Complete Guide to Friend-Making Apps: 2025 Latest Top Recommendations

The use of friend-making apps is rapidly expanding. Instead of dating or marriage-focused platforms, more users want to genuinely expand their circle of friends, find people with similar hobbies, or join communities where they can casually talk with the same gender. Especially among working adults, many feel the difficulty of making new friends, and even people in their 40s and 50s are starting to look for friends of the same age—these needs are diverse.

However, when considering using these apps, questions often arise such as “Is it really safe?”, “Are all users sincere in their goal to make friends?”, and “Can I use enough features for free?” In this article, we thoroughly review 15 popular services and introduce how to choose the best friend-making app for you.

5 Key Points for Choosing a Friend-Making App

When comparing friend-making apps, focus on these five points:

Point 1: Number of users with the same purpose
Is the app dedicated solely to making friends, or does it also cater to dating and marriage? Having aligned goals is key to success.

Point 2: Search and filter functions based on hobbies and values
Features that allow filtering by interests like supporting favorite idols, otaku activities, sports, or weekend plans greatly improve the efficiency of finding friends.

Point 3: Security measures
24-hour monitoring, strict identity verification, reporting and blocking features—all contribute to safety and build trust.

Point 4: Free features for female users
Most apps allow women to use basic functions for free, but the service content varies.

Point 5: Pricing structure for male users
A user-friendly fee system for men influences the formation of a balanced user base.

How to Find the Right Friend-Making App for You

Different apps suit different user groups and characteristics.

For those wanting to find friends with similar hobbies or otaku interests
Choose platforms with extensive search options related to supporting favorite idols or hobbies, where like-minded users gather.

For those seeking friends of the same age in their 30s to 50s
Select apps designed for middle-aged users, where you can meet people with similar life stages, such as parenting or career.

For women prioritizing female-only friendships
Opt for women-only or women-exclusive apps to create a safe and comfortable community.

For those wanting to make friends of the opposite gender or for male users
Use apps that are open to both genders and include friend-making features, allowing you to find both male and female friends.

Top 10 Friend-Making Apps to Watch in 2025

1st Place: Favomatch (Favosia) – The Best Solution for Supporting Favorite Idols

Specialized in making friends around supporting idols and otaku activities. Women-only (18+), with rich filtering options to search by supporting style and weekend plans. Features a timeline for SNS-like interaction and hosts regular real-world events and meetups. Perfect for those wanting to connect with others who share their favorite idols.

Rating: 4.75

2nd Place: Touch – Balance of Safety and Ease of Use

A women-only app with strict identity verification via ID photos and 24-hour monitoring. Designed to exclude users seeking romantic relationships, ensuring genuine friend-seekers. Matching is efficient with hobby cards, and the timeline feature allows SNS-style interaction. Unlimited free messaging makes it very attractive.

Rating: 4.69

3rd Place: Doto Match (TOKUGAWA) – Community Focused on Local Friendships

A women-focused matching app with timeline and detailed search functions (by location, day off, hobbies). Provides area-specific restaurant info to facilitate meetups. Strict identity checks ensure high reliability.

Rating: 4.67

4th Place: Bumble – Supports Both Same and Opposite Gender Friendships

A global matching app from the US, with a BFF mode for friend-making. Offers a safe environment with monitoring, reporting, and blocking. Many international users make it ideal for global friendship-building.

Rating: 4.60

5th Place: Tantan – Worldwide Friend Search

Originating in China, with over 300 million members worldwide. Designed for making friends, supports same-gender searches, and offers unrestricted messaging. 24-hour monitoring and reporting ensure safety. Men can send messages for free.

Rating: 4.46

6th Place: Somuri (MAMATALK) – Friendships for Middle-Aged Users

Targeted at 30s to 50s, with a mode for finding same-gender friends. Rich search options by age, hobbies, children, etc., making it easy to find peers with similar life stages. Features a unique “Adult Love Sommelier” quiz.

Rating: 4.45

7th Place: tipsys (Relation Design Laboratory) – Women’s Community Platform

A women-only app with over 300,000 users nationwide. Features timeline and group chat functions for one-on-one or group interactions. Allows setting exclusion keywords to avoid unwanted content, ensuring a comfortable environment.

Rating: 4.44

8th Place: JOIN US (Vikona) – Spontaneous Drinking Buddies

A matching app for casual drinking meetups, focusing on “wanting to drink tonight.” Users can set their preferred drinking style (casual, snack bar, beer, etc.) and find nearby people via location. Best suited for spontaneous socializing rather than ongoing friendships.

Rating: 4.24

9th Place: GolWho – Golf Enthusiasts Community

A golf-specific app for making friends based on scores, ride-sharing, and play style. Includes features to match with pro golfers, enriching golf-based friendships. Not solely for friendship, so some users may seek romance.

Rating: 4.09

10th Place: Tinder – Global Connection Hub

Known mainly for dating, but also usable for making friends. Supports same-gender searches, with safety features like monitoring, reporting, and blocking. Its global reach makes it ideal for travel or meeting new people abroad.

Rating: 3.84

Women-Only vs. Co-Ed Apps: What’s the Difference?

Women-Only Apps:

  • Safer environment with only female users
  • Focused on female friendship and community
  • Often free for basic features
  • Community tailored from a female perspective

Co-Ed Apps:

  • Enable making friends of both genders
  • Offer more diverse options and wider user base
  • Suitable for those seeking both male and female friends
  • Designed to meet various needs

Features to Check for Safe Friend-Making

When choosing an app, ensure it has these security features:

Strict Identity Verification:
Apps requiring ID photo submissions help prevent impersonation.

24-Hour Monitoring:
Allows quick response to issues, though some apps may lack this.

Reporting and Blocking:
Essential tools for users to handle problems independently.

Terms of Service Enforcement:
Check how actively the app monitors and enforces rules to prevent misuse.

Final Advice for Using Friend-Making Apps

Friend-making apps are now common, with many people successfully building new relationships through them. Whether you’re looking for fellow idol fans, friends of the same age, or hobby partners, choosing the right app is key. Use the five comparison points and app features discussed here to find the best fit for your goals. Prioritize safety and alignment of purpose to ensure a rewarding and secure friendship-building experience.

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