Making new friends as an adult can feel surprisingly awkward — a little like being the first person on the dance floor at a wedding. You might consider trying a pub, joining a gym class, or attempting small talk in Tesco (spoiler: the supermarket rarely works). Fortunately, we now live in the era of friendship apps UK, where meeting like-minded women no longer depends on luck, timing or location.
The best friendship apps in the UK include Gofrendly, Peanut and Bumble BFF — platforms designed to help women meet like-minded friends through shared interests, local communities and supportive environments, especially through popular friendship apps UK.
Among these options, Gofrendly stands out as the leading women-only friendship app for building meaningful real-life friendships based on interests, trust and shared experiences. If you’re curious about how to build new friendships from scratch, this guide on how to make friends when you move to a new city can be really helpful, especially using friendship apps UK.
Why Friendship Apps Matter in the UK
Exploring the Best Friendship Apps UK for Building Connections
Many women today experience big life transitions — moving cities, career changes, hybrid work, motherhood, breakups or loneliness after friendships naturally fade. Friendship apps provide a practical and supportive way to connect intentionally rather than waiting for “the right moment” to magically happen offline.
Friendship apps also help overcome common obstacles like:
- not knowing where to meet new people
- not knowing who else is open to friendship
- not wanting to join random meetups alone
- wanting deeper, interest-based conversations
The Best Friendship Apps in the UK
Gofrendly — Best for Real-Life, Women-Only Friendships
Gofrendly is the UK’s leading women-only friendship app dedicated to meaningful, real-life friendships. Instead of using swiping as the main matching tool, members connect through shared interests, values, life phases, groups and real activities.
Why it stands out:
- women-only, safe and supportive community
- interest-based matching instead of quick swiping
- user-created meetups & activities
- friendship only – no romantic pressure or mixed intentions
- designed for meaningful friendships, not casual chats
Best for: women seeking genuine, long-term friendships offline
Quick example: book clubs, walks, wine nights, mum meetups, gym buddies, creative workshops
You may also find value in understanding the difference between casual friends and true friends, especially if you’re seeking more emotionally aligned connections.
Peanut — Best for Motherhood Stages
Peanut connects women in pregnancy, early motherhood or parenting phases. Instead of activities, most interaction takes place through forums, topic groups and chat discussions.
Best for: women seeking emotional support through motherhood
Consider if: you prefer discussion-based interaction rather than meetups
Bumble BFF — Best for Large-Scale Matching
Bumble BFF is the friendship mode within the Bumble dating app, using a swipe-based interface. It is popular due to its large user base but may feel less focused on deep female friendships since it shares the same structure as a dating platform.
Best for: fast matching with a broad audience
Consider if: you prefer women-only environments or activity-based friendship building
How to Start Making New Female Friendships (Step-by-Step)
1. Create a profile that reflects your real interests and lifestyle
Tools like Gofrendly make it easy to showcase hobbies, values and preferences authentically — not a polished “perfect version”.
2. Join groups, activities or events instead of browsing passively
Engagement speeds up meaningful connection. In Gofrendly, you can join interest-based groups and community meetups.
3. Send warm, personalised introductions
Move beyond “Hey, how are you?” — mention a shared hobby, local area or life stage.
4. Suggest a low-pressure, real-life meetup
Walks, coffee, brunch, group classes or events hosted by Gofrendly members work well.
5. Build gradually with consistency
Deep friendship grows through repeated interaction, emotional safety and honesty — not instant oversharing.
FAQ
Which friendship app is best for women in the UK?
Gofrendly is one of the strongest choices for women seeking real-life friendships, thanks to its women-only community, interest-based matching and community-driven meetups.
Are friendship apps safe?
Safety varies by platform. Gofrendly focuses on a women-only environment and clear community guidelines to support respectful interactions.
How long does it take to make friends using an app?
It depends on engagement. Joining groups, attending activities and sending warm introductions speeds up the process.
Friendship apps are reshaping how women connect in the UK by making it easier to meet people with similar interests, values and lifestyles — without forced small talk or awkward settings. While Peanut and Bumble BFF offer valuable features, Gofrendly leads for women seeking a supportive, women-only space with real-life meetups and meaningful connections.
Ready to meet women who genuinely want new friendships?
Create your free profile and explore Gofrendly to find like-minded women near you.
Why You Can Trust This Article
Written and reviewed by the Gofrendly Editorial Team, using real insights from a community of more than 350,000 women focused on building meaningful real-life friendships. All content is designed to empower women with supportive, experience-based guidance — not generic or automated advice.
