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Are you looking for a virtual community that encourages “meeting up” in the real world with others who share your interests? If socializing were a sport, Meetup would be the team’s MVP! Over 12 million individuals from across the world use the dating app every month, and of them, over half a million are actively using it to connect with others who share their interests.
In our objective review, we’ll focus on Meetup’s usability and features, including a rundown of the app’s premium membership price and subscription tiers. You can also find a step-by-step guide on how to join the Meetup platform, along with links to free trials!
Technically speaking, Meetup may not be a traditional dedicated dating app, but who says you can’t find love while bonding over your shared passions? You have a strong chance of finding a compatible partner if you attend events with others in your region who share your interests in social issues, hobbies, and other areas of interest!
| Sign-Up Time: | 5 minutes |
| Cost: | $16.49 – $35.00 per month |
| Membership Pool: | 450,000 |
Black Friday/Cyber Monday Savings: 50% off a 6-month subscription. Click the button above and start a group with code BFCMSAVE5
- Meetup App Rating
- Overview of Meetup
- Standard and Premium Features
- How to Sign Up with Meetup
- Alternatives to Meetup
- Frequently Asked Questions
Our Meetup App Rating
Overall Rating 
Meetup is coming in with an overall score of 3.7 out of 5!
We carried out six standard rating tests on the Meetup dating app in order to assess how well it works as a dating platform.
When determining which dating apps we recommend, we take a range of factors into account, such as the number of users (both total and active), the price of membership, the effectiveness of the method of matching, and the features available to members.
Ease of Use 
Meetup’s smartphone app is available for free download on iOS and Android devices, and it mirrors the desktop version in terms of its streamlined appearance and user-friendliness. We had no issues navigating the app or the desktop–in fact, we found everything to be in tip-top shape on the interface!
Features
Meetup’s paid membership features allow you to stay in touch with other participants even while most of the events take place offline. You can use Meetup.com for free as a “joiner,” but you need to be a paid “planner” or “creator” if you want your group to be active for more than 14 days.
Meetup Pro allows you to start as many groups as you want–multi-group events, cross-group messaging, and insights into engagement trends are all available features.
Cost
The price of Meetup’s premium membership plans isn’t cheap, but they aren’t outrageous either. Meetup offers free, basic, plus, and premium memberships. The cheapest plan is $98.94 over the course of six months ($23.99 a month less $16.49). There is a monthly plan, a quarterly plan, a semiannual plan, and a yearly plan. One month of the Pro plan costs $35, while six months of the Pro plan costs $30 a month.
Match Quality
While Meetup is not primarily designed as a dating app, others still join with the intention of finding potential partners. However, it’s important to note that Meetup does not use a traditional matching algorithm, so it’s difficult to determine the quality of matches.
Safety and Security
Meetup ensures the safety of its users’ personal and financial information by utilizing a strongly encrypted connection. You can trust that any information you provide to Meetup will not be transferred or utilized in any unexpected way.
Customer Service
To get in touch with Meetup’s customer support team, members can fill out the form on its Help Center page–articles that could help you out are suggested before you are able to make a request, which is annoying.
Premium members get access to prioritized customer support, which is helpful. Still, there is no phone number available. We always want to see that members can talk to a real person if they need to, but that’s not the case here.
Overview of Meetup
Meetup, which has been around since 2002, is a social networking and dating app for people to discover and get in touch with others in their area who share their interests. Various Meetup groups in the area focus on a wide variety of interests, including outdoor activities, music, art, and food and wine.
After joining, you’ll be able to participate in upcoming events and groups organized by others on the platform! A great strategy for building your social skills is to put yourself into new situations where you don’t know anyone–this can improve your self-esteem and your dating life just by going to different activities, and Meetup is the perfect app for that!
The average age of Meetup members is between 25-34, and the gender ratio is 60% men to 40% women.
Meetup Fast Facts
- Year Founded: 2002
- To improve your social and dating skills, it’s beneficial to put yourself in circumstances where you won’t know anyone–and the Meetup dating app is perfect for this! By doing so, you can boost your self-esteem and overall wellness by participating in various activities.
- Average User Age: 25-34 years
- Gender Ratio: 60% men to 40% women
It’s a great chance to meet compatible singles in a relaxed atmosphere. And Meetup isn’t just for business; it’s also a great way for parents, artists, and others to connect with one another in their local communities.
Premium Membership Subscriptions and Prices
There are four different types of paid premium memberships available on Meetup, depending on your needs and preferences. There are two entry-level packages and two professional (or premium) packages available. If you opt for the standard plan, you won’t have access to as many extra features as those who pay more for a premium package.
You can save quite a bit of money by opting for the 6-month plan instead of the 1-month one because the monthly price decreases as the plan length increases.
Standard
1-month Plan
$23.99
- Price Per Month: $23.99
- Total Membership Cost: $23.99
Standard
6-month Plan
$16.49
- Price Per Month: $16.49
- Total Membership Cost: $98.94
Pro
1-month Plan
$35.00
- Price Per Month: $35.00
- Total Membership Cost: $35.00
Pro
6-month Plan
$30.00
- Price Per Month: $30.00
- Total Membership Cost: $180.00
Meetup is unique among dating apps in that you can split the cost of your subscription over four monthly payments instead of paying it in one lump sum.
Does the Meetup Dating App Offer Free Trials?
Meetup Pro offers a free one-month trial to new users. During the trial period, you’ll have access to the full set of capabilities, including the ability to create up to 20 groups. Keep in mind that the Meetup free trial has limitations; subscribers to the free trial will not have use of all of Meetup’s features.
Meetup’s free trial accounts have several limitations, such as the inability to participate in the groups you join or create actively. You will not have a say in who leads the groups you create, how much an event costs, or when a group’s meetings will occur. Meetup members get access to the following features for free:
Standard (Free) Features
- Create a Meetup account
- Create a profile
- Add information and photos to a Meetup profile
- Create 20 groups
- Add details and images for your group events
- Search for events
- View the details and images of other groups and events
- Join other groups
- Communicate with other users of the Meetup app
Premium Membership Features
- Create Email Lists
Meetup Pro has a cool (and handy) feature that lets you collect email addresses from event participants. This is a great way to ensure you’ve got everyone’s inboxes covered when it comes to sharing information about your group. - Customer Support Prioritized
Subscribers of Meetup’s Member+ tier get expedited use of the organization’s Community Support resources and staff for any questions or concerns that may come up. - Connectivity with MailChimp
With a paid upgrade, subscribers can either transfer their contact information into an existing CRM or use MailChimp’s interface to send out regular newsletters and personalized emails. - Personalized Registration Form
Premium paid members of Meetup can find out more about the attendees by looking at the registration forms they fill out for each event–this means that people can learn more about one another prior to a social gathering! - Personalized Meetup App Icons
In addition to removing the Meetup logo from your home screen and replacing it with an icon of your choice, a Member+ membership grants access to customized app icons designed by the Meetup team. Choose a custom icon from a gallery of photographs (some of which are offered for a limited time only) to use on your Meetup profile! - Get Early Access to Upcoming Features
With the help of other premium members, your customized group organizing experience can be enhanced even further–you can find others with similar interests in short order with the help of the Member+ badge, which is awarded to the most active members of a community. Finding other driven individuals to host events or work as assistant organizers is a great way to distribute leadership responsibilities and grow your group.
Do Meetup Memberships Renew Automatically?
Yes! Meetup premium subscriptions are set up to renew when the current billing cycle ends automatically. You will be charged again for the same plan if you do not cancel your subscription at least 24 hours before its expiration.
Should You Join Meetup?
In our opinion, signing up for Meetup is a great decision. Although it isn’t actually a dating app, it is an amazing way to meet interesting people in your area who are also looking for love. However, if you are looking for a serious internet dating experience, you might want to go elsewhere, as Meetup acts more like a social network. But don’t count Meetup out–it doesn’t mean that members can’t establish real relationships based on similar interests, just as they do on a dating app.
To help you figure out if Meetup is a platform that could help you fulfill your dating goals, we are going to go through the reasons to join as well as the reasons you may want to go with another daint app!
Reasons to Join
First up, let’s take a look at the reasons why we think you should join the Meetup dating app if you are looking to meet people in your vicinity!
Huge User Base
Meetup has more than 12 million unique visits each and every month, and there are more than 500,000 users who have signed up for an account on the dating app! That figure is nothing to scoff at, and it most surely is a sign of good things for singles eager to connect with other people who share their interests.
People Have Found Partners Through Meetup
There are gatherings specifically for those who are single and looking to mingle. Meetup might be a more secure choice than sketchier dating apps like Tinder if you’d rather see others in a group setting. You can see who else is attending to make a sensible choice about whether or not to come on your own, and you can obtain contact information for anyone you’ve met at a meeting but not exchanged contact information by looking them up on the group’s page.
Excellent for Residents of Rural Towns
If you don’t live in a big city and are struggling to find people with the same interests in your area, search for a Meetup closest to you to see what is available. There is a chance that others who are in the same situation as you are doing the same. If you can’t find anything within your radius, try hosting your own group and see what happens!
No Plans for the Weekend? Meetup Can Help
Signing up for something the same day it’s occurring is an ideal way to break the monotony of spending a weekend alone. The fastest way to find out what’s happening near you is to look for upcoming events in your region!
Reasons Not to Join
Yes, there are a lot of great reasons to sign up for Meetup, but there are also some issues that may sway you in the other direction–we’ve laid them out for you below.
Potential Unplanned Expenses
Though joining is free, certain group organizers might charge a fee for a certain event. Some groups can become expensive over time since they require you to pay for things like supplies, food, and transportation.
Concerns about Personal Safety
The opportunity to report inappropriate behavior from other users does not change the fact that you are meeting complete strangers. Because Meetup doesn’t require members to verify their identities, doing so might put you at risk–anybody with a valid email address can join the app and present themselves in any way they please, as will all dating apps; users should use caution while arranging in-person meetings.
Restrictive Free Membership
The Meetup app’s free trial version won’t have many of the premium membership perks that are needed to make the most out of using the platform. Free users can create groups, but they have no say or input in how the group is run or when it will meet.
Group Attendance Is Hit or Miss
Many people who say they will attend an event never end up coming. Having to arrange, maintain, and pay for bookings at a certain location is a major source of stress for event planners, making this behavior extremely frustrating. If you are unable to attend an event at the last minute, be sure to let the host know by updating your RSVP!
The Sign-up Process
It won’t take you longer than 5 minutes to join Meetup, regardless of whether you want to become an upgraded member or a free user. The simple signup process consists of the following steps:
Step 1: Go to the Meetup Homepage
Begin your Meetup membership registration by visiting www.Meetup.com and clicking the “sign up” button.
Step 2: Choose Your Sign-Up Method
The next step is to pick a login method to continue with your Meetup.com membership setup. Certain login methods will pull your social media profile info and will be pre-filled in order to speed up the registration process. You can use your Facebook, Apple ID, Google account, or email address to log in.
Steps #3 and #4: Finish the Registration Process and Upload a Profile Image
We signed up using our email, and the following steps involve adding your gender and age, which are not visible on your Meetup profile–it’s only to help the app understand your demo better so they can provide more accurate recommendations!
The next step is to fill out your profile by entering your name, email, and password. Meetup will suggest a password at random if you’re having problems coming up with one. Then verify you are not a robot and provide your location.
When you click the “sign up” button, you’ll receive a confirmation email. You’ll need to click the link in the confirmation email Meetup.com sends you before you can continue.
At this point, you can submit a photo that will be used as your profile picture. All you need is access to a computer, smartphone, or Facebook account, and you’re good to go. You are able to skip this part, but including a decent profile picture can greatly improve your chances of making meaningful connections with other Meetup members.
Step 5: Pick your Interest Categories
Select as many relevant interests as you can so that Meetup can get a good picture of who you are and the things you’re into!
Step 6: Include Interests
You can now begin organizing your numerous passions into smaller, more manageable categories. This will help both the app and other individuals understand the extent of your interest in specific subjects, interests, or causes.
Step 7: Join A Few Groups
In response to your profile information, Meetup will generate a list of groups and activities that could interest you. You can pick as many of them as you like!
Remember that “joining” a group does not require any sort of monetary commitment from you. If you want to create or manage a group or event that lasts more than 14 days, you’ll have to upgrade to a premium membership.
Step 8: Find Events & Browse Meetup
On the next page, you’ll find upcoming events that, depending on your tastes, could be of interest to you!
Step 9: Choose a Membership
Your Meetup page will load after that. Once here, you can continue looking for organizations and groups to join, customize your own preferences and calendar, and explore the profiles of other people. If you’re a free member, you can create as many as 20 groups, but they’ll all disappear after 14 days.
To apply for membership and view your profile, select “see profile” from the menu on the top right. You can start your own Meetup group by clicking the link at the bottom of the screen–next to it is a “get started” option.
Alternatives to Meetup
Maybe Meetup isn’t your cup of tea, and that’s okay! Many other dating apps make it easy to locate people who have common interests. Several of these alternatives are more accurately described as online dating apps than social networking communities. Each of these platforms has a sizable user base that you may browse through in your search for quality connections, so have a look at the ones down below and pick one that interests you!
eHarmony
Elite Singles
Christian Mingle
Zoosk
SilverSingles
Frequently Asked Questions About Meetup
Although we made every effort to provide you with all the necessary information about the Meetup dating app, it is possible that our review may have missed some important details that you may find useful. We have put together a list of frequently asked questions from our readers to help address any concerns you may have!
No, but that doesn’t mean you can’t utilize it to find love! Meetup is a social network app where users can create and promote events, as well as search for and attend events created by others. It’s a great app to meet others who are passionate about the same things you are.
Meetup ensures the safety of its users by employing a robust encrypted connection, so you are able to disclose personal and financial details with them without worrying about the information being sold or used in any manner you wouldn’t anticipate.
New Meetup members can join up to 20 different groups for free in their first month. All of these options are accessible to free users, and users can also share photographs, chat with others, and join groups. You won’t have full access to the app as you would if you paid since the free trial does have limitations.
There are four tiers of membership available on Meetup. Prices for the most basic plan range from $23.99 per month to $16.49 per month for a period of six months ($98.94 total). There is a one-month plan, a three-month plan, a six-month plan, and an annual plan. The Pro plan for 1 month costs $35, while the Pro plan for 6 months costs $30 a month.
You can terminate your Meetup membership anytime by accessing your account options page. However, it’s important to note that simply deleting the app from your mobile device won’t end your subscription. To cancel your membership, you need to go to your account’s settings and make the necessary changes. If you fail to terminate your premium membership at least 24 hours prior to the expiration date of your current plan, you will be charged again for the same plan at the same price.
To create a group on the Meetup dating app, choose the “Start a group” option, provide your location information, and select a few topics that your group will focus on. Hipster campers, vegans/gluten-free eaters, and beach bums are all fair game for your group’s demographic. Creating a group is as easy as choosing a name and basic information about it!
Access the group’s homepage by typing its URL in your internet browser’s address bar. Select the “Leave Group” option located in the “You’re a member” section. If you want to leave a group while using the app, simply select “Leave Group” from the drop-down list that appears when you tap the three dots located in the top right corner.
You, as a group organizer, are responsible for making sure the topics you choose are well-received by the group’s members, although the app will promote new groups to its members. Then Meetup is able to connect with a sizable audience of people who are enthusiastic about the group!
You’ll find a “deactivate your Meetup account” link in the “settings” section of your profile. Your selection won’t be submitted until you enter your password, follow the instructions, and double-check your choices.
Creating a new Meetup profile didn’t take more than a few minutes! Answering the app’s basic inquiries and supplying the necessary financial and personal information took us about 5 minutes from start to finish.
