Best apps to make friends in India in 2026: Meetup vs Bumble BFF vs Timeleft vs BeSocialz
There are more friendship apps than ever. Some help you chat, some sell events, some set up dinners. Here's an honest look at how each one works, so you can pick the right one for you.
- Friendship apps work in different ways: swipe and chat (Bumble BFF), groups and events (Meetup), and dinners with strangers (Timeleft).
- Chatting apps are good for talking. Making real friends needs meeting in person, again and again.
- BeSocialz is built in India, for Indian cities, and puts every step in one app: Feed, hangouts, meetups, clubs and hosting.
- The best app is the one that gets you to show up. Pick one and make a plan this week.
Search "app to make friends" and you'll find a long list. Some are global giants, some are new Indian startups. They all promise the same thing, new friends, but they work in very different ways.
Here's a simple, honest guide to the most popular options, how each one works, and who it suits best. We built BeSocialz, so we'll tell you where we fit too, but every app on this list has its own strengths.
How friendship apps work: three types
Before comparing apps, it helps to know the three main styles:
- Swipe and chat. You browse profiles, match one-on-one and start chatting. Example: Bumble BFF.
- Groups and events. You join interest groups and RSVP to events. Example: Meetup.
- Dinners with strangers. You fill in a quiz and get placed at a dinner table with people you haven't met. Example: Timeleft.
None of these is wrong. But if your goal is real friends you see in person, the format matters a lot.
The apps, one by one
Meetup
Meetup is one of the oldest names in this space. People create groups around interests like hiking, books, tech and language exchange, and post events. It has a presence in big Indian metros like Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi.
Good for: finding interest groups and professional events. Keep in mind: many events are large. It's easy to attend, sit through a talk and leave without really meeting anyone.
Bumble BFF
Bumble BFF is the friendship side of the Bumble dating app. You swipe on profiles and match one-on-one. In 2025 Bumble relaunched BFF as its own app with a new Groups feature for group chats and planning hangouts.
Good for: people who like to chat with someone before meeting. Keep in mind: swiping and one-on-one chats can feel like dating. Many matches never turn into a real meetup.
Timeleft
Timeleft started in France and runs dinners with strangers in many cities around the world. You answer a personality quiz and get placed at a table of about six people, usually on a fixed day each week.
Good for: people who want a ready-made dinner plan. Keep in mind: the format is mostly dinners, and it runs only in the cities where it has launched. Check if your Indian city is on the list.
BeSocialz
BeSocialz is built in India, for Indian cities, with one job: to get you off your phone and into a room with people worth knowing. Instead of one format, it covers your whole offline social life in one app:
- Feed: see who's around and what people near you are planning.
- Hangouts: book a seat at a small table of strangers, like dinner for five. Strangers at 8, friends by dessert.
- Meetups: bigger plans for food, startups, sports and movies, free or ticketed.
- Clubs: offline groups like weekend trekking clubs, so you keep meeting the same people.
- Host and earn: anyone can host a hangout or meetup and earn from every seat.
Good for: anyone in an Indian city who wants real friends, not just chats. Keep in mind: it's growing city by city, starting with Hyderabad. If your city is quiet, start a club or host the first table yourself.
Side by side
| How you meet | Best for | Built in India | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meetup | Interest groups and events | Hobby and professional groups | No |
| Bumble BFF | Swipe, chat, groups | Chatting before meeting | No |
| Timeleft | Weekly dinners with strangers | A ready-made dinner plan | No |
| BeSocialz | Feed, small hangouts, meetups, clubs, hosting | Real friends in your city | Yes |
Why we built BeSocialz this way
Making a friend is not one event. It's a journey. First you notice people around you. Then you meet a few strangers at a table. Then you go to bigger plans. Then you find your group and keep seeing them. And one day, you're the one bringing people together.
Most apps cover one step. We wanted one app for every step, from stranger to circle. That's why BeSocialz has a Feed, hangouts, meetups, clubs and hosting together, all designed for how people in Indian cities actually go out: chai, biryani, treks, turf games and startup evenings.
So which app should you use?
- Want to chat first? Try Bumble BFF.
- Want big interest groups or talks? Try Meetup.
- Want a ready-made dinner? See if Timeleft runs in your city.
- Want real friends in your Indian city, through small tables, meetups and clubs? Try BeSocialz. It's free on Android and iOS.
Read next: how to make friends in your city and why group hangouts work better than one-on-one.
