Top 9 Apps Like Wizz to Make New Friends

Meetup's app is split into two clear paths: finding and hosting events. For finding, we found its discovery engine to be very robust, with over 330,000 groups. You can explore by category, keyword, or even a map to see what's popular nearby. We also liked the simple "save" feature for bookmarking events. This feature is very similar to Instagram.

Unlike many apps like Wizz that focus on 1-on-1 chats, Meetup's other main function is empowering users to become hosts. We were impressed with the robust tools for organizers. You can easily create a group for any topic, then personalize and schedule events right from your phone.

Similar to apps like Instagram, its recommendation engine helps your community grow by suggesting it to interested people. Its in-app communication tools are effective. After an event, hosts can start discussions, share photos, and use direct messaging to connect with members. This design effectively turns a one-time get-together into a lasting network.

The platform also offers "Meetup Pro," but we found that this is a control center for large organizations, not for individual users. It allows brands to create branded experiences and manage global communities, which is not relevant for a user just looking to make new friends.

Unlike other apps like Wizz that function as standalone chat platforms, Hoop is a bridge to grow your Snapchat network. The entire process is built around a simple swipe mechanic to discover profiles. When you find someone you like, you use an in-app currency called "diamonds" to send a friend request.

Actually, the "diamond" currency is the core of the app. You can earn it in many ways: by doing a daily check-in, leveling up, sharing your profile (which gives a double reward on Sundays), or watching a video. We also noted a separate "Challenges" section with daily missions. The challenges can be as simple as uploading a photo or sending requests. These diamonds are then used to send friend requests, see a previous profile again, or customize your own.

For greater visibility, a "Boost" feature is available to give your profile 5x the exposure. Though we noted this works best if you have three clear face photos. The app also provides a block and report function to flag any inappropriate content and block the profile.

BeFriend (formerly Swipr) makes friend-finding easier by focusing on shared interests. Its primary tool for this is the 'HMU' (Hit Me Up) feature that lets you post a specific topic (like 'Need a gaming buddy') and get messages from interested users. This interest-first friends-making approach makes it one of the best apps like Wizz for finding a relevant connection, as you aren't just relying on random swiping.

We found the integrated video chat and instant voice calls to be a major benefit, as they let you establish a new connection beyond texting without exchanging phone numbers. You can also optionally link your other social media accounts directly to your profile. This is a powerful feature for strengthening connections, as it lets your new friends stay updated with your latest adventures.

We also liked the Blurred Photo Preview in chats, an excellent feature that blurs all new images by default to prevent unsolicited photos.

Bumble For Friends (the standalone app) provides detailed profile customization. We found the Interest Tags let you highlight specific hobbies like running clubs, gaming, or brunch. Whereas, Photo Prompts encourage you to share more authentic moments beyond standard selfies. This combination helps you discover people who genuinely relate to your lifestyle and interests.

Beyond one-on-one matching, the Groups feature is a clear differentiator. It lets you meet multiple people who share the same interests through chat, posts, and video calls. This makes it easier to build a community rather than managing multiple 1-on-1 connections, setting it apart from many free apps like Wizz that focus only on individual matching. You can plan events with your friends directly from the app, providing a seamless bridge from online chats to real-world meetups.

For users who want more control over their experience, the app offers additional refinement tools. The advanced filters let you search for qualities that really matter to you in a friend. You can also see who's already liked you to connect instantly, or use Extend and Rematch to reconnect with friends you've previously connected with. The Backtrack feature is particularly useful if you accidentally swipe left on someone's profile.

Also Read: Bumble App Review

MeetMe provides two main paths for discovering new people. The first is the "Locals" feed, which we found to be a traditional and effective way to browse a grid of nearby users. The second path is through the Live platform itself, where you can discover creators and viewers by participating in their streams.

 We also found that messaging is always free. This lets you chat with people you find nearby or around the world without hitting a paywall, ensuring open communication across the platform.

While the 'Live' platform is the app's main draw, we found that its interactive features are what actually build the community. It runs on a virtual currency called "MeetMe mCredits," which you use to buy gifts that you can send to streamers in MeetMe Live (who receive them as "Diamonds"), or you can use them in chats to increase your visibility in another user's inbox.

 Diamonds are key to the app's "Battle" feature, where two hosts compete on a split screen to see who can earn the most "Diamonds" in a timed round. We also found that MeetMe heavily pushes live video as a way to meet local singles, most notably through its "NextDate" game, where a host speed-dates contestants on stream.

Yubo is built around swiping and discovery. We found the app's "Tags" feature to be a standout, letting you add interests like "gaming" or "music" to your profile. This allows you to find like-minded people intentionally, rather than just swiping randomly.

Yubo's most significant feature is its commitment to safety. Every user must verify their age and identity by recording a live selfie video, which is then checked against their birthdate. We were impressed that this system is designed to ensure users are 18+ and that the people you meet are who they say they are. This is backed by 24/7 human and AI moderation.

We also liked the strong personal controls, like a "SAFE Mode" that filters content and a "Muted Words" feature, giving you a lot of power over your experience.

LMK provides several ways to meet people. We found it offers "Audio Rooms" where you can drop in and talk with a group; you can also send virtual gifts within these rooms. Alongside this, the app uses a familiar swipe-right function to match with people you want to be friends with. By offering both group audio rooms and 1-on-1 swiping, LMK provides a more flexible social toolkit than many apps similar to Wizz.

It also offers the 'HMU' (Hit Me Up) feature, which lets you post a specific topic you want to talk about and get instant chat requests. It also enables you to share updates and moments with other members through its LMK's community feed posting feature.

Its AI moderation proactively filters and detects inappropriate content, while its human moderation team reviews cases and takes action. Its user controls are direct and effective: blocking a user immediately stops them from messaging you, and reporting them sends the case to a human for evaluation.

Skout offers multiple ways to discover users. You can meet people by preference and proximity, allowing you to tailor your search to your desired age, gender, and location. The app also lets you browse profiles and photos and save your favorite users, making it a solid alternative to a simple swipe deck.

The Live platform is highly interactive. "Hearts" is a simple way to show streamer support, while the Guest Box allows viewers to request to join the streamer's video. We found the Status Ring is a good tool for recognition, visually showing a user's level, VIP status, or if they are a top gifter in that stream. The app's competitive spirit is driven by Live Battles, where the winner is the streamer who earns the most Diamonds (from gifts) in the allotted time.

We found the app offers powerful visibility features. This focus on user experience—including no ads and the ability to undo accidental swipes in the match game—makes Skout one of the strongest Wizz alternatives available. The visibility boosts are substantial: you can use a Rocket Boost to get up to 10x more views, or achieve broader visibility (up to 2x more likes).

 Furthermore, the app includes advanced discovery tools that let you see who likes you, discover new people in your area before everyone else, and activate incognito mode to browse profiles anonymously.

We found that one-on-one messaging is straightforward and fast, while group chats let you join communities based on your interests. The Kik Codes feature is particularly useful—you can scan a code to instantly add friends, join groups, or connect with bots for promotions and services. We also noted you can hide your username in group chats by toggling off "Receive Direct Messages," which adds an extra layer of privacy.

For Android users, the "Meet New People" feature offers a unique discovery experience. This instant chat tool randomly matches you with users worldwide for anonymous 15-minute conversations. This anonymity-first approach differentiates it from many apps like Wizz, as all profile information (photos, usernames, display names) remains hidden unless both users choose to add each other before the timer expires. You get 15 free chats per day, making it accessible for casual use.

Beyond messaging, Kik Live is a full-featured streaming platform with creator tools. This includes a live streaming feature to grow your fan base and collect diamonds and gifts from your audience. You can choose bouncers to manage your streams, star your favorite streamers, and level up to become a Kik VIP.

This gamified approach to broadcasting adds a social currency element, making it more than just a watch-and-chat experience. The app also offers Smilies and Stickers from its shop to help you express yourself, though these require purchase. We observed that Kik handles message storage differently from most apps. Logging out automatically clears all chat history while preserving your contacts and groups, prioritizing data security over conversation history.

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