The Best Apps to Make Friends in Australia (2026 Update)
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
A no-fluff breakdown of every friendship app available in Australia right now — what they're actually like to use, who they're for, and which one is worth your time.
Why Making Friends as an Adult in Australia Is Actually Hard
Nobody warns you about this. You move cities, change jobs, finish uni — and suddenly the effortless social infrastructure you grew up with just... disappears. Your friends are busy, scattered, or just not into the same things anymore.
It's not that you're doing anything wrong. The old ways of meeting people (school, sport, shared offices) have quietly stopped working for most adults. And unlike overseas markets, Australia doesn't have a deep bench of apps designed for this specific problem. Most of what exists was built for dating, or for large-scale event listings, or for a very different kind of social life than the one you're actually trying to build.
This is the gap. And it's why, in 2026, more Australians are turning to apps to find aligned people for real-life plans.
Here's what's actually out there.
The Best Apps to Make Friends in Australia in 2026
1. Butter — Best for Activity-Based Plans in Melbourne & Sydney
Best for: People who want to do things they love, with people who want to do the same thing
Butter is the only app built specifically for real-life social plans in Australia. Rather than matching you with people to 'be friends with' — which, let's be honest, is a weird premise — Butter works through shared activities. You browse plans happening near you (morning runs, dinner parties, art gallery visits, book clubs, pottery sessions), join the ones that interest you, and meet people through the thing you both showed up for.
The activity does the heavy lifting. The connection follows naturally.
It's available in Melbourne and Sydney, and the quality of plans on the app reflects that local specificity — these aren't generic 'coffee meetups', they're mid-week dinners in Carlton, Saturday bike rides along the Yarra, and creative sessions in Fitzroy.
What users consistently say: it's easy, low-pressure, and genuinely fun. The shared interest removes the awkwardness that makes other apps feel like a job interview.
Free on iOS and Android. Download Butter →
2. Bumble BFF — Best for One-on-One Connections
Best for: People who want to find one new friend rather than a group
Bumble BFF is the friendship mode of dating app Bumble — same swipe mechanics, different intent. You set up a profile, add your interests, and match with people nearby.
The upside: it has a large user base in Australian cities, so you'll get matches. The downside: it still feels like a dating app, because it is a dating app. The whole swipe-match-chat dynamic imports all the awkwardness of online dating into the context of friendship, and many users report that conversations fizzle before any actual plan gets made.
It works best if you're looking to find one or two people to connect with one-on-one, and you're willing to put in the effort to move things offline yourself. It doesn't do much to get you there.
Free with premium options.
3. Meetup — Best for Joining Existing Groups
Best for: People who want a regular, recurring group to plug into
Meetup has been around since 2002, and in Australia it still has a meaningful presence — particularly for running groups, hiking clubs, tech communities, and language exchange. If you're looking for a recurring weekly thing with a consistent group of people, it's worth checking.
The trade-off is the vibe. Meetup skews older (late 30s+) and tends toward fairly formal group structures. It's less 'spontaneous Friday night dinner' and more 'Tuesday evening networking run'. The app itself hasn't kept up aesthetically with what people expect in 2026.
If you want structure and routine, Meetup delivers. If you want something more fluid and socially natural, it can feel stiff.
Free with some paid events.
4. We3 — Best for Small Group Matching
Best for: People who want to meet two other people with shared interests at once
We3 takes a different approach — it matches you in groups of three based on personality and interests, then facilitates an intro. The idea is smart: skip the one-on-one awkwardness, go straight to a group dynamic.
In theory, it's great. In practice, it depends heavily on whether there are enough active users in your area. In major Australian cities (Melbourne, Sydney), it works reasonably well. In smaller cities, the pool thins out quickly.
It's worth trying if you like the matched-trio concept — just go in with reasonable expectations about timing and availability.
Free.
5. Bunchups — Best for General Social Discovery Across Australia
Best for: People outside Melbourne and Sydney who want a broader option
Bunchups is an Australian-made app for finding social activities and groups across the country. Its coverage is wider than Butter — you'll find activity listings in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and regional areas. The trade-off is that the experience is less curated; it functions more like a social listing board than a true social plans app.
If you're not in Melbourne or Sydney, it's one of the better local options available. If you are in Melbourne or Sydney, Butter's deeper focus on those markets gives it a meaningfully better experience.
Free.
The Honest Verdict
There's no single right answer — it depends what you're looking for. But here's a quick guide:
You want to do things you love with aligned people in Melbourne or Sydney → Butter
You want to find one person to befriend, one-on-one → Bumble BFF
You want a networking-style group to plug into long-term → Meetup
You want to be matched with two people at once → We3
You're outside Melbourne/Sydney → Bunchups, or We3
The thing every app on this list has in common: they only work if you actually show up. The best friendship app is whichever one you'll actually use to make a plan this week.
FAQs
What is the best app to make friends in Australia in 2026?
Butter is the top-rated option for adults in Melbourne and Sydney. It's built around activity-based social plans — so you meet people through doing something you both enjoy, rather than through a swipe or a chat. Other strong options include Bumble BFF for one-on-one connections and Meetup for recurring group activities.
Is there a friend app in Australia that isn't a dating app?
Yes. Butter, Meetup, We3, and Bunchups are all specifically built for social connection rather than dating. Bumble BFF exists within the Bumble dating app but operates as a separate mode. If you want something that doesn't feel like a dating app at all, Butter and Meetup are the cleanest options.
Does Butter work outside Melbourne and Sydney?
Currently Butter is focused on Melbourne and Sydney, where the community is most active. If you're in another Australian city, Bunchups and We3 have broader national coverage.
How do I meet people with similar interests in Australia?
Activity-based apps are the most effective approach. Rather than matching on personality alone, apps like Butter connect you through shared plans — so you meet people through a run, a dinner, a creative session — and the shared interest does the hard work. It removes the awkwardness because the activity is the reason you're both there.
Are these apps free to use in Australia?
Most friendship apps in Australia are free to download and use. Butter is free on iOS and Android. Meetup has some paid events run by group organisers, but the app itself is free. Bumble BFF is free with optional Bumble premium features.
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