The 6 best apps to meet people and make friends in 2023
The 6 Best Apps To Meet People And Make Friends in 2023
Already have Facebook? If so, there is a feature on the social media site where you can see events near you. Facebook even created an app just for this called Local.The 6 Best Apps To Meet People And Make Friends in 2023
Kayla Dube has 4+ years' experience in videography and filmmaking. She frequently works in production with indie film companies.
Updated on January 3, 2023 Reviewed by
- Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
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It's easier than ever to find local people online to hang out with in real life. The apps below are some of the best for finding potential friends, and hopefully you can make some meaningful connections along the way.
Best For Finding Group Events: Meetup
What We Like- Easy to find meetups nearby.
- Can start your own group meetup.
- Lots of different categories for interests.
- Not great if you dislike group settings.
Want to meet people who share similar interests? Meetup is a great app to do that. It allows you to look at groups others have created near you centered around an activity. You can join a meetup and you have the ability to chat with others who have joined.
If you prefer meeting people in groups rather than one-on-one, this is a perfect app. You can also create your own group if you have an idea for a meetup.
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For More Of A Social Media Experience: MeetMe
What We Like- You can make posts for others to comment one.
- You can change your location whenever you want to see who's near you.
- Can live stream through the app.
- May have a lot of fake accounts.
MeetMe is an app where you can find people near you, chat one-on-one, and find some new friends. This app is unique in that it has more of a typical social media feel, where you can make posts as well as like and comment on others' posts.
There is also a live stream feature where you can go live and people in your area on the app can watch if they choose to.
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To Find People With Common Interests: Hey! VINA
What We Like- You can create a profile and look through other's profiles.
- Lets you create plans to meet up.
- Clean interface.
- It can be difficult to verify your profile.
This app was originally created for women to find other women to make friends with nearby, but anybody can use this app to look for friends in your area. It has you create your own profile, and is similar to dating apps where you swipe left or right to match with someone else.
If you match, you can direct message one another through the app. If you want to create a group to hang out with, you can also create what are called "plans" in the app to make a meet up group.
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Stay Connected to the Community: Facebook Local
What We Like- Connects to a Facebook account which you may already have.
- Can invite others to events.
- Can see events in any location.
- If you don't have a Facebook account, you have to create one to use the app.
Already have Facebook? If so, there is a feature on the social media site where you can see events near you. Facebook even created an app just for this called Local.
In the app, you can see what events are going on near you, and invite others to them, or see who's already going. It's a great way to find local meetups, shows, or other social outings where you can meet new people.
You can set your location and then see all the events near you. Or, you can search for certain events or venues if you have something specific in mind. You may also want to look at Facebook groups that hold gatherings local to your city, as this can also be a great way to meet people.
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If You're New In The Neighborhood: Nextdoor
What We Like- Can join groups with others around your neighborhood.
- Has an events page with local events.
- Lists local businesses.
- Can't see content from outside your designated neighborhood.
If you've recently moved somewhere new, Nextdoor can help you meet your neighbors and form bonds with the people you live by. This app has a lot of features that can help you find others with common interests, ask questions about the neighborhood, and find events near you.
When you make a post, people in your surrounding area will see it, making it easy to connect and stay updated on local happenings.
Nextdoor also has a group section where you can find or create groups based on a common interest. Many places have friendship groups you can seek out to start meeting new people.
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Friends Before Lovers: Bumble BFF
What We Like- Works the same as Bumble.
- You can only talk to someone if both of you are matches with each other.
- You only have 24 hours to start up a conversation with one another.
You may know of Bumble as the dating app where women make the first move, but it actually has a whole separate section as well for making new friends, called Bumble BFF.
You can find this within the Bumble app, and it works similarly by swiping left or right to match with another person. If both of you match, you can then begin talking.
Unlike the dating app, there are no restrictions for who can start a conversation first, but you have to message the other person within 24 hours, or else you'll lose the match. It's a great app if you want a quick and easy way to make some new friends.
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