11 Best Travel Buddy Apps in 2024 | Freeappsforme

Wanna go travel but your usual travel crew is busy (or non-existent)? We got you!

We’ve rounded up the best travel buddy aps you could try. These apps link you with fellow travelers who share your interests and wanderlust.

Most of them also have other features for trip planning, recs, and more. Whether you’re into backpacking or want to travel abroad, these apps have smth for you. Let’s dive in!

List of reviewed apps:

GAFFL

This app connects you with people from over 170 countries. Search for locations, find buds or even locals, and explore the globe together. It’s a great way to split costs, make new pals, and exp new cultures.

What Makes it Unique:

Focus on Solo Travelers: Tailored for solo adventurers seeking company.
Global Reach: Connect with people from a massive network across 170+ countries.
Cost-Sharing: You can split travel expenses like accommodation and rentals to save money.
Trip Planning Collaboration: Plan your itinerary together in real-time chat.
Verified Users: Multi-step verification enhances trust and safety.

Pros:

Global network
Cost-effective travel
Local expertise
Collaborative planning
Safety verification

Cons:

Subscription model
Advanced planning for trips might be necessary
Your travel experience depends on your chosen companion’s prefs

Who Should Think Twice:

Luxury Travelers: This app might not cater to those seeking high-end, exclusive experiences.
Spontaneous Adventurers: Advanced planning with your travel buddy might be required.
Introverts: While GAFFL fosters connections, it might not be ideal for those seeking complete solitude.

Vagatrip

It’s a travel-focused social network app made to link you with travel buds. It boasts a community of over 50L travelers worldwide, so you can find travel buddy or group for your next escapade.

What Makes it Unique:

Focus on Social Connection: Vagatrip prioritizes linking you with those who share your interests.
Local Buddies: You can find travel mates in your destination city for unique exp.
Itinerary Sharing: Collaborate on trip plans with potential trip buds by sharing draft itineraries.
Content Creation Opportunities: Share your travel stories and photos, potentially becoming a travel influencer.

Pros:

Large and active travel community
Focus on local connections and hidden destinations
Collaboration features for trip planning
Opportunity to become a travel content creator

Cons:

Multi-step verification might raise privacy concerns
Requires flexibility and compromise when planning with a new companion
May not be ideal for luxury travelers

Who Should Think Twice:

Control Freaks: Planning with a new travel companion requires flexibility. If you have a rigid itinerary, Vagatrip might require some compromise.
Luxury Travelers: The app seems geared more towards budget-conscious and adventurous guys.

Foiti

The point of this one is to bridge the gap between travel inspo and reality. It goes beyond pretty pictures by guiding you to the exact spot where a photo was captured! It lets you connect with locals and fellow adventurers, discover hidden gems nearby, and create your dream travel itinerary.

What Makes it Unique:

Photo-Centric Navigation: Ditch the generic guides. Foiti lets you navigate to the exact location captured in breathtaking travel photos.
Connect with Locals and Travelers: Spark conversations with people who know the area best. Foiti fosters a social travel community for exchanging tips and stories.
Discover Unfamiliar Places: Feeling adventurous? Foiti helps you find unexplored locations near your current spot.

Pros:

Free
Covers hidden travel gems based on real pics
Joins you with a community of wanderers
Helps you find travel partners
Promotes a more social and interactive travel exp

Cons:

Not always be accurate
May not be ideal for rigidly planned trips
App-based features might not appeal to everyone

Who Should Think Twice:

Tech-Averse Travelers: If you prefer a more analog travel style, it might not be your cup of tea.
Strict Itinerary Planners: It is more for spontaneous exploration than meticulously planned trips.

NomadHer

Here’s your one-stop app for conquering the world as a solo female wanderer. It links you with a global network of adventurous women, offering everything from travel tips to local meet-ups, all in a safe and supportive environment.

What Makes it Unique:

Female-Focused: NomadHer prioritizes a woman-only space, fostering a sense of community and security.
Verified Members: Say goodbye to unwanted advances! NomadHer uses a verification to ensure you’re connecting with real women.
Global Reach: Connect with globetrotters worldwide, or find local female travel buddies in your destination city.
Solo Travel Guidebook: Get expert advice and essential resources compiled by experienced NomadHers to navigate your solo adventures with confidence.

Pros:

Safe and supportive women-only community
Connects you with female tourists
Built-in messaging for easy communication
Solo travel guidebook with valuable resources
Events designed for female travelers (availability may vary)

Cons:

Limited to solo female travelers
Events currently concentrated in Seoul, South Korea

Who Should Think Twice:

Limited Event Reach: Currently, NomadHer’s events are concentrated in Seoul, South Korea, with global expansion planned. This might be a drawback for users in other locations.

Check also: 11 Free Road Trip Apps

Travel Ladies

This app is made specifically for solo female travelers. It links you with other women who share your wanderlust. Here, you can find travel buddies, safe couchsurfing opportunities, and a supportive online community.

What Makes it Unique:

Focus on Solo Female Travelers: Unlike general travel buddy apps, Travel Ladies caters exclusively to women. It fosters a sense of safety and camaraderie.
Safe Couchsurfing with Women: Find female hosts who can offer local insights and a comfortable place to stay.
Travel Inspiration and Tips: Get recs and advice directly from solo female tourists and locals.
Diverse Travel Groups: Chat with ladies who share your travel style, whether it’s backpacking, budget adventures, or van life.

Pros:

Connects you with a supportive community
Offers safe couchsurfing
Helps find travel buds
You can share travel exp and inspire others.
Discovers destinations and gets local recs

Cons:

Men cannot create profiles
App success depends on user base density in your destination
Reliance on user-generated content, so quality of recs might vary

Who Should Think Twice:

Men Seeking Travel Buddies: This app is made specifically for women, so it won’t work.
Travelers Who Prefer Complete Solitude: It’s not for those who crave complete independence on their adventures.

TourBar

It’s your one-stop shop for finding travel buds around the globe. It blends the worlds of travel buddy apps and dating sites, offering a unique way to connect with those who share your wanderlust.

What Makes it Unique:

Dual Focus: It caters to both finding travel companions and sparking romantic connections.
Free & Easy: Signing up and searching profiles is free. And you can log in with your existing Facebook or Google acc for added convenience.
Global Reach: Look for travel buds from all over the world, expanding your horizons and cultural experiences.

Pros:

Free and easy to use
Broad global user base
Potential for platonic friendships or romantic connections
Explore new destinations with a travel companion

Cons:

Focus on dating overshadows platonic travel buddies
Limited matching info
Potential privacy concerns

Who Should Think Twice:

Seeking Strictly Platonic Connections: While platonic connections are possible, the romantic element is prominent.
Limited Matching Options: Success might depend on browsing profiles and initiating contact.

Travelfriend

This one bills itself as your “passport to thrilling adventures and lasting friendships.” It’s a travel buddy app aiming to connect you with like-minded adventurers for unforgettable experiences.

What Makes it Unique:

Focus on Friendship: It emphasizes building friendships alongside shared travel experiences.
Trip Creation: Craft your dream itinerary and invite potential travel companions to join.
Advanced Search: You can narrow down your search for a perfect buddy by age, language, location, and more.

Pros:

Niche focus on building travel friendships
Ability to craft your dream itinerary and find a companion
Advanced search filters to target ideal travel partners

Cons:

Subscription cost
Reliance on users creating interesting trips
Safety factor of meeting strangers online (common to most travel buddy apps)

Who Should Think Twice:

Control Freaks: Planning every detail solo might be your pref. It involves some compromise and flexibility when coordinating with your travel buddy.
Budget Travelers: Make sure to discuss finances openly with potential travel companions.

Have a look at: 11 Best Vacation Tracker Apps

Parindey

This isn’t your typical travel buddy app. Sure, it helps you find travel companions, but it goes beyond simple matching. It’s a travel social network where you can share travel moments, vids, and even create mini-vlogs.

What Makes it Unique:

Travelogue Creation: Craft detailed travel blogs with the built-in editor and earn in-app currency (Parindey coins) for your efforts.
Travel Forum: Ask questions about destinations, local guides, or travel services, and get insights from the Parindey community.
Upcoming Video Call Feature: Connect with potential travel companions face-to-face for a more personal touch (available soon).

Pros:

Great for finding travel companions with shared interests
Collaborative trip planning tools
Potential to earn rewards for content creation
Simple UI

Cons:

Focus on social features doesn’t suit everyone
Some key functionalities (video calling) are not there yet

Who Should Think Twice:

Privacy-Conscious Users: Sharing travel plans and vlogs might not be for everyone. Consider your comfort level with online communities.
Focus On Finding A Local Guide: It might not be the best platform to find a knowledgeable local guide.

Tourgether

Here’s an app aiming to connect travelers and create unforgettable adventures. Listed as the world’s number one trip mate finder app, it boasts over 10,000 successful trips already completed.

What Makes it Unique:

Focus on Travel Companionship: It prioritizes finding travel buddies for shared adventures, friendships, or sightseeing experiences.
Open to Different Travel Styles: Whether you’re a budget-conscious backpacker or a luxury traveler, Tourgether caters to a wide range of travel preferences.
Flexibility for Planning: Use the app to find travel partners for already planned trips or connect with others to brainstorm destinations together.

Pros:

Free to use
Caters to all travel styles
Encourages collaborative trip planning
Focuses on finding travel companions

Cons:

Safety relies on manual profile moderation, so user discretion is necessary
Not made specifically for finding romantic partners

Who Should Think Twice:

Those Prioritizing Complete Privacy: Meeting strangers online comes with inherent risks. If you’re uncomfortable with that aspect, this app might not be the best fit.
Travelers with Specific Partner Needs: It’s for strictly romantic partner matching.

Tourlina

This app is made to link solo female travelers with each other. It focuses on creating a safe and supportive space for women to find travel buddies who share their interests and destinations.

What Makes it Unique:

Women-Only: Tourlina prioritizes female friendships and avoids the potential awkwardness of a dating app situation.
Verified Users: Every acc goes through a verification to ensure you connect with real women.
Focus on Friendship: The app is made to find travel buds, not romantic partners.

Pros:

Safe and secure environment for women
Verified user profiles
Matching based on trip details and interests
Links you with both fellow travelers and locals
Free to download

Cons:

Limited to female users only
Upgraded plan needed for unlimited chats
Newer app, so user base is smaller

Who Should Think Twice:

Those Open to Mixed-Gender Travel: If you’re comfortable traveling with anyone, regardless of gender, it might be limiting. Other travel buddy apps offer a wider pool of potential companions.
Budget Travelers: Chatting with multiple travel partners requires an in-app purchase. Consider if this fits your budget.

You may also check: 7 Best Vacation Calendar Apps

TripBFF

This app connects you with like-minded adventurers to explore the world together. It lets you find travel buddies, create trip plans, and embark on unforgettable journeys together.

What Makes it Unique:

Shared Trip Planning: Collaborate with potential travel buddies by creating and sharing trip itineraries.
Official Group Trips: Discover and join pre-planned group adventures organized by the TripBFF community.
Travel-Focused Community: Gain travel tips, share experiences, and access insider recommendations from fellow travelers.

Pros: