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Source-backed analysis11

Review basis

Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.

11 reference sources

Information updated Nov 10, 2026

How we review
Meetup logo

Meetup Review

Platform for finding and running interest-based groups and events

Editorial Team6.4/10Write the first review

By Official AppDuo editorial team · Updated

  • Web
  • iOS
  • Android
Freemium · $29.99/mo
Visit Meetup
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Decide at a glance

Our verdict

Meetup suits people looking for in-person interest groups and events, and organizers who want ready-made group tools. The trade-offs: organizers pay from $29.99/month once past a very limited free Starter plan, members need Meetup+ to see attendee lists, and the Android app shows ads and rates only 3.8/5.

Best for: People looking for local events, hobby clubs or professional groups

Skip it if: Organizers who want to run a group for free long-term; Starter is for newcomers only, capped at 2 events a month and 10 attendees per event

Pros

  • The iOS app scores 4.7/5 from 272,676 ratings and offers 12 interface languages
  • Find events by category, keyword or map; messaging and group discussions
  • A free Starter plan lets new organizers try the platform

Cons

  • Organizers must pay: Standard from $29.99/month or $174.99/year, Pro from $55/group/month
  • Free members cannot see attendee or member lists without Meetup+
All pros and cons · Who is it for?

More pros

  • Detailed privacy policy with a named DPO contact and retention periods per purpose
  • Meetup Pro for multi-group networks: unlimited groups, Mailchimp integration, branded profile, metrics and API

More cons

  • The Android app contains ads and rates just 3.8/5 from about 236,000 Google Play reviews
  • Data is kept up to three years after your last interaction, ten years for some purposes

Best for

  • Organizers who want scheduling, messaging and member management in one app
  • Companies and organisations running a network of groups with Meetup Pro

Skip it if

  • People wary of data sharing: profile, RSVP and location data may be processed for targeted advertising

Problems it solves

Experience & key features

What Meetup is

Meetup is a platform for finding and building local communities: people join interest groups and attend in-person or online events. According to Wikipedia, Scott Heiferman and four co-founders launched Meetup in June 2002. It is now owned by Bending Spoons; the official site's footer names Bending Spoons Operations S.p.A. as the operating company.

Key features

Per the App Store and Google Play descriptions, the app lets you find events by category, keyword or map, get interest-based group suggestions, save events, message and discuss, create groups and schedule events, and share photos in a group. Free members cannot see attendee lists; that requires Meetup+. For larger organisations, Meetup Pro removes the group cap and adds member segmentation, mailing-list export, Mailchimp integration, a branded network profile, sponsors, community metrics and the Meetup API.

Pricing and value

Per the Help Center, the Standard organizer plan starts at $29.99/month, $99.99 per 6 months or $174.99/year for up to 3 groups; Pro starts at $55/group/month ($47/group/month on 6-month billing). Actual prices vary by location and offers, and rose from June 2024. First-time organizers get a free Starter plan limited to 1 group, 2 events a month and 10 attendees per event. Members use the core for free; Meetup+ has no published price, and US App Store in-app purchases list $4.99 and $9.99. Wikipedia notes that in October 2019 Meetup tested a $2 RSVP fee in two US states and drew strong backlash.

More analysis

Privacy and comparison

The privacy policy lists precise location if GPS is enabled and content you post, and allows sharing with advertising partners subject to regional law. Compared with Eventbrite or Luma, Meetup leans towards recurring groups rather than ticketing single events, so it fits people who want a lasting community; those who only need a one-off event page may consider those alternatives.

Screenshots

App Store promotional image (1)
App Store promotional image (1)
App Store promotional image (2)
App Store promotional image (2)
App Store promotional image (3)
App Store promotional image (3)

Plans & pricing

Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026

Free

Personal

Free

Per the Help Center, non-paying members can discover groups and events, join and RSVP to unlimited groups and events, use group discussions and event comments, and message organizers. Attendee and member lists are reserved for Meetup+.

Meetup+

Personal

Contact sales

Member subscription that unlocks attendee and member lists among other features. First-time users are usually offered a trial of a few days, after which it renews automatically. The Help Center publishes no price; US App Store in-app purchases list Meetup Plus Subscription at $4.99 and $9.99 without a billing period.

Meetup Starter

Personal

Free

Free plan for first-time organizers only, started on the website: 1 group, up to 2 in-person events per month and 10 attendees per event; no online or recurring events or member dues. Once you upgrade to a paid plan you cannot return to Starter.

Standard

Personal

$29.99/mo

$14.58/mo billed yearly

Starting prices per the Help Center: $29.99/month, $99.99 per 6 months or $174.99/year; actual prices vary by location, offers and in-app purchase. Up to 3 groups, unlimited events and attendees, ticket fees and group dues. Prices rose from June 2024.

Pro

Business

$55/mo

Billed per group: from $55/group/month on monthly billing, from $47/group/month on 6-month billing. Unlimited groups in one network, member segmentation, mailing-list export, Mailchimp integration, a branded network profile, sponsors, the Pro dashboard, community metrics and the Meetup API.

Free plan limits
Members join groups and events for free, but seeing attendee lists requires Meetup+. First-time organizers get a free Starter plan with tight limits (1 group, 2 events a month, 10 attendees per event).
Free trial
No free trial
Cancellation & refunds

Per the refund policy (updated 13 November 2025), weekly and monthly plans must request a refund within 20 days of the period start and yearly plans within 60 days; only the latest charge is refundable. No refunds for downgrades, if you were refunded in the previous 8 months, or for App Store purchases (handled by Apple). EU residents have a 14-day withdrawal right.

Privacy

Meetup's privacy policy names Bending Spoons US Inc. as data controller. Data includes name, email, phone number, precise location (if GPS is on), posted content and device data. Data is generally kept up to three years from your last interaction, up to ten years for some purposes. The policy describes targeted advertising: consent in the EEA/UK, opt-out mechanisms in the US and elsewhere. Profile and RSVP information can be visible to other members, organizers and search engines depending on group settings.

Official pricing page

Meetup alternatives

Meetup logoVSLuma logoMeetup vs Luma
Luma logo7.6/10

Luma

Clean event pages with RSVPs and ticketing; free plan has unlimited guests

Freemium
Eventbrite logo7.5/10

Eventbrite

Widely used global platform for creating events, selling tickets and managing attendees

Freemium
All alternatives

Frequently asked questions

Is Meetup free?

Members download the app, join groups and RSVP for free; seeing attendee lists needs Meetup+. First-time organizers get a tightly limited free Starter plan; Standard starts at $29.99/month.

Who owns Meetup?

Bending Spoons. Wikipedia says the deal was finalised on 24 January 2024, and the official site confirms Meetup is owned by Bending Spoons.

How long does Meetup keep my data?

Per the policy, generally up to three years from your last interaction or subscription expiry; some purposes use 1, 2 or 10 years.

Is there an app, and in which languages?

Yes, for iOS (iOS 16 or later) and Android. The iOS app is available in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish.

Review evidence & sources11

Scores

Ease of use
7.0
Why this score

The app offers event search by category, keyword and map plus interest-based group suggestions. But ratings diverge sharply (4.7/5 on the App Store, 3.8/5 on Google Play), and free members regularly hit Meetup+ upgrade pop-ups.

Features
7.5
Why this score

It covers groups, event scheduling, messaging, discussions, photo sharing, online events, ticket fees and group dues; Pro adds Mailchimp, sponsors, a dashboard, metrics and the API. It lacks the deeper ticketing of dedicated event platforms.

Value for money
5.8
Why this score

Basic membership is free, but attendee lists sit behind Meetup+. Organizers pay from $29.99/month for Standard or $55/group/month for Pro, after a June 2024 price rise; the free Starter plan is too limited to be a real substitute.

Performance
6.5
Why this score

The iOS app is 286 MB and is updated regularly (version 2026.10.25). No independent uptime data was found; Wikipedia records a DDoS that took the site down in March 2014.

Support
6.0
Why this score

The Help Center has detailed articles on subscriptions, pricing and refunds, but no chat or phone channel appears on the official pages.

Privacy & security
5.5
Why this score

The policy is transparent on data types and retention and names a DPO, but covers targeted advertising, precise location and sharing with advertising partners; the Android app also shows ads.

What users say

Sources

Specs & compatibility
Developer
Meetup LLC
Headquarters
United States
Launched
2002
Category
Community

Capabilities

  • Mobile app
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Public API

Platforms

  • Web
  • iOS
  • Android

Interface languages

  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Russian

Support

  • Email
  • Help center

Change history

  1. Price.Meetup raises prices for Standard and new Pro organizer plans.
  2. Company.The Bending Spoons acquisition of Meetup is finalised.
  3. Company.WeWork sells Meetup to AlleyCorp and other investors.
Full change history (7)
  1. Price.Meetup tests a new pricing model in two US states: organizers pay $23.99/month and users pay $2 to RSVP.
  2. Company.WeWork acquires Meetup for about $156 million.
  3. Company.Union Square Ventures invests in the company.
  4. Launch.Scott Heiferman and four co-founders launch Meetup.
About the author

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