Butter vs Clockout

Pricing

Butter is priced at Free (Free to use; you cover any activity costs), while Clockout comes in at $$ (Free to join (application required), Clockout Gold ~$8-28/month, $2 per RSVP).

Format & matching

Both apps use groups of Varies, and Butter relies on manual / self-select matching while Clockout uses algorithm-based matching.

How they work

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.

Clockout: Download the app and submit an application — Clockout's concierge team reviews every profile, so there's a waitlist (or you can skip it with a friend's invite code). Once accepted, build your profile with your career info, interests, and goals. Browse thousands of professional clubs and local events — mixers, galas, brunch clubs, rooftop socials — and RSVP to what sounds good. The AI-powered intro engine also recommends people you should meet based on your goals and industry. There's a gamified streak system that rewards consistent engagement.

What to love

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.

Clockout: AI-powered introductions match you with people aligned to your professional goals. Massive community — 4,500+ clubs and groups across industries. Application-based vetting keeps the quality of members intentional. Gamified streaks and rewards make networking feel less like a chore. Events range from casual brunches to curated galas — something for every comfort level.

Reality check

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.

Clockout: The waitlist and application process means you can't just sign up and go tonight. Clockout Gold subscription ($8-28/month) plus $2 per RSVP adds up fast if you're active. Heavily skews Gen Z — professionals in their 30s+ may feel out of place. New York-centric energy, with uneven community density in smaller cities.

Søren's take

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.

On Clockout: Clockout is trying to be what LinkedIn should have been for in-person connections — and for Gen Z professionals, it's actually pulling it off. The application process and concierge vetting give it a members-club feel without the Soho House price tag, and the AI matching is a genuine step up from randomly showing up at networking happy hours. My concern is the layered pricing: free to join but Gold subscription plus per-event RSVPs means an active month could run $30-50+. If you're in your twenties, building a career in a major city, and want to meet ambitious people IRL, Clockout is one of the better options out there right now.