Timeleft is the better app overall, scoring 7.8 to 7.7. Timeleft wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Meetup on 1.
Newcomers to a city and anyone wanting to widen their circle in person
Newcomers and hobbyists looking for recurring groups to meet people locally
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Timeleft | Meetup |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Community & Events | Community & Events |
| Category rank | #10 of 12 | #12 of 12 |
| Developer | Timeleft SAS | Meetup LLC |
| Pricing | Subscription | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | No | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Timeleft better than Meetup?
Timeleft is the better app overall, scoring 7.8 to 7.7. Timeleft wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Meetup on 1.
Which is cheaper, Timeleft or Meetup?
Timeleft: Free to download; booking takes a paid membership, and you pay for your own food. Meetup: Free to join groups; Meetup+ and organizer plans are paid subscriptions. On value for money, Timeleft scores higher.
Do Timeleft and Meetup work on the same devices?
Only Meetup runs on Web.
Which is more private, Timeleft or Meetup?
Timeleft scores higher on privacy (6.6/10). App Store label: contact info and identifiers may be used to track you; financial, sensitive info and your content may be linked to you. Google Play lists data shared for advertising.
Strengths and weaknesses
Timeleft
- No swiping or profiles, just show up
- Groups matched by personality and age
- Easy to rebook with people you clicked with
- Membership plus your own meal adds up
- Tracks contact info and identifiers
- Only runs in its listed cities
Timeleft takes the awkward planning out of making new friends. Take a personality quiz, book a Wednesday dinner, and on the day it reveals the restaurant and a preview of your table of four to six strangers. There are women-only dinners, runs, coffee and walks too, in more than 200 cities across 52 countries. Your food and drinks are paid at the venue on top of the membership, and the app tracks more than we'd like.
Full Timeleft 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
