Luma is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 7.7. Luma wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Meetup on 0.
Community organizers and anyone hosting recurring meetups or classes
Newcomers and hobbyists looking for recurring groups to meet people locally
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Luma | Meetup |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Community & Events | Community & Events |
| Category rank | #3 of 12 | #12 of 12 |
| Developer | Luma Labs | Meetup LLC |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Luma better than Meetup?
Luma is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 7.7. Luma wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Meetup on 0.
Which is cheaper, Luma or Meetup?
Luma: Free with a 5% fee on paid tickets; Luma Plus is $59 a month billed yearly. Meetup: Free to join groups; Meetup+ and organizer plans are paid subscriptions. On value for money, Luma scores higher.
Do Luma and Meetup work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Web.
Which is more private, Luma or Meetup?
Luma scores higher on privacy (8.0/10). App Store label: contact info, user content, identifiers, usage and diagnostics may be linked to you. No tracking. Google Play lists app activity and diagnostics shared for analytics.
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
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 upsells and ads
- Tracks more than most apps in this category
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 with upsells and ads, and group quality depends entirely on local organizers.
Full Meetup review
