There are a lot of dating apps out there – so many that it can be hard to decide which one to pick. Since you’re here, you’ve probably heard of the Happn app, an app specifically designed to match you with people you cross paths with on a regular basis. In this article, we look at how Happn works and whether it’s right for you.
The Happn dating app is an app whose calling card is convenience, matching you with folks you’ve already crossed paths with. Co-founded by Didier Rappaport, Antony Cohen, and Fabien Cohen, it’s a free mobile app founded in France that’s since gone global.
Yes, some people do indeed use the Happn dating app. As of this writing, the app boasts more than 100 million members. Some users claim to have had success with the app, while others haven’t been as lucky. We’ll explore users’ experiences more below.
To help you understand how folks feel about Happn, we took a look at reviews on popular review sites. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the reviews are a mixed bag. Some love Happn, while others…not so much. But remember, it’s only usually a dissatisfied user who will go online to write a review.
Happn users on Reddit are decidedly not fans of the app. “Absolute garbage,” writes one reviewer. “App makes no sense,” writes another. A common complaint is an abundance of “scammers and bots” that have infiltrated the app, drowning out the real users.
Happn has a very low rating on Trustpilot, with 323 total reviews resulting in an average of 1.2 stars out of 5. That is a clear failing grade. Reviewers complain of few available matches and a lot of “suspicious profiles.” One reviewer echoes the sentiment of a Reddit user, dubbing the Happn dating app to be “garbage.”
Reviews on the App Store tell a different story, with 38K reviews resulting in an average rating of 4.3 out of 5. Pretty good! One reviewer says that they met their “best friend and love of my life” on the app after “crossing paths” dozens of times. A commonly reported downside, though, is that there aren’t as many Happn users if you’re not in a big metropolitan area.
Happn reviews on Google Play are more middle-of-the-road, with 1.78 million reviews resulting in an average rating of 3.5 stars out of 5. That’s a lot of reviews! Common complaints include difficulty finding matches, with some calling it a “cool concept” and a good idea “in theory” – but that leaves much to be desired in practice.
Some publications have devoted full, standalone reviews of Happn. Let’s take a look at some below!
The PC Mag review of Happn declares the app “excellent” and grants it 4 stars out of 5. “Happn’s location-based tools help connect you with countless potential dates who pass you on the streets,” writes Jordan Minor, the PC Mag reviewer.
Dating News offers a largely favorable review of Happn, citing its reasonable price and innovative concept. “If you’re in a major city, especially in Europe,” writes reviewer Amber Brooks, “the app seems to work very well.” Of course, the flipside of that is that users in less populated areas will struggle to find success, as the reviewer notes.
CNET lists Happn on a list of Best Dating Apps for 2024, specifically dubbing it the best app for “local dating.” The reviewer notes that upon signing up for Happn he was immediately shown 68 people she had “crossed paths” with in the past three hours.
The editors at AskMen give Happn a review of 8.2 stars out of 10. The review specifically praises its creative concept, the feature that allows you to “like” a match secretly, and the fact that the app includes the company and job title of each user. One potential problem the review flags is that matching only with people in your close proximity may present a safety problem.
No, Happn hasn’t been involved in any complaints, lawsuits, or scandals.
Yes, the Happn app is a real app that people use, and some have even had success with!
It works by using your location to determine when you’ve been in the vicinity of other users. The whole point is that you’re matching with people with whom you’ve crossed paths – people you’ve encountered or just missed over the course of your daily life. Thus the app places a restriction on your geographic settings, keeping you focused only on people in your same locale. This is what makes Happn different from apps like Tinder and Hinge.
Here’s how it works in practice. If you see someone you like, you can “Heart” the person’s profile. If the person you’ve given a “Heart” likes you back, they become one of your “Crushes.” Once someone is a Crush, the two of you can exchange messages. When you decide you want to actually meet the person, you just make use of the “Ready to Date” feature. When the other person does the same, you’ll be receive a notification.
You can also use a feature called FlashNotes, which is a way of messaging people before you’ve matched with them. You can’t do this very often, though. More FlashNotes become available to you if you invite friends to try the app or pay for a premium subscription.
If you haven’t crossed paths with any Happn users, you can still make use of the “Explore” feed, which allows you to look at users’ profiles. The app will note that you haven’t “yet” crossed paths with these folks.
Then there’s the Happn Match feature, which shows you the main locations where you’ve crossed paths with other users in the past week. In the interest of safety, the map doesn’t show you anyone’s exact, real time location.
Yes and no.
The Happn app offers important features to ensure user safety.
The first is that Happn allows users to certify that your profile is legitimate. Happn asks you to take a quick video of yourself responding to a movement prompt from the app, and then you’re in the clear. Having a certified profile shows others that you’re not a scammer, and it gives you the option to only match with other certified members.
The second way Happn keeps users safe is through a flagging and reporting system that allows you to notify the app of any suspicious or inappropriate behavior. Depending on the situation, reported users might be suspended or banned from the platform.
Happn works anywhere. But because it’s not nearly as popular as Tinder, Hinge, or other major apps and sites, you’re likely to have trouble finding matches if you don’t live in a big city.
The cost of Happn depends on the length of subscription you’re purchasing.
You can download and set up a basic Happn count for free, which includes the ability to send messages.
Only you can decide whether Happn is worth the money. Keep in mind, though, that you’re more likely to have success on the app if you already live in a densely populated area–the whole point of the app is that you meet people you’re passing by every day.
Happn offers premium membership, which is just another way of saying it offers paid subscriptions. (Prices listed above.) If you become a premium member, you’ll gain access to these potentially helpful features:
Happn doesn’t publish a specific success rate, and, as noted above, user reviews are largely mixed. You’re more likely to have success on the app if you live in an area with a large dating pool.
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