Is Timeleft Worth It? My Honest Review After Trying It in the US & UK
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As someone who’s tried everything from Meetup.com to Bumble BFF (how I met my travel buddy), I’m no stranger to trying every way imaginable to meet people, especially when traveling.
Which is why I was so eager to try this ‘turn strangers into friends’ app while I was in Europe for 4.5 months, solo, and to compare it with my experience in the USA in this Timeleft review.
I used the app eleven times between 2024 and 2026 while in Southern California, and three times in 2025 while in Edinburgh, Scotland, and in Liverpool, England.
Whether you’re looking for ways to meet friends locally or abroad, I have firsthand insight into what it’s like, including who’d best enjoy this curated experience of meeting (potentially—not everyone shows up) five strangers over dinner, coffee, or drinks.
Plus, I can share who’s better served by a platform like Bumble BFF, Meetup.com, or other ways to meet people, so you’ll know whether Timeleft is the best fit before you pay for its subscription.
Is Timeleft Worth Subscribing to?
Yes, Timeleft is worth subscribing to if you’ll commit to going more than once. The subscription (~$20/month) only pays off across multiple meetups, since every group is a fresh set of five strangers and no single night guarantees a friend. After fourteen meetups between 2024 and 2026 in Southern California, Edinburgh, and Liverpool, I’ve never had a bad evening and walked away with four friendships. It’s best for singles, especially solo travelers or anyone new to a city.
What is Timeleft?
Timeleft is a social app that matches groups of six strangers for weekly dinners, drinks, or other meetups, helping people make new friends.
When I first tried it back in 2024 for the Southern California area, there were only dinners.
But for Europe, they already had additional options, such as drinks, running, and women-only dinners.
As of 2026, I’ve found that the United States has largely adopted these options, and I’ve also since gone to coffee meetups.
Europe tends to get new options first, such as coffee for singles, since the company was founded in France and has a larger user base there.
Why Did I Try Timeleft?
Since I moved to California in 2008, straight out of high school, I’ve struggled to make friends, so I love trying all the ways to meet people.
I’ve done everything from starting a film club at my community college to launching my own app, Nerd Out, a pop-culture event calendar.
In total, I’ve tried:
- Meetup.com
- 222
- Nerd Out
- College clubs
- Bumble BFF
- Hostelworld app
- TripBFF
- Nomadtable
After the pandemic, after being locked inside and barely talking to anyone but my housemates, I was eager to make friends.
I’d heard of Timeleft during my solo visit to Barcelona in 2021, but the company hadn’t yet expanded to the United States. (Coincidentally, I found my travel buddy in Barcelona through Bumble BFF.)
So when I started seeing Instagram ads for it in 2024, I jumped at the chance!
How Does It Work?
- Download the app: It’s available on iOS and Android.
- Sign up and take a short quiz: Complete a short personality and preference survey that takes under 5 minutes. Add your languages here so you don’t end up having to Google Translate your way through dinner.
- Pay: Pay for a subscription (it used to be per dinner when I joined, but as of 2025, they changed it to subscription-only).
- Select an activity and date: Choose the date and activity that work for you.
- The algorithm: Pairs you with five like-minded people based on your answers.
- The reveal: Just before your activity, the app reveals the mystery destination your group is headed to. It’ll also give you basic info about the other participants, such as their nationalities and the industries they work in.
- The gathering: You show up, share a meal, go for a run, or sip a drink, and use optional in-app conversation starters to break the ice. Afterward, groups often head to a nearby bar to meet participants from other tables.
- Impressions: After the activity, the app will ask you for impressions. It will ask whether this or that person was kind, authentic, attentive, and so on.
Note: The quiz is far less comprehensive than an app like 222, which took me at least 20 minutes. So know that the Timeleft algorithm isn’t designed to give you ‘the perfect group’ based on such limited information.
That doesn’t mean the groups are bad; it just means you likely won’t find someone exactly like you.
How Much is Timeleft?
A Timeleft membership costs about $20 per month (prices may differ by region; check the app for your local rate).
It grants unlimited access to weekly dinners, drinks, coffees, and runs in your city – meaning you’re not charged per event, but for the flexibility to attend as often as you want.
There is a larger discount if you sign up for 3- or 6-month plans.
What to Expect at a Timeleft Dinner
On the day of your activity, you’ll receive an app notification with a location and table number (likely 1 or 2, depending on how many groups there are).
Once seated, it’s all about greeting one another and chatting.
I’ve never had a Timeleft dinner without a flowing conversation.
Is everyone a chatterbox? No, and thank goodness. Instead, I’ve typically found that people are genuinely interested in each other. Asking questions, even follow-up questions!
I think we’ve only resorted to the icebreaker cards once, which says something.
I’ve never noticed anyone left out, either. If you’re the quiet type, someone will likely give you a platform to speak.
People are also typically very encouraging. I’ve never attended a Timeleft that descended into any kind of debate or harsh words.
I’ve always left, maybe not with best friends, but at least with an enjoyable night under my belt.
Typically, everyone orders an entree and a drink.
In my experience, the restaurant has always split the bill, so there is no need to do the math after an evening of conversation.
Once dinner is wrapped up, a ‘last drink’ is usually announced on the app of a nearby bar.
It’s not always walkable, which I don’t love because it can make people skip ‘last drink,’ but I understand it’s not always possible.
I once went to a ‘last drink’ that the two in my group decided to skip, but I went anyway, hoping to meet other participants. No one showed up!
So, if your table doesn’t have at least one other person going, I don’t recommend continuing to ‘last drink.’
Who Have I Met?
I’ve found that people who show up for Timeleft dinners are truly kind, open-minded individuals.
Are they all my best friends now? No.
But I’ve never disliked any of them enough to leave a bad taste in my mouth.
However, I have built four friendships through Timeleft experiences.
Three in the United States, one in England.
I’m 36 years old (as of 2026), and I found that the groups I’m assigned to are in their 30s.
Timeleft participants tend to be either people new to the area or established people looking for friends.
Who you get depends on your quiz, the algorithm, and who’s in the area:
- Southern California, I found it to be mostly established people
- Edinburgh, newbies to the area
- Liverpool, people established in the area
This could vary for you based on the factors above; this was just my experience.
Ages may also vary; for instance, I’m told that Lisbon tends to attract an older crowd. Check out my Lisbon solo travel guide if you’re planning to go.
US versus UK
I didn’t find the experiences to be wildly different between the two.
It mainly varies by city with the type of people you meet. I found the locals in Liverpool friendlier than the newbies in Edinburgh.
I feel some of the Edinburgh people may have been a bit disappointed that I’m a digital nomad, since they were looking for local friends, which is understandable.
However, in Liverpool, everyone was intrigued by my lifestyle, and I even met a fellow traveler who encouraged my trip to Budapest and recommended places where I could meet people there!
The only other major difference is the activities offered. For example, London has a singles-only event, but I haven’t found this in the States.
Tips for Potential Subscribers
- If no one else from your group is attending ‘last drink,’ you may be the only one, as there’s no guarantee another group will be there that week.
- Try it multiple times, not just once. I’ve never had a repeat participant in my group, so the user base is large enough that if you don’t make friends the first time, you have a brand-new selection for your other activities.
- If you’re traveling, try it in multiple cities. It’ll help you not only make friends but also explore new parts of each city and discover new places to eat or drink, which is why it’s one of my favorite apps for Europe.
- Give the app feedback. If you didn’t vibe with someone, that’s okay. Report it in the app so you don’t see more people like that person. I once had two guys who were pleasant enough but rather dull, so I didn’t rate them highly afterward.
- Don’t expect to love every restaurant or cafe. The two times I tried Timeleft in Edinburgh, it sent me to the same restaurant. For a city of that size, I don’t know why. I actually had to bail on the second one because I felt sick, but I was still mind-boggled that they didn’t have more variety. I also haven’t loved every restaurant. Some I’ve returned to on my own, but others I’d prefer to skip going forward.
- It is an app designed for singles. Someone once brought her husband to a Timeleft coffee because she said, “Well, the app asked if I was married, so I thought it was a way to meet married couples.” It is not. And honestly, as a solo female traveler, I like that. It means everyone is on the same playing field because no one knows anyone else. That’s why it’s on my list of best apps for solo travelers.
- Not everyone will become your friend, and that’s okay. I’ve had some wonderful dinners where, once we left the table, I never heard from them again. And then I’ve had some, namely one guy I met in Liverpool, that I’ve kept in touch with for over a year. Just be open to whatever happens.
- Don’t be late. Besides being rude, you miss out on time to get to know the other participants.
Who Should Try Timeleft?
| Timeleft is a good fit if you… | You’re better served elsewhere if you… |
|---|---|
| Are single and want to meet people on a level playing field, where no one knows anyone | Are married or partnered and want couple friends (Timeleft isn’t built for that) |
| Are new to a city or traveling solo and want a built-in reason to explore new neighborhoods, restaurants, and bars | Want to meet people around one specific hobby or interest, where Meetup.com’s event-based groups fit better |
| Are in your 30s (most of my groups were, though this varies by city) | Want a one-on-one connection rather than a group, which is what Bumble BFF is designed for (it’s how I met my travel companion) |
| Are quieter and prefer small, structured groups where someone will draw you into the conversation | Expect a deeply matched group; the quiz is short, so the algorithm isn’t built for “perfect” pairings like a longer-survey app such as 222 |
| Can commit to several meetups, since a subscription is the only pricing option now | Only want to try it once, or need a lot of restaurant variety |
| Want a way to meet locals abroad without traveling with a companion | Are on a tight travel budget, since each activity means buying something to eat or drink (e.g., an entree, a drink, and often a “last drink” round), plus a subscription fee (~$20/month) |
Timeleft vs Bumble BFF vs Meetup
| Timeleft | Bumble BFF | Meetup.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Group of six strangers over dinner, coffee, drinks, or a run | One-on-one swiping and matching | Event-based groups built around a shared interest |
| Cost | ~$20/month subscription, plus whatever you order | Free | Free to join / event fees vary |
| Matching | Short quiz (under 5 min); algorithm picks your table | You choose who to match with | You choose events; no matching |
| Best for | Singles, solo travelers, and anyone new to a city | A one-on-one connection | Meeting people around one hobby or interest |
| Works while traveling? | Yes, in any city where it operates; doubles as a way to explore new neighborhoods | Yes (it’s how I met my travel buddy in Barcelona) | Haven’t used it abroad, but did successfully in Los Angeles |
| My result | Four friendships from 14 meetups | One long-term travel companion | One friendship, through a film group |
Final Thoughts on This Timeleft Review
I would highly recommend Timeleft to anyone looking to expand their friendship circle, as it’s an enjoyable experience, even if you don’t find a bestie right off the bat.
I’ve never had a ‘bad’ experience and have always walked away with at least a lovely evening.
If you go in with the reasonable expectations I’ve outlined in this Timeleft review, you’ll have a wonderful time.
For travelers, this travel app is also a great way to meet locals, explore new parts of a city, and try places that may or may not be on your bucket list.
Especially if you’re worried about solo travel being lonely.
It’s super easy to switch to other cities in the app (see above), and since it lists the number of people, you have some idea how popular a city is.
FAQs
Is Timeleft Free?
No. Timeleft is subscription-only, around $20 per month, with bigger discounts on the three- and six-month plans (rates vary by region, so check the app for yours). It covers unlimited weekly dinners, drinks, coffees, and runs in your city.
When I joined in 2024, you could pay per dinner, but that option disappeared in 2025.
Budget separately for what you order at each meetup, plus the optional “last drink” round.
What Age Group is Timeleft for?
I’m 36, and across Southern California, Edinburgh, and Liverpool, I’ve consistently been seated with people in their 30s.
That skew depends on your city, your quiz answers, and who’s signed up locally; I’ve been told Lisbon draws an older crowd.
Is the Timeleft App Safe?
Yes, the Timeleft app is safe to use.
Meetups happen in public restaurants, cafés, and bars. The app tells you who’s coming (nationalities, industries) and connects you in-app via chat before you arrive.
There’s an in-app feedback system for flagging people you didn’t vibe with; women-only dinners exist in some cities; and attending the “last drink” is up to you.
Across 14 meetups as a solo woman in three cities, I’ve never had a bad experience.
What are the benefits of using Timeleft?
The obvious benefit is meeting people, but the honest answer is broader.
You get a structured, low-pressure evening where conversation is the whole point, and someone will draw you in even if you’re quiet.
You get five fresh faces, so a dud night costs you nothing but the meal.
When you’re traveling, you get a reason to eat somewhere you’d never have found and a local’s read on the city; in Liverpool, a fellow traveler talked me into Budapest and told me where to meet people once I got there.
Is Timeleft a dating app?
Timeleft isn’t implicitly a dating app; however, they do have meetups “designed for singles” in some cities.
So, depending on the type of meetup you plan to attend, it will depend on whether it’s intended for dating.
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- Is Timeleft Worth It? My Honest Review After Trying It in the US & UK
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