Between working long hours, navigating remote or hybrid routines, and dealing with the general chaos of adult life, meeting new people often gets shoved to the bottom of the to-do list. If you’ve ever stared at your phone, wondering how to fill an empty weekend, you’re not alone. And no, your dog doesn’t count—no matter how emotionally available he is.
In a world where everything from dinner to therapy happens online, it only makes sense that our friendships can, too. Enter the modern app to get friends—your pocket-sized ticket to meaningful human connection. These platforms offer structured, interest‑based ways to meet like-minded people without endless swiping or awkward small talk.
Whether you’re craving someone to hike the Giant’s Causeway with or just to share a laugh over brunch, this guide breaks down the best options for building genuine connections.
Why friendship apps are a game-changer: bridging the gap in a connected world
First things first: no, you’re not weird for needing an app to get friends. If anything, it’s becoming the norm.
In the wake of the pandemic, we’ve seen a mass shift in how people connect. Remote work is here to stay, urban isolation is real (especially when your neighbors pretend you don’t exist), and a surprising number of us are still figuring out how to socialize without the help of university or office happy hours.
Apps like Bumble For Friends and MeetUp have surged in popularity because they do more than replicate old-school friendship circles. They cater to the modern lifestyle—filterable interests, flexible schedules, and the convenience of finding someone nearby who also wants to go to a pottery class or hit the hiking trail.
According to a 2023 YouGov survey, over one in five adults (21%) say it’s “very difficult” to make new friends, with younger and middle-aged adults reporting the most difficulty. And while moving to a new city used to mean awkwardly chatting with strangers at yoga class, apps now allow you to meet people who actually want to meet you.
These platforms aren’t just digitizing friendships; they’re redefining what it means to create community in a transient, tech-centric world. Whether you’re a new parent looking for playdate partners, a digital nomad craving consistency, or just someone who doesn’t want to eat ramen alone again, apps to find friends in your city have become the new normal for socializing. And trust us, you’re not the only one scrolling.
Comparing the best friendship apps: find your perfect match
We did the legwork (and some awkward icebreakers) to compare today’s top platforms for friendship-first connections. Each one caters to different types of people and needs, so read on to find the best app to meet new people and make friends based on your lifestyle.
WeMeet by WeRoad: your go-to for travel and adventure buddies
Imagine this: You book a group trip to Florence for the weekend. You know nobody. But by the time Sunday rolls around, you’ve taken a pasta-making class, trekked through the hills of Tuscany, and shared a thousand laughs with strangers. That’s WeMeet by WeRoad—an app that helps you connect with other travelers through shared group trips.
What sets WeMeet apart is its “experience-first” mentality. You’re not just talking in an intricate, wishful-thinking chatroom. You’re actively signing up for group trips and local experiences planned in the real world, chatroom included. And when you’re dreaming of and then actually setting off for a workation, an adventure in Iceland, or a weekend on the beaches of Greece, it’s only natural that traveling together will lead to lifelong relationships.
With WeMeet as an extension of the WeRoad group travel brand, the company already meets the bar for trust, organization, and reliability. It connects you with events that have been specifically designed for compatibility with the people you’ll be getting to know. Plus, its events are curated for compatibility—you’re traveling with people who share your vibe, your pace, and your sense of wonder.
For solo travelers or anyone craving a more organic way to make friends through shared experiences, WeMeet is truly a find travel buddies app—flourishing not as a chat tool but as a real-world connector. It’s like pressing “fast forward” on the friendship timeline. Over time, friendships formed on these adventures morph into group chats back home, annual meetups, and even solo travel alliances.
Pros:
Built around real-life travel and group experiences
Removes the “should we meet up?” awkwardness—you’re already there
Perfect for adventurous spirits or remote workers craving deeper connections
Backed by a reputable travel brand, boosting trust and logistics support
Bumble BFF: friendship at your fingertips with a simple swipe
If you’re already familiar with the swipe-right-swipe-left interface, Bumble BFF will feel like second nature. Designed as an offshoot of the dating giant Bumble, its BFF mode swaps out romance for platonic vibes—though the interface remains comfortingly familiar.
At first glance, Bumble BFF seems like Tinder with fewer shirtless selfies and more photos of brunch and dogs. But dig deeper, and you’ll find a robust filtering system that lets you choose friends based on hobbies, lifestyle choices, and even zodiac signs (if that’s your thing).
The app’s biggest strength is its scale. Its user base is massive, giving you a wide pool of potential matches whether you’re in Manchester or Madrid. So if you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is there an app to make friends in the UK?”, Bumble BFF is one of the strongest contenders—widely used across British cities and supported by a growing UK-based community.
In case you’re wondering: is Bumble for friends real? Absolutely. According to Bumble’s own research, 66% of Gen Z respondents say they met their friends online via Bumble For Friends, and 60% across all age groups said they wanted to find new friends via the platform. For women especially, Bumble BFF offers a space where they can initiate conversations, creating a sense of control and comfort. So whether you’re new to a city or looking to diversify your social circle, Bumble BFF is a solid starting point.
Pros:
Huge user base across many cities
Easy to use with familiar swiping format
Great for quick connections and local meetups
Customizable profiles and detailed filters
Meetup: connect with local hobbies and passions
Think of Meetup as the OG of social hobby apps. Long before swipe culture invaded our social lives, Meetup was quietly helping people bond over shared interests—from French film clubs to weekend coding bootcamps.
This app shines when it comes to specificity. Love board games? There’s a Meetup for that. Want to join a walking group that also does mindfulness meditation? Yes, there’s one of those too. Whether you’re an extrovert looking for large community events or a niche hobbyist searching for your people, Meetup delivers.
Meetup is one of the best apps to meet people near you because it supports structured interaction. You aren’t texting back and forth hoping to find someone; you’re walking into an event where conversation is naturally prompted by activity. It’s confidence without pressure.
Event hosts often provide context—who’s attending, the agenda, and post-event check-ins. That means your shielded awkwardness can ease into genuine rapport. Groups usually allow event feedback and extended group chats, so you can discover like‑minded people beyond just one visible moment.
It’s particularly useful for those who prefer offline interaction. The goal is always to get people together IRL—and many events are free or pay-what-you-can. It’s ideal for anyone tired of endless texting and looking for apps to make friends not dating.
Meetup also works great for building consistency. Unlike one-off events, many Meetup groups host recurring meetups, which increases your chances of building lasting friendships instead of just one-time interactions.
Pros:
A wide array of events and interests
Best for people who want real-world, regular meetups
Free or affordable to attend
Excellent for those looking to expand hobbies and friend groups simultaneously
Atleto: where fitness meets female friendship
If your ideal pal is the kind of person who’ll join your 10K and then go for smoothies, you need Atleto. The app used to just be open to all athletic teams, but it’s gained a lot of traction as a platonic platform for women. You fill out your sport interests (yoga, running, tennis, whatever you’re into) and you’ll be matched with other women based on your interest and ability level.
No more chit-chat for you—Atleto is for the girl looking to work out and spark a killer friendship at the same time. Ideal for women who want to build friendships that revolve around wellness, movement, and motivation—without ever stepping into a bar or swiping endlessly.
Pros:
For women seeking real, platonic friendships
Built around shared physical activity
Encourages natural, in-person connection
Great for finding a supportive friend or travel buddy
Travel and bond: top destinations to make new friends
So you’ve downloaded the apps, built a profile that nicely balances your appreciation for Thai food and sarcastic humor—you even dipped your virtual toe in some of the group chats. But what if you want something—someone—new, now. Enter WeMeet: group trips.
These trips don’t just introduce you to a new country. They place you in a brand new group of pals. It’s the fastest way to make friends, for anyone who hasn’t been practicing their small talk. Within hours, you could be having hotpot, throwing around noodle and Dirtiest Dozen jokes, and cracking up with your new BFFs—to whom, less than a couple of days ago, you were merely a screen name. And, best of all, you don’t have to figure out how to make new friends with an app!
Here are three of the best places to find travel buddies while living your main character moment:
Italy
Few places do connection like Italy. With the long, drawn-out dinners, the group cooking lessons, and the vino-fueled conversations under the sunlit vineyard sky, a week can seem more like a year—a really lovely, really filling year.
That’s the thing about Italy, really. When you’re touring ancient Rome or scuttling off to pasta-making school in Bologna, nothing—not even the shared cup of gelato in Florence or your collective confusion when you inevitably get lost in the streets of Venice—feels mundane.
When you book a group trip in Italy through WeMeet, you’re booking with small shared interest groups — culture, photography, or 24/7 Amalfi Coasting—so you already have a pretty good idea of what (and who) you’re getting into bed with. And in Italy, you take it slow—the Italian way—and by the time you leave behind your fleeting tan and head back home, you’ll have made mates that last forever.
Vietnam
Vietnam is a masterclass in sensory overload—in the best way possible. It’s nearly impossible not to connect with someone while dodging scooters in Hanoi or haggling for street food in Ho Chi Minh.
Shared adventure is the glue here. You’re hiking together in Sapa, sailing through Ha Long Bay, and navigating chaotic night markets. These aren’t activities you do alone. They require conversation, cooperation, and a bit of mutual awe—ideal conditions for forming new friendships.
Group trips in Vietnam provide a guided but flexible way to travel while allowing for spontaneous friendships and inside jokes you’ll carry long past touchdown. This is where social apps to meet friends really shine—they lead you to moments like sipping cà phê sữa đá on a Saigon rooftop, laughing about the day’s chaos with people who were strangers yesterday.
Iceland
If Italy is warm and boisterous, Iceland is quiet and transcendent. It’s the kind of place where the silence of a glacier makes room for deep, thoughtful conversations. Chasing the Northern Lights or soaking in the Blue Lagoon? Better with new travel companions who are just as wide-eyed as you are.
Group trips in Iceland offer both introverts and extroverts space to connect—whether you’re sharing thermal pools, hiking volcanoes, or spotting puffins in the wild. With nature as your backdrop and a common goal (don’t slip on the ice!), friendships form easily.
Iceland proves that you don’t need nightlife or parties to bond—just a good pair of boots and someone to marvel with.
Ready to meet your next best friend on the road?
If reading this immediately has you mentally packing a bag and planning to text your least flaky friend then you’re like us—a person who lives life for the journey, the experience, and the camaraderie of incredible beings just like you.
WeMeet is not just another friend-making app. It’s an invitation to the coziest corner of the internet where a vibrant international community has banned small talk by way of in-person mischief. No more ghosting or awkward energies of non-consensual friendships. Instead, you get curated group adventures for kindred spirits to meet in their natural habitat: IRL.
If you’re flying solo, moving to a new city, or just looking to get out of your own neighborhood and meet new friends, the friendship formula might be as simple as stepping out of your comfort zone and booking a trip.
Discover more about the experience and join a real travel community with the curated group travel app by WeRoad!
