Galentine's Day (February 13th) isn't just about pink decor and brunch reservations. It's about having a solid plan that brings your favorite people together without turning you into a stressed-out event coordinator.
Whether you're looking to expand your friend circle or planning a celebration with your existing crew, the right apps handle everything from finding like-minded women to coordinating logistics.
I tested 10 friendship-focused apps to see which were worth the space on your smartphone. Out of those, these five essential apps will help you create a Galentine's Day that's memorable for all the right reasons.
1. Gofrendly connects you with local women looking for real friendships
Out of the 10 friend-matching apps I tested, Gofrendly was the easiest to use and felt the most useful. Unlike swipe-based apps that focus on physical appearance (just like Bumble BFF), Gofrendly centers around shared activities and interests. Plus, it's specifically for women looking for gal-pals. So rest assured there aren't any hidden agendas in disguise.
The Gofrendly activities tab quickly became my favorite feature because you can browse local events, join existing groups, or create your own. I found groups for everything from Gym Rats to wine tasting to hiking clubs.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
What makes Gofrendly perfect for Galentine's Day is how naturally it turns online connections into real friendships. This women-only app uses interest-based matching to connect you with like-minded women nearby, whether you're new to your city or simply looking to expand your existing friend circle.
You can join Galentine's meetups already happening in your area, or host your own celebration and invite women who share your interests. The app features everything from cozy wine nights and dinner parties to travel groups and cultural outings.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
For Galentine's Day planning, check the app's activity feed a week or two in advance to see what celebrations are already being organized. If you're hosting your own event, post it to Gofrendly and watch your guest list grow with women who genuinely share your interests.
Does your phone have enough battery life?
Make sure your phone can keep up if you're juggling multiple planning apps—phones with excellent battery life ensure you won't miss messages or lose access to event details when you need them most.
Check out the latest devices with long-lasting battery:
What happened to Hey! VINA?
If you've heard about Hey! VINA as a top app for making female friends, here's what you need to know: The app shut down in 2024 despite being widely recommended for women looking to build platonic friendships. Hey! VINA was only available on iOS (iPhone), which limited its reach, and the company cited operational and product challenges as reasons for closing.
If you're a Hey! VINA user looking for a new platform this Galentine's Day, Gofrendly provides the same safe, supportive environment for making female friendships.
2. Peanut helps you find mom friends and fertility support
Peanut serves a very specific audience, and I need to be upfront about that. If you're a mom, trying to conceive, or navigating fertility challenges, this app invites you to a supportive community of women who truly understand your journey. You can filter by life stage (trying to conceive, currently pregnant, new mom, or raising older kids), which means you'll match with women experiencing similar challenges and milestones.
As a single woman in my 30s, I found Peanut wasn't the right fit for me. But I can see how it would be helpful. Many of my friends have kids and always complain about how difficult it is to find other moms to hang out with. The app's effectiveness also depends heavily on who's active in your area. When I tested Peanut, my location showed very few women looking for connections.
The Galentine's Day angle here is organizing mom-friendly celebrations that work around the realities of parenting. Something like midday brunches while kids are at school, family-friendly gatherings where everyone brings their children, or coordinating babysitting swaps so the moms can actually have a girls' night out.
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3. Paperless Post makes inviting your crew feel special
Skip the chaotic group chat where half your messages get lost and nobody can agree on anything. Paperless Post handles invitations with pizzaz. When I looked through the templates, I found the Valentine's Day cards absolutely adorable. I would have a hard time digitally creating my own invitation on Canva, so having these pre-made designs would be a lifesaver.
The app lets you track RSVPs in real-time, send via text, link, or email, and collect dietary restrictions through custom questions. That way you don't have to worry about jotting everything down in your notes app.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
Unfortunately, the really cute designs cost money. If you want something really show-stopping, you have to pay for each element of the invitation (despite it being digital) like paper, design, and even the envelope. Plus, you pay per invitation sent.
However, it's cheaper than real cards and stamps, and a special occasion calls for something more elegant than a 'party at my house on Friday' text or last minute message. Just beware scams and phishing in today's digital era when sending your links out. One Reddit user warned that some scammers use similar links to steal sensitive data, so only send invites through the official Paperless Post platform.
Celebrate with cheap unlimited data
Juggling multiple apps for Galentine's Day planning can eat through your data fast. If you're tired of worrying about overage charges, check out our guide to the best unlimited data plans to find a plan that keeps you connected without breaking the bank.
Here are the most popular unlimited data phone plans at the moment.
4. BACH gives you access to top group events
This app surprised me the most. Originally designed for bachelorette parties, BACH is secretly perfect for Galentine's Day; because honestly, what's the difference? Ladies celebrating together, whether it's a bachelorette or Galentine's, it's all about the same energy. Every event on the app looks amazingly fun, and when I saw a hat-decorating event in my area, I seriously considered booking it just for myself.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
BACH handles all the logistical nightmares that come with coordinating multiple people, like creating polls to vote on dates, activities, or restaurants, building a shared itinerary so everyone knows the plan, and splitting expenses. Everything stays in one place instead of being scattered across texts, emails, and forgotten conversations.
Cheap phone plans and streaming perks for free
Not in the mood for all the Galentine's Day festivities? You can opt for a chill movie night with the girls. And you can stream for free while saving money on your phone bill. We have a guide that covers the best plans that include streaming subscriptions free of charge.
Otherwise, check out the most popular affordable plans on the market:
5. OpenTable locks down your reservation before everywhere fills up
Valentine's Day is one of the busiest times for restaurants, but OpenTable can help you locate and lock down reservations before every decent spot fills up. It lets you book a table, but you also get easier access to the menu, allergen lists, and the general vibe of the restaurant. Since I don't like takeout or bringing food home, I had fun adding different filters to suit my fancy while seeing the selection in my area.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
OpenTable shows you real-time availability and lets you filter by cuisine and price range. You can modify group size, request specific tables, and even join waitlists for fully booked spots.
Build the perfect Galentine's playlist with Spotify
Spotify's collaborative playlist feature is perfect for Galentine's Day celebrations. Create a playlist specifically for your event and share the link with your group so everyone can add their favorite friendship anthems and pump-up songs.
Looking for more great apps? Check out our monthly roundup of the best apps for Android and iPhone.
Galentine's Day apps: FAQs
What is Galentine's Day, and when is it celebrated?
Galentine's Day is celebrated on February 13th as a day to commemorate female friendships.
Do I need all these apps for Galentine's Day?
No, pick the ones that match your celebration style. If you're doing a simple dinner with your usual group, OpenTable and Spotify might be all you need. For bigger events or finding new friends, add BACH and Gofrendly.
Are these apps free to use?
Most offer free versions with optional paid features. Paperless Post charges for premium designs, and both Gofrendly and BACH have optional premium features.
Can I use Gofrendly if I already have a friend group?
Absolutely! Gofrendly is great for expanding your circle, finding activity partners with specific interests, or connecting with people in general. Many users have existing friend groups but use Gofrendly to meet new people with shared hobbies.
How WhistleOut reviews apps
Our mobile experts scour the app stores, looking for the best new apps for Android and iPhone. Before recommending an app, we use the app for at least one full workday, testing its basic functionality and evaluating whether or not it delivers on its promises.
- Easy to use
Great apps simplify your phone. We selected the tools that don't require a complicated instructional manual. - Affordability
The internet is filled with expensive price tags, but we're not buying what they're selling. We leaned into inexpensive, quality apps. Extra points if they're free! - Hands-on testing
We played around with these before recommending them, ensuring they're worth your download.
From there, we weigh the app's pros and cons and then determine whether or not it's a worthwhile download for the wider population of cell phone users.
Jessica Santero
Staff Writer