Now I'm Open vs Timeleft in Singapore: which suits you?
Timeleft does operate in Singapore, with group dinners on Wednesdays and Fridays at 7pm plus women-only, singles, drinks and coffee events. It is the better choice if you want a ready-made evening with strangers and no planning. Now I'm Open, a new free web app launched in October 2026, suits people who would rather choose their own plan, timing and company. They solve different problems, and many people could happily use both.
This page is written by Now I'm Open. We have tried to be accurate and fair, using Timeleft's own pages, and we think Timeleft does what it sets out to do very well.
At a glance
| Timeleft (Singapore) | Now I'm Open | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Matched group events with strangers | Short "Open to…" cards for meeting like-minded people |
| Who chooses the group | Timeleft, using a personality test | You both say yes to each other |
| Group size | Dinners of four to six people | One-to-one or small groups |
| Schedule | Fixed weekly slots (see below) | Whenever you post |
| Venue | Chosen and booked by Timeleft | You agree it together |
| Cost | Paid membership; food and drinks extra | Free; you pay for your own food and drinks |
| Women-only | Women-only dinners on Mondays | Women can show cards only to women |
| Modes | Dinners, drinks, coffee, singles dinners | Ideas, Friends and Date |
| Track record | International, running in Singapore now | New, launched October 2026 |
How Timeleft works in Singapore
You download the app, take a short personality test and choose an event. Timeleft matches you with a group and books the venue. Before the evening, the app shows the restaurant and some details about who you will meet. Afterwards, you rate the experience and choose who you would like to stay in touch with; chat opens only if the interest is mutual. The app also has icebreakers to help conversation along.
Timeleft's Singapore schedule, checked in October 2026:
- Dinner: Wednesdays and Fridays, 7pm, groups of four to six
- Women-only dinner: Mondays, 7pm
- Singles dinner: Tuesdays, 7pm
- Drinks: Thursdays, 7pm, at a bar
- Coffee: Saturdays, 3pm, at a café
Bookings close 13 hours before each event. Past Singapore venues named on its page include restaurants at Plaza Singapura, Boat Quay, Marina One and Jalan Besar. Timeleft is clear that it is not a dating app: there are no profiles to swipe.
What Timeleft costs
You need a Timeleft membership to book. Its help centre explains that the subscription is time-based, not event-based: while it is active, you can book and attend as many events in your city as you like. Food, drinks and venue costs are paid separately on the day.
Timeleft's Singapore page does not list prices, saying the app shows them before you pay. When we checked the Singapore App Store in October 2026, it listed in-app purchases of S$24.90, S$48.98 and S$63.98, all named "Timeleft X", without explaining what each covers. For comparison, a 2024 Vulcan Post report on Timeleft's Malaysian launch listed plans of RM100 for one month, RM250 for three months and RM350 for six. Treat any figure as indicative, and check the app.
Timeleft's strengths
- Zero planning. It picks the restaurant, books the table and assembles the group.
- Built for people who come alone. You sign up on your own, with no need to bring anyone.
- A regular rhythm. Fixed weekly slots make it easy to build a habit.
- Variety. Dinners, drinks, coffee, singles and women-only events cover different moods.
- A surprise. You meet people you would never have picked, which is half the fun.
Where Timeleft is less suited
- It costs money before you have paid for any food.
- You cannot choose your company in advance.
- A new table each time. Turning a great dinner into a lasting friendship takes follow-up on your part.
- Fixed times. If you are free on a Sunday morning, there may not be an event.
How Now I'm Open works
You post a short card saying what you are open to, such as "Open to a Friday hawker dinner, Tiong Bahru, 7pm, four to six people" or "Open to a coffee chat about starting a café, Sat am". You choose Ideas, Friends or Date mode and see like-minded people nearby, by area only. A chat opens when you both say yes, and you agree the venue together.
Signed-in members see each other's photos so you know who you are meeting, and you can choose to show yours only after a mutual yes. Selfie verification gives a Verified badge, and members leave references after meet-ups. Women can choose to show their cards only to women, and travellers can check in to 46 cities. It is free and for adults 18 and over.
Now I'm Open's strengths
- Free. There is no membership fee.
- Your plan, your timing. Post when you are free, for whatever you fancy.
- Choose your company. Both people opt in before anything happens.
- Beyond dinner. Walks, runs, a game of badminton or an Ideas chat about your next project.
Where Now I'm Open is less suited
- It is new. Launched in October 2026, it has far fewer members than Timeleft, so you may wait for a yes.
- You do the organising. Nobody books a table for you.
- Less of a surprise. If you love being thrown together with strangers, Timeleft does that better.
When to choose which
- Choose Timeleft if you want a planned evening, are happy to pay for convenience and enjoy meeting a random mix of people.
- Choose Now I'm Open if you want a free option, prefer to pick your plan and company, or want something other than a meal.
- Use both. A Timeleft dinner can give you new faces; a card on Now I'm Open can turn one of them into a regular makan kaki.
For more shared-meal options, see our guide to dinner with strangers in Singapore. If you are curious about the word, read makan kaki, kopi kaki and more.
Safety, whichever you use
Meet in busy public places, tell a friend where you are going, and make your own way there and back. Pay your own share and keep personal details private until you know people. Never send money or gift cards to someone you have not met in person. If you are unsure, call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline on 1799.
More comparisons
See Now I'm Open vs Meetup, Now I'm Open vs Bumble BFF and our round-up of apps to make friends.
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Questions people ask
Does Timeleft operate in Singapore?
Yes. Timeleft's Singapore page, checked in October 2026, lists dinners on Wednesdays and Fridays at 7pm, a women-only dinner on Mondays, a singles dinner on Tuesdays, drinks on Thursdays and coffee on Saturdays at 3pm. Dinners seat four to six people matched by a short personality test, at restaurants Timeleft chooses.
How much does Timeleft cost in Singapore?
Timeleft uses a time-based subscription: while it is active, you can book as many events as you like in your city. Its Singapore App Store listing, checked in October 2026, showed in-app purchases of S$24.90, S$48.98 and S$63.98, without saying what each covers. The app shows plan prices before you pay. Food and drinks are always extra.
What is a good Timeleft alternative in Singapore?
It depends on what you like about Timeleft. For other shared meals, try supper clubs with communal tables or Meetup dinner groups. For recurring hobby groups, Meetup. To choose your own plan and company, Now I'm Open, a new free web app launched in October 2026, lets you post a card such as a hawker dinner and connect when both people say yes.
Can I choose who I meet on Timeleft?
Not beforehand. Timeleft matches your group using its personality test, and the app shows you the venue and some details about the group before the event. Afterwards, you can choose who you would like to stay in touch with, and chat opens only if the interest is mutual. That surprise element is a big part of its appeal.
Is Now I'm Open cheaper than Timeleft?
Now I'm Open is free, while Timeleft needs a paid membership to book. But they are different products. Timeleft books the restaurant and assembles a group for you, which is worth paying for if you want zero planning. On Now I'm Open, you suggest the plan yourself and each person pays for their own food or drinks.
Sources
- Timeleft Singapore
- Timeleft Help Center: What is Timeleft and how does it work?
- Timeleft Help Center: What events and subscription plans does Timeleft offer?
- Timeleft Help Center: What's included in a subscription
- Timeleft on the Singapore App Store
- Vulcan Post: Would you pay RM55 to meet five strangers for dinner? (2024)
- ScamShield: Internet love scams
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