Making friends as an adult feels like dating without the romance—awkward, exhausting, and full of people who ghost after one coffee meetup. I tested 10 friendship apps specifically looking for something that felt less like Tinder and more like actually connecting with women who share my interests. Gofrendly was the clear winner.
Gofrendly
Activity-based matching instead of swiping
This women-only app ditches the swipe-based approach that treats friendship like you're shopping for a couch. Instead, Gofrendly centers everything around shared activities and genuine interests, which makes the whole experience feel less forced and more natural.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
The activities tab became my favorite feature during testing. You can browse local events, join existing groups, or create your own meetups. I found groups for everything from gym sessions and wine tastings, to hiking clubs and book discussions. The variety meant I wasn't stuck choosing between coffee chat and coffee chat at a different cafe.
You can use Gofrendly to connect with new gal-pals any time of the year. But what makes Gofrendly perfect for Galentine's Day is how naturally it turns online connections into real friendships.
You can join Galentine's meetups already happening in your area, or host your own celebration and watch your guest list fill with women who genuinely share your interests. The platform features everything from cozy wine nights and dinner parties to travel groups and cultural outings.
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Free vs. premium Gofrendly features
The premium version of Gofrendly costs $4.99/month, and unlocks unlimited messaging and priority placement in search results. That means that you'll appear further up if someone searches for friend characteristics that match yours.
However, I found the free version perfectly functional for casual use. You can still browse events, join groups, and send a reasonable number of messages without paying anything.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
My only frustration is that the app's effectiveness depends heavily on who's active in your area. If you live in a smaller city, you might find limited options. But for most urban and suburban areas, there's enough activity to make it worthwhile.
For Galentine's Day planning (or any big holiday, really), check the 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 let women who share your interests find you—it's easier than convincing your existing friend group to commit to a date three weeks out.
Looking to expand your friend circle?
Making friends as an adult is genuinely difficult, especially if you've moved to a new city or your existing friend group has scattered. Dating apps monopolized the market for years, but friendship apps are finally catching up.
We tested every major friendship app to see which ones actually help you build real connections. Read our full guide on the best apps for making friends to find the right platform for your social goals.
How to get started with Gofrendly
Getting started takes less than five minutes. Download the app, create your profile with your interests and preferred activities, and start browsing local events. The app is available on both the App Store and Google Play Store:
Gofrendly app: FAQs
Is Gofrendly only for women?
Yes, Gofrendly is a women-only platform designed specifically for female friendships and creating a safe space for platonic connections.
Do I need to pay for Gofrendly?
The free version includes event browsing, group joining, and limited messaging. Premium unlocks unlimited messaging and priority search placement.
How does Gofrendly differ from Bumble BFF?
Gofrendly focuses on shared activities and interests rather than swipe-based matching like Bumble BFF, making it feel less superficial and more focused on genuine connection through common hobbies.
What happened to Hey! VINA?
Hey! VINA shut down in 2024 due to operational challenges. Gofrendly is a great alternative with similar women-focused friendship features.
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
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