Luma is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.6. Luma wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Gathr on 2.
Community organizers and anyone hosting recurring meetups or classes
Couples and hosts planning weddings or parties with many guests and events
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Luma | Gathr |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Community & Events | Community & Events |
| Category rank | #3 of 12 | #4 of 12 |
| Developer | Luma Labs | The Big Head |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | — |
Common questions
Is Luma better than Gathr?
Luma is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.6. Luma wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Gathr on 2.
Which is cheaper, Luma or Gathr?
Luma: Free with a 5% fee on paid tickets; Luma Plus is $59 a month billed yearly. Gathr: Free for hosts and guests, no ads, nothing to buy. On value for money, Gathr scores higher.
Do Luma and Gathr work on the same devices?
Only Luma runs on Android, Web.
Which is more private, Luma or Gathr?
Gathr scores higher on privacy (8.8/10). Hosts sign in with Apple, Google or email; events and guest lists are stored on Google Firebase. Only you and co-hosts see guests' contact details. No ads, tracking or analytics, and it never handles money.
Strengths and weaknesses
Luma
- Unlimited events and guests on the free plan
- Polished pages with no design work
- Map of events happening nearby
- 5% platform fee on paid tickets without Plus
- Plus is pricey for occasional hosts
Luma is built for the meetups, run clubs and community nights that keep a city social. Hosts make a good-looking event page in seconds, send invites by email, SMS or WhatsApp, sell tickets and check guests in with QR codes. Guests find events on a map, follow calendars from groups they like and chat with people they met. The free plan covers unlimited events and guests, with a 5% fee on paid tickets.
Full Luma review
Gathr
- Free for you and your guests, with no ads
- Handles multi-day weddings with many functions
- Guests reply without installing anything
- Hosts need an account, and the app is iPhone and iPad only
- No registry or wedding website builder
Gathr handles the whole guest side of a wedding or party: invitations guests answer from a link, RSVPs, a checklist, a budget and a schedule for every function, from mehendi to reception. A co-host can plan alongside you, and your chosen theme carries through to the guests' RSVP page. Guests need no app or account, and nobody pays a fee. It is less of a wedding website builder than Zola, but for organising the guest list it is excellent and free.
Full Gathr review
