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Terms of Service

Terms of Service Overview

Below is an overview of our Terms of Service for the Meetup “Platform”, which means any Meetup website, application, or service. Please make sure to also read the complete Terms of Service, which is our legally binding agreement. The Terms of Service includes information about your legal rights and covers areas such as automatic subscription renewals, limitations of liability, resolution of disputes by mandatory arbitration rather than a judge or jury in a court of law, and a class action waiver.

Your Relationship with Meetup

  • By using our Platform, you are agreeing to our Terms of Service. The Terms of Service are a legally binding agreement between you and Meetup.

  • If you break the rules, we may restrict or remove your Content, or suspend or terminate your account.

  • We charge for certain aspects of our Platform, and some of these fees are billed on a regular and recurring basis (unless you cancel your subscription).

Meetup Groups, Organizers and Members

  • Organizers may establish membership criteria for their own Meetup groups. While there is probably a Meetup group out there for everyone, you can easily start your own Meetup group if you’re looking to create something new.

  • Organizers may charge fees for memberships or events.

  • Using our Platform may involve meeting people in the real world, which can sometimes lead to unexpected situations. In these instances, we can’t control what happens, and we are not responsible for it. You should use common sense and good judgment when interacting with others.

Your Content and Content of Others

Our Platform

  • We try hard to make sure that our Platform is always available and working, but we cannot guarantee it will be. Occasionally things may not go exactly as planned. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience.

  • We are continually improving our Platform. This means that we may modify or discontinue portions of our Platform.

  • By using our Platform, you agree to the limitations of liability and release in our Terms of Service. You also agree to resolve any disputes you may have with us in the manner described in the Terms of Service. Unless you are based in the European Union, you agree to mandatory arbitration and waive your right to seek relief from a judge or jury in a court of law. Claims can only be brought individually, and not as part of a class action.

  • You may be based in a country where the laws that apply provide for different or additional rights and obligations. These Terms of Service will point out areas of difference.

The EU Digital Services Act applies to intermediary services, which include a wide range of online services, including online platforms like Meetup. This requires us to provide certain information to recipients of our service in the EU. We have included information about how we recommend events and groups to users, how we moderate Content of users, our appeals system, and misuse of our reporting and appeals processes at our EU Digital Services Act Page.

 

Terms of Service

Last Updated: January 1, 2026

(view previous versions: 6/1/19; 3/28/17)

Our Terms of Service contain important information about your legal rights. To make it easier to understand, we have provided summaries and tips. These summaries are not part of the official terms, and it is important for you to read the language in each section carefully.

1. This Agreement

Summary: You agree to follow some basic rules when using the Meetup Platform. These rules are described in these Terms of Service, including the related policies and guidelines discussed below. We may change these rules.

1.1 The Agreement. Meetup enables you and other members to arrange offline, real-world Meetup groups and Meetup events. The terms “Meetup,” “we,” “us,” and “our” include Bending Spoons US Inc. and our corporate parent, affiliates, or subsidiaries. We use the terms “you” and “your” to mean any person using our Platform, and any organization or person using the Platform on an organization’s behalf. We use the word “Platform” to mean any Meetup website, application, or service offered by Meetup, including content we offer and electronic communications we send. We provide our Platform to you subject to these Terms of Service. We use the terms “Terms of Service” and “Agreement” interchangeably to mean this document together with our Usage and Content Policies, Groups and Events Policies, Organizer and Leadership Standards, Member Restrictions, Payment Policies, Trademark Usage Guidelines, API License Terms and EU Digital Services Act Page. Your use of the Platform signifies that you agree to this Agreement. If you are using the Platform for an organization, you agree to this Agreement on behalf of that organization, and represent you have authority to bind that organization to the terms contained in this Agreement. If you do not or are unable to agree to this Agreement, do not use our Platform.                    

Tip: We have included summaries and tips to provide an overview of some legal concepts and answer common questions, but the text of these summaries and tips are for your convenience only and do not have a legal effect.

Tip: These Terms of Service are an agreement between you and Meetup and not between you and any other member. For more information, see our FAQ page explaining the parties to our Terms of Service.

1.2 Revisions to this Agreement. We may modify this Agreement from time to time. When we do, we will provide notice to you by publishing the most current version and revising the date at the top of this page. If we make any material change to this Agreement, we will provide additional notice to you, such as by sending you an email or displaying a prominent notice on our Platform. By continuing to use the Platform after any changes come into effect, you agree to the revised Agreement. If you do not wish to accept the revised Agreement, you can close your account.

2. Your Account and Membership

Summary: You need to be at least 18 years old to use our Platform. Meetup organizers control the Content and membership of their Meetup groups. We may remove any Content you post or terminate your account at any time.

2.1 Eligibility. Our Platform is available to anyone who is at least 18 years old. You represent that you are at least 18. Additional eligibility requirements for a particular portion of our Platform may be set by any member who has the ability to moderate or manage that portion of our Platform. For example, the eligibility requirements for a Meetup group or Meetup event may be set by the organizers of that group.

2.2 Restriction or Removal of your Content; Modification, Suspension, and Termination of Your Account. We may restrict or remove your Content, or modify, suspend, or terminate your account or access to the Platform if we reasonably determine that you have violated this Agreement (as described further in Section 5.1), including any of the policies or guidelines that are part of this Agreement, that it is in the best interest of the Meetup community, or to protect our brand or Platform. When this happens, we will, where required by applicable law, notify you of the reasons for the restriction, removal, modification, suspension, or termination. We also may remove accounts of members who are inactive for an extended period of time. Please email policy@meetup.com or contact us through the appeals link (if you have a dedicated case ID), if you believe the restriction, removal, modification, suspension, or termination has occurred in error.

A member who has the ability to moderate or manage a particular portion of our Platform also has the ability, in his or her sole discretion, to modify, suspend, or terminate your access to that portion of the Platform.

2.3 Account Information and Security. When you register, you provide us with some basic information, including an email address and a password. Keep your email address and other account information current and accurate. Also, you agree to maintain the security and confidentiality of your password (or else we may need to disable your account). We strongly encourage you to choose a strong and unique password that is not shared with any other account or online service and practice other healthy password security habits to help avoid unauthorized access to your account. You alone are responsible for anything that happens from your failure to maintain that security and confidentiality, such as by sharing your account credentials with others. If someone is using your password or accessing your account without your permission, report it to our Trust & Safety team via our Meetup Support contact form.

2.4 License to the Meetup Platform and Services. Subject to your compliance with this Agreement, Meetup grants you a limited, non-exclusive, revocable, non-sublicensable, non-transferable right to use the Platform in order to access and use the services and features that we make available to you.

3. Fees, Payments, and Offers

Summary: We charge for certain features on our Platform. If you’re using features that require a paid subscription, you’re responsible for paying all subscription fees (for example, if you’re an organizer, you must pay the organizer subscription fees related to your Meetup group). These fees are billed on a regular and recurring basis (unless you cancel your subscription), and may change in the future. Additionally, some organizers charge money for participation in a Meetup group or Meetup event.

3.1 Fees Charged by Meetup. Use of some of the features on our Platform is free, and we charge fees for other features. We may in the future implement a new fee, or modify an existing fee, for certain current or future features of our Platform. If we implement a new or modified fee, we will give you notice in advance such as by posting changes on our Platform or sending you an email. You agree to pay those fees and any applicable taxes for your continued use of the applicable service. Unless otherwise stated, all fees and all transactions are in U.S. dollars. All subscriptions are non-transferable. All refunds for fees charged by Meetup and related taxes are governed by our Refund Policy. Except as otherwise expressly stated in the Refund Policy or elsewhere in these Terms, all fees and taxes are non-refundable.

3.2 Fees Charged by Organizers. Organizers may impose fees related to particular portions of the Platform, such as member dues for a Meetup group or an event fee for a Meetup event. We reserve the right to initiate refunds of fees paid to organizers, when appropriate. Refunds that we initiate, if any, will be governed by our Payment Policies and our Refund Policy. Organizers may also have their own refund policies, so long as they are consistent with and do not limit members’ ability to receive refunds under our Payment Policies. Payments made to organizers via the Platform are made through a third-party payment service provider. If a member pays a fee to an organizer via the Platform, the member authorizes the organizer (and the organizer’s applicable payment service provider) to charge the designated payment method for the total amount of the fees, including any applicable taxes and other charges. Certain types of fees charged by organizers may be billed on a recurring basis. If billed on a recurring basis, you authorize the organizer to charge the applicable fee to the designated payment method. You may cancel auto-renewal at any time.

Tip: You should use common sense in deciding whether to make a payment to any organizer. We cannot ensure that organizers will use payments as they promise or as you expect. You should check the refund policy of the Meetup group before making any payments to an organizer.

3.3 Payments to Meetup. If you are using features of our Platform that require a paid subscription, you are responsible for paying subscription and any other applicable fees to Meetup on time and through our approved payment methods.   

You represent and warrant that you are authorized to use the payment method you designate via the Platform. You authorize us (and our designated third-party payment processors) to charge your designated payment method for the total amount of any fees you owe to Meetup, including any applicable taxes and other charges. If the payment method cannot be verified, is invalid, or is otherwise not acceptable to us, your payment may be suspended or cancelled. We reserve the right to adjust, or to instruct our payment processors to make adjustments to a payment that has already been requested or received, in order to correct errors or mistakes, or to issue refunds, in accordance with our Payment Policies.

Organizers who allow their organizer subscription to lapse are subject to removal as the organizer of the Meetup groups associated with their account, and their Meetup group (along with all of the information and Content associated with or posted to that Meetup group) may be terminated or transferred to another member. You may only pay organizer fees to Meetup using a valid payment method acceptable to us, as specified via the Platform. If we terminate, suspend, or remove your account in connection with violation of this Agreement, we are not obligated to refund any organizer subscription fees paid to Meetup. In addition, if you paid your organizer fees through the Meetup app for iOS, your payment is subject to the Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions, and you will need to submit your request for a refund to Apple.

Tip: To learn more about organizer subscriptions and what happens if they expire, see this FAQ on Expired Plans.

3.4 Automatic Subscription Renewals. Fees for certain aspects of our Platform may be billed on either a recurring basis or on a one-time basis. If billed on a recurring basis, the fees are payable in advance of the applicable period specified via the Platform. We will automatically bill you for each renewal period until cancellation. By purchasing any feature or other aspect of our Platform for which we charge, you authorize us to keep your payment current by charging the applicable fee to your credit card account (or any other means of payment used by you). While you may cancel your subscription at any time, refunds will be issued solely pursuant to our Refund Policy.

Tip: To cancel your organizer subscription, see this FAQ on Modifying Subscriptions.

3.5 Free Trials. We may offer free trials of subscriptions and other products on our Platform. We will inform you of the length of the free trial, your renewal period, and the date and amount of your first payment. After your free trial ends, your paid subscription will begin and we will automatically bill you for each renewal period until cancellation. You can cancel your subscription at any time according to the terms and procedures described above.     

3.6 Third-Party Payment Processors. An organizer that uses the Platform to accept payments from other members must comply with the terms and conditions of the third-party provider of the applicable payment service used to receive the payment. Meetup does not provide those payment services, is not a party to your agreement with the applicable third-party provider, and will not be liable or responsible for your use of those third-party payment services.

3.7 Invoices from Third Parties. In line with the tax laws of the country where you are using the Platform, you may receive invoices for use of Meetup from a third-party provider. Such third-party provider invoicing does not in any way impact the rights and obligations agreed to in this Agreement, nor does it impact the fee being charged for the use of the Platform.

4. Your Content and Privacy

Summary: You are responsible for the Content you post on our Platform or send to us. You give us a license to use this Content to operate, improve, promote, and protect Meetup and our Platform. Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect and use information you provide about yourself and the information that may be associated with you, and explains the limited ways we may share this information.

4.1 Your Content. You are responsible for the Content that you post to the Platform or otherwise provide to Meetup. We use the word “Content” to mean the information, material, and any other content that you post to the Platform or otherwise send to us. Examples of your Content include:

  • The material that organizers and members typically post to the Platform, such as information about Meetup groups and Meetup events, comments, and photos; and

  • All feedback, suggestions, and other communications that you send or direct to Meetup.

By being responsible for your Content, you agree, among other things, that:

  • You have all the permissions, rights, and licenses needed (including under copyrights, trademarks, contract rights, privacy rights, or publicity rights) to provide the Content to the Platform and to Meetup;

  • Your Content does not include personal, private or confidential information belonging to others that you are not authorized to provide to the Platform and to Meetup; 

  • Your Content is not illegal and does not violate any applicable laws; and

  • Your Content does not otherwise violate the rights of any individual or entity.

You also agree that you and your Content comply with this Agreement, including our Usage and Content Policies, Groups and Events Policies, Organizer and Leadership Standards, Member Restrictions, Intellectual Property Policies, Trademark Usage Guidelines, and API License Terms. You also agree that we may remove the metadata associated with your Content.

Tip: Search engines can see public areas of the Platform. Your Content within these areas, such as the name and location that you provide during registration, and your membership in public Meetup groups, may appear in search results. Our Platform is designed so that search engines cannot see your Content that is within restricted areas of the Platform, such as private Meetup groups. You can find additional information on our FAQ about Search Engine Visibility.

4.2 Content License from You. We do not claim ownership of your Content. However, to enable us to operate, improve, promote, and protect Meetup and our Platform, and to ensure we do not violate any rights you may have in your Content, you hereby grant Meetup a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, sublicensable, transferable right and license (including a waiver of any moral rights) to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, publish, publicly display, publicly perform, distribute, and create derivative works of, your Content and to commercialize and exploit the copyright, trademark, publicity, and database rights you have in your Content. This license would permit your Content to remain on the Platform, even after you cease to be a member of a Meetup group or of the Platform.

Tip: This license doesn’t give us ownership of any of your Content. It simply gives us and members the right to use it on or related to the Platform. This license continues even if you close your account, because it’s necessary for us to operate the Platform.

4.3 Privacy. Meetup collects registration and other information about you through our Platform. Please refer to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy for details on how we collect, use, and disclose this information. These policies do not govern use of information that you provide to third parties, such as to organizers and other members of the Meetup Platform.

Tip: Meetup has no control over how other members may use information that you provide to them, so you should exercise common sense and good judgment when sharing information with others on our Platform.