As loneliness and social isolation rise, more people are actively searching for new ways to build real, platonic connections. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General even described loneliness as a public health crisis—an idea that resonates with remote workers who miss everyday office interactions and younger adults trying to create a new social circle rooted in shared hobbies and interests.
At the same time, finding connections online no longer carries the stigma it once did. Dating apps helped normalize the idea of meeting new people digitally, and now that comfort is fueling a fast-growing wave of friendship apps designed specifically for meeting friends and building community in your city.
Growth in this category is already showing up in the numbers. Estimates from Appfigures suggest that more than a dozen local-first friendship apps have generated around $16 million in consumer spending in the U.S. so far this year, with roughly 4.3 million downloads in 2025 to date. Names like Timeleft, Meet5, and Bumble’s BFF are among the standouts, but they’re far from the only options.
What makes these apps appealing is how they remove the awkwardness from modern friendship-building. Instead of trying to strike up a conversation with a stranger at the gym or a coffee shop and hoping you’re on the same page, these platforms make the intent clear: people are here to make friends, not date. That shared purpose makes it easier to start conversations, show up to events, and actually follow through.
Here are several friendship and community apps worth knowing about, especially if you want to meet people locally and make genuine connections.
222
222 is an iOS-only social events app built around personality-based matching for in-person meetups. After taking a personality test, you can receive invitations to nearby public events—think wine bars, comedy clubs, and other social venues. There’s a vetting process, and if you’re selected, you’ll be notified on the day of the event. It’s also designed with social anxiety in mind: you’re allowed to bring a plus-one.
Pricing includes a $22.22 curation fee, or a monthly subscription at the same price point.
BFF
Bumble’s friendship-focused experience has become one of the most recognizable options for people who want platonic connections. Originally introduced in 2016 and later spun into a standalone app in 2023, BFF has recently been redesigned with more emphasis on group meetups—reflecting how many users want to grow a wider social circle, not just find one new friend.
BFF is available for free on iOS and Android.
Clyx
Clyx is a group-based social networking app centered on discovering local events. It helps users find things to do by integrating event and trend data from sources such as Ticketmaster and TikTok. One of its more practical features lets you upload your contacts so you can see which events your friends are planning to attend. It also suggests other users you may want to connect with at those same events.
Right now, Clyx is available in Miami and London, with plans to expand to additional locations soon, including New York City and São Paulo. It’s available on iOS and Android.
Les Amís
Les Amís is built for women, transgender, and LGBTQ+ users who want to meet like-minded people and actually get out into their city. The app uses AI to match users based on shared interests and encourages real-world plans like pottery classes, book clubs, and wine tastings. Matches are made every Monday, giving people time to chat and organize meetups later in the week.
Les Amís is available on iOS and Android and supports multiple European cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid, Paris, and Stockholm. In the U.S., it’s currently offered in Austin and New York, with plans to expand to Boston, Miami, and Los Angeles.
It uses a paid membership model that varies by city—$70 in New York and €55 in Amsterdam, for example.
Meetup
Meetup is one of the longest-running platforms for local community building, dating back to 2002. It’s still a go-to option for finding people who share your interests, whether that’s a hobby group, professional networking, volunteering, or niche social activities. Users can RSVP to events, join groups, chat with other members, and even create their own meetups.
Meet5
Meet5 is a European community app that recently expanded into the U.S. and focuses on users over 40 who want to meet new people through group activities like picnics, concerts, and hiking. It’s quickly gained traction, with Appfigures estimates indicating around 777,000 U.S. downloads across iOS and Android in a short period.
Pie
Pie is a newer social app that organizes people into small groups for events using an AI-driven compatibility quiz. Everyone who RSVPs takes a quick personality assessment, and the app groups attendees into six-person pods, then places them into a group chat so they can interact before the event.
Pie is currently available in Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco on iOS and Android.
Timeleft
Timeleft is designed around weekly dinners that help strangers become friends. The app matches you with a small group using factors such as age, gender, and personality. You’re typically matched with four other people, but you only learn limited details the night before—like occupations and zodiac signs—to keep things light and reduce pre-meetup bias.
Dinners take place on Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m. at a selected restaurant. To make introductions easier, Timeleft includes a conversation-starter game, and the night often continues with an after-party at a nearby bar.
Pricing varies depending on the country and restaurant. Users buy a ticket up front and then pay separately for their own meal and drinks.
Wyzr Friends
Wyzr Friends is an activity-based friendship app for adults 40 and older, including empty nesters, divorced individuals, and others who want to meet people in a similar stage of life. The app lets you thumbs up or down potential friends and plan real-world activities based on shared interests—like hiking, movies, and more.
It’s available on iOS and Android in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Ireland, the Philippines, Singapore, and Mexico.
Mmotion
Mmotion blends location-based discovery with social connection, helping users meet people nearby while also finding new bars and restaurants to try. After joining, users can participate in interest-based groups (such as hiking, basketball, or art), view a map of active users, and message people in the area. It also highlights new places on the map, which is useful if you’re looking for somewhere to go with a new friend.
Mmotion is currently limited to New York City, available on iOS and Android, and requires an application before you can join.
With more people prioritizing community and in-person connection, friendship apps are becoming a practical tool for meeting new people without the pressure of dating. Whether you want structured dinners, group meetups, hobby-based hangouts, or nearby activity partners, today’s best friendship apps make it easier to turn “we should hang out sometime” into an actual plan.
