SimpleInvite and Apple Invites
SimpleInvite is for hosts who invite the same people again and again and would rather not chase them. It needs no subscription, and it nudges the people who haven't answered for you. If you pay for iCloud+ and your friends are on iPhones, Apple Invites is a fine choice for a party.
Which one to pick
Pick SimpleInvite if
- You don't pay for iCloud+.Making an Apple invite needs an iCloud+ subscription. SimpleInvite needs an email address, and any event up to 30 guests is free.
- You'd rather not chase people.Everyone who hasn't answered gets a nudge on its own a few days after you send, and the people coming get a reminder on the morning of the event. Apple's guide describes notes you send yourself, and no automatic reminder.
- You host the same people every week.Set game night to repeat every Thursday once, and each date goes out ahead of time on its own, to your saved group. In Apple Invites you duplicate the event for each date.
- Your guests shouldn't have to confirm anything.Each guest's link is already theirs, so one tap answers. On the web, an Apple Invites guest without an Apple Account confirms an email address first.
- Your list is over 100.SimpleInvite takes up to 150 guests an event. Apple Invites stops at 100.
Pick Apple Invites if
- You already pay for iCloud+.Apple Invites costs nothing more, for any event up to 100 guests. Over 30 guests, SimpleInvite is $5 an event or $39 a year.
- The photos matter most.Your photo fills the whole invite, and guests add to a shared album and an Apple Music playlist for the event.
- Your guests are on iPhones.The invite opens in Apple's own app, and up to five cohosts can run the event with you.
A game night every Thursday
Fourteen regulars, every week, and a few who only answer once someone asks them.
On SimpleInvite
- Make the event once, set it to repeat every Thursday, and pick your Game night group.
- Each Thursday's invite goes out on its own, as far ahead as you choose. Anyone without an email gets their link in a text from your phone.
- Anyone still pending gets a nudge on its own. You can send two more.
- The count, with partners included, is on the event page.
What it costsFree. Fourteen guests is under 30.
On Apple Invites
- Make the event on an iPhone or at iCloud.com, then duplicate it for each Thursday.
- Email it to each person from your iCloud Mail, or share the link in Messages.
- Look through the guest list for who hasn't replied, and write to them yourself.
What it costsIncluded with iCloud+, which starts at $0.99 a month.
Side by side
Their prices and limits are from their own pages, checked October 4, 2026.
| For the host | SimpleInvite | Apple Invites |
|---|---|---|
| What it costs | SimpleInviteFree to 30 guests, $5 an event to 150, or $39 for a year, paid once | Apple InvitesIncluded with iCloud+. The lowest plan is $0.99 a month |
| What the host needs | SimpleInviteAn email address. You sign in with a code we email you, on any phone or computer | Apple InvitesAn Apple Account with iCloud+. The app is on iPhone, and iCloud.com works in a browser |
| What the guest needs | SimpleInviteNothing. Their own link opens the invite, and one tap answers | Apple InvitesNo app or account. On the web, a guest without an Apple Account confirms an email address |
| Most guests on one event | SimpleInvite150 | Apple Invites100 |
| How the invite reaches people | SimpleInviteWe email it. Anyone without an email gets their own link from you, texted from your phone with one tap each | Apple InvitesEmail from your own iCloud Mail, or a link you share in Messages or anywhere else |
| Reminders to people who haven't answered | SimpleInviteA nudge on its own to everyone pending, two more you can send, and a reminder at 9 am on the day to the people coming | Apple InvitesNotes you send yourself. Apple's guide describes no automatic reminder |
| Events that repeat | SimpleInviteSet it once: weekly, every other week or monthly. Each date goes out on its own | Apple InvitesDuplicate Event copies one event to a new date |
| The people you invite often | SimpleInviteSaved groups, and past events with how many came | Apple InvitesYour contacts |
| Advertising | SimpleInviteNever, on any event | Apple InvitesNone |
| Designs | SimpleInviteEight looks, and your own photo | Apple InvitesYour photo across the whole invite, with a shared album and playlist |
Sources
Every claim on this page about another product comes from one of these pages.
- Apple, iCloud+ plansChecked October 4, 2026
- Apple, Invites overviewChecked October 4, 2026
- Apple, Create an eventChecked October 4, 2026
- Apple, AnsweringChecked October 4, 2026
- Apple, Event settingsChecked October 4, 2026
- Apple, Notes to guestsChecked October 4, 2026
- Apple, App listingChecked October 4, 2026