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Software · head to head

Bizzabo vs Meetup

Bizzabo logo

Bizzabo

Software

The Event Experience Operating System

From
$499/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Meetup logo

Meetup

Software

Find your people

From
$55/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bizzabo high starting cost of $499 per user per month with premium features requiring additional paid add-ons; Meetup organizer fees tripled following Bending Spoons acquisition in 2024
  • They diverge on capability: Bizzabo covers Event registration, Meetup covers Groups.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bizzabo and Meetup actually diverge.

Attributes where Bizzabo and Meetup differ
AttributeBizzaboMeetup
Starting price$499/month$55/month
Founded20122002

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), free tier (No), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bizzabo

  • Event registration
  • Mobile event app
  • Networking
  • Sponsor management
  • Analytics
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • Marketo

Only in Meetup

  • Groups
  • Events
  • RSVP System
  • Messaging
  • Event Photos
  • Recommendations
  • Google Calendar

Both cover

  • Zoom
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bizzabo

  • Event planningnot Meetup
  • Ticket salesnot Meetup
  • Attendee managementnot Meetup
  • Virtual eventsnot Meetup
  • Event marketingnot Meetup

Meetup

  • Finding local groups and events around a shared interestnot Bizzabo
  • Organising a recurring in-person groupnot Bizzabo
  • Running online events alongside physical onesnot Bizzabo
  • Growing a community by drawing on Meetup's existing member basenot Bizzabo

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bizzabo

  • High starting cost of $499 per user per month with premium features requiring additional paid add-ons
  • Technical issues with event check-in, such as slow loading and syncing during peak times
  • Limited customer support on lower-tier plans with slow response times
  • Virtual event capabilities less advanced than dedicated virtual event platforms
  • Website builder has limited assets and customization options

Meetup

  • Organizer fees tripled following Bending Spoons acquisition in 2024
  • Increased paywalling of core community features
  • Platform is buggy with many unfixed issues
  • Customer support no longer available with AI responses only
  • Issues with billing accuracy and unauthorized recurring charges
  • Poor technical support responsiveness to organizer complaints

Pricing, plan by plan

Bizzabo

$499/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Bizzabo review.

Meetup

$55/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Meetup review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Bizzabo if

  • You need event registration.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want mobile event app.
Bizzabo review

Choose Meetup if

  • You need groups.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want events.
Meetup review

Questions people ask

Is Bizzabo or Meetup better?
Neither clearly leads. Bizzabo starts at $499/month and Meetup at $55/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bizzabo or Meetup?
Bizzabo starts at $499/month and Meetup at $55/month.
Does Bizzabo or Meetup run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Bizzabo best used for?
Bizzabo is most often used for event planning, ticket sales, attendee management, virtual events. Of those, event planning and ticket sales are not what Meetup is typically brought in for.
What can Bizzabo do that Meetup cannot?
Bizzabo covers Event registration, Mobile event app, Networking, Sponsor management. Meetup covers Groups, Events, RSVP System, Messaging. Both handle Zoom, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bizzabo: What is the starting price for Bizzabo?

Bizzabo's Event Experience OS starts at $499 per user per month when billed annually, with a 3-user minimum, totaling $17,999 per year. Premium add-ons for virtual production, integrations, and networking features incur additional costs.

Source
Meetup: What is Meetup Pro pricing?

Meetup Pro starts at $55 per group per month, or $47 per group per month for six-month commitments. Enterprise plans are available at custom pricing. A one-week free trial is offered.

Source
Bizzabo: What does Bizzabo's base platform include?

The base platform includes unlimited events and registrations, contact management, ticketing, email campaigns, event website builder, mobile app, analytics, and 24/7 customer support.

Source
Meetup: What features does Meetup Pro include?

Meetup Pro includes event scheduling, group management, member engagement tools, community-building features, and integrations with platforms like Zoom and Mailchimp.

Source
Bizzabo: What integrations does Bizzabo support?

Bizzabo integrates with over 20 platforms including HubSpot CRM, Salesforce Sales Cloud, Mailchimp, Marketo Engage, Slack, Stripe, PayPal, GoTo Webinar, and Zapier.

Source
Meetup: Does Meetup charge organizers fees?

Yes, Meetup charges organizers fees for hosting groups and events. Organizer fees have increased significantly following the Bending Spoons acquisition in 2024.

Source
Bizzabo: Does Bizzabo offer AI features?

Yes, Bizzabo introduced Bizzy, an AI attendee copilot that provides real-time guidance, session discovery recommendations, and networking support to improve attendee experience.

Source
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Related pages

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