Plan a potluck without the spreadsheet.

The problem

Potluck planning shouldn't be a guessing game.

• Five desserts, no main

  Without a shared list, everyone brings what they feel like — and you find out at 6pm that dinner is four pies and a bag of ice.

• The group chat becomes the plan

  Forty messages, three side conversations, and one person who definitely missed the bit about bringing a salad.

• Nobody actually confirms

  “I'll bring something!” is not a dish. Plans change, people forget, and the host absorbs the gap.

• Allergies get missed

  Dietary needs live in someone's memory instead of on the sheet, so a guest ends up eating bread and hope.

How it works

One link. Everyone in sync.

1. 01

   Build the sign-up sheet

   List the categories you need — mains, sides, desserts, drinks, the paper plates someone has to remember. Set how many of each, and duplicates stop being possible.

2. 02

   Send one link

   Email your guests in bulk with a calendar invite attached, or paste the link wherever you already talk. Guests tap, RSVP, and claim a dish — no account, no app.

3. 03

   Keep the photos

   When the night winds down, Encore opens: a private feed where everyone invited can drop in their photos. Free for every guest, whatever plan you're on.

Everything a potluck actually needs.

• No ads, ever

  Your invite is the first thing guests see — not a banner. Every plan, including the free one.

• Dish claiming that actually works

  A shared list that updates in real time, so the fifth potato salad never gets a chance.

• RSVPs and reminders

  Track who's coming, with automatic nudges so nobody forgets what they committed to bring.

• Dietary flags

  Allergies and preferences sit on the sheet where everyone can see them, not in your head.

• One link, no guest accounts

  Guests tap and they're in. Nothing to download, nothing to sign up for, nothing to forget the password to.

• Encore, the photo feed for after

  The part most tools skip — a private place for the photos once the table clears.

Start from a potluck template.

Most potlucks fit a shape someone has already worked out. Each template comes with the categories, dish suggestions, and headcount guidance for the occasion — add your date and share.

• Friendsgiving
• Office Potluck
• Church Potluck
• Summer BBQ
• Holiday Potluck

Browse all potluck templates · Work out how much food to plan

Common questions

What is the best website to plan a potluck?

The right one depends on the gathering. Broad sign-up tools like SignUpGenius and Perfect Potluck are built to cover every kind of sign-up, from volunteer shifts to school rosters. PitchInDish is built specifically for potlucks and dinners: a sign-up sheet that prevents duplicate dishes, email invites with a calendar hold attached, and a private photo feed that opens after the event. It's ad-free on every plan, and your first gathering is free.

Is there a free potluck sign up sheet online?

Yes. Your first gathering on PitchInDish is completely free — no credit card, no app to download, and no ads on any plan. Guests never need an account either; they open one link, RSVP, and claim a dish. After the first gathering, it's $9 per gathering or $99 a year for unlimited.

How do I stop everyone bringing the same dish?

Decide the categories before anyone signs up, then open only as many slots as you need in each. When guests claim a dish from a shared list, everyone can see what's already covered, so nobody doubles up by accident. PitchInDish updates in real time — the moment someone claims the mac and cheese, it's off the table for everyone else.

Do my guests need an app or an account to sign up?

No. Guests tap your link, RSVP, and claim a dish without downloading anything or creating an account. Only the host needs an account, and creating one is free.

How much food should each guest bring to a potluck?

A good rule of thumb is one dish that serves 8 to 10 people per guest — roughly one and a half servings per person across the whole spread. For an exact breakdown by headcount and category, our free potluck calculator does the math.