Ranking updated
Best apps to make new friends in 2026
Friend apps work in three ways. To chat first with people who like the same things, Bumble BFF and, in Ukrainian, Druzi, which matches you by the books, films, games and music you love. To skip the chat and just show up, Timeleft seats you at a dinner or coffee with strangers matched by personality. To find a group around a hobby, Meetup. Full breakdown below.
How we picked: we sorted friend apps by how they get two people from “we might get along” to actually meeting, because that is where most of them differ. We checked each app’s own store description for how matching works and how it keeps the space for friendship rather than dating.
App to find friends with the same interests
Bumble BFF is built for people new to town, starting college or just looking for people who get them, with friendships that start in a chat and grow through shared interests. Druzi, an app with a Ukrainian interface, matches you by “pieces of life”: the films, series, books, games and tracks you add to your profile. You filter by age and by a specific interest, and the chat is end-to-end encrypted. It says plainly that it is for friendship, not romance, and has blocking and reporting built in.
Meet new people without swiping
Timeleft skips the chat. You take a personality quiz, book a dinner, coffee, drinks or a run in your neighborhood, and on the day it reveals the venue and a preview of who you will meet. It also runs women-only dinners. Meetup works through groups: you join people around a hobby, a career or a community and meet at online or in-person events, which suits anyone who finds one-to-one meetings awkward.
Friends, not dates
Friend apps and dating apps look alike, so check what the app says it is for. Druzi calls itself a platform for friendly conversation, not romantic dating. If you are looking for a partner, see our guide to dating apps, and for apps you use together as a couple, apps for couples.
| App | Best for | How you meet | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bumble BFFApp StoreGoogle Play | chatting your way to new friends | profiles, chat and shared interests | iOS, Android |
| DruziCensuusApp Store | friends by shared books, films, games and music, in Ukrainian | recommendations by interests, then an end-to-end encrypted chat | iOS |
| TimeleftApp StoreGoogle Play | meeting strangers without planning | a matched dinner, coffee, drinks or run | iOS, Android |
| MeetupApp StoreGoogle Play | groups around a hobby or career | online and in-person events | iOS, Android |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app to make new friends?
It depends on how you like to meet. Bumble BFF and Druzi match you by interests and start with a chat, Timeleft sets up a dinner or coffee with strangers, and Meetup connects you through groups and events.
Is there a friend finder app in Ukrainian?
Yes. Druzi has a Ukrainian interface and matches people by shared books, films, series, games and music. It is on iOS.
How can I meet new people in a new city?
Timeleft books you a dinner, coffee, drinks or run with people matched by personality, Meetup lists local groups and events, and Bumble BFF is built for people new to town.