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Dating · head to head

Happn vs Raya

Happn logo

Happn

Dating

Find the people you've crossed paths with

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Raya logo

Raya

Dating

An exclusive community

From
$9.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Happn has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Happn high volume of fake profiles, bots, and scammer accounts; Raya access requires submitting an application that is queued and reviewed, and an applicant can remain waitlisted indefinitely
  • They diverge on capability: Happn covers Crossed Paths, Raya covers Exclusive Membership.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Happn and Raya actually diverge.

Attributes where Happn and Raya differ
AttributeHappnRaya
Starting priceFree$9.99/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, AndroidIos
Founded20142015

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Dating).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Happn

  • Crossed Paths
  • FlashNote
  • CrushTime
  • Video Call
  • Invisible Mode
  • Audio Messages
  • Spotify
  • Facebook

Only in Raya

  • Exclusive Membership
  • Committee Review
  • Privacy Protection
  • Social Networking
  • Work Networking
  • Cultural Events

Both cover

  • Instagram
  • Ios support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Happn

  • Meeting people you crossed paths with locallynot Raya
  • Dating within your geographic areanot Raya
  • Connecting with nearby singles through proximitynot Raya

Raya

  • Private membership network for dating, networking and friendshipnot Happn
  • Meeting vetted members while controlling your visibilitynot Happn
  • Application-gated social access rather than open sign-upnot Happn

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Happn

  • High volume of fake profiles, bots, and scammer accounts
  • Poor match quality and low likelihood of resulting in actual dates
  • Limited user base in smaller cities and non-urban areas
  • Security concerns with location-based technology revealing user movement patterns
  • Subscription and billing issues with poor customer service response

Raya

  • Access requires submitting an application that is queued and reviewed, and an applicant can remain waitlisted indefinitely
  • Full functionality of the service is only available while a paid membership is active
  • Memberships are sold only as 1, 6 or 12 month auto-renewing terms
  • Auto-renewals are charged within 24 hours before the end of the period
  • Cancelling a subscription only takes effect at the end of the current period, with no mid-term exit
  • Accounts can be suspended or terminated for conduct judged not to reflect the community guidelines
  • The iOS app requires iOS 17.0 or later

Pricing, plan by plan

Happn

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Happn review.

Raya

$9.99/month
  • Membership$9.99/month
    • Access to Community
    • Dating Mode
    • Social Mode

Which should you pick?

Choose Happn if

  • You need crossed paths.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want flashnote.
Happn review

Choose Raya if

  • You need exclusive membership.
  • You work on Ios.
  • You also want committee review.
Raya review

Questions people ask

Is Happn or Raya better?
Neither clearly leads. Happn starts at Free and Raya at $9.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Happn or Raya?
Happn has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Happn and $9.99/month for Raya.
Does Happn or Raya run on more platforms?
Happn runs on iOS, Android. Raya runs on Ios.
Can I use Happn for free?
Yes. Happn has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Raya starts at $9.99/month.
What is Happn best used for?
Happn is most often used for meeting people you crossed paths with locally, dating within your geographic area, connecting with nearby singles through proximity. Of those, meeting people you crossed paths with locally and dating within your geographic area are not what Raya is typically brought in for.
What can Happn do that Raya cannot?
Happn covers Crossed Paths, FlashNote, CrushTime, Video Call. Raya covers Exclusive Membership, Committee Review, Privacy Protection, Social Networking. Both handle Instagram, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Happn: Is Happn free to use?

Yes, Happn is free to download and use. Premium membership is optional and unlocks features like seeing who has liked your profile and sending FlashNotes to people you haven't matched with.

Source
Happn: How does Happn's location matching work?

Happn shows you profiles of people you have crossed paths with in real life. The app uses GPS to detect when two users are near each other and displays their profiles when this happens. Your exact location remains hidden to other users.

Source
Happn: What is the cost of Happn Premium?

Happn Premium pricing varies by region. In the US, a one-month subscription costs approximately $29.99, while in Europe it ranges from €34.99 for one month to €94.99 for a 12-month subscription.

Source
Happn: What premium features does Happn offer?

Happn Premium allows you to see who has liked your profile, send up to 10 FlashNotes per day to people you haven't matched with, make audio and video calls within the app, and access other advanced features.

Source
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