First Round's On Me (FROM) vs Peanut

Pricing

Both First Round's On Me (FROM) and Peanut fall in the Free price range. First Round's On Me (FROM): Free classic membership; premium Social Club membership with 50 credits/month, daily coffee, and clubhouse access. Peanut: Free with optional Peanut Plus subscription ($8.99–$99.99).

Format & matching

Both apps use groups of 1:1 and groups, and First Round's On Me (FROM) relies on manual / self-select matching while Peanut uses interest-based matching.

How they work

First Round's On Me (FROM): Apply to join — FROM is referral and waitlist only, so you'll either need an invite or wait for approval. Once you're in, add the friends you want to see more of, or discover new connections nearby. Sync your calendar so the app can see when you and your people are free. When the stars align, pick a drink, a time, and a place from FROM's curated list of NYC bars, restaurants, and cafés. Send the invite and show up. Every time you follow through on a plan, you earn drink credits that you can redeem at partner venues with a two-drink minimum. The premium tier gets you a physical Social Club in Chelsea, daily coffee, and guest passes.

Peanut: Download the app and create a profile with your name, location, and stage of motherhood — whether you're trying to conceive, pregnant, or raising kids of any age. Set your interests and what you're looking for (advice, playdates, local friends, or just someone to talk to). Peanut shows you other women nearby who match your criteria. Swipe to wave, and if you both wave, you're matched and can start chatting. From there, you can join group conversations on specific topics, participate in community Q&A threads, or set up in-person meetups.

What to love

First Round's On Me (FROM): The drink-credit reward system creates a genuine incentive to follow through on plans. Curated venue list means you're always going somewhere good, not just wherever's closest. Calendar sync removes the 'when are you free?' back-and-forth that kills plans. Approval-only membership keeps the community intentional and high-quality. A physical Social Club in Chelsea bridges the gap between app and real life.

Peanut: Largest dedicated community for mothers — 5 million+ users means you'll actually find people nearby. Stage-based matching (TTC, pregnancy, newborn, toddler, etc.) connects you with women in the same chapter. Swipe mechanic feels natural and low-pressure for introverted new moms. Group discussions and Q&A threads provide real support beyond just friend-matching. Selfie verification and moderation create a genuinely safe space.

Reality check

First Round's On Me (FROM): NYC only — completely useless outside New York. The waitlist and approval process creates real friction to get started. Two-drink minimum at partner venues means you're spending money to redeem 'free' credits. Premium membership pricing isn't transparent upfront.

Peanut: Heavily focused on motherhood — not useful if you're looking for general adult friendships. Free tier is limited; seeing who waved at you and premium filters require Peanut Plus. Some areas have sparse user density, especially outside major metros. The Bumble-style swiping can feel transactional when you're sleep-deprived and just want a friend.

Søren's take

On First Round's On Me (FROM): FROM is built on a simple insight: the problem with socializing isn't finding people — it's actually making the plan and showing up. The drink-credit mechanic is clever because it gamifies the part everyone struggles with. The curated venue list and calendar sync remove the two biggest plan-killers (where do we go? when are you free?). The physical Social Club in Chelsea is a bold move that shows they're serious about the offline piece. The catch is that it's NYC-only and approval-gated, so if you're not in New York or don't have a referral, you're waiting. But if you are in the city and your social life has devolved into a graveyard of unanswered group chats, FROM might be the thing that gets you off the couch.

On Peanut: Peanut fills a gap that honestly shouldn't exist — new mothers are among the most socially isolated people in any city, and most friendship apps aren't built for them. The stage-based matching is smart: a mom with a newborn and a mom with a five-year-old have very different lives. The community features (groups, Q&A, resources) elevate it beyond a simple matching app. If you're a new mom feeling isolated, download this before anything else on Søren.