Timeline Genius runs your timeline. Gatherwise runs the whole business.
Timeline Genius does one thing and does it well: event timelines and checklists. Gatherwise covers that same ground and everything around it — tasks, budgets, guests, seating, proposals and invoicing — in one place.
Effortless event planning starts here.
A timeline tool, or the whole planning platform.
Neither approach is wrong. It comes down to whether the timeline is the only part of your process that needs software.
Modern software + CRM for event and wedding planners
Built for planners, on purpose. Timelines, tasks, budgets, guests, seating, proposals and invoicing all sit on the same client record — so nothing is re-entered twice.
- Timelines as strong as a dedicated timeline tool
- Planning tools and CRM in one place
- A native iOS and Android app for event day
A focused, well-made tool for wedding day timelines
Ten-plus years of doing one job properly: detailed day-of runsheets, vendor-specific views, bulk time shifting and day-of text reminders. Planners who love it, love it for good reason.
- Timelines and checklists, deeply developed
- Vendor rolodex and day-of text reminders
- No CRM, budgets, guests or seating — pair it with other tools
Side by side, as of mid-2026.
| Capability | Gatherwise | Timeline Genius |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | ||
| Drag-and-drop timelinesDrag and drop to sort, or auto-sort | Included | Included |
| Timeline templatesStart a new event from your own saved structure | Included | Included |
| Share the timeline as a live URLAlways current, no re-sending files | Included | Included |
| Export the entire eventTimeline, tasks, budget, guests and seating in one export — not the timeline alone | Included | Not includedTimeline only |
| Platform & mobile | ||
| Full-featured web appWorks in any browser, no install | Included | Included |
| Native mobile appiOS and Android — the one you open on event day | Included | Not includedMobile web only |
| Task checklist | ||
| Task checklists | Included | Included |
| Robust notification system@mentions, comment notifications, mobile push, and daily and weekly task-due reminders | Included | Not includedNo task notifications |
| Attachments on a taskFiles, images, contracts and more | Included | Not included |
| Sales & CRM | ||
| Leads and client CRM | Included | Not included |
| Proposals & contracts | Included | Not included |
| AI-assisted proposal creation | Included | Not included |
| Invoicing & online payments | Included | Not included |
| Budget, guests & seating | ||
| Budget tracking | Included | Not included |
| Auto-calculated category amountsEnter a total budget and see each category split out | Included | Not included |
| Guest lists & RSVPs | Included | Not included |
| Seating charts & floor plans | Included | Not included |
| Other | ||
| Lead inquiry formEmbed it on your site — inquiries arrive as leads, not emails | Included | Not included |
| Client questionnairesSend a form and have the answers land on the event | Included | Not included |
| Vendor management | Included | IncludedContact rolodex |
| Vendor payments linked to the checklistPayment due dates appear as tasks automatically | Included | Not included |
| Pricing model | Starts at $29/mo for planning + sales tools | $54.95/mo unlimited, or $194.95 for 5 events — timelines only |
Comparison reflects publicly available information as of mid-2026. Confirm all details before publish.
Four differences you will feel in an ordinary week.
The whole event, not just the day
Budget, guest list, seating and vendor payments live beside the timeline — so you stop stitching four tools together for one wedding.
Sales tools included
Leads, proposals, contracts and invoicing are part of the same subscription. Timeline Genius leaves that to a separate CRM.
A real mobile app
Native iOS and Android, built for the one place it matters most: standing in a ballroom on event day with your hands full.
Tasks that chase you
@mentions, comments, push and due-date reminders keep the six weeks before a wedding from slipping — not just the twelve hours of it.
We would rather you pick the right tool than pick us.
If the timeline is genuinely the only part of your process that needs software — your CRM, budgets and guest lists already work the way you like — Timeline Genius is a well-built, focused tool with more than a decade behind it.
If you would rather get rid of dozens of tools and run the whole event — and the whole business — from one place, that is what Gatherwise is for.
Similar price. Very different amount of work covered.
A planner running 30 events a year
Within about $4 a month of each other — the difference is how many other subscriptions you still need. Gatherwise starts at $29/mo. All figures as of mid-2026.
Thinking about a Timeline Genius alternative?
The four things planners ask us most before they move off Timeline Genius.
Is Gatherwise a good Timeline Genius alternative?
Yes, provided you want more than timelines. Timeline Genius has spent more than a decade on one job and does it well. Gatherwise matches it on the timeline itself — drag-and-drop build, reusable templates, a live share URL for vendors — and then adds the rest of the business: CRM, proposals, contracts, invoicing, budgets, guest lists and seating. If the timeline is genuinely the only part of your process that needs software, Timeline Genius is a fine tool to stay on.
What does Gatherwise do that Timeline Genius doesn't?
Everything either side of the timeline. Leads and client CRM, proposals and contracts, invoicing and online payments, budget tracking, guest lists and RSVPs, seating charts and floor plans, vendor management, and a native iOS and Android app. Timeline Genius leaves each of those to a separate subscription.
How does Gatherwise pricing compare to Timeline Genius?
They are close to level: Gatherwise Professional is $59/mo for up to 40 events at a time, and Timeline Genius Unlimited is $54.95/mo (or $194.95 for five events). Within about $4 a month, the question is how many other tools you are still paying for around it. Gatherwise starts at $29/mo. All figures as of mid-2026.
How do I switch from Timeline Genius to Gatherwise?
Start the 14-day free trial and rebuild one upcoming timeline in Gatherwise — then save it as a template so the next one takes minutes. Run it alongside Timeline Genius for an event or two before you decide. You can cancel anytime.
Weighing up more than one tool?
Most planners shortlist two or three before they switch. Here is how Gatherwise stacks up against the rest of them.
Gatherwise vs HoneyBook
A broad clientflow CRM with strong sales tools, but it stops at the signed contract — no timelines, guest lists or seating.
HoneyBook alternativeEvents platformGatherwise vs Aisle Planner
Long-established and events-focused, priced per project. Gatherwise is purpose-built for how planners actually work day to day.
Aisle Planner alternativeVenue & events suiteGatherwise vs Planning Pod
One toolset spread across venues, caterers and planners. Gatherwise builds for planners only, and the workflow shows it.
Planning Pod alternativeBudget wedding CRMGatherwise vs Harpsen
Inexpensive and wedding-only, covering the sales side. Gatherwise adds the planning half — timelines, guests, seating, vendors.
Harpsen alternativeContracts & paymentsGatherwise vs Rock Paper Coin
A paperwork hub for contracts, invoices and payments between planners and vendors. Gatherwise runs the event around it.
Rock Paper Coin alternativeStart your free trial
Effortless event planning starts here. Bring one live event over and see how it feels.
Cancel anytime