Invitations from locals
People who live in the city invite travellers in: practise a language, cook a family dish, join a game. You choose which to join, and the host says yes.
The solo travel app for finding travel friends
Meet locals and travellers wherever you land.
Locals invite you in for English practice over coffee, their family's dish or their Sunday football game. Join a small group, find travel friends, and set a check-in for the way home.
Free to download. Chat is always free. 18+.
Paris tonightNow
AllLocalsCity events
FreeLanguage practice
English practice over coffee
Camille, local hostAsk to join
Camille, local hostAsk to joinPlan
Sunset at Sacré-Cœur
Ana +3 goingArm it: armed
Check in by 1:00 amYour 2 contacts hear from us if you don't.How the solo travel app works
HelloMates lets the people who live in the city you're visiting invite you in, so your trip is about people, not just places.
Pick your city
Start with the city you're in. Invitations, plans and chats all follow it.
Choose an invitation
Locals post what they'd love to do with a visitor: language practice, a meal at home, a cooking session, a game or sport. Pick one and ask to join.
Meet in a small group
Invitations are groups of 2 to 6, with a group chat once you're in. Or post your own plan for other travellers, and set Arm it before you head out.
A look inside the app
The Tonight map, the city chat, rooms, Moments and Arm it, as they look on iPhone and Android.
Who's in town tonight 
Arm it check-in 
See who's near you 
Chat with travellers and locals 
Behind every status, a real person 
Plans with a time and a place 
Share moments 
Next city? They're already there.
Everything a solo trip needs to feel less solo
Built for solo travel, hostels, backpacking and nomad life, and for locals who want to show visitors their city.
Welcome new members
New in a city? HelloMates groups you with other newcomers there in a Welcome new members chat, so the first hello is already done. Your hostel gets its own chat too.
Plans with a time and a place
Tonight opens on plans: invitations, plans from travellers and city events, soonest first. Join one, or post your own with a time, a place and a cap.
Follow your next city
With Plus, see any city's plans and people before you arrive, and who else lands there this week.
Moments
Photos from around the city, posted by the people in it. A quick look at what tonight actually looks like.
Women's lane
Women-only plans and invitations, in a space of their own.
Chat in any languagePlus
The app speaks 10 languages, and with Plus you can translate any message in the chat into yours.
Arm it check-in
Heading out? Set an hour to check in. Miss it, and the people you chose get your message. How it works
iPhone and Android
One account on both, in the same cities as everyone else.
Solo travel safety, with someone keeping count
Arm it is a check-in for nights out, taxis, late walks home and hikes. It's free.
- Choose a check-in hour, in the time of the city you're in.
- Write the message and pick who gets it: family, a friend, anyone with a phone or email.
- Check in on time and nothing is sent. Miss it, and they get your message with the local emergency number.
HelloMates delivers your message; it does not call the police or an ambulance and is not a replacement for emergency services. Read the Arm it terms.
Free to use. Plus when you want the whole city.
Chat is never behind a paywall. Plus is for seeing everyone, not for talking.
Free
- Invitations from locals, plans and city events
- Join plans, and post one at a time
- Arm it check-ins
- Open 3 profiles and start 3 new chats a day
- Welcome new members group, hostel chat and Moments
HelloMates Plus
- The full list of who's here tonight
- Any city's plans and people, before you arrive
- Who lands in your city this week
- Unlimited profiles, new chats and plans
- Translation in every chat
Questions
What is HelloMates?
HelloMates is a solo travel app for finding travel friends. People who live in the city you're visiting invite you in, to practise English over coffee, cook their family's dish or join their Sunday football game. You can also join or post plans with other travellers, chat with other newcomers in your Welcome new members group, and set an Arm it safety check-in for the way home.
Is HelloMates free?
Yes. Downloading is free, and so are asking to join invitations, joining plans, posting a plan, Arm it, and opening 3 profiles and starting 3 new chats a day. HelloMates Plus unlocks the full tonight list, any city before you arrive, who lands this week, unlimited new chats and translation.
Who is HelloMates for?
Solo travellers, backpackers, digital nomads, expats, and locals who want to show visitors their city by posting invitations. You must be 18 or over.
Does Arm it call emergency services?
No. Arm it sends the message you prepared to the contacts you chose if you miss your check-in hour, along with the emergency number of the city you are in. It does not contact the police or an ambulance and is not a replacement for emergency services.
Is HelloMates on Android?
Yes. HelloMates is on iPhone and Android.
Which languages does HelloMates speak?
The app is in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, Indonesian and Chinese. With Plus, you can translate any chat message into your language.
Your next city wants to meet you.
Get HelloMates and find travel friends where you're headed.