The best WhatsApp alternative for groups and communities

Heylo is the best replacement for WhatsApp. Designed for community building and group management instead of endless chat threads.
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Why switch from WhatsApp to Heylo?

Heylo is the best platform to organize meetups, manage members, and foster real connections.

Effortless event management – RSVPs, check-ins, automatic reminders, and a full event calendar.

Organized communication – Keep conversations focused with event chats and topic-based discussions. No more message overwhelm.

Email integration – Make sure everyone gets important updates, even if they turn off notifications.

Memberships and subscriptions – Build a financially self-sufficient group with built-in payment collection.

✅ Own your data – Heylo will never share or sell your data.

We get you. And we’ve got you. 

Better chats, less noise

Streamlined communication
Event chats auto-archive when your event finishes. Message history stays intact, so new members can catch up without you repeating the info.

Notifications controls
Topic-based chats mean members see what matters to them without getting bombarded with notifications.

Unlimited growth
No limits on group size, chat history, or message storage.

Happier members, stronger community

Built-in privacy
Your members don’t need to share their phone number with other members to join your group.

One-click joining
Add members with a single link that includes waivers, member questionnaires, and welcome messages.

Real faces, real people
Customizable member profiles make it easy for members to connect authentically.

Build a thriving, sustainable group

Designed for leadership teams
Assign roles and recognize key contributors for their contributions.

Built-in payment collection
Keep your group financially strong with membership plans, donations, and event tickets.

Grow your group
List your group in Heylo group discovery and publish to search engines.

Why leaders love Heylo

2 min
Onboarded whole group
“Onboarding over 100 members to Heylo was super simple. I created a Heylo group and shared the link in our old Whatsapp chat. All my key members joined immediately. It took two minutes."

Jenni Dubman

Nth Degree
4x
Increase in participation
“Heylo made our members' lives better. It allowed people to connect without the leadership team. I love going into the chats and seeing someone going for a trail run and 3 to 4 people joining them."

Josh Goldman

Electric Athletic Club
$150k
Collected payments in first year
“In our first year on Heylo, paid members increased 3x to over 600. We had to set a cap. I can’t believe how seamless Heylo is. "

Steve Finley

Brooklyn Track Club
Zero
No-show rate
“ Collecting payment in advance of our classes brought our no-show rate down from 50% to Zero. "

Romain

San Francisco Beach Volleyball
5x
Increase in member reach
“ Using Heylo instead of Groupme is life changing. Before, the group was noisy and people would mute the group. Now, I can organize the conversations into topics and still reach everyone with events. "

Eddie Vega

FDNY Tri
2x
Increase in member interaction
“ Not everyone wanted to download an app necessarily, so the fact that Heylo can be utilized on desktop is a huge win for us with our older participants. "

Jess Robson

Run Talk Run
20%
Immediate increase in paid members
" Managing membership was the #1 painpoint. Now there's no leakage in the system. "

Josh Goldman

Electric Athletic Club
Zero
Member complaints
" My peeps are loving Heylo. We have great turn outs at runs, and now people know what events are happening where and when. I have not gotten one single complain, zero!

James

West Volusia
3x
Increase in member engagement
Switching our club to Heylo, even with 50 years of tradition behind us, has been totally worth it. Member engagement has shot up, and we spend less time on administrative tasks like membership renewals.

Greg Cass

Central Park Track Club

Common questions

Can I trust Heylo will work?

Yes! We have an average 4.9-star rating in app stores, and we’re loved by leaders and members alike.

Is Heylo encrypted?

No, not for community group chats. Encryption prevents new members from seeing the history of your group.

Does Heylo work with low bandwidths?

Of course! You can send messages as long as you have some internet connection.

Is Heylo free?

Yes! Any group can use Heylo for free to organize events, manage communications, and help new members find your group. For a monthly fee, you can access additional features to help scale your group. If you host paid groups or events, we offer transparent pricing with no surprise fees.

What if someone doesn’t want to download a new app?

Heylo works in any browser, so an app is not required. For on-the-go updates and event management, our iOS and Android apps are great options.

Does Heylo have limits on group sizes or number of events?

No, there are no limits on group sizes or the number of events you can host. Whether you're running a small group or a large, active community, you’ll have the freedom to host as many events as you like and welcome as many members as you can without additional fees or restrictions.

What's the best WhatsApp alternative for community management?

Heylo is the best WhatsApp alternative for group leaders who need more than just messaging. With event RSVPs, member directories, and payment collection, it’s the best community management software for in-person and online groups.

Why should I switch from WhatsApp to Heylo?

WhatsApp is great for messaging, but it’s not designed for community building. If you need a structured way to manage events, payments, and announcements, Heylo is a better community platform that helps groups grow and thrive.

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