If you regularly host events and manage them throughout the year, you're likely familiar with Heylo.
It has long been a go-to platform for connecting with members of your group via email and driving traffic to your events.
However, recent changes in ownership and subsequent financial challenges have led to increased subscription fees, prompting many users to seek more affordable alternatives.
In light of these changes, it's worth exploring other platforms that offer similar functionalities without the hefty price tag.
Here’s a list of 13 excellent alternatives to Meetup.com that you might consider for your next event.
1. Odd Circles (Free) [https://www.oddcircles.com]
Odd Circles is designed to disrupt the traditional meetup space, much like how Airbnb transformed the lodging industry.
The platform features an intuitive user interface inspired by popular social networks like Facebook and Instagram, making it extremely user-friendly.
Currently, you can manage your community for free and if you want to upgrade then it's just $72 annually, and they even have a promotion that offers free lifetime membership if you register your group before 25th December 2024.
2. Bylde (£20/month)
Bylde is a feature-rich platform that allows you to effortlessly start and manage your community. You can send emails, host discussions, and organise virtual meetings with ease. Bylde prioritises mobile-first design, ensuring you can manage everything on your phone. Registration is simple, using social profiles to verify users, ensuring genuine engagement. The cost is an attractive £12 annually for group admins, significantly cheaper than Meetup.com.
3. Disciple Media ($99/month)
Disciple Media offers a white-label community platform tailored for large, profitable communities. While it comes with a higher price tag, it provides extensive features for those who already have a substantial following and revenue stream from their community.
4. Locals ($99/month)
Locals allows you to create and manage your community, though it lacks some key features like email notifications and event announcements. Despite the platform being free to use initially, additional community management costs can exceed $99 per month.
5. Heylo ($250/month)
Heylo was developed by a former Google employee and offers a comprehensive community management solution. However, the costs can escalate quickly as you grow your community, making it a costly option in the long run.
6. Eventbrite (Percentage Commission)
Eventbrite is a popular platform for event hosting and registration. It allows you to create events, manage seating, set ticket prices, and promote your events through social media. While not specifically for recurring meetups, it's excellent for organising one-off events and selling tickets online.
7. Peanut (Free)
Peanut is a niche alternative designed for mums. It offers tools for creating groups, managing memberships, organising events, and selling tickets. Peanut also integrates well with calendar and Facebook events, making it convenient for busy mothers.
8. OpenSports ($20/month)
OpenSports is ideal for sports enthusiasts. This platform helps you organise and join sports events, recruit players, collect payments, and manage memberships. It also offers tools for handling waivers and creating waitlists for popular events.
9. Citysocializer (£18.99/month)
Citysocializer focuses on in-person social gatherings, helping you discover and attend events in your city. It's available on both iOS and Android, and it’s great for expanding your social network and exploring new places.
10. Facebook (Free)
Facebook allows you to create and manage public or private groups, and organise events. While it lacks email notification capabilities, members receive updates through the app, making it a convenient free alternative for many users.
11. NING ($25/month)
NING is a robust platform for creating social communities. It offers unlimited event creation, email invitations, and broad community management features. It’s a versatile option for those looking to build a comprehensive online community.
12. Kommunity ($7.99/month)
Kommunity provides a cost-effective solution for local group management and event organisation. With various features to support your community’s needs, it’s a great alternative to Meetup.com.
13. TicketTailor (Percentage Commission)
TicketTailor focuses on event management and ticket sales. While it doesn’t replicate all Meetup features, it excels in managing paid events at a lower cost, making it a practical option for event organisers.
Additional Alternatives:
- GroupValley: Free platform for creating and joining local activities.
- Bookwhen: A group booking system for managing events.
- Eventpeg: A full-featured event manager available for AUD 12.00/year per group.
- Far or Near: Connect with people based on shared interests.
- Funzing, Verlocal, Peatix: Offer various event management features.
- Appinall, Mobilize, Ticketleap: Provide tools for creating and managing community events.
- Hashmeet: Designed to help you meet like-minded individuals efficiently.
- Peoplegogo: Focuses on creating communities around common goals.
- Bumble BFF: Uses the internet to bring people together for fun, free events.
Feel free to share your experiences with these platforms in the comments.
If you have suggestions for other alternatives, let us know and we’ll consider adding them to this list.
Peace up! ✌️
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