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We rounded up our 12 favorites and what makes each of them unique. 12 Friendship Apps That Can Actually Help You Meet New People as an Adult. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love.
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Promise. Making friends as an adult? Weirdly hard. Like, harder than deciding if you should get bangs. Once you’re out of school and not bonding over dorm floor bathrooms or bottomless brunch hangovers every weekend, figuring out how to meet new people feels confusing at best and borderline impossible at worst. Which is where friendship apps come in to save the day—and your social life. Think of them as the dating apps of your platonic dreams: low-lift, swipe-friendly, and full of future BFF potential. “The fact that these apps even exist says a lot about the very real challenges many people face in making new friends,†says psychotherapist and relationship specialist Stevie Blum, LCSW. “Just downloading a friendship app and seeing how many people are also looking to connect can be surprisingly comforting.†Before you start doubting the effectiveness of an app to find friends, let me just stop your almost-spiral. “Friendships are a vital part of emotional and mental well-being , and can even impact your physical health,†explains Blum. “But as we get older, those built-in opportunities start to fade. Friendships can feel harder to maintain or even awkward to build from scratch, so people often let them slide.†But that need for a support system and someone to grab dinner with on a casual Thursday? Yeah, that never goes away. That's why friendship apps are so clutch IRL—Blum says using them can def make the whole process easier. You already know everyone there is open to making new connections, and not only can you narrow down the pool of people based on things like interests, but you can also find folks who live near you, so you don’t have to schlep across town for a quick hang. (Before meeting up with someone IRL, though, Blum suggests picking a public location and letting someone else know where you’re going. Safety first always!) So, whether you just moved to a new city and are looking to build a whole new friend group, just went through a friend breakup (it happens!), or simply want someone to text during Love Island , we’ve got you. These friendship apps are here to help you make real, solid connections. Now let’s go find you a platonic soul mate ! Related Story. So, Uh. Are Friendship Breakups Reversible? 1. Yubo. Many friendship apps have similar features to dating apps (making a profile, swiping on others, private messaging, etc.) but what makes Yubo unique is its catfish-free video chat feature. When you connect with someone, you can chat via live video from the app (like FaceTime, but without having to give out your phone number). This a) ensures the person you're talking to is *actually* who they say they are, and b) might help alleviate some of those first-time meetup jitters if you've already seen their face. 2. LMK. Right this way, extroverts, because this talk-based app is about to become your new obsession. Instead of just the standard DM-style messaging seen in most apps, LMK has a variety of ways to connect with people, like voice chats for example. You can instantly call or chat with folks (whether 1-on-1 or in a group) who have the same interests as you, so if you're in the mood to just gab, there's no sitting around and waiting for a match. Plus, once you're in a voice chat, there's a timer that'll end the call unless you choose to extend it, so no awkward goodbyes if you're just not clicking. 3. Bumble BFF. If you've ever used Bumble for dating, Bumble BFF is literally the same concept, just for platonic friends. You still make a profile with a few photos, add a quick bio, and then swipe right on your faves. The main difference is that the timer to start a conversation isn't gendered, so it's on either of you to make the first move before the match expires. 4. WINK. WINK is another app that lets users swipe left or right on profiles they feel match best with their interests. You can select the gender and age range of people you want to connect with and add your interests so matches have at least one favorite activity in common with you. Chat directly on the app or move the conversation to Snapchat for something a little more private. It's like Tinder for friends. (You knew we were going to say it, didn't you?) 5. Hey! VINA. Hey! VINA is a friendship app built just for women looking to connect with like-minded ladies. Whether you’re starting a new job, moving to a new city, or just feeling like your social circle could use a refresh, VINA matches you with potential besties based on shared interests, activities, and even your current life stage—because who you vibe with during a breakup might be totally different from who you need during a career pivot. Download here. 6. Plura.
We rounded up our 12 favorites and what makes each of them unique. 12 Friendship Apps That Can Actually Help You Meet New People as an Adult. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love.
ENTER TO THE SITE
Promise. Making friends as an adult? Weirdly hard. Like, harder than deciding if you should get bangs. Once you’re out of school and not bonding over dorm floor bathrooms or bottomless brunch hangovers every weekend, figuring out how to meet new people feels confusing at best and borderline impossible at worst. Which is where friendship apps come in to save the day—and your social life. Think of them as the dating apps of your platonic dreams: low-lift, swipe-friendly, and full of future BFF potential. “The fact that these apps even exist says a lot about the very real challenges many people face in making new friends,†says psychotherapist and relationship specialist Stevie Blum, LCSW. “Just downloading a friendship app and seeing how many people are also looking to connect can be surprisingly comforting.†Before you start doubting the effectiveness of an app to find friends, let me just stop your almost-spiral. “Friendships are a vital part of emotional and mental well-being , and can even impact your physical health,†explains Blum. “But as we get older, those built-in opportunities start to fade. Friendships can feel harder to maintain or even awkward to build from scratch, so people often let them slide.†But that need for a support system and someone to grab dinner with on a casual Thursday? Yeah, that never goes away. That's why friendship apps are so clutch IRL—Blum says using them can def make the whole process easier. You already know everyone there is open to making new connections, and not only can you narrow down the pool of people based on things like interests, but you can also find folks who live near you, so you don’t have to schlep across town for a quick hang. (Before meeting up with someone IRL, though, Blum suggests picking a public location and letting someone else know where you’re going. Safety first always!) So, whether you just moved to a new city and are looking to build a whole new friend group, just went through a friend breakup (it happens!), or simply want someone to text during Love Island , we’ve got you. These friendship apps are here to help you make real, solid connections. Now let’s go find you a platonic soul mate ! Related Story. So, Uh. Are Friendship Breakups Reversible? 1. Yubo. Many friendship apps have similar features to dating apps (making a profile, swiping on others, private messaging, etc.) but what makes Yubo unique is its catfish-free video chat feature. When you connect with someone, you can chat via live video from the app (like FaceTime, but without having to give out your phone number). This a) ensures the person you're talking to is *actually* who they say they are, and b) might help alleviate some of those first-time meetup jitters if you've already seen their face. 2. LMK. Right this way, extroverts, because this talk-based app is about to become your new obsession. Instead of just the standard DM-style messaging seen in most apps, LMK has a variety of ways to connect with people, like voice chats for example. You can instantly call or chat with folks (whether 1-on-1 or in a group) who have the same interests as you, so if you're in the mood to just gab, there's no sitting around and waiting for a match. Plus, once you're in a voice chat, there's a timer that'll end the call unless you choose to extend it, so no awkward goodbyes if you're just not clicking. 3. Bumble BFF. If you've ever used Bumble for dating, Bumble BFF is literally the same concept, just for platonic friends. You still make a profile with a few photos, add a quick bio, and then swipe right on your faves. The main difference is that the timer to start a conversation isn't gendered, so it's on either of you to make the first move before the match expires. 4. WINK. WINK is another app that lets users swipe left or right on profiles they feel match best with their interests. You can select the gender and age range of people you want to connect with and add your interests so matches have at least one favorite activity in common with you. Chat directly on the app or move the conversation to Snapchat for something a little more private. It's like Tinder for friends. (You knew we were going to say it, didn't you?) 5. Hey! VINA. Hey! VINA is a friendship app built just for women looking to connect with like-minded ladies. Whether you’re starting a new job, moving to a new city, or just feeling like your social circle could use a refresh, VINA matches you with potential besties based on shared interests, activities, and even your current life stage—because who you vibe with during a breakup might be totally different from who you need during a career pivot. Download here. 6. Plura.