Is BuddyMe legit?
Yes. BuddyMe was founded in Graz in 2012 and is run from there, with servers in the EU. BuddyMe has 104,000+ members, most of them in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (as of September 2026). Use is free; BuddyMe is financed through an optional Premium subscription — not through ads or selling data.
The facts
2012 in Graz
Founded
104,000+
Members
5,200+
Cities
EU
Servers
iOS · Android · Web
Available on
Thomas Buchsteiner, Graz
Developer
What members say
An unedited review from the Apple App Store (2026, 5 stars, translated from German):
„I really like that I can find new friends through hobbies on BuddyMe. I also love that you can decide whether you can be found by all genders or just one — or only by verified users. As a woman, I think that is great!"
You can find more current reviews directly in the App Store and on Google Play — best read sorted by date.
And the bad reviews?
If you search the stores for BuddyMe, you will also find harsh criticism. Most of those reviews date from before March 2026 and refer to the old BuddyMe app — including its former payment model and technical problems, for example with account deletion.
In March 2026 we rebuilt BuddyMe from the ground up — with a new app, a new concept, and a new pricing model. Today, chat in every Loop is free, your account can be deleted directly in the app, and profiles are verified via selfie check. The store average still carries the old reviews. Best read the newest ones first.
Safety & privacy: what is built in
Visibility on your terms
You decide who can contact you: everyone or only verified members, and as a woman also women only. Your exact location is never public — what shows is the city, at most an approximate distance.
Photo verification
A short selfie check confirms there is a real person behind a profile. Verified profiles show a tick.
Protected chat
You chat in the app until you meet – you never have to give out your number. Automatic checks and our team watch out for spam and scams.
You decide who joins
Set your Loop to "On request" and you see every join request before someone is in. Women can also open it to women only.
Moderation
Profiles and content are moderated. Reporting and blocking works directly from the profile and the chat.
What BuddyMe costs
For free, you can open your own Loops, join as many other Loops as you like, and write in every Loop chat. Premium makes your Loops more visible in the feed, shows you who viewed your profile, and adds incognito mode.
There are no ads; BuddyMe is financed through the optional Premium subscription.
We publish our numbers
When, who, and how people look for friends on BuddyMe — we publish it: the Friendship Report summarizes our anonymized usage data, free to cite, including for media.
Read the Friendship Report 2026Frequently Asked Questions
Is BuddyMe legit?
Yes. BuddyMe has been around since 2012, is run from Graz (Austria), and its servers are in the EU. BuddyMe has 104,000+ members (as of September 2026).
Are there several apps called BuddyMe?
Yes. Apps in other countries use the same name, for example a US app from 2023. The BuddyMe app from Graz has existed since 2012, belongs to the website buddyme.me, is listed in the stores under the developer Thomas Buchsteiner and is built for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Is BuddyMe really free?
Yes. Opening Loops, joining other people's, and writing in the Loop chats is free. Premium is optional and makes your Loops more visible.
Can I use BuddyMe in the browser?
Yes. Besides the apps for iOS and Android, BuddyMe has a fully usable web version at app.buddyme.me — signing up, opening Loops, and chatting works without the app.
Why are there old bad reviews?
Most critical store reviews refer to the old BuddyMe app before the relaunch in March 2026 — a different payment model, different technology. Today's app was rebuilt from the ground up.
Is BuddyMe a dating app?
No. BuddyMe is built for friendships and shared activities — not romantic relationships. There is no swiping, and you meet for shared activities, often in a group.
Who is behind BuddyMe?
BuddyMe was founded in Graz in 2012 — the idea came from searching for a mountain-biking partner. The team is still based in Austria and runs the app independently.
