I've Spent 10+ Years On Dating Apps & I Was Still Impressed By This New Option
Key takeaways
- Author: Braelyn Wood June 19, 2026mbg Deputy Commerce Editor By Braelyn Woodmbg Deputy Commerce Editor Braelyn Wood is the Deputy Commerce Editor at mindbodygreen.
- But Hily isn't trying to be another swipe-first app.
- You can also track the likes you've sent.The compatibility quiz is worth finishing: I matched at 100% with a profile after answering just 15 questions.
Why this matters: practical guidance grounded in recent research or expert insight.
Author: Braelyn Wood June 19, 2026mbg Deputy Commerce Editor By Braelyn Woodmbg Deputy Commerce Editor Braelyn Wood is the Deputy Commerce Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism from Northwestern University, along with a certificate in marketing.Image by Addictive Creators/ Stocksy / mbg creative June 19, 2026We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links.I've been on dating apps for nearly a decade. I've swiped on Bumble, matched on Hinge, and even given OkCupid a fair shot. So when I heard about Hily—an acronym of "Hey I Like You"—I was skeptical whether there was that much to change about a dating app.
But Hily isn't trying to be another swipe-first app. It's built around the idea that compatibility, not just chemistry, is what leads to real connection. And after two weeks of using the app to connect with others as a 32-year-old in New York City, I can say it genuinely delivers on that promise, with a few honest caveats worth knowing before you download.
Things to know:The Discover page is a game-changer: Hily's curated Discover page refreshes every 24 hours and organizes potential matches into three sections: Top Picks, profiles with shared interests, and profiles with similar dating goals. It's a choose-your-own-adventure approach that feels far more intentional than endless scrolling.The Likes page is where the magic happens: All the likes sent your way are organized in one place, so you know any match is mutual from the start. You can also track the likes you've sent.The compatibility quiz is worth finishing: I matched at 100% with a profile after answering just 15 questions. After completing all 50, that same profile dropped to 69%. The lesson: Finish the full quiz first.Mega Crush signals serious interest: Think of it as a super like with more weight. Mega Crushes are part of the paid subscription, but you can win them through the roulette wheel (refreshes daily). Verified profiles add a layer of safety: You can choose to interact only with verified users—a meaningful feature for women navigating online dating.The U.S. user base is still growing: Even in NYC, I needed a 20-mile radius to find matches.Image by Braelyn Wood / mbg creativeWhat is Hily?Hily is a dating app designed for both casual and serious relationships, with a main age demographic of 18 to 30 and a 4.4 out of 5.0 rating on the App Store. Available on iOS and Android, the app sets itself apart by centering compatibility, shared interests, and conversation tools as the foundation of its matching experience.