Is Who's In really free?

Yes. All event management features are free forever — recurring events, waitlists, QR check-in, reminders, custom branding, analytics, and more. The only fee is 2.7% on paid event tickets (no per-ticket fee, no monthly subscription). Free events cost nothing.

How does Who's In compare to Eventbrite?

Eventbrite charges 3.7% + $1.79 per ticket, plus monthly fees for advanced features. Who's In charges just 2.7% flat on paid events with all features included free. That saves organizers 50-70% on fees for a typical 100-person paid event.

Do attendees need to create an account?

No. Attendees can RSVP with one tap — no account, no app download required. They receive a shareable link via WhatsApp, email, or any messaging app and can respond instantly.

How do automated waitlists work?

When an event reaches capacity, new RSVPs are automatically added to a waitlist. If someone cancels, the next person on the waitlist is instantly promoted and notified — no manual management needed.

Can I collect payments for events?

Yes. Who's In integrates with Stripe for secure payment processing. Organizers can set ticket prices, and payments go directly to their bank account. The platform fee is just 2.7% flat — the lowest in the market.

What does Who's In Clubs include?

Clubs includes membership management with paid and free tiers, member directories, club events, announcements, and a public club page — perfect for book clubs, hiking groups, fitness communities, and any recurring group.

Can I charge membership fees?

Yes. Create multiple membership tiers (free, monthly, annual, or lifetime) with different pricing and benefits. Payments are processed via Stripe with automatic renewals.

Best Running Club Apps in 2026

Weekly runs, pace groups, dues collection, QR check-in — managing a running club is more admin than most people expect. We found the best tools to make it effortless.

Last updated: March 2026 · 7 apps compared · Tested by running club organizers

The Recommended Running Club Stack

Who's In — event management, RSVP, check-in, dues · Strava — performance tracking and challenges · WhatsApp — quick day-of communication

Who's In

Editor's Choice

Best running club app for managing weekly runs, RSVP, dues, and QR check-in

Pricing

Free core / $10/mo premium — members always free

Pros

Recurring event engine perfect for weekly club runs
QR check-in at the start of each run — no clipboards
Apple/Google Wallet passes, LinkedIn verified organizer badges

Cons

No GPS route tracking or performance analytics
No integration with Garmin or running watches

Community running clubsTrail running groupsSocial run groupsParkrun communities

Verdict: The best club management tool for running groups. Recurring events, RSVP with capacity management, and QR check-in eliminate all the admin friction around weekly runs. Pair with Strava for performance tracking.

Strava Clubs

Performance tracking platform with group club feature for runners

Pricing

Free / Strava Premium $11.99/month per user (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

Best GPS tracking and performance analytics in the industry
Strong leaderboards and segment challenges to motivate members
Massive running community — members likely already use it

Cons

Club event management is basic — no RSVP capacity, waitlists, or payments
Per-user premium cost for advanced features

Performance trackingSegment challengesActivity-based social interaction

Verdict: The gold standard for running performance tracking. Excellent for keeping club members engaged through challenges and leaderboards. Lacks the event management features needed to actually run a club.

Spond

Free team management app with good scheduling for running groups

Pricing

Free core / Spond Club premium

Pros

Free with excellent availability and scheduling tools
Good mobile experience for club members
Works well for managing multiple running groups

Cons

No GPS tracking or performance integration
Payment features are an additional paid module

Running clubs that prioritise schedulingMulti-group running clubsClubs on tight budget

Verdict: A solid free alternative to Who's In for running club scheduling. Excellent for managing run availability and schedules. Lacks Who's In's QR check-in, Wallet passes, and AI venue tools.

Heja

Simple free team app used by some running clubs for basic coordination

Pricing

Free

Pros

Free and very easy to set up
Good parent communication for junior athletics
Clean notification system

Cons

Feature set is limited compared to Spond or Who's In
No payments or advanced member management

Simple running team coordinationYouth athletics clubsSchool cross-country teams

Verdict: Good free option for simple running team coordination. Lightweight by design — works well for junior athletics but too limited for serious club management.

Meetup

Event discovery platform used by many public running groups

Pricing

$29.99/month for organizers (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

Strong event discovery for attracting new members to public runs
Large existing community of fitness-oriented users
RSVP feature for basic attendance tracking

Cons

$29.99/month is expensive for a volunteer-run running club
No recurring event management or automated waitlists

Public running groups trying to attract new runnersCity-based community run groups

Verdict: Worth it if you're actively trying to recruit new members. Overpriced once your club has an established core group. No membership management or performance tools.

Facebook Groups

Social media groups used by many local running clubs

Pricing

Free

Pros

Free and broadly accessible
Good for sharing run photos and post-run social content
Members likely already have accounts

Cons

Algorithm shows posts to only 5-10% of members
No RSVP capacity management, dues, or attendance tracking

Established communities on FacebookClubs with predominantly Facebook-active membership

Verdict: Many running clubs default to Facebook Groups out of habit. The algorithm problem is real — important run announcements and route changes get missed. Not a management tool.

Messaging app universally used for running group logistics

Pricing

Free

Pros

Universally adopted — every runner has it
Instant communication for route changes, weather cancellations
Free with no limitations

Cons

No RSVP, attendance, or member management
Important information buried in chat history

Quick communication and last-minute changesInternational clubsSupplementary comms

Verdict: Essential as a supplementary channel for quick communication — who's bringing the water, where to meet if the usual spot is closed. Not a management tool. Best used alongside Who's In.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best app for managing a running club in 2026?

Who's In is the best app for running club management — recurring weekly run scheduling, RSVP with capacity, QR check-in, and membership dues. Pair it with Strava for performance tracking and WhatsApp for quick communication. Most successful running clubs use this three-app setup: Who's In for logistics, Strava for performance, WhatsApp for quick updates.

Do I need both Strava and a club management app?

For most running clubs, yes. Strava is unbeatable for tracking performance, segments, and leaderboards — it keeps members motivated through challenges and social activity feeds. But Strava's club management features are minimal: no RSVP capacity, no waitlists, no payments, no QR check-in. Who's In handles all the logistics Strava can't, so you get the best of both without friction.

How do I manage a weekly running club with different groups at different paces?

Who's In lets you create separate recurring events for each pace group — e.g. 'Tuesday Beginners Run (6-7min/km)' and 'Tuesday Fast Group (under 5min/km)' — each with its own capacity and RSVP. Members choose which group to RSVP to each week. This gives you precise headcounts per group and automatic waitlists when a group fills. You can see total attendance across all groups from a single dashboard.

How do I collect annual running club dues?

Who's In has Stripe membership billing built in. Set an annual or monthly due amount for your club membership tier and members pay directly through the platform. You see real-time payment status — who's paid, who hasn't. The transaction fee is a flat 2.7%. This is far simpler than the typical running club approach of chasing cash at the start of runs or managing bank transfer spreadsheets.

What's the best way to do attendance tracking for running club sessions?

QR code check-in through Who's In. Each run event has a unique QR code that members scan at the start of the run — either from their RSVP confirmation email or from their Apple/Google Wallet pass. You see the real-time attendance count on your phone. No clipboards, no manual register, no post-run data entry. For runs where you don't want a formal check-in, the RSVP count alone gives a reliable attendance figure.

Can Who's In handle different membership types like a competitive athletics club?

Yes. You can create multiple membership tiers (e.g. Senior, Junior, Veteran, Associate) each with different pricing and permissions. Members self-select their tier when joining. You can see the breakdown of members per tier in your dashboard. For clubs affiliated with a governing body (UK Athletics, Athletics Ireland, etc.), you'd handle the national affiliation separately and use Who's In for day-to-day club management.

Your Running Club. Less Admin.

Recurring runs, QR check-in, waitlists, and dues — all handled. You focus on the miles.