Meetup apps are arising left and proper, promising you friendship in a time when many individuals wrestle to construct new connections. After attending a number of meetups, I can safely say they’re not what you count on. Chances are you’ll not meet your finest buddy, however you possibly can count on to get social in new methods.
A couple of months in the past, I shared my expertise of assembly strangers for espresso in my publication. And it positive bought a whole lot of responses.
In 2025, met over 100 strangers by sitting down for espresso or dinner. Whereas I want I have been so friendly-looking that I simply met all these individuals single-handedly, I met them by means of numerous meetup apps.
Chances are high, you’ve additionally acquired adverts for these apps. They promise rigorously curated meetups, the place you possibly can meet with strangers and kind new connections.
These meetup apps have been rising in reputation, almost certainly on account of the loneliness that emerged from the pandemic. From working remotely to dropping friendships, individuals have been craving connection.
I used to be not alone in that. Seeing these apps marketed made me suppose, “When is the final time I made any new connections?”
So I signed up. And ended up loving it a lot, I went to as many meetups as I might. I ended up assembly those who I now contemplate a few of my closest pals. However this didn’t occur instantly.
How It Works
There are completely different apps and web sites, they usually all work a bit bit in a different way. The 2 apps that I’ve used probably the most are Timeleft and Kin. They usually each work roughly the identical manner.
You begin off by filling in your profile with fundamental data about your self. This may assist the group facilitators pair you with different individuals they suppose you’ll hit it off with.
Timeleft focuses on dinners, whereas Kin focuses on espresso meetups. You’ll be notified of your date and time to your meetup, however you gained’t obtain the small print of who will likely be attending. You don’t do any planning or networking forward of time. You merely present up.
And sure, it may be a bit awkward at first. However there are sometimes an individual or two within the group who’ve completed this earlier than and don’t thoughts steering the dialog.
So right here’s what I’ve discovered from doing this over the course of a yr.
Everyone seems to be Right here for Their Personal Purpose
The individuals who be a part of these teams are from all walks of life. Whereas the app will create a gaggle primarily based round commonalities (age, pursuits, and many others.), you’re nonetheless going to satisfy individuals you wouldn’t usually work together with. And that’s a great factor.
I’ve encountered those that are married, single, new to the nation, have children who’ve not too long ago left the nest. Some are foodies who use this as a strategy to check out completely different eating places and have stimulating dialog whereas they’re at it.
Some individuals wish to make new connections and deeper friendships. Which is why I used to be there.
There’s an enormous lack of dedication, which is very nice in the event you take a look at it the correct manner. Come into the expertise figuring out that it’s very informal. Most people are snug simply displaying up and having these dinners. They discover them as a strategy to really feel linked with out having to go along with a companion or a buddy.
It’s vital to keep in mind that not everyone seems to be trying to get the identical expertise out of this. Go in with the expectation to satisfy new individuals and have some dinner. And one thing will come up from it, ought to there be a need from the individuals.
It’s Simpler to Meet Folks in a Group Setting
Being in a gaggle dynamic is way much less intimidating than making an attempt to satisfy with individuals one-on-one. You don’t have to fret about repeatedly maintaining the dialog. However the group should be a sufficiently small measurement, and the assembly must be intentional.
Examine this to a celebration the place you don’t know many individuals; it may be onerous to mingle as a result of there aren’t any pressured introductions. I contemplate myself a reasonably social particular person, and I nonetheless discover it actually onerous to make connections if I solely know the host or a few individuals.
Having an exercise to do whilst you chit-chat additionally helps to ease any awkwardness. It may be so simple as sipping a espresso or consuming dinner, however I’ve gone to different group actions like hikes, paint and sip at a brewery, snowboarding, and karaoke. I’ve heard of board sport teams and others primarily based round working towards Spanish.
There’s a group-related exercise that pertains to your current pursuits. The exercise is solely the rationale for you all to get collectively and offer you one thing in widespread.
A Substitute for Third Areas
Don’t go into this expertise looking for a deep connection. Sure, this will organically come up from the expertise of continually assembly with strangers, however I’ve discovered that these meetups are extra like a alternative for a 3rd area.
Third areas are a spot to go that’s separate from the house and work, and are a spot so that you can get social and construct neighborhood. Consider libraries, espresso outlets, church buildings, gyms, legions, bars, and parks. Ideally, you shouldn’t must pay a lot to spend time there. Sadly, reasonably priced third areas are getting onerous to return by. And fewer persons are being social in third areas.
These meetups present a spot to satisfy and prepare all the small print in your behalf. All it’s important to do is present up, making it low dedication. Go in with a need to work together with individuals, and also you’ll get one thing out of the expertise.
I have already got many deep friendships, lots of which I keep frequently. However what I didn’t have was the chance to exit for dinner on a Thursday night time and sit with a gaggle of strangers.
On the finish of it, I might say goodnight and go on about my enterprise. It permits me to sit down in a social setting as somebody who works from residence.
Don’t fear about making an attempt to get to the “meat” of dialog too rapidly, and kind these deep connections. These meetups are about having an off-the-cuff place to go and to really feel much less strain in social settings.
You’ll Be Pleasantly Stunned
In the event you go in with the entire above as your mindset, you’re beginning in a very good place. You’re going to get out of the home, be a bit social, meet with some hopefully like-minded individuals, after which be in your merry manner.
And if one thing else arises out of that, wonderful.
I met a girl at one of many espresso meetups, and he or she and I’ve turn out to be actually shut. I now contemplate her one in all my finest pals.
I’ve additionally met a big group of individuals (about 20-30 individuals) with whom I now routinely exit for a wide range of actions. We do karaoke frequently and exit for dinner. I’m additionally in a snowboarding group that meets up usually within the winter.
Most people I’ve met are exercise companions, however a couple of have turn out to be actually shut pals. So in the event you’ve gone to some dinners or meetups, I encourage you to maintain making an attempt. You’ll discover the individuals you’re meant to click on with.
Meetup Apps to Attempt
My Expertise With Timeleft
After you join and fill in a bit about your self, Timeleft will take over and schedule a dinner for you, matching you with a gaggle of six or so strangers.
What I like concerning the app is that they clearly have native individuals in place to assist with scheduling. They e book the restaurant for you, and also you gained’t know who you’re assembly or the place you’re assembly till the day of the dinner.
I discovered it to be an effective way to get out of the home in a low-commitment, social setting. If you’re having dinner, you’re sitting proper subsequent to those strangers, and dialog will move.
I’ve had some dinners the place I don’t love a number of the concepts being mentioned or the place the move of dinner feels a bit bit uncomfortable. However in fact, that’s going to occur while you’re usually assembly with strangers.
Dinner has a sure stage of intention, since individuals should put within the effort of going to a restaurant and contributing their time, cash, and energy to get to know different individuals. Folks present up with a stage of openness.
In complete, I went to 11 dinners in 2025, so I discovered the expertise fairly wonderful. I might extremely suggest it if it’s out there in your metropolis (it’s in 200+ cities and 52 international locations). In addition to dinner, you can even meet for drinks or runs.
My Expertise With Kin
If dinner feels a bit too intense, I’ve completed the very same factor by means of Kin and met up with a gaggle of individuals for espresso. Espresso meetups undoubtedly really feel extra informal than dinner. Kin has the identical construction as Timeleft, the place they’ll prepare all the pieces for you, supplying you with a spot and time to satisfy.
You start by taking a fast questionnaire, which they’ll use to assist match you with these of your age and character. Teams can vary from 4 to 7 individuals.
From Kin, I’ve made a few of my closest pals. I discovered those who I linked with rapidly, and deliberate to hang around with them instantly.
I’ve additionally met those who I encounter once more at one other espresso, and even dinner by means of Timeleft. It’s nice as a result of I can observe up on our earlier conversations!
Kin is presently solely out there in ten cities, however I hope it continues to develop as a result of I believe it’s a very nice low-stakes, reasonably priced possibility for these inquisitive about neighborhood constructing.
Different Meetup Apps to Attempt
I’ve not given these apps a strive, however I needed to incorporate them in case they have been extra out there in your metropolis or had options you’d be inquisitive about. All of them appear to be a bit completely different.
I hope this vegetation a seed to step exterior of your consolation zone. In the event you’re trying to meet new individuals, this may very well be an awesome, low-stakes possibility to take action. In the event you’ve tried one in all these apps earlier than, let me know within the feedback.
