Timeleft alternatives: meet new people without a subscription (2026)
Updated: · Hellohood
In short
The best Timeleft alternative depends on what you liked about it. For free small group plans nearby, try Hellohood or Meet5; for organised interest groups, Meetup; for one-to-one friend matching, BFF by Bumble; for events, Eventbrite; for locals, Couchsurfing; for language exchange, Tandem. Most are free to start.
Timeleft made dinner with strangers easy: you take a personality quiz, get matched with a group of about four to six people, learn the venue the day before and just show up. It now works by monthly subscription only — there are no single tickets — and you still pay for your own food and drinks. If you want to meet people more often, more spontaneously or without a subscription, there are good alternatives.
We build Hellohood, so we put it first — but every other app here was checked against its official website or app store page (October 2026). Each one gets an honest “best for”, a real downside and its pricing model, so you can pick what fits you.
1. Hellohood
Best for: Free small group plans nearby, any day
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 help you ask locals and newcomers anything.
- Completely free: no subscription, no paywall, no ads
- You choose the plan and the group instead of being matched
- 18+, profile photo required, no cold DMs; 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 — outside Munich you may need to start the first plan yourself. · Price: Free
2. Meet5
Best for: Group meetups in Germany and neighbouring countries
A friendship app built around group meetups: members create a meetup — a dinner, a walk, an evening at a bar — and people nearby join, so you meet several new faces at once instead of one match.
- Joining and creating group meetups is free
- Friendship-focused, not a dating app
Watch out: Private chat needs a paid Premium membership, and it only runs in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. · Price: Free; optional Premium
3. Meetup
Best for: Regular interest groups and events
Organisers run groups around hobbies, sports, languages, tech and more, and you RSVP to their events. In big cities there is something on most evenings, from running clubs to language nights.
- Huge range of topics in many cities
- Recurring groups make it easy to see the same people again
Watch out: Unrestricted direct messages, priority on waitlists and no service fee on paid RSVPs are part of the paid Meetup+ subscription, and organisers can charge for their events. · Price: Free to join; optional Meetup+; some events paid
4. BFF (by Bumble)
Best for: One-to-one friend matching
Bumble’s friendship-only app: swipe through people nearby, match and chat. In the US, Canada and Mexico the new BFF app also has Groups with chats and a shared calendar; in other countries you get Bumble For Friends with one-to-one matching.
- Platonic only — not a dating app
- Matching and messaging are free
Watch out: Swipe, match, chat, then meet takes time, and outside North America it is mostly one-to-one rather than a group around a table. · Price: Free
5. Eventbrite
Best for: Finding one-off events and workshops
A large event platform: browse talks, workshops, tastings, parties and social events in your city, then RSVP or buy a ticket.
- Free events cost attendees nothing
- Big choice in larger cities
Watch out: It is made for finding events, not for meeting a group — you can end up in a room of strangers with no easy way to connect, and paid tickets come with service fees. · Price: Free events free; paid tickets plus fees
6. Couchsurfing
Best for: Meeting locals and travellers
The classic hospitality community: stay with local hosts, or use Hangouts to see who is nearby and up for a coffee or a walk. References from other members help you judge who you are meeting.
- Strong focus on locals and cultural exchange
- References build trust over time
Watch out: Everyone needs a paid membership to use it, and how active it is varies a lot from city to city. · Price: Paid membership (monthly or yearly)
7. Tandem
Best for: Language exchange partners
A language exchange app: find people who speak the language you are learning and want to practise yours, then chat by text, voice or video — and meet up for a coffee once you click.
- A built-in reason to talk — you help each other
- Text, voice and video chats are free
Watch out: It is mostly online and one-to-one; the nearby filter for finding people in your city is part of paid Tandem Pro. · Price: Free; optional Tandem Pro
8. Facebook groups
Best for: Local newcomer and hobby communities
Most cities have Facebook groups for newcomers, expats, dinner clubs, hikers or board gamers, where people post meetups and plans. Search for your city plus “new in town”, “expats” 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 |
| Meet5 | Group meetups (DE, FR, BE, NL, LU) | Yes | Free + optional Premium |
| Meetup | Interest groups and events | Yes | Free + optional Meetup+ |
| BFF (Bumble) | 1:1 friend matching | Mostly 1:1; Groups in North America | Free |
| Eventbrite | One-off events | Events, not groups | Free or paid tickets |
| Couchsurfing | Locals and travellers | Sometimes (Hangouts) | Paid membership |
| Tandem | Language exchange | No, mostly 1:1 online | Free + optional Pro |
| Facebook groups | Local communities | Yes (posted meetups) | Free |
| Timeleft (for comparison) | Matched dinners, drinks, runs | Yes (matched groups) | Subscription + own bill |
Tips for meeting people from apps
- Pick something with a clear activity — a run, a board game night or a coffee — so the conversation has an easy starting point.
- Meet the first time in a public place and ideally in a group; it takes the pressure off and is safer than one-to-one.
- Keep the chat in the app until you have met, and don’t share your home address early on.
- Check profiles before you go and trust your gut: if something feels off, leave, and report or block the person.
- Go more than once — seeing the same faces at a weekly run or language night is how strangers turn into friends.
FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Timeleft?
If you want small groups without a subscription, Hellohood is fully free and shows small plans nearby that you join in one tap. Meet5 is free for joining and creating group meetups in Germany and a few neighbouring countries. Meetup, Eventbrite and Facebook groups also list plenty of free events.
How much does Timeleft cost?
Timeleft works with a monthly subscription; there are no single tickets. One subscription lets you book as many events as you like that month, and you pay for your own food and drinks at the venue. Prices vary by country, and longer plans cost less per month.
Is there an app like Timeleft for drinks, coffee or runs?
Timeleft itself offers drinks, coffee and runs in many cities besides dinners. For free options, Hellohood has coffee, runs, football, hikes and board game plans, Meetup has running and hiking groups, and Meet5 members create all kinds of group meetups.
Is it safe to meet strangers from an app?
It is generally safe with simple precautions: meet in public places, prefer groups for a first meetup, keep chats in the app, tell a friend where you are and leave if anything feels off. Choose apps with photo requirements or verification, and report anyone who makes you uncomfortable.
Are there women-only alternatives to Timeleft’s dinners?
Timeleft runs women-only dinners in many cities. Hellohood has women-only plans, lets women turn off messages from men and does not allow cold DMs. Many cities also have women-only Facebook groups where people post walks, brunches and other meetups.
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 a few seconds; people around you will see it and can join.