Traveling alone gives you freedom to set the pace and follow your curiosity, but sometimes it can feel too quiet. Maybe you’d like company for dinner, someone to explore a neighborhood with, or just a local to share tips about their city.
These apps, among other top travel applications we wrote about here, make it easy to connect, whether you’re looking for romance, friendship, or simply good company on the road.
If you are interested in more romantic meet/ups, check out our dating apps list.
Traveling Alone? Here are the Best Apps to Meet People and Make Connections
Couchsurfing, Hangouts
Couchsurfing started as a way for budget travelers to find free places to stay, but today it’s just as popular for its “Hangouts” feature. With Hangouts, you can see who nearby is open to grabbing coffee, going for a walk, or exploring the city that day. It works well for solo travelers who want to meet locals casually, without the pressure of dating or planning a full trip together.
What makes it unique is the community feel: many users are long-time hosts, expats, or fellow travelers, which gives meetups a friendly, cultural-exchange vibe rather than a purely social or romantic one. The social app also has local events, from potluck dinners to city tours, often organized by residents who want to welcome travelers.
Pricing
- Free to join, with most features available at no cost
- Optional Couchsurfing Verify subscription (~$2–$3/month) for identity verification and extra visibility
What sets it apart
- Less about swiping, more about cultural exchange and shared experiences
- Hangouts for spontaneous meetups anywhere in the world
- Community-focused, with locals often eager to show you around
Tinder
Tinder is the most recognized dating app worldwide, making it an anchor for solo travelers. With users in nearly every major city, you’re almost guaranteed to find matches wherever you land. For travelers, Passport Mode is particularly handy. It allows you to set your location ahead of time, so you can start chatting before you arrive.
Tinder has also placed emphasis on safety in recent years. Features like photo verification help cut down on catfishing, and its partnership with Noonlight allows users in supported regions to share their live location with emergency services if something feels unsafe during a meetup. For many travelers, those tools add peace of mind when navigating new places.
Where it’s blocked: Pakistan, Iran
Pricing
- Plus starts around $9.99 a month
- Gold usually falls between $14.99 and $24.99
- Platinum climbs higher, often $29.99 or more
- Extras like Boosts and Super Likes run $3–$8 each
What sets it apart
- Passport Mode for connecting before arrival
- Panic button integration through Noonlight
Grindr
Grindr is central to LGBTQ+ travel. Originally designed for gay men, it now serves a wide spectrum of queer identities, making it the go-to app for those wanting to meet locally while on the road.
Beyond dating, Grindr often acts as a cultural compass. Travelers can log in and instantly find recommendations for nightlife, LGBTQ+ events, or safe spaces in a city.
In destinations with vibrant LGBTQ+ neighborhoods, the app can help travelers find their footing almost immediately. It has also leaned into its travel connection, spotlighting destinations known for queer culture through its “Host or Travel” series.
Where it’s blocked: Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, Sudan; restrictions in China, Indonesia, Turkey, Lebanon, Qatar, UAE
Pricing
- Grindr XTRA: $12.99–$19.99/month
- Grindr Unlimited: $24.99–$39.99/month
What sets it apart
- Advanced filters for more tailored matches
- Private albums and visibility controls
- “Viewed Me” feature for tracking interest
Bumble
Bumble is often praised for its women-first approach, a small move has shaped it into one of the safer and more respectful platforms, something many solo travelers appreciate. But Bumble is more than dating. Its BFF mode is a popular way to find local friends, and Bizz mode provides opportunities for professional networking.
Travelers often use Bumble BFF to find a sightseeing partner, a gym buddy, or simply someone to grab coffee with. Its versatility makes it appealing for those who want multiple types of connections on the road.
Where it’s blocked: Iran
Pricing
- Bumble Boost: $8.99–$12.99/month
- Bumble Premium: $17.99–$32.99/month
What sets it apart
- Three modes in one app: Date, BFF, Bizz
- Opening Moves feature to simplify first messages
- Profile verification for added safety
Meetup
Meetup is a trusted platform for finding events and group activities. It has millions of members and it’s easy to locate everything from language exchanges and cooking classes to hiking trips and cultural tours. Travelers who prefer to meet people in a group setting often find Meetup more comfortable than one-on-one dates.
Travelers use Meetup for activities beyond the usual tourist routes, like a local cooking class or a weekend hike with expats. These kinds of events give solo travelers a chance to connect while experiencing a place in a more personal way.
Where it’s blocked: Currently no noted restrictions
Pricing
- Free to join
- Event costs vary
- Organizer subscriptions: $10–$23/month
What sets it apart
- Events designed for socializing around shared interests
- Easy access to expat and local communities
- Wide activity variety across most major cities
FairyTrail
FairyTrail was created specifically for travelers and digital nomads. Instead of focusing on quick swipes, it matches people by travel goals, destinations, and interests. This makes it especially useful for those who want to explore with like-minded companions rather than just look for a date.
Travelers often use FairyTrail to find adventure partners, plan itineraries together, or coordinate group outings. It’s particularly appealing to solo female travelers who want some added reassurance when finding companions. Fairytrail feels closer to a travel club than a dating app as it promotes its verified profiles and has a strong focus on shared experiences.
Where it’s blocked: Generally available worldwide
Pricing
- Entrance Fee: $2.99
- Silver: $5.99/month
- Gold: $89.99 for 3 months
- Extras: $4.99–$29.99
What sets it apart
- Matches by destination and travel style
- Tools for co-planning trips
- Community-oriented focus over casual dating
TravelGirls
TravelGirls mixes dating with trip planning. The app lets people post upcoming journeys and invite others along, or browse through existing travel plans to see who’s heading in the same direction. That design makes it useful for travelers who like the idea of pairing new connections with specific destinations.
A traveler planning time in Bali, for instance, might create a trip post and connect with others interested in exploring the same beaches or temples. The platform is available on Android devices, though iPhone users won’t find it in the App Store yet.
Where it’s blocked: No major restrictions reported
Pricing
- In-app purchases: $5.49–$69.99
What sets it apart
- Trip creation and invitations for companions
- Search filters by age, language, and location
- Built entirely around travel dating
TripBFF
TripBFF has carved out a niche among younger travelers who don’t always want the pressure of dating apps; backpackers use it to find others headed along the same route, exchange students lean on it to organize weekend trips, and digital nomads use it to keep their social lives moving while abroad. The app centers on group chats and shared itineraries, making it feel closer to a community board than a swipe-based platform.
One of its most talked-about features is “Travel Wrapped,” which recaps the places you’ve been and the people you’ve met. It gives solo travelers a way to look back at their journeys while encouraging new connections. The main drawback is its limited reach, for now, it’s only available on iOS, leaving Android users out.
Where it’s blocked: No significant restrictions reported
Pricing
- Weekly: $4.99
- Monthly: $9.99
- Annual: $79.99
What sets it apart
- Group chat and itinerary planning tools
- “Travel Wrapped” recap of journeys and friendships
- Community-driven focus on social travel
SayHi
SayHi has gained traction in Asia and the Middle East, especially where some of the bigger platforms are harder to access. It offers standard dating and chat features, but the map view is what makes it stand out for travelers. Being able to pull up a city map and see who’s nearby gives users a quick way to start conversations in real time.
Another useful piece is its built-in translation. Travelers often rely on it when they don’t share a common language with locals, turning a potential barrier into the start of a conversation. Paired with voice and video chat, SayHi is used as much for casual meetups and friendships as it is for dating.
Where it’s blocked: Generally available worldwide
Pricing
- Messaging Plans: $11.99–$29.99
- VIP: $19.99–$199.99
- Super VIP: $29.99–$299.99
- Ultimate VIP: up to $1,000/year
What sets it apart
- Map-based interface for nearby meetups
- Translation, voice, and video chat tools
- Particularly strong in regions with app restrictions
Skout
Skout has been active since 2007 and maintains a large, global community. Its focus on proximity-based discovery is helpful for travelers who want to see who’s nearby, while its live streaming feature adds a more casual, interactive way to meet.
Because of its longevity, Skout often has active communities in places where newer apps haven’t yet caught on. Travelers use it both for spontaneous meetups and as a reliable backup app when other platforms start to feel overcrowded.
Where it’s blocked: Available globally
Pricing
- Points: $1.99–$99.99
- Premium: $9.99/month
What sets it apart
- Longevity with a large user base
- Live streaming alongside chat
- Strong presence even outside major cities
Best Apps for Solo Travelers to Meet Local People
- Couchsurfing (ours) – Cultural exchange, spontaneous Hangouts
- Tinder – Global dating, Passport Mode for travel
- Grindr – LGBTQ+ connections, nightlife & culture
- Bumble – Safer dating & friends, women-first
- Meetup – Group events, locals & expats
- FairyTrail – Travelers, match by destination & style
- TravelGirls – Travel dating, trip planning posts
- TripBFF – Young travelers, group chat trips
- SayHi – Map-based, instant nearby meetups
- Skout – Global network, casual connections
Here we also wrote about event sites, one of them is Fever, where you can find and book different local experiences such as candlelight concerts, shows and art exhibitions.
Safety Note for Travelers from Locals Insider
These apps can make solo travel more social, from sharing a meal to exploring parts of a city you might not have found alone. Meeting strangers abroad does carry risks, though. It’s best to begin in public places and let someone you trust know your plans.
LGBTQ+ travelers face added concerns. In some countries, like Dubai, Grindr and similar apps are blocked (but accessible via VPNs deals), and in a few places, same-sex relationships are criminalized. Safety tools vary by platform (photo verification, profile reporting, and ID checks all help reduce risks) but none replace personal caution.
With the right approach, these apps can add more than dates to a trip. They can open doors to local knowledge, new friends, and shared experiences that make travel feel more connected.
