Meetup
Meetup: A strong fit for local event communities, with less breadth for courses and customization. Ranked #11 of 126 in Community Platforms by our editors (8.4/10); pricing: Free plan; best for local groups centered on in-person events.
At a glance
- Editor score8.4 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forLocal groups centered on in-person events
- Free planYes
- Founded2002
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free Starter plan supports discovery, group management, and event scheduling
- Event tools include ticketing, waitlists, attendee lists, and check-in
- Private visibility, approvals, moderation, and mobile apps support group management
Where it doesn't
- Starter is limited to eligible first-time organizers
- Broader content, course, and customization needs may require another platform
- Advanced capabilities and multiple groups require paid plans
Our verdict on Meetup
Meetup is a community platform for discovering interest-based groups and organizing in-person or online events. Members can find local communities, join discussions, RSVP to events, and communicate with organizers. Organizers can create groups, schedule events, manage attendees and waitlists, screen or approve members, charge event fees or dues, and promote their communities. It is best suited to local groups where events are the center of member activity.
The free Starter plan is available to eligible first-time organizers and includes one group, unlimited members, up to two in-person events per calendar month, up to 10 attendees per event, Group Discussions, and Event Chat. Standard starts at 29.99 and adds unlimited events and attendees, up to three groups, basic group communication, group and event promotion, ticket fees, and group dues. Pro supports unlimited groups with payment per group, plus network, group, and event community levels, advanced group communication, advanced event creation, Mailchimp integration, and access to the Meetup API. Prices may vary by location, currency, taxes, app purchase method, and special offers.
Meetup’s strongest area is event operations: scheduling, ticketing, waitlists, attendee management, check-in, discussions, event chat, member approvals, profile questions, private group visibility, member removal, banning, and organizer communications are all part of the feature set. Web, iOS, and Android access support members across devices, while Stripe, Mailchimp, and the Meetup API extend the platform’s ecosystem fit. Choose Meetup for event-led communities that need discovery and practical organizer controls. Choose another community platform if courses, richer content publishing, extensive customization, or a broader integration range matter more than local event coordination.
Your product? Our editors can test Meetup in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Meetup pricing
All 3 Meetup plans and prices →
Meetup fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Member limit | Not verified |
| Event hosting | Yes |
| Private spaces | Yes |
| Custom domain | Not verified |
| Moderation tools | Yes |
| Mobile apps | Both |
| Deployment | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 3 integrations: Mailchimp, Meetup API, Stripe |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | meetup.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Meetup integrations
Meetup lists 3 integrations on its own site.
- Mailchimp
- Meetup API
- Stripe
Alternatives to Meetup
- DiscourseA mature choice for communities that need discussion, chat, moderation, and private spaces.9.4
- RedditA flexible, free home for public topic discussions with substantial moderation tools.9.2
- UNAA flexible community stack for organizations that want control over hosting, features, and mobile apps.9.0
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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