Planning Pod vs Total Party Planner:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Planning Pod had more branded searches than Total Party Planner among catering software worldwide. Planning Pod had about 5,400 branded searches, while Total Party Planner had 4,400. Planning Pod made up 24.8% of all catering software searches we track, and Total Party Planner accounted for 20.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about catering software, Total Party Planner appeared in four of the five answers and Planning Pod in none.
Who do people search for more?
Planning Pod, about 23% more searches than Total Party Planner
Who does AI mention more?
Total Party Planner, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Planning Pod in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Total Party Planner, the only one of the two named
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Top catering software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Total Party Planner was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Planning Pod did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
CaterZen5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Better Cater5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Total Party Planner4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Caterease4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Curate4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Flex Catering1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers- Planning Pod0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
CaterTrax0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers- HoneyCart0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about catering software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which catering software should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best catering management systems?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best catering software for a small catering business?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“catering software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“catering management software”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 22, 2026.
Is Planning Pod or Total Party Planner more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Planning Pod and Total Party Planner by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine catering software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Planning Pod, Total Party Planner. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Planning Pod | CaterTrax | Total Party Planner | CaterZen | Caterease | Flex Catering | HoneyCart | Better Cater | Curate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 26.8% | 17.9% | 21.9% | 9.7% | 14.6% | 2.9% | 3.6% | 1.9% | 0.57% |
| Nov 2025 | 26.9% | 17.9% | 17.9% | 12% | 14.4% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 0.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 24.8% | 16.4% | 20.3% | 13.5% | 13.5% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 2.7% | 0.62% |
| Jan 2026 | 25.2% | 20.5% | 20.5% | 11.2% | 13.5% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 1.8% | 0.65% |
| Feb 2026 | 26.7% | 21.7% | 17.8% | 9.4% | 14.3% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 0.54% |
| Mar 2026 | 28.5% | 19% | 19% | 10.4% | 12.5% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 0.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 29.7% | 19.8% | 16.2% | 10.8% | 13.1% | 4% | 3.2% | 2.7% | 0.5% |
| May 2026 | 27.2% | 18.1% | 18.1% | 12.1% | 12.1% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 0.7% |
| Jun 2026 | 27.2% | 18.1% | 18.1% | 12.1% | 12.1% | 5% | 3% | 3.6% | 0.71% |
| Jul 2026 | 28.1% | 18.7% | 18.7% | 12.5% | 9.9% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 0.73% |
| Aug 2026 | 26.1% | 21.2% | 21.2% | 11.6% | 9.2% | 4.8% | 3.5% | 1.9% | 0.53% |
| Sep 2026 | 24.8% | 20.2% | 20.2% | 13.3% | 11% | 4.6% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 0.5% |
How has the Planning Pod and Total Party Planner comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Planning Pod was ahead of Total Party Planner in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Planning Pod’s share of searches among catering software worldwide moved from 26.8% to 24.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 5.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Total Party Planner’s share of searches among catering software worldwide moved from 21.9% to 20.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.4K to 4.4K.
How did search popularity change for catering software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Planning Pod lost share of searches among catering software worldwide, from 26.1% to 24.8%.
In September 2026, Total Party Planner lost share of searches among catering software worldwide, from 21.2% to 20.2%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Planning Pod’s and Total Party Planner’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Planning Pod
1 branded search term
- planning pod
Total Party Planner
1 branded search term
- total party planner
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