Software · head to head
Luma vs Meetup
The short version
- Only Luma has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Luma 5% platform fee on paid events in free tier can add up for high-volume organizers; Meetup organizer fees tripled following Bending Spoons acquisition in 2024
- They diverge on capability: Luma covers Event pages, Meetup covers Groups.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Luma and Meetup actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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 Luma
- Event pages
- Registration
- Calendar sync
- Ticketing
- Community features
- Apple Calendar
- Stripe
- Discord
Only in Meetup
- Groups
- Events
- RSVP System
- Messaging
- Event Photos
- Recommendations
Both cover
- Google Calendar
- Zoom
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Luma
- 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 Luma
- Organising a recurring in-person groupnot Luma
- Running online events alongside physical onesnot Luma
- Growing a community by drawing on Meetup's existing member basenot Luma
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Luma
- 5% platform fee on paid events in free tier can add up for high-volume organizers
- Limited discovery features compared to established platforms like Meetup or Eventbrite
- Smaller organizer community means fewer network effects than larger competitors
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
Luma
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited events
- Unlimited guests
- Up to 500 invites per week
- Plus$59/month
- No platform fee
- 5,000 invites per week
- Tax collection
Meetup
$55/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Meetup review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Luma if
- You need event pages.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want registration.
Questions people ask
- Is Luma or Meetup better?
- Neither clearly leads. Luma 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, Luma or Meetup?
- Luma has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Luma and $55/month for Meetup.
- Does Luma or Meetup run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Luma for free?
- Yes. Luma has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Meetup starts at $55/month.
- What is Luma best used for?
- Luma 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 Luma do that Meetup cannot?
- Luma covers Event pages, Registration, Calendar sync, Ticketing. Meetup covers Groups, Events, RSVP System, Messaging. Both handle Google Calendar, Zoom, Web support, Ios support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Luma: Does Luma have a free plan?
Yes. Luma offers a free plan with unlimited events, unlimited guests, and up to 500 invites per week. Free users pay a 5% platform fee on paid events.
SourceMeetup: 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.
SourceLuma: How much does Luma Plus cost?
Luma Plus costs $59 per month when billed annually, or $69 per month for month-to-month billing. It removes the platform fee, increases invites to 5,000 per week, and adds tax collection and API access.
SourceMeetup: 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.
SourceLuma: Can I integrate Luma with other tools?
Yes. Luma Plus includes API access and supports enterprise CRM integrations for larger organizations managing events at scale.
SourceMeetup: 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