Whether you’ve moved to a new area, just gone through a breakup, or simply looking to expand your friend group, and you’re wondering, “Is there an app like Tinder but for friends?” Yes. There are dozens of apps for finding friends, and we cover 22 of the better ones, including two standouts: Bumble BFF and Meetup.
Some apps, like Badoo, Bumble BFF, and Tinder are designed to offer a blend of dating, friendship and professional networking, while others, like Patook and Peanut, have a strict policy to keep things platonic, at least when communicating on the app. Wink is a pretty straightforward app to make friends that follows a similar format to Tinder and other popular dating apps.
Read on for our comprehensive list of the best apps to meet new people for anyone looking to expand their social circle.
Our pick for best apps to socialize
If you want to make legitimate friends in your area, we recommend using Bumble BFF (#4 below) or Meetup (#8 below). Bumble stands out for finding and making one-to-one friendships; Meetup stands out for its ability to connect you with groups of people with shared interests.
We picked Bumble BFF and Meetup as the two best friendship apps because:
- Large member base: Each app has a large user base, which means you’re more likely to find friends who share common interests and people you click with.
- Best apps to meet locals: These apps aren’t limited to a specific niche. Some of the apps on this list are great for certain groups of people — like moms or dog owners — but Bumble BFF and Meetup are built for anyone who wants to find a friend.
- Positive user reviews: Each of these apps has a proven track record of creating friendships — based on user reviews and feedback on sites like Trustpilot and Reddit.
Also, you could join our Facebook Group for single moms:
Our full list of the best apps to make friends, listed alphabetically:
| Atleto | Peanut |
| Badoo | Skout |
| BarkHappy | Tinder |
| Bumble BFF | Twitch |
| Clubhouse | UNBLND |
| Friended | Vingle |
| Hey! VINA | We3 |
| Meetup | Wink |
| Nextdoor | Yubo |
| OneRoof | Other friend apps |
Additionally, learn more about how to make friends after divorce.
1. Atleto: Friend app for college students and fitness buffs
Atleto is primarily an app to connect students across college campuses for sporting events and meetups, but it’s also a platform for individual sports and fitness enthusiasts.
People who use Atleto might be looking for a running buddy or doubles partner or for members to form a recreational sports league.
Users create a profile, then select which sports they’re interested in from 40 different options, like golf, yoga, and basketball. Using Atleto’s filters to narrow choices by skill level and location, users can browse other profiles and ask to join scheduled in-person events.
If you don’t see something you like, you can also create your own event for others to join.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free, no in-app purchases
- Ratings: App Store – 1.7 stars based on 107 reviews. Google Play – 1.5 stars based on 114 reviews.
- What users think: Atleto draws interest from people who would like to use the app to connect, but based on reviews, users continue to struggle with operating glitches, which may be too much of a frustration to fully enjoy the software.
- Updates: According to the Google Play store, the app was last updated in September 2023. The last update on the App Store was March 2023.
Why do I feel so lonely as a single mom? How to cope with loneliness
2. Badoo: Dating app to find friends or romance
At first glance, Badoo looks like a typical dating app, but it’s also widely used as an app to make friends.
Users complete a profile where they can indicate their motivation for using the app — whether it’s to meet a new friend or find a long-term partner. Based on profile information, such as location and interests, matches are suggested, and users like or reject them.
The downside about Badoo is that matches are not filtered based on who is seeking a friend vs. partner, so some of your matches might be people using the app for dating. You’ll have to click each individual profile to see the person’s intentions. The options are:
Premium users can unlock features like seeing who has added them to their favorites and who has viewed their profile.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free, in-app purchases starting at $3.99.
- Ratings: Apple App Store (ranked number 54 in the lifestyle category) – 4.5 stars based on more than 109,000 reviews. Google Play: 4.0 stars based on over 6.38 million reviews.
- What users think: The app earned 3.0 stars on Trustpilot, with more than half of the reviewers suggesting the app is a great way to meet new people.
- Updates: Developers remain active in improving the app, offering regular updates to make fixes and add features.
3. BarkHappy: Dog friend finder app
BarkHappy is a friends app for dog owners. Users can create group play dates and find dog-friendly places nearby, like local restaurants and dog parks.
Owners create profiles of their dogs to connect with other dog owners nearby. BarkHappy lets users chat, plan meetups and participate in virtual events. The app also features an alert section for lost and found dogs in your area.
BarkHappy takes some of the pressure off of meeting new people by putting dogs at the forefront of all interactions. It’s perfect for people who love dogs and want a low-pressure way to expand their social circles.
(Meetup is also a great site to find local dog meetups “near me”. See #8 below.)
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free, in-app purchases for $1.99 allow users to create a public event
- Ratings: Google Play: 3.6 stars based on 184 reviews. The App store: 5 stars based on five ratings.
- What users think: Reviews indicate the app is well built and the concept works, but a lack of people using it limits their participation.
- Updates: The App store's last app update was March 2023. The last Google Play update was released in November 2022.
4. Bumble BFF: Best app for making friends
Bumble BFF brings the find-a-friend concept to the popular dating app Bumble, which also includes a business networking mode called Bumble Bizz. The app is known for catering to women, who get to initiate interactions in any mode.
Like its dating counterpart, Bumble BFF shows users potential friend matches, who then have 24 hours to respond if you like their profile. If reciprocating contact is not made within that time frame, the connection expires.
Bumble BFF, Bumble Date, and Bumble Bizz are all accessible from the main Bumble app. If you already have a Bumble account and want to switch to a new mode, tap on your profile icon, click on Settings, then select “Choose Mode.”
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free, in-app purchases start at $1.99 with options for extra features, more swipes, second chances for missed connections and monthly subscription plans
- Ratings: Apple App Store: (Ranks number 8 in lifestyles category) 4.3 stars based on 1.4 million reviews. Google Play: 3.8 stars based on more than 970,000 reviews.
- What users think: Reviewers report there are plenty of profiles, which makes the chances of finding a friend much more likely. Many reviews in the Google Play store indicate users are disappointed that many useful features aren’t accessible in the free version of the app.
- Updates: New versions of the app are released almost weekly.
Life after divorce: 11 tips for moving forward and starting in 2024
5. Clubhouse: App to make friends online only
Clubhouse isn’t like most other apps to meet new people in that it relies on audio conversations to facilitate connections. Users can join millions of audio rooms to talk with other people about shared interests. Room topics are all over the board — everything from fashion and movies to politics, with an emphasis on business topics — including how to make money from home, starting a business, or how to build confidence.
Even if you aren’t comfortable joining in on the conversations, you can listen in — sort of like listening to a real-time podcast. In fact, a lot of podcasters record episodes using Clubhouse, so be aware that anything you say in public rooms on the app could be recorded and released.
Users can create clubs based on preferred topics and open them to the public or keep them intimate for smaller groups of new friends. Visitors to the Clubhouse can listen to conversations, music, podcasts and more in real time or replay them at a later time.
If you want to meet new people in your area, search for audio rooms that contain the name of your city. You can click on profiles of the people in each room to learn more about them and see where they’re located. Some people on Clubhouse include their Twitter or Instagram handles.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free
- Ratings: Apple App Store: (Ranks number 26 in News category) 4.8 stars based on more than 765,000 reviews. Google Play: 4.0 stars based on more than 560,000 reviews.
- Updates: Developers update the app regularly to fix bugs and other issues.
6. Friended: Make friends playing games
Friended, which is currently only available for iOS users, takes the awkwardness out of meeting new people by using games and quizzes to break the ice.
Users have an opportunity to make conversation while interacting through game play, competing in quizzes and completing other fun activities. The philosophy behind the app is to give users something to do while they engage in conversation, which is helpful for those who struggle with meeting new people.
To get started on Friended, users are encouraged to post an icebreaker — something raw and real that others can relate to and that compels them to respond. You can also browse other people's icebreakers and message people you connect with.
The app also offers a video chat component. Users can peruse profiles of people nearby or keep the games going online only.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free, in-app purchases from 99 cents to $29.99 for extra chatting, posting, question answering and profile viewing.
- Ratings: Apple App Store: 4.3 stars based on more than 26,000 reviews.
- What users think: Many reviewers said they’ve had success forming friendships with people they’ve met on the app, which is for people 18 years and older.
- Updates: The app is updated regularly.
7. Hey! VINA: App for female and nonbinary friendships
In partnership with social dating app Tinder, Hey! VINA encourages users to get offline and meet new people, whether they’re at home or traveling to a new city. The app is for women and non-binary people only.
Under the familiar swipe left and right model, the app allows users to create profiles and live chat, join circles of interest, and discover in-person meetups.
Users sign up for Hey! VINA using their Facebook or Instagram accounts to confirm identity and help find friends nearby.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free, in-app purchases range from $5.99 weekly to $99.99 for a 100-year membership.
- Ratings: Apple App Store: 4.2 stars based on more than 7,400 reviews. Google Play: 1.7 stars based on more than 1,500 reviews.
- What users think: Most negative reviews are about glitches while using the app, but positive reviews reveal the app is successful in facilitating friendships. A highlighted feature from a user is the ability to message all of her Hey! VINA connections at one time to schedule a meetup.
- Updates: Apple says the latest version for iOS was released in August 2020. Top reviews on Google Play within the last few months indicate users are having issues with functionality of the app, especially logging in through Facebook.
8. Meetup: Best app for finding friends and local groups
For two decades, the Meetup app has been helping people find new friends. It’s been used by more than 50 million people since its creation, according to the Meetup website.
Meetup helps users find people with similar interests to form groups and create real-life or online events to hang out, network professionally, or explore new interests. Groups range in topics from outdoor enthusiasts to those looking for the best coffee shops in town.
Meetup’s longevity and large user base certainly lend to its credibility as one of the best apps to make friends. However, several threads on Reddit have noted the app's activity has declined.
Meet new friends IRL with Meetup >>
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free, group organizers will be charged monthly from $9.99 to $98.99 depending on the scope of the group. Some organizers charge annual dues to group members.
- Ratings: Apple App Store: 4.7 stars based on more than 230,000 reviews. Google Play: 4.4 stars based on more than 203,000 reviews.
- Updates: Developers deliver updates for the app every few days.
9. Nextdoor: Hyper-local app for meeting neighbors
Nextdoor is an app designed to connect neighbors. While it isn’t necessarily an app to make friends, you might end up forming friendly relationships with some people in your area.
Nextdoor users can meet new people, get and give recommendations for area businesses like jewelry shops or laundry services, find a nanny, post local jobs, and even help neighbors find their lost pets. Users use their real names when they sign up, so you don’t have to worry about fake profiles.
The app is especially helpful for people who are new to an area or those who live in larger cities where neighbors tend not to know each other as well.
The downside of Nextdoor is it can become gossipy and toxic. It got a lot of flack for its ineffective use of automated and human moderators, enabling hateful posts and trolling.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free, no in-app purchases
- Ratings: Apple App Store: 4.7 star rating based on 1.6 million reviews. Google Play: 4.5 stars based on more than 330,000 reviews.
- Updates: Developers deliver fixes several times a week to keep the app running smoothly.
10. OneRoof: Social app for apartment dwellers
Even more hyper-local than Nextdoor, OneRoof gives apartment residents a platform to find new friends in the same building or complex.
Users can meet neighboring tenants by creating a profile and being matched based on similar interests like cooking, parenting, or living the single life.
OneRoof is a useful tool for introverts who struggle with socializing or for those who just want to get to know their neighbors better.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free
- Ratings: Apple App Store: 3.8 stars based on more than 400 reviews. Google Play: 3.1 stars based on 168 reviews.
- What users think: Some users say they’ve struggled with nosy neighbors with the app, but a majority of reviews point out the benefits of being aware of what is going on in the building at all times, making new friends and finding the app to be a “lifesaver” during the height of the global pandemic.
- Updates: The app is updated regularly to get those new product kinks worked out.
11. Peanut: Friend-finding app for moms-to-be
Whether you're going through pregnancy, motherhood, or menopause, Peanut is a social networking app built for women to connect with other women in a similar stage of life.
Features include chatting, group hangouts, live audio conversations by experts on different topics, and more.
Profiles use “selfie” verification to filter out any fake accounts, allowing users to chat openly, share their stories and meet other women nearby.
According to Peanut’s developers, more than 2 million women currently use the app to make new friends and find support.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free
- Ratings: Apple App Store: 4.4 stars based on more than 9,000 reviews. Google Play: 3.8 stars based on more than 10,000 reviews.
- Updates: The app is regularly updated.
12. Skout: Location-based friending and dating app
Skout is a location-based app for dating and friendship. Users create an account and can browse other profiles to find someone nearby or across the world (Skout is available in more than 180 countries and in 14 different languages).
Skout uses the familiar swipe left or right concept, and users can chat and video chat one-on-one.
Skout also offers an option to live stream, where other users can watch and interact with the streamer in a group chat setting much like “going live” on YouTube and TikTok. Broadcasters can also invite other broadcasters into their live streams.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free, in-app purchases range from $4.99 to $99.99 to unlock additional content and features or a subscription package.
- Ratings: Apple App Store: (Ranked number 157 in social networking) 4.4 stars based on more than 170,000 reviews. Google Play: 3.6 stars based on 1.22 million reviews.
- What users think: The Meet Group, parent company of Skout and other social networking apps, reported that 25% of the app’s users watch live streams from other users every day.
- Updates: The app is updated at least monthly for bug fixes and smaller issues.
13. Tinder: Friends with benefits app?
Despite trying to make a run at a friends-only mode, Tinder developers nixed the idea in 2017 by removing Tinder Social from the app.
Users can still create a profile and specify that they’re looking for friendship, but that doesn’t guarantee they won’t be approached by users looking for something more on this popular dating app that got its start facilitating hookups.
While it’s not the best choice for a friends-only experience, Tinder does have a double opt-in feature, which means two people must show interest in each other before a match can be made and a connection is formed.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free, in-app purchases range from $3.75 to $22.49 a week for subscription packages.
- Ratings: Apple App Store: 4.0 stars based on more than 950,000 reviews. Google Play: 3.6 stars based on more than 6.8 million reviews.
- What users think: Commenters on the social question-and-answer website Quora who use the Tinder app say those looking for strictly friends are not likely to find success on the app.
- Updates: Developers update Tinder frequently to keep the app free from glitches and bugs.
14. Twitch: App for gamers to find friends
Twitch is a social platform primarily for gamers who use the site and app to watch live video streams and live chat with other gamers. It also offers categories for music, art (there's even a Bob Ross stream), cooking, sports and other creative outlets.
Video game enthusiasts can meet others on and off the app to play their favorite games. Most profiles on Twitch don’t provide a lot, if any, personal information, so any friends you make are likely to remain virtual unless you take steps to interact outside of Twitch.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free, in-app purchases start at $1.99 for bits and tokens, which can be used as donations to streamers
- Ratings: Apple App Store: (Ranked number 7 in the photo and video category) 4.7 stars based on more than 2 million reviews. Google Play: 4.4 stars based on more than 5 million reviews.
- Updates: Developers update the app regularly for bug fixes and optimization.
15. UNBLND: Find friends in major metropolitan cities
UNBLND is a social platform that uses algorithms to divide users into groups based on location, interests, and hobbies indicated in private profiles.
Unlike most apps to meet new people, profiles remain hidden as users chat in the interest groups. When two users interested in forming a potential friendship are ready, they can decide to reveal their profiles to each other and plan in-person meetups.
UNBLND is currently only available in select locations, only five of which are in North America:
- Chicago
- Montréal
- New Jersey
- New York
- Toronto
The app is designed for people who want to develop friendships based on personality before looks. While it's a good concept in theory, until the app expands to other locations, it's probably not your best bet to form local friendships.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free
- Ratings: Apple App Store: 3.0 stars based on 11 reviews. Google Play: 1.5 stars based on 182 reviews.
- What users think: Reviews of the app are mixed, with most negative comments in regards to the functionality of the platform. However, more positive reviews reveal the app is a great way to meet new people, with one reviewer calling it a “friends gold mine.”
- Updates: Developers update the app regularly for bug fixes and general performance improvements.
16. We3: Match-making app for friends
We3 is a social app that matches users in groups of three based on personality traits, interests, and values.
When users create their profiles, they are prompted to take a quiz, which is designed to determine their personality type. Developers of the app worked with experts in identifying 32 personality types to match users accurately.
Once matched, users are placed in different groups of three to chat, learn more about each other and set up in-person meetings.
The app allows users to meet people who live nearby or meet people from around the world.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free, in-app purchases range from $1.99 to $59.99 for additional features and subscription packages
- Ratings: Apple App Store: 4.2 stars based on more than 900 reviews. Google Play: 3.8 stars based on more than 8,600 reviews.
- Updates: Developers update the app regularly.
17. Wink: App for friends 13+
Wink is a pretty straightforward app to make friends without a lot of bells and whistles.
Like most other social apps, users create a profile, get matched with prospective profiles, then swipe right or left to keep or reject potential friends. Two users must swipe right on each other’s profile before they can contact each other.
The app features games users can play while on the app to earn “gems,” which they can use to buy more swipes or profile views. Wink users can also chat or engage in audio or video calls.
One downside is that Wink allows users who are 13 years old and older. That means adults who are looking for mature friendships may find themselves among a bunch of kids.
Is Wink a dating app? Wink is not designed or promoted to be a dating app, but rather a supplement to Snapchat, and a way to make friendships. However, of course, romance is always an option on any platform.
Download lowdown
- Cost: Free, in-app purchases range from 99 cents to $13.99 for additional features like extra profile views
- Ratings: Apple App Store: (Ranked number 32 in social networking) 4.5 stars based on more than 291,000 reviews. Google Play: 4.2 stars based on more than 397,000 reviews.
- What users think: The less-is-more approach with Wink seems to work for many based on reviews.
- Updates: Developers update the app frequently for bug fixes and stability issues.
18. Yubo: App for teens to connect over pop culture
Formerly known as the Yellow social media app, Yubo is a platform for people to connect over similar interests via live streams and chats. The app is more popular among teens, though users ages 13 to 17 have their own community that is separate from adults who use the platform.
Users can join live streams with people all over the world and also look through profiles of people nearby, using the typical left/right swipe model.
When you join, you’ll be asked to select your interests from several categories — movies, TV shows, music, sports, foods, and more, which are displayed on your profile for other users to see.
The app also offers Snap Lenses, a partnership with Snapchat that allows Yubo connections to video chat and try out filters.
You’ll likely have more luck finding friends on this app if you’re a younger adult.
Download lowdown:
- Cost: Free, in-app purchases range from $5.99-$29.99 for additional features and subscriptions.
- Ratings: Apple App Store: (Ranked number 20 for social networking) 4.5 stars based on more than 337,000 reviews. Google Play: 4.1 stars based on more than 325,000 reviews.
- Updates: The app is updated monthly with live games, new features and bug fixes.
Other apps you can use to make friends
With over 1 billion active users, Instagram can be a good way to meet people virtually and potentially in person. If you want to connect with people locally, you can search location tags and follow people who have posted in your area.
To make friends on Instagram, engage with other users on a regular basis — liking their posts and replying to their stories. Follow people who follow the same accounts as you and encourage people to interact with you on your posts and stories by posing questions.
Facebook has over 3 billion active users, making it the largest social media application for meeting friends in the world. You can connect with people to build friendships or use it for finding friends ‘near me'.
Facebook allows you to create and join groups to chat with people of similar interests, attend events, and plan local meetups. You can choose each person on your friend list and get to know them by reading their posts, making comments, or chatting privately on Facebook Messenger.
It's free to use and easy to set up your profile so you can start meeting people.
Reddit is all about engaging over similar interests and hot-button topics. You can find subreddits (essentially message boards) dedicated to your favorite movies, TV shows, sports teams, hobbies, and more, plus join subreddits specifically for your area.
Reddit does not display any personal information (not even real names) in its user profiles, so you'll have to move conversations off of the app if you want to connect on a more legitimate level.
Snapchat / Hoop
Hoop is an app to meet people from popular social media platform Snapchat. Users connect their Hoop and Snapchat accounts, then set up profiles with their age, gender, and pictures.
Like popular dating apps, you'll be shown matches that you can approve or reject. Approved matches will be added to your Snapchat friends list, and you can interact from there. You can select a certain number of matches before you have to buy “diamonds” to continue matching ($0.99 for 1,000).
Hoop has 4.5 stars on the Apple App Store and 4.0 stars on Google Play.
Try these 39 things to do by yourself for a fuller life
FAQs about friendship apps
What are some safe apps to make friends?
Legit apps, like the ones in this list, have safety guidelines and features in place, but every friendship app has its risks.
When you’re choosing between apps to make friends, look at things like profile visibility, location sharing, and connection to social media platforms (which might share information with others you didn’t plan to share).
Apps with a large number of users and reviews, like Twitch and Nextdoor, can indicate that people feel safe using them.
UNBLND is another safe app because it keeps your profile hidden from other users until you take the initiative to reveal it to specific people.
No matter which app you choose, be mindful of divulging too much personal information in your profile and get to know others well before deciding to meetup. I also like the concept behind the We3 app that matches users in groups of three, which offers another level of security when meeting in person.
We put together this list of safety tips for online dating, many of which also apply to finding friends online. You can always run a background check if someone gives weird vibes.
Need help with your profile? Borrow some expert advice from this post on how to create a great dating profile — as well as chose the best profile pics.
Bottom line: How to choose the right apps to make friends
It's important to check out whether an app has a large user base of the types of people you are looking to connect with: whether your goal is a shared interest (sports, for example), life stage (such as mothers of newborns), or your neighborhood or town.
Apps that cost money may be worth it if they attract similar-minded people who will enrich your life. Sometimes, you get what you pay for!
Legit apps, like the ones in this list, have safety guidelines and features in place, but every friendship app has its risks. When you’re choosing between apps to make friends, look at things like profile visibility, location sharing, and connection to social media platforms (which might share information with others you didn’t plan to share).
Some apps, like Badoo, Bumble BFF, and Tinder are designed to offer a blend of dating, friendship and professional networking, while others, like Patook and Peanut, have a strict policy to keep things platonic, at least when communicating on the app.
