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TinyURL VS Meetup

Compare TinyURL VS Meetup and see what are their differences

TinyURL

The first notable URL shortener, online since 2002. Branded short links on your own domain, with click analytics that count human and bot traffic separately, QR codes, editable destinations, bulk creation and a REST API.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Freemium $11 / Monthly (Pro - 125 links/mo)
Alternatives Is it good?
Meetup

Helps groups of people with shared interests plan events and facilitates off line group meetings in various localities around the world.

Rating
0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
visitto.me
Every shortener counts clicks. visitto.me attributes them — which link, visitor or source drove each one. Turn one link into thousands of unique tracked codes (a code + QR per visitor, placement or source), then attribute every click and scan. sponsored
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Meetup seems to be a lot more popular than TinyURL. While we know about 4199 links to Meetup, we've tracked only 6 mentions of TinyURL.

social mentions
6 vs 4,199
URL Shortener popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

TinyURL
Meetup
Website tinyurl.com meetup.com
Pricing
Freemium $11 / Monthly (Pro - 125 links/mo) Official pricing
Official pricing
Company Startup from the United States · 20 - 49 employees · 2002 —
Listed in
Link Management URL Shortener Branded URLs Links +1
Event Management Event Planning Group Meetings Social Networks +1

About TinyURL and Meetup

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

TinyURL
Meetup

TinyURL is a URL shortening and link management platform, and was the first notable URL shortener when it launched in January 2002. It now serves over 4.4 million registered users and has created billions of links. Free accounts cover 30 links a month, with links that never expire. Paid plans...

Read more about TinyURL

No description of Meetup yet.

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

TinyURL 8 features
Meetup 5 features
  • Ease of Use
    TinyURL offers a very simple interface that allows users to create shortened URLs quickly without needing to register or log in.
  • Custom Aliases
    Users have the option to create custom aliases for their shortened links, making them more memorable and meaningful.
  • Link Analytics
    Every link reports clicks over time, referrer, geography, device type, operating system and browser, with human and bot clicks counted separately and two years of history retained.
  • Links That Never Expire
    Links created on the free plan do not expire, so shortened URLs stay valid in print, packaging and archived content.
  • Branded Domains
    Shorten links on your own custom domain or subdomain rather than a shared one. One branded domain on the free plan, three on paid plans.
  • Editable Destinations
    A link destination can be changed after the link has been shared, so a URL already printed or posted can be repointed without being reissued.
  • QR Code Generation
    Generate QR codes for shortened links, for packaging, print and other offline placements.
  • REST API and Bulk Creation
    Documented REST API (OpenAPI 3.0, bearer-token auth) for link creation, updates and analytics retrieval, plus bulk batch endpoints for high-volume workflows.
  • Networking Opportunities
    Meetup provides a platform for individuals to connect with others who share similar interests or professional goals, fostering valuable networks and friendships.
  • Variety of Groups and Events
    Meetup hosts a diverse range of groups and events, accommodating a wide array of interests, hobbies, and professional fields.
  • Event Management Tools
    The platform offers tools for creating, managing, and promoting events, simplifying the organization process for group leaders and event planners.
  • Local Focus
    Meetup emphasizes local events, making it easier for users to find and participate in activities within their community.
  • Accessibility
    The platform is available on both web and mobile applications, providing users with easy access to events and group activities on the go.

Possible disadvantages

  • Event Fees
    Some events on Meetup require a fee for participation, which can be a barrier for some users looking for free activities.
  • Organizer Subscription Costs
    Group organizers are required to pay a subscription fee to host and manage their groups, which may deter some users from creating new groups.
  • Event Quality Variability
    The quality of events can vary significantly, as they are user-generated, which may lead to some events not meeting participants' expectations.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Users must share personal information to use the platform, raising potential privacy and security concerns.
  • Competition
    Other social platforms and event management tools offer similar services, providing potential users with numerous alternatives to Meetup.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

TinyURL
Meetup

Overall verdict

  • TinyURL is considered a good and reliable service for those who need to create short URLs for personal or professional purposes. It is especially valuable for its simplicity and no-cost offering, appealing to users who need straightforward URL shortening without additional features.

Why this product is good

  • TinyURL is a popular URL shortening service that allows users to convert long, cumbersome URLs into shorter, more manageable links. This is particularly useful for sharing links on social media, in emails, or in printed materials where space is limited. TinyURL is easy to use, doesn't require an account, and offers free shortening services. The ability to create custom aliases also adds a layer of personalization and memorability to the links.

Recommended for

    TinyURL is recommended for individuals, small businesses, and organizations that need a quick and simple way to shorten URLs for social media posts, email campaigns, print materials, or casual link sharing without requiring advanced tracking or analytics features.

Overall verdict

  • Meetup is generally regarded as a good platform for connecting people with similar interests and facilitating in-person events and activities. It's user-friendly and offers a wide range of group types and activities, making it suitable for a diverse audience.

Why this product is good

  • Meetup is a platform designed to bring people together who share common interests. It is particularly effective for finding and engaging in local events, activities, and groups ranging from professional networking to hobby clubs and social gatherings. The platform fosters community engagement and provides opportunities for individuals to connect in real life over shared passions.

Recommended for

  • Individuals looking to expand their social circle
  • Professionals seeking networking opportunities
  • Hobby enthusiasts wanting to connect with like-minded individuals
  • People interested in attending local events and activities
  • Organizers trying to build and manage event-based communities

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

TinyURL 0 videos + Add
Meetup 3 videos + Add

No TinyURL videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Meetup.com - Finding People You Can Relate To

More videos

  • - How to Use Meetup App Using Meetup Groups │ MeetUp.com Review
  • - 4 Tips For Joining A Meetup Group

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
TinyURL
Meetup
100% 100%
URL Shortener
0% 0%
0% 0%
Event Management
100% 100%
100% 100%
Link Management
0% 0%
0% 0%
Event Planning
100% 100%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing TinyURL and Meetup.

What makes your product unique?

TinyURL's answer

TinyURL has been running continuously since January 2002, which makes it the first notable URL shortening service and one of the oldest still operating. For a link shortener that longevity is the product, not trivia: a short link is only useful for as long as it still resolves, and links created here don't expire.

Three things set it apart day to day:

  • Human and bot clicks are reported separately. Most shorteners report raw click totals that quietly include crawlers and link-preview bots, so reported traffic reads higher than the real audience. Separating them means the numbers can be trusted for attribution.
  • Destinations stay editable after a link is published. A link already printed on packaging or posted to social can be repointed without reissuing it.
  • A permanent free tier, not a trial - 30 links a month, one branded domain, links that never expire.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

TinyURL's answer

Three practical reasons, depending on what you need:

  • You want attribution you can trust. Analytics cover clicks over time, referrer, geography, device, OS, browser and language, retained for two years, with bot traffic separated out.
  • You want your own brand on the link. Bring your own domain or subdomain on any plan, with up to three branded domains on paid tiers.
  • You want links that outlive the campaign. Twenty-four years of continuous operation, and a free tier that doesn't expire, matter when a link is printed on something you can't reprint.

Pricing starts free and goes to $9/month billed annually ($11 month-to-month) for 125 links a month with unlimited tracked clicks. Bulk plans handle 50,000 links a month for agencies and high-volume senders, and there's a REST API for automating the whole lifecycle.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

TinyURL's answer

  • Marketing teams running campaigns across several channels who need per-link attribution rather than a single lumped traffic figure
  • Social media managers and creators working inside character limits, who want a branded link rather than a generic one
  • Agencies managing links for multiple clients, each on its own branded domain
  • Developers automating link creation and analytics through the REST API
  • Enterprises needing SLA-backed uptime and compliance support
  • Educational Institutions
  • The healthcare industry

It also has a long tail of individual users who simply need a link shortened, which the free tier covers without an account upgrade.

What's the story behind your product?

TinyURL's answer

Kevin Gilbertson, a web developer, launched TinyURL in January 2002 so he could link directly to newsgroup postings, which at the time had long and unwieldy addresses. It was the first notable URL shortening service, and it arrived years before shortening became a category.

Twitter used TinyURL as its default shortener until May 2009, which put it in front of a mass audience during the period when character limits made short links essential.

Since then it's grown from a single-purpose utility into a link management platform: branded domains, click analytics with two years of retained history, editable destinations, QR codes, bulk creation and a REST API. It now serves over 4.4 million registered users and has created billions of links.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

TinyURL's answer

TinyURL is a cloud-hosted web application, accessible from any browser with no install. Its public interface is a REST API (v2.4.2) published as an OpenAPI 3.0 specification and authenticated with bearer tokens, covering link creation, editing, destination changes, analytics retrieval and bulk batch processing.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

TinyURL's answer

Twitter used TinyURL as its default URL shortener until May 2009.

User comments

Share your experience with using TinyURL and Meetup. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

TinyURL no reviews yet
Meetup no reviews yet

View more

  • Top Five EventBrite Alternatives
    rsvpify.com · Nov 2022

    Moving away from a purely ticketing focus, Meetup is an increasingly popular platform for creating local groups centered on specific interests. However, similar to Eventbrite, Meetup allows users to browse when...

  • 9 Alternatives to Meetup.com
    lonare.medium.com · Dec 2019

    Eventbrite is a social platform used for hosting and registering for events and is one of the most popular Meetup alternatives. In a few simple steps, you can create an event, set up seating and ticket pricing, and...

  • A list of Meetup.com alternatives
    phacks.dev · Oct 2019

    Meetup.com just announced that they are changing their business model, and will be imposing a $2 fee on attendees for each event. This is presumably a combined consequence of WeWork acquiring Meetup in 2017 and the...

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

TinyURL 6 mentions
Meetup 4199 mentions
  • 🔐 Design a TinyURL System (Like Bit.ly) — From Scratch
    Import string Class TinyURL: def __init__(self): self.url_to_code = {} self.code_to_url = {} self.counter = 1 self.alphabet = string.ascii_letters + string.digits def encode_base62(self, num): ... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • URL shorteners and why would you need one?
    Choose a shortener: Pick a link shortener that fits your needs---many offer options like custom branding, QR code creation, and analytics. Ziplink, Short.io, and Bitly are all capable of that. If you are looking for something really... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Building a Scalable URL Shortener with Node.js (Part 1/2)
    I'm sure you're familiar with URL shortener tools like TinyURL and Bitly, as they are widely used online. It simply takes a long URL and creates a shorter, unique alias that redirects to the original link. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago

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  • The Template for Hosting a Successful Tech Meetup
    Especially if this is your first meetup, you’ll want to “over-promote”. It’ll take time to get the message out to all relevant community members. Start promoting at least four weeks out. Share it within your local developer communities... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • A place for things I can't talk to anyone about
    I've had success with https://meetup.com/ and https://guild.host/ for finding ; can't offer too much help with scheduling :P I generally check the above sites mid-week, and sign up for things in the coming week. That's been a nice... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Unconventional ways to find a software engineering job
    If you live in a larger city, it’s likely that there are events or meetups nearby. I recommend using meetup.com or checking local event websites for tech-related meetups. Although you may be looking for a job, it’s better to focus on... - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago

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Alternatives to TinyURL and Meetup

When comparing TinyURL and Meetup, you can also consider the following products.

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