, the plan step shows you both the safe number (everyone brings someone) and a more likely estimate, so you can pick a plan with confidence.

Named guests and plus-ones both count

  • A named guest — anyone you add to the guest list — is one guest.
  • A plus-one — the extra seat you allow a named guest — is another guest.
  • A household or family entry counts as however many people it represents. If you add a couple as one entry with one plus-one, that's two guests; a family of four is four.

The idea is simple: whatever number of people could walk through the door is the number your plan is sized for. To learn how plus-ones work on the guest and RSVP side, see Plus-ones.

The free 10-guest cushion

Every plan includes a free 10-guest cushion above its size, so a handful of extra people never locks you out. A Nest plan covers 25 guests and quietly holds up to 35 before the list pauses. If you go past your plan plus that cushion, you move up one size for just the difference. See Upgrading your plan.

Building before you pay

While your event is still a draft, you can build your guest list freely — add, import, and organize a large list without paying anything. You only settle on a plan when you send, and the plan you pay for is based on the size of the list at that moment. If the list keeps growing after you send, the cushion and one-size upgrades take over.

Common questions

Do plus-ones count toward my plan? Yes. Each plus-one is counted as a guest, right alongside the named guest who's bringing them.

If a guest declines, do they still count? Your plan is sized to the people on your list, so it's best to think of the count as everyone you've invited plus their plus-ones. If your final numbers come in well under your plan, you're simply comfortably within it — there's nothing to adjust.

Do co-hosts count as guests? No. Co-hosts help you run the event from the host side and aren't guest-list entries, so they don't count toward your plan.

Does the person hosting count? No. Your plan covers your guests. You, as the host, are not a guest-list entry.

How do I see my current count? The Guests tab shows a live count of seats filled against your plan, and nudges you as you get close to the limit. See Guest limits.

Can I lower my plan if fewer people come? Plans are one-time and sized at send. If far fewer guests come than you planned for, that's fine — you're within your plan. There's no downgrade charge because there's no recurring fee to begin with.

Was this helpful?

Related articles