It's close: Meetup edges it 7.8 to 7.7, so the right pick depends on what you need. Meetup wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Nextdoor on 2, with 1 tied.
Newcomers and hobbyists looking for recurring groups to meet people locally
Homeowners and renters who want local tips, alerts and a neighborhood marketplace
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Meetup | Nextdoor |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Community & Events | Community & Events |
| Category rank | #9 of 10 | #10 of 10 |
| Developer | Meetup | Nextdoor |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Strengths and weaknesses
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
Nextdoor
- Fast local recommendations from real neighbors
- Free listings for selling and giving away items
- Useful for lost pets and local alerts
- Ad-supported feed with sponsored posts
- Discussions can turn negative or alarmist
Nextdoor is the place to ask neighbors for a plumber recommendation, find a lost pet or hear about local safety alerts. Address verification keeps the feed tied to your real area, and the free listings are handy for selling furniture. The trade-offs: the feed is ad-supported, threads can turn negative, and you share your name and street with the platform. Use it for practical local help.
Full Nextdoor review
