Gathr is the better app overall, scoring 8.6 to 7.8. Gathr wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Meetup on 1.
Couples and hosts planning weddings or parties with many guests and events
Newcomers and hobbyists looking for recurring groups to meet people locally
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Gathr | Meetup |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Community & Events | Community & Events |
| Category rank | #3 of 10 | #9 of 10 |
| Developer | The Big Head | Meetup |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | — | ✓ |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Strengths and weaknesses
Gathr
- Free for you and your guests, with no ads
- Handles multi-day weddings with many functions
- Guests reply without installing anything
- The planner 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. Guests need no app, 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
Meetup
- Wide range of hobby and professional groups
- Free for members to join and RSVP
- Good for meeting people in a new city
- Organizer fees can push groups to charge dues
- Cluttered app with frequent upsells
Meetup is still the go-to place to find recurring local groups, from hiking clubs and language exchanges to tech talks and book clubs. Joining groups is free, and RSVPs, messages and event updates all live in the app. Organizers pay a subscription, which pushes some groups to charge dues. The app has grown cluttered, and group quality depends entirely on local organizers.
Full Meetup review
