Friend-making apps are really increasing lately. I feel like there are quite a few people who are not looking for romance but just want to find genuine friends.

I also tried some, and I understand why many are women-only apps for safety reasons. Features like 24-hour monitoring and ID verification help reduce the worry of being approached by weird people. Since many of these apps are free to use, it might be a good idea to try them out first.

However, they vary greatly depending on the app. If you want to find friends for your favorite activities, there are apps specialized for that. If you're in your 30s or 40s and want friends in the same age group, there are age-specific apps. Apps with timeline features allow for casual interaction similar to social media, while those with robust search functions make it easier to find people with matching schedules.

There are also apps that narrow down by hobbies like golf or drinking parties, so choosing based on your purpose is the best approach. If you want to try free friend-making apps, I recommend starting with women-only apps that prioritize safety. There are also apps available for men, but whether the cost is low is also an important factor when choosing.