Most people who search "rent a friend to meet new people" have already tried the apps. They moved for a job or a degree, the first month was fine, and now it is week eight and the weekends are long. Here is what renting a friend does for that, and what it does not.
What it actually does#
You pay a local for a few hours. The useful part is not the company itself, it is the access: they know where people your age go on a Thursday, which neighbourhood you should have moved to, which run club or climbing gym or salsa night is friendly to newcomers, and they take you there. One afternoon replaces a month of guessing. Some Local Friends will introduce you to their people; most will at least show you where their people are.
What a first afternoon looks like#
You message two or three people whose profiles sound like you (same age range, same interests, a language you want to practise). You agree a plan and a rate. You meet in public: a coffee, a walk through their neighbourhood, a market, a game. Three hours later you have a list of places, an idea of the city, and someone to text when you want to go back. That is the product.
What it costs next to the alternatives#
| Cost | Speed | |
|---|---|---|
| Friendship apps | Free | Slow: weeks of chat per meeting, many never happen |
| Social clubs (Invisible City in Denver, for example) | About $99 a month | Scheduled events, mixed crowds |
| RentAFriend | Membership about $24.95 a month plus the friend's rate | Depends on your city; many profiles are old |
| Roavi | The friend's rate only, usually $15 to $50 an hour; messaging free | As fast as the reply |
Three hours at $25 is $75, once, with no subscription. For someone who just moved, that is cheaper than most of the things they have already tried.
Does it turn into real friends?#
Sometimes, and nobody honest will promise it. What it reliably does is put you in the rooms where it can happen. The people who get the most out of it treat the Local Friend as a guide to the city's social life, ask direct questions ("where would you go if you were me and knew nobody?"), and then go back to those places on their own.
Where it works today#
In the US, Roavi has Local Friends in New York, Los Angeles, Boston and a few other cities (New York, Los Angeles); RentAFriend has more US listings but behind a membership and with many stale profiles. Abroad, Roavi is strongest in Latin America and Asia.
New in town? One afternoon with someone from here.
Meet local guidesRead next: rent a friend to talk, hire a friend near me, alternatives to RentAFriend.
The friendship apps, compared: Bumble BFF alternatives and Meetup alternatives.
Every city where you can do this today, with the live number of Local Friends in each: rent a friend, by the hour. In the United States the list is also by state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can renting a friend help you meet new people?
Yes, in a specific way: a local shows you where people like you actually go, introduces you to their places and sometimes their people, and gives you one plan this week instead of none. It is a shortcut into a city, not a replacement for making friends.Is renting a friend cheaper than a social club?
Often. Social clubs in US cities run around $99 a month; one afternoon with a Local Friend at $25 an hour for three hours is $75, with no membership on Roavi. Friendship apps are free but slow; most people report weeks of chat before one meeting.