Find Friends in Austria
As a kid, making friends was easy: you met by chance, and a few weeks later you were inseparable. As an adult it’s different. Work eats the week, old friendships move to other cities, and “let’s do something together” often stalls on the simple question of who to even ask. That’s exactly where BuddyMe comes in: you say what you’re up for — a coffee, a run, a concert on Saturday — and meet people near you looking for the same thing right now. No swiping, no dating. Just real meetups.
How many people are looking for friends in Austria?
97,000+ people use BuddyMe in Austria to find friends for shared activities. The most active cities are Vienna, Graz, Linz.
What activities are popular in Austria?
In Austria, coffee, sports, concerts, and outdoor activities are especially popular. There are currently 6,200+ active signals from people looking for activity partners.
BuddyMe in Numbers
Why friendships are so much work as an adult
It’s not you. The research here is pretty clear. A study from the University of Kansas (2018) worked out how much shared time friendship actually takes: around 50 hours to move from acquaintance to casual friend, about 90 hours to become real friends, and more than 200 hours before someone becomes a genuinely close friend. Only voluntary, shared time counts — cooking together, talking, doing things. Hours at the office don’t.
200 hours — that’s the catch. You rarely have that time to spare as an adult, and even more rarely do you meet the same new people often enough to add it up. That’s why it feels so hard, even when you’re doing everything right.
In Austria, around 1.8 million people feel lonely at least occasionally, according to Statistics Austria. Loneliness isn’t a fringe topic — we’re in good company.
We see the same in our own data: in the BuddyMe Friendship Report we break down who is looking for new friends on BuddyMe — and when.
Sources: University of Kansas, 2018; Statistik Austria, 2025
How BuddyMe works — and why that makes the difference
Most apps revolve around profiles: you swipe through photos and decide who you like. That may work for dating. For friendship it’s the wrong start, because friendship doesn’t grow from a photo — it grows from something you do together.
BuddyMe flips that around. Activities take center stage instead of profiles. You post a Signal — a short message about what you’re up for:
- “Concert on Saturday — anyone in?”
- “Looking for someone to run with on weekends, ideally regularly.”
- “New here and up for a coffee and a few tips about the city.”
Others nearby see your Signal, reach out, you chat briefly — and meet up. The shared activity is there from the start. No grinding small talk, no “so, what do you do?” You have a reason to meet right away.
People most often meet up for coffee, sports, concerts and outdoor activities — but you’ll just as easily find someone for a board-game night, for gaming, for the next dog walk or a museum visit. There are currently 6,200+ active signals in Austria.
Find Friends for Any Activity
Whether coffee, sports, concerts, or gaming – discover people who share your interests.
Find Friends in Austria
BuddyMe is active in over 1,100 cities in Austria. Choose your city and find people nearby.
Find Friends at Any Age
Friendships know no age. Find people in your age group.
Finding friends in a new chapter of life
Hardly anyone looks for new friends “out of nowhere.” Usually something has changed. Three situations come up again and again:
New in town. A move for a job, for studies or for love — and suddenly you know no one. Your old network is a train ride away. It helps to find a foothold through concrete activities, instead of waiting for friendships to “just happen.”
After university. At university you were surrounded by peers with plenty of time. At work, colleagues are often in a different stage of life, and your study friends scatter across the country. Your circle shrinks, almost unnoticed.
As a parent. With small children there's little time left, and your old circle no longer fits the new everyday. Meeting other parents in a similar spot makes a lot easier — from a spontaneous playground meetup to an evening where both sides understand why you're tired.
In every one of these chapters, the first step is the same: say what you’re up for, and make it easy for someone to reach out.
How BuddyMe works
Share what you're open for
Say what you're up for – in just 10 seconds
Get Matched
Interested people reach out to you
Arrange a Meetup
Agree on time & place in the chat
Meet in Real Life
Real friendship starts offline
Why BuddyMe?
Safe & Moderated
All profiles are reviewed. You can block and report anytime.
Not a Dating App
BuddyMe focuses on friendship and shared activities.
Free to Use
All basic features are and remain free.
Local in DACH
Find people nearby, not on the other side of the world.
BuddyMe is not a dating app — and that’s on purpose
This matters enough to say plainly: BuddyMe isn’t for flirting. Romantic advances are unwelcome and can be reported. If you’re here for friendship, you shouldn’t feel uneasy because of dating approaches — women in particular often name exactly that as the reason “normal” apps don’t work for them.
Safety is part of it: profiles are moderated, you can block and report at any time, and you only exchange phone numbers once a meetup has gone well.
An honest comparison: other ways to find friends
An app isn’t the only way — and we won’t pretend it is.
- Clubs and classes (sports club, adult-education courses, choir): great if you have a fixed hobby and time for regular dates. Harder if you want to stay flexible or do something on a whim.
- Through work: the obvious route, but colleagues aren’t automatically friends — and not everyone likes to mix work and private life.
- Classic groups and forums: work well in big cities, often barely in smaller towns.
- BuddyMe: strong when you go by concrete activities, want to stay flexible, and look for people nearby — including beyond the biggest cities.
The best approach is usually a mix. What BuddyMe takes off your plate is the hardest part: the first step.
What our members say
"With BuddyMe I found a great way to quickly, easily, and effortlessly meet new people through my hobbies."
"BuddyMe is a great way to meet new people for shared activities."
"I love spontaneously meeting new people here, having fun, and enjoying life."
"I met Birgit on BuddyMe and she has become one of my best friends."
The idea behind BuddyMe
The idea for BuddyMe was born on a mountain bike. The founder rides with a passion — but someone from his own circle of friends doesn’t always have the time or the urge to come along. The curious part: out on the trail, you almost always meet others doing exactly the same thing, at the same time, in the same place. The people are already there. The only thing missing is the moment to meet. That’s the moment BuddyMe creates.
What actually helps
- Be specific. “Up for a coffee on Thursday” works better than “looking for new people.”
- Stick with it. Remember the 200 hours — the first meetups are just the start, not the test.
- Ask first. Most other people feel exactly like you do. Someone has to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find friends in Austria?
With BuddyMe it's easy: Download the app, say what you're open for (e.g., coffee, sports, concerts), and get matched with people in Austria who share your interests.
Is BuddyMe free in Austria?
Yes, BuddyMe is completely free to use. You can create signals, browse activities, and chat with up to 3 matches per month at no cost.
Is BuddyMe a dating app?
No, BuddyMe is not a dating app. We focus on friendship and shared activities. Romantic advances are unwelcome and can be reported.
In which cities in Austria is BuddyMe active?
BuddyMe is active in over 1,100 cities in Austria. The largest communities are in Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck.
How safe is BuddyMe?
Safety is a priority: All profiles are moderated, you can block and report anytime, and phone numbers are only exchanged after positive meetups.