Releventful vs. Caterease: Which Catering Software Gives You the Edge?

When you’re managing events, staying organized is non-negotiable (especially in catering). Between prepping menus to finalizing proposals and processing payments, you need an event management platform that keeps everything running smoothly.

Two popular options in the industry are Releventful and Caterease. While both offer tools to help streamline your catering business, they serve different needs. This comparison will help you decide which event software is right for you. No matter if  you’re a long-time Caterease user looking for a modern alternative or researching the best CRM for event professionals.

A Quick Overview of Releventful vs. Caterease

Caterease is one of the more established platforms in the catering space. It’s known for its robust tools for menu planning, food costing, and kitchen operations. If your business revolves primarily around food and service logistics, Caterease offers many tools to help.

On the other hand,Releventful is an all-in-one event management software for venues and caterers. It’s built with modern workflows in mind, which allows teams to manage everything from event proposals and client communication to payments, staff assignments, and task tracking in one place. It’s also great for caterers who provide bar service, venue rentals, or staffing.

Catering-Focused Features: Who Does It Better?

Caterease was built with caterers in mind, so it shines when it comes to menu customization, recipe breakdowns, and tracking ingredient-level costs. It’s well-suited for operations that manage large volumes of events and require detailed kitchen prep.

But what it offers in food-specific tools, it lacks in flexibility. The user interface could be considered dated, and many users report needing extensive onboarding and training to use it efficiently.

Releventful, while originally designed for venues, has quickly gained popularity with catering businesses that want more control over the client experience. It offers drag-and-drop proposal builders, customizable menus, and integrated payment processing, so clients can review, sign, and pay in a seamless experience. For caterers who care as much about their client interactions as they do the food, this can be a game-changer.

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CRM and Proposal Management

If you’re still juggling spreadsheets, PDFs, and email threads, upgrading to a CRM for catering and event professionals is a must.

Releventful gives caterers a full event CRM that tracks every inquiry, sends automated follow-ups, and logs all communication. You can build out proposals, send contracts, and include upsells like rentals, staffing, and bar packages with just a few clicks.

Caterease includes proposal templates, but CRM functionality is limited. You’ll need additional tools to manage lead nurturing or drip campaigns, which can lead to disconnected workflows.

Did you know? Releventful is one of the few platforms that combines event CRM, proposal software, and e-signature contracts in one system.

Payments, Invoicing, and Tipping

Caterease allows you to generate invoices, but its payment processing isn’t fully integrated. You may need to rely on external systems or manual tracking to collect deposits and monitor outstanding balances.

Releventful offers automated payment reminders, tipping functionality, and secure credit card processing directly through the proposal. This makes it easier for clients to say yes, and for your business to get paid on time.

If you’re looking for catering business software that makes invoicing easier, Releventful’s system eliminates friction and improves the client experience.

Event Logistics and Team Coordination

Successful catering events rely on seamless communication and execution. That’s where Releventful’s task management and team coordination tools stand out.

You can assign tasks to specific staff members, control who sees what based on user role ,and manage event timelines, menus, and BEOs (Banquet Event Orders) all in one place.

Caterease provides event timeline and menu management, but it lacks built-in tools for team tracking or communication. This means  you’ll likely need a separate system (or lots of phone calls) to stay in sync.

Reporting and Business Insights

Caterease offers strong food cost reporting and menu analysis, making it ideal for caterers who need to watch margins closely.

Releventful takes a broader approach to business insights, offering reports that show event details, financial reporting, labor costs and much much more. These tools help caterers not only manage costs, but grow smarter.

If you're running a small catering business and want to scale, understanding your numbers is key…and Releventful delivers.

Which Catering Software Is Right for You?

If your catering business needs detailed kitchen prep tools, recipe tracking, and complex menu breakdowns, Caterease could meet your needs, especially if you’re already familiar with the system.

But if you’re looking for a more modern, mobile-friendly platform that can handle your entire client journey including CRM, proposals, payments, client communication, and event logistics, Releventful may be the better long-term solution.

Next Steps

Choosing the right event management software for caterers depends on your workflow and goals. For food-first operations that value deep menu planning, Caterease still has a strong foothold. But for caterers who want to streamline operations, modernize client interactions, and reduce software sprawl, Releventful is emerging as the top Caterease alternative.

Want to see how Releventful can transform your venue’s booking process?

‍👉 Book a demo today and explore the CRM built for event professionals like you.