As people look for ways to make new friends, here are the apps that promise to help | TechCrunch

In recent years, people have increasingly sought new ways to form platonic connections as loneliness and social isolation become increasingly common.

In 2023, the US Surgeon General even went so far as to label this issue as a public health crisis. Remote workers, who miss the daily interactions in the office, and younger people eager to build their 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 connections online has largely faded. This has welcomed a new wave of apps that focus on fostering friendships and building local communities.

More than a dozen locally focused friendship apps collectively generated about $16 million in U.S. consumer spending this year, according to Appfigures estimates. Some notable examples include Timeleft, Meet5, and Bumble’s BFF. Moreover, these apps have been downloaded approximately 4.3 million times so far in 2025.

The apps aim to offer a less difficult solution than, for example, approaching a stranger at the gym or the local café 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 big 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 out.

222

The app 222 is a iOS only social events platform that enables face-to-face 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 vetting process will then take place and selected participants will be notified on the day of the event. Extra for those who feel socially anxious: you can take a plus with you.

The service charges a management fee of $22.22 or a monthly subscription for the same price.

BFF

Dating giant Bumble is one of the more established players to enter the friendship space, launching its friend-finding feature in 2016, which then grew into a standalone app in 2023. The friend-making app recently underwent a significant redesign, with a greater emphasis on facilitating group meetings, to meet users’ desire to grow their social circles.

BFF can be downloaded for free 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 platform helps users find community events by integrating data from platforms like Ticketmaster and TikTok. Additionally, Clyx allows users to upload their contact lists so they can see what events their friends are planning to attend. The app also includes a feature that recommends other users to connect during these events.

From now on, Clyx is exclusively active in two cities: Miami and London. However, it has plans to expand to additional areas in the near future, with New York City and São Paulo topping the list. The app is available on the App Store And Google Play Store.

Les Amis

Les Amis is a friendship app tailored for women, transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals that uses AI to match users based on similar interests and encourages participation in local events such as pottery classes, book clubs and wine tastings. Matches are made every Monday so users can chat and schedule meetups 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 membership 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 and helps millions of users connect with others who share similar interests. Users can comment on events; join groups that focus on a variety of hobbies, professions or social causes; and create their own groups and events. They can also chat with group members and post updates and photos from meetings.

Meet5

This European community building app recently launched in the US, aimed at users over 40 who want to meet new people in their area and participate in group activities such as picnics, concerts and hiking. Notably, in a short period of time there have been approximately 777,000 downloads in the US so far App Store And Google Play Storeaccording to Appfigures estimates.

Cake

Cake is another one of the newer social apps on the market. It features an AI-driven quiz designed to predict which users are most likely to be compatible with each other. Each person who signs up for a Pie event undergoes a short personality assessment and the algorithm divides participants into groups of six, which are then added to a group chat in the Pie app so they can 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 remaining

Time remaining is a relatively new platform that allows you to 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 paired with four other people, but they only learn small details about them the night before, including their professions and zodiac signs.

The dinners take place in a selected restaurant on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. To help everyone break the ice, the app offers a conversation starter game. After dinner there is an afterparty at a local bar.

Users can book dinners online or via the app. In terms of price, it varies depending on the country and the restaurant. Users pay for a ticket in advance and are responsible for paying for their own dinner and drinks.

Wyzr friends

Wyzr friends is an activity-based friendship app designed for adults aged 40 and over, aimed at empty nesters, divorcees, and other users who want to connect with like-minded individuals. Users can give potential friends a thumbs up or down and arrange personal activities based on shared interests, such as going to the movies or going for a walk.

It is available on iOS And Android devices in the US, Canada, Australia, Ireland, the Philippines, Singapore and Mexico.

Movement

Movement 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. When users join, they can participate in interest-based groups such as hiking, basketball, or art, view a map of active users, and message people nearby. The app also marks new places on the map, making it easy to find a restaurant or location to try.

Mmotion is currently only available to users in New York City iOS and Android devices. Users must first apply to be eligible.

This story was updated after publication.