Friend search apps, I've recently tried various ones and realized that there are quite a few apps specifically for people who just want to make friends, not for dating or marriage purposes. Especially for people in their 40s and 50s who want to build new social connections, or women looking for others who share the same interests, the user goals are becoming quite clear.

In terms of safety, many apps are limited to women only and have 24-hour monitoring systems, so that aspect seems reassuring. More apps are also requiring identity verification. However, there is a noticeable difference between free features and paid options, so that’s something to check.

From what I’ve tried, apps specialized in fan activities (like Favomatch) have a rich set of search options, making it easier to find fellow fans, and women-only apps (like Touch, DotMatch, Tipsys) allow for casual conversations with the same gender. But some apps don’t support location-based searches, which can be inconvenient for finding nearby friends.

For men, Bumble with its BFF mode is cheaper, and Tantan allows men to send messages for free, lowering the barrier. Still, apps aimed at women seem to have better safety features overall.

When choosing a friend search app, it’s important to consider your purpose (fan activities? same-gender friends? opposite-gender friends?), the level of safety, and whether the app truly attracts users who are looking to make friends. It’s worth trying out different options.