EVENT SOFTWARE COMPARISON
Check Cherry vs Dubsado
Dubsado is a flexible, all-purpose CRM for 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 CRM 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.
Independent reviews
Higher rated on G2
CHECK CHERRY
4.9DUBSADO
4.3Average ratings on G2 as of May 2026.
The differences that actually matter
Both cover the basics: contracts, invoicing, proposals, scheduling, automations, and a client portal. Here's where Check Cherry and Dubsado genuinely differ.
| Check Cherry | Dubsado | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Event pros (DJ, booth, bar, photo, venue) | Service businesses (generalist) |
| Event booking with date availability | Built in | General forms & proposals |
| Travel fees & mileage | Built in | Not included |
| Flex pricing (peak dates, weekday rates) | Built in | Not included |
| Add-on & equipment inventory | Built in | Not included |
| Event staff & crew scheduling | Built in | Not included |
| Built-in expense tracking | Built in | Not included |
| Getting set up | Event-ready out of the box | Powerful, but a steeper setup |
| Connect Claude or ChatGPT | Built in | Not available |
| Starting price | From $29/mo | From $35/mo |
| Free trial | 14 days | 21 days |
Based on publicly available information as of May 2026. 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, inventory, and a faster setup, and choose Dubsado if you run a general service business or want the deepest custom workflows.
Choose Check Cherry if
- You run an event business: DJ, photo booth, bartending, photography, or a venue.
- You want travel fees, flex pricing, add-on inventory, and staff scheduling built in.
- You'd rather be event-ready out of the box than configure a generic tool.
- You want to ask Claude or ChatGPT about your bookings, leads, and payments in plain English.
Choose Dubsado if
- You run a non-event service business, like coaching, design, or consulting.
- You want the deepest, most customizable workflow automation and form building.
- You manage multiple brands across different industries.
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, and date availability out of the box. Dubsado is a general-purpose CRM you configure yourself for any service business.
Event pricing built in
Automatic travel fees, peak-date flex pricing, and add-on inventory. These aren't part of a generalist CRM like Dubsado.
Built-in expense tracking
Track business expenses alongside your income and payments. Dubsado focuses on invoicing and income.
Up and running faster
Event-ready out of the box, without the heavy setup Dubsado is often known for. Most businesses are live in a day or two.
What event pros say
Real reviews from event businesses on Check Cherry
"I used to spend hours creating quotes and emails. Now everything is all in one spot. It seriously has saved me so much time."
"I was hesitant to switch software after 3 years in business, but I needed more for my money. Check Cherry has done exactly that, and the software was so easy to learn."
"Check Cherry is the best! Samantha, Matt, and Tim are exceptional. They respond so quickly, I don't plan to use any other tool."
Common questions
Comparing Check Cherry and Dubsado
Is Check Cherry a good Dubsado alternative?
For event businesses, yes. Check Cherry covers the same contracts, invoicing, and client-portal basics as Dubsado, then adds event-specific pricing, inventory, and expense tracking, and is usually faster to set up. Dubsado is a strong choice if you run a general service business or want maximum customization.
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 Dubsado?
Dubsado is a generalist CRM for service businesses of any kind. Check Cherry is purpose-built for event pros, so things like travel fees, peak-date pricing, add-on inventory, staff scheduling, and expense tracking are built in rather than configured from scratch.
Does Check Cherry handle event pricing like travel fees?
Yes. Check Cherry includes automatic travel fees and mileage, flex pricing for peak dates and weekdays, and add-on inventory. A general-purpose CRM like Dubsado does not include event-specific pricing tools.
Is Check Cherry easier to set up than Dubsado?
For an event business, usually yes. Check Cherry is event-ready out of the box, while Dubsado is highly flexible but commonly described as having a steeper learning curve. Most Check Cherry businesses are up and running within a day or two.
Will I lose my data if I switch from Dubsado?
No. You can export your clients, contacts, and project history from Dubsado 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 Dubsado subscription (a screenshot of your billing page works). We'll apply the 50% discount to your first year.
Switch and Save 50%
Already paying for Dubsado? 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 Dubsado 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
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