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Software · head to head

FamCal vs Meetup

F

FamCal

Software

Shared family calendar for coordinating activities

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Meetup logo

Meetup

Software

Find your people

From
$55/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only FamCal has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: FamCal the whole family shares one account, logging in with individual email addresses but a single shared password; Meetup organizer fees tripled following Bending Spoons acquisition in 2024
  • They diverge on capability: FamCal covers Shared calendar, Meetup covers Groups.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FamCal and Meetup actually diverge.

Attributes where FamCal and Meetup differ
AttributeFamCalMeetup
Starting priceFree$55/month
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
Founded20152002

Identical on both: 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 FamCal

  • Shared calendar
  • Color-coded events
  • Event notifications
  • Multiple family members
  • Calendar syncing
  • Event reminders
  • Location tagging
  • Notes and details

Only in Meetup

  • Groups
  • Events
  • RSVP System
  • Messaging
  • Event Photos
  • Recommendations
  • Zoom

Both cover

  • Google Calendar
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

FamCal

  • Running a shared colour-coded family calendar across membersnot Meetup
  • Sharing grocery lists, chores and task assignments in a householdnot Meetup
  • Tracking and exporting shared trip expenses as PDF or CSVnot Meetup

Meetup

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

Where each one falls short

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

FamCal

  • The whole family shares one account, logging in with individual email addresses but a single shared password
  • Subscriptions are sold only as weekly or annual terms
  • Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period
  • The account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period
  • The iOS app requires iOS 15.0 or later

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

FamCal

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Shared calendar
    • Basic notifications
    • Up to 6 members
  • Premium$2.99/month
    • Everything in Free
    • Unlimited members
    • Advanced notifications

Meetup

$55/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Meetup review.

Which should you pick?

Choose FamCal if

  • You need shared calendar.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want color-coded events.
FamCal review

Choose Meetup if

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

Questions people ask

Is FamCal or Meetup better?
Neither clearly leads. FamCal starts at Free and Meetup at $55/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FamCal or Meetup?
FamCal has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for FamCal and $55/month for Meetup.
Does FamCal or Meetup run on more platforms?
FamCal runs on Web, Ios, Android. Meetup runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use FamCal for free?
Yes. FamCal has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Meetup starts at $55/month.
What is FamCal best used for?
FamCal is most often used for running a shared colour-coded family calendar across members, sharing grocery lists, chores and task assignments in a household, tracking and exporting shared trip expenses as pdf or csv. Of those, running a shared colour-coded family calendar across members and sharing grocery lists, chores and task assignments in a household are not what Meetup is typically brought in for.
What can FamCal do that Meetup cannot?
FamCal covers Shared calendar, Color-coded events, Event notifications, Multiple family members. Meetup covers Groups, Events, RSVP System, Messaging. Both handle Google Calendar, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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
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Related pages

More on FamCal

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