Best Apps for Meeting People at Events in 2025

Meeting people at live events has always been possible. Apps just make it more intentional. Whether you're at a festival, conference, nightlife event, or community gathering, the right tool can help you find who's around, break the ice, and make connections that actually stick.

Here's a look at the most useful apps for meeting people at events, and what each one is genuinely good for.

What to look for

Before diving into specific apps, a few things matter more than feature count. Does the app expose your profile to everyone, or only to people you've chosen to engage with? Can anyone message you unsolicited, or does connection require mutual interest? Is the app built for live events, or just a general social platform being used that way? Does your profile persist after the event, or does it disappear?

FirstMove

FirstMove is built specifically for live events. It's free, privacy-first, and available on iOS and Android.

VibeZones are geo-presence zones that show you who else is at your event right now. The Mutual Handshake means both parties have to express interest before any connection is made, no unsolicited messages. Ephemeral Profiles disappear when the event ends, leaving no digital footprint. There are also gamified ice-breaking challenges to make first contact less awkward.

FirstMove is particularly strong for people who value privacy and don't want a full social media profile attached to their event interactions. It works well at festivals, nightlife events, and conferences where meeting strangers is part of the appeal.

Bumble BFF

Bumble's friendship mode is for platonic connections. It's not event-specific, but many people use it to find others attending the same events in their area. The women-message-first mechanic from the dating app doesn't apply here, either party can initiate.

It's good for finding potential event companions in advance or making friends in a new city. Less useful for in-the-moment discovery at the event itself.

Meetup

Meetup is more of an event discovery platform than a networking app. It helps you find events where you're likely to meet people with shared interests. The community aspect means you often recognise names and faces before you arrive.

It works well for finding the right events and communities built around consistent activities. Less well for spontaneous in-event connection at large or mixed-interest gatherings.

LinkedIn Events

LinkedIn has built event functionality into its professional platform. If a conference or professional event is listed there, you can see who else is attending and reach out in advance.

Useful for professional events where professional context matters and for pre-event research. Not suited to social or cultural events, or anywhere privacy is a consideration.

Glimpse

Glimpse is a social networking app focused on meaningful connections rather than follower counts. It's not specifically designed for events but has been used that way, mainly for professional networking with a social edge.

The honest comparison

For pure in-event social discovery, FirstMove is the most purpose-built option. It's specifically designed for the live event environment, with privacy, consent, and real-time presence built in from the start.

If you're looking for something to use before an event, LinkedIn Events (for professional contexts) or Meetup (for community contexts) may be more useful. If you want to find friends generally and use events as a starting point, Bumble BFF is a reasonable choice.

What no app can replace

All of these tools are facilitators, not substitutes. The actual connection still requires you to show up, be present, and engage with people as people rather than as contacts.

The best use of any event networking app is lowering the barrier to that human encounter, making the first step a little less uncomfortable, and ensuring both parties are open to connecting before you approach each other.

Download FirstMove if you want to meet people at your next event with no awkwardness and full respect for your privacy. Free, consent-based, and built for live events. iOS and Android.