“I joined a hiking group near my area, and although there were a lot of members who joined, I was least expecting to find a date during the actual meeting. But there she was, and we hit it off. We exchanged details via Meetup after the event. She told me there are love and dating related groups, but I find it amusing I was able to find a date through a group doing an activity I love.”
- JB, 26
Meetup Review USA November 2026: Real groups or scams?
Can you have fun AND score a date at Meetup? All about Meetup in the USA.
3.5good
Meetup is a social network for people to meet through shared interests, including dating groups
- Over 100,000 topics including dating
- 12 million monthly visits globally
Relationships
Friendship
Flirts
Meetup USA in 10 seconds
- Claims to be the largest network of local groups based on common interests
- An innovative social network platform that connects singles through similar interests and hobbies
- Meetup has over 100,000 topics and one of them is love and dating
- Records over 12 million monthly visits globally
- Top visitors are mostly from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia
- Mobile application available for iOS and Android users
- Has no identity verification
- Offers general free services and options to upgrade - Learn more here
Is Meetup right for you?
Find out if Meetup is the right service for you or if there are better options.
Better than Meetup
Who is Meetup for, and not for?
Meetup is for…
- People who want to meet like-minded individuals
- For people who are looking for friendships and profound connections
- For singles seeking potential partners with the same hobbies and interests
…and not for
- Not for cheating individuals seeking affairs
- Not for people who are looking for straightforward dating experiences
- If you're searching for erotic adventures and casual encounters
Meetup pros & cons
- The platform offers various social events
- Lets users search for groups based on their interests
- Meetup has an active and engaging pool of members
- Meetup has no proper profile authentication
- There are reports that members are creeps/old singles/divorced individuals wanting to date instead of joining groups
- Some members don't attend meet ups at the last minute
What Meetup really costs in the USA
Meetup is free of charge.
Meetup costs last updated on Nov 1, 2026
Payment options in the USA
Credit CardDebit CardPayPal
No anonymous payment.With Meetup you cannot pay anonymously, the charge appears on your bank statement.
On your bank statement
Meetup LLC is the billing company shown for charges
Meetup costs screenshot
The thing about Meetup is that there are two types of members: the organizers and the joiners. Both are important; a group cannot continue for more than 14 days without a paying organizer, and an event will undoubtedly be canceled without joiners.
Out of the two, only the organizers pay for the premium features of Meetup. They can choose between one or six months subscriptions, which can be purchased via credit card.
As for the joiners, you technically have no payables with Meetup. Instead, you’ll take part in membership dues and event fees set by your group organizer. Other than that, you can pretty much enjoy the site for absolutely no charge.
Free vs. paid services in the USA
FeatureFreeStandardPro
Registration
includedincludedincluded
Search for events and groups
includedincludedincluded
Join groups
includedincludedincluded
Contact other members
includedincludedincluded
Upload and view photos of the event
includedincludedincluded
Organize up to three groups
not includedincludednot included
Promote your group
not includedincludedincluded
Easily schedule events
not includedincludedincluded
Appoint a leadership team
not includedincludedincluded
Set dues and event fees
not includedincludedincluded
Organize more than three groupsThis model lets you organize more than three groups at once.
not includednot includedincluded
With Free you can register, search for events and groups, join groups, contact other members, and upload and view event photos. Paid plans add tools for organizing and promoting groups, scheduling events, and setting dues and event fees.
Is Meetup right for me? →
How to cancel your Meetup subscription →
Is Meetup right for me?Who is signed up on Meetup in the USA?
Exclusively on DatingScout: online member numbers for dating services are usually far off, so we estimate how many people are really on Meetup from traffic data and interest, updated monthly, with history.
Meetup records over 12 million monthly visits globally with top visitors coming from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Despite Meetup's favorable monthly visits, it still has a smaller member base compared to similar online platforms. Members can be 'Organizers' or 'Joiners'.
Organizers pay membership to plan and create events, Joiners don't need to upgrade to premium but are required to pay the minimum dues/fees of events set by Organizers.
Meetup is dominated by male members who are mostly in their early 20s and 30s. Members join to meet new people with similar interests. Although Meetup is not generally a dating website, some users still join with high hopes of spotting potential partners.
450,000+221%
Estimated active members in the USA
54,000
Weekly active members in the USA
450,000
Members in the USA
4.7
App Store rating in the USA
3.8
Google Play rating worldwide
140k
220k
260k
240k
210k
450k
MayJunJulAugSepOct
Estimated active members, last 6 months
| Women | Men |
|---|---|
| 40% | 60% |
Gender
| 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
18% 18-24 |
33% 25-34 |
22% 35-44 |
14% 45-54 |
13% 55+ |
Age of members
Where Meetup is most popular in the USA
Strongest regions
- Wyoming100%
- Washington, DC62%
- California50%
Last data update: October 2026
Making contact on Meetup
★★★★★ 3.5/5
- Search for events and groups
- Join groups and discussions
- Upload and view photos
- Organize groups
- Promote groups
- Appoint leaders
- Set dues and event fees
- Everybody can send messages for free
Profile quality
★★★★★ 2.5/5
- Profiles are informative
- Profiles are not regulated or checked by the moderators
- Easy to supply and edit information
- Shows approximate location and groups
- Members can write short introductions
- Profile pictures are visible to everybody for free
The Meetup app
- Free-to-download
- Available for Android and iOS users
- Doesn't feature ads
- Easy to navigate
- Some users claim that the app crashes
The Meetup app is as minimalist and easy to navigate as its desktop counterpart. The app is free to download and is available for iOs and Android users. The app doesn't feature any advertisements which is a great thing, unlike other similar dating apps. However, users report that the app has occasional glitches and crashed sometomes.
Our field test
★★★★★ 3.5/5
Design & usability
Meetup sports a minimalist design that is beneficial and friendly for all the members who may not be as tech-savvy.
White is the predominant color, with several accents such as black and pink. All the main functions of the site are located at the header. Since it’s aptly labeled, you won’t have any problems flitting from one tab to another.
Overall, Meetup on a desktop is neat and efficient for both organizers and joiners alike.
Special features
This special feature may not be for everyone, but if you’re considering organizing big-scale dating events, the platform has a feature to help you do it efficiently.
Final results
3.5
“Meetup is not entirely made for dating rather a social platform where people build meaningful connections based on interests. If you're looking for a straightforward dating experience, you might want to try other dating websites.”
Is Meetup right for me?
tested November 2026
Signup4.0
Making contact3.5
Profile quality2.5
Field test3.5
Overall3.5/ 5
Alternatives: Better than Meetup
Compare Meetup with other dating sites
| Activity |  Meetup3.5Read review |  eharmony5.0Read review |  Zoosk4.5Read review |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Meetup is a social network for people to meet through shared interests, including dating groups | eharmony is a matchmaking service for singles looking for serious relationships, using personality and character tests | Zoosk is a dating site for singles open to casual or serious dating, with SmartPick matchmaking |
| Activity | 1,500,000 members | 480,000 members | 430,000 members |
| Costs and prices | Free | Premium 6 months: 19.90 USD / month 12 months: 13.90 USD / month 24 months: 9.90 USD / month | Zoosk+ 1 month: 34.99 USD / month 3 months: 24.99 USD / month 6 months: 14.99 USD / month 12 months: 9.99 USD / month |
| Free features | Registration Search for events and groups Join groups Contact other members Upload and view photos of the event | Registration and profile creation Send smiles View a member's profile Send emojis and first message Add people to your favorites list Browse matches outside your preferences | Account registration Profile creation Send smiles and hearts Access Carousel View full profiles |
| Premium features | Organize up to three groups Promote your group Easily schedule events Appoint a leadership team Set dues and event fees | Unlimited messaging View unilimited photos Filter matches Detailed personality profile Distance search See who's viewed you Profile check Regularly updated matches | Send messages Full access to SmartPicks Browse incognito mode Use the chat feature See who likes you |
| Right for me?Read review | Visit Test winnerRead review | Visit Zooook.orgRead review |
1 Meetup experiences from real users in the USA
5/ 5
★★★★★
100%
recommend Meetup
100%
got a date
Very good1
Good0
Average0
Poor0
Bad0
1 reader reports
What readers liked
- Made many friends through shared activities
- Enjoyable group activities independent of dating
What readers complained about
- Events have mostly women and few men
- Messaging from non-attendees feels undesirable
55 years
Renee
★★★★★
I've made a lot of friends and I can do things I enjoy (volleyball, sailing, bowling) that require several other people - for example, it's hard to play volleyball alone. It's not a dating site per se, I've gone on dates with men I met at events, but I don't meet someone at every event. That's why its nice to have the activity - I can enjoy the activity regardless of whether I meet someone.
Most events are 70% or more women, not a lot of men go to the events. I think the men message the women using PM, but don't attend events. It would be better if we could only message people who attended the same event we attended.
Recommends Meetup
Cancelling your Meetup subscription
How you can cancel
- Via your profile settings on Meetup
Contact details
| Company | Meetup LLC |
|---|---|
| Address | 632 Broadway, New York, NY |
| policy@meetup.com |
Do subscriptions auto-renew?
Subscriptions renew automatically, cancel at least 1 day before your current term ends.
Money-back guarantee
- Meetup offers a money-back guarantee with a full refund
- You have 14 days to cancel and get your money back
Members based in the European Union may cancel with a full refund within 14 days after signing up to our Platform.
Is Meetup right for me?
Meetup FAQ
What is Meetup?
It is a social networking platform that allows hosts to connect with individuals who are also interested in a certain topic or activity.
What is Meetup.com used for?
Hosts usually use it to promote an event they are hosting while the joiners use it to efficiently search for events or activities that excite them and are happening near their location.
Is Meetup free?
Using the platform is free if you are not the organizer of the event and if the said organizer shouldered all the costs, which would supposedly cover membership dues or event fees.
Is Meetup.com safe?
As long as you keep your identification details close, you’ll be fine using Meetup.
Who owns Meetup?
Meetup is owned by Meetup LLC, a company headquartered in New York, USA.
Is Meetup a dating app?
At its core, it is a social networking platform. However, one of its most popular groups is those that organize events related to love and dating.
PAYMENT
Do you have to pay for Meetup?
If you plan to organize an event yourself, then yes you will need to pay the Organizer Subscription fee.
How much does Meetup cost?
For organizers, you can choose between a monthly or six-month subscription. Learn more here.
USABILITY
How can I delete my Meetup account?
As of writing, you can opt to deactivate instead of deleting your Meetup account. To deactivate, log in and go to the Settings. Scroll down until you reach the “Deactivate your Meetup Account.” Follow the instructions, enter your password, and click submit to confirm your decision.
How can I start a Meetup group?
To start a Meetup group, you’ll have to subscribe and be a paying organizer.
How can I create a Meetup event?
Make sure you’re a paying organizer to be able to create an event within your group. If you are, visit your group’s homepage and select “Create event.”
How can I leave a group at Meetup?
To leave a group using your browser, go to the homepage of the group you want to leave. Click “You’re a member” then select “Leave Group” from the drop-down menu. If you’re using the app, tap the three dots icon located in the upper right-hand corner, and click “Leave Group.”
Can I unsubscribe from Meetup emails?
There are some emails you may opt-out from, including:
- Alerts on messages, replies, comments
- Tagged photos
- Product news
- Group suggestions
It is not possible to opt out of all the platform’s emails, especially when it comes to updates on your account, changes in the privacy policy, and the likes. If you wish to unsubscribe from all these emails, you’ll have to deactivate your account.
What happens when you block someone at Meetup?
When you block a member, they will no longer be able to contact you. You will also have the option to report them if the reason why you did it was that the account spams or is suspicious.
How can I promote a Meetup group?
New groups are promoted by the platform. On your part as the group’s organizer, make sure the topics you selected concerning the group are popular. This way, Meetup can tap a considerable number of members who are interested in the said topic.
You did not find your question? Ask us!
Thank you for your question. We will answer it as soon as possible.
Security
- Does Meetup sell your data?
- No, Meetup does not sell your data.
- Was Meetup hacked in the past?
- No, Meetup was never hacked.
- How accurately does Meetup track your location?
- Meetup tracks your approximate location.
- Do your Meetup profile pictures or profile information appear in Google Search Results?
- No, your Meetup photos and personal information will not appear in Google Search Results.
- Who can view your pictures on Meetup?
- All Meetup users can view your pictures.
- Is your phone number required for signing up at Meetup?
- No, you can sign up at Meetup without a phone number.
- Can you erase your personal data on Meetup?
- Yes, Meetup provides an option for users to erase their data.
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- We update our reviews every month based on new site/app offerings and feedback from our readers
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Founder of DatingScout and Author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies"
Chris founded DatingScout 17 years ago, and today he is one of the leading Online Dating Experts. He is the author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies" and the author of the Internet's largest online dating study analyzing 20 Million Profile Pictures with artificial intelligence. Chris Pleines holds a master degree in media science and appeared in numerous television interviews and publications to give expert advice as well as tips about online dating.