Travel buddy apps match you with people who are heading to the same place at the same time, so you can plan or share part of a trip. Tourlina, tripbff and Going Solo are built for that, and Hostelworld offers chats around hostel bookings. Whichever you use, meeting someone you matched with online is a risk to manage: verify, meet in public, tell someone and keep your own plans flexible.
How we chose
We looked for apps whose official App Store listing describes finding travel companions or fellow travellers, then added the one practice tool that fits the first step. Facts come from the US App Store listings via iTunes lookup, and each app's website where it loaded, read on 2026-11-01. We do not quote prices, user numbers or ratings, because they change, vary by region or are undated marketing figures.
Quick comparison
| App | What the listing says it does | Platforms (listing) |
|---|---|---|
| Solo Era | Practice app for doing things alone; does not match people | iPhone |
| Tourlina - Travel Buddy | Find travel companions, friends or dating by destination and dates | iPhone, iPad |
| tripbff - travel friends | Connect with fellow travellers through profiles, interests and group chats | iPhone, iPad |
| Going Solo: Travel Friends | Meet solo travellers and friends in a new city; groups, trip plans, buddy matching | iPhone, iPad |
| Hostelworld | Book hostels; chats and profiles for people booked in the same place | iPhone, iPad |
1. Solo Era
Best for: people who want a travel companion but also want to be able to go without one.
Solo Era is an iPhone app for practising doing things alone, and it is not a travel-buddy app: there is no matching, no profile browsing and no chat with other users. The reason it earns the first spot on a travel buddy list is that a buddy is a choice, not a requirement. If you can eat dinner alone, find your way around or ask a stranger a question, you can say yes to a good match and no to a doubtful one.
The app has weekly missions in seven categories (food, movement, culture, travel, everyday, solitude and people) at five difficulty levels. Travel missions climb from level 1, "Get off your usual bus or train one stop early and walk the rest.", to level 3, "Take a local heritage railway trip.", to level 5, "Visit two towns using one regional rail pass." You rate how nervous you felt before and after, and the journal keeps a photo and notes for each outing. Screens show example data.
Solo Era is free to download, and a subscription is required to start missions. Prices and any free trial are shown in the app and depend on the offer and eligibility. It is not therapy or medical care.
Solo Era for iPhone
Be the kind of traveller who can go either way
Try a travel mission close to home and rate how nervous you felt before and after. Solo Era is an iPhone app for practising doing things alone.
2. Tourlina - Travel Buddy
Best for: matching by destination and dates.
According to its App Store listing, Tourlina connects travellers looking for a travel companion, friends or dating: you enter your trip, discover matches who share your destination and timeline, then chat and plan. The listing states that every profile is manually checked and that the app is open to all genders. Those are the app's own statements, so treat them as claims to weigh rather than guarantees. Note that the listing also mentions dating, so be clear with a match about what each of you wants. The official site is at tourlina.com. Check the listing for current features and pricing.
3. tripbff - travel friends
Best for: finding travel friends through interests and group chats.
The listing describes creating a profile with interests, travel preferences and a destination wishlist, then connecting with fellow travellers, using group chats to coordinate meet-ups and browsing user-generated travel guides and tips. It also mentions a paid Pro subscription; check the listing for what that includes. As with any such app, the number of active users in your destination will decide how useful it is on your dates, and that is not something a listing can tell you. The company site is tripbff.com.
4. Going Solo: Travel Friends
Best for: meeting solo travellers, or friends after you move to a new city.
The listing describes nearby groups, trip plans, a way to find people going to the same next destination, travel-buddy matching and chat. Check the listing to see which features are free and which are premium, as that can change. For a wider look at where to meet people on the road, read our guide to the best apps to meet people while travelling alone.
5. Hostelworld
Best for: getting company without choosing a buddy.
Hostelworld is a booking app first. The listing describes Traveller Profiles, plan-based chat groups, City Chats and Hostel Chats, so you can talk to people staying in the same place before you arrive. That is a lower-commitment option than matching with one person for a whole trip, because you can join a dinner or a walk and still travel on your own plan. See hostels for solo travelers for what to check.
A safety checklist for meeting a travel buddy
A match online is a stranger. These steps apply to any app.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Talk first | Chat for a few days. Notice if answers are consistent and if they respect your pace |
| 2. Video call | A short call before you agree to anything, so you see the person you matched with |
| 3. Check what you can | Photos, consistency of the story, any verification the app offers. It helps, but it is not proof |
| 4. Meet in public | A café or busy place in daylight, not a private room or an isolated spot |
| 5. Tell someone | Share the name, the place, the time and when you will check in |
| 6. Keep your own plans | Keep your own accommodation and your own money, and don't share a room on a first trip |
| 7. Start small | Meet for a coffee or walk, not a multi-day trip |
| 8. Leave if it feels off | You owe no explanation. Have a ready line, such as "I've got another plan, thanks" |
| 9. Keep documents and money separate | Don't lend money or hand over documents |
| 10. Check official advice | Read the destination's official travel advice, for example GOV.UK foreign travel advice for UK travellers |
Our solo travel safety tips cover more general habits.
Before you commit to a buddy
- Match your pace. Ask about daily rhythm, budget and how much time each of you wants alone.
- Agree to a trial. A day trip together shows more than a month of messages.
- Plan an exit. Know how you could split up mid-trip, and keep your own ticket home.
- Think about the alternatives. A small-group tour can offer company without a single dependent partner; see our checklist for solo holiday companies.
- Rehearse independence. If the thought of going without a buddy frightens you, build up with the solo travel for beginners ladder.
Last checked: 2026-11-01. App facts come from US App Store listings and the apps' own sites. They can change, so confirm current details before you decide. We do not quote prices, user counts or ratings.
FAQ
Are travel buddy apps safe?
They can be used safely, but no app can guarantee it. Verify, meet in public, tell someone your plans and keep your own accommodation and money. Use the checklist above.
Which travel buddy app is best?
It depends on what you want. Tourlina matches by destination and dates, tripbff builds on interests and group chats, Going Solo targets solo travellers and Hostelworld connects people booked in the same place. How active each is in your destination will vary.
Is Solo Era a travel buddy app?
No. Solo Era is an iPhone app for practising doing things alone. It has no matching or chat with other users.
Do I need a travel buddy for my first solo trip?
No. Many first-timers go alone for a weekend and add company later. See first solo trip tips.
Are travel buddy apps free?
The listings show them as free to download. Some features or subscriptions can cost money, so check each listing and the app for current details.
What if my travel buddy and I don't get along?
Have a plan to split up and keep your own accommodation and ticket home. Say it kindly and early, and don't feel obliged to continue.
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.
