As people look for ways to make new friends, here are the apps promising to help | TechCrunch

"In recent years, people have been increasingly looking for new ways to form platonic connections, as loneliness and social isolation have become more prevalent. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General went so far as to label this issue a public health crisis. Remote workers, who miss the everyday interactions found in an office, and younger individuals eager to create their adult social circles based on shared interests and hobbies, are among those seeking meaningful friendships."

"Thanks to online dating apps, the stigma associated with finding connections online has largely faded away. This has welcomed a new wave of apps focused on fostering friendships and building local communities. According to estimates from Appfigures, over a dozen local-focused friendship apps have collectively generated approximately $16 million in consumer spending in the U.S. so far this year."

"The apps aim to provide a less awkward solution than, for instance, approaching a stranger at the gym or local café and trying to strike up a conversation. These platforms clearly indicate that everyone using the app is looking for the same thing - friendship, not romance - making it much less intimidating to initiate conversations."

Loneliness and social isolation have reached crisis levels, prompting the U.S. Surgeon General to declare it a public health crisis in 2023. Remote workers and younger adults seeking meaningful connections based on shared interests are driving demand for new social solutions. Online dating apps have normalized finding connections digitally, reducing stigma around meeting people online. This shift has spawned a wave of friendship-focused apps designed to facilitate platonic connections. These platforms provide less intimidating alternatives to approaching strangers in public spaces by clearly signaling that all users seek friendship rather than romance. Local-focused friendship apps have collectively generated approximately $16 million in consumer spending with 4.3 million downloads in 2025, with examples including Timeleft, Meet5, and Bumble's BFF.

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