Seating Chart App
Web app that works like a native app. No app-store download, no install permissions, no version-update friction. Open the tool below in any modern browser — Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox — and start planning. On iOS and Android you can add the app to your home screen and launch it like any other installed app.
Built mobile-first. The canvas, the table presets, the guest-assignment popover all work with touch input. Tested on iPhone 12 (375px) and modern Android. For laying out a 30-table wedding we still recommend a laptop — but the app is fully functional on mobile for review, edits, and showing the chart to anyone on the spot.
How to install the app on iOS
Open seatchart.app in Safari. Tap the share icon (the square with the up arrow at the bottom). Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen." Confirm the name. The app icon appears on your home screen.
Launching the app from the home screen opens it in full-screen mode without Safari's URL bar — visually identical to a native app. Your saved charts and event state persist across launches.
How to install the app on Android
Open seatchart.app in Chrome. Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner. Tap "Install app" (or "Add to Home Screen" on older Chrome versions). Confirm the name. The app icon appears in your app drawer and on the home screen.
The Android version supports notifications and full-screen launch. The PDF export downloads to your default downloads folder; share to any installed app (Gmail, WhatsApp, AirDrop equivalent) from the share menu.
Why a web app instead of native
App stores add friction. Submitting through Apple's and Google's review processes adds 1-2 weeks per update; pulling 30% in store fees compresses pricing options. A web app updates instantly — when we ship a fix to the canvas, you get it on the next page load, not after an App Store update.
Web apps also work cross-platform automatically. The same app runs on your iPhone, your iPad, your laptop, and your spouse's Android phone without us maintaining four separate codebases. Your charts stay in sync via the Pro tier's cloud save.
The trade-off: web apps can't access some platform-specific features (push notifications on iOS are limited, deep OS integration is harder). For seating chart planning specifically, none of these limitations matter — the core experience is canvas + table + export, which web tech handles natively.
Quick tips
- iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard is the sweet spot for serious seating-chart work — Pro Canvas feel without lugging a laptop to the venue.
- Pinch-zoom the canvas on mobile to inspect crowded sections; the gesture works on all touch devices.
- Touch and drag a table for half a second before moving — this distinguishes from accidental taps and prevents misfires.
- On Android, use the "Share" menu from the home-screen-installed app to email a PDF directly without leaving the app.
- Bookmark seatchart.app on every device you use — the chart syncs via Pro cloud save, so editing from your laptop and reviewing on your phone works seamlessly.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this a real app or a website?
- It's both: a web app — software that runs in your browser but installs to your home screen like a native app. On iOS, add via Safari's share menu. On Android, install via Chrome's install option. After install, it launches full-screen like any installed app.
- Will I find it in the App Store or Google Play?
- No. We deliberately skip the app stores because they add friction without adding value for a tool like this. Bookmark seatchart.app and install via the browser's "Add to Home Screen" option — same end result, less overhead.
- Does the app work offline?
- Partially. The canvas and your saved chart work offline once the page is loaded. Cloud save (Pro feature) requires a connection to sync. PDF export works offline. If you're planning at a venue with bad WiFi, the app keeps working.
- Will my chart sync across devices?
- On Seat Chart App Pro, yes — cloud save syncs your charts across every device you sign in on. The free plan stores charts in your browser's local storage only, so you'd lose access if you switched laptops.
- What about iPad specifically?
- iPad is excellent for this tool. The canvas is large enough for serious work; touch-and-drag is precise; and the screen real estate fits a full reception layout. Many wedding planners and teachers use the iPad version with a keyboard for fast guest-name entry.
- Why not a native iOS / Android app?
- We may build native apps in the future if the user demand justifies it. Right now, the web app handles the full feature set at zero install friction — most users prefer that to going through the App Store.