Gen Z is moving beyond the need for big, mainstream social apps that feel curated and inauthentic. They want alternatives that are fun, purpose-driven, and make connections with friends feel real.

We break down the best social app alternatives to Instagram and Snapchat of 2025 for keeping up with your friends, instead of the sponsored posts and ads you’re seeing everywhere else.

⭐️ Howbout – the social app that actually keeps you in the loop

What it does:

Howbout is the ultimate social calendar app that actually helps you keep up with your friends. Think of old-school Instagram, when you could see what your friends were really up to—not just algorithm-fed content and ads. But instead of just scrolling past their highlights, Howbout lets you actually join in.

Why it’s the best of 2025:

⭐️ See everything your friends have coming up—from crazy nights out to boring nights in, you can see real-time updates of what your friends are up to.

⭐️ See the things you care about—you care about your friends, not sponsored posts or ads. See your friends' real selves, and get the context you actually want from their social posts.

⭐️ Spontaneous plans? Bet. Find when friends are free to meet IRL easily.

⭐️ React, comment, and join in—just like a social feed, but for the stuff you actually care about.

⭐️ No-pressure socials—your friends’ plans are there when you want them, but you’re not being bombarded with irrelevant sponsored posts and ads.

Why Howbout is different from other social apps:

Unlike Locket, BeReal, or Instagram, Howbout isn’t just about capturing moments—it’s about creating them. Instead of passively watching your friends’ lives through photos, Howbout helps you see when they’re actually free, what they’re doing, and how you can be part of it.

It’s the only social app designed for real-life connections—where your social life isn’t just a highlight reel, but something you can actively be part of.

Airbuds – the ‘now playing’ social app

What it does:

Airbuds lets you share what you’re listening to with your friends in real time. It’s like a social Spotify feed—because getting live updates on what your friends are playing is super important for judging their mental state.

Why it’s one of the best of 2025:

Airbuds turns your music taste into a conversation starter, keeping you connected with always-on updates from friends (and lets you judge their taste too).

The downside:

Airbuds is great for seeing what your friends are listening to—but it’s missing the context. Are they blasting High School Musical in a ‘getting ready for the club’ way or a ‘nostalgic for my ever-shrinking youth’ way?

Locket – the social app for making your friends’ pictures aesthetic

What it does:

Locket lets you keep up with friends by sending live photo updates straight to their home screens. Basically Snapchat for your iPhone widgets, minus the streak anxiety.

Why it’s one of the best of 2025:

Locket feels like a more personal and authentic version of posting to stories—like a mini-group chat in photo form. Tapping into the craving for always-on updates from friends, there’s nothing more real than showing up on their home screen with exactly what you’re up to.

The downside:

Beyond a selfie, there’s no way to know what your friends are actually doing. Unlike other apps like BeReal, Locket doesn’t show both sides of the camera, giving a lack of context to what your friends are actually up to when they send a selfie.

BeReal – the anti-Instagram social app

What it does:

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you know BeReal is the app where everyone posts one unfiltered pic per day at a random time. The whole point? No edits, no faking—just real moments.

Why it’s one of the best of 2025:

BeReal forces users to be real (literally) and gives a low-pressure way to check in with friends and stay connected for one moment a day.

The downside:

The novelty has worn off. It’s still just photos—so you still don’t really know what your friends are doing beyond that one random moment. The introduction of influencers and ads on the app too feels like the opposite of authenticity.

Shelf – The social app for what you’re watching, reading & obsessing over

What it does:

Shelf lets you share and discover movies, TV shows, books, and music your friends are into. Basically, it’s all your favorite tracking apps rolled into one.

Why it’s one of the best of 2025:

Instead of asking “What should I watch?”, you can just check your friends’ recommendations. Plus, it sparks real convos around shared interests.

The downside:

Shelf is a great tool for finding things to binge and sharing your favorites with friends, but beyond that, it doesn’t help you delve any deeper. And in most cases, you already know what your friends' favorite show is at the moment.

Final Verdict: Which app actually helps you stay connected?

• Howbout: The only app that actually helps you make plans and keep up with your friends in real life.
• Airbuds: Great for music recs, but no context.
• Locket: Fun for selfies with friends, but doesn’t show what your friends are doing.
• BeReal: Fun concept, but leaves more questions than answers.
• Shelf: Perfect for finding new shows/books, but nothing deeper than that.

💡 If you’re tired of just watching your friends' lives on social media, maybe it’s time to actually get involved. Download Howbout and keep up with what your friends are up to.