What is the difference between Base and Butter?

Base is a friendship app that uses algorithm-based matching with groups of 6-12 per event, priced at $$$ ($100/month + event costs extra), available in 10 cities. Butter is a friendship app using manual / self-select matching with groups of Varies, priced at Free (Free to use; you cover any activity costs), available in 0 cities. Key differences include their matching approach, pricing model, and city coverage. Base's strengths: Personality-based matching creates genuinely interesting tables. Butter's strengths: You choose the activity, so every meetup is something you actually want to do.

Which is better, Base or Butter?

It depends on what you're looking for. Choose Base if you prefer algorithm-based matching, 6-12 per event groups, and weekly events — A vetted social club for curious minds.. Choose Butter if you prefer manual / self-select matching, Varies groups, and on-demand events — Create a plan, pick who joins, and go do it.. Both are available as IRL social apps. Compare pricing (Base: $$$, Butter: Free) and city availability on Søren to find the best fit for meeting people in real life.

Base

Butter

Base vs Butter

Base and Butter are both friendship apps that help you meet people in real life, but they take different approaches. Here’s how they stack up across pricing, format, cities, and more.

Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026

At a glance

Base Butter

CategoryFriendshipFriendship

Price$$$ — $100/month + event costs extraFree — Free to use; you cover any activity costs

Group Size6-12 per eventVaries

MatchingAlgorithm-basedManual / Self-select

Frequencyweeklyon-demand

Age Range25-50—

PlatformsWebiOS, Android

Cities10 cities0 cities

Founded2023—

Pricing

Base is priced at $$$ ($100/month + event costs extra), while Butter comes in at Free (Free to use; you cover any activity costs).

Format & matching

Base uses groups of 6-12 per event, compared to Butter’s Varies, and Base relies on algorithm-based matching while Butter uses manual / self-select matching.

How they work

Base: Head to base.club and fill out their application form. You'll select your city, choose a personality archetype (Artist, Scholar, Sage, Explorer, Leader, Healer, or Alchemist), and share what you're looking for — community, intellectual conversation, networking, or inspiration. Every applicant has a one-on-one call with the membership team before being accepted, so this isn't a sign-up-and-go situation. Once you're in, Base matches you to weekly events: intimate Circles with guided conversation prompts on the table, curated Experiences like tastings or workshops, and matched dinners at rotating venues across your city. The algorithm learns your preferences over time based on your attendance and feedback.

Butter: Download the app and create a profile. Browse plans others have posted — anything from dinner parties to run clubs to coffee catch-ups — or host your own by setting the activity, time, and location. When someone wants to join your plan, they send a request and you decide who to accept. Show up, do the thing, and meet people who are genuinely into the same stuff. After the plan, you can stay connected through the app or just show up to the next one.

What to love

Base: Personality-based matching creates genuinely interesting tables. Vetted membership keeps the quality of conversations high. Variety of event formats — dinners, circles, and experiences — keeps things fresh. Available in 10+ US cities with more launching in 2026. The archetype system adds a fun, intentional layer to the matching.

Butter: You choose the activity, so every meetup is something you actually want to do. Host-picks-guests model means more intentional, higher-quality connections. Alcohol-free plans are a first-class option, not an afterthought. Free to use with no subscription paywall. Covers a wide range of activities beyond just dining.

Reality check

Base: $100/month is steep, especially since event costs are extra on top. Application and vetting process means you can't just sign up and go tonight. No iOS or Android app — everything runs through the website. Limited to US cities for now — no international availability.

Butter: Currently limited to Melbourne — most people can't use it yet. Only four screenshots on the listing, so the app experience is a bit opaque. Success depends heavily on local user density and active hosts. No algorithmic matching — you have to browse and self-select.

Søren's take

On Base: Base feels like what you'd get if Soho House and Timeleft had a baby — the exclusivity of a members' club with the personality-matching smarts of a modern social platform. The vetting process is a double-edged sword: it keeps out the LinkedIn pitch-bro energy, but it also means you can't impulse-join after a lonely Tuesday. At $100/month plus event costs, it's not cheap, but the people who thrive here are the ones who show up consistently and let the matching algorithm learn them. If you're in one of their cities and want curated, intellectually stimulating social experiences without the cringe of traditional networking, Base is worth the application.

On Butter: Butter is doing something refreshingly different: instead of matching you with strangers and hoping for the best, it lets you build plans and invite people into them. The host-selects-guests model gives you real agency, and the focus on alcohol-free and activity-based plans feels genuinely modern. The catch is that it's Melbourne-only for now, so unless you're there, you're on a waitlist. If you are in Melbourne and tired of apps that promise connection but deliver small talk, Butter is worth a serious look.