Short verdict: yes. The main InterNations alternatives for meeting people in Malta are Meetup groups (many of them aimed at expats and locals together), Facebook expat and community groups, language exchanges, and MeetNow plans, where a host posts a small plan at a public place, says who pays and picks who joins. InterNations is a solid choice for large expat events; the alternatives tend to be better for smaller groups, specific interests and meeting locals as well as other newcomers.
When you move to Malta, InterNations is often one of the first names you hear. It is built for people living abroad and runs a Malta community. But it is not the only way to meet people, and depending on what you want, it may not be the best one. This guide compares InterNations with the realistic alternatives, so you can choose based on the kind of social life you are after. We are the MeetNow team; we have aimed to be fair, and we say plainly where each option is strong.
What InterNations offers in Malta
InterNations’ Malta community is aimed at people who have moved to Malta from abroad. It organises community events and has interest groups, and it combines a free basic membership with a paid premium tier called Albatross, which unlocks more of its events and features. Pricing for Albatross depends on your region and the length of the subscription, so check the app or website for the current price.
Its strengths are obvious for newcomers: a ready-made network of other internationals, a regular calendar, and events where everyone is there to meet new people. Its limits are just as clear: the crowd is mostly other expats, larger events can feel like networking, and the premium tier costs money.
InterNations alternatives compared
Checked on each option’s own pages in October 2026. Prices and groups change, so check before you sign up.
| Option | Typical group size | Who you meet | Cost model | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| InterNations | Medium to large events, plus smaller interest groups | Mostly other expats | Free basic membership; paid Albatross tier | A quick international network |
| Meetup groups | Small to large, depending on the group | Expats and locals with a shared interest | Free to join as a member; some groups charge fees or dues | Regular activities around an interest |
| Facebook expat and community groups | Varies; often one-off posts | Whoever replies | Free | Quick questions and spontaneous invitations |
| Language exchanges | Small tables at a bar or café | Locals and internationals practising languages | Usually free; pay for your own drinks | Meeting people from many countries, including locals |
| MeetNow | Small plans with a set number of seats | People who ask to join a specific plan | Free; each plan says host pays, split, pay your own or free | Specific plans with a few people; live on the web, starting in Malta |
Each InterNations alternative in detail
Meetup groups: for expats and locals together
Meetup’s Malta listings include social groups for expats and locals, digital nomads, women looking for new friends, board games, film, outdoor workouts and more. When we checked in October 2026, groups such as Malta Social (expats & locals), International Meetups by English Cafe Malta and Women Friends Malta were listed. Members join for free; organisers pay for the group and some charge event fees or dues. Before you commit, look at when a group last met and whether it has upcoming events.
Better than InterNations if: you want a mix of locals and internationals, or a specific interest rather than a general expat crowd.
Facebook expat and community groups
Expat, student and neighbourhood groups are where newcomers ask about flats, paperwork and, increasingly, “anyone up for a beach day on Sunday?”. They cost nothing and many are busy. The trade-off is structure: there is no seat limit or money rule unless the poster sets one, and checking who you are meeting is up to you.
Better than InterNations if: you want free, fast and informal, and you are comfortable organising things yourself.
Language exchanges
Language exchange evenings, usually at a bar or café, bring together locals and internationals who want to practise a language. Even if your Maltese is limited to “grazzi”, they are one of the easiest ways to talk to many people in one evening, and the language gives you a ready-made conversation starter.
Better than InterNations if: you want to meet people from many countries, including Maltese speakers, in a relaxed setting.
MeetNow plans
MeetNow is plans, not profiles. A host posts a plan at a public place, such as a coffee in Sliema, a padel game or a dinner in Valletta, with the date, time, number of seats and who pays: host pays, split, pay your own or free. People ask to join with a short note, the host accepts or declines, and accepted guests get a group chat. Afterwards, both sides confirm “we met”, which builds each person’s track record. The host can also limit who can join, for example by gender or age range, and anyone can block a user. Our guide to MeetNow as an app to meet people in Malta has local plan examples.
Better than InterNations if: you prefer three or four people around a table to a room of fifty, or you have a specific plan and want company for it.
Which InterNations alternative suits you?
- You want a big, ready-made expat network: InterNations itself is hard to beat.
- You want locals as well as internationals: Meetup interest groups and language exchanges.
- You want something free and informal: Facebook groups, or a plan with “pay your own”.
- You find big events tiring: small plans with a set number of seats, where you know exactly who is coming and where.
- You have just arrived and know nobody: combine two, for example an expat event for the first weeks and a small plan around something you enjoy.
For a wider view of the formats, see our guides to the best app to meet people in person and friend apps in Malta. If dinners with strangers are what you are after, our Timeleft alternative guide covers those.
A simple plan for your first months in Malta
- Weeks 1 to 4: go to one large event, expat or community, to meet many people quickly and learn where people hang out.
- Weeks 2 to 8: pick one interest group and attend three times in a row, so faces become familiar.
- From month 2: start small plans: a coffee, a walk, a dinner for four. Invite people you met at events, or post the plan and let new people ask to join.
- Keep going: repeat what works. Friendships grow from repeated time together far more than from one great evening.
Our guide to finding people to hang out with in Malta has plan ideas for every budget.
Safety, whichever option you choose
Safety box. When you meet someone new: meet at a busy public place, tell a friend where you are going and with whom, arrange your own way home, and leave if anything feels wrong. On MeetNow, plans happen at public places, the host chooses who joins and anyone can block a user.
FAQ: InterNations alternatives in Malta
Is InterNations free in Malta?
InterNations has a free basic membership and a paid premium tier called Albatross that unlocks more events and features. Pricing depends on your region and subscription length.
What is the best free alternative to InterNations?
Meetup (as a member), Facebook groups, most language exchanges and MeetNow are free to use; you pay only for what you eat or drink. Which is best depends on whether you want a regular group or a specific plan.
Where do expats meet locals in Malta?
Interest-based Meetup groups, language exchanges, sports clubs and volunteering tend to mix expats and locals more than expat-only networks do.
How is MeetNow different from InterNations?
InterNations is a membership network with community events. MeetNow is a free app for small, one-off plans at public places: a host posts a plan, says who pays and picks who joins from short notes.
Can I use MeetNow yet?
Yes. MeetNow is live on the web at app.trymeetnow.com now, starting in Malta. The iPhone and Android apps are coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins. It is live on the web now, starting in Malta, with the phone apps on the way: open MeetNow and see the plans near you.
