You moved for a job, you work from home, your friends are in another city, and you would like to go to a museum or a game or just a bar with another person. Paying someone to hang out with you is a normal thing that tens of thousands of people in the United States do, and it is not sad. Here is how to do it well.
Why it is normal#
Paid platonic company has been an open category in the United States since 2009. The people hiring are not who the jokes say: they are people who just moved for a job and know nobody yet, people who work from home and have not spoken to anyone in person since Tuesday, people whose friends had kids and moved to the suburbs, people who want to go to one specific thing (a game, a concert, a museum show) with another human. You pay a tutor, a trainer and a therapist for their time. This is a person's time and company, booked honestly, with the terms in writing.
What it costs#
Most friends charge $20 to $50 an hour, and many set two-hour minimums.
| An afternoon, 2 to 3 hours | $40 to $150 |
|---|---|
| Plus what you do | Their ticket, coffee, a drink |
| RentAFriend membership, to message | About $24.95 a month |
| Roavi | No membership |
New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco at the top of the range; smaller cities at the bottom. A standing weekly slot usually costs less per hour than a one-off.
Where to find someone#
RentAFriend. The most listings in big US cities. Browse free; a membership to message. What it costs in full.
Roavi. Free to browse and message. Profiles are reviewed by a person before going live, carry three real photos and reviews, and list what each Local Friend is good for: museums, food, sports, walking, nightlife, practising a language, showing newcomers the city. Thin in US cities today, a handful in New York and Los Angeles, and strongest for travellers abroad.
Meetup and local groups. Free, real people, no vetting, and built for group activities rather than one-to-one time. Good for a hiking group; not the thing for "come to the game with me on Saturday".
What to ask for#
Something specific. "Want to hang out?" gets no replies. This gets booked:
> Hi, I moved here in August and haven't seen much yet. Saturday afternoon at the art museum, about two hours, then a coffee nearby? Your rate as listed. Your profile says museums are your thing.
The thing, the time, the length, the rate. The person's bio tells you what they are good for; pick someone whose list matches the afternoon you want.
If you are new in town and want the city, not just company#
Say so. A Local Friend on Roavi is built for exactly that: someone who lives there shows you where to eat, which neighbourhood to walk, how to get around, the places that are not on the lists, by the hour. In the US the pool is thin today; abroad it is the main thing Roavi does. "I just moved here and want the city, not a tour" is a message people like answering.
Making it not awkward#
Meet somewhere public with a clear thing to do; the activity carries the first ten minutes. The person has done this before and is good at the start. Pay at the end, as agreed, without ceremony. If it went well, book the same person again; a standing slot is how most people use this, and the second afternoon is easier than the first.
The rules#
Public place. Daytime for a first meeting if you can. Hours and rate agreed in writing in the platform's chat. Pay at the end, never a deposit. Tell someone where you are. The red flags are a deposit request, pushing to another app immediately, a private address, or anything beyond platonic; any one of them means walk away. The rules in full.
Related#
Hire a friend near you: cost by city, the first message, safety. What "rent a local friend" means. Someone to go to the gym with. A dinner companion on a work trip. Is there a free alternative to RentAFriend?.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it weird to pay someone to hang out with you?
No. Paid platonic company has been an open category in the United States since 2009, with hundreds of thousands of people listed and a steady stream of hirers: people who just moved for a job, people who work from home, people whose friends live elsewhere, people who want to go to one specific thing with another person. You pay for a tutor, a trainer and a therapist; this is a person's time and company, booked honestly.What does it cost to hire someone to hang out?
Most friends charge $20 to $50 an hour, and many set two-hour minimums, so an afternoon is $40 to $100 plus whatever you do (their ticket, coffee, a drink). New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco at the top; smaller cities at the bottom. On RentAFriend add a membership of about $24.95 a month to be able to message; on Roavi there is no membership.Where do you find someone to hang out with?
RentAFriend has the most listings in big US cities and needs a membership to message. Roavi is free to browse and message, with profiles reviewed by a person and three real photos; it is thin in US cities today and strongest for travellers. Meetup and local Facebook groups are free, with real people and no vetting, and work best for group activities rather than one-to-one time.What should I ask for?
Something specific. 'Want to hang out?' gets no replies; 'Saturday afternoon at the art museum, two hours, then a coffee, your rate as listed' gets booked. Pick the thing you actually want to do, the time, the length, and say it. The person's bio tells you what they are good for: museums, games, food, walking, concerts, practising a language.What if I'm new in town and want a guide, not just company?
That is exactly what a Local Friend on Roavi is: someone who lives in the city and shows you it by the hour, where to eat, which neighbourhood, how to get around, the things the guides don't list. In US cities the pool is thin today; abroad it is the main thing Roavi does. Say in the message that you have just moved and want the city, not a tour.Is it safe?
With the same rules as meeting any stranger: public place, daytime for a first meeting, hours and rate agreed in writing, pay at the end and never a deposit, tell someone where you are. The red flags are a deposit request, moving off the platform immediately, a private address, or anything beyond platonic. Walk away from any of them.