What are alternatives to MeetUp?

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zXju785kw@reddit

I've been building [https://radius.to/](https://radius.to/) \- based in the UK for those who are looking for Europe-based alternatives! Any questions - please ask!

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Not 100% the same but if you're after anything creative or crafty I would suggest trying ClassBento! No memberships or anything just a big site of local things you can do depending on where you are, then you just pay for whichever class you choose. It gives lots of inspiration and does the hard work for you which I always appreciate!

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Big_Cellist5726@reddit

I did a craft class with them recently and found it a good opportunity to meet people! So similar vibes to meet up in a way :)

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edent@reddit

I use Eventbrite. There may be some paid features, but it is good enough for finding things to do.

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Neither_Ad395@reddit

My understanding is that Bending Spoons took that over too. Is that correct? Definitely give [gatherist.org](http://gatherist.org) a look. Very plain site, but none of the paywalls or popup ads that Meetup has.

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Antique_Owl_6491@reddit

[Setto.sg](http://Setto.sg) also has no cost on the members side. quite a focussed offering now on small auto matched meetups but expect it will expand into a wider variety using their matching algo to get the right people and events paired together.

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edent@reddit

I don't think that works in the UK, does it?

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Neither_Ad395@reddit

Oh looks like it hasn’t launched in Uk quite yet.

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edent@reddit

When will you be launching? I assume you work for them as you spend so much time posting about them.

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Zubi_Q@reddit

Yeah, it's gone down the shitter. Used to be such an amazing app

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Neither_Ad395@reddit

Are you still on there? Or did you give up entirely?

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Zubi_Q@reddit

I'm on there but it's so different to what I was used to, a few years back. Was heavily on it during 2022/23

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Neither_Ad395@reddit

The groups I'm part of have said they are struggling more than before to attract members. I am trying to switch my group over to Gatherist. The site charges way less money. The only issue is that Meetup is still the best place to attract people you don't know to your events.

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Antique_Owl_6491@reddit

Have you had a look at [Setto.sg](http://Setto.sg) ? it's free for members. At the moment its only scheduling the meetups directly for you and auto matching based on your preference set but expect that it will expand into allow members to create their own meetups in the future and then apply the same matching formula for getting the right people to attend.

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Antique_Owl_6491@reddit

[Setto.sg](http://Setto.sg) is free on the member side, soft launching in London with a waitlist presently. It monetises in other ways through businesses not members, membership is free and unlimited (in terms of meetups). It only covers meetups at venues like cafes,restaurants, ect for small groups (3-8) for now but it does all the hardwork matching you based on your interests, availbility and location and then autoschedules the whole thing. If you're busy or not interested you just opt out. You get 3 suggested meetups a week so its no overwhelming trying to decide like some of the tradtional apps in the space. Hope that helps.

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arenaross@reddit

Dunno if needing to bring in income into the business so they can pay employees and the costs associated with running an app is necessarily greed tbh.

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dospc@reddit

I appreciate your concern. I too pay for apps. However, you are wrong in this instance. They already charge organisers and had operated on that business model for many years. It is greed.

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CeresToTycho@reddit

"Greed" = Capitalism. Infinite Growth must continue, otherwise the company is "Not Viable". They must find ways to make more profits, otherwise they'll die. I don't like it, awareness that this is the system we live under is important.

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rumpeltizkin@reddit

That is the way you understand it because we don't have enough intelligence to create other ways, or perhaps the will. What they teach at business schools is not necessarily right, it's just what they teach you for you to want to be enrolled, hence pay them to teach you. As they are experts in business, they know what they are doing, even if that means educating the entire society wrong.

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AnotherYadaYada@reddit (OP)

Exactly. First steps, what they gonna monetise next....

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arenaross@reddit

So maybe that business model doesn't work anymore?

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AnotherYadaYada@reddit (OP)

I'm sure it does, just squeezing more from it in as many different ways that they can.

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Fedora_le_maximus@reddit

i notice this a lot too, every large app on the app store will have 1 star reviews complaining it's not free. even on apps where 90% of the stuff is free, people will complain about the last 10%. I think all the big tech companies monetising via data collection and ad serving has ingrained some societal expectation that all software outside of games/B2B stuff should be free for some reason.

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arenaross@reddit

Yeh exactly this.

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hero_Persimmon2991@reddit

Also some groups and events charge cause they pay for activities example if it was a bowling night out. the organiser pays then everyone would have to pay the organiser to join

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unclear_warfare@reddit

I use Meetup regularly and this isn't correct. You don't have to pay to login, nor to join a group on the app. You do have to pay for some events, but many are free. Unfortunately you have to pay for more now than you used to - Meetup got taken over by a company who put the prices up for those who run events, many of whom are now leaving, sharing with other groups, or putting their own prices up

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rumpeltizkin@reddit

You're right, you don't have to pay, but bombarding the user that just wants to attend an event over and over with a banner teling to become MeetUp+ is absurd, and nearly insulting. The organizer is already paying, that allows it to create events for people to attend, it is not a 2 way payment, where users need to pay to be able to join events. And that's how MeetUp is treating its users. I repeat, it's not forced but the way it is poping up is so annoying that it causes the contrary effect, the will to NOT pay. This is a strategy they should teach at business schools in a wrong way, but well, those schools get money from studends who want to make money regardless of their strategies, and with that in mind business schools get their money too. It's a well rounded plot that can't stop existing.

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Expert-Selection-871@reddit

Started using Heylo as a Meetup alternative recently after suffering similar frustrations. Only been on there a month, but feedback has been good. The free version has all of the features you'll need IMO and much more user friendly than Meetup: [https://www.heylo.com/](https://www.heylo.com/)

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Neither_Ad395@reddit

If you already have an established group, Gatherist is a good alternative because they charge way less money to organizers. It's new so you're not going to get a lot of new members through the site though.

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asaf_m@reddit

I'd say the \*really\* need to alter the design as it looks so plain.

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Neither_Ad395@reddit

Yeah I'm more concerned about functionality than aesthetics, but definitely agree on that point.

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_Odaeus_@reddit

Luma is becoming a popular alternative for event organisers. I wouldn't mind paying for Meetup but the platform is clearly degrading and it's not cheap as an organiser for free events. Such a shame as it was a great place to find events when I moved to a new city.

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asaf_m@reddit

Beyond 500 members of your group, it cost money (expensive) to send notifications when a new event is published for your group.

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AnotherYadaYada@reddit (OP)

I was being sarcastic. It’s the pay to see who’s going that pisses me off, just 1 step towards more things. That just bugs me.

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GregsPepperedOnions@reddit

You can bypass this on the mobile version. Whenever that screen pops up in the mobile app, click X to close it, and then you will view the attendees. Very annoying when it popped up on PC. If the developers see this, they might try to close this loophole on the mobile app, then I'll be doomed.

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AnotherYadaYada@reddit (OP)

I don’t think this works or has worked 3 out of 3 so far.

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GregsPepperedOnions@reddit

I am on the android version of the app. Sorry this does not work for you.

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AsparagusPowerful282@reddit

Just FYI it doesn’t charge for joining groups, just for seeing the members (which is annoying). But I use it free with no issues. I do think it’s gone downhill post COVID though, a lot of activity has moved to WhatsApp groups which I dislike — you can’t search them up, you have to be invited, and then randos can see your phone number. If you happen to be lgbtq, I would highly recommend Outsavvy, there’s a great variety of events on there.

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yoosanaim@reddit

You can change WhatsApp group settings so that numbers remain private

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ojdewar@reddit

Yes the feeling is that moving to closed groups shuts newcomers out.

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hero_Persimmon2991@reddit

locals the app There is a paying fee for Meetup but you dont have to pay (The fee means u get some perks which in my opinion they aint worth it) Secondly im part of some meet up groups where its free to join. it just depends on the group and the location. https://preview.redd.it/65vy09sxnc4g1.jpeg?width=165&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=76bb5d3490688edd2d433cb278b259157b9a9bf7

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TomfromLondon@reddit

I tried this but found when trying to view by distance it just doesn't work, seems to just show me "London" so I gave up

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TomfromLondon@reddit

I'm still using meetup for free so not sure what youre doing. Eventbrite is quite good and luma.com seems to be getting lots of events

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ojdewar@reddit

How do I get it to show ‘less of’ stuff that I’m just not interested in? Like networking events in industries that I’m not in. And where else can I find hobby groups locally? Joining closed Discord or WhatsApp groups is very cliquish.

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purelyplayful@reddit

Friends of mine use Discord now. Seems to be where most of the hobby groups went when Meetup started charging for everything.

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earlgreytoday@reddit

It's still free to create an account and join groups, although some will charge for events to account for no-shows/dropouts. The only features I've noticed that are now paywalled are the ability to view all members in a group and all attendees for an event. They've also introduced priority booking for subscribers on an event's waitlist, rather than it being 'first come, first served'.

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AnotherYadaYada@reddit (OP)

This...I don't want to have to pay to see who is going to an event. Put me right off. What's next is the question.

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Conscious-Strategy92@reddit

Reddit local city groups?

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hero_Persimmon2991@reddit

another free option is so many groups now opperate on facebook, instagram, reddit.

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MisterIndecisive@reddit

Just don't pay. Meetup is still perfectly usable

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BG3restart@reddit

I use MeetUp but not via the app and don't pay anything.

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ktitten@reddit

I've got the meetup app, don't pay, but only use it to know what groups are out there and have definitely joined a group without paying. Most groups will have group chat on a different platform, I just join the group, ask to be added to the chat, then I don't have to use the meetup app anymore after that. Eventbrite is a way I find out things in my area. If you are in a city, there is likely some sort of newsletter/magazine/online directory of things going on.

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Wooden-Bowl2953@reddit

Bumble for friends has groups for specific events hobbies etc. Never used it though so no idea if any good

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Mr_Coastliner@reddit

Maybe Nextdoor, Realistically, Meetup is probably the best tool

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