Happn (March 2023)

Liking is limited in the free version and likewise, you cannot see the people who like you. Similar to Tinder, you match based on mutual likes.

In-App Game: Crush Time

Happn includes an In-App game called Crush Time. The idea here is that you are presented with 4 profile cards, one of which has liked you. You need to guess which one it is that liked you. If you do, you get a match (crush).
Our experience with the Crush Time game is that if you choose the most appealing profile, it will not be your match. Similarly, if you want to discover who has liked you (behind the number on the hearts that tries to get you to sign up for premium)… then you should pick the least-appealing profile. Voila, that is your Crush.

Major Weakness – Rejected Likes Keep Reappearing

A major weakness within the Happn app comes apparent especially when playing the In-App Game ‘Crush Time’. And when we say major weakness, we actually mean to say that this weakness makes the app one that we would never recommend. What could be so bad? Simple – presenting you profiles of people you have declined in the past. Perhaps these were ‘likes’ you received and saw because you were premium (but that you didn’t like back) or profiles that you had crossed and selected to not like.

If that was the only situation they appeared in Crush Time, you might almost forgive the app. But it’s not. Even worse, beyond comprehension… is that if you successfully matched with one of these profiles and subsequently ‘Report and Block’ selecting to block for ‘no specific reason’… they still appear in the Crush Time game and in the count of ‘likes’ – ‘They would like to meet you’ statistics presented in a red heart on the app.

Bear in mind… the user at the other end of that Crush will also be getting multiple notifications that you have matched with them every time you see them reappear in Crush Time and again successfully guess the crush. What a mess! You probably look like a scammer user to them – think about it.

Whether it is just very bad programming or Happn is desperate to inflate the like count and convince you to pay their very over-priced subscription fees… we don’t know. But it’s not an app that we would ever bother using ever again.

Features

Profile Creation

Happn (March 2023) does not feature comprehensive profiles - that is, you are quite limited in what information you can include or filter. This makes matching a lot more hit-and-miss and means you have to get some small talk out of the way with new matches. This might have been avoided if the profiles were more comprehensive.

Profiles at Happn (March 2023) include tags. These give you the chance to show a few of your interests or a little about your lifestyle - or learn those of other daters.

Searching / Filtering

When it comes to finding your match on Happn (March 2023) you are not able to search for them, rather profiles are presented to you in a roulette-style card stack and you choose to either like or pass on each person.
Once you have found the profiles you are interested in, you are able to view the photos of those members as a free user.

Sending / Receiving Likes

Happn (March 2023) operates with the familiar dating app system where you match with other users when you have both given each other a like.Sending likes is free, however there are limits to how many you can send. If you are a premium member, you can see who has liked you. Boosts bring your profile to the front of the pack for a short time. These are available with a premium subscription or can be paid for separately.

Matching Aides

Happn (March 2023) doesn't include any features to aide in matching, such as: Curated Matches, Compatibility Quizzes/Scores or a Question & Answer system.

Messaging

In Happn (March 2023), you can send messages to - and read messages from anyone that you have matched with. This is included in the free version of the app. Read receipts are not - or may not - be available.