Clockout vs First Round's On Me (FROM)

Pricing

Clockout is priced at $$ (Free to join (application required), Clockout Gold ~$8-28/month, $2 per RSVP), while First Round's On Me (FROM) comes in at Free (Free classic membership; premium Social Club membership with 50 credits/month, daily coffee, and clubhouse access).

Format & matching

Clockout uses groups of Varies, compared to First Round's On Me (FROM)’s 1:1 and groups, and Clockout relies on algorithm-based matching while First Round's On Me (FROM) uses manual / self-select matching.

How they work

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.

First Round's On Me (FROM): Apply to join — FROM is referral and waitlist only, so you'll either need an invite or wait for approval. Once you're in, add the friends you want to see more of, or discover new connections nearby. Sync your calendar so the app can see when you and your people are free. When the stars align, pick a drink, a time, and a place from FROM's curated list of NYC bars, restaurants, and cafés. Send the invite and show up. Every time you follow through on a plan, you earn drink credits that you can redeem at partner venues with a two-drink minimum. The premium tier gets you a physical Social Club in Chelsea, daily coffee, and guest passes.

What to love

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.

First Round's On Me (FROM): The drink-credit reward system creates a genuine incentive to follow through on plans. Curated venue list means you're always going somewhere good, not just wherever's closest. Calendar sync removes the 'when are you free?' back-and-forth that kills plans. Approval-only membership keeps the community intentional and high-quality. A physical Social Club in Chelsea bridges the gap between app and real life.

Reality check

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.

First Round's On Me (FROM): NYC only — completely useless outside New York. The waitlist and approval process creates real friction to get started. Two-drink minimum at partner venues means you're spending money to redeem 'free' credits. Premium membership pricing isn't transparent upfront.

Søren's take

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.

On First Round's On Me (FROM): FROM is built on a simple insight: the problem with socializing isn't finding people — it's actually making the plan and showing up. The drink-credit mechanic is clever because it gamifies the part everyone struggles with. The curated venue list and calendar sync remove the two biggest plan-killers (where do we go? when are you free?). The physical Social Club in Chelsea is a bold move that shows they're serious about the offline piece. The catch is that it's NYC-only and approval-gated, so if you're not in New York or don't have a referral, you're waiting. But if you are in the city and your social life has devolved into a graveyard of unanswered group chats, FROM might be the thing that gets you off the couch.