Lately, folks have been more and more on the lookout for new methods to type platonic connections, as loneliness and social isolation have turn out to be extra prevalent.
In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon Common went as far as to label this challenge a public well being disaster. Distant staff, who miss the on a regular basis interactions present in an workplace, and youthful people desperate to create their grownup social circles based mostly on shared pursuits and hobbies, are amongst these in search of significant friendships.
Due to on-line courting apps, the stigma related to discovering connections on-line has largely light away. This has welcomed a brand new wave of apps targeted on fostering friendships and constructing native communities.
In line with estimates from Appfigures, over a dozen local-focused friendship apps have collectively generated roughly $16 million in shopper spending within the U.S. to date this 12 months. Some notable examples embody Timeleft, Meet5, and Bumble’s BFF. Moreover, these apps have garnered roughly 4.3 million downloads so far in 2025.
The apps goal to offer a much less awkward answer than, as an illustration, approaching a stranger on the fitness center or native café and making an attempt to strike up a dialog. These platforms clearly point out that everybody utilizing the app is on the lookout for the identical factor — friendship, not romance — making it a lot much less intimidating to provoke conversations.
From main gamers like Meetup to newer ones like 222, there are many apps that cater to the rising demand for significant friendships. We’ve compiled an inventory of them so that you can check out.
222
The app 222 is an iOS-only social occasions platform that facilitates in-person meetups by pairing a bunch of strangers based mostly on their character check outcomes. The app sends invites to close by public social occasions, comparable to wine bars and comedy golf equipment. There’s then a vetting course of, and chosen individuals are notified on the day of the occasion. A bonus for many who really feel socially anxious: You’re allowed to carry a plus-one.
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The service fees a $22.22 curation payment or a month-to-month subscription for a similar worth.
BFF
Courting large Bumble is among the many extra established gamers to enter the friendship house, launching its friend-finding characteristic in 2016, which then spun out right into a stand-alone app in 2023. The friend-making app has lately undergone a vital redesign, with an elevated emphasis on facilitating group meetups, catering to customers’ needs to develop their social circles.
BFF is offered without spending a dime obtain on iOS and Android units.
Clyx
Clyx is one other rising app within the group-based social networking panorama, with a powerful deal with discovering native occasions. The social platform helps customers discover neighborhood occasions by integrating knowledge from platforms like Ticketmaster and TikTok. Moreover, Clyx permits customers to add their contact lists, serving to them see which occasions their pals plan to attend. The app additionally features a characteristic that recommends different customers to attach with at these occasions.
As of now, Clyx operates completely in two cities: Miami and London. Nevertheless, it has plans to broaden to extra areas within the close to future, with New York Metropolis and São Paulo on the prime of the record. The app is offered on the App Retailer and Google Play Retailer.
Les Amís
Les Amís is a friendship app tailor-made for ladies, transgender, and LGBTQ+ people that leverages AI to match customers based mostly on related pursuits and encourages participation in native occasions, comparable to pottery lessons, e-book golf equipment, and wine tastings. Matches are made each Monday, permitting customers to talk and plan meetups later within the week.
Obtainable on iOS and Android, Les Amís serves cities throughout Europe, together with Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid, Paris, and Stockholm. Within the U.S., the app is offered in Austin and New York, with plans to broaden to Boston, Miami, and Los Angeles.
The app makes use of a paid membership mannequin that varies by metropolis, with charges of $70 in New York and €55 in Amsterdam.
Meetup
The native event-discovery platform has been round since 2002, serving to tens of millions of customers join with others who share related pursuits. Customers can RSVP to occasions; be part of teams that cater to a wide range of hobbies, professions, or social causes; and create their very own teams and occasions. They’ll additionally chat with group members and submit updates and images from gatherings.
Meet5
This European community-building app lately launched within the U.S., concentrating on customers over 40 who need to meet new folks of their space and take part in group actions comparable to picnics, concert events, and mountain climbing. Notably, in a short while, there have been round 777,000 U.S. downloads to date throughout the App Retailer and Google Play Retailer, in line with Appfigures estimates.
Pie
Pie is one other one of many newer social apps available on the market. It options an AI-driven quiz designed to foretell which customers are most definitely to be appropriate with one another. Every one that RSVPs to a Pie occasion takes a short character evaluation, and the algorithm organizes attendees into teams of six, who’re then added to a bunch chat throughout the Pie app, permitting them to work together with one another earlier than the occasion.
Presently, the app is barely accessible in Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco. Customers can obtain Pie from the App Retailer and Google Play Retailer.
Timeleft
Timeleft is a comparatively new platform that helps you manage weekly dinner dates with teams of strangers. The app makes use of a particular algorithm to match you with others, making an allowance for your age, gender, and character. Customers are matched with 4 different folks, however they solely be taught minor particulars about them the evening earlier than, together with their occupations and zodiac indicators.
Dinners happen at a specific restaurant on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. To assist everybody break the ice, the app affords a sport with dialog starters. After dinner, there’s an after-party at a neighborhood bar.
Customers can e-book dinners on-line or by means of the app. By way of pricing, it varies relying on the nation and restaurant. Customers pay for a ticket up entrance and are accountable for overlaying their very own dinner and drinks.
Wyzr Pals
Wyzr Pals is an activity-based friendship app designed for adults 40 and older, catering to empty nesters, those that are divorced, and different customers in search of to attach with like-minded people. Customers can thumbs up or down potential pals and prepare in-person actions based mostly on shared pursuits, comparable to going to the films or mountain climbing.
It’s accessible on iOS and Android units within the U.S., Canada, Australia, Eire, the Philippines, Singapore, and Mexico.
Mmotion
Mmotion is a newly launched friendship app that blends location monitoring with social discovery to assist customers join with folks close by and discover new bars and eating places of their space. Upon becoming a member of, customers can take part in interest-based teams — comparable to mountain climbing, basketball, or artwork — view a map of lively customers, and ship messages to these close by. The app additionally highlights new locations on the map, making it straightforward to discover a restaurant or venue to attempt.
Mmotion is presently solely accessible to customers in New York Metropolis on iOS and Android units. Customers should first submit an software to be thought of.
This story was up to date after publication.
