Honest comparison
The best app to meet other Erasmus students in 2026
If you're looking for the best app for student networking before an exchange, the key difference is timing: most options help once you've arrived, while Erasly connects you with your cohort before departure, when finding a flatmate and friends matters most.
There's no single best app for student networking that fits everyone, so the honest way to choose is by what you actually need and when. Below is a straightforward comparison of the most common ways exchange students meet each other, what each one is good at, and the moment it helps most.
Side by side
Erasmus apps compared
| Tool | When it helps | Focus | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erasly | Before arrival | Meet people + flatmate + city info | Free |
| ESN / BuddySystem | After arrival | Local events & buddies | Free |
| Facebook groups | Mixed | Housing & announcements (scam risk) | Free |
| Bumble BFF / Tandem | Any time | Generic friends / language, not Erasmus-specific | Free / freemium |
Comparison provided in good faith for general guidance. Third-party features and pricing may change; check each service for current details.
Why it matters
Why timing matters
The best app for student networking depends less on features and more on when it reaches you. The weeks before departure are when the big decisions happen: who you'll live with, who you'll travel with, what you need to sort out before you go. Tools that only activate after arrival miss that window entirely. Erasly is built for it, so you land with a flatmate sorted and a few friends already made.
Common questions
Best Erasmus app, answered
What is the best app to meet other Erasmus students?+
There's no single winner for everyone, but the deciding factor is timing. Most tools help once you've arrived; Erasly is built for the weeks before departure, when finding a flatmate and friends matters most. It's free, EU-based, and specific to exchange students rather than a generic friend-finder.
Is there a better option than Facebook groups for finding Erasmus flatmates?+
Facebook groups mix useful posts with spam and housing scams, and they aren't structured around your dates. Erasly connects you with students going to the same city for the same semester, with real profiles and reviews, which makes arranging a flatshare before arrival safer and easier.
What's the difference between Erasly and ESN BuddySystem?+
ESN BuddySystem pairs you with a local buddy once you've arrived, as part of the Erasmus Student Network. Erasly is independent and works before you arrive: it helps you meet your cohort and find housing ahead of time. Many students use both, Erasly before departure, ESN after.
Erasly is an independent platform and is not affiliated with Erasmus+, the European Commission, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), or any other tool mentioned. This comparison is provided in good faith for general information; third-party features and pricing may change.
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