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Software · head to head

Meetup vs Whova

Meetup logo

Meetup

Software

Find your people

From
$55/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Whova logo

Whova

Software

Award-winning event management app

From
$1500/event
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Meetup organizer fees tripled following Bending Spoons acquisition in 2024; Whova mobile app experiences slow loading and occasional crashes during large events
  • They diverge on capability: Meetup covers Groups, Whova covers Event mobile app.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Meetup and Whova actually diverge.

Attributes where Meetup and Whova differ
AttributeMeetupWhova
Starting price$55/month$1500/event
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Founded20022012

Identical on both: 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 Meetup

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

Only in Whova

  • Event mobile app
  • Agenda management
  • Attendee networking
  • Live polling
  • Virtual sessions
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • Mailchimp

Both cover

  • Zoom
  • 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 Whova
  • Organising a recurring in-person groupnot Whova
  • Running online events alongside physical onesnot Whova
  • Growing a community by drawing on Meetup's existing member basenot Whova

Whova

  • 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

Whova

  • Mobile app experiences slow loading and occasional crashes during large events
  • Limited customization options to align with specific event branding needs
  • Notification overload can overwhelm attendees with too many messages
  • Default privacy settings include contact sharing concerns and data hosting in the US

Pricing, plan by plan

Meetup

$55/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Meetup review.

Whova

$1500/event
  • Basic$1500/event
    • Event app
    • Agenda builder
    • Networking
  • Professional$3000/event
    • Virtual event support
    • Gamification
    • Analytics
  • Enterprise$6000/event
    • Custom development
    • API access
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Meetup if

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

Choose Whova if

  • You need event mobile app.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want agenda management.
Whova review

Questions people ask

Is Meetup or Whova better?
Neither clearly leads. Meetup starts at $55/month and Whova at $1500/event, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Meetup or Whova?
Meetup starts at $55/month and Whova at $1500/event.
Does Meetup or Whova 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 Whova is typically brought in for.
What can Meetup do that Whova cannot?
Meetup covers Groups, Events, RSVP System, Messaging. Whova covers Event mobile app, Agenda management, Attendee networking, Live polling. Both handle Zoom, 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
Whova: How much does Whova cost?

Whova uses a quote-based pricing model. Final cost depends on event size, frequency, and features required. Contact their sales team for customized pricing.

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
Whova: Does Whova offer a free tier or trial?

Whova does not publish a permanent free plan, but offers no per-ticket registration fees for free events. A demo/trial is available by request.

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
Whova: What platforms does Whova support?

Whova provides native apps for iOS and Android covering 97% of mobile users, plus a web portal accessible from any device including browsers on laptops and desktops.

Source
Whova: Does Whova integrate with other tools?

Yes, Whova integrates with Zoom, Slack, and Mailchimp through Zapier for automation, enabling seamless data flow between platforms without manual data entry.

Source
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Related pages

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