Context.

Meetup.com was testing a new pricing model, where the attendee pays a $2 fee. The backlash was predictable, especially those organizing free events. And they have since reverted on it and started damage control.

For the original announcement see: https://www.meetup.com/lp/paymentchanges

Discussion?

• Should the tech community start looking elsewhere? If so, is there really a good alternative now?
• Is dev.to considering stepping in?

Note that this has to be viewed from different angles.

For example, for a small new meetup (<10 attendees), not organizing on meetup.com could kill it.

For established ones, alternatives are viable. But limits their network effects. So it's now a pros/cons based on cost.

What are your thoughts on it?