What is the difference between 222 and Pie?

222 is a friendship app that uses algorithm-based matching with groups of Small groups, priced at $$ (Free app; events typically $30–$60 per experience), available in 0 cities. Pie is a friendship app using interest-based matching with groups of Varies, priced at Free (Completely free — no subscriptions, no paywalls), available in 0 cities. Key differences include their matching approach, pricing model, and city coverage. 222's strengths: No profiles, no DMs, no swiping — removes all the friction and awkwardness of typical social apps. Pie's strengths: Completely free — no premium tier, no paywalls, no catch.

Which is better, 222 or Pie?

It depends on what you're looking for. Choose 222 if you prefer algorithm-based matching, Small groups groups, and on-demand events — Curated nights out with algorithm-matched strangers.. Choose Pie if you prefer interest-based matching, Varies groups, and on-demand events — Free local events that grow your social circle.. Both are available as IRL social apps. Compare pricing (222: $$, Pie: Free) and city availability on Søren to find the best fit for meeting people in real life.

222

Pie

222 vs Pie

222 and Pie are both friendship apps that help you meet people in real life, but they take different approaches. Here’s how they stack up across pricing, format, cities, and more.

Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026

At a glance

222 Pie

CategoryFriendshipFriendship

Price$$ — Free app; events typically $30–$60 per experienceFree — Completely free — no subscriptions, no paywalls

Group SizeSmall groupsVaries

MatchingAlgorithm-basedInterest-based

Frequencyon-demandon-demand

Age Range21+18+

PlatformsiOSiOS, Android

Cities0 cities0 cities

Founded20242020

Pricing

222 is priced at $$ (Free app; events typically $30–$60 per experience), while Pie comes in at Free (Completely free — no subscriptions, no paywalls).

Format & matching

222 uses groups of Small groups, compared to Pie’s Varies, and 222 relies on algorithm-based matching while Pie uses interest-based matching.

How they work

222: Download the app and complete a detailed personality quiz — it covers your interests, values, social style, and what kind of experiences you're into. 222 uses this to build a 'curation profile' that determines which events you get invited to and who you'll be grouped with. When an experience is available in your city, you'll get an invite — say yes, and you're in. On the night of, you show up to the venue and meet your group. The evening is planned for you: dinner, drinks, a venue, maybe a second stop. All you have to do is show up and be yourself.

Pie: Download the app and set your city — Pie is live in Chicago, Austin, Bay Area, and Columbus. Your home feed shows free, in-person events happening nearby, filtered by your interests. Tap an event to see who's going, RSVP, and add it to your calendar. After you attend, Pie starts learning who you vibe with and surfaces a personalized feed of friend and friend-of-friend activity. You can also host your own events — keep them private or broadcast them to the whole network using 'snowball mode.' There's a built-in chat for coordinating plans and sharing photos after the fact.

What to love

222: No profiles, no DMs, no swiping — removes all the friction and awkwardness of typical social apps. Personality-based matching means you're not just thrown in with random strangers. Full evening experiences (dinner + activity) feel like a real night out, not a forced meetup. All members are vetted before being selected for events. Strong TikTok community and word-of-mouth reputation in major cities.

Pie: Completely free — no premium tier, no paywalls, no catch. Event-first model means you're bonding over shared experiences, not forced small talk. The friend-of-friend feed creates organic social discovery that feels natural. You can host your own events, giving you control over the vibe. 4.7-star rating with 1,000+ reviews suggests people genuinely love using it.

Reality check

222: iOS only — no Android app available. Limited to a handful of US cities plus Toronto. Event costs add up on top of the free app. You can't choose who you go with — the algorithm decides.

Pie: Only available in four cities — if you're not in Chicago, Austin, Bay Area, or Columbus, you're out of luck. No algorithmic matching — you have to browse and choose events yourself. Event quality depends on what's happening in your area on any given week. As a PBC (Public Benefit Corporation), long-term monetization strategy is unclear.

Søren's take

On 222: 222 is one of the more interesting approaches to IRL social I've seen. By removing profiles and messaging entirely, they've eliminated the part of friendship apps that feels most like work. The personality matching and curated evenings mean you show up, meet cool people, and go somewhere fun — all without planning anything. The catch is availability: it's iOS-only and in just a few cities, so if you're not in NYC, LA, SF, or Chicago, you're out of luck for now. If you are, though, it's worth trying at least once.

On Pie: Pie is refreshingly simple in a space full of personality quizzes and subscription paywalls. The pitch is: here are free events near you, go to them, meet people. That's it. No matching algorithm, no premium tier, no gamification. The friend-of-friend social graph that builds over time is genuinely clever — it mimics how real-life social circles actually form. The catch is geographic: four cities is a small footprint, and if yours isn't on the list, you're waiting. But if you're in Chicago, Austin, or the Bay Area and want a zero-cost way to build a social life, Pie is the obvious first download.