The Happn app was founded in 2014 in France, by Didier Rappaport. On its release in the July of that year, the app had around 40,000 users. In just two years, that figure jumped to around 10million.
Today, the Happn dating app boasts around 50million users across more than 50 major cities, and in 40 different countries. Of those, an estimated 1million users are from the UK alone, with at least 700,000 living in or visiting the countryās capital.
The main difference between the Happn local dating app and traditional dating sites is that Happn is designed for on-the-go encounters. You may have heard it described as a āgeolocational dating appā or even as a ālocation-based online mobile dating applicationā.
In short, this means that the app matches members based on real-life encounters and preferences; itās the app to make sure that you donāt miss out on any opportunities, whether you spot someone you like in a cafĆ©, in the supermarket, or even in the street.
With so many members, the Happn app has established itself as one of the most popular dating apps on the market. However, is it designed for the hopeless romantic or those looking for opportunistic encounters? Our in-depth Happn review puts it to the test.
Our Summary
Is the Happn dating app for those who believe that their match might be just around the corner or is it Tinder by another name? Certainly, the app relies on your location and the location of other users to engineer encounters, which makes it a tempting proposition for the casual dater.
It depends on how you use it. With features such as the Heart Button, it seems that the appās original intent was to take chance encounters and turn them into something more meaningful. In addition, users can only message each other if thereās some mutual āālikingā involved.
On top of that, the profile information you receive is fairly limited, covering the basics such as how old you are, your gender, your education, your location, and what you do for a living. Paid members can edit this information and make it more or less specific.
While thereās undoubtedly an opportunity for the Happn local dating app to be used for casual encounters, the way itās set up makes it more useful to try and spark something with the barista you like or that person who catches your eye on a shopping trip.
Overall, we like the Happn app. Itās convenient and easy to use and can turn every day into a possible romantic opportunity. With technology playing such an important part in our lives, itās perfect for on-the-go professionals or those who believe that love is only a footstep away.
š Free services and paid-for services
Happn is free to join and offers plenty to keep newbies going, such as:
- Each time you are near to another Happn app user in āreal lifeā, their profile will appear on your timeline. Youāll be shown the number of times youāve encountered this user, which will give you a good idea if theyāre interested in you. If youāre not interested in them, click the āCrossā button and theyāll be removed.
- You can check who youāve crossed paths with at any time, allowing you to express your interest whenās best for you.
- The Heart Button gives you the chance to let someone know you like them, but they wonāt know itās happened unless they do the same.
- If you want to be noticed, the āCharmā function will alert another Happn app user to your presence.
- Sometimes, you might not want to be on the alert for other users. āInvisible Modeā will mask your presence until youāre ready to engage.
- Locations are approximate rather than specific.
- You can block other users at any time.
- Your profile page uses Facebook Connect to show any friends and interests you might have in common, and to prevent scammers using fake profiles.
- Post status updates to let other users know what youāre up to or what youāre interested in.
However, if you would rather make your online experience a little less direct, subscribing to the Premium package gives you a few important extras:
- You are given 10 āHellosā per day
- Ads are removed from the app
- You can see a list of people who have ālikedā you
- Using Credits, you can request Chat Time with other Happn members
- āMysterious Modeā allows you to edit your profile and restrict the information that other users can see
- Play āCrushTimeā twice as much as free users.
What is CrushTime?
CrushTime is a game that has been incorporated into the Happn app. Working on the idea that finding love can be a bit like playing roulette, you are presented with four users who you have recently been near to.
Of the four, one has already ālikedā you and you must work out which one it is. Guess right and youāre given access to instant chat with that user. Guess wrong and thereās nothing lost, as nobody knows but you. You can try again with the remaining profiles.
The only caveat for CrushTime is that you need to have been liked by at least 10 other users before you can play. In addition, the game is sprung on you at random; you canāt choose when you want to play.
š° Prices
How much does it cost to use the Happn local dating app?
The Happn app is free to join. However, if you want to take more control of the opportunities that come your way, then you should consider subscribing to the Premium package. This is charged at a monthly fee, with a few extras charged on top.
One month Premium membership is charged at Ā£19.99. Buying Credits gives you the option to āSay Hiā, send a āCharmā, or engage in chat. Credits are charged at four different price-points:
| Credits | Price |
| 10 Credits | Ā£1.99 |
| 60 Credits | Ā£10.99 |
| 100 Credits | Ā£16.99 |
| 250 Credits | Ā£38.99 |
While they might seem like a frippery, using Credits does give you that added edge when it comes to making the most of a potential match.
How to pay?
The Happn app offers four methods for payment. You can pay for subscriptions and Credits via credit card, debit card, PayPal, or via your mobile phone.
š” How to reduce costs at Happn?
The Happn local dating app is free to join and free membership offers a perfectly serviceable level of operation. However, if you want to maximise on opportunities, then the Premium subscription is the way to go.
If youāre wanting to keep your expenditure down, either stay as a free user, or subscribe but opt for one of the lesser Credit packages.
š Membership structure
Intuitive dating for chance encounters
While the app was launched in 2014, itās at least five years ahead of its time. Millennials and on-the-go professionals will find the ability to make the most of a chance meeting something worth considering. With a 50/50 split between men and women, there are opportunities for everyone.
However, the Happn app isnāt exclusively straight. There are a significant of gay and lesbian users, who find its romantic appeal a refreshing change from the likes of Tinder and Grindr.
Paid users tend to outnumber guests, which can be frustrating for those who havenāt made the leap to full membership. Despite this, the app offers excellent features for both free and paid-up members.
āļø Registration
Registering on the Happn app is easy and can be broken down into five, simple steps:
- Go to happn.com
Go to the websiteās homepage
- Get the app š
Download the app to your mobile or link it to your Facebook page
- Import you data from social media
You can import your profile information from Facebook
- Or … fill in your data
Alternatively, fill in the forms and supply information such as gender and what youāre looking for
- And you are ready to go!
With no verification process to worry about, youāre free to start checking out whoās nearby.
The approval process for the Happn local dating app is instant, so you donāt have to worry about verifying your email.
š± User-friendliness and the app
The Happn dating app was designed for using when youāre out and about, rather than sat at a desktop PC. As a result, itās well equipped for day-to-day use, whether youāre enjoying a quiet coffee or strolling along a busy street.
As apps go, itās very easy to navigate, with all the features displayed clearly and cleanly on your homepage. You can tinker with your profile, interact with other users, or play CrushTime, all without any problem at all.
In addition, thereās the opportunity to earn extra free Credits by inviting friends to join the app. With plenty of scope for personalisation and the ability to engage with other users immediately or at a later time, the Happn dating app is a superb addition to any singletonās app collection.
āļø Contacting users
Rather than using the traditional āSearchā function, Happn uses your criteria to do the work for you. Matches are shown as you encounter them, and the mutual like service ensures that you only interact with the users that you want to.
Using Premium subscription, you can get around the lack of profile information. As a paid member, youāll be able to see who has liked your profile and reply, instantly.
š Pros and cons š
What we like
- Youāll receive matches from people who are in your location
- The appās core features are free
- You can see matches wherever you go
- Matchmaking continues until the app runs out
- Only matches that meet your criteria will be shown
- āLikingā must be mutual before the conversation can begin
- Helpful information is imported from the userās Facebook profile
What we donāt like
- Users from low-population areas will struggle to find matches
- Profile information is limited
- There is no āSearchā function
- While likes and matches are free, youāll need to pay for Credits in order to chat
Find the best casual online dating sites
Take your pick from some of the best casual online dating sites in the UK.
- Best for anonymous and discreet encounters
- Free registration and free membership
- Chat with thousands of attractive singles
- Easy to use chat service for quick connections
- Popular in the UK for singles
- Flexible matching for local and abroad
- Only mature women who really know what they want are members of MilfFinder.
- Milfs here know exactly what they are looking for and what their needs are.
- No financial risk with the free registration.
- Younger men... and middle-aged men are often considered the "target group”
- 100% safe and secure
- Meet attractive Asian, European, & Latino singles
- Quick and free signup
- Casual or serious online dating
- Fast and simple hookups
- Caters exclusively to the UK
- Sign up for free and enjoy
- Relax with a secure and private service
- Ignite romance right in your vicinity
- Enjoy exact matching thanks to accurate filters;
- And explore many more benefits that will help you find love!
- Help people to find love
- Bring emotions
- Make new friends
- Free sign-up!
- Easy-to-use interface, optimized for all devices.
- 100% match guarantee.
- Privacy protected in a discreet environment.
- Possible great matches,
Tailored matching algorithm + localized connections
Privacy with advanced security features
Local events and activities
- local dating
- chat rooms
- available for mobile too
- Thousands of mature singles looking for love, romance, and friendship
- Advanced features like identity verification, profile screening, and anti-scam protection
- Explore your preferences with search filters, chat rooms, and compatibility tests
Possibility to join local events for exciting encounters with other singles in the UK
Cutting-edge algorithms that will create personalized connections
Top priority for safety, with mystery and excitement still in the air
- Welcome Offer for new members
- Unique VIP Content for premium members
- Maximum payment security (Google Pay, Apple Pay etc.)
- Best for: No strings attached and open minded individuals
- Free membership: Free registration, limited
- Users: 94 million
- Easy casual encounters with locals
- No commitment to dates or the site
- Flexible for at home or on the go
- Discreet to keep your fun private
- Free, fast and easy registration
- Real girls from 180 countries
- Highly engaged and active community
- Women here are very easy-going
- Only real people
- Unique matching
- Customer satisfaction centered brand
- Easy and convenient interface
- Perfect for casual dating & hookups
- Plenty of members for you to have fun with
- Search millions of profiles, chat in real-time and share your photos
- Find, communicate and meet with like-minded people.
- Discreet
- Make friends and more quickly
- Find out who in the UK is up for fun
- No-strings attached sex
- Reliable and safe service
- Enjoy fast and easy hookups
- Meet with local UK singles or couples
- Safe, discreet service for private use
- Meet others in an active, supportive community
- Women here are very easy-going
- Only real people
- Unique matching
- Customer satisfaction centered brand
- Free sign-up!
- +100.000 women
- 100% discrete
- Best for open-minded looking for “no strings attached” fun
- Free membership
- 54 million users
- Large database of Asian and European singles in the UK
- Full control of your profile to set your desired privacy settings
- Attend virtual events to meet even more members
š FAQs
You can only see whoās liked you by subscribing to the Happn Premium package. As a member, likes are displayed on your home page, giving you the options to either respond to a user or delete them.
Using the Happn local dating app is as simple as registering and then enabling it. While youāre out and about, the app will register other users who fit your criteria in your location.
1. While you can upload up to nine photos, choose between four and six. Be sure to select photos that say something about you and your interests, rather than generic or staged pictures.
2. Ask friends to evaluate your profile and pictures.
3. Be sure to highlight the best aspects of your personality and interests on the āAbout Meā section of your profile. Keep it relevant and honest.
Likes are only seen if the recipient also happens to send a ālikeā. However, you can take the initiative and send a āCharmā, which is seen whether the user has liked you or not. View the userās profile and hit āSend Charmā.
There are an estimated 50million users, worldwide. In the UK, there are around 1million users, approximately 700,000 of which are based in London. With numbers growing daily, thereās always the potential for new encounters.
ā¹ļø Company information
Website: www.happn.com
Headquarters:
HAPPN
8, Rue de Sentier
75002 Paris
France
Email: [email protected]
