The best Meetup alternatives in 2026
Meetup is good at a lot: a large network of people searching for groups by interest and city; habit: many members check Meetup weekly for what's on; network tools for organizations running dozens of chapters. People look elsewhere when they need something it doesn't do well. Here are the alternatives worth a look, what they cost, and who each one is for.
Meetup alternatives at a glance
1. ValoreOur pick
Try it freePricing: Free to host. No subscription or plan tiers.
Pick it if
- You don't want to pay an organizer subscription
- You want branded event pages and your own calendar link
- You sell tickets or paid memberships
- You want approvals, waitlists and automated reminders
2. Luma
Valore vs LumaPricing: Free plan; Luma Plus is $59/month billed annually
Pick it if
- Your audience already discovers events on Luma
- You rely on SMS or WhatsApp blasts
- You need regional payment methods like iDEAL or PayNow
3. Partiful
Valore vs PartifulPricing: Free for free events
Pick it if
- It's a casual party and your friends already use Partiful
- You want text-message-first invites
- You don't need registration, check-in or reporting
4. Eventbrite
Valore vs EventbritePricing: Free events are free to publish; Eventbrite Pro marketing tools start at $15/month
Pick it if
- You want exposure in Eventbrite's large marketplace
- You run large ticketed events that need reserved seating
- Your buyers already trust Eventbrite checkout
5. Posh
Valore vs PoshPricing: Free to start; per-ticket service fees that Posh says may vary by organizer and event
Pick it if
- You're a nightlife promoter selling high volumes of party tickets
- Promoter and affiliate tools are your main growth channel
- Fast payouts are your top priority
6. Evite
Valore vs EvitePricing: Free designs available; Premium is priced per event by guest count ($17.99 for 12 guests up to $99.99 for 750); Evite Pro is $249.99/year
Pick it if
- You want a specific card-style invitation design from a large template library
- Your guests are used to RSVPing on Evite
- It's a one-off party and you don't need tickets or check-in
7. Paperless Post
Valore vs Paperless PostPricing: Pay per event in Coins (e.g. 3 Coins per guest invite); Plus is 200 Coins per event; Paperless Pro from $250/year
Pick it if
- The look of the invitation itself is the priority, like a wedding or formal dinner
- You want the envelope-and-card presentation guests open like real mail
- You run fundraisers and want HubSpot or Raiser's Edge sync on Paperless Pro
Competitor details come from their public pricing and help pages, checked October 2026 or later. Pricing changes, so confirm on their sites.
