In recent years, people are increasingly looking for new ways to create platonic connections, as loneliness and social isolation have become more prevalent.
In 2023, the US Surgeon General went so far as to label this issue a public health crisis. Remote workers, who miss the daily interactions in an office, and younger people who want to build adult social circles based on shared interests and hobbies, are among those looking for meaningful friendships.
Thanks to online dating apps, the stigma associated with finding hookups online has largely faded. This has welcomed a new wave of apps focused on cultivating friendships and building local communities.
According to Appfigures estimates, more than a dozen local friendship apps have generated a total of about $16 million in U.S. consumer spending so far this year. Some notable examples include Timeleft, Meet5, and Bumble’s BFF. Additionally, these apps have garnered around 4.3 million downloads so far in 2025.
The apps aim to provide a less awkward solution than, say, approaching a stranger at the gym or local coffee shop and trying to strike up a conversation. These platforms make it clear that everyone using the app is looking for the same thing – friendship, not romance – making it much less intimidating to start conversations.
From major players like Meetup to newer ones like 222, there are plenty of apps catering to the growing demand for meaningful friendships. We’ve put together a list of them for you to try.
222
The app 222 is one Only for iOS social events platform that facilitates in-person meetings by matching a group of strangers based on their personality test results. The app sends invitations to nearby public social events, such as wine bars and comedy clubs. A screening process then follows and selected participants are notified on the day of the event. A bonus for the socially anxious: You’re allowed to bring a plus one.
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The service charges a $22.22 curation fee or a monthly subscription for the same price.
BFF
Dating giant Bumble is one of the more established players to enter the friendship space, having launched its friend-finding feature in 2016, which then became a standalone app in 2023. The friend-making app recently underwent a major redesign, with an increased focus on facilitating group meetings, catering to users’ desires to expand their social circles.
BFF is available for free download at iOS and Android devices.
Clyx
Clyx is another emerging app in the group-based social networking landscape with a strong focus on discovering local events. The social media platform helps users find community events by integrating data from platforms like Ticketmaster and TikTok. Additionally, Clyx allows users to upload their contact lists, helping them see what events their friends plan to attend. The app also includes a feature that recommends other users to join these events.
So far, Clyx operates exclusively in two cities: Miami and London. However, it has plans to expand to additional territories in the near future, with New York and Sao Paulo at the top of the list. The application is available at App Store and Google Play Store.
Les Amís
Les Amís is a friendship app tailored for women, transgender and LGBTQ+ people that leverages artificial intelligence to match users based on similar interests and encourages participation in local events such as pottery classes, book clubs and wine tastings. Matches take place every Monday, allowing users to chat and schedule meetings later in the week.
Available on iOS and AndroidLes Amís serves cities across Europe including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid, Paris and Stockholm. In the US, the app is available in Austin and New York, with plans to expand to Boston, Miami and Los Angeles.
The app uses a paid subscription model that varies by city, with fees of $70 in New York and €55 in Amsterdam.
Meeting
THE local event discovery platform has been around since 2002, helping millions of users connect with others who share similar interests. Users can respond to events. Join groups covering a variety of hobbies, professions or social causes. and create their own groups and events. They can also chat with team members and post updates and photos from gatherings.
Meeting 5
This European community building app recently launched in the US, targeting users over 40 who want to meet new people in their area and participate in group activities such as picnics, concerts and hiking. Specifically, in a short period of time, there have been approximately 777,000 downloads in the US so far across the region App Store and Google Play Storeaccording to Appfigures estimates.
Pie
Pie is another of the newest social networking apps on the market. It features an AI-based quiz designed to predict which users are most likely to be compatible with each other. Each person who RSVPs to a Pie event takes a short personality assessment, and the algorithm organizes attendees into groups of six, who are then added to a group chat in the Pie app, allowing them to interact with each other before the event.
Currently, the app is only available in Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco. Users can download Pie from the App Store and Google Play Store.
Time left
Time left is a relatively new platform that helps you organize weekly dinner dates with groups of strangers. The app uses a special algorithm to match you with others, taking into account your age, gender and personality. Users are matched with four other people, but only learn small details about them the night before, including their professions and zodiac signs.
Dinners are held at a selected restaurant on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm. To help everyone break the ice, the app offers a conversation starter game. After dinner, there is an after party at a local bar.
Users can book dinners online or through application. As for pricing, it varies by country and restaurant. Users pay for a ticket in advance and are responsible for covering their own dinner and drinks.
Wyzr Friends
Wyzr Friends is an activity-based friendship app designed for adults 40 and older, catering to empty nesters, divorcees, and other users looking to connect with like-minded people. Users can recommend potential friends and organize personal activities based on shared interests, such as going to the movies or hiking.
It is available at iOS and Android devices in the US, Canada, Australia, Ireland, the Philippines, Singapore, and Mexico.
Move
Move is a newly launched friendship app that combines location tracking with social discovery to help users connect with people nearby and explore new bars and restaurants in their area. After signing up, users can join interest-based groups—such as hiking, basketball, or art—view a map of active users, and message those nearby. The app also highlights new places on the map, making it easy to find a restaurant or place to try.
Mmotion is currently only available to users in New York on iOS and Android devices. Users must first submit an application to be considered.
This story was updated after publication.
