Best Apps for Meeting Friends With Similar Interests (What Actually Works)
Discover the best apps for meeting friends with similar interests and learn how to turn shared hobbies into real-life connections in Australia.
If you’ve ever tried to make friends through apps and felt like the conversations went nowhere, you’re not alone. The issue often isn’t the app, it’s how connection is designed. Apps that focus on shared interests tend to work better because they remove small talk and give people a natural reason to connect.
This guide explains which types of apps actually help you meet friends with similar interests, how they work, and how to use them effectively, especially in Australia.
Why Shared Interests Lead to Better Friendships
Friendships grow faster when there’s something to do together. Research and real-world experience consistently show that interest-based connection reduces social pressure, creates natural conversation, and makes repeat interaction more likely.
This is why communities built around hobbies such as walking, books, music, games, fitness, creativity tend to form stronger bonds than purely chat-based platforms. If you want a deeper dive into this idea, Meet People With Similar Interests in Australia explores why this approach works so well.
What “Interest-Based” Apps Actually Mean
Not all apps that claim to match interests do it well. The most effective apps fall into three categories, each with different strengths.
1. Group & Activity-Based Apps (Best for Natural Connection)
Bunchups
Bunchups is built specifically around shared interests and real-life activities. Instead of matching profiles and hoping for conversation, it helps people meet through small group hangouts (typically 2–5 people) based on what they enjoy doing.
This works particularly well if you:
- Prefer doing things together rather than chatting endlessly
- Feel overwhelmed by large social events
- Want friendships to grow naturally over time
It aligns closely with ideas explored in Fun Activities Near You That Actually Help You Connect.
Meetup
Meetup remains one of the most popular platforms in Australia for interest-based connection. You can find groups centred on almost any hobby such as hiking, tech, books, wellness, creativity and many groups meet regularly, which helps turn acquaintances into friends.
Meetup works best if you’re comfortable with group settings and want structured activities.
2. One-to-One Matching Apps (Interests + Conversation)
Bumble BFF
Bumble BFF adapts the dating-app model for friendships, allowing people to match based on profiles and shared interests. While it starts one-to-one, many users eventually turn conversations into shared activities or group plans.
It works best if you’re proactive and comfortable initiating plans.
UNBLND, Yubo & Similar Apps
Some newer apps focus on interests while hiding profiles initially to emphasise personality. These can be useful for casual connection, but they often work better as conversation starters rather than long-term friendship builders.
3. Interest-Based Online Communities
Discord
Discord servers built around hobbies like gaming, music, books, fitness, creativity are often where people first connect online before meeting in person. While not location-first, many communities evolve into local meetups.
Australian subreddits and interest-specific communities are commonly used to find like-minded people, ask for activity partners, or discover local groups. Reddit works best as a discovery layer, not the final step.
How to Use Interest-Based Apps Effectively
People who succeed are specific and consistent.
Being clear about what you enjoy helps others connect with you more easily. Instead of listing broad interests, naming activities you’d actually like to do makes conversation and planning far easier. Showing up regularly, whether that’s attending events or participating in group discussions builds familiarity, which is key to friendship.
This approach ties closely to Why Spending Time with Like-Minded People Boosts Mental Clarity.
Safety & Comfort When Meeting Through Shared Interests
Meeting through hobbies often feels safer than random chats, but basic precautions still matter:
- Start with group settings
- Choose public places
- Keep expectations light
If this feels daunting, How to Meet New People Safely in Real Life covers practical tips.
Final Thoughts: Interests Create the Shortcut to Friendship
The best apps for meeting friends with similar interests aren’t necessarily the flashiest, they’re the ones that get people doing things together. Shared activities reduce pressure, create natural conversation, and make connection sustainable.
If you want to meet people through what you genuinely enjoy and not endless swiping or awkward small talk, explore Bunchups, a platform designed to turn shared interests into real-life friendships.
