The best apps for finding things to do alone fall into two groups: apps that list events (Fever, Luma, Eventbrite, Meetup) and apps that help you practise the nerve to actually go (Solo Era). Event apps answer "what is on near me?", but none of them make the walk through the door easier. A good setup uses one of each.
How we judged these apps
Most "what to do near me" lists rank by size. For going alone, other things matter more. We read each App Store listing and official site on 2026-11-01 and compared them on these criteria. This is an editorial reading of what the listings say, not a hands-on test of every city.
| Criterion | What we looked for |
|---|---|
| Works without a group | Can you book or attend a single seat, or is the whole product built around bringing friends? |
| Built-in focus | Does the event give you something to watch or do, so conversation is optional? |
| Low-pressure start | Can a nervous first-timer begin small and pick the difficulty? |
| Honest listing | Does the listing say what you get, without us having to guess? |
| Cost clarity | We do not quote prices. Check the app or event page; prices differ by event and city. |
Quick comparison
| App | What it does | Solo angle | Platforms (listing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo Era | Missions for doing things alone | Practise going, rate your nerves | iPhone |
| Fever | Events and tickets in your city | Shows, museums, food experiences: easy to go as a single seat | iPhone, iPad |
| Luma | Event discovery and invites | Talks and meetups with a focus | iPhone, iPad |
| Eventbrite | Discover and book events | Classes, shows, hobby events | iPhone, iPad |
| Meetup | Interest groups and events | Topic-led groups | iPhone, iPad |
| Timeleft | Dinners and other formats with strangers | Structured, small groups | iPhone, iPad |
| 222 | Invites to group social experiences | Group setting, vetted members | iPhone, iPad |
1. Solo Era
Best for: people who would love to go to the cinema, a restaurant or a museum alone but keep putting it off.
Solo Era is an iPhone app, so it is not an event listing. It is the practice layer. You get a weekly mission, you can browse missions by seven categories (food, movement, culture, travel, everyday, solitude and people) and five difficulty levels, and you can write a mission of your own. Examples from the app's library include "Have a fruit-and-yoghurt breakfast in a park." (level 1) and "Sit through a comedy night, alone." (level 3).
Before and after each mission you rate how nervous you felt, and the Progress screen plots those ratings over months with XP and a weekly streak. The journal keeps a photo and notes for each completed mission. Nothing is shared unless you choose to share it. That is how an outing stops being a one-off brave act and turns into something you do again. Our things to do alone hub shows what that looks like in practice.
Free to download. A subscription is required to start missions. Prices and any free trial are shown in the app and depend on the offer and eligibility.
Not a fit if: you want a list of tonight's concerts with tickets. Solo Era does not list local events, sell tickets or match you with people. It is also iPhone only and not therapy or medical care.
Solo Era for iPhone
Pick one event or outing this week and rate your nerves
Solo Era gives you one realistic mission a week, records how nervous you felt before and after, and keeps a photo journal of what you did. An iPhone app. A subscription is required to start missions; any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app.
2. Fever: Events & Tickets
Best for: finding a ticketed experience (a concert, a museum show, a food experience) where you only need one seat.
Fever's listing describes a map of events near you, filters by date and time, personalised picks and phone-as-ticket booking. Its examples include concerts, immersive shows, museums, comedy, festivals and food experiences. For going alone this is a strength: a seated show or an exhibition gives you a clear reason to be there and nobody expects you to talk. The listing also mentions support available around the clock, which can calm first-time nerves when you are booking for yourself.
Not a fit if: you want to meet people. Fever sells experiences, it does not connect attendees. Event availability depends on your city, so check what is on where you live.
3. Luma: Events & Invites
Best for: talks, workshops and community gatherings, especially tech, wellness and social events.
Luma's listing says you can discover events near you, register, and show a ticket or Apple Wallet pass at the door. A feature we like for solo attendees: if you attend with someone, you can look them up and chat with them inside Luma afterwards, so you do not have to ask for an Instagram handle on the spot. The same app lets you host an event, which is useful later if you want to try the other side of the room.
Not a fit if: your city's events are not on Luma. The listing's examples lean towards tech, crypto, wellness and social events, so the mix will not suit every taste.
4. Eventbrite
Best for: classes, hobby events and shows from many different organisers.
The Eventbrite listing describes a personalised discover tab, search and filters, in-app booking and the option to follow friends and see who is going. The range is wide, from shows to hobbies, which makes it a good place to look for a class: a pottery night or a cooking class gives you a task to do with your hands, so you are not stuck holding a drink at the edge of the room. Our guide to attending events alone has ways to handle the first ten minutes.
Not a fit if: you dislike browsing a huge feed. Quality and format vary by organiser, so read each event page carefully.
5. Meetup
Best for: repeat visits to the same interest group, so faces become familiar.
Meetup, from Meetup LLC, lets you join interest-based groups and attend online or local events. The listing's own wording is about meeting people who share your hobbies. For solo attendees the topic is the opener: everyone came for the same hike, book or board game. If you want a longer comparison, see Meetup alternatives.
Not a fit if: you want zero social expectations. Many Meetup events are built around talking to others. A set start-and-end time you choose in advance helps.
6. Timeleft
Best for: having dinner or coffee with a small group without choosing the venue or the group yourself.
Timeleft's listing and site say you take a quiz, book a dinner, drinks, coffee or a run, and the venue and group are revealed just before. The site's tagline is "No bios. No swiping. No planning." Several formats are listed, including women-only dinners and group runs. Its site and listing do not state costs we could verify, so check the official FAQ. For a comparison with other options, see Timeleft alternatives.
Not a fit if: a table of strangers sounds like too big a first step. Do a few easier outings first and come back.
7. 222
Best for: people who want someone else to organise a small group outing.
The 222 listing says it sends invites to social experiences nearby, always in public and in a group setting, with members vetted. If you are not selected, the listing says you are refunded. The official site had very little text when we loaded it, so rely on the App Store listing and ask the company for details before committing.
Not a fit if: you want to see all your options. You respond to invites rather than browse.
How to choose by situation
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| "I have never gone out alone" | A level 1 Solo Era mission, then Fever or Eventbrite |
| "I want a reason to be there" | A class on Eventbrite or a talk on Luma |
| "I want to meet people eventually" | Meetup, then Timeleft |
| "I want someone else to plan it" | Timeleft or 222 |
| "I am in a new city" | See apps for a new city |
A simple loop that works
- Pick an event with a focus: a show, a talk or a class.
- Arrive ten minutes early so you can settle in.
- Rate your nervousness before you go and after you leave, on a 1 to 10 scale. The self-rating method explains why the two numbers matter.
- Plan the next one at the same time, a little bigger or a little different.
For travel, solo travel apps has the equivalent list.
Last checked: 2026-11-01. App facts come from App Store listings and official sites and can change. Confirm current details, prices and event rules on the official page before you go.
FAQ
Is it okay to go to an event alone?
Yes. Many events are built for single attendees, especially talks, shows, exhibitions and classes. Arriving a little early and choosing something with a focus makes it easier.
Which kind of event is easiest to attend alone?
Anything with a built-in activity: a seated show, a museum, a workshop or a screening. Nobody expects conversation, and you leave when it ends.
Do event apps help me meet people?
Some do (Meetup, Timeleft, Luma's attendee chat). Others, like Fever, sell tickets and leave the socialising to you. Read the listing to see which kind it is.
How do I stop myself from cancelling?
Buy the ticket first, tell one person where you are going, and keep the first outing short. Small repeated steps work better than one big night.
Does Solo Era find events for me?
No. Solo Era is a practice app with missions, ratings and a journal. It does not list local events, sell tickets or match you with people.
Are the prices of these apps listed here?
No. Prices and policies change by city, event and offer. Check the app or the official page before you decide.
Solo Era for iPhone
Try it with Solo Era
Solo Era gives you one realistic mission a week, records how nervous you felt before and after, and keeps a photo journal of what you did. An iPhone app. A subscription is required to start missions; any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app.
