Complete Guide to Friend-Making Apps | Carefully Selected Services for 2026 and Smart Ways to Choose

In recent years, unlike romantic or marriage activities, the popularity of “friend-making apps” that purely aim to expand social circles among working adults has rapidly increased. The purposes vary widely—from seeking friends with similar hobbies, wanting casual conversations outside of work, to building new relationships in their 40s and 50s. However, when actually using these apps, questions such as “Can I trust the safety?” and “Will I meet genuine friends for friendship purposes?” often arise.

This guide provides a detailed analysis of the top 10 popular friend-making apps based on multiple criteria such as safety, search functions, pricing, and user demographics. We also introduce how to choose the best app suited to your goals.

5 Key Points to Avoid Mistakes When Choosing a Friend-Making App

When selecting a friend-making app, the most important aspects are the following five:

① Ease of gathering users seeking friends
Unlike dating apps, the key is whether all users are focused on “finding friends.” If purposes are mixed, you may encounter mismatched expectations.

② Ease of finding people with similar values or hobbies
Features that allow detailed searches by age, residence, weekend activities, or favorite interests help find more compatible friends.

③ Security and safety measures
24-hour monitoring, strict identity verification, reporting and blocking functions—having a system in place for trouble response is essential.

④ Women’s free features
Most apps allow women to use basic functions for free, but restrictions on messaging can significantly impact usability.

⑤ Men’s pricing structure
If you plan to use the app long-term, reasonable monthly fees are an important consideration.

Top Female-Only, Safety-Focused Friend-Making Apps

1st: Favomatch (Favosia) | Score 4.75

A women-only app centered on shared hobbies like supporting favorite idols or otaku activities. Only women over 18 can register, and you can search for friends based on how they enjoy their free time or idol activities, making it easier to find compatible friends. Regular offline events and meetups are also held, enabling both online and offline交流.

Pros

• Dedicated solely to friend-finding with focused purpose
• Rich search options related to idol activities
• Efficient matching based on schedules
• Timeline feature for SNS-like交流

Cons

• No 24-hour monitoring system implemented
• Removing ads requires payment

2nd: Touch (Crouge) | Score 4.69

A women-only app provided by Crouge, featuring strict identity verification via official ID. Focused solely on friend-finding, so purpose mismatches are rare. The app offers extensive hobby card searches, and with 24-hour monitoring, safety is high. Messaging is unlimited and free.

Pros

• Exclusively for women, focusing on same-sex交流
• Strict ID verification with photo ID
• 24/7 monitoring, reporting, and blocking functions
• Unlimited free messaging

Cons

• Limited detailed search filters
• Ads removal requires payment

3rd: DotoMatch (Tokugawa) | Score 4.67

A matching app specialized for women to make friends, combining timeline and search functions for ease of use. You can filter by holidays or residence, and age and gender are verified via ID. It also provides restaurant info useful for meetups.

Pros

• Dedicated to friend-finding with aligned purposes
• Women-only, enabling female-female交流
• Easy to find compatible schedules
• SNS-like timeline交流

Cons

• No 24-hour monitoring, so immediate response may be uncertain
• Ads removal requires payment

Apps Supporting Both Opposite and Same Sex Friendships for Men

4th: Bumble (Bumble Inc.) | Score 4.60

An American-originated matching app allowing switching between dating and friend modes. The “BFF Mode” narrows down to friend-finding, suitable for users wanting both same-sex and opposite-sex friends. It features comprehensive safety measures, and has a large international user base. Male subscription fees are among the lowest industry-wide.

Pros

• BFF mode for targeted friend search
• Can find friends of any gender
• Strong safety features
• Very affordable male pricing

Cons

• Can search by current location but not by residence
• No option to filter only same-sex matches
• Cannot view who liked you for free

5th: Tantan (Tantan Japan) | Score 4.46

A Chinese-origin app with over 300 million global users, focused on friend discovery. No messaging restrictions, and matching is based on shared interests. Supports both opposite-sex and same-sex friend searches, with 24/7 monitoring and reporting for安心.

Pros

• Dedicated to friend-finding, supports same-sex searches
• 24/7 monitoring for安心
• Men can send messages for free

Cons

• Not ideal for detailed friend searches
• No search by residence

6th: Somli (MAMATALK) | Score 4.45

Aimed at middle-aged users in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, this app specializes in making friends within this age group. Features include “Same-sex friend search” mode and unique functions like “Adult Love Sommelier Diagnosis.” It offers detailed filters such as weekend plans and family status.

Pros

• Popular among middle-aged users
• Safety features like reporting and blocking
• Easy to find friends based on schedules and family status
• Rich hobby-based search options

Cons

• Not suitable for users in their 20s
• Men need a monthly fee

Apps with Rich SNS-like交流 Features

7th: tipsys (Relation Design Laboratory) | Score 4.44

A women-only app with over 300,000 users nationwide. Features timeline and group chat functions, enabling not only one-on-one meetings but also group交流. Users can set exclusion keywords on the timeline to avoid unwanted topics.

Pros

• Focused solely on friend-finding with clear purpose
• Women-only, enabling female-female交流
• Group交流 helps expand social circles
• Reporting and blocking for trouble management

Cons

• Cannot search by residence, limiting nearby friend discovery
• No 24-hour monitoring system
• Free version limits message sending
• Paid options needed to remove ads

8th: JOIN US (Vikona) | Score 4.24

A drinking party matching app designed for instant meetups. Users can register preferred drinks and styles (e.g., casual, snack bar), and find nearby users via location. It’s more for finding drinking partners on the spot rather than long-term friends.

Pros

• Dedicated to purpose of instant drinking companions
• Matches based on drinking style preferences
• Men may use it for free depending on timing

Cons

• Cannot search by residence
• No 24-hour monitoring or age verification
• Unclear pricing for men

Niche Hobby-Focused Friend-Making Apps

9th: GolWho (Golf Activity) | Score 4.09

A golf-specific matching app allowing searches based on scores, ride-sharing, and golf style. It features matching with pro golfers and SNS-like timeline交流. 24/7 monitoring and blocking ensure safety.

Pros

• High safety with continuous monitoring
• Detailed golf-related search filters
• SNS-style交流 via timeline

Cons

• Not solely for friends—includes dating and marriage users
• Men need a monthly fee

10th: Tinder (MG Japan Services) | Score 3.84

A globally popular app with over 55 billion matches. Known for dating, but also supports friend-finding and same-sex searches. Simple swipe interface ideal for travel or new city交流.

Pros

• Supports same-sex matches
• 24/7 monitoring and reporting functions
• Men can use basic features without extra charges

Cons

• Many users seeking romantic relationships
• Free plan limits likes and shows ads

How to Choose the Right Friend-Making App for You

For women prioritizing safety
Apps like “Touch” and “DotoMatch” with strict identity verification and 24-hour monitoring are recommended.

For men or those seeking both genders
Apps like “Bumble” or “Tantan” that support both same-sex and opposite-sex交流 broaden your options.

For hobby-based friends
Specialized apps like “GolWho” are effective, as they attract users with similar interests, making long-lasting friendships more likely.

For middle-aged users seeking new connections
Apps like “Somli” tailored for specific age groups facilitate natural connections within similar life stages.

Choosing the right app based on your needs and safety considerations can greatly enhance your social experience. Be sure to verify safety features and try out apps that match your goals.