# Meetup — A community platform that helps organizers build groups and run local or online events.

> Source: Box Office Fees — https://boxofficefees.com/meetup (structured, researched, re-verified)

Meetup is a community platform for people to find groups and events around shared interests. Organizers can create groups, schedule in-person, online, or hybrid events, and collect event fees or voluntary fundraising contributions.

**Best for:** Community organizers building local or interest-based groups

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Website | https://www.meetup.com/ |
| Category | Event pages with tickets, Community events, Lowest fees on 200 tickets |
| API | Partly, on Meetup Pro |
| Open source | No |
| Price | $29.99 a month |
| Price checked | 29 October 2026 |

Screenshot of Meetup: https://boxofficefees.com/img/1920/screenshots/meetup.webp, captured 29 October 2026

**What we checked**

- Pages last read: 29 October 2026
- Price on its site: From $29.99 a month (From its pricing page)

## Meetup price and terms

**Terms**

- Sign up without sales: Yes

**What needs a higher plan**

- Meetup Pro: Your buyers’ details, Email to buyers, Works with, API

## For AI agents

- API: Partly (Meetup Pro)

Read on https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/28677808413197-Organizer-Subscription-prices-overview, 29 October 2026.

## What we checked on Meetup

### What the fees come to

**Fees on 200 tickets at $25** · Yes — $253.49 in fees on 200 tickets at $25 on Standard Organizer subscription, all paid by the organizer: each ticket costs the buyer $25 and the organizer keeps $4,746.51.

> Standard subscriptions start at $29.99 USD per month or $174.99 USD per year.
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/28677808413197-Organizer-Subscription-prices-overview · Organizer Subscription prices overview, Standard starting prices, checked 29 October 2026

**Fees on 50 tickets at $25** · Yes — $85.87 in fees on 50 tickets at $25 on Standard Organizer subscription, all paid by the organizer: each ticket costs the buyer $25 and the organizer keeps $1,164.14.

> Standard subscriptions start at $29.99 USD per month or $174.99 USD per year.
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/28677808413197-Organizer-Subscription-prices-overview · Organizer Subscription prices overview, Standard starting prices, checked 29 October 2026

**The fee per ticket** · Partly — Organizers set each event ticket price, while Meetup may add an attendee service fee at RSVP.

> When you RSVP to a ticketed event on Meetup, you may see a service fee added to the price of the ticket.
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/39489419634189--Event-fees-Why-does-Meetup-charge-a-service-fee-for-ticketed-events · Event-fee service-fee explanation, checked 29 October 2026

**Who pays the fees** · Yes — Meetup describes its service fee as an addition to the attendee ticket price at RSVP.

> When an attendee RSVPs to an event, Meetup collects a service fee in addition to the full price of the event ticket.
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002883891--Event-fees-Setting-event-fees-with-Paypal · Transaction fees section, checked 29 October 2026

**Card processing** · Partly — Paid-event collection uses PayPal, whose transaction rate is not stated by Meetup and varies by region.

> A small transaction fee is also taken from the total amount an organizer charges per ticket. Please check with PayPal to determine the exact fees for your region.
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002883891--Event-fees-Setting-event-fees-with-Paypal · Transaction fees section, checked 29 October 2026

**All-in price at checkout** · No — The buyer can see a service fee added after the organizer-set ticket price during RSVP.

> When you RSVP to a ticketed event on Meetup, you may see a service fee added to the price of the ticket.
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/39489419634189--Event-fees-Why-does-Meetup-charge-a-service-fee-for-ticketed-events · Event-fee service-fee explanation, checked 29 October 2026

**Fees on refunds** · Partly — Refund eligibility is set by each organizer, so Meetup does not state one universal fee-refund outcome.

> In general, group organizers set their own policies for member dues and event fees, including when a member is eligible for a refund.
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360004065471-Payment-Policies · Payment Policies, refund policy statement, checked 29 October 2026

**Plans and subscriptions** · Yes — Meetup offers a paid Pro plan with tools for managing groups across a network.

> Meetup Pro has everything you need to take your community to the next level, with tools to grow your email list, build your brand, and expand to groups across the globe.
> — https://www.meetup.com/meetup-pro/ · Meetup Pro page, introduction, checked 29 October 2026

**Donations and tips** · Yes — United States organizers can enable voluntary Pledge fundraising, with donations sent to their bank accounts.

> Meetup is teaming up with Pledge, a secure payment collection company, to allow members to send voluntary contributions to organizers.
> — https://www.meetup.com/blog/fundraising-a-new-way-to-say-thanks/ · Introducing Fundraising section, checked 29 October 2026

### Getting paid

**Your buyers’ details** · Partly — Meetup Pro specifically includes attendee-email access, while the reviewed source does not establish that access for lower plans.

> Access to attendee emails
> — https://www.meetup.com/graphql/ · Get API access and more with Meetup Pro, checked 29 October 2026

### Selling the tickets

**Ticket types and discounts** · Yes — Ticketed events can use early-bird discounts and promo codes, each with organizer-set limits.

> Organizers can now offer customized discounts for ticketed events with a special promo code for members.
> — https://www.meetup.com/blog/meetup-product-release-notes/ · Product Release Notes, Early Bird Pricing and Promo codes, checked 29 October 2026

**Questions at checkout** · Yes — Organizers can ask RSVP questions, but the answers are optional rather than required registration fields.

> All responses to event questions are optional.
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360022471332-Profile-and-event-questions · Profile and event questions, event-question policy, checked 29 October 2026

**Registration forms and waivers** · Partly — Meetup supports optional event questions, but the reviewed documentation does not establish signed waivers or required forms.

> All responses to event questions are optional.
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360022471332-Profile-and-event-questions · Profile and event questions, event-question policy, checked 29 October 2026

**Waitlist** · Partly — Meetup offers waitlists, but its help guidance says paid events cannot use that waitlist.

> it is not possible to set up a waitlist for events that are charging an event fee.
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360003883411-Enable-a-Waitlist-for-your-Meetup-event · Waitlist eligibility guidance, checked 29 October 2026

**Online events** · Yes — Meetup Pro organizers can schedule hybrid events with separate online attendee and guest limits.

> Pro organizers can now schedule an event that is both in person and online.
> — https://www.meetup.com/blog/meetup-product-release-notes/ · Product Release Notes, Hybrid Events, checked 29 October 2026

**Recurring events** · Yes — The Standard organizer subscription includes recurring events alongside online events and unlimited attendees.

> Online and recurring events
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001620472-Standard-Organizer-subscription · Standard Organizer subscription feature list, checked 29 October 2026

**Refunds and transfers by buyers** · Yes — Buyers may request an event-fee refund from the organizer, though approval remains subject to organizer policy.

> You can always request a refund for event fees you paid directly from the event organizer for whatever reason.
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/41231494405133-I-was-charged-for-an-event-that-didn-t-take-place-Can-I-request-a-refund · Event-fee refund request guidance, checked 29 October 2026

### At the door

**Check-in app** · Yes — Enabled tickets support QR-code scanning for attendance, but offline operation is not established in the reviewed guidance.

> If tickets and check-in features are enabled for your event, you can check in members by scanning the QR code on their ticket from 1 hour before the event starts until 24 hours after it ends.
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/45352992737677-Introducing-the-new-attendee-list-and-QR-code-check-in · QR code check-in instructions, checked 29 October 2026

### Finding buyers

**Listed where buyers browse** · Yes — Meetup promotes organizer groups throughout its own network, although the reviewed page does not state a separate marketplace commission.

> We’ll keep promoting your group throughout our network so it continues to grow.
> — https://www.meetup.com/how-to-group-start/ · Continuous Growth section, checked 29 October 2026

**Email to buyers** · Partly — Meetup Pro offers direct organizer email to attendees for reminders and other important communications.

> Pro admins can directly email their attendees event reminders and other important information to keep them engaged between events.
> — https://www.meetup.com/meetup-pro/ · Build your email list section, checked 29 October 2026

### What it connects to and where it is sold

**Works with** · Partly — Meetup Pro API access supports scheduling events and managing groups through existing CRM tools.

> Schedule events and manage groups using existing CRM tools
> — https://www.meetup.com/graphql/ · Business Solutions and Meetup Pro API section, checked 29 October 2026

**API** · Partly — Meetup makes its GraphQL API available as a Meetup Pro benefit, using OAuth 2 authentication.

> API access
> — https://www.meetup.com/graphql/ · Get API access and more with Meetup Pro, checked 29 October 2026

### Starting and getting help

**Free to start** · Partly — Joining Meetup is free, but a paid Standard organizer subscription is the documented plan that includes event fees.

> Membership is free.
> — https://www.meetup.com/ · Join Meetup section, checked 29 October 2026

**Sign up without a sales call** · Yes — The public organizer page invites prospective organizers to start a group today without a sales-contact requirement.

> Start a group today.
> — https://www.meetup.com/how-to-group-start/ · Page introduction, checked 29 October 2026

**Contract** · Yes — Organizer subscriptions renew automatically but can be canceled, so organizers can stop future renewal.

> Subscriptions for organizers and Meetup+ members renew automatically
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002883151-Canceling-a-recurring-subscription · Canceling a recurring subscription overview, checked 29 October 2026

**Support on event day** · Yes — Meetup directs support requests to its ticket contact form; phone and live support hours are not established here.

> you can contact our Meetup Support team by submitting a ticket through our Contact Form.
> — https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025475652--Contacting-Meetup-Support · Contacting Meetup Support guidance, checked 29 October 2026

## Meetup alternatives

- [Race Entry](https://boxofficefees.com/raceentry) · Free plan: Free race management software paid for by one per-registration fee that already covers card processing.
- [RunSignup](https://boxofficefees.com/runsignup) · Free plan: Free endurance-event registration platform billed only through per-transaction processing fees.
- [Auctria](https://boxofficefees.com/auctria) · Free plan, then $375 a year: Fundraising event and auction platform with admission tickets, bidding and an event website, sold as an annual license.
- [RSVPify](https://boxofficefees.com/rsvpify) · Free plan, then $0.90 per ticket: Registration, ticketing, guest management, seating, and QR-code check-in in one platform.
- [TicketSpice](https://boxofficefees.com/ticketspice) · From $0.99 per ticket: Flat 99¢-per-ticket ticketing for events and attractions, with in-house payments and a box office app.
- [Eventbrite](https://boxofficefees.com/eventbrite) · Free plan, then $69 a month: Ticketing platform with a buyer-discovery marketplace and optional fee transfer.
- [Humanitix](https://boxofficefees.com/humanitix) · Free plan, then $1.29 per paid ticket: Nonprofit ticketing: 5% + $1.29 a paid ticket, card processing included, profits to charity.
- [Ticket Tailor](https://boxofficefees.com/ticket-tailor) · Free plan, then £0.60 (about $0.80) per ticket: Flat per-ticket fee ticketing paid into your own Stripe, PayPal or Square account.
- [Givebutter](https://boxofficefees.com/givebutter) · Free plan, then $33.80 a month: Free nonprofit fundraising platform with event ticketing, auctions and a built-in donor CRM.

All 9 publish a price.

[All 9 alternatives](https://boxofficefees.com/meetup/alternatives/)

## Sources and changes

Last changed 29 October 2026

**Sources** (17)

- https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/28677808413197-Organizer-Subscription-prices-overview, read 29 October 2026
- https://www.meetup.com/graphql/, read 29 October 2026
- https://www.meetup.com/blog/meetup-product-release-notes/, read 29 October 2026
- https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002883891--Event-fees-Setting-event-fees-with-Paypal, read 29 October 2026
- https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360022471332-Profile-and-event-questions, read 29 October 2026
- https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/39489419634189--Event-fees-Why-does-Meetup-charge-a-service-fee-for-ticketed-events, read 29 October 2026
- https://www.meetup.com/how-to-group-start/, read 29 October 2026
- https://www.meetup.com/meetup-pro/, read 29 October 2026
- https://www.meetup.com/, read 29 October 2026
- https://www.meetup.com/blog/fundraising-a-new-way-to-say-thanks/, read 29 October 2026
- https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001620472-Standard-Organizer-subscription, read 29 October 2026
- https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002883151-Canceling-a-recurring-subscription, read 29 October 2026
- https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360003883411-Enable-a-Waitlist-for-your-Meetup-event, read 29 October 2026
- https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360004065471-Payment-Policies, read 29 October 2026
- https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025475652--Contacting-Meetup-Support, read 29 October 2026
- https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/41231494405133-I-was-charged-for-an-event-that-didn-t-take-place-Can-I-request-a-refund, read 29 October 2026
- https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/45352992737677-Introducing-the-new-attendee-list-and-QR-code-check-in, read 29 October 2026

## Is this yours?

Claim Meetup: https://boxofficefees.com/claim/meetup

Report an error if a fact is wrong: hello@boxofficefees.com, subject "Report an error: Meetup (meetup)".
