Whether you’re new in town, just passing through, or you want to expand your social circle, meeting new people can be difficult. Most of us are not social butterflies, and the thought of approaching some random person to talk can be nerve-wracking — we need a little help.

Luckily for us, social networking apps can now do most of the work; all you need to do is show up.

Unfortunately, social networking apps are a dime a dozen, and only a small portion are actually worth your time; most are poor copies of their competitors, and a vast majority of them claim a very small minority of users. If you sift through the enormous heap of social networking apps, you’ll discover that only a few are worth downloading, and to save you tons of time, I’ve compiled a list of five apps to meet people; they cater to different tastes, but surely there is at least one that will help you expand your social circle.

1: Bumble

Okay, Bumble may officially be a dating app, but that shouldn’t stop you from downloading it; it is free, of course.

Bumble is different from other dating apps in that it twists the traditional dating method of the guy making the first move, as the app only lets the girl send the first message when two people match. If you’re a girl who’s had enough dick pics and crude messages for one lifetime, this is the app for you to find your dream guy.

If you happen to be a guy, and you also happen to be really bad at flirting or making the first move, Bumble is definitely the right dating app for you.

2: Grouper

For those of you out there who want to meet new people with a couple friends, Grouper may be the way to go. This app sets you and two friends up on a blind group date, and rather than message back and forth to set up a date, Grouper sets up the time and place for you.

If you’re feeling adventurous, this app is for you; it’s exciting to go on blind dates, but it’s even better when you have a couple friends with you. Even if the group doesn’t hit it off, you’ve surely got a good story to tell when you and your next date are swapping dating horror stories.

You never know what you’re gonna get on Grouper, but if you want to expand your network or at least have a fun time with friends, this app is definitely worth a look.

3: BonAppetour

For those that travel often, BonAppetour is a great way to meet new people, as well as eat amazing homemade meals. This is a web-based app where people can host meals or sign up for a meal hosted by someone else, and if you wanted to, you could eat three or four meals at three or four different homes in one day.

You may not find many hosts in your local area, but when you travel to popular tourist locations, you’ll discover a bevy of potential hosts. With BonAppetour, travelers can enjoy an authentic experience they’ll never forget; why eat at a busy restaurant when you can eat fresh, organic meals prepared by a chef in their own home?

4: Happn

If you’re into meeting random people on the street, Happn may be up your alley.

This app takes your location in real time, and when you end up in a spot that another Happn user recently occupied or is currently occupying, you get a notification, allowing you to like their profile. If both people like each other, then a messaging capability opens up.

Happn works best in densely populated areas, so if you happen to live in rural area, you might not find much success here. But, if you do live in a city, chances are you’ll be able to meet a few people pretty quickly.

You never know what you’re gonna get with Happn, so it may serve you best to keep an open mind to meeting new people that might not fit the characteristics of your friends.

5: GetReal

Apps that help strangers connect always have some messaging capabilities, but on GetReal, you won’t find any of that. Essentially, GetReal wants to show you who’s down to meet up for coffee near you, but after that, it’s up to you to engage with each other and set up a meeting.

GetReal uses your location to find other users near you, so it’s best if you test out this app in a metropolitan area with a dense population. Once you find a user you’re interested in meeting, you simply drop a pin in the in-app map, and they have 30 minutes to accept or decline the invite.

The cool thing about GetReal is that since it’s not an app dedicated to a certain niche audience, you’ll find a variety of people looking for anything from a nice chat to potential business partners, or even a date. If you’re new in town or simply want to meet someone new, this may be the app you’re looking for.

Today, the world seems so big, and that can be seriously intimidating for some people; with over seven billion people walking around, it can be difficult to dive in and immerse yourself in the people that surround you. Fortunately, there are tons of social networking apps that are centered around helping people connect with others, so you’re bound to find at least one that fits your needs.

Out of the plethora of social networking apps, there are five in particular that you may want to try in order to meet new people: Bumble, Grouper, BonAppetour, Happn, and GetReal. These are a few of the outliers, and if they can’t solve your needs, what apps can?

Next Post: 3 Dating sites that never work