Who's In vs Lu.ma
Who's In scales from a free RSVP link to Stripe payments and recurring schedules — with WhatsApp-native sharing and zero guest friction that Luma can't match.
All features included · No credit card required
Last updated: March 20, 2026
Who's In
Free Forever • No Fees
- Free events free, low paid fees
- No guest accounts required
- Recurring auto-schedule (now free)
- WhatsApp-native sharing + web push
- Apple & Google Wallet passes
- 2-minute setup
Lu.ma
Free + Ticket Fees
- Polished event pages
- Built-in calendar/series
- 5% platform fee on paid tickets (2026)
- Email verification required
- Plus plan $69/mo to remove fees
No Hidden Fees, Ever
As of 2026, Lu.ma charges a 5% platform fee on every paid ticket. For a $20 event with 50 attendees, that's $50 in platform fees alone — before Stripe processing. Upgrading to Lu.ma Plus ($69/mo) removes the platform fee, but you're still paying the subscription.
Who's In is completely free for free events, with just a flat 2.7% on paid tickets. No monthly subscription needed.
💰 Organizers can see potential savings by switching from Lu.ma to Who's In
Cost Comparison: 100 Attendees
- • Free Event — Who's In: $0 | Lu.ma: $0
- • $10 Tickets — Who's In: $27 | Lu.ma: $50
- • $25 Tickets — Who's In: $67.50 | Lu.ma: $125
- • *Lu.ma fees (as of 2026): 5% platform fee. Who's In: 2.7% flat. Stripe processing extra for both.
Who's In: What You Actually Need
- Create event → Share link → Track RSVPs
- No guest accounts or email verification
- Automatic waitlist when full
- WhatsApp-native sharing + web push + email reminders
- Apple & Google Wallet passes — one tap to save ticket
- Real-time QR check-in scanner, multi-admin supported
- Advanced analytics: no-show rates, attendance forecasting
- AI venue enrichment & suggestions — powered by location data
- AI-native: WebMCP tools + REST API let Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT agents browse events — no other event platform has this
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Who's In | Lu.ma |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free forever | Free + fees on tickets |
| Transaction Fees | 2.7% (flat) | 5% platform fee (2026) |
| Guest Account Required | No | Email verification |
| Recurring Auto-Schedule | Free (set-and-forget) | Manual/Calendar |
| WhatsApp Integration | Native (reminders + check-in + enhanced) | Link sharing only |
| Web Push Notifications | Free (FCM + enhanced reminders) | Basic |
| Morning-of No-Show Check | "Still in?" via WhatsApp | No |
| Auto-Waitlist Promotion | Free (instant when spot opens) | Yes |
| QR Check-in (Multi-Admin) | Real-time, multi-device | Single device |
| Post-Event Surveys | Free | No |
| Earnings Dashboard | Free | Basic |
| Custom Branding | Free | Yes |
| Public Event Page URL | Free | Yes |
| Embeddable Widget | Free | Advanced |
| Business/Brand Profiles | Free | Yes |
| Apple & Google Wallet Passes | Free (one tap to save) | No |
| Advanced Analytics (no-shows + forecasting) | Free | Basic |
| Paid Ticketing | Yes (2.7%) | Yes (with fees) |
| Setup Time | 2 minutes | 5-10 minutes |
| CSV Export | Free | Yes |
| LinkedIn Verified Organizer Badges | Full API — publish, sync, track, verified badges | Basic share only |
| AI Venue Enrichment & Suggestions | Yes (Mar 2026) | No |
| WebMCP / AI Agent API | Yes | No |
Which Tool Should You Choose?
Use Who's In When...
- Run free community events
- Want zero platform fees
- Need frictionless guest RSVPs
- Share events via WhatsApp or web push
- Want Apple/Google Wallet passes for attendees
- Need multi-admin QR check-in at the door
- Want AI venue suggestions and advanced analytics
- Want automated waitlists and WhatsApp reminders included free
Use Lu.ma When...
- Sell tickets and can absorb fees
- Need a public event calendar page
- Want advanced embed options
- Run tech community events in SF/NYC
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Who's In and Lu.ma?▼
Lu.ma focuses on tech community events with ticketing and calendar features. Who's In is a full-featured event management platform that's free for community events, with automated waitlist promotion, WhatsApp-native sharing, QR check-in, Stripe payments, and membership management. Lu.ma charges a 5% platform fee on paid tickets (or $69/mo Plus to remove it); Who's In is completely free for free events.
Is Who's In free compared to Lu.ma?▼
Who's In is free for free events with no transaction fees. For paid events, Who's In charges a flat 2.7%. As of 2026, Lu.ma charges a 5% platform fee on paid tickets, or $69/mo for Plus to remove it. For free events, Who's In offers waitlists and QR check-in free.
Which is better for recurring community events?▼
Who's In has built-in recurring event support - set up your weekly meetup once and it auto-creates future instances. Lu.ma requires creating each event separately or using their calendar feature which has limitations.
Do guests need accounts with either platform?▼
Lu.ma requires email verification and creates accounts for attendees. Who's In lets guests RSVP with just their name - no accounts, no verification emails, no friction.
Can I share events on WhatsApp?▼
Who's In is built with WhatsApp as a first-class channel with smart pre-filled messages. Lu.ma supports basic link sharing but doesn't have native WhatsApp integration.
Does Who's In integrate with LinkedIn?▼
Yes! Who's In offers four LinkedIn integrations: sign in with LinkedIn, share events to your LinkedIn feed, publish full LinkedIn Events that sync attendees back, and display Verified on LinkedIn identity badges — all included free. No other event platform offers this level of LinkedIn integration.
Does Who's In support Apple Wallet and Google Wallet passes?▼
Yes — as of March 2026, Who's In generates Apple Wallet and Google Wallet passes for every ticket. Attendees tap once to save their pass and receive automatic updates if event details change. Lu.ma does not offer Wallet passes.
Does Who's In support multi-admin QR check-in?▼
Yes. The real-time QR check-in scanner works across multiple devices simultaneously, so a whole door team can scan without conflicts or duplicate check-ins. Each scan syncs instantly so your attendance count stays accurate in real time.
What analytics does Who's In provide compared to Lu.ma?▼
Who's In includes advanced analytics dashboards showing no-show rates, attendance trends, and forecasting for future events — all free. Lu.ma offers basic attendee counts. Who's In's forecasting helps organizers right-size venues and catering before the event.
What is AI venue enrichment in Who's In?▼
Launched March 2026, AI venue enrichment automatically pulls rich location data (photos, accessibility info, nearby transit, parking) when you type an address. It also suggests similar venues based on your event type and past locations — saving organizers research time.
Start free, scale when you're ready
RSVP link, automatic waitlists, reminders, QR check-in, calendar sync
WhatsApp sharing, CSV export, capacity limits, guest notes, cover images
Stripe payments, recurring events, memberships, surveys, analytics
Every feature works the moment you turn it on. No configuration required.
Every new account gets all features unlocked forever — no credit card needed, no trials, no upgrades.
Ready for Fee-Free Event Management?
Join thousands of community organizers using Who's In.
No credit card • No fees • Free forever · All features included
