What is the difference between 222 and Sweatpals?

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. Sweatpals is a friendship app using interest-based matching with groups of Varies, priced at Free (Free to join and discover; hosts set their own ticket prices), available in 4 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. Sweatpals's strengths: Two-sided marketplace — great for both discovering events and hosting them.

Which is better, 222 or Sweatpals?

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 Sweatpals if you prefer interest-based matching, Varies groups, and on-demand events — Fitness events, classes, and wellness near you.. Both are available as IRL social apps. Compare pricing (222: $$, Sweatpals: Free) and city availability on Søren to find the best fit for meeting people in real life.

222

Sweatpals

222 vs Sweatpals

222 and Sweatpals 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 Sweatpals

CategoryFriendshipFriendship

Price$$ — Free app; events typically $30–$60 per experienceFree — Free to join and discover; hosts set their own ticket prices

Group SizeSmall groupsVaries

MatchingAlgorithm-basedInterest-based

Frequencyon-demandon-demand

Age Range21+18+

PlatformsiOSiOS, Android

Cities0 cities4 cities

Founded20242022

Pricing

222 is priced at $$ (Free app; events typically $30–$60 per experience), while Sweatpals comes in at Free (Free to join and discover; hosts set their own ticket prices).

Format & matching

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

Sweatpals: Download the app, set your location, and browse a feed of fitness and wellness experiences happening near you — everything from sunrise yoga to weekend hikes to pickleball meetups. Join a community built around your favorite activity and chat with other members. When an event catches your eye, book a ticket directly in the app. If you're a host, you can create events, manage memberships, collect payments and waivers, and even send SMS blasts to your community — all from one dashboard. The discovery feed also surfaces experiences you wouldn't have found on your own, which is where the magic happens.

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.

Sweatpals: Two-sided marketplace — great for both discovering events and hosting them. Built-in ticketing, payments, waivers, and SMS marketing for hosts is genuinely useful. Strong presence in Austin and Bay Area with 25K+ local users. Community chat and social feed create ongoing connection beyond single events. Free to discover and join — no subscription paywall for attendees.

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.

Sweatpals: Concentrated in a few cities — experience outside Austin, SF, and Miami is thinner. App can be buggy — multiple reviews mention glitches with profiles and photos. The 'Pals' matching feature is inconsistent and often shows no results. Host-dependent quality means some experiences are polished and others are bare-bones.

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 Sweatpals: Sweatpals is trying to be the Eventbrite of fitness, and in the cities where it has traction — especially Austin and the Bay Area — it works. The dual focus on attendees and hosts is smart: hosts get real tools (ticketing, waivers, SMS), and attendees get a discovery feed that surfaces things they'd never find on Instagram. The app itself is still rough around the edges — reviews mention bugs and the matching feature barely works — but the core experience of finding a local run club or yoga class and just showing up is solid. If you're in one of their active cities and want to meet people through movement, it's worth downloading.