Short answer: in this Meetup.com review, our verdict is that Meetup is still one of the best ways to find recurring, interest-based groups in US and Canadian cities, and joining groups is free for members. It works best if you choose small groups that meet often and keep going back; it’s weaker in small towns and for people who want one-on-one friendships quickly. Members can pay for an optional Meetup+ subscription, and organizers pay a subscription to run groups, which is why some groups charge dues. Below we cover pricing (last checked October 2026), how it works, pros and cons, who it suits and how to spot an active group.
Disclosure: TryMeetNow is published by the team behind MeetNow, our app mentioned briefly below. We’ve tried to be fair, and nobody paid to be included.
What is Meetup?
Meetup is a platform where organizers create groups around an interest, such as hiking, board games, language exchange, tech, books, running or social activities, and post events that members RSVP to. Unlike friendship apps built around profiles and matching, Meetup is built around groups and events. You don’t swipe on people; you show up to things.
Meetup pricing in 2026
| Who | What you pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Members | Free to join groups and RSVP | Some groups charge dues or per-event fees set by the organizer |
| Members (optional) | Meetup+ subscription | Optional paid tier for members; the US App Store listing showed several subscription prices, including “Meetup Plus Subscription” options from $4.99, in October 2026 |
| Organizers: Starter | Free, with limits | For first-time organizers |
| Organizers: Standard | From $29.99 a month (cheaper for longer billing periods) | Per Meetup’s help center; prices vary by location |
| Organizers: Pro | Priced per group, from $55 per group per month on a monthly plan | For networks of groups, such as companies and organizations |
Last checked October 2026. Organizer prices are listed by Meetup as “starting from” and vary by location; Meetup shows the exact price in your account before you pay. Member subscription prices appear on the US App Store listing.
The organizer side matters to members too: because organizers pay a subscription, some pass costs on through dues, and some groups close when the organizer stops paying. Our guide to Meetup alternatives covers what to do if that happens in your area.
How Meetup works
- Create a free account and choose interests and a location.
- Browse groups and events near you, filtered by topic, date and distance.
- Join a group. Some groups ask a few questions or require approval.
- RSVP to an event. Some events have limited spots and waitlists, and some charge a fee.
- Show up, introduce yourself to the organizer and stay for the social part.
- Keep going. The value of Meetup comes from repeat attendance at the same group.
What a typical Meetup event looks like
Most events follow a simple pattern. The organizer posts the date, time, place and what to expect, plus any cost. Members RSVP, and the event page often shows who else is going. On the day, you find the group by a table sign, a meeting point or the organizer’s description, introduce yourself and join in. A board game night might run two or three hours with people rotating tables; a hike might meet at a trailhead parking lot and finish with lunch; a language exchange might rotate partners every 20 minutes. Afterward, the most social groups head somewhere nearby for food or drinks, and that’s often where friendships start.
Is Meetup+ worth it for members?
For most people, the free tier is enough to find groups, RSVP and attend events. Meetup+ is an optional paid upgrade; Meetup’s help center describes it as adding extra member features. Before paying, use the free version for a month and see whether you actually hit a limit that matters to you. If you mostly attend a couple of groups you already like, the free version may be all you need. Check the current price in the app, since the App Store listing shows several subscription options.
What to budget
Even when joining is free, events can carry costs: group dues, event fees, your own food and drinks at bars and restaurants, transit or gas, and gear for activities like hiking or climbing. A cheap way to start is with free events at parks, libraries and cafes where you only pay for your own coffee.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free for members to join groups | Group quality varies widely |
| Huge range of interests in larger cities | Thin or inactive groups in small towns |
| Built around activities, not profiles | Big events can feel anonymous |
| Recurring events build repeat contact | Some groups charge dues because organizers pay to run them |
| Events usually happen in public places | No-shows are common for free events |
Who Meetup suits
- Newcomers to a city who want structured ways to meet people.
- People with a clear interest: hiking, board games, books, languages, tech, running.
- Introverts who prefer activity-focused events over open-ended socializing.
- Remote workers looking for weekday events.
It suits people less well if they live somewhere with few active groups, want one-on-one friendships quickly, or dislike group settings. For one-on-one matching, Bumble BFF is a free alternative; for organized dinners, see our Timeleft review.
How to spot an active, friendly group
- Recent events: several events in the last month and more scheduled.
- Repeat attendees: the same names or faces in event photos and comments.
- A clear description: who it’s for, what happens at events, any costs.
- Reasonable size: events of 6 to 25 people are easier to join than 200-person mixers.
- Responsive organizers: questions get answered; event details are clear.
- Public venues: cafes, parks, libraries, bars and community centers.
How to get the most out of Meetup
- Go to the same group three times before judging it.
- Arrive a few minutes early and introduce yourself to the organizer.
- Stay for the after-event drink or meal, where conversations get personal.
- Follow up with one or two people you clicked with, inviting them to something small.
- Consider helping organize. Co-organizers know everyone and are always welcome.
Common complaints, and how to work around them
“Most groups near me are dead.”
Filter by upcoming events rather than by groups, and look at the last few months of past events before joining. In smaller cities, a group that meets monthly with a dozen regulars is often a better bet than a large group that rarely meets.
“The events are too big to meet anyone.”
Big mixers make it hard to see the same people twice. Choose events with a cap of 10 to 25 people and a shared activity, such as a game night, a hike or a language table, where conversation has a natural structure.
“People RSVP and don’t show up.”
No-shows are common for free events, which is one reason some organizers charge a small fee or use waitlists. As a member, the best defense is to favor groups where the same people show up every time, and to be one of the reliable ones yourself.
“I went once and nobody talked to me.”
The first visit is the hardest. Introduce yourself to the organizer, arrive early, and give a group at least three visits. Regulars tend to warm up once they recognize you.
Should you start your own Meetup group?
If there’s no active group for your interest nearby, starting one can be one of the fastest ways to build a social circle, because the organizer automatically meets everyone. The trade-offs are cost and time: organizers pay a subscription after any free starter period, and running regular events takes effort. Many first-time organizers start small, with a monthly event at a public place, and recruit a co-organizer early so the group doesn’t depend on one person. If cost is a concern, some organizers charge modest dues, while others run informal groups through other platforms; our guide to Meetup alternatives covers those options.
Meetup in smaller cities and towns
Meetup’s strength is its range of groups in larger metro areas. In smaller places, the selection can be thin. Combine it with the local library’s event calendar, the parks and recreation department, faith or civic organizations and local social media groups, which are often more active than Meetup in small towns.
Meetup vs alternatives at a glance
| If you want… | Meetup | Better alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Recurring interest groups | Strong | Meetup is the best fit |
| One-on-one friendship matching | Weak | Bumble BFF |
| Someone else to plan a dinner | Varies by group | Timeleft |
| Weekly team sports | Some groups | Volo or parks leagues |
| Meeting people while traveling | Some groups | Couchsurfing Hangouts |
We compare these options in our roundup of apps to meet new people, and travelers can read our explainer on Couchsurfing Hangouts.
Safety on Meetup
Meetup events are usually held in public places with groups, which lowers risk. Standard precautions still apply: check the group’s history and reviews, meet in public, tell a friend where you’re going, arrange your own way home and leave if anything feels wrong. If you go to a smaller event or meet someone one-on-one afterward, keep it in a public place. Our checklist on whether friendship apps are safe covers more.
Is Meetup worth it in 2026?
For most people in mid-size and large cities, yes. Joining is free, the range of groups is unmatched, and the event-based format gets you off your phone and into a room with people who share an interest. The catch is that Meetup rewards consistency: the people who make friends on Meetup are the ones who go back to the same group week after week. If your area has few active groups, combine it with a parks league, a class or a friendship app.
A worked example
Sofia (a composite example) moved to Minneapolis and joined four Meetup groups in her first week. Two never posted events; one had 150-person mixers that felt overwhelming; the fourth, a Wednesday board game night at a local cafe with about 15 regulars, stuck. She went every week for two months, stayed after for food, and started a smaller monthly game night at her apartment with four people from the group. Meetup didn’t make her friends, but it put her in a room with the same people every week, which did.
Where MeetNow fits
MeetNow is our own app, live on the web at app.trymeetnow.com, starting in Malta. Where Meetup is built around ongoing groups, MeetNow is built around single, specific plans: a host posts a plan at a public place with the time, seats and who pays, people ask to join with a short note, and the host picks who comes. Accepted guests get a group chat, and afterward both sides confirm they met.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins. It is live on the web now, starting in Malta, with the phone apps on the way: open MeetNow and see the plans near you.
FAQ: Meetup.com review
Is Meetup free to use?
Joining Meetup and its groups is free for members, though some groups charge dues or event fees. Meetup also sells an optional Meetup+ subscription for members, and organizers pay a subscription to run groups.
How much does Meetup cost for organizers?
Meetup’s help center lists organizer plans with prices that vary by location. Standard plans start from $29.99 a month, with cheaper rates for longer billing periods, and Pro plans for networks of groups are priced per group. A limited free Starter plan exists for first-time organizers.
Is Meetup good for making friends?
It can be, if you choose small groups that meet often and attend the same group repeatedly. Large one-off events make it harder to meet the same people twice.
Is Meetup safe?
Most Meetup events are held in public places with groups of people, which lowers risk. Still, check the group’s history, meet in public, tell a friend where you’re going, arrange your own way home and leave if anything feels wrong.
What are the best alternatives to Meetup?
Bumble BFF is a free option for meeting individuals, Timeleft organizes dinners with strangers, Eventbrite lists classes and events, and city parks departments and rec leagues offer recurring activities. Which is best depends on whether you want groups, one-on-one or organized events.
