The best Bumble BFF alternative depends on how you like to meet people. For groups built around a shared interest, try Meetup. For friends while travelling, try Going Solo. For peer support, try Wisdo. Solo Era is not a friend-finding app, but it is first on this list because it trains the part that comes before any app: getting comfortable showing up on your own.
What Bumble BFF is, and why people look elsewhere
The App Store lists the app as "BFF: Make friends & meet up", and its text refers to the new Bumble BFF. The developer shown is Geneva Technologies, Inc., and it runs on iPhone and iPad. According to the listing you build a profile with a bio, interest tags and photo prompts, get selfie-verified matches, chat one on one, and can join Groups. Check the listing or app for current pricing.
Swiping to find friends is not for everyone. Some people dislike the one-on-one chat that comes before meeting, some want an activity to focus on rather than a conversation, and some find the match quality too hit-and-miss. These are common experiences with any matching format, not a claim about this particular app. If the format is the problem, try a different format rather than a different swipe app.
1. Solo Era: best for building the skill behind making friends
Solo Era is an iPhone app for practising doing things alone. It is not a social network, and it does not match you with anyone or offer dating features. We list it first because many friendship attempts fail on a step that happens before any app: walking into a room, a cafe or a class on your own.
Missions are small, concrete tasks in seven categories and five levels. The people category has examples such as "Say hello to five strangers on one walk." (level 1), "Ask a stranger to take a photo of you somewhere you like." (level 3) and "Spend a residential volunteering weekend working alongside strangers." (level 5). You rate how nervous you felt before and after, keep a photo journal, and see progress over months with XP and a weekly streak.
Best for: people who want to feel steadier about going to events alone before looking for friends. We make no promise that you will make friends or feel confident. Solo Era is free to download, a subscription is required to start missions, and any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app. iPhone only, and not therapy or medical care.
Another group-dinner option is covered in Timeleft alternatives.
Solo Era for iPhone
Try it with Solo Era
Solo Era gives you one realistic mission a week, records how nervous you felt before and after, and keeps a photo journal of what you did. An iPhone app. A subscription is required to start missions; any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app.
2. Meetup: best for friends through shared interests
Meetup, from Meetup LLC, lets you join or host interest-based groups and events, online or local, with discussions. It runs on iPhone and iPad and on the web. Check the listing or app for current pricing.
The group format is the opposite of one-on-one matching: you show up for the activity, and conversation grows around it. That removes the pressure to impress one person. The trade-off is that you must attend repeatedly for friendships to form, and the quality depends on the local group. Our Meetup alternatives page covers the next step if it does not work.
Best for: people with a hobby to build friendships around.
3. Going Solo: best for meeting friends while travelling
Going Solo: Travel Friends, from Going Solo LLC, is for meeting solo travellers and friends in new cities. The listing mentions nearby groups, trip plans, buddy matching, chat and a feed. On iPhone and iPad. According to the listing, travel-buddy matching is a premium feature (in-app purchase).
If you want friends as part of trips rather than in your home city, this is a more targeted option. See our guide to things to do alone in a new city for activities that also make it easier to meet people.
Best for: solo travellers who want company on the road.
4. Wisdo: best for peer support rather than socialising
Wisdo: Mental Health & Support, from Wisdo LTD, is a peer-support community. Its listing mentions anonymous joining and access to coaching and licensed therapy via Talkspace; Wisdo describes itself as a Talkspace company. On iPhone and iPad. Check the listing or app for current pricing.
It is not a way to arrange coffee with a new friend, and the purpose differs from Bumble BFF. It is here for people whose real need is to feel heard rather than to fill a calendar. It is not a replacement for professional care, and if you are in distress you should contact a professional or local emergency services.
Best for: connection around a shared struggle, without meeting in person.
5. Offline routes: classes, clubs and repeat places
Many lasting friendships come from repeated contact in the same place: a weekly class, a volunteering shift, a regular cafe. A free resource on this site, the what to say tool, gives you openers for these moments. Our guide on how to make friends as an adult covers the longer arc.
Best for: people who prefer slow, low-pressure friendships.
Comparison
| Option | Format | Best for | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo Era | Missions you do alone | Getting comfortable showing up | iPhone |
| Meetup | Interest groups and events | Hobby-based friends | iPhone, iPad, web |
| Going Solo | Travel friends and buddy matching | Solo travellers | iPhone, iPad |
| Wisdo | Peer-support community | Feeling heard | iPhone, iPad |
| Offline routes | Repeat visits | Slow-burn friendships | n/a |
Criteria table: Solo Era, Meetup, Bumble BFF and Timeleft
Sources: App Store listings and each app's official site, read 2026-11-01. Solo Era is our own product. "Not stated" means the listing or site does not say, so we do not either.
| Criterion | Solo Era | Meetup | Bumble BFF | Timeleft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Format | You practise going out alone; no matching | Interest-based groups and events | One-to-one matches and chat, plus Groups | Small-group dinners, drinks, coffee, walks or runs |
| Recurring or one-off | Weekly mission | Depends on the group | You arrange it yourself | Listed formats repeat weekly or on set days (for example dinners every Wednesday) |
| Who organises | You choose the mission and the place | Group hosts | You and your match | Timeleft books the venue and reveals it shortly before |
| Platform (per listing) | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, web | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Not a fit if | You want to be introduced to people | You want a ready-made, one-off plan | You want a set time and place | You want to choose the group yourself |
Friendships tend to form through repeat contact in the same place, so a one-off meet-up is a start, not an outcome. Apps help with discovery; forming a friendship still takes seeing the same people more than once. Solo Era is practice, not matchmaking.
How to meet someone from an app safely
Use a public place and tell someone where you are going. Keep the first meeting short and low-stakes, such as a coffee. If something feels wrong, leave. These are general good practices, not rules from any app.
What to try first
If you are not sure what is blocking you, run a small test. This week, do one thing alone in public, such as the steps in our guide to going out alone. Next week, say one genuine sentence to someone there. Then choose an app that matches what you noticed. For a longer ranking, see best apps for making friends and our making friends guide.
For a direct comparison, read Solo Era vs Bumble BFF.
Last checked: 2026-10-21. Facts about other apps come from their official sites and App Store listings and can change, so confirm current details before you decide.
FAQ
Is Solo Era an app to make friends?
No. Solo Era has no matching, no dating and no social-network features. It helps you practise doing things alone, which can make it easier to show up at places where friendships start.
What is the best Bumble BFF alternative for groups?
Meetup is built around interest-based groups and events. Quality depends on the group and where you live.
Do these apps cost money?
Some have paid features and some do not. Going Solo's listing shows travel-buddy matching as an in-app purchase. See the App Store listing for current terms. Solo Era is free to download and needs a subscription to start missions.
I feel too anxious to meet people. What now?
Start with small steps and consider speaking to a professional if anxiety is severe. Solo Era is not therapy or medical care.
Is it normal to struggle to make friends as an adult?
Yes, it is common. It often takes repeated contact in the same place over time rather than one great first meeting.
Solo Era for iPhone
Try it with Solo Era
Solo Era gives you one realistic mission a week, records how nervous you felt before and after, and keeps a photo journal of what you did. An iPhone app. A subscription is required to start missions; any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app.
