What is the difference between Base and Pie?

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. Pie is a friendship app using interest-based matching with groups of Varies, priced at Free (Completely free — no subscriptions, no paywalls), 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. Pie's strengths: Completely free — no premium tier, no paywalls, no catch.

Which is better, Base or Pie?

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 Pie if you prefer interest-based matching, Varies groups, and on-demand events — Free local events that grow your social circle.. Both are available as IRL social apps. Compare pricing (Base: $$$, Pie: Free) and city availability on Søren to find the best fit for meeting people in real life.

Base

Pie

Base vs Pie

Base and Pie 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 Pie

CategoryFriendshipFriendship

Price$$$ — $100/month + event costs extraFree — Completely free — no subscriptions, no paywalls

Group Size6-12 per eventVaries

MatchingAlgorithm-basedInterest-based

Frequencyweeklyon-demand

Age Range25-5018+

PlatformsWebiOS, Android

Cities10 cities0 cities

Founded20232020

Pricing

Base is priced at $$$ ($100/month + event costs extra), while Pie comes in at Free (Completely free — no subscriptions, no paywalls).

Format & matching

Base uses groups of 6-12 per event, compared to Pie’s Varies, and Base relies on algorithm-based matching while Pie uses interest-based 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.

Pie: Download the app and set your city — Pie is live in Chicago, Austin, Bay Area, and Columbus. Your home feed shows free, in-person events happening nearby, filtered by your interests. Tap an event to see who's going, RSVP, and add it to your calendar. After you attend, Pie starts learning who you vibe with and surfaces a personalized feed of friend and friend-of-friend activity. You can also host your own events — keep them private or broadcast them to the whole network using 'snowball mode.' There's a built-in chat for coordinating plans and sharing photos after the fact.

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.

Pie: Completely free — no premium tier, no paywalls, no catch. Event-first model means you're bonding over shared experiences, not forced small talk. The friend-of-friend feed creates organic social discovery that feels natural. You can host your own events, giving you control over the vibe. 4.7-star rating with 1,000+ reviews suggests people genuinely love using it.

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.

Pie: Only available in four cities — if you're not in Chicago, Austin, Bay Area, or Columbus, you're out of luck. No algorithmic matching — you have to browse and choose events yourself. Event quality depends on what's happening in your area on any given week. As a PBC (Public Benefit Corporation), long-term monetization strategy is unclear.

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 Pie: Pie is refreshingly simple in a space full of personality quizzes and subscription paywalls. The pitch is: here are free events near you, go to them, meet people. That's it. No matching algorithm, no premium tier, no gamification. The friend-of-friend social graph that builds over time is genuinely clever — it mimics how real-life social circles actually form. The catch is geographic: four cities is a small footprint, and if yours isn't on the list, you're waiting. But if you're in Chicago, Austin, or the Bay Area and want a zero-cost way to build a social life, Pie is the obvious first download.