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Cova: meet and gather with other locals

Cova is for small plans with people near you, built around something you all want to do - a quick walk around a park, a night market, a game night. Find a cove or start one, and meet a neighbor or your new group of friends!

Download on the App Store

5.0 on the App Store · Free on iPhone · Android coming soon!

A cove in the Cova app - a hike in Muir Woods, with the spot on a map, who's joining, and a button to join

See what's happening nearby

The map shows coves happening around you - a board game night a few blocks over, a morning run by the water, a gallery walk downtown. Tap a pin to see the plan and join.

Your interests

Browse plans near you by category, from food and drink to the outdoors. See one you like and tap join, or start your own in a snap.

  • Food & drink
  • Outdoors
  • Sports & fitness
  • Games & trivia
  • Arts & crafts
  • Music
  • Film & TV
  • Books & learning
  • Social
Searching coves nearby - a scrollable list of plans, each with its category

Your trust

Show up to a cove and you earn a ring. Rings build your reputation and open up more coves, while no-shows and late cancellations cost you.

A member's profile with a community card - attendance, connections, categories, and rings earned

A group chat to sort out the details

Every cove has its own chat, so you can say hi before you meet, figure out where to grab a table, or let people know you're running five minutes late.

The per-cove group chat

What makes Cova different

No standing commitment

Every cove is a one-off plan. You don't have to join a group or keep showing up every week, so you can come to the ones that work for you.

Everyone starts even

At a cove nobody's the regular and nobody's the outsider. Everyone showed up the same way, which makes it easy to connect with each other.

Set group sizes

Every cove is capped between 3 and 10 people, so you end up talking to everyone there instead of getting lost in a crowd.

Explore new interests

Want to hit a trivia night for the first time or try drawing in the park? Coves are an easy way to try something new with others.

What people are saying

5.0 on the App Store

What I've been looking for

I recently moved to a new city and had been struggling to find ways to meet new people and explore different hobbies, and Cova has brought that experience in an approachable and fun way! It's easy to find things to do, the app design is beautiful, and I can't wait to keep meeting people and collecting Cova rings :)

LOVE THISSS

I LOVE THIS APP SO MUCH. I've been using it for a while now and I've met so many new people and got to experience new events I never knew about in my area. The features on this app are so easy to follow and I even got some of my friends to use it. Overall rate this app a 10/10 and can't recommend it enough!

Cova - The Next Big Thing

This is one of the most creative and innovative social platforms I have ever experienced. It takes the simple issue of there being a lack of third spaces for individuals to socialize and provides a novel, user-friendly solution that makes it extremely easy to find other people who are interested in the same things as you.

Very cool meetup app

I've been looking for a way to meet up with like-minded people but the other apps never really did it for me. I appreciate how this app and the team made an effort to make sure I was safe.

Cool concept!

Really cute way to explore events and meet people who have the same interests!

cool concept!

super cool concept, love all of the art. excited to keep using it!

How it works

  1. 1

    Get the app

    It's free on the App Store. Sign up and join a cove in minutes!

  2. 2

    Find a cove or make one

    Look through what's happening near you, or create your own cove!

  3. 3

    Show up

    Meet with the cove in person, and make new connections!

Questions, answered

What is Cova?

Cova is an iPhone app for meeting people near you in person, around something you all want to do. You start a small gathering (we call it a cove) or join one someone else created, then meet up and connect with others in your neighborhood.

What are rings?

Rings are how Cova keeps plans reliable. You earn a ring each time you show up to a cove, and no-shows or late cancellations cost you rings. Over time they build your trust tier, so the people you meet are people who tend to turn up. We remind anyone who keeps missing coves how the system works, and remove them if it continues.

Do I have to join a regular group?

No. Every cove is a one-off plan, not a weekly club. There's nothing standing to commit to, so you can go to the ones that fit your week and skip the rest.

How big is a cove?

Small. Whoever creates a cove caps it somewhere between 3 and 10 people, which is small enough that you speak to everyone there instead of getting lost in a crowd.

How is Cova different from other apps?

Many popular apps are built around big public events and existing groups. Cova is for small, one-off plans with people near you. Everyone shows up the same way, so nobody's the regular and nobody's the outsider.

How much does Cova cost, and where can I get it?

It's free to download and use on the iPhone App Store, with an Android version in progress. An optional subscription, Cova Unlimited, lifts the weekly limits on joining and creating coves, allows bigger coves, lets you join any number of groups, and adds a verified badge.

Making friends in San Francisco

Practical guides to meeting people here - written by us, mostly not about the app.

  • How to make friends in San Francisco

    The mechanism that produces friendships, where it works in this city, and why being the person who invites matters more than anything else you can do.

    Read the guide →
  • You just moved to San Francisco and don't know anyone

    The first ninety days, in order - and why month two feels like it isn't working.

  • How to meet people in San Francisco as an introvert

    Formats that don't require being "on" - and why mixers are the worst possible option.

  • How to meet people in San Francisco without drinking

    The city is far less bar-dependent than its reputation suggests.

  • The best apps for meeting people in San Francisco

    All of them side by side, including the ones I don't have a stake in.

  • How to organize things in San Francisco without running a group

    What organizing actually costs, why people flake, and how to do it without the second job.

  • Social clubs in San Francisco, and which kind you actually want

    Three different things go by that name. Only one of them reliably makes you friends.

  • How to meet people in San Francisco without a dating app

    Wanting friends and wanting dates are different problems with different tools.

Latest from the blog

All posts →
  • Cova vs Meetup vs Timeleft: which is right for you?

    July 29, 2026 · Rohan

    A factual comparison of the three approaches to meeting people in person, from group size and cost to how much commitment each expects. Written by Cova's founder.

  • Cova Update 1.1.0

    July 26, 2026 · Rohan

    Widgets, Auto checkin, and more!

Make a plan this week

Cova is free on the iPhone App Store.

Download on the App Store

Questions, feedback, or press? Email support@trycova.app.

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