The French alternative

A sports app built for athletes.
Not for 50 event categories.

Meetup mixes yoga, English classes and drinks. TriMates is 100% dedicated to running, cycling and swimming: level, GPX, map, a community built for endurance.

Create my free account View community

Meetup vs TriMates

Two opposite philosophies: generic vs specialized.

Meetup

• Generic platform (yoga, games, sport, classes…)
• No notion of athletic level
• No GPX import or route map
• Limited French community for endurance
• Paid for organizers (~€17/month)
• Interface in English by default

TriMates

• 100% running, cycling, swimming
• Level set per sport, automatic filter
• GPX import + route on interactive map
• Growing French community
• Free for everyone
• French-language interface, designed in France

Specialized beats generic, every time

Like Doctolib for healthcare or Le Bon Coin for second-hand goods, TriMates does one thing but does it better than anyone else.

Level per sport

Beginner in swimming, intermediate in cycling, advanced in running. Each sport has its own scale. Impossible on a generic platform.

Native GPX and map

One-click import, visible route, calculated elevation, Google Maps link generated. The core of the sporting experience.

Smart Notifications

Auto alerts when a session matches your criteria near you. No need to check Meetup every day.

Frequently asked questions

Why not just use Meetup for sport?

Meetup is a generic tool that mixes everything: yoga, English classes, wine tastings, walking groups and drinks. For endurance sport, it doesn't work: no level filter, no GPX import, no notion of distance or elevation, and the interface isn't optimized for quick session creation.

Is Meetup still active in France for sport?

Meetup still exists but its French community for sport is weaker than in the US, and the quality of sporting events varies a lot. Many groups are inactive or run by coaches charging for sessions. TriMates is free and 100% dedicated to endurance sport in France.

Is TriMates paid for organizers like Meetup?

No. Meetup charges organizers (~€17/month in 2026). On TriMates, creating a session or a group is completely free, no subscription, no limit. No freemium either.

Can I migrate my Meetup sport group?

No automatic import, but we can help you recreate the structure quickly (group, weekly habits, first session) and send a message to your existing members. Write to us at contact@trimates.fr.

What are the major technical differences?

TriMates adds what Meetup lacks for sport: level set per sport (running, cycling, swimming), GPX import with route display, automatic alerts in your area (Smart Notifications), reverse geocode on map click, route sharing to Google Maps. In short, everything actually useful to organize a running or cycling session.

What about non-running/cycling/swimming sessions?

TriMates is focused on triathlon and its 3 disciplines. If you're looking to organize yoga, football or conferences, Meetup or another tool will fit better. Our choice is the opposite: we cover 3 sports, but in depth.

Read also

vs Facebook groups

Escape the Facebook chaos

Run without a club

The alternative to federated clubs

Find a running partner

The complete guide

Smart Notifications

Auto alerts in your area

Make triathlon a team sport in 30 seconds

Free account, no subscription, no session limit. Join the French community.

Create my account Explore the community

🏃🚴🏊

Chargement…

Frequently asked questions

Why not just use Meetup for sport?

Is Meetup still active in France for sport?

Is TriMates paid for organizers like Meetup?

No. Meetup charges organizers (~€17/month in 2026). On TriMates, creating a session or a group is completely free, no subscription, no limit. No freemium either.

Can I migrate my Meetup sport group?

No automatic import, but we can help you recreate the structure quickly (group, weekly habits, first session) and send a message to your existing members. Write to us at contact@trimates.fr.

What are the major technical differences?

What about non-running/cycling/swimming sessions?

A sports app built for athletes.Not for 50 event categories.

Meetup vs TriMates

Meetup

TriMates

Specialized beats generic, every time

Level per sport

Native GPX and map

Smart Notifications

Frequently asked questions

Read also

Make triathlon a team sport in 30 seconds

A sports app built for athletes.Not for 50 event categories.

Meetup vs TriMates

Meetup

TriMates

Specialized beats generic, every time

Level per sport

Native GPX and map

Smart Notifications

Frequently asked questions

Read also

Make triathlon a team sport in 30 seconds

A sports app built for athletes.
Not for 50 event categories.

A sports app built for athletes.
Not for 50 event categories.