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Events · head to head

Meetup vs Ticketmaster

Meetup logo

Meetup

Events

Find your people

From
$55/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ticketmaster logo

Ticketmaster

Events

The global leader in live event ticketing

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Meetup organizer fees tripled following Bending Spoons acquisition in 2024; Ticketmaster high fees of 10-30% per ticket with some events reaching 40%, higher than competing platforms
  • They diverge on capability: Meetup covers Groups, Ticketmaster covers Ticket sales.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Meetup and Ticketmaster actually diverge.

Attributes where Meetup and Ticketmaster differ
AttributeMeetupTicketmaster
Starting price$55/monthOn request
Pricing modelUnknowntransaction
Founded20021978

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Meetup

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

Only in Ticketmaster

  • Ticket sales
  • Mobile ticketing
  • Verified tickets
  • Resale marketplace
  • Venue management
  • Spotify
  • Apple Music
  • Facebook

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Meetup

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

Ticketmaster

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

Ticketmaster

  • High fees of 10-30% per ticket with some events reaching 40%, higher than competing platforms
  • Delayed real-time data on seat availability and resale pricing
  • Strict API rate limits and limited customization for partner integrations
  • Found guilty of operating an illegal monopoly in live concert ticketing by federal jury in April 2026
  • Anticompetitive practices that limit competition for event organizers

Pricing, plan by plan

Meetup

$55/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Meetup review.

Ticketmaster

On request
  • StandardFree
    • Global distribution
    • Mobile ticketing
    • Fan verification

Which should you pick?

Choose Meetup if

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

Choose Ticketmaster if

  • You need ticket sales.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want mobile ticketing.
Ticketmaster review

Questions people ask

Is Meetup or Ticketmaster better?
Neither clearly leads. Meetup starts at $55/month and Ticketmaster at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Meetup or Ticketmaster?
Meetup starts at $55/month and Ticketmaster at On request.
Does Meetup or Ticketmaster run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, iOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Meetup best used for?
Meetup is most often used for finding local groups and events around a shared interest, organising a recurring in-person group, running online events alongside physical ones, growing a community by drawing on meetup's existing member base. Of those, finding local groups and events around a shared interest and organising a recurring in-person group are not what Ticketmaster is typically brought in for.
What can Meetup do that Ticketmaster cannot?
Meetup covers Groups, Events, RSVP System, Messaging. Ticketmaster covers Ticket sales, Mobile ticketing, Verified tickets, Resale marketplace. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Web 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
Ticketmaster: How much does Ticketmaster charge in fees?

Ticketmaster typically charges a service fee of 10-30% of the ticket price (sometimes reaching 40% for high-demand events), plus facility fees and order processing fees. Combined fees often result in buyers paying approximately 27% on top of face value.

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
Ticketmaster: Who sets ticket prices on Ticketmaster?

Event organizers set the base face value of tickets based on production costs, venue size, and event interest. However, service fees and facility fees are generally negotiated and shared between various parties including Ticketmaster and venues.

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
Ticketmaster: Does Ticketmaster have an API?

Yes, Ticketmaster provides a Partner API and 3rd Party Integration API for developers. However, the API has strict rate limits, poor resale control, and delays in real-time seat-level and resale data updates.

Source
Ticketmaster: What is Ticketmaster's current legal status?

In April 2026, a federal jury found that Live Nation and subsidiary Ticketmaster operated an illegal monopoly in live concert and ticketing markets. In March 2026, they settled with the DOJ agreeing to cap service fees at 15% at certain venues and divest control of 13 amphitheaters.

Source
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