Soda: Make New Friends
4.0 (5.7K)9 Count, Inc.Updated Mar 2026
Younger users and social-seekers looking to make new friends globally in a secure, verified environment.
What Is Soda: Make New Friends?
Soda is a social networking application designed to facilitate global friend-making through a swipe-based discovery interface. Targeted primarily at younger users, the app emphasizes a secure environment by mandating identity verification for all participants.
Despite its focus on safety, the app faces significant market headwinds due to an aggressive monetization strategy. While it differentiates through verification and mutual-match messaging, the restrictive free tier has led to poor user sentiment and high churn, with users actively migrating to competitors.
Soda: Make New Friends Key Features
Browse and swipe through profiles based on location and shared interests to find new friends.
All users must complete a verification process to ensure safety and prevent fake profiles.
Direct messaging is restricted until both users have verified their accounts and established a mutual connection.
Users can upload up to 6 photos, write a bio, list interests, and record a voice intro.
Support for sending messages, icebreakers, GIFs, and voice notes within the chat interface.
User Sentiment
High confidence · 49 reviewsWhat Users Love
The concept is a great way for teens like myself to connect with others
It’s very interesting format and very similar to some other apps
Pain Points
I have to PAY to talk to people. One respectfully how does that make sense
You basically have to pay for every single feature of the app
I’m unable to send more friend requests than the free version like advertised
You only have 6 swipes per 12 hours. So you can’t really say you’d be interested in being friends
Is Soda: Make New Friends Free? Pricing & Plans
Model: subscription
The app utilizes a freemium model relying on auto-renewing subscriptions to monetize, likely gating advanced features or visibility behind a paywall.
Soda: Make New Friends Pros and Cons
Pros
- Strong focus on safety through mandatory identity verification.
- Intuitive, familiar swipe-based UI.
- Large historical user base indicated by high rating count.
Cons
- Aggressive paywall strategy alienating the core user base.
- Severe limitations on free-tier functionality.
- Reported technical friction regarding account management.
Market Outlook
Growth Opportunities
- Loosen monetization on basic features to improve network effects.
- Improve community trust by addressing the 'pay-to-talk' perception.
- Pivot toward a more ad-supported model to increase accessibility.
Market Threats
- Competitors like Wizz capturing dissatisfied users.
- High churn rates impacting App Store visibility.
- Negative brand perception damaging long-term acquisition.
The Bottom Line
Soda: Make New Friends is a critically-panned social networking app that is available. With a 4.0/5 rating from 5.7K reviews, it is overwhelmingly criticized from users. Users particularly appreciate app concept, though aggressive paywalls remains a common concern.
Best for: Younger users and social-seekers looking to make new friends globally in a secure, verified environment.