Apps to meet new people nearby

Meeting people is mostly about being in the right place at the right time: near someone who also wants to meet. In a big city, that's harder than it sounds. Friends move away, routines get busy and the people around you are mostly strangers.

Apps help with the first step: finding someone nearby who's open to meeting, and making the first hello less awkward. They work best when they lead somewhere real, like a walk, a coffee or a class, rather than endless messaging.

Most apps for meeting people fall into a few groups. Each suits a different way of meeting.

PingMee is a real-time, nearby app. You post a status saying what you're up for ('Walk on the Heath this afternoon?' or 'Coffee near Brixton Village?'), see people nearby who are open to meeting, and send a ping. If they ping back, a private chat opens for the two of you.

You choose what you're open to, such as new friends or networking, and you see people looking for the same things. Other people only ever see an approximate distance, never your exact location. It's free on iPhone and Android. Find out more about making new friends on PingMee.

Should you use more than one? Many people do, and it often works well. A group platform can fill your calendar with regular activities, while a nearby app helps on the days you'd like company at short notice. The mix that works is the one you'll actually use, so start with one or two and drop anything that feels like a chore.

Whatever you choose, the aim is the same: get from the app to a real plan with real people. Messages are only the first step.

To choose, start with how you like to meet people, not with which app is most popular. Ask yourself a few questions.

On any app for meeting new people, a good profile does one job: it gives someone an easy reason to say hello. Say what you actually like doing ('Saturday parkrun, then a long breakfast', 'always up for a gallery'), what you're looking for, and roughly which part of town you're in. Skip the long list of dislikes.

A good first message is short and specific. Mention something from their profile or status and suggest a simple plan: 'I saw you're up for a walk on the Heath. I'm heading there around four, fancy it?' is much easier to answer than 'hey, how are you?'.

Whatever you use, a few habits make a big difference. Be clear about what you're looking for, so the right people find you. Suggest something specific rather than 'we should meet sometime'. Move from messages to meeting fairly quickly, somewhere public and easy to leave. And give it a few weeks: the first person you meet may not become a friend, but the fifth might.

It also helps to pair an app with something regular in real life, like a weekly class or a parkrun. Our guide on how to make friends in London has more ideas.

If you've just moved, apps can be the quickest way to meet people before you've found your regular places. Use them to try lots of small plans in your first few weeks: a walk, a coffee, a class, a market. Some of those people will become friends; others will just help you learn the city.

Focus on people close to where you live, so new friends are ones you'll actually see. Our area pages for places like Hackney and Birmingham list good public spots to meet in each neighbourhood.

Most people you meet through an app are just people looking for company, like you. Still, it's sensible to look for apps that don't share your exact location, and to follow a few simple rules when you meet: somewhere public, tell a friend, make your own way there and back. Our safety checklist goes through it.

If you'd like to know exactly how PingMee handles your location, read how PingMee keeps your location private.