Tools to meet new people at events

The problem, in plain words: “I’m at an event and I want to meet and chat with new people to make friends.”

MateUp Event Connection fits best, with 3 more that fit too.

You’re at an event and want an easy way to start chats and meet new people to make friends.

Updated September 2026.

What fits

1/4 event chat/match app

It’s specifically built to connect you with other people who are at live events, aiming to reduce the awkwardness of meeting new people there. Its primary focus aligns with your need for a low-friction way to chat with strangers at an event.

Best for: Meeting and chatting with other event-goers right now

2/4 in-person matchmaking app

Timeleft: Make New Friends IRLstrong · 80

It’s designed to match you with like-minded people for in-person meetups like dinners, drinks, and coffee without swiping, which maps well to your desire for a low-friction way to meet and chat to make friends. It’s not limited to a single event you’re currently attending, but it directly supports the same real-life friend-making goal.

Best for: Getting set up with people for quick, in-person meetups to make friends

3/4 planned social dinner/event

bfriendlystrong · 79

It’s explicitly an event-based experience where you join a planned dinner and meet other people in a structured setting, aiming to remove the “how do I meet strangers?” problem. If your main goal is to meet new people and talk in a low-friction way, this fits well.

Best for: Meeting multiple new people quickly via a structured social dinner

4/4 curated group events app

Meet OffScreen: IRL Friendsstrong · 77

It focuses on meeting real people through curated group events in your city, including activities like dinners and coffee meetups. That aligns with your friend-making goal and provides an easier social context than trying to start random conversations by yourself.

Best for: Meeting new people through curated in-person group meetups

Partly fits

Frim: meet new peoplepartial · 58

It’s a nearby chat/friend discovery app, but it’s not specifically targeted at people at the same event.

Won’t cover: Helps with nearby friend discovery, but it isn’t explicitly designed for meeting people at the specific event you’re attending.

SayHi Chat - Meet New Peoplepartial · 57

It supports chatting with people nearby, which can help you start conversations, but it’s not event-specific.

Won’t cover: It focuses on nearby chat and connection rather than meeting other attendees at your current event.

MeetMe: Go Live & Meet Peoplepartial · 55

It’s built to find people nearby who want to chat now, which can reduce friction, but it doesn’t center on event-goers.

Won’t cover: It helps you chat with people nearby, but it doesn’t specifically solve meeting strangers at the same event.

Hoa: Meet People, Make Friendspartial · 52

It combines meeting new people with joining activities near you, but the listing doesn’t tie directly to being at a specific event.

Won’t cover: It’s about finding friends and activities nearby, not specifically matching you with people at your current event.

Questions

What's the best tool to meet new people at events?

MateUp Event Connection is the strongest match — It’s specifically built to connect you with other people who are at live events, aiming to reduce the awkwardness of meeting new people there. Its primary focus aligns with your need for a low-friction way to chat with strangers at an event.

Is there a tool that fully solves this?

4 products match this closely.

What won't these tools cover?

Helps with nearby friend discovery, but it isn’t explicitly designed for meeting people at the specific event you’re attending. · It focuses on nearby chat and connection rather than meeting other attendees at your current event. · It helps you chat with people nearby, but it doesn’t specifically solve meeting strangers at the same event. · It’s about finding friends and activities nearby, not specifically matching you with people at your current event.

Not quite your version of it?

Describe the problem in your own words and the matcher will read it fresh — including products too new to be anywhere else.

Try your own problem

Matched by Matchbox. Nothing here is sponsored and payment never affects ranking. Products link to their listings; some are auto-extracted and not yet maker-verified.