The short answer
Looking to make friends in New York? It depends on how you prefer to meet people. Nearby by Anuma helps you discover people who are around you. Bumble For Friends is for people who like swiping through profiles. Timeleft puts you at a dinner table with five strangers. Meetup helps you find people who share your interests. And The Breakfast introduces you to someone new for a one on one conversation.
New York has 8 million people and somehow it's still hard to make friends here. Everyone has a busy schedule, plans fall through, and even when you meet someone you click with, it's not always easy to see them again.
There are plenty of apps that promise to help. The difference is how they bring people together. Some start with profiles and chats. Others give you a reason to meet in person.
Full disclosure: We make Nearby by Anuma, so it's included in this list. We've tried to be fair about every app below, including where others do better than we do.
The 5 best apps to make friends in NYC
1. Nearby by Anuma
Best for: meeting people who are actually around you, without the dating-app feel.
Nearby is a feature inside Anuma, a multi-model AI chat app with private memory, and it launched in NYC on iOS and Android in September 2026.
Anuma Nearby takes a different approach to making friends. Instead of spending your time swiping through profiles, it shows a live map of who's around, tells you who nearby that you might get along with, and lists meetups you can join to make plans in real life.
What makes it different is your profile. You start with interests and photos. The more you use Anuma, the better it understands you, so your suggestions get better over time instead of staying stuck on a bio you wrote once.
- Pros: real-time and location-based, so plans can happen tonight. Matches get smarter with use. Built for friendship, not dating.
- Cons: NYC only for now. It's new, so the community is still growing.
- Privacy: Nearby is opt-in. You choose what Anuma remembers and what chats are visible as part of your profile.
2. Bumble For Friends
Best for: people who like a familiar swipe-and-chat format.
Bumble For Friends grew out of the BFF mode inside Bumble's dating app and is now its own app, separate from dating. If you're already familiar with dating apps, the format will feel pretty natural: browse profiles, find people who seem interesting, and start a conversation.
Bumble has recently pushed it toward groups and community, adding group chats, meetups and an in-app calendar.
- Pros: big user base and a format most people already know. Free to use, with paid upgrades.
- Cons: profile browsing can feel like dating-app fatigue all over again. Lots of matches never turn into plans.
3. Timeleft
Best for: people who want a plan made for them.
Timeleft matches you with five strangers for dinner at a partner restaurant, usually on Wednesday nights. You answer a personality quiz, pay for a ticket or membership, and pay for your own meal. It has been running in NYC since March 2024.
- Pros: zero planning, and the restaurant and ice-breakers do the work. Great if you're new to the city.
- Cons: fixed format and schedule. Costs add up between tickets and dinner. Group chemistry is luck of the draw.
4. Meetup
Best for: hobbies and recurring groups.
Meetup is the long-standing option for interest-based groups, from run clubs to language exchanges to tech talks. NYC has groups for almost everything.
Rather than relying on a single introduction, Meetup gives you a reason to see the same people regularly. That can make a big difference when you're trying to build lasting friendships.
- Pros: huge variety of activities. You can connect over something you already enjoy. Recurring groups let you see the same faces and build friendships slowly.
- Cons: quality varies a lot by organizer. Some events are welcoming and well organized, while others can feel more like a crowd of strangers. Some events are free, while others charge a fee.
5. The Breakfast
Best for: one-on-one conversations with someone new.
The Breakfast introduces you to one new person a day, and you have 24 hours to decide whether to meet for breakfast. You apply to join, and it's a paid membership with no free trial.
It's a more intentional approach to friendship. Instead of browsing endless profiles, you get one introduction and a chance to see where the conversation goes.
- Pros: intentional and low-pressure, with no swiping. Good for curious people who like one-on-one chats.
- Cons: one introduction a day is slow. Membership is paid. Check whether it's live in your neighborhood before signing up.
Which friend app is right for you?
Pick the app that matches how you actually like to meet people.
| App | How you meet | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearby by Anuma | Live map and vibe check, then meet IRL | Spontaneous plans with people close by | Free |
| Bumble For Friends | Swipe, chat, groups | A familiar dating app format | Free, paid upgrades |
| Timeleft | Set dinner with 5 strangers | Zero planning | Paid ticket or membership, plus your meal |
| Meetup | Interest groups and events | Hobbies and recurring groups | Mostly free, some paid events |
| The Breakfast | One intro a day, breakfast 1:1 | Low-pressure conversations | Paid membership |
A few things that actually help you make friends
Whichever app you choose, meeting people is only half the challenge. Here's what can make the difference.
Make plans sooner rather than later. If you hit it off with someone, suggest a specific time and place instead of letting the conversation drag on for weeks.
Show up more than once. Seeing the same people regularly is one of the easiest ways to build familiarity and trust. A weekly run club or book group may do more for your social life than attending five unrelated events.
Don't rely on just one approach. Try a friend app for meeting new people, then find a recurring activity where you can get to know them over time.
Give it a little time. Not every conversation will turn into a friendship. That's normal. The goal isn't to click with everyone. It's to find a few people you genuinely enjoy spending time with.
FAQ
What is the best app to make friends in NYC?
It depends on your style. Anuma Nearby is best for meeting people around you in real time, Bumble For Friends for swiping, Timeleft for planned dinners, Meetup for hobby groups, and The Breakfast for one-on-one chats.
Is there a friend app that isn't a dating app?
Yes. Nearby, Timeleft, Meetup and The Breakfast are all built for friendship. Bumble For Friends is a separate app from Bumble's dating app. Each has a different way of bringing people together.
How do I make friends after moving to NYC?
Pick one recurring activity, like a run club or class, and one app for spontaneous plans. Showing up regularly matters more than meeting lots of people once.
Is Anuma Nearby available outside NYC?
Not yet. Anuma Nearby launched in New York first. If you're in another city, you can join the waitlist to hear about future availability.
Can other people see my Anuma chats on Nearby?
Your private chats stay private. In public mode, summaries of your public-mode chats can appear on your Nearby profile under Activity. You choose what Anuma remembers and which memories you make public.
Your next friend could be closer than you think
The hardest part of making friends in New York isn't finding people. It's turning a good conversation into an actual plan. Anuma Nearby shows you who's around and who you'll click with, so the next step is just saying hi.