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United Vows vs Zola

The short answer

Both are free for couples. Zola is stronger on registry and website, with gifts from any store, cash funds and over 600 templates; vendors list free and spend credits to connect with couples who inquire. United Vows has no per-lead charge: vendors pay a 7 to 9% commission only on payments couples make them through it, and contracts, invoices and payments are built in.

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United Vows and Zola, side by side

Facts about other companies come from their own pages and carry a numbered source. Where a company does not publish something, the cell says so.

United Vows and Zola, side by side
What we comparedUnited VowsZola
What couples payUnited VowsFree for couples, with no platform fees. The price a vendor quotes is the price you pay.[1]ZolaWebsite and guest list manager are free; Zola says it earns from gifts and stationery sold in its store. Custom domains start at $17.99.[2][3]
How vendors payUnited VowsFree to list. No subscription, no lead fees, no annual contract. Commission of 9%, 8% or 7% on payments couples make the vendor through United Vows; the rate falls as booked contract value grows. Founding Vendors get one point off at the first two tiers for 3 years.[1][4]ZolaFree to be listed. Vendors spend credits to connect with couples who inquire, through pay-as-you-go or monthly and annual plans, and can decline a lead at no cost. Featured Spots are paid placement. Prices are not published on these pages.[5][6][7]
Planning toolsUnited VowsA ready-made plan with tasks, timeline and reminders, a budget tracker, RSVP tracking, vendor matching and Vows Assistant for planning questions.[1]ZolaFree guest list manager, online RSVPs with meal choices, and a seating chart tool.[2][8][9]
Website and registryUnited VowsFree wedding website with sections drafted for you and online RSVPs.[1]ZolaFree website with over 600 templates. Universal registry with gifts from any store and cash funds Zola describes as 0% fee; its help centre says a 2.5% card processing fee applies to cash gifts, paid by guests by default or by the couple if they choose.[8][10][11]
Vendor marketplaceUnited VowsVendor directory with matches scored on style, budget and location. Listings show whether a vendor is verified; many start from public business data until the owner claims them. Couples sign and pay vendors through Stripe in the app.[12][13]ZolaA free vendor marketplace where couples discover, inquire with and book vendors, with personalized recommendations.[14]
ReviewsUnited VowsVerified reviews come only from couples who booked and paid through United Vows. Nobody can buy one.[15]ZolaReviewers must be the vendor’s client or a fellow wedding professional, for an event in the last four years. To publish a listing, a vendor must request reviews from two couples and two fellow professionals.[16][17]

Where Zola is stronger

  • A registry with gifts from top brands and any online store, experiences and cash funds, connected to a free website with over 600 templates.[10][8]
  • Scale: Zola says two million couples have trusted it.[8]
  • For vendors, Zola vets each lead before you pay to connect, lets you decline at no cost, and refunds the connection if the couple never replies.[5]

Where United Vows is different

  • Vendors pay no subscription and no lead fees. The only automatic charge is a 7 to 9% commission on payments couples make them through United Vows, and the rate drops as their booked contract value grows.[1]
  • Vendor business tools are included: proposals, contracts signed in the app, invoices, inbox, calendar, profit tracking per booking and email follow-ups.[1]
  • Couples sign and pay their vendors through Stripe inside United Vows, next to their budget and checklist.[12]
  • A verified review can only come from a couple who booked and paid through United Vows, so verified reviews cannot be bought.[15]
  • Couples pay no platform fee. The commission comes from the vendor’s side, so the vendor’s quote is the couple’s total.[1]
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Questions people ask

Does Zola charge fees on cash funds?
Zola describes its cash funds as 0% fee and says it makes no money from them. Its help centre says a 2.5% credit card processing fee applies to cash gifts, paid by guests by default or by the couple if they choose.
How do vendors pay on Zola?
Listing is free. When a couple inquires, the vendor spends credits to connect, bought pay-as-you-go or through monthly and annual plans, and can decline at no cost. Featured Spots are paid placement. Zola shows prices inside the vendor account rather than on these public pages.
Which is better for a vendor who books a few weddings a year?
On United Vows there is no cost until a couple pays you through it. On Zola you pay to connect with couples you choose to answer, whether or not they book. Which costs less depends on your booking rate and prices.

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Sources

Every fact about another company comes from that company’s own website, read on the date shown. Prices and policies change. If you spot something out of date, tell us and we will correct it: support@unitedvows.com

  1. [1]United Vows: Pricing (checked October 6, 2026)
  2. [2]Zola: Wedding guest list manager (checked October 6, 2026)
  3. [3]Zola: Does Zola sell custom domain names? (checked October 6, 2026)
  4. [4]United Vows: Founding Vendor program (checked October 6, 2026)
  5. [5]Zola: What does it cost to be listed on Zola? (checked October 6, 2026)
  6. [6]Zola: Vendor Plans Terms and Conditions (checked October 6, 2026)
  7. [7]Zola: How does Featured Spots work? (checked October 6, 2026)
  8. [8]Zola: Free wedding websites (checked October 6, 2026)
  9. [9]Zola: Seating chart tool (checked October 6, 2026)
  10. [10]Zola: Wedding registry (checked October 6, 2026)
  11. [11]Zola: Who covers the 2.5% credit card processing fee for cash gifts? (checked October 6, 2026)
  12. [12]United Vows: For couples (checked October 6, 2026)
  13. [13]United Vows: How we list vendors (checked October 6, 2026)
  14. [14]Zola: What is Zola's Marketplace? (checked October 6, 2026)
  15. [15]United Vows: Home page: why join (checked October 6, 2026)
  16. [16]Zola: Who can leave a review? (checked October 6, 2026)
  17. [17]Zola: Why do I have to ask for reviews before being permitted to publish my listing? (checked October 6, 2026)

The Knot, WeddingWire, WeddingPro, Zola and Joy are trademarks of their owners. United Vows is not affiliated with them. This page compares published pricing and features, not the quality of any company’s service.

United Vows vs Zola