Partiful is the better app overall, scoring 9.0 to 7.8. Partiful wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Meetup on 0.
Friends planning birthdays, dinners and house parties who want a fun invite
Newcomers and hobbyists looking for recurring groups to meet people locally
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Partiful | Meetup |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Community & Events | Community & Events |
| Category rank | #1 of 10 | #9 of 10 |
| Developer | Partiful | Meetup |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Strengths and weaknesses
Partiful
- Free for hosts and guests
- Guests can RSVP without downloading the app
- Playful themes and effects make invites stand out
- Light on tools for large or formal events
- Guests must share a phone number to RSVP
Partiful is the best way to invite friends to anything casual. You design a playful event page in minutes, send the link by text, and guests RSVP without downloading an app. Text blasts and shared photo albums keep everyone in the loop before and after. It is built for social plans rather than formal events, and guests need to share a phone number to RSVP.
Full Partiful 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
