A dating app called Hily, an acronym for “Hey I Like You,” aims to shift the focus from quick swipes to deeper compatibility. After testing the app for two weeks as a 32-year-old in New York City, one reviewer found it delivers on that promise, with some honest caveats.
Hily is designed for both casual and serious relationships, with a main user age group of 18 to 30. It has a 4.4 out of 5.0 rating on the App Store and is available on iOS and Android. The app sets itself apart by centering compatibility, shared interests, and conversation tools as the basis for matching.
Instead of judging a person on a few photos, Hily uses interest badges, dating goal signals, compatibility scores, and built-in icebreakers. This gives users more context when deciding to match with someone.
The app uses an up-and-down swipe motion instead of the traditional left and right. Swipe up to like, swipe down to pass. This vertical motion is meant to slow users down so they read a bio before making a decision.
Key features of the app include a curated Discover page. This page refreshes every 24 hours and is divided into three sections: Top Picks, profiles with shared interests, and profiles with similar dating goals. The reviewer found this structure made browsing feel purposeful rather than passive. It creates natural stopping points, which makes the experience less overwhelming.
The Likes page organizes all incoming likes in one place, with a separate tracker for likes the user has sent. This eliminates the guessing game common on other apps. The reviewer noted that about 20 likes are visible at a time, and users need to use an “Unblur” feature to see more. These can be won through a daily Roulette spin or purchased with a paid membership.
The compatibility quiz is a central feature. The reviewer warned that users should finish the entire 50-question quiz before drawing conclusions. After answering just 15 questions, she matched at 100% with a profile. After completing all 50 questions, that same profile dropped to 69%.
Once users match, the app surfaces shared interests within the chat and offers pre-generated conversation starters, questions, and icebreakers. Users can send a compliment, a pick-up line, or a question to start the conversation.
Mega Crush is a feature that signals serious interest. It is part of the paid subscription, but users can win them through the roulette wheel, which refreshes daily. The app also offers verified profiles through a selfie process, allowing users to choose to interact only with verified users.
The reviewer, who has been on dating apps for nearly a decade, was impressed by the overall user experience. She found the app easy to use and liked how organized it felt. She was drawn to the curated Discover page and the Likes page, rather than the general pool of matches.
In New York City, dating often feels like an endless pool of suitors. The reviewer found that by paring down who was visible to scroll, she took more time to look at profiles. The Discover page became a daily ritual. The Likes page gave her confidence, knowing every potential match had already expressed interest.
A notable downside is the growing user base in the U.S. Even in New York City, the reviewer needed a 20-mile radius to find matches. The app also requires a paid subscription for longer compatibility quizzes and some other features.
Overall, the reviewer concluded that Hily is a strong option for those looking for more intentional connections. The app’s focus on compatibility and curated discovery sets it apart from many other dating apps currently available.
