Heylo vs InterNations

Pricing

Heylo is priced at Free (Free to use; Heylo takes a small percentage when groups collect payments), while InterNations comes in at $$ (Free basic membership; paid plans vary by location and subscription period).

Format & matching

Both apps use groups of Varies, and Heylo relies on manual / self-select matching while InterNations uses interest-based matching.

How they work

Heylo: A group leader creates a branded group page on Heylo with their logo, colors, and a custom URL. They post events with all the details — location, time, registration caps, guest policies — and members get notified by push notification and email. Members RSVP, pay if there's a fee, and join event-specific group chats to coordinate. The leader can collect recurring membership dues, require waivers, screen new members before letting them in, and track attendance over time. Members manage everything from the app or web — no separate payment apps, no email threads, no spreadsheets.

InterNations: Sign up and set your city — InterNations has communities in over 420 cities worldwide. Browse upcoming events near you, from casual drinks to cultural outings to professional networking nights. Join interest-based groups (hiking, photography, new parents, whatever you're into) to find people on your wavelength. RSVP to events and show up — most are organized by volunteer community ambassadors. You can also post in forums, send messages, and connect one-on-one with people nearby.

What to love

Heylo: Replaces GroupMe, Venmo, Google Forms, and email chains with a single platform. Completely free to use with no paywall or usage limits — Heylo only takes a cut of payments. Branded group pages with custom URLs look professional and are easy to share. Built-in payment collection, waivers, and member screening solve real operational headaches. Works on iOS, Android, and web so nobody is left out.

InterNations: Enormous reach — 420+ cities means it works almost anywhere in the world. Events are well-organized and span professional, social, and cultural categories. Interest-based groups let you find your niche within a large community. Strong for professional networking alongside social connections. Free tier is genuinely usable for browsing events and groups.

Reality check

Heylo: Not a friend-matching app — you need to already know about a group or start your own. Discovery of groups is limited; there's no curated marketplace of communities to browse. The platform's value scales with group size — solo users won't get much from it. Heylo's transaction fee on payments may not work for groups with tight budgets.

InterNations: Paid membership is required to message people or see who's attending events. Skews older and more professional — not the place for a rowdy night out. Event quality depends heavily on local ambassadors, which varies by city. The interface feels more web-era than modern app-first.

Søren's take

On Heylo: Heylo isn't a friendship app in the traditional sense — it's the infrastructure that makes community groups actually work. If you're running a running club and juggling Venmo requests, GroupMe threads, and Google Form RSVPs, Heylo consolidates all of that into one clean platform. The fact that it's free (they only take a cut when money changes hands) is a huge deal for volunteer-run groups. The limitation is discovery: Heylo doesn't help you find a group, it helps groups run better. If you're a group leader, this is a no-brainer. If you're looking for friends, you'll need to find the group first — but once you do, Heylo makes the experience seamless.

On InterNations: InterNations is the 800-pound gorilla of expat networking. If you've moved abroad and want to meet people who understand the experience of navigating a new country, this is the most reliable option by sheer scale. The events are the real draw — well-organized, usually at interesting venues, and consistently attended. The downside is that the free tier feels like a teaser, and the paid plans aren't cheap. It also leans more professional-networking than casual-hangout, so if you're looking for a party, look elsewhere. But for building a real social foundation in a new city abroad, InterNations is hard to beat.