More people are searching for ways to build real, platonic connections as loneliness and social isolation become harder to ignore. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General flagged loneliness as a public health crisis in 2023, and the ripple effects are still being felt today. Remote workers who miss everyday office chatter and younger adults trying to build new social circles around shared interests are especially eager for fresh ways to meet friends.
As online dating normalized meeting new people through an app, it also opened the door for a new category: friendship and local community apps built specifically for making friends, not finding romance. The appeal is simple. Instead of awkwardly striking up a conversation with a stranger at a gym or café, these platforms make the intent clear from the start. Everyone is there for the same reason, which makes it easier to start talking and actually follow through with in-person plans.
Market momentum backs it up, too. Estimates from Appfigures suggest that more than a dozen local-focused friendship apps have generated about $16 million in consumer spending in the U.S. so far this year. Together, they’ve also reached roughly 4.3 million downloads so far in 2025, showing just how quickly the “make friends IRL” movement is growing.
Here are some of the standout apps helping people meet new friends, find local events, and build community.
222
222 is an iOS-only social events platform designed to take the pressure out of meeting new people. After you take a personality test, the app matches you into a group of strangers and invites you to nearby public events like wine bars or comedy clubs. There’s a vetting process, and if you’re selected, you’ll get notified on the day of the event. For anyone who feels socially anxious, there’s a helpful perk: you can bring a plus-one.
222 charges a $22.22 curation fee, or you can choose a monthly subscription priced the same.
Bumble BFF
Bumble expanded beyond dating years ago with its friend-finding option, first introduced in 2016 and later released as a standalone app in 2023. Recently, Bumble BFF has leaned more into helping users grow broader social circles, including an increased focus on group meetups.
Bumble BFF is free to download on both iOS and Android.
Clyx
Clyx is a newer group-based social networking app centered on discovering local events. It helps users find what’s happening nearby by pulling in event and trend data from sources such as Ticketmaster and TikTok. A key feature is the ability to upload your contacts so you can see which events your friends are planning to attend. Clyx also recommends other people you might want to connect with at those events.
Right now, Clyx is only available in Miami and London, but it’s planning to expand, with New York City and São Paulo next on the roadmap. It’s available on iOS and Android.
Les Amís
Les Amís is designed for women, transgender, and LGBTQ+ users who want friendship with a strong local component. It uses AI to match people based on shared interests, while also nudging users toward real-world meetups like pottery classes, book clubs, and wine tastings. New matches are made every Monday, giving users time to chat and line up plans later in the week.
Les Amís is available on iOS and Android and serves multiple European cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid, Paris, and Stockholm. In the U.S., it currently supports Austin and New York, with expansion plans for Boston, Miami, and Los Angeles. Pricing uses a paid membership model that varies by city, including $70 in New York and €55 in Amsterdam.
Meetup
Meetup is one of the originals in the local community and event discovery space, helping people connect since 2002. It allows users to RSVP to events, join groups built around interests and causes, participate in professional or hobby communities, and even create their own gatherings. Users can also chat within groups and share posts and photos from events.
Meet5
Meet5 is a Europe-based community-building app that recently expanded into the U.S., with a focus on users over 40 who want to meet new people through group activities like concerts, hiking, and picnics. According to Appfigures estimates, it has already reached around 777,000 U.S. downloads across iOS and Android in a relatively short period.
Pie
Pie is a newer app that uses an AI-driven quiz to help group people who are likely to click. When you RSVP to a Pie event, you take a quick personality assessment. The app then places attendees into groups of six and creates a group chat so you can talk before meeting up in person.
Pie is currently available in Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco on iOS and Android.
Timeleft
Timeleft focuses on weekly group dinners designed to turn strangers into friends. Users are matched using an algorithm that factors in age, gender, and personality. You’ll be grouped with four other people, but you only get a few details the night before, like occupations and zodiac signs.
The dinners happen on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. at a selected restaurant, and the app includes a conversation-starter game to help everyone warm up. After dinner, there’s typically an after-party at a nearby bar. Pricing varies by country and restaurant: users pay for a ticket up front and cover their own food and drinks.
Washed Up
Washed Up is a social event discovery app for people in the Los Angeles area who want a simpler way to find things to do and meet others while doing them. The app highlights local events like concerts, trivia nights, and comedy shows, but the real differentiator is its “plans” feature. Instead of attending solo, you can create or join small group meetups tied to a specific event. Users can browse plans, request to join, chat with the group, and connect with new friends before showing up.
Washed Up is available on iOS.
Wyzr Friends
Wyzr Friends is built for adults 40 and older, including empty nesters, divorced individuals, and others looking for like-minded friendships. The experience is activity-focused: users can thumbs up or down potential friends and set up in-person plans based on common interests, like going to a movie or hiking.
Wyzr Friends is 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 groups (like basketball, hiking, or art), see a map of active nearby users, and message people in the area. The app also highlights new venues on the map, making it feel part social network and part local guide.
Mmotion currently operates only in New York City on iOS and Android, and users must apply to be considered.
Synchrony
Launched in March 2026, Synchrony is a social app created specifically for neurodivergent adults. Founded by a mother of a son on the autism spectrum, it emphasizes safety and supportive matching. The app uses interest-based connections along with a two-step identity verification process, where both the user and a trusted person verify personal details and a photo ID.
One of Synchrony’s most distinctive features is Jesse, an optional AI communication tool designed to help users navigate conversations. Jesse can suggest editable prompts, clarify what’s being discussed, and offer ideas for setting boundaries. The tool includes guardrails, such as avoiding medical advice. After a 30-day free trial, Synchrony costs $44.99 per month and is available on iOS and Android.
As friendship apps continue to evolve, the biggest shift is clear: meeting friends online is no longer unusual, and building community is becoming as app-powered as dating. Whether you want structured small-group dinners, interest-based meetups, or local event plans you can join with others, these platforms are making it easier to create genuine, in-person friendships.
