Moving abroad for work resets your network to almost zero. The colleagues who knew your strengths, the friends who knew a good dentist and the neighbors who’d lend a ladder all stay behind. The best networking apps for expats help you rebuild faster, from meeting locals and fellow newcomers to finding work contacts and learning how business works in your new country.
Meet professionals who share your goals, wherever you land. On Kradoz, you match by goals and interests, and a chat opens only when both of you say yes. Free on Android.
Kradoz is the app we make, so you’ll see it first. It isn’t an expat club, but it works the same in Berlin, Dubai or Tokyo, which helps when you’re starting from scratch.
What expats need from networking apps
Most people who relocate are rebuilding five things at once:
- A social circle, so evenings and weekends don’t feel empty.
- Work contacts, for your current job, a new role or clients.
- Local know-how, from paperwork and housing to the best commute.
- Career options, in case your first role doesn’t last.
- Cultural guidance, so you understand how people do business here.
The best networking apps for expats each help with one or two of these. So a small, deliberate mix works better than installing everything on day one.
How we chose these networking apps for expats
We only included apps that were live on Google Play in October 2026, recently updated and free to download. Each one also had to solve a real expat problem, such as meeting people, finding work, getting local advice or understanding employers. Finally, we added regional apps where a country has a strong local platform, because the best networking apps for expats depend partly on where you land.
The best networking apps for expats at a glance
| App | Main job | Where it’s strongest | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kradoz | Professionals who match your goals | Anywhere (Android) | Free, no paid tier |
| InterNations | Expat events and communities | Hundreds of cities worldwide | Free download; free and paid memberships |
| Meetup | Interest groups | Worldwide | Free to join, with Meetup+ |
| Work contacts and jobs | Worldwide | Free, with Premium plans | |
| Facebook Groups | City and expat groups | Worldwide | Free |
| Nextdoor | Your new neighborhood | Selected countries | Free |
| Eventbrite | Local events | Worldwide | Free app; some events charge |
| Luma | Tech and startup events | Major startup hubs | Free app; some events charge |
| Honest local advice | Worldwide | Free | |
| Jobs and contacts | Germany, Austria, Switzerland | Free, with paid upgrades | |
| Eight | Business cards and contacts | Japan | Free, with Premium |
| Bayt | Jobs and recruiter visibility | Gulf and wider MENA | Free, with optional premium features |
| Glassdoor | Employer research and community | Worldwide | Free |
1. Kradoz: peers and mentors who match your goals
Kradoz matches professionals by goals and shared interests, and a chat opens only when both sides say yes. That’s useful when you know nobody. For example, you might set “just moved to Dubai, looking for peers in fintech” or “seeking a mentor who has worked in Japan”. Our mentorship and advisory page has the details.
Best for: meaningful one-to-one connections in your field, in any city.
The catch: Android only for now, and it’s for professional connections rather than nights out.
2. InterNations: built for expats
InterNations offers curated events and experiences, so you can meet people with shared interests in person and online. The network says it operates in 420 cities. The app is free to download, but you need a membership, with free and paid options that vary by location.
Best for: meeting other internationals quickly in a new city.
The catch: some events and features require paid membership, so check what’s included where you live.
3. Meetup: groups around shared interests
Meetup helps you find recurring groups for hiking, running, language exchange, tech, startups and much more. Language exchanges are especially useful, because you meet locals who want to practice your language while you practice theirs.
Joining and RSVPing are free, while seeing full attendee lists requires Meetup+.
Best for: building a regular social circle that includes locals.
The catch: quality varies, so try a few groups in your first month.
4. LinkedIn: work contacts in your new country
LinkedIn is the first place many expats rebuild their work network. Update your location, look up alumni from your university who live nearby and follow local companies in your field. In some countries, adding a profile in the local language helps too.
Best for: local work contacts, alumni and job searching.
The catch: a new location can mean starting over in search results, so post and comment to get seen.
5. Facebook Groups: expat and city communities
Facebook Groups host expat communities for almost every city, often organized by nationality, profession or neighborhood. They’re where people ask about housing, visas, schools and trusted services, and where many meetups get organized.
Best for: practical answers and quick introductions.
The catch: advice varies in quality, so double-check anything official with the authority itself.
6. Nextdoor: your new neighborhood
Nextdoor connects neighbors in the countries it covers, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and several European countries. It’s useful for local recommendations and neighborhood events, which help a new place feel like home.
Best for: settling into your street and finding local services.
The catch: it isn’t available everywhere, and it’s more social than professional.
7. Eventbrite: local events and workshops
Eventbrite lists workshops, talks, career fairs and industry events. Search for your field plus your new city, and pick one event a week in your first month.
Best for: meeting many people in your industry quickly.
The catch: event quality varies, so check the organizer.
8. Luma: tech and startup scenes
Many tech, startup and creative events run on Luma, especially in hubs like London, Berlin, Dubai and Singapore. The Luma app holds your tickets and lets you message people you met, so new contacts don’t fade.
Best for: expats in tech, startups and creative fields.
The catch: you’ll usually find events through community links rather than in the app.
9. Reddit: honest local advice
Reddit has a community for almost every city, plus r/expats for the bigger questions. People share honest takes on neighborhoods, salaries, bureaucracy and culture shock. It’s also a good place to learn local slang before your first team meeting.
Best for: candid answers you won’t get from official sources.
The catch: usernames are anonymous, so verify anything important.
10. XING: German-speaking job markets
If you’ve moved to Germany, Austria or Switzerland, XING is worth setting up. It focuses mainly on jobs now, with networking features such as recruiter connections and contacts’ career updates. A complete profile helps local recruiters find you.
Best for: job searching and recruiter visibility in German-speaking countries.
The catch: it’s job-focused, so pair it with Meetup and LinkedIn for wider networking.
11. Eight: business cards in Japan
Business cards still matter a lot in Japan. Eight, built by the Japanese company Sansan, scans cards into digital contacts, lets you share your own card by QR code or link and notifies you when a contact changes jobs. An optional Premium plan adds extra features.
Best for: expats working in or with Japan.
The catch: it’s most useful where card exchange is common, so it’s less relevant elsewhere.
12. Bayt: jobs across the Gulf and MENA
Bayt is a job platform covering the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the wider region. You can build a free CV, get AI-matched job suggestions and set alerts. Recruiters in the region also use it to find candidates.
Best for: expats seeking roles in the Gulf and MENA.
The catch: it’s a job platform rather than a social network, so combine it with LinkedIn and local events.
13. Glassdoor: know employers before you commit
Glassdoor helps you research employers and salaries in a new country. Its Bowls and Workplace Conversations let people discuss companies and careers, often anonymously. That’s valuable when you don’t yet know which local employers are respected.
Best for: employer research and honest workplace insight.
The catch: reviews are opinions, so look for patterns rather than single posts.
A 90-day plan with networking apps for expats
Days 1 to 30: set up LinkedIn with your new location, join two Facebook Groups and one Meetup group and attend one event a week. Also, set up Kradoz with a clear goal for your field.
From day 31 to 60: turn the best contacts into coffees. Ask locals how things work, from meetings to feedback. Then join one professional community, such as an industry Meetup or a Luma event series.
Between days 61 and 90: give back. Answer a newcomer’s question in a group, introduce two people who should meet and keep in touch with the five people who helped you most.
For more ideas, read our guide to building a network in a new city.
Networking apps for expat partners and families
Relocation often involves two careers, not one. Partners who move without a job lined up can feel isolated fast, so a plan for them matters just as much. InterNations and Meetup are good first stops for social life, while LinkedIn and Kradoz help with career goals, such as finding a role, starting a business or getting advice on local work permits from people who’ve been through it. Parents also find school and neighborhood groups on Facebook and Nextdoor useful for meeting other families. In short, the best networking apps for expats work for the whole household, not just the person with the new job.
Safety tips for expats meeting new people
New arrivals are a common target for scams, especially around housing and paperwork. So keep a few simple rules:
- Meet in public places for first meetings.
- Never send deposits for homes you haven’t seen, or to people you can’t verify.
- Check official sources for visas, permits and taxes, rather than relying on group posts.
- Use apps with control over contact. On Kradoz, for example, nobody can message you until you both say yes. Our Safety Center explains more.
Networking apps for expats who don’t speak the language yet
Not speaking the local language can make networking feel impossible. It isn’t. Start in English-speaking or international spaces, such as InterNations, LinkedIn and expat groups, while you learn. At the same time, join a language exchange on Meetup, because it builds language skills and local friendships at once. Locals usually appreciate any effort, so learn a few greetings and work phrases early. Over time, shift some of your networking into local-language groups, where you’ll meet people who never join expat communities.
Cultural differences expats should know
Networking habits vary a lot by country. For example, many offices in Germany value punctuality and clear agendas, while in Japan business cards are exchanged with care and respect. In the Gulf, relationships often come before business, and personal introductions carry real weight. So watch, ask and adapt. Our post on cultural differences in networking goes deeper.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best networking apps for expats?
For most people, the best networking apps for expats combine InterNations and Meetup for social life, LinkedIn and Kradoz for work contacts, Facebook Groups and Reddit for local advice and a regional app such as XING, Eight or Bayt where it fits.
Is InterNations free?
The app is free to download, but you need a membership. There are free and paid options, and availability and pricing vary by location.
How do expats find jobs through networking apps?
Update your LinkedIn location, set up a regional job app if one fits, talk to people in your field before applying and ask for introductions once you’ve built some trust.
How do expats make friends and contacts with networking apps?
Join recurring groups rather than one-off events, because seeing the same people builds friendships. Language exchanges, sports clubs and professional meetups all work well.
Which networking apps for expats work in the Gulf and Asia?
LinkedIn, Kradoz, Meetup, Facebook Groups and InterNations work widely. In addition, Bayt is strong across the Gulf and MENA, and Eight is useful in Japan.
The bottom line on the best networking apps for expats
The best networking apps for expats won’t replace the friends and colleagues you left behind, but they can help you build a new circle surprisingly fast. Start with one social app, one professional app and one local advice community, then add a regional app if your new country has a strong one. Give it 90 days, show up consistently and help the next newcomer when you can.
Working remotely from abroad? See the best networking apps for remote workers. Doing business across borders? Read about the best networking apps for exporters. For tips on meeting people online, see our guide on how to network online.
