What Hily Dating App does

Hily Dating App is a mobile-first dating platform founded in 2017 by Alex Pasykov (with Jake Vygnan as co-founder and CPO and Dmytro Kononov as CTO), headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company targets Gen Z and Millennial singles seeking authentic connections, differentiating through an 'authenticity-first' positioning under the tagline 'Date as you are.' As of the most recent reporting, Hily has grown to over 43 million registered users and approximately 5–6 million monthly active users, ranking as the #3 most-downloaded free dating app globally per AppMagic data. The app is distributed through the Apple App Store and Google Play across 19 countries with localization in seven languages.

The product is built on an AI/ML stack that powers compatibility matching, AI-generated icebreaker conversation prompts, computer-vision-based photo verification (with human review), the Consent Guard feature for explicit-content moderation, and anomaly detection for scammer/spammer filtering. Notable proprietary safety features include Consent Guard (launched October 2025 with sexologist Dr. Mindy DeSeta) and human-reviewed photo verification. The company has launched complementary features such as Icks&Clicks (compatibility-based matching) and the 2026 HI-Powered Finder and Chats relaunch, which deliberately positions 'human intelligence' against AI-heavy competitors. The platform also offers live streaming, virtual goods, and an influencer program.

Hily operates a freemium business model: the core app is free with basic matching and safety features, while monetization comes from Hily Premium subscriptions ($24.99/week or approximately $120/year) and consumable in-app purchases including Boosts, Major Crush packs, Rollbacks, coins, and virtual gifts. Distribution relies on app store optimization, outdoor advertising campaigns in LA and San Diego, event sponsorships (Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon), PR-driven T.R.U.T.H. Reports, and a #hilyshare community program. With fewer than 50 employees and no disclosed funding rounds, Hily appears to be founder-owned and self-funded, despite operating at a scale that places it among the top global dating platforms.

Name

Hily Dating App

Legal name

Hily Corp.

Website

https://hily.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hily is a mobile dating app targeting Gen Z and Millennial singles with AI-powered matching, photo verification, and safety features like Consent Guard. It operates a freemium model with premium subscriptions and serves over 43 million registered users across 19 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Dating

NAICS

Information (51)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Safety, Moderation & Trust Tools (UGC moderation, anti-toxicity) (MPAFAIAJ)

Keywords

• Mobile dating app
• Online dating platform
• AI compatibility matching
• Freemium dating service
• Dating app subscriptions

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Hily Premium Subscription: Optional subscription service (Hily Premium and Premium+) providing premium features including Major Crush, Rollbacks, Incognito mode, Extended filters, Visible likes, and daily consumable premium features. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled 24 hours prior to end of term. Pricing varies by platform (iTunes/Google Play) and subscription length.
2. Consumable Premium Features: Additional purchases including Boosts, Major Crush packs, Rollbacks, coins, and virtual gifts that users can buy within the app. These are separate from the base subscription and can be purchased both within and outside of subscriptions.
3. Freemium Core App: Core app is free to download and use with basic features including compatibility matches, safety checks, icebreakers, and data-backed dating tips. Revenue is driven by conversion of free users to premium subscribers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hily is a mobile dating app that uses AI-powered compatibility matching, human-reviewed photo verification, and ML-based safety features (including the Consent Guard explicit-content filter) to help singles connect on iOS and Android devices. The core app is free to download and use, with revenue generated from optional Premium subscriptions (Premium and Premium+ tiers) and consumable in-app purchases such as Boosts, Coins, and virtual gifts.

Product overview

Hily Dating App is a mobile-first dating platform built around the core value of authenticity, with the tagline 'Date as you are.' The product portfolio centers on the main Hily Dating App (core product), supplemented by the optional Hily Premium subscription add-on for enhanced visibility and features. Key features include AI-powered Compatibility Matches, Safety Checks for profile verification, AI-generated Icebreakers for conversation initiation, and the Icks&Clicks compatibility system. Safety features include Consent Guard for explicit content control and photo verification. The platform also offers virtual goods (Coins and Gifts) for user engagement and Data-Backed Dating Tips derived from the company's proprietary research surveys. Hily positions itself as an authenticity-focused alternative to AI-heavy competitors, with features that emphasize genuine human connection over algorithmic optimization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hily Dating App Mobile dating app for iOS and Android that enables individual singles to create profiles, receive AI-powered compatibility matches, verify their photos through human review, and chat with potential partners. Targets Gen Z and Millennial daters seeking authentic connections, with safety features including Consent Guard content moderation.
• Coins and Virtual Gifts Consumable digital virtual items and Coins purchasable within the Hily Dating App that users can send to other members as gifts or to gain attention. Sold as separate in-app purchases inside and outside of Premium subscription entitlements. Intellectual property of Hily with no monetary value outside the platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11.4B+ likes sent and 58M+ mutual matches annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Helen Woodward Animal CenterminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 September 2025Hily sponsored the 20th annual Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon in San Diego to raise funds for orphaned pets. Used to reinforce brand message promoting authenticity in dating under tagline 'Every Spot Is a Dating Spot.'
• Dr. Daniel B. Shank and Dr. Marisa T. Cohen (Academic Experts)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2025Academic collaboration for T.R.U.T.H. Report on AI in online dating. Dr. Shank from Missouri University of Science and Technology and Dr. Marisa T. Cohen provided research expertise and credibility for the survey report on Gen Z and Millennial attitudes toward AI in dating.
• Dr. Mindy DeSeta (Sexologist)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2025Developed Consent Guard feature in collaboration with sexologist Dr. Mindy DeSeta, providing expertise on healthy relationship dynamics and consent to inform the feature's design and implementation.
• Trejo's DonutsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 July 2025Limited-edition 'Mystery Donuts' collaboration in Los Angeles where each donut contained a random filling discoverable after the first bite, with tongue-in-cheek predictions about customers' romantic prospects. Cross-promotional marketing stunt themed around the unpredictability of dating, running July 11-27, 2025.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Coffee Meets Bagel: Curated daily-match dating app targeting relationship-minded daters with a women-friendly design philosophy. Overlaps with Hily's quality-over-quantity compatibility positioning.

Regional players

• Tantan: Leading dating and social networking app in China with swipe mechanics similar to Tinder. Operates as a regional player outside China but offers a comparable product format to Hily.

Direct peers

• Plenty of Fish (POF): Match Group-owned freemium dating app that Hily has surpassed in global downloads, targeting a similar mainstream dating audience.
• Hinge: Match Group-owned dating app marketed as 'designed to be deleted,' targeting the same Gen Z and Millennial relationship-seeking demographic that Hily courts.
• Tinder: The largest global dating app, owned by Match Group. Hily directly competes for the same Gen Z and Millennial dating audience with a similar swipe-based matching model.
• Bumble: Major dating app where women message first; publicly traded (BMBL). Hily is explicitly positioned against Bumble as a more authenticity-focused alternative and has overtaken it in downloads.
• OkCupid: Match Group-owned dating app emphasizing compatibility-based matching through questionnaires. Hily has overtaken OkCupid in global download rankings.
• Badoo: Global dating-focused social network owned by Bumble Inc., with strong international presence. Hily has surpassed Badoo in global downloads per AppMagic data.

Broad incumbents

• Match.com: Match Group's flagship subscription-based dating site for serious relationships. Operates in the same dating category but skews older and uses a different (subscription-first) business model.
• eHarmony: Long-standing compatibility-focused dating service targeting relationship-minded daters. Competes in the same dating category but uses a website-first, paid-subscription model rather than mobile freemium.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hilyapp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hily-app

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hily Dating App