Timeleft Alternative: Dinner With Strangers on Joiner

Last updated: 22 October 2026

Searching for a Timeleft alternative usually means one thing: you like the idea of meeting new people over dinner, and you want to see what else is out there. This guide compares Timeleft and Joiner using facts each service publishes, so you can pick the one that fits your city, your budget and your week.

Why do people look for a Timeleft alternative?

Dinner with strangers works because the hard part is done for you. Someone else forms the group and picks the place, and you only need to show up. Timeleft made this format popular in many cities.

People still compare options for practical reasons. The service might not run in their city yet. They might want formats other than dinner, such as a run or a coffee. Or they might want to keep seeing the same people after the first evening, which is how a group of strangers slowly turns into friends.

There is also a wider reason the format has grown. In May 2023 the US Surgeon General published an advisory on the impact of loneliness and isolation, calling attention to it as a public health issue. Small, organised meets are one practical way adults rebuild a social life.

A good dinner with strangers starts with a small group and a table where everyone can hear each other.

What is Timeleft?

According to timeleft.com, Timeleft runs weekly dinners and also offers drinks, coffee and walks. You book a spot, and Timeleft places you in a group chosen by its matching algorithm. The venue and the group are revealed shortly before the event.

Timeleft states that it has 4M+ members. That figure is Timeleft's own claim, published on its website.

What is Joiner?

Joiner is a social app for making friends through shared plans. Its main format is dinner for six: six people, one table, one evening. Joiner also has coffee meets, drinks, runs, and plans you create yourself.

Join a ready format

A dinner for six at one table. No planning on your side.

Make your own plan

A run, board games or a padel night. Others join you.

20,000+ gatherings already hosted in Joiner's first cities

Find your company →

Signing up takes a short quiz about you and the kind of people you would like to meet. After the quiz you book in the app, and the meet details are there too. Joiner is live in Vilnius and Budapest. You can read about local meets on the Vilnius meetups page and the Budapest meetups page.

What does Timeleft cost?

Timeleft publishes its own price in a comparison post on its blog. Per Timeleft's "Timeleft vs Meetup" article, a Timeleft membership costs $27.99 a month in the US for new members, or $65.99 for three months. Timeleft notes that prices vary by country, and food and drinks at the restaurant are paid separately.

So if you live outside the US, the number on your screen may be different. Open the Timeleft app or site in your own city to see your local price before you commit.

For Joiner, check current pricing in the Joiner app. Plans and prices change, and the app always shows what applies in your city.

Whichever service you try, budget for the evening itself too. You order and pay for your own food and drinks at the venue.

Is Timeleft available in my city?

Timeleft's locations page says it runs in 200+ cities in 52 countries. The list changes as new cities open, so check it for your own city rather than relying on an older article or a friend's experience.

If your city is on the list, you can try Timeleft there. If it is not, or you want a second option, look at what runs locally.

Joiner is live in two cities today:

• Vilnius: dinners for six, coffee, drinks, runs and custom plans. See the Vilnius meetups page.
• Budapest: the same formats, with local details on the Budapest meetups page.

Live in Budapest? Our Budapest guide to Timeleft alternatives covers the city in more detail.

How do Timeleft and Joiner compare?

The table uses only what each service publishes. Details change, so check both sites before you book.

What do real Joiner reviews say?

Here is what people wrote about Joiner on the App Store, quoted as written:

These reviews come from users in Lithuania, where Joiner has been live longer. You can read them and others on the Joiner App Store page.

How do you choose the right Timeleft alternative?

Both services solve the same problem in a similar way. A short checklist helps you decide:

✅ Group size: do you prefer a fixed table of six, or a group sized by an algorithm? ✅ One-off or subscription: check how each service charges, and whether a membership suits how often you want to go out. ✅ City availability: the best service is the one that runs where you live. Check the Timeleft locations list and the Joiner city pages. ✅ Who picks the venue: both pick the place for you. Ask yourself how much notice you want before the evening. ✅ Custom plans: if you want to suggest your own run, walk or coffee, Joiner lets you create a plan yourself.

There is no wrong choice here. Plenty of people try both and keep the one that matches their week.

What happens at a dinner with strangers?

If you have never been to one, the evening is simpler than it sounds. You arrive at the venue, find your table, and say hello. Everyone there signed up for the same reason, so there is no need to explain why you came.

Conversation usually starts with easy topics: where people are from, what they do, how long they have lived in the city. By dessert, the table often has a few shared plans. For a fuller picture, read how dinner with strangers works and what to expect at your first dinner with strangers.

A few habits make the first evening easier:

• Arrive on time, so you are there for the introductions.
• Ask one follow-up question for every answer you hear.
• Swap contacts with the people you liked before you leave.

How do you try Joiner?

FAQ

Related articles

• Timeleft alternative in Budapest
• How dinner with strangers works
• What to expect at your first dinner with strangers
• Dinner with strangers app: a table for six

Sources

• Timeleft official website
• Timeleft locations
• Timeleft vs Meetup, Timeleft blog
• US Surgeon General advisory on loneliness and isolation, HHS