Meeting new people as an adult can be challenging, especially if you've moved to a new city, changed life circumstances, or simply want to expand your social circle. Fortunately, there are numerous apps designed to help you meet new people, each with different approaches and strengths.
This comprehensive guide explores the best apps to meet new people, with a focus on social dining platforms that facilitate group connections over food.
Why Use Apps to Meet New People?
Using apps to meet new people offers several advantages:
Structured Opportunities: Apps provide organized ways to meet people without the awkwardness of approaching strangers in public
Shared Interests: Many apps match based on interests, values, or compatibility, increasing chances of meaningful connections
Safety: Public venues and profile verification provide safer environments than random encounters
Efficiency: Apps streamline the process of finding and connecting with people
Variety: Meet diverse people you might not encounter in your daily life
Flexibility: Choose when and how often you want to meet people
Best Apps to Meet New People: Complete Guide
DayOfUs: Best for Structured Social Dining
DayOfUs is a comprehensive social dining platform perfect for meeting new people through group dining experiences.
Why It's Great for Meeting People:
- Personality-based matching creates compatible groups
- Structured events eliminate planning burden
- Groups of 4-6 people facilitate natural conversations
- Both dinner and brunch options
- Operates in 13+ cities globally
- Flexible pricing works for occasional or frequent users
How It Works:
- Create profile with personality assessment
- Browse upcoming dinners and brunches
- Book your spot
- Get matched with compatible group
- Attend event and meet new people
Best For: People seeking structured group dining experiences with thoughtful matching
Cities: New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Osaka, London, Sydney
Pricing: $9.99-$19.99 per event or $15.99-$23.99/month subscription
Bumble for Friends: Best for One-on-One Connections
Bumble BFF uses a swipe-based system for finding friends and organizing meetups.
Why It's Great:
- Familiar swipe interface
- One-on-one connections
- User control over who you meet
- Not limited to dining events
Considerations: Requires organizing meetups yourself, no structured dining experiences
Best For: People who prefer one-on-one connections and don't mind coordinating meetups
Pricing: Free (premium features available)
Meetup: Best for Variety
Meetup offers wide variety of event types organized by community members.
Why It's Great:
- Huge variety of event types
- Large community base
- Free to join groups
- Location-based discovery
Considerations: Event quality varies, no matching algorithm, requires effort to find good events
Best For: People who want variety in event types and don't mind variable quality
Pricing: Free to join, pay for events
Hey! Vina: Best for Women-Only Communities
Hey! Vina focuses on helping women make friends through community and events.
Why It's Great:
- Women-only focus
- Community-based approach
- Various event types
- Free to use
Considerations: Limited to women, user-organized events, less structure
Best For: Women seeking women-only communities
Pricing: Free
Timeleft: Best for Spontaneous Dining
Timeleft organizes spontaneous dinners with strangers in curated groups.
Why It's Great:
- Pre-organized events
- Spontaneous element (restaurant revealed shortly before)
- Curated groups
- No planning required
Considerations: Limited matching, primarily dinner events, city availability varies
Best For: People who enjoy spontaneous dining experiences
Pricing: Per-event pricing
Strangrs: Best for Matching-Focused Dining
Strangrs emphasizes matching based on compatibility and offers profile browsing.
Why It's Great:
- Matching based on compatibility
- "Connect" feature for browsing profiles
- Balanced group composition
- Structured events
Considerations: Limited cities (7), primarily dinner events, monthly membership model
Best For: People who want matching with some control over group composition
Cities: Paris, Lyon, Marseille, London, Barcelona, Tel Aviv, New York
Pricing: Tickets or monthly membership (€15.99+/month)
Comparing Apps to Meet New People
Structure Level
Highly Structured: DayOfUs, Timeleft, Strangrs, 222
Moderate Structure: Meetup
User-Organized: Bumble BFF, Hey! Vina
Group vs. Individual
Group Experiences: DayOfUs, Timeleft, Strangrs, 222, Meetup
One-on-One: Bumble BFF
Varies: Hey! Vina
Matching Quality
Advanced Matching: DayOfUs (personality-based)
Good Matching: Strangrs (age, personality, lifestyle, interests)
Basic Matching: Timeleft, 222 (spontaneous)
No Matching: Bumble BFF, Meetup, Hey! Vina (user-driven)
Effort Required
Minimal: DayOfUs, Timeleft, Strangrs, 222
Moderate: Meetup
High: Bumble BFF, Hey! Vina
Pricing
Per-Event or Subscription: DayOfUs, Strangrs
Per-Event: Timeleft, 222
Free: Bumble BFF, Meetup, Hey! Vina (but require self-organization)
Why DayOfUs Is the Best App to Meet New People
DayOfUs stands out for several reasons:
Sophisticated Matching: Personality-based algorithm creates compatible groups where you're likely to connect
Structured Experiences: No planning required—just book and show up
Group Dynamics: 4-6 people per table creates natural conversation flow
Global Presence: 13+ cities means opportunities wherever you are
Event Variety: Both dinner and brunch options
Flexible Pricing: Works for occasional or frequent users
Safety Focus: Comprehensive safety measures and verification
Proven Results: Thousands of successful connections facilitated
Tips for Success with Apps to Meet New People
1. Complete Your Profile: Detailed profiles help matching algorithms create better groups
2. Be Open-Minded: You'll meet diverse people—embrace different perspectives
3. Attend Regularly: Consistency helps build connections over time
4. Engage Actively: Ask questions, share stories, participate in conversations
5. Be Patient: Building connections takes time
6. Provide Feedback: Help platforms improve by sharing experiences
7. Try Multiple Platforms: Different apps offer different experiences
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best app to meet new people?
The best app depends on your preferences. DayOfUs offers the most comprehensive structured social dining experiences with advanced matching and global presence.
Are these apps safe?
Reputable platforms like DayOfUs prioritize safety with verification, public venues, guidelines, and monitoring. Always use platforms with clear safety measures.
How much do apps to meet new people cost?
Pricing varies. DayOfUs charges $9.99-$19.99 per event or $15.99-$23.99/month. Some apps are free but require self-organization.
Can I use multiple apps?
Absolutely! Many people use multiple platforms to maximize opportunities.
How many people will I meet at once?
Depends on the platform. DayOfUs has 4-6 people per table, creating ideal group size for conversations.
Conclusion
Apps to meet new people offer structured ways to expand your social circle. DayOfUs provides the most comprehensive experience with advanced matching, global presence, and structured group dining.
Browse DayOfUs events to start meeting new people through social dining.