YourEventKit

Meetup

Meetup is useful when finding and retaining a local community matters as much as scheduling the event. Check the organiser plan against the number of groups and your communication needs; the free Starter limits make it a small-group introduction rather than a general free event plan.

Networking & Engagement Event Marketing Registration & Ticketing Freemium
Standard from US$29.99/month or US$174.99/year; Pro from US$55/group/month
Visit Meetup →
Tool Nutrition Label
Founded Not publicly confirmed in the sources checked
Headquarters Not publicly confirmed in the sources checked
Company Size Not publicly confirmed in the sources checked
Funding Not publicly confirmed in the sources checked
Pricing Model Organiser subscription; Pro priced per group
Free Trial Restricted Starter plan for eligible first-time organisers; paid trial eligibility varies
Contract Monthly, six-month or annual options depending on plan; automatic renewal
Attendee Capacity Starter: 10 attendees per event; paid plans state unlimited attendees, subject to event rules
Mobile App Web and mobile app access; organiser features depend on plan
Offline Capability Not verified
Data & Compliance Not publicly confirmed in the sources checked
Expertise Level Intermediate
Event Types
Social meetupsBook clubsCommunity sports gatheringsInterest-group workshops
Key Integrations
Mailchimp — Pro plan (Native)
Support Channels
Help centreSupport requestPro customer-success contact
Best For
  • + Local interest groups running recurring gatherings
  • + Clubs that benefit from community discovery
  • + Networks managing related groups with Pro reporting
Not For
  • − Starter users planning events with more than 10 attendees
  • − Organisations expecting unlimited groups in one Standard subscription
  • − Teams needing a complete conference registration and production suite
Key Capabilities
✓ Publish group events and collect RSVPs
✓ Help people discover groups around shared interests
✓ Coordinate co-hosts and recurring community activity
✓ Collect eligible event fees or group dues
✓ Operate up to three groups on Standard
✓ Manage branded networks, member exports and analytics on Pro
✓ Use Pro templates and events spanning several groups
Honest Limitations

Free eligibility and limits

Starter is for eligible first-time organisers: one group, two in-person events per calendar month and 10 attendees per event. Upgrading removes the route back to Starter.

Prices depend on the account

The help centre gives starting USD prices; location and promotions can change the final offer. Pro charges per group, so network size matters.

Renewal needs separate cancellation

Closing a group or stepping down as organiser does not cancel the paid subscription. Check the subscription itself.

Dated Pro reviews raise usability questions

Lorelei M. reported useful promotion but frustrating billing communication in a review updated July 2025; Nikhil M. praised group organisation in April 2023 while wanting a fresher interface. Test the current edition and support route.

Pricing Breakdown
Plan Price Details
Starter Free for eligible new organisers One group; two in-person events per calendar month; 10 attendees per event; restricted features.
Standard From US$29.99/month Alternatives start at US$99.99 per six months or US$174.99 per year; up to three groups.
Pro From US$55/group/month Six-month commitment starts at US$47/group/month; final location-specific offer appears in account.

Cost at Common Event Sizes

100
attendees
US$174.99 annual organiser base; about US$1.75 allocated per attendee
Hypothetical allocation of one starting-price Standard annual plan to one event; payment fees and tax excluded.
500
attendees
US$174.99 annual organiser base; about US$0.35 allocated per attendee
Same annual subscription, not a per-attendee tariff or confirmed local quote.
1000
attendees
US$174.99 annual organiser base; about US$0.175 allocated per attendee
Does not establish real attendance, turnout or a tested capacity.

Hidden Costs to Watch

  • ! Event payments, dues collection and applicable taxes can have additional charges.
  • ! Paid promotions are separate from the organiser subscription.
  • ! Pro group count multiplies the monthly subscription; it is not one flat network price.

Try publishing the sort of gathering you expect to repeat, then review the organiser’s view and a new member’s view. A community platform is most useful when people can understand the event, find the meeting point and return for the next one.

The fit assessment follows the documented scope. Linked reviews are dated individual experiences and do not establish typical performance.

Sources

  • Organiser subscription prices — Organiser subscription prices
  • Free Starter eligibility — Free Starter eligibility
  • Subscription charge and cancellation help — Subscription charge and cancellation help
  • Meetup Pro user reviews — Lorelei M., nonprofit founder, original 4 May 2024, rating updated 13 July 2025, 4/5: useful promotion, subscription/support communication concerns. Current, validated, organic. Review is of Pro, not evidence about Starter. Nikhil M., Application Engineer, 15 April 2023, 5/5: used it for company activities/community sports; preferred a more modern interface. Current, validated, incentivised G2 invite. Separate original author.

Comparing this with other event tools?

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Pairs Well With

Canva

The fastest way for most event teams to produce polished promo assets and decks, though it is still a design platform rather than a true event-ops tool.

Event Marketing Freemium

Prepare event covers and promotional assets outside Meetup.

Google Maps

Mapping, venue discovery, directions, traffic, offline driving maps, and embeddable location links that help attendees find event venues and planners coordinate logistics.

Venue & Catering Free

Share the meeting location and route information as a separate attendee-planning step.

Alternatives

Mixily

Ad-free invitations, RSVP tracking, guest messaging, and simple event pages for independent hosts and communities.

Digital Invitations Freemium

Compare tools for a community-led event and gathering workflow.

Wild Apricot

Membership management software with member database, renewals, website, payments, email, and event registration for clubs, nonprofits, and associations.

Event Planning & Management Freemium

Compare membership administration for a more formal club.

Eventbrite

Mass-market ticketing and event marketing platform with unmatched discovery reach, fast setup, and fee-heavy economics for paid events.

Registration & Ticketing Event Marketing Freemium

Compare ticket-led public event discovery and registration.

Questions to Ask the Vendor
  1. 1
    What exact price and renewal date apply to our account and country?
  2. 2
    Which plan covers our group count and required member exports?
  3. 3
    What fees apply to dues, paid events, refunds and promotions?
  4. 4
    How can organisers transfer control without losing community records?
  5. 5
    Which privacy and communication settings can members control?
How we research tools

We research each tool by reviewing official documentation, pricing pages, and user feedback from Trustpilot, G2, and Capterra. If something's out of date or inaccurate, use the link below to flag it.

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