The OneFriends app for iPhone in 2022 has users in more than 70 countries after launching in 2020. It was ranking number 3 on the App Store Charts in late 2022 in the MENA region when it experienced an increase in growth.

In exploring the latest trends and technology, we look at the four likely factors driving OneFriends' success. For those not familiar with OneFriends' style of branding and focus on emotions in conveying ideas, here is a video they put out previously explaining their user persona. The company is led by their highly capable Founder and CEO Albert Jing.

Used with True Friends and Real Friends

OneFriends is designed for use between very close friends or "true friends". The company's website gives the following definition for true friendship: "A true friend is someone who is very alike in values to you who can be depended upon in the good times to celebrate together and bad times for support and assistance. A true friend is loyal. A true friend is sincere and honest. A true friendship does not fade as time passes but goes on enduringly..."

This high standard of writing is likely not the main reason users like OneFriends, but the meaning of true friends is very powerful and that may explain OneFriends' success.

By creating an app where users have only their closest friends on there, and people who have meaning in their lives on there, it in itself likely raises the importance of the app in users' eyes.

Focus on Real Life Events and Activities

 There have of course been countless social apps revolved around chatting, video-calling, and sharing updates but OneFriends is most unique in its focus on letting users easily meet up in real-life. In addition to the ability to catch up regularly (and to even be reminded to do so per a set timeframe), the app's personal events feature lets all types of activities and events to be set up amongst friends. This focus no doubt increases the quality of the communications, interactions and enjoyment between the friends.

Privacy

 Unlike most networking and social apps, the OneFriends app only collects minimal user data. It appears the company only collects the bare minimum of information and only what is required for users to use the app's functions. On the OneFriends App Store page, much of the data that is collected such as usage, location, diagnostics and identifiers are not linked to the specific user. This anonymization of information definitely gives users an advantage in protecting their privacy.

While many of us may already be used to being constantly tracked by apps and websites; for those people who care more about their privacy, OneFriends would certainly resonate.

High-End Clean Design

A final reason which may help to explain why users are choosing OneFriends is the app's clean and polished design. The app has no advertisements and users are not flooded with endless arrays of information and images - everything seems tailored around the central theme of easily organizing events and staying connected to a few real friends. The font used is sophisticated and works well.

OneFriends' design likely brings benefits to users beyond just visual appearance; but also in terms of mental health where the need for ostentation and constant comparing one's life with others, as is prevalent on social media, is simply not there.

We can therefore see quite a few key factors that may explain why OneFriends is experiencing success around the world. The company's cause of facilitating true friendships in an age of superficial mass connections is something many would cheer for and support.