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 Social Club Apps in 2026

From weekly book clubs to monthly hiking groups — the right app makes the difference between a thriving club and an exhausted organizer. We tested them all.

Last updated: March 2026 · 7 apps compared · Real-world testing

Who's In

Editor's Choice

Best social club app for recurring events, membership management, and QR check-in

Pricing

Free core / $10/mo club management — members always free

Pros

Purpose-built for clubs that meet regularly — not just one-off events
QR check-in, Apple/Google Wallet passes, AI venue enrichment
Members RSVP with no account required — lowest friction of any platform

Cons

No public event discovery marketplace
Premium club features require $10/month subscription

Book clubsRunning groupsSocial clubsHobby groupsActivity-based communities

Verdict: The best social club app for organizers who run regular events. The recurring event engine, waitlist automation, and QR check-in make it significantly more capable than general-purpose event apps.

Meetup

Established platform for discovering and joining local social groups

Pricing

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

Pros

Large user base ideal for attracting new members to public groups
Good map-based event discovery in major cities
Trusted brand — new attendees feel comfortable joining

Cons

$29.99/month organizer fee even after your community is established
Algorithm-dependent reach within the platform

Finding new membersPublic meetup groupsUrban social discovery

Verdict: Excellent for attracting new members to public groups. Overpriced once your community is established and you no longer need discovery. No membership management tools.

Facebook Groups

Free social media group tool with a massive existing user base

Pricing

Free

Pros

Free and universally accessible
Members likely already have accounts
Good for casual social groups without formal structure

Cons

Post reach limited to 5-10% of group by algorithm
No RSVP capacity management, dues collection, or attendance tracking

Established communities on FacebookNeighbourhood groupsInformal social circles

Verdict: A convenient free starting point but limited by Facebook's algorithm. Clubs serious about member engagement eventually outgrow Facebook Groups.

Eventbrite

Event ticketing and discovery platform for public events

Pricing

Free for free events / 3.7%+$1.79 per paid ticket (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

Strong public event discoverability
Clean ticketing flow members already trust
Integrates with many marketing and CRM tools

Cons

Expensive ticket fees — not viable for regular club events at $5-10/ticket
No membership management or recurring event tools for ongoing clubs

One-off ticketed eventsPublic workshopsCommunity fundraisers

Verdict: Great for one-off public events. Too expensive for recurring club events, and has no membership or community management features. Not a social club app — an event ticketing tool.

Partiful

Modern, beautifully designed app for social parties and gatherings

Pricing

Free (as of March 2026)

Pros

Gorgeous design — best-looking invitation app available
Excellent guest messaging and RSVP tracking for parties
Fun, social-first vibe perfect for casual events

Cons

No recurring events, membership management, or dues collection
Designed for one-off parties — not an ongoing club management tool

Private partiesCasual social gatheringsBirthday parties

Verdict: The best app for throwing parties. Not a club management tool — no membership tiers, recurring events, or payment collection. Use it for special events, not weekly club meetings.

Luma

Clean, modern event platform popular with professional and tech communities

Pricing

Free for free events / 5%+$0.50 per paid ticket (as of March 2026, subject to change)

Pros

Beautiful event pages with strong RSVP experience
Growing community in tech and professional niches
Good calendar and event series tools

Cons

Ticket fees higher than Who's In at 5%+$0.50 per ticket
No membership management or recurring club features

Professional networking eventsTech meetupsWorkshop series

Verdict: Great for professional community events and workshop series. Lacks membership management and isn't suited for clubs that need dues collection and ongoing member records.

Spond

Free team and sports group management app focused on scheduling

Pricing

Free (premium features separate)

Pros

Free with good team scheduling and availability tools
Strong mobile apps for iOS and Android
Well-suited to sports teams with training schedule management

Cons

Sport/team focus — limited for non-sports social clubs
Payment features require separate add-on subscriptions

Youth sports teamsAdult recreational sportsTeam coordination

Verdict: Strong choice for sports teams that need scheduling and availability management. Limited for non-sports social clubs, and payment features require additional cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best social club app in 2026?

Who's In is the best social club app for clubs that meet regularly. It combines event management, RSVP with automatic waitlists, membership management, Stripe payments, QR check-in, and Apple/Google Wallet passes in one platform for $10/month (members free). For one-off social events and parties, Partiful is excellent. For public event discovery, Meetup and Luma have strong communities.

What makes a good social club app vs. a general event app?

A social club app should handle recurring events, member management over time, dues collection, and attendance history — not just one-off ticketing. Who's In is purpose-built for clubs that meet weekly or monthly. General event apps like Eventbrite and Luma are designed for one-off public events. Partiful is designed for private parties. Only Who's In combines recurring events, membership management, and payment collection in one platform.

Do club members need to create accounts to join events?

With Who's In, no — members RSVP via a link with no account creation required. This dramatically reduces friction, especially for older or less tech-savvy members. Meetup, Eventbrite, Luma, and Partiful all require attendees to create accounts to RSVP. Facebook Groups requires a Facebook account. Who's In is the only platform on this list where guests can RSVP with just their name.

Which app is best for a social club that charges dues or entry fees?

Who's In is the strongest option for clubs that collect money. Stripe payment collection is built in with a flat 2.7% fee on paid events — no monthly surcharge. Luma charges 5%+$0.50 per ticket. Eventbrite charges 3.7%+$1.79 per ticket. Meetup has no payment collection at all. For recurring dues (monthly or annual membership fees), Who's In's membership tier system is the only dedicated tool on this list.

Is Partiful good for a social club?

Partiful is excellent for private parties and one-off social events — it has beautiful design and a great RSVP experience. For a social club that meets regularly, it falls short: no recurring events, no membership management, no dues collection. Think of Partiful as the best tool for your annual club party, and Who's In as the tool for managing your weekly or monthly meetings.

What about apps designed for specific club types like running or sports?

Spond is popular with sports teams and youth clubs for its scheduling and availability tools. Strava Clubs serves running communities. However, these niche apps lack general membership management and payment tools. Who's In works across all club types — running clubs, book clubs, social clubs, hobby groups — with the same feature set. Many running clubs use Strava for performance tracking alongside Who's In for event management and club administration.

The Social Club App Built for Real Clubs

Recurring events, waitlists, QR check-in, and dues — all in one place.