Tribe vs Meetup
Meetup is a platform for interest-based groups and recurring meetups, best for local interest groups and recurring meetups that want discovery. Tribe is built to run a whole IRL community: events, paid memberships, member messaging and discovery in one place.
Why communities choose Tribe
No organiser subscription: Tribe is free and only charges on paid sales
A branded community page that is yours, not a group inside a bigger brand
WhatsApp announcements and a member CRM to keep people coming back
Brand sponsorship opportunities without an enterprise plan
Where Meetup is strong
A long-established network of local groups and members
Strong discovery for people looking for groups to join
Built-in tools for recurring meetups and group discussions
Features: Tribe vs Meetup
| Feature | Tribe | Meetup |
|---|---|---|
| Free and paid event ticketing | Yes | Yes |
| Paid memberships and subscriptions | Yes | Member dues |
| Built for recurring communities | Yes | Yes |
| Branded community page | Yes | Group page |
| Member database (CRM) | Yes | Basic |
| Email announcements | Yes | Yes |
| WhatsApp announcements | Yes | Not available |
| Event chat | Yes | Yes |
| QR check-in | Yes | Yes |
| Discovery marketplace for new attendees | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app for attendees | Yes | Yes |
| Brand sponsorship opportunities | Yes | Enterprise and partnerships |
| Community manager support | Yes | Basic |
Pricing: Tribe vs Meetup
- TribeMonthly: Free. No monthly feeFees: 5% Tribe fee on paid tickets and memberships, plus Stripe's processing (typically 3%)Fees can be added at checkout so attendees pay them. Free events are always free.
- MeetupMonthly: Organiser subscription. Price varies by country and plan, with a free Starter option for first-time organisersFees: Fees on paid events and member dues vary by plan
| Platform | Monthly cost | Fees on paid tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Tribe | Free. No monthly fee | 5% Tribe fee on paid tickets and memberships, plus Stripe's processing (typically 3%)Fees can be added at checkout so attendees pay them. Free events are always free. |
| Meetup | Organiser subscription. Price varies by country and plan, with a free Starter option for first-time organisers | Fees on paid events and member dues vary by plan |
Based on each platform's public website and pricing pages, checked October 2026. Prices exclude VAT and can change, so check each platform for current terms. Sources: Meetup for organisers. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
Questions
Is Tribe a good Meetup alternative?
If you run a recurring IRL community, yes. Meetup is best for local interest groups and recurring meetups that want discovery. Tribe brings events, paid memberships, member messaging and discovery together, so you can run and grow the whole community in one place.
How do Tribe's fees compare with Meetup?
Meetup charges organisers a subscription that varies by country and plan. Tribe has no subscription: it's free to start and charges 5% on paid tickets and memberships plus Stripe's processing (typically 3%).
Can I move my community from Meetup to Tribe?
Yes. Creating your community is free, you can publish your next events straight away, and our community team can help you set up and invite your members.
Run your community on Tribe
Free to start. 5% on paid tickets and memberships, plus Stripe.