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Cactoide
What it is
Cactoide is a free, open-source, mobile-first event RSVP platform available on the web or through self-hosting. Organizers create events with a streamlined form without making an account, then receive a unique URL to share through platforms or messaging apps. Guests open that link and enter their names to RSVP without registering. Organizers can accept unlimited responses or set an event capacity, and special invite links can restrict responses to people who have the link. Public events may be discovered and shared across connected Cactoide instances. Event pages provide one-tap calendar additions through ICS or webcal links; the project lists Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, and Outlook as compatible calendars. Self-hosting instructions use Docker Compose and a database. Operators can enable federation with the FEDERATION_INSTANCE environment variable and configure an instance name and instance list. Cactoide is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and described as an alternative for small companies and groups. The README identifies community support and direct contact. Proper internationalization is not implemented, although translation files are included.
For and against
For
- Create events without organizer accounts
- Guests RSVP without registering
- Unlimited or capacity-limited attendance
- Invite-only links restrict responses
- ICS and webcal calendar links
Against
- Proper internationalization is not implemented
- Self-hosting requires Docker Compose and a database
- Community-supported rather than a stated support service
The verdict
Cactoide keeps event creation and RSVP collection simple through shareable links and no-registration responses. Federation, calendar links, capacity controls, and self-hosting add flexibility, while incomplete internationalization is a stated limitation.
Who it suits
Cactoide suits small companies and groups that want link-based event invitations and RSVP collection without account registration. It also fits operators willing to self-host and configure federation.
On the record
- Audience
- The project README describes Cactoide as an alternative to Meetup, Eventbrite, and Partiful for small companies and groups.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Calendar integration
- The project README documents ICS or webcal calendar links compatible with Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, and Outlook, with automatic time zone handling.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Capacity
- Organizers can choose unlimited RSVPs or set a limited event capacity.cactoide.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Event creation
- Organizers can create events through a streamlined form without an account.cactoide.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Federation
- Connected Cactoide instances can discover and share public events across the network.cactoide.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Federation setup
- The README says instance operators can enable federation with the FEDERATION_INSTANCE environment variable and configure an instance name and instance list.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The project describes itself as an alternative to Meetup, Eventbrite, and Partiful for small companies and groups.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Internationalization
- The README says proper internationalization is not implemented, though the project includes language translation files.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Invite-only events
- Special invite links let organizers limit RSVPs to people with the link.cactoide.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Known limitation
- The README says proper internationalization is not implemented, though language translation files are included in an i18n folder.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under AGPL-3.0.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Open source
- The project is licensed under AGPL-3.0.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Product
- Cactoide is a federated, mobile-first event RSVP platform for creating events, sharing unique URLs, and collecting RSVPs without registration.cactoide.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- RSVPs
- Guests can RSVP by opening an event link and entering their name without creating an account.cactoide.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Self-hosting
- The README documents running Cactoide with Docker Compose and a database.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Sharing
- Each event gets a unique URL that can be shared through platforms or messaging apps.cactoide.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Support
- The README describes the project as community-supported and provides [email protected] for direct contact.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
