If you want to make new friends, expand your social circle, or even find someone special, there are excellent apps that facilitate these connections. Below, you'll find a selection of five apps available for Android and iOS that were designed precisely to help you meet new people based on shared interests, location, and common goals. All of them can be downloaded below.
1- Tinder
Tinder is one of the most popular apps in the world when it comes to meeting new people. Although it's known as a dating app, it also offers the option to find friends or network socially.
Tinder: dating app
Its usability is simple: the user creates a profile with photos and a brief description, and then starts swiping right (like) or left (pass) on other people's profiles. When there is a "match"—that is, when two people like each other—a conversation can begin.
Tinder's distinguishing feature lies in its large user base and geolocation, which allows you to find people near you. In addition, features like "Tinder Social" (in previous versions) and "Travel Mode" (in the premium version) help connect you with people beyond your city. The experience is seamless, with an intuitive interface and various profile customization options.
2- Bumble
Bumble is a multifunctional app that allows you to meet people for three purposes: dating (Bumble Date), friendship (Bumble BFF), and professional networking (Bumble Bizz). This versatility is one of the app's biggest draws.
Bumble: date, friends, and network
In the friendship version, Bumble BFF, you'll find people who are also looking for friends, travel companions, or even hobby partners. The dynamic is similar to Tinder, but with an important difference: in dating connections, only women can initiate the conversation (in heterosexual relationships), promoting a safer approach.
Bumble stands out for its inclusive approach, modern design, and the variety of goals it caters to. Its usability is very intuitive, and the app offers efficient filters to find exactly the type of person you want to meet. It's an excellent choice for those seeking love or friendship.
3- Meetup
Meetup is ideal for those who want to make new connections based on shared interests. Instead of functioning as a chat or meeting app, it connects people through in-person or online events, such as hiking groups, book clubs, language courses, workshops, and more.
Meetup: Events near you
You can join existing groups or create your own, organizing meetups on topics you enjoy. It's a very effective way to meet new people naturally and with shared goals.
The app has a well-organized layout, with thematic categories that help filter events by location, interest, and date. Its main differentiator is its focus on collective experiences, not just digital conversations. This fosters more authentic and enriching interactions.
4- Slowly
Slowly is an app that revives the art of letter writing — but in digital format. It was created for those who want to make friends around the world and value deeper conversations, without the rush of traditional instant messaging apps.
Slowly: Making friends by letter
When you register, you create an avatar, select your interests, and start exchanging messages with people who share similar interests. The difference is that the messages take a time proportional to the distance between users to be delivered, mimicking the time it would take for a real letter to arrive.
This encourages more reflective and meaningful communication. Slowly is perfect for those who want to meet people from other cultures, practice languages, and form lasting friendships. The interface is charming, with a nostalgic feel and a total focus on user experience.
5- Yubo
Yubo is an app focused on socialization and discovering new friendships, especially among young people. It combines elements of social networking and live streaming, creating a dynamic and interactive experience.
Yubo: Make new friends
On Yubo, you can participate in group live streams, join chat rooms based on your interests, and add people with similar tastes. The app also allows you to swipe through profiles, similar to Tinder, but with a focus on friendships rather than romantic relationships.
Yubo's main advantage is its live streaming feature with up to 10 video participants, along with an automated moderation system for user safety. It's ideal for those who enjoy real-time interaction and want to make new friends in a young, modern, and safe environment.
Featured Features
These apps offer different approaches to the same goal: meeting new people. Below, we highlight the most common and useful features among them:
- GeolocationPresent in apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Yubo, this feature makes it easy to find people nearby.
- Interest filtersEssential for finding connections with genuine affinities. Available in all apps on the list.
- Matching systemTinder, Bumble, and Yubo use this mechanism to ensure that both parties are interested in interacting.
- In-person and online eventsA major advantage of Meetup is that it provides group experiences based on shared interests.
- Messages intentionally delayedIn Slowly, this feature creates a digital letter-sharing experience, promoting more reflective conversations.
- Group live streamsYubo stands out with this feature that brings people closer together in real time through video.
Meeting new people can be easier than it seems, especially with the help of apps designed to facilitate this process. Whether it's to make new friends, join groups with common interests, or even start connections around the world, there's a variety of options to suit your style and goals.
The important thing is to choose the app that best aligns with what you're looking for: something more casual, like Tinder; focused on friendship, like Bumble or Yubo; or geared towards group experiences, like Meetup. With the help of these apps, expanding your social network is literally just a few clicks away.
