Almost 50% of indie hackers are lonely. Here's how some of them deal with it.

Life as a digital nomad isn’t all sunsets and laptops by the beach. It’s also a lot of solo meals, fleeting acquaintances, and wondering who you’ll hang out with next. But that’s starting to change, thanks to a wave of online communities that are turning isolation into genuine connections.

For indie hackers, this shift matters. In a recent poll conducted on X, almost 50% of indie hackers who weighed in admitted they are “usually lonely.” This makes sense. Indie hacking and digital nomadism often overlap, with both lifestyles requiring long hours of solo work in constantly changing environments. The isolation can crush creativity, kill motivation, and lead to burnout, making connection not just a nice-to-have but a critical piece of the puzzle.

Sometimes, those connections come from the unlikeliest places, like a random DM on X. Marc Lou, Wonji, Nico Jeannen, Dan Kulkov, and Sveta Bay are prime examples of how the Internet can bring indie hackers together.

Win together, fail together, travel, and have fun together both online and offline.

For indie hackers, this story is more than inspiring — it’s proof of what’s possible when you find your people.

And they’re not alone. Across the globe, digital nomads and indie hackers alike are finding their tribes through digital-first platforms that lead to real-world meetups. In Playa del Carmen, Mexico — a hotspot for digital nomads — WhatsApp groups are everything. From board games to salsa nights, there’s a group for every interest.

Belgian entrepreneur Julie Renson swears by them. During her time in Playa, she connected with locals and fellow nomads through groups like “Beach Volley in PDC” and “Salsa and Bachata.” In places with less-established nomad scenes, like Marrakech, she gets proactive by posting her travel dates in Facebook groups and showing up to the events she finds online.

And she’s not alone. In Lisbon, British marketer Saskia Hadley taps into groups like Lisbon Digital Nomads & Expats to find her people. “Having been remote for the best part of 10 years, Facebook groups are a great fallback when you need a hive mind,” she says.

But it’s not just about casual connections — some platforms are leveling up with premium offerings. Nomads.com (owned by @levelsio) is the go-to hub for remote workers, providing destination rankings, cost breakdowns, and access to over 400 meetups a year — all for a $200 membership fee.

Other platforms cater to niche needs. Digital Nomad Girls offers a $100 monthly subscription for women looking to connect through book clubs, sharing circles, and even digital decluttering sessions. NomadBase blends online and offline life with retreats like their three-week meetup in Tarifa, Spain, featuring kite surfing, yoga, and communal dinners.

The creators of these platforms aren’t just building for others — they’re building for themselves. Danish Soomro, the founder of Digital Nomads Around the World, has hosted meetups everywhere from coworking days in Lisbon to beach parties in Mexico. His Facebook group now has 195K members and counting.

Johannes Voelkner, the mind behind Nomad Cruise, took things even further with a floating conference for nomads. Meanwhile, Aline Dahmen turned her Facebook group, Nomad Soulmates, into a full-blown matchmaking platform for nomads looking for love — or just someone to share an adventure with.

And now, Christoph Heubner with his Nomadsummit is making its big comeback in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the world capital of remote work and digital nomadism. Once the biggest digital nomads' event pre-COVID, it’s returning in January after a long pandemic pause. With over 400 attendees and a week packed with independent side events, it’s shaping up to be the perfect spot for indie hackers and nomads to connect, collaborate, and have a little fun.

These communities aren’t just fixing loneliness — they’re creating a new blueprint for the nomadic lifestyle. Whether it’s dinner in Buenos Aires, a hiking buddy in Lisbon, or a retreat in Spain, the message is clear: nomads don’t have to go it alone anymore.

For indie hackers especially, this is huge. The ability to connect with like-minded individuals can transform the way you work, collaborate, and innovate. Marc Lou and his crew are proof that sometimes, all it takes is a single DM to change everything.

If almost half of indie hackers feel “usually lonely,” as our poll suggests, this is the wake-up call: these communities aren’t just for nomads — they’re for anyone craving connection. Whether you’re looking for a brainstorming buddy, a motivational boost, or just someone to grab coffee with, these platforms prove that even the loneliest paths don’t have to be walked alone.