Meetup is for finding groups and events; Solo Era is for the step before you walk into one. Solo Era is an iPhone app that gives you small weekly missions to practise doing things alone. Meetup lets you join or host interest-based groups and events, online or local. If you already feel fine turning up to a group, Meetup does the finding. If walking in alone is the hard part, Solo Era is the warm-up.
At a glance
| Solo Era | Meetup | |
|---|---|---|
| Core idea | Practise doing things alone, one small mission at a time | Find or host groups and events around shared interests |
| Who you are with | Nobody, on purpose | Other members of a group you join |
| Where it happens | Out in your town, on your own | Online or at local events |
| What you track | Nervousness before and after, plus a photo journal | Not a tracking tool; see the official site |
| Platform | iPhone | iPhone and iPad (App Store listing); web |
| Cost | Free to download; a subscription is required to start missions | Free to download (listing); pricing is not quoted here |
| Best for | Getting comfortable with solo outings | Finding an ongoing community or hobby group |
We quote no prices or member counts for either app. Meetup's listing and site carry marketing numbers that are undated, so check the official pages for current details.
What Solo Era is
Solo Era is an iPhone app built on one idea: doing things alone is a skill, and a skill is practised in small steps. The site's line is "A bucket list for doing things alone."
- Missions. The core unit, shown as a mission ticket. The task stays up front, and you can turn it over for instructions and what it helps you practise.
- Weekly mission and custom missions. A place to begin each week, plus missions you write yourself.
- Seven categories and five levels. Food, movement, culture, travel, everyday, solitude and people; level 1 is gentlest. A level 3 people mission reads "Go to a local astronomy club's indoor talk." A level 1 culture mission reads "Explore a public postage-stamp exhibition."
- Before-and-after ratings. You rate how nervous you felt before and after.
- Progress, journal and Solo Pass. Ratings over months, XP and a weekly streak; a photo and notes per mission; a personal pass that keeps the same code as your story grows.
It is free to download, and a subscription is required to start missions. Any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app. Solo Era is iPhone only. It is not therapy or medical care, and it is not a social, matching or dating app.
What Meetup is
According to its App Store listing (Meetup LLC, read 2026-11-01), Meetup helps you pursue interests with people who share them, both online and in person. You can discover online and local events, search by category or keyword, save events, join discussions and message people, and start your own group to host events. The official site, meetup.com, describes people using it to meet new people, learn new things, find support, get out of their comfort zones and pursue their passions together, with groups for areas such as exploring your city, careers and creativity.
What a group is like depends entirely on the organiser and the members, and on where you live. Some areas have many active groups, others few. Look at a group's recent events and descriptions before you commit.
Head to head
Finding people versus finding your footing
Meetup answers "where are people who like what I like?" Solo Era answers "how do I get used to being out without a companion?" These are different bottlenecks. If you have a hobby but no group, Meetup helps. If you have the group but dread the first walk in, Solo Era helps.
The first-visit problem
Almost every group event has a first visit where you know nobody. That is the moment Solo Era trains for. A people mission such as "Ask a stranger what time it is" is a tiny version of the same skill: starting an interaction with someone you do not know. Our guide to attending group events as a solo newcomer goes through the practical side of the first visit.
Ongoing community versus personal record
Meetup's value grows with repeat attendance, because friendships form over many meetings. Solo Era's value is a private record: your ratings and journal entries over months. One builds a community outside the app; the other builds evidence for yourself.
Control
With Meetup, you choose which groups to join and which events to attend. With Solo Era, you choose which missions to take and at what level, and you can write your own. Both keep you in charge of the pace.
Choose Solo Era if you...
- feel tense about arriving anywhere alone, even somewhere ordinary
- want gentle, graded steps you can rate before and after
- are not ready to join a group yet, or want to prepare before you do
- like the idea of a private photo journal of what you tried
Choose Meetup if you...
- have an interest and want to find others who share it
- want an ongoing group rather than one-off events
- want to host your own group (see our guide to starting a meetup group)
- are comfortable going to a first event where you know nobody
Using both
For a different kind of group-meeting service, where the organiser books the table, see Solo Era vs Timeleft.
A workable plan: take two or three Solo Era missions in the people or everyday categories, then pick one group event near you and decide in advance how long you will stay. Afterwards, note in the journal how nervous you felt before and after. If the first group is not right, there is no loss: try another. Our page on friend groups and clubs lists what to look for when choosing one.
Solo Era for iPhone
Try it with Solo Era
Solo Era gives you one realistic mission a week, records how nervous you felt before and after, and keeps a photo journal of what you did. An iPhone app. A subscription is required to start missions; any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app.
What neither does
Neither guarantees friendships. Meetup gives you places to meet people; the friendship still depends on showing up more than once and on who is there. Solo Era does not introduce you to anyone. If you want to see a wider set of tools, read Meetup alternatives or our list of apps for making friends.
If social situations feel overwhelming and are getting in the way of daily life, a doctor or licensed therapist can help. Solo Era is not therapy or medical care.
Last checked: 2026-11-01. Facts about other apps come from their official sites and App Store listings and can change, so confirm current details before you decide.
FAQ
Is Solo Era an alternative to Meetup?
Not really. Meetup connects you to groups and events. Solo Era helps you practise being out on your own. They suit different stages and can be used together.
Can Solo Era find me friends?
No. Solo Era is not a social, matching or dating app. Some missions practise small interactions, but the app does not introduce you to anyone.
Do I need Meetup to start a hobby group?
No, but the Meetup listing says you can host your own group and events there. You can also use other tools or start something informally.
Is Meetup free?
The App Store listing shows it as free to download. We do not quote prices for either app, so check the current offers on the official pages.
Which should I start with if I am nervous about events?
Many people find it easier to practise small solo outings first, then attend a group event. But there is no rule, and you can start with Meetup if you feel ready.
Does Solo Era work on Android?
Solo Era is an iPhone app. We do not claim Android or iPad support.
Solo Era for iPhone
Try it with Solo Era
Solo Era gives you one realistic mission a week, records how nervous you felt before and after, and keeps a photo journal of what you did. An iPhone app. A subscription is required to start missions; any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app.
