In a nutshell: Apple has introduced a new app called Apple Invites that’s designed to help iPhone users craft digital invitations for virtually any occasion. It leverages elements from several popular apps to create a one-of-a-kind, interactive event invitation that anyone can interact with.

Getting started with Apple Invites is as simple as choosing a background template from the app’s gallery or selecting an image from your own photo library. You can also tap into Apple Intelligence to create unique illustrations in Image Playground. From there, simply add any pertinent details like the date, time, and a description of the event. Writing Tools can lend a hand if you’re struggling to come up with the right mix of words.

Maps and Weather widgets can provide guests with directions and forecasts for the big day. There’s even a Shared Album feature where guests can add photos and videos from the event, and a collaborative playlist powered by Apple Music. Guests control how their details appear to other users, and Apple notes that you are free to leave or report an event at any time.

It’s worth noting that Apple Invites isn’t a unique concept. Similar apps including Partiful, evite, Paperless Post, and Sendo have been playing in this same space for a while now. Apple’s solution could stand out from the crowd, however, thanks to its large iPhone install base and integrations with other apps. For now, the service is limited to 100 guests per event, although there’s no limit on how many events you can host.

Apple Invites is free to download from the App Store for all iPhones running iOS 18 or later, and can also be accessed on the web. Anyone can receive an invite and RSVP, regardless of what device they are using, but you must be an iCloud+ subscriber to create an invitation (plans start at $0.99 per month). If you aren’t already an iCloud+ subscriber and don’t want to pay for yet another service. consider checking out some of the aforementioned alternatives.