Make friends
in real life, not in a feed
You don't make friends by swiping, you make them by spending time together. This page pulls together what helps: the app, concrete ways, and honest answers to the questions that keep coming up.
of 16- to 30-year-olds in Germany feel lonely.
Loneliness was long seen as an issue of old age. The numbers say the opposite: it hits young adults hardest, despite constant digital connection. A feed is no substitute for making plans.
Not another feed. A tool for meeting up.
Discover events
See what's on in your city today, from game nights to concerts.
Make plans on the fly
Say who's up for it and make something happen, without group-chat chaos.
See people again
One evening turns into regulars. Exactly what other apps don't build.
Apps to make friends compared (2026)
There is no single right app. It depends on whether you want to meet one person, join a regular group or simply come along when something is happening. An honest overview, our own app included.
| App | How it works | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| S'Up | See what is happening in your city and go spontaneously with friends, without group chat chaos. | People who want to actually do things more often and turn acquaintances into friends. | Still in its launch phase, iPhone only, in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. |
| Bumble For Friends | Browse profiles and match like on a dating app, but for friendship. | Meeting specific people near you. | A lot of messaging before the first meetup, the swipe logic stays. |
| Meetup | Groups around a topic that host regular meetups. | Regular circles for sports, languages, board games or newcomers, especially in big cities. | Smaller cities often have only a few active groups. |
| Timeleft | Dinners with strangers who are matched in advance through a questionnaire. | Anyone who wants to be surprised and meet completely new people. | It costs money, and whether you see the people again is open. |
| Spontacts | Create activities or join others, from cinema to hiking. | Quickly finding people for a specific plan. | How active it is depends a lot on the city. |
S'Up
- How it works
- See what is happening in your city and go spontaneously with friends, without group chat chaos.
- Good for
- People who want to actually do things more often and turn acquaintances into friends.
- Keep in mind
- Still in its launch phase, iPhone only, in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Bumble For Friends
- How it works
- Browse profiles and match like on a dating app, but for friendship.
- Good for
- Meeting specific people near you.
- Keep in mind
- A lot of messaging before the first meetup, the swipe logic stays.
Meetup
- How it works
- Groups around a topic that host regular meetups.
- Good for
- Regular circles for sports, languages, board games or newcomers, especially in big cities.
- Keep in mind
- Smaller cities often have only a few active groups.
Timeleft
- How it works
- Dinners with strangers who are matched in advance through a questionnaire.
- Good for
- Anyone who wants to be surprised and meet completely new people.
- Keep in mind
- It costs money, and whether you see the people again is open.
Spontacts
- How it works
- Create activities or join others, from cinema to hiking.
- Good for
- Quickly finding people for a specific plan.
- Keep in mind
- How active it is depends a lot on the city.
S'Up is free and launching on iPhone in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Join the waitlist and we will let you know.
Ways to build real friendships
Concrete guides from our blog: from apps without dating mechanics to starting over in a new city.
Comparison
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ReadFree tool
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Open the “New in town” toolFrequently asked questions
How do I make new friends as an adult?
Through recurring shared activities. Not one perfect match, but regular chances to see the same people again: a sports group, a game night, a regular meetup. That's exactly what S'Up is built for.
Is S'Up a dating app?
No. It's about friendships and doing things together, not romance. No swiping, no matches, no profiles to rate.
How is it different from Bumble BFF or Tinder?
Those apps apply dating mechanics to friendship: profiles, swipes, one-to-one matches. S'Up starts from events and groups: you meet people by doing something together, not by chatting beforehand.
Does S'Up cost anything?
The app is free for you. We earn through organizers who list their events.
When and where does S'Up launch?
Since 15 October 2026 the first 100 people from the waitlist have been testing the app via TestFlight. The public App Store launch is planned for late October to mid-November 2026, for iPhone in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Join the waitlist and we'll email you at launch.
Be there when S'Up launches in the App Store.
Free, for iPhone. Sign up and be the first to know when it goes live.