MatesPlace vs Delphi: An Honest Comparison

If you've searched for flatshares in London, you may have come across MatesPlace - a platform built around the idea of finding flats and flatmates through your existing social network, or a friend of a friend. Here's an honest comparison with Delphi.

By Marilyn Magnusen

Published 15/08/2026, 2 min read

What Is MatesPlace?

MatesPlace is built around a simple premise: connecting people to flats and flatmates through existing social connections, rather than a fully open, anonymous listings board. It's structured as a community-driven platform, with real testimonials describing it as a first port of call before trying more general sites - people specifically valuing the feeling of not messaging complete strangers.

It's not gender-specific - open to all genders, matching people through social proximity rather than a structural filter. It's also a different company from Friends of Friendz, despite the similar "friends of friends" framing.

MatesPlace vs. Delphi, at a Glance

	MatesPlace	Delphi
Format	Community-driven platform	Dedicated app
Audience	Mixed - open to all genders	Women-only
Core mechanic	Existing social connections / friends of friends	Verified listings + shared community
Geographic reach	Primarily London	London-focused
Trust model	Informal - proximity through mutual connections	Structural - every member shares the same community filter

Where MatesPlace Does Well

The "friend of a friend" premise has real merit. Living with someone who's at least one connection removed from your own network carries a natural layer of informal vetting a fully anonymous listing doesn't.
Genuinely valued by its own users for reducing the "messaging strangers" feeling - that's a real, meaningful trust signal worth taking seriously, not dismissing.
A good first port of call if you already have a reasonably active London social network to draw on.

Where It Falls Short If You Specifically Want a Women-Only Community

Not gender-specific. The trust model is about social proximity, not a structural women-only filter - the safety premise is different in kind, not just degree.
Depends heavily on your existing network's reach. If your social circle in London is small or new, the "friends of friends" model has less to work with than a platform where the whole community is already the pool.

Why Delphi Is a Different Kind of Answer to the Same Underlying Need

MatesPlace exists because people want more trust and social proximity than a fully open listings board offers - that instinct is exactly right. Delphi answers the same underlying need differently: instead of relying on your existing network being large enough to produce a match, every member is already part of one shared, women-only community from the start. You don't need to already know someone one connection removed - the community itself is the filter.

That said, if you have a strong existing social network in London, using MatesPlace alongside Delphi isn't a bad strategy - they're not mutually exclusive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MatesPlace free to use?

Check the platform directly for current details - this can change and isn't something we track independently.

Is MatesPlace only for London?

It's primarily London-focused, based on available information.

Is MatesPlace women-only?

No - it's open to all genders. If a women-only community specifically is what you're looking for, that's where Delphi differs.

Should I use MatesPlace instead of Delphi, or alongside it?

Alongside it, if you have a strong existing London social network to draw on. They solve a related but different problem - social-proximity matching versus a dedicated women-only community.