When a long-time favorite app like Hey VINA shuts down, it can feel frustrating — especially if you relied on it to meet new friends, connect with women nearby, or feel less alone in a new place. But the good news? There are excellent female-focused friendship apps that offer safer, stronger, and more active communities than ever before.
The best alternatives to Hey VINA include Gofrendly, Peanut, and Bumble BFF. These friendship apps help women meet new friends through interest-based matching, local activities, and safe community spaces designed for real-life connections.
Why Hey VINA’s Shutdown Matters for Women
Hey VINA was one of the first friendship apps built specifically for women. For many, it offered a safe way to meet new people and feel less alone when moving to a new city.
With the app shutting down, former users are looking for replacements that offer:
- a women-first environment
- active local communities
- interest-based matching
- real opportunities to meet offline
Fortunately, there are strong alternatives available — and one of the best is Gofrendly.
What to Look for in a Female Friendship App
Before choosing your next friendship app, here are the qualities that matter most:
✔ Woman-friendly environment
Spaces designed for women often feel safer, more relaxed, and more genuine.
✔ Interest-based matching
Shared hobbies make it easier to start conversations and build meaningful bonds.
✔ Local community and active users
A good app should help you find women nearby — and meet them offline.
✔ Groups, activities, and events
Friendship grows faster when you do things together.
✔ Safety and community guidelines
Clear moderation creates trust and comfort.
The Best Alternatives to Hey VINA
Here are the most reliable, women-friendly friendship apps to use now:
Gofrendly — The Strongest Hey VINA Replacement
Gofrendly is a women-only friendship app designed for real-life connection. It combines smart matching with user-created activities and events, making it easy to meet women who share your interests.
Why Gofrendly stands out:
- 100% women-only community
- Interest-based matching
- Local meetups and events
- Safe, warm and supportive environment
- Designed for real, lasting friendships
Best for: Women looking to build meaningful connections in everyday life.
Peanut — Ideal for Moms and Moms-to-Be
Peanut creates an online community for women across stages of life, especially motherhood.
Why women choose Peanut:
- Topic-based communities
- Support groups
- Forums for questions
- Local meetups depending on city
Best for: Moms, expecting moms, and women seeking supportive communities.
Bumble BFF — Broad Option with a Huge User Base
Originally a dating app, Bumble’s BFF mode is used worldwide for making new friends.
Why it’s a solid alternative:
- Massive user base
- Easy to match quickly
- Great for finding activity partners
Best for: Women who want a fast way to meet local friends.
How to Transition from Hey VINA to a New Friendship App (Step-by-Step)
Step 1 — Decide what you want from your next friendship app
Think about whether you prefer a women-only community, interest-based matching, local events, or group activities.
Step 2 — Choose the app that best fits your social needs
Gofrendly is ideal for local, women-only friendships. Peanut is great for moms. Bumble BFF is broader and includes both friendship and dating.
Step 3 — Create a fresh profile that reflects who you are today
Update your interests, lifestyle, and what kind of friendships you’re looking for.
Step 4 — Join groups, events, or activities right away
This helps you meet women more naturally and quickly.
Step 5 — Send a warm introduction to your first few matches
Short, personal messages create the best first impression.
FAQ
Why is Hey VINA shutting down?
Hey VINA announced its shutdown due to operational and product-related challenges. The app could no longer maintain or update the platform at the level users expected. Many women are now looking for a safe and reliable community to replace it, which makes Gofrendly one of the strongest alternatives available today.
What is the best alternative to Hey VINA?
The best alternative to Hey VINA is Gofrendly — a women-only friendship app designed to help women meet like-minded friends through interest-based matching, groups, and real-life activities. Unlike broad apps like Bumble BFF, Gofrendly focuses entirely on female friendships and building a warm, supportive community.
Are friendship apps safe to use?
Friendship apps are safe to use as long as they have strong moderation and clear community guidelines. Gofrendly prioritizes women’s safety through a women-only environment, active moderation, and features that help you meet people in comfortable, low-pressure ways — both online and offline.
Are these apps free?
Most friendship apps offer free versions, including Gofrendly. You can browse profiles, match, chat, and join local activities at no cost. Some apps also offer optional premium features to enhance the experience, but the core functionality remains free.
Can I still meet friends locally after Hey VINA shuts down?
Yes — absolutely. Apps like Gofrendly make it easy to meet women in your area who also want to make new friends. With local groups, user-hosted activities, and interest-based matching, you can quickly build a new social circle even if Hey VINA is no longer available.
If you’re looking for a new space to meet like-minded women, Gofrendly offers a warm, women-only community with local meetups and meaningful connections. Find friends in your local area here:
Why You Can Trust This Article
This article was 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 experience-based, community-informed and designed to offer supportive, helpful guidance — not generic or automated advice.
