Let’s be real — as much as we want to make new friends, there’s always work, family, errands and other responsibilities to prioritize. With so much happening in our lives, striking up friendships in the coffee shop, a bookstore or the grocery aisle feels impossible. Thanks to technology and the Internet, friendship apps offer a shortcut, helping you cut through the awkward small talk and foster new, intentional connections. Discover apps to make friends, no matter how busy life gets.

1. Bumble BFF: For Finding Your New Bestie

If you’ve ever tried looking for a date online, chances are you’re already familiar with Bumble — an app where a guy must respond to your chat within 24 hours or else the match will expire. Bumble BFF has a similar concept, allowing you to make friends online without the intention of pursuing a romantic relationship. 

Here, you’ll create a profile with a few photos, bio and swipe right on people you think you’ll vibe with. The main difference is that anyone can start the conversation, regardless of gender.

2. Meetup: For Bonding Over Shared Activities

Do you have niche interests that hamper your efforts to find new friends? Meetup is the ideal app for you. It’s one of the good apps to make friends who share your interests. Whether you like a specific anime genre, have an eclectic music taste or play a niche sport, you can find a buddy who’s down to nerd out with you. 

Simply add your location and browse events by category. Choose from in-person or online meetups, depending on your preference.

3. Nextdoor: For Hyper-Local Connections

Nextdoor is a neighborhood-based social network that connects you with individuals who live in your community. It’s ideal for you if you want to build a local support system, find a walking buddy or organize a block party. Whether you’re new to the community or looking to expand your local network, this app will help you connect to the latest happenings near you. 

It’s the ideal app for introverts who want to borrow tools, sell secondhand items or find a babysitter. It’s not as straightforward as “Look, I need new friends,” but a way for you to naturally engage in your community.

4. Gofrendly: For Women Seeking Sisterhood

Gofrendly is one of the best apps to make friends with women in your community. Whether you’re looking for someone to go coffee hopping with, join a book club with, or meet a fellow pet parent, this app matches you with potential besties based on shared activities, passions, and even your current life stage.

Create an account, put the city where you live and include a short bio stating what you’re looking for. Here, you don’t engage in endless swiping but browse through a list of potential besties.

5. Peanut: For Moms Finding Their Village

Peanut is a friendship app ideal for those navigating the joys and challenges of motherhood. Here, you can meet fellow moms, whether you’re pregnant, a first-time mom or juggling toddler tantrums. No matter your stage in life, there’s a community for you, ready to provide you with valuable advice. 

Postpartum depression affects around one in seven women and can make one feel lonely — it’s great to have an app where you can instantly connect to a group that gets you.

6. Yubo: For Meeting New Friends All Over the World

If you prefer video chats to text messaging, you must try Yubo. What makes it different from other apps is that it allows you to chat via live video, similar to FaceTime, without requiring you to share your contact information. This ensures that the person you’ve met online is not a poser. Additionally, it can help alleviate the jitters of a first-time meetup.

7. LMK: For Extroverts Who Like to Yap

If video chatting sounds too much, LMK will become your newest favorite app. It’s a talk-based app that allows you to send voice messages, make calls, and chat with people, whether you’re in a one-on-one conversation or in a group. Yes, you can join a group of people who have the same interests as you. Therefore, if you’re in the mood to yap, you can just chat with a friend or a group! 

The best part? Once you’re in a voice chat, a call timer will end unless you or your match extends it.

Is It Common to Have Few or No Friends as an Adult?

Yes, making friends as an adult can be a challenging experience. Among millennial adults, 27% reported having no close friends. There are several factors why you might not have enough friends:

• Shyness: For some, starting a conversation with others they don’t know can be challenging.
• Social anxiety: This is a feeling of fear in social situations, which can be paralyzing and hamper you from making new friends and trying new experiences.
• Preference for being alone: While there’s nothing wrong with loving alone time, it can prevent you from making new friends.
• Not knowing where to look: You may want to meet new people, but you don’t know where to look.
• Not prioritizing friendships: You may have friends and acquaintances, but you don’t keep in touch with them or make an effort to contact them or vice versa.

How to Safely Meet Up With Someone You Met Online

So, you met a few people online and are ready to meet them in person. While this sounds exciting, it’s essential to prioritize your safety. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before meeting newfound friends.

• Avoid sharing personal information: You don’t want strangers to know too much about you. Keep your location as general as possible and avoid sharing personal details, such as your birthday.
• Check your social media platforms: Adjust your social media settings to ensure you’re not revealing too much information to strangers, in case they search for you on different platforms.
• Choose a public place: Avoid meeting close to home and in an unfamiliar part of the city. Meet somewhere public, such as a coffee shop or mall, during the day or at a busy time in the evening.

Explore These Apps to Make Friends

You now have the tools — now it’s time to take action. Download these apps to find like-minded individuals. Soon enough, you’ll make new connections that’ll last a lifetime.