They might be closer than you think.
By Hedy Phillips
Women's Health may earn commission from the links on this page, but we only feature products we believe in. Why Trust Us?
It’s been a long year, to say the least. So it’s understandable if, after months in isolation, you’re ready to get out there and meet new people again. The problem? Making new friends can be seriously hard—especially if you’re out of social practice. Luckily, though, there are plenty of apps designed to help you find purely platonic pals also seeking companionship. Even better? They're free and take just a few secs to download.
"These apps are a great way for people to self-identify as being interested in friendships," says Women’s Health advisory board member Chloe Carmichael, PhD, a New York-based clinical psychologist and author of Nervous Energy: Harness The Power Of Your Anxiety. "They demonstrate that there’s a pool of people all seeking the same thing: connection and friendship, which shows a common need." Noted! See? Just by joining the same app you already have something in common with your new bud.
That said, it’s important to take things slowly before diving into one of these new friendships IRL. "If you want to strike up a conversation with someone who’s been going to the same workout class with you for months, you have that in-person opportunity to observe their demeanor beforehand," Carmichael explains. With apps, that’s not the case, and it’s hard to know what to expect before meeting in person. That’s why you should head to a neutral location with activities for you two to do (i.e. going on a walk, grabbing coffee, skating, biking) the first few times you meet, Carmichael says. (Safety first, folks!)
Plus, since you’re already (probably) using apps on your phone to order takeout, call a car, and/or connect with your family on social media, why not give these 14 best apps for making friends a try, too? They might just help you find a new BFF who’s been living on the next block this whole time. Your new social circle is just a few clicks away...
1
Skout
This app is all about using its platform for live streams, chatting, and meeting new people. On it, you have the opportunity to connect with those in your geographical vicinity. (Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can also connect with people around the world!) It even gives you the chance to fill out a profile that details your likes, dislikes, and things you’d do for fun with your new BFFs.
Price: Free
2
Peanut
Hobbies are cool and all, but if you're a mom who's new to the city and want recommendations on schools, you might need an app that's a little more specific. Meet Peanut, the app that connects you with local moms or moms-to-be. Chat about maternity leave, fertility, set up playdates for the kiddos (which will really be for the grownups), and start groups within the app to gather moms who want to hit up a yoga class with you next week. Once you make a profile, Peanut does the hard work of connecting you with parents who have similar interests and children around the same age as yours.
Price: Free
3
Yubo
Meeting up with new people can be scary (after all, catfishing doesn't only happen in the dating world). With Yubo, you chat on the app's messaging feature and then video chat with your new friend through the app so you can see their faces before meeting IRL. This pre-meet from the comfort of your home (and behind a screen) might make the whole process a little more tolerable if you’ve been nervous about meeting new peeps in a new city.
Price: Free
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
4
Nextdoor
Nextdoor will quite literally help you meet the people who live down the street, since no one actually knows their neighbors anymore. This social media app will clue you in on events in your neighborhood as well as allow you to post messages to the network that covers your area. Your potential friend might be posting a message looking for local recommendations right now!
Price: Free
5
Meet My Dog
Sure, dogs are woman's best friend, but they can also help get you some human ones. Meet My Dog is a unique way to make friends with fellow dog lovers. Once you register with your and your pup’s info, you can connect with other owners nearby for doggy play dates and walks.
Price: Free
6
Mom Life
With over half a million downloads, this app is the place for parents-to-be. It connects you with other pregnant people around the globe, and even creates the space for you to chat with those who are in the same stage of pregnancy as you. (Hi, bonding!) You can also post pics of your baby belly, chat symptoms with other 'rents, track your pregnancy timeline, seek pregnancy support, and more.
Price: Free
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
7
Pawdates
Dog lovers everywhere, this one’s for you. On Pawdates, you get the chance to bond with other dog owners (or just dog lovers!) in your neighborhood. You can set up playdates between your dog and other pups, or you can organize community meet-up events for fellow owners in the neighborhood. In short, if you’ve been looking for ways to get out and about with your doggo, consider this app your personal invitation.
Price: Free
8
Friended
Friended is basically a message board, but for making social connections. You post what you want on your "feed," and anyone on the app is free to comment. Thing is, their comments aren’t public—you can share whatever you want and the responses are for your eyes only. Respond only to the comments you connect with personally, which in turn starts conversations with people you didn’t even know existed. Fun stuff!
Price: Free
9
Bumble BFF
Bumble is so much more than a dating app. You can toggle to a completely different version of the app called Bumble BFF to chat with other people in your area and set up dates to hang out. As far as profiles go, it's all pretty much the same: You upload photos and some info about yourself, and then swipe left or right on people you think you'd vibe with. If you both swipe right, you have 24 hours to strike up a convo.
Price: Free
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
10
Hey! Vina
Missing the days when you were surrounded by a huge gang of girlfriends? Hey! Vina, an app made by women for women, is giving you your second shot. After taking a personality quiz and responding to prompts about your guilty pleasures and how you spend your down time, you can swipe through the many profiles the app's got for you to check out. From there, you can swipe left or right on potential friends or join pre-existing app-based communities with other women. Trust, this interests-forward app is the first step toward finding a brunch buddy or road trip partner.
Price: Free
11
Atleto
If you're on the hunt for a workout buddy, you're in luck. Atleto is just the app to connect you with your next running mate or tennis partner living in your area. The app allows you to mingle with athletes who are into the same things you are, rate them after you play together, and even host larger events where multiple users can come through and get to know one another. You never know, the spotter you meet on the app might end up becoming your BFF.
Price: Free
12
Meetup
Meetup is a THE way to expand your existing social circle. The app matches you with local events, individuals, and larger groups that are welcoming additions to their book clubs or monthly wine tastings. Scroll through the popular events happening in your neck of the woods, see who's attending, and make plans for you or your entire friend group to join in on the fun and add a few people to that group chat you've got going.
Price: Free
Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below
13
GroupMeet
Another awesome way to find a new group is with GroupMeet. Its interface looks a lot like a combo of some of your favorite dating apps—you create a profile and then swipe left or right on people you’re interested in befriending. Once the app matches you with five friends, you’re placed in a group where you can chat together. And because you're a person of many interests, you can have up to 10 groups at a time so you’re talking to all kinds of new people.
Price: Free
14
Friender
Friender is all about similar interests. Unlike profiles on other apps that focus only on the bio you write for yourself, Friender has users rate their interests in a bunch of activities. Once that's done, Friender will sift through all the info you've entered and match you with people it thinks you'll click with based on commonalities.
Price: Free
