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Events · head to head

Guest Manager vs Meetup

Guest Manager logo

Guest Manager

Events

Event check-in and registration

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Meetup logo

Meetup

Events

Find your people

From
$55/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Guest Manager has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Guest Manager usage is metered in credits consumed by check ins, emails and badges, so cost scales with activity rather than with the subscription alone; Meetup organizer fees tripled following Bending Spoons acquisition in 2024
  • They diverge on capability: Guest Manager covers Registration, Meetup covers Groups.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Guest Manager and Meetup actually diverge.

Attributes where Guest Manager and Meetup differ
AttributeGuest ManagerMeetup
Starting priceFree$55/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
Founded20142002

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Events).

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 Guest Manager

  • Registration
  • QR check-in
  • Badge printing
  • Attendance tracking
  • Guest communication
  • Eventbrite
  • Mailchimp
  • Zapier

Only in Meetup

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

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Guest Manager

  • Guest list check in on tablets at eventsnot Meetup
  • Selling and scanning event ticketsnot Meetup
  • Printing name badges onsitenot Meetup

Meetup

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

Where each one falls short

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

Guest Manager

  • Usage is metered in credits consumed by check ins, emails and badges, so cost scales with activity rather than with the subscription alone
  • Check in devices are capped at 2 on On Demand, 4 on Planner and 8 on Professional
  • Ticket fees are $1.00 per ticket on On Demand and Planner and fall to $0.50 only on the $199 per month Concierge plan
  • Priority support and a dedicated account manager are Concierge and Custom only
  • The free trial covers only the first 50 guest check ins
  • The Custom plan is priced by quote

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

Guest Manager

Free
  • On Demand$null/usage
    • Pay-as-you-go credit packages
    • 2 devices
    • Self-service support
  • Planner$39/month
    • 3,600 credits/year
    • 4 devices
    • Self-service support
  • Professional$79/month
    • 9,600 credits/year
    • 8 devices
    • Self-service support
  • Concierge$199/month
    • 24,000 credits/year
    • Unlimited devices
    • Priority support

Meetup

$55/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Meetup review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Guest Manager if

  • You need registration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want qr check-in.
Guest Manager review

Choose Meetup if

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

Questions people ask

Is Guest Manager or Meetup better?
Neither clearly leads. Guest Manager 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, Guest Manager or Meetup?
Guest Manager has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Guest Manager and $55/month for Meetup.
Does Guest Manager or Meetup run on more platforms?
Guest Manager runs on Web, Ios, Android. Meetup runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Guest Manager for free?
Yes. Guest Manager has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Meetup starts at $55/month.
What is Guest Manager best used for?
Guest Manager is most often used for guest list check in on tablets at events, selling and scanning event tickets, printing name badges onsite. Of those, guest list check in on tablets at events and selling and scanning event tickets are not what Meetup is typically brought in for.
What can Guest Manager do that Meetup cannot?
Guest Manager covers Registration, QR check-in, Badge printing, Attendance tracking. Meetup covers Groups, Events, RSVP System, Messaging. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Guest Manager: Is there a free trial for Guest Manager?

Yes. New users can check in their first 50 guests free with access to every feature. No credit card required.

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
Guest Manager: How much does Guest Manager charge per ticket?

Guest Manager charges per-ticket service fees ranging from $0.50-$1.00 depending on your plan, plus payment processor fees (Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30).

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
Guest Manager: What is the difference between Guest Manager's subscription plans?

Planner ($39/mo) includes 3,600 credits/year and 4 devices. Professional ($79/mo) includes 9,600 credits/year and 8 devices. Concierge ($199/mo) includes 24,000 credits/year and unlimited devices with priority support.

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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