BeFriend markets itself as a friendship app specifically designed for platonic connections rather than dating. That means no more dealing with dating app features awkwardly repurposed for friendship.
That promise lasted less than two minutes, and here's exactly why.
BeFriend
Inappropriate messages within minutes
I moved back to San Diego and decided to try BeFriend since it was supposedly built specifically for platonic friendships rather than dating. The marketing positioned it as a safe space for genuine connections.
Within less than two minutes of creating my profile, I already had a message from some guy calling me sexy. Nothing remotely friendly—just straight-up inappropriate from the start.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
The speed at which I received an inappropriate message was genuinely alarming. I hadn't even finished exploring the app's features when the notification appeared. This wasn't a case of eventually encountering someone with bad intentions after weeks of use—this was immediate.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
The first profile that popped up in my feed was a shirtless man. Again, this is supposed to be a friendship app, not a dating platform. But the content and behavior on BeFriend blur that line constantly.
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Bots, catfish, and suspicious accounts
I'm not the only one who noticed BeFriend's problems. Another user posted to Reddit describing their experience: "Between the Asian fetishists, mommy's basement boys, and one persistent stalker, I had to drop the whole concept... The bulk of profiles are either bots or catfish... On paper, anyone can claim to be anything."
That last point is crucial. Without proper verification systems, platforms become breeding grounds for fake accounts and people misrepresenting themselves. When you're trying to make genuine friendships, you need some level of confidence that the person you're talking to is who they claim to be.
Needless to say, I deleted and uninstalled BeFriend immediately. I wasn't about to waste time wading through inappropriate messages and questionable profiles just to maybe find one genuine person looking for actual friendship.
Safer friendship app options
If you're looking for safer platforms for making friends, consider women-only apps like Gofrendly that have better moderation and verification systems. The gender restriction doesn't solve every problem, but it does eliminate a significant category of inappropriate behavior.
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BeFriend app: FAQs
Is BeFriend safe to use?
Based on my testing and user reports, no. BeFriend has serious safety issues, including inappropriate messages, fake profiles, and insufficient verification systems.
Is BeFriend for dating or friendship?
While marketed as a friendship app, my personal experience shows that many people treat it like a dating or hookup platform.
Are there fake profiles on BeFriend?
Yes, there are loads of bots and catfish accounts.
What are safer alternatives to BeFriend?
Women-only platforms like Gofrendly or activity-based apps with better verification systems tend to have fewer safety issues and more genuine friendship seekers.
How WhistleOut reviews apps
Our mobile experts test apps extensively before recommending or warning against them. For this review, I created a genuine profile on BeFriend to evaluate its safety, user experience, and whether it delivers on its promise of facilitating friendships.
- Real-world testing
I created genuine profiles, attempted to match with and message other users, and evaluated whether the app facilitated actual friendships or just wasted time. - Safety assessment
We evaluate whether apps have adequate verification systems, moderation policies, and safety features to protect users from harassment and inappropriate content. - User experience matters
Beyond functionality, we assess whether apps respect users' time, make deletion straightforward, and deliver on their marketing promises.
From there, we weigh each app's pros and cons and determine whether it's worth downloading, worth paying for, or worth avoiding entirely. In the case of BeFriend, significant safety concerns make it difficult to recommend.
Jessica Santero
Staff Writer
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