Friendship apps and online communities

Making friends as an adult is hard. School and old jobs used to do the work of putting us near the same people again and again. Friendship apps and online communities try to fill that gap.

Some are designed to lead to in-person meetings. Others are online places to talk. Both can help. This page describes the main options as of October 2026. Apps change fast, so check details in the app store.

Apps that lead to meeting in person

• Meetup. A website and app for local groups and events since 2002: hiking, book clubs, language exchange, board games, support groups, new-in-town groups and much more. Membership is free; some events charge a fee, and organizers pay to run groups. It's one of the easiest ways to find a group that meets regularly. Owned by Bending Spoons since 2024.
• Bumble BFF. A friendship app from the company behind the Bumble dating app. It was rebuilt in 2025 to focus on groups and community, with one-on-one matching too. Free on iPhone and Android.
• Timeleft. Books you into a dinner, drinks or a run with a small group of strangers. You choose a city and date; the app picks the group and venue and tells you where just before. You buy a ticket and pay for your own food and drinks. It says it operates in more than 200 cities in 52 countries.
• 222. Matches small groups of strangers by a personality quiz and sends them to public places like wine bars or comedy clubs. As of 2026 it's iPhone only and charges a fee per outing or monthly.
• Apps for people 40 and over. Newer apps such as Meet5 and Wyzr Friends focus on group activities for midlife and older adults. Availability varies by city.
• Peanut. Started as a way for mothers to meet other mothers, and now also serves women going through fertility, pregnancy and menopause. Helpful for new parents. See New parents and single parents.

Hey! VINA, once a popular friendship app for women, has shut down.

Online communities

• Discord. Servers (group spaces) built around games, hobbies, shows, study and support, with text and voice chat. Good for people who find it easier to talk while doing something together. Since 2026, accounts start with teen-safety settings, and some changes need an age check.
• Reddit. Thousands of communities, anonymous by default. There are communities just for making friends, and many cities have local communities that post meetups. Search "make friends" and your city or interest.
• Facebook Groups and Nextdoor. Local groups for neighborhoods, hobbies, parents, caregivers, pet owners and more. See Social media.
• Hobby forums. Long-running forums for knitting, woodworking, birding, cars, gardening, writing and almost everything else. People who post often get to know each other.
• Video-game communities. Many people make real friends through online games, guilds and clans. Look for groups with clear rules and active moderators. If gaming starts to crowd out sleep, work or people, see Screens, gaming, gambling, porn and other habits.
• Pen pals. Writing letters or emails to someone, often in another country or a care home, can be slow, warm and low-pressure. Many schools, care homes and nonprofits run pen pal programs; ask your library or local senior center.

For older adults

• Senior Planet from AARP, run by the nonprofit OATS, offers free live classes online and in some cities, on using phones and apps, video calls, fitness and more. Classes are small and a good way to meet people.
• AARP's Virtual Community Center offers free online classes and events, open to members and non-members.
• Local senior centers and libraries often run computer help, clubs and online groups. See Older adults.

What works better

• Choose groups that meet again and again. One-time events are fun, but friends usually form through repeated contact.
• Show up three times before deciding a group isn't for you.
• Be the one who suggests a next step. "Want to grab coffee after the next meetup?"
• Talk to the organizer. They know everyone and can introduce you.
• Keep your expectations small at first. A good chat is a win, even if you don't become friends.

For more ideas, see Making friends as an adult and Conversation and listening skills.

From online to offline, safely

• Video chat first with someone you've only met online. It's the easiest way to spot catfishing.
• Meet in a busy public place, like a café, park or library, during the day if you can.
• Plan your own way there and back.
• Tell someone where you're going and who you're meeting.
• Keep personal details private at first: home address, workplace, money, passwords.
• Trust your gut. If something feels off, leave. You don't owe anyone an explanation.
• Never send money to someone you've met online, however kind they seem. Friendship scams exist too, not just romance scams. See Dating apps for warning signs.
• For teens: don't meet someone from online without a parent or trusted adult knowing. Adults who ask you to keep secrets or meet alone are a warning sign. See Teens and pre-teens.

If online groups feel hard because of social anxiety, that's common. See Social anxiety and shyness.