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Meetup Review

Meetup Review April 2024

DatingScout.com Author Chris Pleines
From: Chris Pleines
 • Reading Time: 4 minute(s)

Meetup is an online social network where people can build groups based on interests and hobbies.

450,000 Members
 40 % ♀ 
 60 % ♂ 
Good For:
3 / 5
3 / 5
2 / 5
Success Rate:
52 / 10
38 / 10
33 / 10
Compare Meetup
Age Distribution:
18-24
25-34
35-49
50+

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Meetup 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
  • You can use Meetup for free
  • Pricing starts at $11.54 / Month - More Information
DatingScout.com Author Chris Pleines
Chris Pleines
Founder of Dating Scout and Author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies"
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.

Who is Meetup for and not 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
  • 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
Back to Overview

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

How much does Meetup cost?

Can you try Meetup for free?

  • You can use or try the service for free.
  • All members can send messages for free
  • You can read the first messages in your inbox for free

Is Meetup expensive or cheap?

In comparison to other providers Meetup is average.

Duration / Credits / CoinsCostsTotal
Standard
1 Month16.79 USD / Month16.79 USD
6 Months11.54 USD / Month69.24 USD
Pro
1 Month24.50 USD / Month24.50 USD
6 Months21.00 USD / Month126.00 USD
Meetup Cost
Free Features
  • Registration
  • Search for events and groups
  • Join groups
  • Contact other members
  • Upload and view photos of the event
Premium Features
  • Organize up to three groups
  • Promote your group
  • Easily schedule events
  • Appoint a leadership team
  • Set dues and event fees

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.

How can I delete my Meetup account and cancel my subscription?

Please find more information here

Back to Overview

Who is signed up on Meetup?

Members
450,000 from USA
Members activity
54,000 active weekly
Gender Proportion
40 %
60 %
  • Records over 12 million monthly visits globally
  • Most users are 25 to 34 years old
  • Top visitors are mostly from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia
  • The website is dominated by male users
  • Members prefer browsing via desktops

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.

Females
Males

Meetup Age Range and Age Distribution

  • 18-24
  • 25-34
  • 35-44
  • 45-54
  • 55+

New members at Meetup in April 2024 in comparison

Here you can see how membership figures at Meetup are developing compared to others

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Meetup in Detail

  • Reading time 16 minutes
  • Lots of insider information for more success

How to Sign Up for Meetup

Meetup Registration
  • Register for free
  • Quick and easy sign up process
  • Register via email, Facebook, or Google/Apple account
  • Email verification is required
  • Profile creation is required upon registration

Joining Meetup is quick and easy, and it's free! You can register using your email address, Facebook, or Google/Apple account. You also have to provide a username, password, birthday, age, and interests. Meetup provides an array of topics and hobbies that users can choose from.

Profile creation is required upon registration, but having a profile photo is not required. Meetup only verifies emails and has no proper identity verification and profile authenticity.

Making Contact on Meetup

Meetup Contact
  • Search for events and groups
  • Join groups and discussions
  • Upload and view photos
  • Organize groups
  • Promote groups
  • Appoint leaders
  • Set dues and event fees
  • All members can send messages for free

Although the magic happens outside of Meetup, there are still some functions you can use to get in touch before the event happens.

Groups
Formed by a paying Meetup Organizer, groups are bonded by their mutual interest or like for a particular topic or activity. Besides love and dating, groups on writing, food, travel, cycling, and so much more are formed. Users can join groups and discussions based on their interests.

Events
Events are the bonding activities hosted by the group organizer. Usually, events are formed right after a group is organized; that way, members have something to look forward to right after they joined the Meetup group. Users can upload and view photos of different events that they are planning/organizing. Users can promote their groups and events, as well as set dues and event fees.

Messages
Used to coordinate with the organizers and other group members, Messages is a free way to interact with others before the event. Who knows, maybe you can use the Messages function to plan a date or two with a member who caught your eye during the event.

In terms of communication, Meetup doesn’t have that many features. However, from a joiner’s point of view, everything is free—so, join and interact in as many groups as you can.

Meetup Profile Quality

Meetup Profile
  • 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 everyone for free

Profiles are informative and contain important details such as name, age, location, interests, and groups. Since accounts are not regulated and filtered by moderators, there is a high chance of having fake profiles. 

Profile information can be updated later on and profile photos are not required at all. Users can link their Meetup profiles with their Facebook accounts.

Meetup App

Meetup Mobile
  • 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.

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.

Meetup Pro

This model lets you organize more than three groups at once. You can even create a network of your existing location-based groups to create one huge following interested in the topic or activity you’re hosting. 

How can I delete my Meetup account and cancel my subscription?

Uninstalling the app will not cancel your subscription.

How can you cancel your Subscription?

  • You can cancel via profile settings
  • You can cancel by managing your app store subscription

Will your subscription automatically renew?

  • Yes, your Meetup subscription will automatically renew. The notice period for opting out of automatic renewal is 1 Day.

Is there a money back guarantee and do you get refunded the full amount?

  • Yes, usually you will receive the full amount back.

How much time do you have to undo Meetup purchases?

  • You have 14 Days to refund your Meetup purchase if you don't like it.

Members based in the European Union may cancel with a full refund within 14 days after signing up to our Platform.

Meetup FAQ

Facts

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.

What is the average age of users on Meetup?

The average age of Meetup users is between 32-39 years. You can find more information 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.

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.

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 don't need a phone number to sign up on Meetup.

Can you erase your personal data on Meetup?

Yes, Meetup provides an option for users to erase their data.

How can I delete my Meetup account and cancel my subscription?

Costs

Can you try Meetup for free?

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Final Results table

Signing Up: 4.0 / 5
Making Contact: 3.5 / 5
Profile Quality: 2.5 / 5
Real Life Review: 3.5 / 5

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Contact details

Company:Meetup LLC
Address:632 Broadway, New York, NY
E-Mail:policy@meetup.com
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