Top 10 Best Apps to Make Friends Online in 2025

Introduction

In 2025, “loneliness” became a trending search term worldwide. On the subway, everyone wore noise-canceling headphones; in office buildings, Zoom windows filled up second screens; and even after refreshing their Moments three times, they still had the same old photos. We lived in 1,000 group chats, yet couldn’t find anyone to share a late-night barbecue. While “people nearby” had become stale, algorithms understood us better than we did. Consequently, a wave of apps designed specifically for serious friendships quietly ascended to the top of the App Store. However, the current dating app market is complex, with a bewildering array of platforms. From apps that focus on quick matching and novelty to platforms that focus on in-depth communication and help find soul mates, each claims to have its own unique appeal. Which apps truly meet the needs of different groups, saving time and energy and enabling high-quality friendships?

This blog thoroughly curates the top ten online dating apps based on the latest download data, user retention rates, security and compliance scores, and real-world reviews from 2025. Whether you’re looking for a long-term partner, a global soul mate, or a like-minded connection, this list will reveal the most trustworthy and rewarding new social platforms, allowing you to say goodbye to ineffective swipes and turn every match into a high-quality, real connection.

What Makes a Great Friendship App?

Before diving in, here are 5 key things we looked for:

  • Real People: Active, verified user bases
  • Ease of Use: Intuitive interface & onboarding
  • Shared Interests: Tagging and match-by-hobby features
  • Safety: Reporting tools, content moderation
  • Diverse Communities: International or local, introvert- and adult-friendly

Top 10 Apps to Make Friends Online in 2025

1. Bumble For Friends

Best for: Women, professionals, and expats

Originally a dating app, Bumble BFF lets users switch into “friend” mode. Swipe-based, gender-inclusive, and especially popular in urban areas.

Pros:

  • Friendly UI
  • Encourages meaningful bio writing
  • Great for finding friends in new cities

Cons:

  • Matching efficiency is unstable

2. Hoop

Best for: Teens, Gen Z, and Snapchat users

Hoop is a social application for young users around the world. Users can browse profiles from all over the world, send friend requests to users of interest, and obtain their Snapchat usernames after the other party accepts, thereby expanding their social circles on Snapchat and making new friends.

Pros:

  • Seamless integration with Snapchat
  • Simple operation and youthful visual style

Cons:

  • Security and privacy management require special attention
  • Lack of a deep communication mechanism tends to result in shallow interaction

    3. Fachat

    Best for: Global users, casual chat seekers, and video-based socializers

    Fachat is a social app focused on 1v1 real-time video chat, offering random matching, swiping to select people, real-time translation, and an ad-free experience. 

    Pros:

    • True 1-on-1 video experience
    • Interest tag matching
    • Multi-language support
    • Simple operation, quick learning curve

    Cons:

    • High network requirements
    • Matching may be random
    • Unstable user quality

    See more: Break the Ice on Fachat: Unlock Genuine Connections in Video Chat

    4. FRND

    Best for: Young adults in India, audio-first social seekers

    FRND is an Indian social and entertainment app that focuses on voice chat, live streaming, and virtual social interaction. Users can meet new people and build connections through voice chat rooms, gamified interactions, and virtual gifts.

    Pros:

    • Voice interaction is the primary method for easier and more natural interaction.
    • Highly secure.
    • Young users are active.
    • Simple operation, clean interface, and intuitive functions.

    Cons:

    • Significant functional limitations.
    • High propensity to pay.
    • Users are geographically concentrated.

    5. Yubo

    Best for: Gen Z and live streaming lovers

    Yubo is a real-time social app for teenagers aged 13-25. Its core features are live streaming, swipe matching, and group chat.

    Pros:

    • Live streaming offers a strong social atmosphere
    • Diverse forms of interaction
    • More flexible social matching
    • Concentrated young user base

    Cons:

    • Many paid features
    • Content regulation challenges
    • Easily addictive

    6. Meetup

    Best for: Group-based activities & events

    Meetup is a globally recognized social and event-organizing platform designed to help people build offline and online communities around their interests. Through Meetup, users can discover nearby events, join interest groups, and connect face-to-face with like-minded individuals.

    Pros:

    • Authentic social networking based on interests
    • Offline activities offer a vibrant atmosphere
    • Suitable for career development and learning
    • Various activities

    Cons:

    • Activity levels vary by city
    • Some activities require a fee
    • Time and location restrictions apply
    • High barriers to entry for social interaction

    7. Tinder

    Best for: Young adults, casual connections, and travelers

    Tinder is one of the most popular dating and friendship apps in the world, famous for its “swipe” model. Users swipe left or right to quickly determine whether they are interested in others. If both parties “like” each other, they can start chatting.

    Pros:

    • Simple and intuitive operation
    • Large user base
    • Highly international presence
    • Various matching modes

    Cons:

    • Many paid features
    • The free version has limited features; premium features require a subscription
    • Risk of fake accounts and fraud
    • Swipe matching is “gamified” and can be addictive

    8. Tandem

    Best for: Language exchange & international friends

    Tandem is an AI-powered spoken language app focused on “language exchange.”, perfect for those who want to practice foreign languages, improve their spoken English, and connect with people from different countries. 

    Pros:

    • Focus on language learning
    • Diverse communication methods
    • Translation and error correction features
    • Global user base

      Cons:

      • Unstable matching efficiency
      • Limited free features
      • Various user quality

      9. MeetMe

      Best for: Extroverts, streamers, and people seeking casual chats

      MeetMe is a social app focused on stranger-to-friend connections and livestreaming. Users can establish connections through one-on-one chats or interact in livestreams to connect with more people.

      Pros:

      • Livestream + Social Networking
      • Diverse Social Networking Options
      • Broad User Base
      • Global Trends

      Cons:

      • Lack of Security
      • High Propensity to Pay
      • Varied User Quality
      • Extensive Advertising

      10. Badoo

      Best for: Social explorers, casual connectors, and global users

      Badoo is a globally renowned dating app for finding romantic partners and making new friends. The app supports location-based matches, recommendations for nearby interests, and multiple ways to interact, including text, voice, video, and swipe-to-heart.

      Pros

      • Large global user base
      • Various matching methods
      • Relatively high authenticity
      • A combination of friendship and dating

      Cons:

      • The free version has frequent ads
      • Intense competition
      • Security and privacy risks

      How to Choose the Right App for You

      👨You are… Recommended Apps
      Youth / Student Group Yubo、Hoop、FRND
      Adults looking for friends/workers Bumble For Friends、Meetup、Tandem、Fachat
      Looking for a date/dating Tinder、Badoo、MeetMe
      Cultural Exchange/Language Learners Tandem、Meetup

      Final Thoughts

      These 10 online dating apps for 2025 precisely address the dating needs of diverse demographics. Don’t blindly follow trends when choosing. For in-depth conversations, choose apps that prioritize topic guidance. For easy interactions, choose platforms with integrated mini-games. For international connections, prioritize tools that support multilingual translation. With the increasing precision of AI matching and the implementation of metaverse social scenarios, online dating will become even more efficient and authentic. We hope this list will help you find truly compatible friends in the digital age, transforming fleeting online connections into warm, lasting offline companionship.

      Now we want to hear from you: What’s your favorite friendship app? Have you met someone special online? Leave a comment below and let’s discuss.

      ➡️ Read more: Secure Social Media Platforms for 1v1 Online Video Chat

      FAQs

      1. What are the top 10 best apps to make friends online in 2025?

      Bumble For Friends、Hoop、Fachat、FRND、Yubo、Meetup、Tinder、Tandem、MeetMe, and Badoo.

      2. What is the best app for making new friends?

      Bumble for Friends, Hey! VINA, Wink, and plenty more promise to help people make friends online. Many work just like dating apps: you build a profile that includes photos and a bio, then swipe through other people’s profiles until you find someone who seems like a potential match.

      3. Are there any other apps like Bumble BFF?

      Apps like Friender and Peanut allow you to swipe through different profiles of potential contacts, start conversations through the app, and meet up offline for dates.

      Luna Harper

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