If Meetup is not working for you, the right alternative depends on why. If the group format feels intimidating, practise on your own first with Solo Era. If you want one-to-one matching, look at Bumble BFF. If you travel, look at Going Solo. If you want connection without meeting up, look at Wisdo. And if you just need a regular place to go, a class or volunteering shift may beat any app.
Why Meetup may not click
Meetup's listing describes joining or hosting interest-based groups and events, online or local, and joining discussions. On paper, that is a good model for friendship: a shared activity gives you something to talk about. Check the listing or app for current pricing.
When it does not click, the reasons are usually practical rather than about the app. Maybe the nearest group is too far away or too big. Maybe walking into a room of strangers alone is the real barrier. Maybe you went once and the next event did not fit your schedule. Each of these points to a different alternative, and none of them means that you are bad at making friends.
1. Solo Era: best if showing up alone is the hard part
Solo Era is an iPhone app for practising doing things alone. It is not a social network, it does not match you with anyone, and it has no dating features. It earns first place here because Meetup assumes you can walk into a venue by yourself, and that step is where many people stall.
Missions are small tasks in seven categories and five levels, from level 1 (gentlest) to level 5 (biggest step). Examples from the library: "Say hello to five strangers on one walk." (people, level 1), "Take a beginners dance class by yourself." (movement, level 3) and "Walk into a shop you would normally never dare enter and let them advise you." (people, level 3). 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 rehearse arriving alone before joining a group. We do not promise that you will make friends or feel confident. It 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. Not therapy or medical care.
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. Bumble BFF: best for one-to-one matching
The App Store lists "BFF: Make friends & meet up", which it refers to as the new Bumble BFF. Developer shown: Geneva Technologies, Inc. On iPhone and iPad. Per the listing it offers profiles with bios, interest tags and photo prompts, selfie-verified matches, one-on-one chat and Groups. Check the listing or app for current pricing.
Compared with Meetup, you meet one person at a time instead of a room. That suits people who find groups overwhelming and are comfortable chatting first. See Bumble BFF alternatives for the reverse switch.
Best for: people who prefer to start one on one.
3. Going Solo: best for friends on trips
Going Solo: Travel Friends, from Going Solo LLC, helps you meet solo travellers and friends in new cities with nearby groups, trip plans, buddy matching, chat and a feed. On iPhone and iPad. The listing says travel-buddy matching is premium (in-app purchase).
If your local Meetup scene is thin but you travel, this may fit better. Our page on things to do alone in a new city can add ideas.
Best for: meeting people while travelling.
4. Wisdo: best for peer support
Wisdo: Mental Health & Support, from Wisdo LTD, is a peer-support community with anonymous join 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 addresses a different need: feeling less alone with a struggle rather than finding a weekend activity partner. It does not replace professional care. If you are in distress, contact a professional or local emergency services.
Best for: people who want connection around a shared struggle.
5. Classes, volunteering and regular places
Friendships typically grow through repeated contact. A weekly class, a volunteer shift or a standing coffee can do what no app does: put you near the same people again and again. Use our what to say tool for openers, and read where to meet friends as an adult for more places.
Best for: slow, steady friendships.
Comparison
| Option | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Solo Era | Missions to practise things alone | Getting comfortable arriving alone |
| Bumble BFF | Profile matching, chat, Groups | One-to-one starts |
| Going Solo | Travel friends and buddy matching | Travellers |
| Wisdo | Peer-support community | Shared struggles |
| Classes and clubs | Repeat in-person contact | Lasting local friends |
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.
Make Meetup (or any group) easier
Whatever you choose, a few habits help.
- Choose small groups. Fewer people means fewer strangers to face.
- Go to the same one more than once. The second visit is easier than the first.
- Arrive a little early. There is less crowd and it is easier to talk to the organiser.
- Decide on one sentence in advance. One question you want to ask beats trying to be impressive.
If you want a structured first step, try the comfort zone ladder, which breaks a scary goal into smaller ones. For a broader ranking of apps, read best apps for making friends, and see the full making friends guide.
For a side-by-side look at the two, see Solo Era vs Meetup.
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.
If you are comparing curated-table services instead, see our Timeleft alternatives.
FAQ
Is Solo Era a Meetup alternative?
Not directly. Meetup connects you with groups. Solo Era does not connect you with people. It helps you practise going places alone, which can make groups easier to join.
What is a good alternative to Meetup for introverts?
One-to-one formats and small, repeated activities tend to feel easier than large events. Our social battery quiz can help you see how much socialising suits you.
Are Meetup alternatives free?
It varies. Going Solo's travel-buddy matching is an in-app purchase per its listing. See the App Store listing for current terms. Solo Era is free to download with a subscription needed to start missions.
What if I feel too anxious to go?
Start with very small steps and consider professional support if anxiety is severe. Solo Era is not therapy or medical care.
How long does it take to make a friend?
There is no verified figure we can give. In practice, it usually takes repeated contact over weeks or months rather than one 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.
