Luma vs Meetup
If you want a modern platform with flexible ticketing and beautiful event pages, choose Luma. If you need group-focused community management with built-in member directories, Meetup may be the better fit.
Quick Feature Comparison
| Feature | Luma | Meetup |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | ✅ | ❌ ($44.99/mo) |
| Paid ticketing | ✅ | ✅ (since Oct 2023) |
| Ticket tiers / early bird pricing | ✅ | ✅ |
| Promo codes | ✅ | ✅ |
| Waitlist | ✅ | ✅ |
| Require RSVP approval | ✅ | ✅ |
| Event landing pages | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile apps (host & guest) | ✅ | ✅ |
| QR code check-in | ✅ | ❌ |
| Integrations (Zapier, Slack, etc.) | ✅ | Limited |
| Platform has ads | ❌ | ✅ |
Pricing
Luma: Free to create events. Paid tickets incur 3% platform fee plus Stripe processing (2.9% + 30¢).
Meetup: $44.99/month subscription for organizers (or $299.99/year). Ticketing features launched in October 2023 are included at no extra cost, but payment processing fees apply. The platform also displays ads to guests.
Pricing updated June 6, 2024. See Meetup's pricing page for current rates.
A Note on Meetup's History
Founded in 2002, Meetup operated for over 20 years before adding paid ticketing in October 2023. The platform has changed hands multiple times:
- 2017: WeWork acquired Meetup for $156 million
- 2020: Sold to AlleyCorp for a fraction of the purchase price after WeWork's financial troubles
- 2024: Acquired by Bending Spoons, a PE-backed company known for acquiring software companies and making them profitable through price increases and cost cuts. They previously acquired Evernote (doubled prices to $129-169/year), laid off most staff, and have acquired StreamYard, Splice, and others
These ownership changes and the very recent addition of ticketing features have led many organizers to seek more stable, purpose-built ticketing platforms.
Where Luma Shines
- Free to start: No monthly subscription fees—only pay when selling tickets
- Purpose-built for ticketing: Unlike Meetup's 2023 bolt-on, Luma was designed for ticket sales from day one
- Ad-free experience: Your guests see your event, not advertisements
- Beautiful event pages: Modern design that looks professional on any device
- Instant payouts: Get paid directly to your Stripe account as tickets sell
- Own your guest data: Access attendee emails and phone numbers to maintain direct relationships
- No subscription required: Save $540/year compared to Meetup's required subscription
Why You Might Choose Meetup
- Group-centric model: Built specifically for community groups with member management
- Group messaging: Built-in communication tools for your community
- Legacy platform: If you already have an established Meetup group with active members
- Topic-based discovery: Users can find groups by interests (hiking, book clubs, etc.)
Migrating from Meetup to Luma
Note: Meetup protects member emails by default to keep users within their platform. You may need to:
- Add a custom registration question asking for email addresses
- Include your Luma event links in Meetup event descriptions
- Gradually transition members by promoting your Luma calendar
Steps to migrate:
- Create your first event on Luma—it takes under 2 minutes
- Add your Luma event link to your Meetup event descriptions
- Consider asking for emails as a custom question on Meetup RSVPs
- Share your Luma calendar link so members can follow future events directly
FAQs
Can I run free events on Luma? Yes! Free events have no platform fees whatsoever.
Can members see all our upcoming events? Yes, create a Luma calendar to showcase all your events in one place.
Do I own my attendee data on Luma? Yes! You have full access to attendee emails and phone numbers, ensuring you can always maintain direct contact with your community.
What People Are Saying
"@LumaHQ is the only event manager out there that actually works"
— @StewartalsopIII (comparing to Meetup's $44/month charge)