Thoughts & Guides
An Honest Review of Mesh (2026)
Mesh sends you to a coffee shop with three strangers every Saturday. I've been using it for two months. Here's what it's actually like.
An Honest Review of 222 (2026)
222 plans your entire night out and fills the table with strangers picked by an algorithm. I've done three of their experiences. Here's what happened.
An Honest Review of Kndrd (2026)
Kndrd is a vetted, women-first community app in NYC where you join real plans posted by real people. I got in after a two-week wait. Here's what I found.
An Honest Review of Timeleft (2026)
Timeleft is the app everyone's talking about. I've done 14 Wednesday dinners over the past year. Some were fantastic. Some were forgettable. Here's the full picture.
An Honest Review of Peanut (2026)
Peanut calls itself Bumble for moms. I downloaded it during maternity leave and used it for three months. Here's whether it actually helps you find mom friends.
An Honest Review of Bumble BFF (2026)
Bumble BFF has the biggest user base of any friendship app. But does swiping on friends actually work? I spent three months finding out.
An Honest Review of DayOfUs (2026)
DayOfUs is Timeleft's younger sibling with a wider passport. I tried it in New York. Here's how it compares.
An Honest Review of RealRoots (2026)
RealRoots doesn't do one-off meetups. It puts you in a group for six weeks with a facilitator. I finished a full cycle. Here's what happened.
An Honest Review of Meet5 (2026)
Meet5 has 2.5 million users and half a million completed activities, mostly in Europe. I tried it in Berlin. Here's the deal.
An Honest Review of Pie (2026)
Pie is completely free, has no paywalls, and connects you with local events in your city. I used it in Chicago for two months. Here's what I think.
An Honest Review of Wyzr (2026)
Wyzr has separate tracks for over-40s and under-40s, which is rare. I tried the 20s/30s version. Here's how it went.
An Honest Review of Hank (2026)
Hank is a social app built for adults 55 and older. My mom tried it in New York for a month. Here's her take (and mine).
An Honest Review of Better Off (2026)
Better Off uses AI to match you into groups for real-life experiences. I tried three events in New York. The matching was impressive. The rest was mixed.
An Honest Review of Heylo (2026)
Heylo isn't a friendship app. It's the tool that running clubs, book groups, and social leagues use to actually run their operations. Here's why that matters.
An Honest Review of Parlor Social Club (2026)
Parlor Social Club costs $40/month and vets every member. I joined for two months. Here's whether the price is justified.
An Honest Review of GoodRec (2026)
GoodRec is the fastest way to find pickup games and sports leagues in your city. I used it to play soccer and basketball for two months.
An Honest Review of Butter (2026)
Butter lets you host and join real-life plans in Melbourne. The host-picks-guests model is different from anything else I've seen.
An Honest Review of Amata (2026)
Amata replaces swiping with an AI matchmaker that actually talks to you. I used it for a month of dating in New York. Here's the difference.
An Honest Review of Mesh (2026)
Mesh sends you to a coffee shop with three strangers every Saturday. I've been using it for two months. Here's what it's actually like.
An Honest Review of 222 (2026)
222 plans your entire night out and fills the table with strangers picked by an algorithm. I've done three of their experiences. Here's what happened.
An Honest Review of Kndrd (2026)
Kndrd is a vetted, women-first community app in NYC where you join real plans posted by real people. I got in after a two-week wait. Here's what I found.
An Honest Review of Timeleft (2026)
Timeleft is the app everyone's talking about. I've done 14 Wednesday dinners over the past year. Some were fantastic. Some were forgettable. Here's the full picture.
An Honest Review of Peanut (2026)
Peanut calls itself Bumble for moms. I downloaded it during maternity leave and used it for three months. Here's whether it actually helps you find mom friends.
An Honest Review of Bumble BFF (2026)
Bumble BFF has the biggest user base of any friendship app. But does swiping on friends actually work? I spent three months finding out.
An Honest Review of DayOfUs (2026)
DayOfUs is Timeleft's younger sibling with a wider passport. I tried it in New York. Here's how it compares.
An Honest Review of RealRoots (2026)
RealRoots doesn't do one-off meetups. It puts you in a group for six weeks with a facilitator. I finished a full cycle. Here's what happened.
An Honest Review of Meet5 (2026)
Meet5 has 2.5 million users and half a million completed activities, mostly in Europe. I tried it in Berlin. Here's the deal.
An Honest Review of Pie (2026)
Pie is completely free, has no paywalls, and connects you with local events in your city. I used it in Chicago for two months. Here's what I think.
An Honest Review of Wyzr (2026)
Wyzr has separate tracks for over-40s and under-40s, which is rare. I tried the 20s/30s version. Here's how it went.
An Honest Review of Hank (2026)
Hank is a social app built for adults 55 and older. My mom tried it in New York for a month. Here's her take (and mine).
An Honest Review of Better Off (2026)
Better Off uses AI to match you into groups for real-life experiences. I tried three events in New York. The matching was impressive. The rest was mixed.
An Honest Review of Heylo (2026)
Heylo isn't a friendship app. It's the tool that running clubs, book groups, and social leagues use to actually run their operations. Here's why that matters.
An Honest Review of Parlor Social Club (2026)
Parlor Social Club costs $40/month and vets every member. I joined for two months. Here's whether the price is justified.
An Honest Review of GoodRec (2026)
GoodRec is the fastest way to find pickup games and sports leagues in your city. I used it to play soccer and basketball for two months.
An Honest Review of Butter (2026)
Butter lets you host and join real-life plans in Melbourne. The host-picks-guests model is different from anything else I've seen.
An Honest Review of Amata (2026)
Amata replaces swiping with an AI matchmaker that actually talks to you. I used it for a month of dating in New York. Here's the difference.