EVENT SOFTWARE COMPARISON
Check Cherry vs 17hats
17hats is a general business tool for solo service businesses. Check Cherry is built specifically for event pros, from DJs and photo booths to bartenders, photographers, and event venues. Here's an honest look at which one fits your business.
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Check Cherry, rated by real event pros
Built to grow with you
Most Check Cherry businesses started as a side hustle. As they grew, added staff, took on more events, and offered more services, Check Cherry grew with them. The platform has been shaped by ten years of feedback from businesses just like yours.
A general tool can run the basics, but it won't grow into the event-specific tools, like travel fees, inventory, and staff scheduling, that you'll lean on as you scale.
Switching systems later is painful, so it's worth getting right the first time. A few dollars a month is small next to your client experience and the hours back in your week. Invest in the system built for where you're headed, not just where you are today.
The differences that actually matter
Both cover the basics: quotes, contracts, invoices, payments, scheduling, and workflows. Here's where Check Cherry and 17hats genuinely differ.
| Check Cherry | 17hats | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Event pros (DJ, booth, bar, photo, venue) | Solo service businesses (generalist) |
| Event booking with date availability | Built in | General quotes & scheduling |
| Travel fees & mileage | Built in | Not built in |
| Flex pricing (peak dates, weekday rates) | Built in | Not built in |
| Add-on & equipment inventory | Built in | Not built in |
| Event staff & crew scheduling | Built in | Not built in |
| Core features on every plan | Included | Client portal & workflows are top-tier only |
| Connect Claude or ChatGPT | Built in | Not available |
| Starting price | From $29/mo | Free tier, or from $50/mo |
| Free trial | 14 days | 7 days |
Based on publicly available information as of May 2026. 17hats has a limited free tier; its Essential plan is around $50/mo billed annually, and the client portal, advanced workflows, and Zapier are on its top plan. Both products update often, so check each company's site for current details.
Which one should you choose?
In short: choose Check Cherry if you run an event business and want event pricing and your core features included, and choose 17hats if you run a general solo service business or want a free tier.
Choose Check Cherry if
- You run an event business: DJ, photo booth, bartending, photography, or a venue.
- You want event pricing, inventory, and staff scheduling built in.
- You want your core features included rather than gated to a higher plan.
- You want to ask Claude or ChatGPT about your bookings, leads, and payments in plain English.
Choose 17hats if
- You run a general solo service business rather than events.
- You want a free tier to start with the basics.
- You don't need event-specific pricing, inventory, or staff scheduling.
A feature list won't tell you the whole story
A lot of event pros run their business across a booking form, a separate contract tool, a spreadsheet for travel fees, a calendar, and a notes app. Check Cherry is the one place where the booking, the contract, the deposit, the travel fee, the staff assignment, and the client's portal all live together and stay in sync.
That's the difference you feel every day, and it's why two tools that both list "contracts" aren't the same thing. When something comes up the week of a big event, you reach a real person who knows event work. It's what customers mention most: everything in one place, and support that actually helps.
Where Check Cherry is different
The honest differences that matter for an event business
Built for events
Event-specific booking, packages, deposits, and date availability out of the box. 17hats is a general business tool you adapt for any kind of solo service.
Event pricing built in
Automatic travel fees, peak-date flex pricing, and add-on inventory. A generalist tool like 17hats doesn't include event pricing.
Everything in every plan
Check Cherry includes its core features on every plan. 17hats keeps the client portal, advanced workflows, and Zapier on its most expensive tier.
Built for the whole event
Run DJ, photo booth, bartending, photography, and event venues from one account, with the planning and staff tools events need.
What event pros say
Real reviews from photo booth and event businesses on Check Cherry
"Amazing setup for photobooth owners. The ease of the setup, contracts, and making up your packages for invoicing has been so helpful and user friendly."
"I use Check Cherry for my photo booth company to manage our bookings, expenses, automated emails, and just about everything that you can think of."
"Check Cherry support is hands down the absolute best! So glad I chose Check Cherry for my Photo Booth business needs."
Common questions
Comparing Check Cherry and 17hats
Is Check Cherry a good 17hats alternative?
For event businesses, yes. Check Cherry covers the same quotes, contracts, invoicing, and scheduling as 17hats, then adds event-specific pricing, inventory, and staff scheduling, and includes its core features on every plan. 17hats is a good choice if you run a general solo service business.
Can I connect Check Cherry to ChatGPT or Claude?
Yes. Check Cherry includes a built-in AI assistant connection (MCP), so you can ask Claude or ChatGPT about your bookings, leads, and payments in plain English. The Check Cherry API and AI assistant connection are included on every plan.
What is the difference between Check Cherry and 17hats?
17hats is a general business-management tool for solo service businesses. Check Cherry is purpose-built for events, so travel fees, peak-date pricing, add-on inventory, staff scheduling, and event-ready booking are built in rather than configured from a generic toolkit.
Is Check Cherry cheaper than 17hats?
Check Cherry starts at $29/mo with its core features included on every plan. 17hats has a limited free tier and a paid plan around $50/mo, but keeps the client portal, advanced workflows, and Zapier on its top tier. For most event businesses, Check Cherry is both less expensive and less gated.
Will I lose my data if I switch from 17hats?
No. You can export your clients, contacts, and project history from 17hats and import them into Check Cherry, and our team will walk you through it. Most businesses are up and running within a day or two, and you can run both systems side by side while you settle in.
How do I claim the 50% switch discount?
Start your free trial, then chat with our team and show your current 17hats plan (a screenshot of your billing page works). We'll apply the 50% discount to your first year.
Switch and Save 50%
Already paying for 17hats? Show us your current plan and we'll take 50% off your first year of Check Cherry, and walk you through moving your data over.
Switching is Easy
We'll help you every step of the way
Start Your Free Trial
Sign up and explore Check Cherry free for 14 days. No credit card required.
Show Us Your Plan
Chat with us and show your current 17hats subscription to unlock 50% off.
We'll Help You Move Over
We'll walk you through importing your clients, events, and templates, so you're not starting from scratch.
See if Check Cherry fits your business
Try it free for 14 days. No credit card required.