Bumble BFF alternatives: meet friends in groups instead of swiping (2026)
Updated: · Hellohood
In short
If one-to-one swiping on BFF feels slow or awkward, try group-first apps: Hellohood for small free plans nearby, Meetup for interest groups, Meet5 for group meetups in Germany and neighbouring countries, Timeleft for matched dinners, Heylo for run and hiking clubs, InterNations for expats and Facebook groups for local communities.
BFF by Bumble is a solid, free, friendship-only app — but the classic flow of swipe, match, chat and then try to arrange a meetup with one stranger is not for everyone. Many people find it easier to show up to something with a few others: a run, a coffee, a board game night. The pressure is lower and the conversation carries itself.
To be fair to Bumble: since September 2025 the new BFF app in the US, Canada and Mexico adds Groups with chats, posts, an events calendar and video calls, all free. Elsewhere you usually still get the older Bumble For Friends app or BFF mode, which is mostly one-to-one. Below are group-first alternatives. We build Hellohood, so it comes first, but every app was checked against its official site and gets an honest “best for” and downside (October 2026).
1. Hellohood
Best for: Joining small group plans nearby, without swiping
A free map of small real-life plans around you: coffee, runs, football, hikes, board games, language exchange and day trips. Join in one tap and the group chat opens, or start your own plan from one sentence and AI fills in the details. City chats let you ask anything, and you only appear to people nearby after a manual check-in.
- Completely free: no paywall, no ads
- Group plans instead of one-to-one matching — no cold DMs
- 18+, profile photo required; women-only plans, and women can turn off messages from men
Watch out: It is new (it started in Munich in 2026), so many cities are still quiet — you may need to start the first plan yourself. · Price: Free
2. Meetup
Best for: Regular interest groups and organised events
Organisers run groups around hobbies, sports, languages, tech and more, and you RSVP to their events. In larger cities there is something on most evenings, from hiking clubs to language nights, and you can keep going back to the same group.
- Huge range of topics in many cities
- Recurring events make it easy to see the same faces again
Watch out: Unrestricted direct messages and some extras are part of the paid Meetup+ subscription, and organisers can charge event fees, so not every event is free. · Price: Free to join; optional Meetup+; some events paid
3. Meet5
Best for: Group meetups in Germany and neighbouring countries
An app for meeting new people in small groups: join meetups others have created in your city — dinners, walks, games, trips — or create your own. It is active in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
- Joining and creating group meetups is free
- Clearly not a dating app; the focus is on meeting in groups
Watch out: Private chats need a Premium subscription, and Premium members get a head start on joining new meetups, so free users can miss popular ones. · Price: Free; optional Premium
4. Timeleft
Best for: Being matched with a small group, zero planning
Timeleft matches you with a small group of strangers, usually four to six people, based on a personality quiz, and picks the venue. Dinners are the core format, with drinks, coffee or runs in many cities, and women-only dinners in many places.
- No planning: group and venue are chosen for you
- A small table makes conversation easier than a big event
Watch out: It works only with a paid monthly subscription (no single tickets), you pay for your own food and drinks on top, and events run on set dates. · Price: Monthly subscription + your own bill
5. Heylo
Best for: Joining run clubs, hiking groups and social clubs
Heylo is the app many community groups use to run their events and chats — run clubs, hiking clubs, cycling groups and social clubs. Once you join a group you see its events, RSVP and chat with the other members.
- Free for members
- Real recurring groups with regulars, often around sport
Watch out: It is built for organisers, so what you find depends on which groups in your city use it, and some groups charge for events or memberships. · Price: Free for members; some groups charge
6. InterNations
Best for: Expats who just moved to a new city
A community for people living abroad, with official events in many cities plus interest groups and forums. A typical first step is an after-work event where you meet other internationals.
- Lots of other newcomers who also want to meet people
- Events and forums with tips about life in your new city
Watch out: It is aimed at expats, so you meet fewer locals; many events charge entry, and the paid Albatross membership is needed for discounts and some groups. · Price: Free Basic; paid Albatross membership
7. Facebook groups
Best for: Local and expat communities with posted meetups
Most cities have Facebook groups for newcomers, expats, hobbies or women who want to meet other women, where people post meetups and questions. Search for your city plus “new in town”, “expats”, “friends” or your hobby.
- Free and available almost everywhere
- Good for local tips and recurring meetups
Watch out: Quality varies: many groups are noisy or inactive, and there is little checking of who is posting. · Price: Free
Side by side
| App | Best for | Meet in groups? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hellohood | Small group plans nearby | Yes | Free |
| Meetup | Interest groups and events | Yes | Free + optional Meetup+ |
| Meet5 | Group meetups (DE, FR, Benelux) | Yes | Free + optional Premium |
| Timeleft | Matched dinners, drinks, runs | Yes (4–6 people) | Monthly subscription |
| Heylo | Run, hiking and social clubs | Yes | Free for members |
| InterNations | Expats | Yes (events) | Free + optional Albatross |
| Facebook groups | Local communities | Yes (posted meetups) | Free |
| BFF (Bumble) | 1:1 matching; Groups in the new app | Groups in US, CA, MX | Free |
Tips for meeting people from apps
- Pick an activity, not just a chat: a run, a coffee or a board game gives the group something to do, so nobody has to carry the conversation.
- Go back to the same group two or three times — friendships form through repeated, easy contact, not one perfect first meeting.
- Meet the first time in a public place and keep chats in the app until you have met.
- Check profiles before you go, tell a friend where you are, and leave if anything feels off.
- If nothing is on near you, post your own plan with a time and place — “coffee at 10 at the market?” gets far more yeses than “anyone want to hang out?”.
FAQ
What is the best alternative to Bumble BFF?
It depends on what bothers you about BFF. For free group plans nearby, try Hellohood; for regular interest groups, Meetup; for group meetups in Germany, France or the Benelux, Meet5; for being matched at a dinner, Timeleft; for expats, InterNations. Many people combine one group app with BFF.
Does Bumble BFF have groups now?
Yes, in the new BFF app in the US, Canada and Mexico, launched in September 2025: Groups with chats, posts, an events calendar and video calls, alongside one-to-one matching, all free. In other countries you will usually still find the older Bumble For Friends app or BFF mode, which is mostly one-to-one.
Is there a free app to make friends in groups?
Yes. Hellohood is fully free with no ads or paywall, Heylo is free for members, and Facebook groups cost nothing. Meetup and Meet5 are free to join with optional paid upgrades, InterNations has a free Basic membership, and Timeleft needs a paid subscription.
Why meet in groups instead of one-to-one?
A group takes the pressure off: you do not have to fill every silence, there is an activity to talk about, and it feels safer to meet strangers with others around. It is also easier to just come along again next week, which is how acquaintances turn into friends.
Are these apps for dating?
No. All the apps in this guide are about friendship and social plans. Hellohood is friendship only, Meet5 says clearly it is not a dating app, and Meetup, Heylo and InterNations are built around groups and events. Timeleft offers separate singles events, but its regular dinners are not dates.
Is Hellohood active in my city?
Hellohood works worldwide, but it is new — it started in Munich in 2026 — so many cities are still quiet. Open the map to see what is on. If nothing is nearby yet, start a plan in one sentence; people looking for the same thing can join in one tap.