What is the difference between Clockout and RealRoots?

Clockout is a networking app that uses algorithm-based matching with groups of Varies, priced at $$ (Free to join (application required), Clockout Gold ~$8-28/month, $2 per RSVP), available in 1 city. RealRoots is a friendship app using algorithm-based matching with groups of Small groups, priced at $$ (Membership required; pricing varies by city), available in 0 cities. Key differences include their matching approach, pricing model, and city coverage. Clockout's strengths: AI-powered introductions match you with people aligned to your professional goals. RealRoots's strengths: Six-week format builds real friendships — not just surface-level connections from a single meetup.

Which is better, Clockout or RealRoots?

It depends on what you're looking for. Choose Clockout if you prefer algorithm-based matching, Varies groups, and on-demand events — Professional networking with a social twist.. Choose RealRoots if you prefer algorithm-based matching, Small groups groups, and weekly events — Six weeks of guided hangouts with the same women.. Both are available as IRL social apps. Compare pricing (Clockout: $$, RealRoots: $$) and city availability on Søren to find the best fit for meeting people in real life.

Clockout

RealRoots

Clockout vs RealRoots

Clockout is a networking app and RealRoots is a friendship app. They take different approaches to helping you meet people IRL — here’s a detailed comparison.

Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026

At a glance

Clockout RealRoots

CategoryNetworkingFriendship

Price$$ — Free to join (application required), Clockout Gold ~$8-28/month, $2 per RSVP$$ — Membership required; pricing varies by city

Group SizeVariesSmall groups

MatchingAlgorithm-basedAlgorithm-based

Frequencyon-demandweekly

Age Range21-3521+

PlatformsiOS, Android, WebiOS, Android

Cities1 city0 cities

Founded2021—

Pricing

Both Clockout and RealRoots fall in the $$ price range. Clockout: Free to join (application required), Clockout Gold ~$8-28/month, $2 per RSVP. RealRoots: Membership required; pricing varies by city.

Format & matching

Clockout uses groups of Varies, compared to RealRoots’s Small groups, and both use algorithm-based 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.

RealRoots: Download the app and complete a five-minute personality assessment with Lisa, RealRoots' AI coach. The system matches you with a small group of women in your city based on personality, interests, and life stage. A trained guide facilitates your first hangout so nobody has to carry the social weight alone. You meet the same group weekly for six weeks — the repeated contact is the whole point. After graduating, you join a community with weekly events and can stay connected with your group or meet new ones.

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.

RealRoots: Six-week format builds real friendships — not just surface-level connections from a single meetup. Trained guides facilitate every hangout so it's never awkward or one-sided. YC-backed with 150,000+ friendships made — serious traction and investment. Available on both iOS and Android. Graduate community with ongoing events means the friendships don't dead-end after six weeks.

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.

RealRoots: Women only — not an option for men or co-ed groups. Requires a multi-week commitment upfront, which can feel like a lot. City availability is expanding but still limited in smaller metros. Pricing isn't transparent — you have to sign up to see costs.

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 RealRoots: RealRoots solves the biggest problem with friendship apps: one coffee date doesn't make a friend. By committing you to six weeks with the same group and putting a trained guide in the room, they've essentially productized the way real friendships actually form — through repeated, low-stakes contact over time. The women-only focus is a deliberate choice that creates a specific kind of safety and openness. The 4.8-star rating with nearly 1,000 reviews and YC backing suggest this isn't a gimmick. If you're a woman tired of friendship apps that go nowhere, this is the one to try.