You can add friends in Pokémon GO to stay connected with Trainers that you meet along your Pokémon GO journey. As you play together, you’ll increase your Friendship level and unlock extra bonuses. You’ll also be able to send Gifts and trade Pokémon with your friends.
 
Once you become friends with another Trainer, you’ll both be able to see each other’s Trainer Profile through the Friend List. This information includes your Avatar, Buddy Pokémon, Team, number of Pokémon caught, most recently caught Pokémon, Trainer level and XP, Distance Walked, and the number of Battles won. If you decide that you no longer want a friend to see this information about you through their Friend List, you may simply remove them. Keep in mind that removing a friend in one game will remove them from other games as well.
 
Note: For child accounts, parents or guardians may opt into enabling this feature through the Niantic Kids Parent Portal or Pokémon Trainer Club website. Please note that disabling a game’s “Friends and Related Features” permission in the Parent Portal will permanently remove all friends from your child’s Friend List for that game.
 

WHAT WILL FRIENDS SEE ABOUT ME?

Friends will see your Trainer profile, achievements, and Pokémon that you have caught. You can disable showing friends which Pokémon you've caught in the Settings menu. Friends may also find out about your location when you send them a Gift or when you trade Pokémon with them.
 
Friends who have set themselves Online can see your Online status if you have also set yourself online. You can toggle your Online Status by tapping the switch at the top of your Friend List.
 
Friends can also access your Niantic Profile, which shows recent achievements in Pokémon GO and other Niantic apps. This page also displays lifetime stats, including distance walked and the date that you began playing Niantic games.
 

FRIENDSHIP LEVELS

For every day that you complete certain activities with your friend, you’ll grow your Friendship level.  There are five Friendship level milestones: Friends, Good Friends, Great Friends, Ultra Friends, and Best Friends. As you battle, trade, send Gifts, and complete other interactions with a friend, you'll reach Friendship level milestones and unlock extra bonuses such as a Battle Boost or extra Premier Balls in raids.
 

Friend

 
Requirements
None
 
Bonuses
  • You can trade Pokémon that are already registered in your Pokédex (except for Mythical Pokémon).
 

Good Friend

 
Requirements
Play together for 1 day
 
Bonuses
  • Special trades unlocked.
 

Great Friend

 
Requirements
Play together for 7 days
 
Bonuses
  • There is a small reduction in the trading Stardust requirement.
  • Receive 1 extra Premier Ball when participating in a raid with your friend.
  • Receive a small attack boost when Battling together.
 

Ultra Friend

 
Requirements
Play together for 30 days
 
Bonuses
  • Medium reduction in the trading Stardust requirements.
  • Receive 2 extra Premier Balls when participating in a raid with your friend.
  • Receive a medium attack boost when Battling together.
  • Ability to share an EX Raid Invite with each other.
 

Best Friend

 
Requirements
Play together for 90 days
 
Bonuses
  • Large reduction in the trading Stardust requirements.
  • Receive 4 extra Premier Balls when participating in a raid with your friend.
  • Receive a large attack boost when Battling together.
  • Ability to share an EX Raid Invite with each other.