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Publishing

Publish a free event without Stripe

You can publish a free RSVP event without connecting Stripe, as long as attendees are not being charged through HereNow.

4 min readUpdated Jun 22, 2026
Audience

Hosts creating free workshops, meetups, salons, community events, or invite links.

User need

I want to publish a free event and do not want to set up Stripe.

Use this page when your event is free

A free event can still have a serious registration workflow. You may want capacity limits, waitlist, approval, custom questions, check-in, and attendee export without charging anyone.

Stripe becomes relevant when you sell paid tickets or need a checkout flow. For free RSVPs, keep payment setup out of the way.

Publish a free RSVP event

1

Create or open the event draft

Start from AI, a template, or an existing draft. Confirm that the event should be free.

2

Keep ticket price off

Do not add paid tickets or checkout instructions if the event should be free through HereNow.

3

Set registration rules

Use capacity, waitlist, approval, and custom questions when the free event still needs attendee control.

4

Preview the attendee path

Open preview and make sure the button leads to free registration, not a paid checkout expectation.

5

Publish and test the link

Publish the page, open the public link while logged out, and confirm that attendees can RSVP without payment.

Free event settings

Setting
How to think about it
Capacity
Still useful for small rooms, limited materials, or host bandwidth.
Approval
Useful for curated groups, member-only events, or application-style free sessions.
Custom questions
Ask only what you need for logistics, safety, or preparation.
Stripe
Not required unless you sell paid tickets through HereNow.

Free event publish check

The page does not show a paid ticket requirement.

Registration form is short enough for a free event.

Capacity and waitlist behavior match your plan.

The host profile is complete enough for attendee trust.

The public link works while logged out.

Simple is good

For free events, reduce friction unless you truly need screening, custom fields, or strict capacity control.

FAQ

Do I need Stripe for free RSVPs?

No. Stripe is only needed for paid ticket checkout and payout setup.

Can a free event still have a waitlist?

Yes. Capacity and waitlist can be useful even when no money is collected.

Can I change a free event to paid later?

Be careful after people have registered. Changing payment expectations can confuse attendees and should be communicated clearly.

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