Is SignUpGenius Free? Cost and Pricing Explained

Yes, SignUpGenius Is Free

SignUpGenius is free to use. Organizers can create an account, build sign ups, and start collecting responses without paying anything. Participants don't need an account at all — they can sign up for a slot directly from the link you share with them, at no cost.

The Free plan isn't a trial. There's no expiration date, no credit card required, and no limit on how many sign ups you can create. It includes automated reminders, real-time slot tracking, and access to hundreds of design themes.

Most organizers start on the Free plan and stay there until their sign ups grow in complexity. When coordination starts to involve multiple organizers, repeat events, or the need to collect money — that's typically when a paid plan starts to pay for itself in time saved.

Genius Tip

Participants never pay to sign up for a slot. The only time participants pay is if an organizer has set up a payment collection for something like event tickets, dues, or a donation — and that's a separate, optional feature.

What Paid Plans Add

Paid plans are designed to reduce friction as your organizing gets more involved. The Free plan handles the core coordination well. Paid plans add features that remove manual overhead and give organizers more control over the participant experience.

For a full side-by-side breakdown of every plan, visit the pricing page. If you're not sure which tier fits your situation, the plan comparison guide walks through each one by organizer type.

Monthly vs. Annual Billing

Paid plans are available on monthly or annual billing cycles. Annual billing typically costs less overall and works well for groups that coordinate year-round, like PTAs, sports leagues, church committees, and workplace teams. Monthly billing is a good fit if you're organizing a single season or event and want flexibility without a longer commitment.

You can cancel auto-renewal at any time. Your account and sign up data stay intact regardless of whether you're on a paid plan or the Free plan.

Payment Processing Fees

Collecting money through sign ups is available on paid plans and uses SignUpGenius Payments, powered by Stripe. A standard processing fee of 5% plus $0.50 applies per transaction. Organizers can choose whether they or their participants cover that fee when setting up a payment-enabled sign up.

Payment collection works for a range of use cases: event tickets, supply fees, team dues, fundraisers, donations, and group gifts. Donations also include a thermometer display so participants can see progress toward a goal in real time.

There are no monthly fees specific to payment collection beyond the standard plan subscription. The per-transaction fee is the only cost.

Genius Tip

If you're running a fundraiser, enabling the donation thermometer gives participants a live view of progress toward your goal — which tends to increase follow-through on contributions.

Enterprise and Nonprofit Options

Schools, nonprofits, faith organizations, and businesses with larger coordination needs can explore Enterprise, which includes custom pricing based on organizational requirements. Enterprise adds branded sign ups, portal pages, embedded sign up functionality, and a dedicated account manager.

If your organization coordinates volunteers, events, or participation at scale and needs sign ups to feel like part of your own platform rather than a third-party tool, Enterprise is worth a conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SignUpGenius really free? Yes. The Free plan has no expiration and requires no credit card. You can create unlimited sign ups, send automatic reminders, and collect responses without paying anything.

Do participants have to pay to sign up for a slot? No. Participants never pay to claim a slot. The only time a participant would pay is if the organizer has set up payment collection for something like event tickets or a fee-based registration — and that's always clearly shown before they confirm.

Does SignUpGenius charge a fee to collect payments? Yes. A processing fee of 5% plus $0.50 per transaction applies when using SignUpGenius Payments. Organizers can choose whether to absorb that fee or pass it to participants.

Can I use SignUpGenius for a one-time event without committing to an annual plan? Yes. Monthly billing is available on all paid plans. You can upgrade for a single event or busy season and adjust your plan afterward without losing any of your data.

What happens to my sign ups if I downgrade from a paid plan? Your sign ups and account data are preserved. Some paid features will no longer be active, but your history and participant records stay in your account.

Is there a discount for nonprofits or schools? Enterprise pricing is available for organizations with larger needs, including nonprofits, schools, and PTAs. Contact the sales team through the Enterprise page to learn about options for your organization.