best dating apps to find friends in 2025

Why friendship-first matching matters

Building local, low-pressure connections can be easier when an app centers platonic intent from the start. Friend modes and community-first platforms reduce mixed signals and make it simple to say “Let’s grab coffee” without romantic expectations.

Quick takeaway: Choose apps with clear “friends only” settings, robust interests, and event or group features.

Top friend-finding apps and modes

Bumble For Friends (BFF)

Bumble’s separate friend mode (and standalone Bumble For Friends app in many regions) focuses on platonic matches. Profiles highlight interests, IRL activities, and group plans.

• Great for newcomers to a city.
• Strong safety toolkit and photo verification.
• Best for 20s–40s professionals seeking activity buddies.

Badoo (Make New Friends)

Badoo lets you set intent to “Make new friends,” filtering expectations up front. Discovery is broad, so write a clear bio to keep things platonic.

• Large global user base.
• Flexible filters; verify for credibility.
• Great if you want casual chats that can turn into meetups.

HER (Friends and Communities)

For LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people, HER’s community groups and events make it easy to find friends first, date later-or not at all.

• Community rooms for hobbies, cities, and causes.
• Event discovery fosters in-person hangouts.

Peanut

Designed for women to meet through life stages (trying to conceive, pregnancy, motherhood, menopause) with Pods and topic-based chats encouraging supportive friendships.

• Thoughtful moderation and topic tagging.
• Excellent for local mom-friend networks.

Taimi (Social + Dating)

LGBTQ+ social network with streams, groups, and profiles where you can set platonic intentions and build circles before any one-on-one meetup.

• Community-first design; content and groups help break the ice.

Kippo (Gamers)

Gaming-forward profiles and servers where “Let’s play” turns into “Let’s hang.” Friendship is the default vibe; romance is optional.

• Great for hobby-based bonding.
• Shared games reduce small talk friction.

Profile setup: signaling “friends only”

1. State intent clearly: “Looking for hiking buddies and coffee chats-platonic only.”
2. List three concrete activities you want to do this month (e.g., board game night, Saturday run, book swap).
3. Use interest tags liberally; they power better friend matches.
4. Add two photos doing IRL hobbies to invite easy conversation starters.
5. Suggest a first hang format: “Public coffee shop, 30–45 minutes, weekday evenings.”

Pro tip: Templates help: “DM if you’re into sunrise walks, co-working, or open mics.”

If your goals shift later toward dating in a specific city, you can consult curated resources like best dating apps for relationships nyc while keeping your friend circles intact.

Safety and boundaries that keep it fun

• Meet in public places; share your plan with a friend and use in-app safety tools.
• Use app messaging until you’re comfortable; verify profiles where possible.
• Set time-bound first hangs (45–60 minutes) to keep expectations light.
• Be explicit and kind if someone pivots to romance: “I’m here only for friends.”

Bottom line: Clear intent + small, public meetups = low-pressure, high-safety connections.

Match faster by leaning into shared contexts

Join in-app groups and local channels, post a quick intro, and RSVP to low-commitment events. Shared context reduces flake rates and makes conversation easier.

• Hobby hooks: running, climbing, board games, food crawls.
• Time/place hooks: “Sundays in the Mission,” “Weeknight East Side coffee.”
• Skill-sharing: language exchange, coding study halls, film nights.

Who should use which app?

• New city movers: Bumble For Friends, Badoo, HER Communities.
• Parents and caregivers: Peanut for life-stage alignment.
• LGBTQ+ social circles: HER, Taimi communities.
• Hobby-first hangouts: Kippo (gamers), plus any app with strong group features.

Shortcut: Pick the app where your primary hobby or identity already thrives.

Transitioning from friends to dating (only if mutual)

Sometimes chemistry happens, and that’s okay if it’s clearly mutual. If you’re over 40 and considering a later pivot, compare age-friendly options like best dating apps for relationships over 40 while keeping your platonic spaces boundary-safe.

FAQ

• Which app is best purely for making friends?

  Bumble For Friends (BFF) is the most consistently “friends only,” with clear intent labels and strong safety tools. Peanut is best for women in specific life stages, and HER Communities excel for LGBTQIA+ friend circles.

• How do I avoid mismatched expectations?

  Put “Platonic only” in your bio, choose apps with friend modes, and suggest friend-coded first hangs (coffee, daytime walk, group events). If someone pushes romance, restate your boundary and unmatch if needed.

• Are friend-finding apps safe to use?

  Yes when you use common-sense safeguards: verify profiles, meet in public, share plans with a friend, and keep the first meetup short. Use in-app reporting for red flags and avoid moving to private messaging too quickly.

• Can I use dating apps for friends if they don’t have a friend mode?

  You can, but results vary. State “friends only” in the first line of your bio, list activity ideas, and filter for similar intentions. Apps with explicit friend settings deliver cleaner matches and fewer mixed signals.

• What should our first friend hang look like?

  Pick a low-pressure, public activity with an easy exit: coffee, a short museum visit, or a weekday walk. Bring a conversation starter (book recs, local events) and keep it to 45–60 minutes.

• How do I grow a circle, not just one-off hangs?

  Use group features and events, introduce new friends to each other, and schedule recurring meetups (e.g., first-Sunday coffee). Consistency turns acquaintances into a real friend group.

• What if someone keeps flirting after I say I’m platonic only?

  Repeat your boundary once, then unmatch or block. Your comfort matters. Apps have tools to report persistent boundary-pushing-use them.

• How can introverts make this easier?

  Lean on interest-based groups, message asynchronously first, propose structured activities (co-working, trivia night), and keep meets short. Shared context reduces pressure and small talk.

Final tip: The “best” app is the one with communities that match your interests-pick for fit, not just size.