Your catering business is humming. Orders are rolling in, teams are growing, and suddenly that all-in-one solo tool, 17hats, just feels small. It is fine when you are a one-person tornado. But try adding a sales rep or tracking a dozen events and you hit a wall. The monthly bill does not budge, but your needs do. Once you start running the numbers, you realize you are spending $10,000 or more over five years to rent a system you will never actually own.
That is why more catering companies start searching for 17hats alternatives. If you are tired of workarounds, per-user upcharges, or features locked behind annual contracts, you are in the right place. Below, I compare the top platforms for serious caterers: Caterease, Tripleseat, Event Temple, Planning Pod, and more, by real cost, team features, and where they all start to feel like just another rental. And yes, I will show you the path to owning your own platform with Devaims, so you can stop paying rent on your own data.
Why catering companies look for 17hats alternatives
No team collaboration tools: 17hats is built for solo operators. The minute you add more staff or want to hand off tasks, you run into dead ends and clunky workarounds. This is a major reason catering companies start seeking 17hats alternatives.
No sales pipeline or advanced reporting: Tracking leads, managing a real sales funnel, or pulling reports for multiple locations is simply not possible in 17hats. You end up exporting everything to a spreadsheet.
Flat pricing, but limited scalability: The $60/month tag looks good until you realize you cannot scale your team or customize workflows without leaving the platform.
Locked into SaaS, no ownership: Every dollar you spend is rent. After five years, you have nothing to show for it but an endless subscription and data living on somebody else's server.
No customization for catering workflows: 17hats was never built for the unique logistics, menu management, and event flows that catering companies need. That is why searching for 17hats alternatives is a common next step as you grow.
Quick comparison of the best 17hats alternatives
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | You own it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caterease | Full-service caterers | $99/mo + $28/user | No |
| Tripleseat | Event-focused teams | $99/user/mo | No |
| Event Temple | Venues with catering | $99/user/mo | No |
| Planning Pod | Event planning & catering | $69/user/mo | No |
| HoneyBook | Small catering teams | Varies | No |
| CaterZen | Drop-off catering | Varies | No |
| Flex Catering | Cloud-based orders | Varies | No |
| Total Party Planner | Event caterers | Varies | No |
| Devaims | Owning your own platform | One-time build | One-time build, you own it |
Vendor pricing changes fast. Confirm current pricing before you decide.
The 10 best 17hats alternatives
1. Caterease (best for full-service caterers)
Caterease is the granddaddy in catering management. If you run multiple trucks or venues, Caterease packs serious event tracking, menu planning, and CRM under one roof. Unlike 17hats, Caterease is built for teams and high-volume shops, but you pay for every user you add.
Pricing: $99/month for Express, $149/month for Standard, $199/month for Professional, plus $28/month for each additional user (pricing details). $200/user setup fee, annual billing.
- Rich catering-specific features
- Solid event management and reporting
- Good reputation for support and onboarding
- Upfront $200/user launch fee can sting for growing teams
- Per-user pricing adds up fast as you scale
- Billed annually, so you are locked in for the year
On software you owned, adding another staffer would not cost you more each month.
2. Tripleseat (best for event-focused teams)
Tripleseat is built for venues and caterers juggling lots of events and client handoffs. It outclasses 17hats in team collaboration and pipeline tracking, but watch out for per-user pricing and onboarding fees that can sneak up on you.
Pricing: About $99/user/month, billed annually. Onboarding fees vary (source).
- Excellent for managing complex event timelines
- Team collaboration and permissions
- Integrates with venue and sales platforms
- Expensive for teams (5 users = $495/month)
- Annual contract required
- Onboarding fees can add hundreds to the first bill
3. Event Temple (best for venues with catering)
Event Temple is designed for venues that also handle catering. You get CRM, event management, and sales tools built for teams, with per-user pricing and a focus on the venue side. For pure caterers, you may pay for features you will never use.
Pricing: About $99/user/month, billed annually. Onboarding fees apply (source).
- Strong sales pipeline tools
- Automated workflows and reminders
- Good integrations for multi-site operators
- Per-user fees climb quickly
- Annual contract, not month to month
- Some features geared more to venues than caterers
If your workflow is 90 percent catering, a custom build from Devaims could get you exactly what you need, nothing extra.
4. Planning Pod (best for event planning & catering)
Planning Pod covers event planning, registration, and catering in one. Compared to 17hats, it offers team features and deeper event tools, but you still pay per user and get locked into annual billing.
Pricing: About $69/user/month, billed annually. Onboarding fees can apply (source).
- All-in-one event and catering management
- Good for mixed event/catering shops
- Customizable forms and invoices
- Per-user pricing can limit team growth
- Annual contract, no monthly escape
- Onboarding fees add to year-one cost
5. HoneyBook (best for small catering teams)
HoneyBook is a favorite for small service businesses. If you are running a tight team with simple needs, it can get you further than 17hats, but larger caterers will find it limiting on workflows and integrations. Real pricing for scaled operations is hard to pin down.
Pricing: No reliable pricing found. Check the official HoneyBook site for the latest offers.
- Easy onboarding for solo or small shops
- Clean, simple UI
- Popular with creative service businesses
- Not designed for complex catering workflows
- Team features are basic
- Pricing not transparent for larger operations
6. CaterZen (best for drop-off catering)
CaterZen focuses on drop-off catering and recurring orders. If your operation is delivery-heavy, it offers solid logistics and order tracking, though pricing and contracts are less transparent than peers.
Pricing: Not reliably published. See the CaterZen website for updates.
- Strong delivery and logistics tools
- Recurring order features
- Good for volume drop-off shops
- Opaque pricing and contract terms
- Feature set may be narrow for full-service caterers
- Some integrations require add-ons
7. Flex Catering (best for cloud-based orders)
Flex Catering is a cloud platform built for online catering orders. It is a step up in online ordering compared to 17hats, but full pricing and ownership are not clear. You get strong menu and order tools, but still rent your platform.
Pricing: Around standard SaaS rates. Confirm details with the vendor.
- Modern online ordering tools
- Menu management
- Integrates with major POS systems
- Unclear pricing for larger teams
- No ownership, just rental
- Features may require higher tiers
That is the kind of menu flow you would just have if the platform were built for you.
8. Total Party Planner (best for event caterers)
Total Party Planner is built for catering businesses that focus on event management and menu planning. It offers strong event tracking and reporting, but like most SaaS in this space, you pay per user and stay locked into subscriptions.
Pricing: Pricing varies. See the Total Party Planner website.
- Event-specific catering features
- Menu and proposal management
- Good support for multi-event shops
- Per-user pricing drives up costs as you grow
- Long-term contract required
- Some advanced features locked to higher plans
9. Devaims (best for owning your own platform)
Devaims is the custom build option. Instead of renting, you get your own catering platform, built to fit your workflow, your reports, your team, and your integrations. You pay once to build, then a flat maintenance cost, and the code is yours forever. No per-user, no annual contract, no lock-in. If you have chafed at feature locked to the higher tier or surprise price hikes, this is how you break free for good.
- You own your software and your data
- Custom workflows, reports, and integrations
- No per-user or per-event fees, ever
- Flat, predictable maintenance costs
- Fast support from the team that built your platform
Other 17hats alternatives worth knowing
- Curate: Built for florists and caterers, but leans toward floral workflows. Worth a look if you also handle event florals.
- Spiffy: Focused on cleaning and home services, so not a direct fit for catering, but some food truck operators use it for scheduling.
- Better Cater: Simple, budget-friendly, but feature set is limited for larger caterers.
These tools can work for niche shops, but most growing catering companies end up outgrowing their limits.
How to choose the right 17hats alternative
- By budget: If you are watching every dollar, start by mapping five-year costs, not just monthly rates.
- By team size: Per-user fees add up fast. If you have more than three staff, do the math before signing a contract.
- By workflow: Menu management, delivery logistics, and event tracking, choose software that actually fits your business, not just a generic template.
- By ownership: If you want to build equity in your system, owning with Devaims is the only path off the rental treadmill.
When one more rented SaaS platform feels like a step sideways, it is time to consider owning your own.
Stop paying rent on software you could own
Here is the hard truth: every catering SaaS platform, from Caterease to Tripleseat, keeps you on the monthly treadmill. Five years from now, you will have paid $20,000 to $30,000 or more, plus onboarding fees and annual hikes, and still own nothing but a login. That is the catch 17hats alternatives never solve. Owning is the only way out.
Devaims builds custom web and mobile platforms for catering companies, designed around your workflow, not a generic template. You keep the code, control every integration, and never pay per-user or per-event fees again. After launch, maintenance is flat and predictable, and you can change anything because it is yours.
- No more per-user fees, add staff without a new bill each month.
- No contract lock in, no surprise price hikes, and no features held hostage to a tier.
- Your data, your workflow, your brand, no more workarounds or exporting to spreadsheets.
| Platform | Ownership | Per-user fees | Contract | Customization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17hats | No | No, but solo only | Auto-renewing | Low |
| Caterease | No | Yes | Annual | Medium |
| Tripleseat | No | Yes | Annual | Medium |
| Devaims | Yes, you own it | Never | No contract | Full, built for you |
Five-year cost comparison (for a team of 5):
| Year | Caterease (rent) | Tripleseat (rent) | Devaims (own) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3,132 | $5,940 | $30,000 |
| 2 | $6,264 | $11,880 | $31,200 |
| 3 | $9,396 | $17,820 | $32,400 |
| 4 | $12,528 | $23,760 | $33,600 |
| 5 | $15,660 | $29,700 | $34,800 (now ahead) |
If your SaaS bill is already over $400/month, you could have owned your own platform in less than five years. The more you grow, the cheaper owning gets. Want to see the math for your exact operation? Devaims will run it for free.
How to switch from 17hats
- Export all your client, event, and order data from 17hats.
- Pick your new platform (or start your custom build with Devaims).
- Import or map your data into the new system, clean up as you go.
- Reconnect payment processing and integrations.
- Train your team on new workflows and permissions.
- Test everything in parallel for a week or two.
- Review your 17hats contract. Cancel when ready.
With a custom Devaims build, the migration is handled as part of the project.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best 17hats alternative for catering companies?
For teams of three or more, Caterease and Tripleseat offer richer event and team features than 17hats. If you want to own your own platform and stop paying per-user fees, Devaims is the only real alternative.
Which 17hats alternative is most affordable for small caterers?
Planning Pod and Better Cater can be cheaper for small teams, but always calculate five-year costs before signing up. For long-term savings and ownership, Devaims is often the best value for growing shops.
Are there any free 17hats alternatives for catering?
No free platform matches the depth of paid tools like Caterease or Tripleseat. Some shops hack together Google Sheets or Airtable, but you lose automation and support. Most serious caterers outgrow free tools quickly.
Which alternative has the best event management features?
Tripleseat and Event Temple have strong event tracking and pipeline management, far beyond what 17hats offers. For custom event flows, a Devaims build gives you exactly what you need, no more, no less.
When is it time to switch from 17hats?
Once your team grows or you need advanced reporting and workflows, 17hats becomes a bottleneck. If you are paying per-user fees elsewhere, or your five-year SaaS bill scares you, it is time to consider 17hats alternatives.
Can I keep my old data when switching from 17hats?
Yes, 17hats lets you export your data. Most platforms (and Devaims) support data migration so you do not lose client or event history.
How does owning with Devaims compare to renting SaaS?
With Devaims, you pay once to build your platform and a flat maintenance fee, no per-user or per-event costs. Over five years, owning usually beats renting, especially as your team grows.
The bottom line
Here is the test: add up what every 17hats alternative will cost you over five years. If that number could have paid for a platform you own, it is time to stop renting and start building equity in your own system. The right move is not always the lowest sticker price, it is what lets you own your growth, your data, and your process. If you are ready for your last migration, Devaims will build the platform that fits you, not the other way around.
For more insights, visit the Devaims blog and check out related guides like HoneyBook alternatives, Caterease alternatives, and Tripleseat alternatives.
