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  • 6 Apps That’ll Help You Make Friends in NoVA
friend apps - Peanut is one
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6 Apps That’ll Help You Make Friends in NoVA

Whether you’re looking for a gym buddy, a partner for puppy play-dates, or just someone to chat with, these apps can help you connect with new friends in your area.

By Natalie Gontcharova March 13, 2023 at 10:24 am

We live in a transient area, and making friends as an adult can be difficult — especially when you have a demanding job, kids, parents to take care of, or all of the above. Thankfully, lots of new apps have sprung up recently to help us meet like-minded people for in-person (or virtual) hangouts. 

Bumble BFF is like Bumble or Tinder for friends. Enter your bio and location, and then swipe right on whoever strikes your fancy. Unlike on Bumble, where women call the shots, anyone can reach out first.

Peanut is primarily for moms who want to meet and support other moms. You can also find women at similar stages of fertility, pregnancy, and menopause. Since the postpartum period can be a vulnerable time, social support is key. You can meet new friends in person or virtually via the app.

Meetup is great if you want to meet other people who share your specific interests, from cooking to rock-climbing. Enter your location, and browse to attend a huge variety of events and activities.

Atleto helps you meet people who are into the same sports as you, whether you run, box, or play badminton. So if you’ve been looking for someone with whom to run marathons or play a pickup game, this is your best bet.

Nextdoor may have a reputation as a message board for neighborhood complaints, but the app also lets you chat, join groups, plan events with your neighbors, and find out about local happenings.

Pawdates will help you connect with other pet owners so you can set up play dates and dog park meetups. No more lonely pups — or humans.

Feature image courtesy of Peanut

This story originally ran in our March issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.

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