Malta is small enough to cross in an hour, yet plenty of newcomers spend months without a regular group to see. The best apps for expats to meet people in Malta solve that in very different ways. Some run monthly mixers, some host weekly conversation tables, some match you for padel, and some help you set up a single plan with a handful of people.
This comparison covers the options we could verify on official sites. For each one, we cover what it is, how it works, what it costs and whether it actually operates in Malta. Where we could not confirm something, we say so.
We are the MeetNow team, so MeetNow is in the list too. It has not launched yet, so we describe how it will work. We make no claims about how many people use it.
Short verdict: the best apps for expats to meet people in Malta
There is no single winner. The right pick depends on the kind of contact you want:
- A big expat network with regular events: InterNations, which runs official mixers in Malta.
- Weekly, low-pressure conversation: English Café Malta, or a Meetup language exchange group.
- Sport partners: Playtomic for padel and tennis.
- Activity-first meetups without swiping: ZONDI, which was built for Malta.
- One-off plans you host or join: MeetNow, launching in Malta first.
- Dinners with strangers: Timeleft is not officially in Malta, so look at local organisers instead.
Many expats end up combining two tools. They use one recurring community to see familiar faces, and one tool for smaller plans with people they choose.
Where MeetNow fits: MeetNow is built around plans, not profiles. A host posts a plan at a public place, such as dinner, drinks, a game or a concert, and sets the date, time and number of seats. The host also says who pays. People ask to join with a short note, and the host decides who comes. MeetNow is coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
Side-by-side comparison table
Last checked May 2026. Organisers set their own prices, and the figures below are approximate. Check the official site before you go.
| Option | What it is | How it works | Cost model | Operates in Malta? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MeetNow | App for meeting people in person through one-off plans | Host posts a plan at a public place with time, seats and who pays; people ask to join; the host accepts or declines | Free app; each plan says host pays, split, pay your own or free | Launching in Malta first; coming soon to the App Store and Google Play |
| InterNations | International network for people living abroad | Official monthly mixers and themed networking events, often around Portomaso Marina and St Julian’s | Admission around €10 per person, usually including a welcome drink (InterNations) | Yes, active Malta community |
| English Café Malta | Recurring international community for expats, students and travellers | Weekly weekday events such as Talk Time conversation tables and game sessions | Around €7 per session, usually including a welcome drink and event access (English Café Malta) | Yes |
| Meetup | Platform for interest-based groups | Recurring international groups and language exchanges | Varies by group; not verified for this table | Yes, mainly around Sliema, St Julian’s and Valletta |
| ZONDI | Activity-first social app built for Malta | Find people for non-dating activities such as coffee, padel, hiking or the beach | Free core discovery (ZONDI) | Yes, launched in Malta |
| Playtomic | Sports-matching and court booking app | Book courts and find partners for padel doubles and tennis | Not verified for this table | Yes, widely used in Malta |
| Timeleft | Dinner-with-strangers app | Automated weekly Wednesday dinner tables in the cities it covers | Not listed here because it does not run in Malta | Not officially launched in Malta (Timeleft) |
| Facebook groups | Community groups for expats and hobbies | Members post events and questions in the group | Free to join | Yes, but quality and activity vary by group |
Not in the table: Bumble BFF and Couchsurfing Hangouts. We could not verify their current availability in Malta from an official source when we checked, so we left them out.
The options in detail
InterNations
InterNations is an international network for people living abroad, and it has an active Malta community. Its official events are mainly monthly mixers and themed networking events, often held around Portomaso Marina and St Julian’s. Admission is a small fee that usually includes a welcome drink.
What it does well: it is established, and you know there will be a regular event to go to. It also works for professional networking as well as social contact. Worth knowing: at a large mixer you meet many people briefly, and turning that into a smaller follow-up meeting is up to you. If you are weighing other routes, our guide to InterNations alternatives in Malta goes deeper.
English Café Malta
English Café Malta has been running since 2014 (English Café Malta), and it combines language practice with social integration. Its weekly weekday events, such as Talk Time conversation tables and game sessions, mix expats, students and travellers.
What it does well: the format gives you something to talk about, so it is a gentle start if you are new or shy. Worth knowing: events run on a fixed weekly schedule set by the organisers, so you fit around their dates.
Meetup
Meetup hosts recurring international groups and language exchanges in Malta. Most are around Sliema, St Julian’s and Valletta. Because groups meet repeatedly, you can see the same people several times, which is how acquaintances often become friends.
What it does well: recurring groups and a wide range of interests. Worth knowing: each group depends on its organiser, so activity levels differ. We have not verified fees, so check each group’s page.
ZONDI
ZONDI is an activity-first app built in Malta as an alternative to swipe-style apps. It focuses on real-world meetups such as coffee, padel, hiking or the beach. Core discovery is free, and it shows only your approximate location for privacy.
What it does well: it is built locally and centred on activities, not dating. If swiping has put you off, our article on friend apps without swiping covers this approach in more detail.
Playtomic
Playtomic is widely used in Malta to book courts and find partners for padel doubles and tennis. It is a sports tool rather than a general social app. For players, though, a regular match is one of the easiest ways to get to know people. Our guide on finding padel partners in Malta covers how to get started.
Timeleft
Timeleft, the dinner-with-strangers app, has not officially brought its automated weekly Wednesday dinner tables to Malta. People who want group dinners with structured conversation usually turn to local organisers such as English Café Malta or Meetup groups. We list more options in Timeleft alternatives in Malta.
Facebook groups
Expat and hobby groups on Facebook are free to join and useful for practical questions as well as meetups. The trade-off is that posts can get buried. There is also no built-in way to manage who comes to an event, so it relies on whoever is organising.
MeetNow
MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person, and it is launching in Malta first. It works like this:
- A host posts a plan at a public place with the date, time, number of seats and who pays.
- People nearby ask to join with a short note.
- The host accepts or declines each request. They can also limit who joins by gender or age range, and block users.
- Accepted guests get a group chat to sort out details.
- Afterwards, both sides confirm “we met”, which builds each person’s track record.
Every plan says up front whether the host pays, the group splits, everyone pays their own, or it is free. You can read more in who pays on a MeetNow plan. To be clear, MeetNow has not launched, so it has no community yet. It also does not replace a big recurring group.
Is Meetup still worth it for expats in Malta?
For many people, yes. Meetup’s main strength is that its groups meet regularly. Seeing the same faces at a language exchange every week does more for friendships than one large event. Malta has active international groups and language exchanges, mainly around Sliema, St Julian’s and Valletta.
Before you commit, run a quick check:
- Has the group held events recently, or is it dormant?
- Is the venue a clear, public place?
- Does the organiser reply to questions?
- Is the group’s size one you are comfortable with?
If a group passes those checks, it is worth trying a few times before you judge it. Meetup is less useful if you want a specific small plan with a few people you have picked. That is the gap MeetNow is designed for.
MeetNow vs InterNations: which fits you?
These two do different jobs, so many people may use both.
| InterNations | MeetNow | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Official mixers and themed networking events | One-off plans such as a dinner, drinks, a game or a concert |
| Who organises | InterNations official events | Any host who posts a plan |
| Who pays | Admission fee, usually with a welcome drink | The host sets it: host pays, split, pay your own or free |
| Who comes | People attending the event | The host accepts or declines each request |
| Status in Malta | Established, active community | Launching in Malta first; not in stores yet |
Choose InterNations if you enjoy larger events and want an established expat network. MeetNow will suit you if you would rather sit at one table with a few people and know in advance who pays.
Who each option suits
- Just arrived and want a quick overview of expat life: InterNations mixers or English Café Malta.
- Learning or practising a language: English Café Malta’s Talk Time or a Meetup language exchange.
- Sporty, especially padel or tennis: Playtomic, or ZONDI for broader activities.
- Prefer small groups to big rooms: MeetNow once it launches, or a small Meetup group.
- Tired of swiping through profiles: ZONDI or MeetNow, which both put activities and plans first.
- Want dinners with strangers: local organisers, since Timeleft is not officially in Malta.
For a wider look at the local app scene, see friend apps in Malta. Whichever you try, the best apps for expats to meet people only work if you go back more than once.
Meeting new people safely
Whichever app or group you use, the same basics apply when you meet someone new:
- Meet in a public place, such as a café, restaurant, bar or busy promenade.
- Tell a friend where you are going and who you are meeting.
- Arrange your own way home, and do not rely on a new contact for a lift.
- Leave if anything feels uncomfortable. You do not owe anyone an explanation.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins. It is launching in Malta first and is not in the App Store or Google Play yet: join the MeetNow waitlist and we’ll email you when it launches near you.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best apps for expats to meet people in Malta?
It depends on what you want. InterNations suits people who like larger expat mixers, and English Café Malta and Meetup groups suit regular conversation events. Playtomic suits padel and tennis players, and ZONDI offers activity-first meetups built for Malta. MeetNow, launching in Malta first, is for one-off plans at public places where the host says who pays and picks who joins.
Is Meetup still worth it for expats in Malta?
For many people, yes. Meetup hosts recurring international groups and language exchanges in Malta, mainly around Sliema, St Julian’s and Valletta. Before joining, check that the group has held events recently and that the venue and organiser details are clear.
Is Timeleft available in Malta?
Not officially, as far as we could verify. Timeleft has not expanded its weekly Wednesday dinner tables to Malta. People looking for group dinners with strangers usually turn to local organisers such as English Café Malta or Meetup groups.
What is the difference between MeetNow and InterNations?
InterNations runs official expat mixers and networking events in Malta, with an admission fee that usually includes a welcome drink. MeetNow is for smaller one-off plans: any host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays and decides who joins. InterNations has an established community, while MeetNow has not launched yet.
Is MeetNow on iPhone and Android yet?
Not yet. MeetNow is coming soon to the App Store and Google Play and is launching in Malta first. You can join the waitlist on the MeetNow website with your first name and email, and the team will email you when it launches near you.
Is MeetNow a dating app?
No. MeetNow is built around plans, not profiles. A host posts a plan at a public place, such as a dinner, drinks, a game or a concert, and picks who joins. Hosts can also limit who joins by gender or age range and block users.
