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- Making Friends As an Adult Is Hard. These Friendship Apps Can Help</p>
<p>Rachel VarinaJuly 31, 2025 at 6:02 PM</p>
<p>12 Apps That Can Help You Make Friends as an Adult Getty Images</p>
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<p>Making friends as an adult? Weirdly hard. Like, harder than deciding if you should get bangs. Once you're out of school and not bonding over dorm floor bathrooms or bottomless brunch hangovers every weekend, figuring out how to meet new people feels confusing at best and borderline impossible at worst. Which is where friendship apps come in to save the day—and your social life.</p>
<p>Think of them as the dating apps of your platonic dreams: low-lift, swipe-friendly, and full of future BFF potential. "The fact that these apps even exist says a lot about the very real challenges many people face in making new friends," says psychotherapist and relationship specialist Stevie Blum, LCSW. "Just downloading a friendship app and seeing how many people are also looking to connect can be surprisingly comforting."</p>
<p>Before you start doubting the effectiveness of an app to find friends, let me just stop your almost-spiral. "Friendships are a vital part of emotional and mental well-being, and can even impact your physical health," explains Blum. "But as we get older, those built-in opportunities start to fade. Friendships can feel harder to maintain or even awkward to build from scratch, so people often let them slide." But that need for a support system and someone to grab dinner with on a casual Thursday? Yeah, that never goes away.</p>
<p>That's why friendship apps are so clutch IRL—Blum says using them can def make the whole process easier. You already know everyone there is open to making new connections, and not only can you narrow down the pool of people based on things like interests, but you can also find folks who live near you, so you don't have to schlep across town for a quick hang.</p>
<p>(Before meeting up with someone IRL, though, Blum suggests picking a public location and letting someone else know where you're going. Safety first always!)</p>
<p>So, whether you just moved to a new city and are looking to build a whole new friend group, just went through a friend breakup (it happens!), or simply want someone to text during Love Island, we've got you. These friendship apps are here to help you make real, solid connections. Now let's go find you a platonic soul mate!</p>
<p>1. Yubo</p>
<p>Yubo</p>
<p>Many friendship apps have similar features to dating apps (making a profile, swiping on others, private messaging, etc.) but what makes Yubo unique is its catfish-free video chat feature. When you connect with someone, you can chat via live video from the app (like FaceTime, but without having to give out your phone number). This a) ensures the person you're talking to is actually who they say they are, and b) might help alleviate some of those first-time meetup jitters if you've already seen their face.</p>
<p>Shop Now</p>
<p>2. LMK</p>
<p>Right this way, extroverts, because this talk-based app is about to become your new obsession. Instead of just the standard DM-style messaging seen in most apps, LMK has a variety of ways to connect with people, like voice chats for example. You can instantly call or chat with folks (whether 1-on-1 or in a group) who have the same interests as you, so if you're in the mood to just gab, there's no sitting around and waiting for a match. Plus, once you're in a voice chat, there's a timer that'll end the call unless you choose to extend it, so no awkward goodbyes if you're just not clicking.</p>
<p>Shop Now</p>
<p>3. Bumble BFF</p>
<p>Bumble</p>
<p>If you've ever used Bumble for dating, Bumble BFF is literally the same concept, just for platonic friends. You still make a profile with a few photos, add a quick bio, and then swipe right on your faves. The main difference is that the timer to start a conversation isn't gendered, so it's on either of you to make the first move before the match expires.</p>
<p>Download here</p>
<p>4. WINK</p>
<p>Wink</p>
<p>WINK is another app that lets users swipe left or right on profiles they feel match best with their interests. You can select the gender and age range of people you want to connect with and add your interests so matches have at least one favorite activity in common with you. Chat directly on the app or move the conversation to Snapchat for something a little more private. It's like Tinder for friends. (You knew we were going to say it, didn't you?)</p>
<p>Download here</p>
<p>5. Hey! VINA</p>
<p>Hey! VINA</p>
<p>Hey! VINA is a friendship app built just for women looking to connect with like-minded ladies. Whether you're starting a new job, moving to a new city, or just feeling like your social circle could use a refresh, VINA matches you with potential besties based on shared interests, activities, and even your current life stage—because who you vibe with during a breakup might be totally different from who you need during a career pivot.</p>
<p>Download here6. Plura</p>
<p>Bloom</p>
<p>Making friends who share your interests is tricky for everyone, but oftentimes it's even harder for people in the kink, queer, sex-positive, and BDSM communities. Enter: Plura (formerly Bloom). The community-based lifestyle app was created to help people meet and connect with others in a safe and monitored space. Not only can you chat and connect like with other apps, but Bloom actually hosts tons of events, festivals, and meetups so you can connect IRL at an activity that feels more on brand than just coffee and small talk.</p>
<p>Download Here</p>
<p>7. Peanut</p>
<p>Peanut</p>
<p>Peanut is an app for moms to meet other moms, founded by Michelle Kennedy, who worked at the dating app Badoo before giving birth in 2013. She described feeling very isolated as a new mother and wanted to find people who understood what she was going through. Since postpartum depression can make women feel especially alone, it's great to have an app where you can connect with someone navigating the same, sometimes-messy, emotional terrain as you are.</p>
<p>Shop Now</p>
<p>8. ATLETO</p>
<p>Atleto</p>
<p>If you're particularly in need of marathon buddies or tennis opponents, look no further. ATLETO is all about helping you find people based on your favorite sports, and encouraging you to host events and meet up IRL. And honestly, jogging or cycling together is pretty low-key when it comes to first conversations with someone.</p>
<p>Download here</p>
<p>9. Meetup</p>
<p>Meetup</p>
<p>If you have more specific interests, like knitting at a bar or being a part of a writing group, Meetup probably has something you're looking for. You simply enter your location and browse events by category. Voila! You'll find your crew in no time.</p>
<p>Shop Now</p>
<p>10. Friended</p>
<p>Friended</p>
<p>Simply need to get something off your chest? Friended lets you share your random thoughts in a controlled environment, allowing other users to reply or send encouragements to you privately. The point is to exchange niceties that should hopefully tumble into something more, or at the very least help you feel less alone. Who doesn't love getting their feelings validated by strangers? Yes, you'll still be clinging to your phone when you're out in public, but at least there'll be someone sweet on the other side of it.</p>
<p>Download here</p>
<p>11. Skout</p>
<p>Skout</p>
<p>Skout has been around since 2007, so they've been in the friendship (and dating!) app game for a long time. It's pretty simple: You use it to connect with people wherever you go, which seems particularly handy if you're traveling alone and want to grab a pint with someone... or even hook up. That's the thing with this app: you can use it to ~scout~ (heh) whatever it is you're looking for.</p>
<p>Download here</p>
<p>12. Nextdoor</p>
<p>Nextdoor</p>
<p>If you've moved to a new neighborhood and find it hard to connect with new people (a definite suburb problem), Nextdoor lets you know everything that's happening nearby—from yard sales to babysitting gigs. It's not as straightforward as "Hey, I'm looking for friends!" but in a way, it can feel like a more natural integration into your community.</p>
<p>Download here</p>
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Read More >> Full Article on Source: Astro Blog #US #ShowBiz #Sports #Politics #Celebs <p>- Making Friends As an Adult Is Hard. These Friendship Apps Can Help</p> <p>Rachel VarinaJuly 31, 202...
