Hily has been around since 2017, but it keeps adding new features and improving to deliver better dating experiences to users. The app now has over 42 million downloads worldwide and is in the top 5 dating apps in the US app stores. If you last checked it out a year or two ago, a few things have changed.
Here’s a full breakdown of what the app looks like today.
What Is Hily Exactly?
The name is short for “Hey, I Like You.” Hily’s tagline is “Date as you are,” and that pretty much sums up the vibe. The app is built for people who want real connections, not quick matches. About 70% of its users are between 18 and 30, so the crowd skews young.
You get the standard dating app setup: a swipe-based finder, a profile with up to 9 photos, a bio, and prompts. But there are a few features that push it past the basics.
The Biggest 2026 Update: Hily’s Discover Tab
The most significant addition this year is the Discover Tab. It’s now the central part of the app, and it works differently from the regular swipe feed.
Instead of one endless scroll, Discover organizes profiles into themed collections like “Top Picks” or “Shared Interests.” These refresh every 24 hours and adjust based on who you’ve been engaging with. So the more you use the app, the more relevant the suggestions get.
Photo to Interest: A Feature Worth Setting Up
Photo to Interest is one of Hily’s more original ideas. You can link each of your photos to a specific interest or activity, so your gallery actually shows you doing the things you love. About 20% of Hily’s daily active users already use it, which is a strong adoption rate for a newer feature.
Major Crush for Instant Messaging
Crush Note lets you send a short note to someone before you’ve matched. The recipient sees the message and decides on their own timeline. It gets your attention across without pressure on either side.
The Compatibility Quiz: More Than Just Photos
Hily has a science-backed compatibility quiz built into the app. When you complete it, your score shows up on your profile for others to see. It factors in values, worldview, and relationship goals.
How much that matters to you depends on what you’re looking for. For people tired of purely swipe-based apps, though, it’s a meaningful difference.
Safety Features: Consent Guard and Photo Verification
Hily takes safety seriously, and Consent Guard is the clearest example. If someone tries to send , they have to ask first, and if they won’t, the app asks for them. The recipient either consents or declines before anything shows up in the chat. The feature was developed with Dr. Mindy DeSeta, a sexologist and sexuality educator, and uses ML models to detect and block unsolicited content automatically.
The app also has photo verification (a selfie check to confirm you’re a real person), a block and report flow, and screenshot controls inside the messaging system.
Is Hily Worth Downloading in 2026?
Hily gives you a lot to work with. The Discover Tab, Compatibility Quiz, and safety tools are all available without paying anything. Premium adds unlimited likes, advanced filters, Major Crushes, Boosts, and global search if you want more reach.
With 52 million matches made annually and a user base that’s clearly active, the app has proven to be legit. Anyone who wants an app that goes a little deeper than a photo feed should consider Hily dating.