Raya Review October 2026

Know about Raya's dating services in this review!
3.5good
Screenshot of the Raya website
Raya is an exclusive dating app for people looking for relationships or friends, with committee approved membership
  • Committee approved membership
  • Available only on iOS devices
Relationships Flirts Finding love
last updated
Members in Hong Kong5,000
Women / Men 45% 55%
FromUS$9.99/mo
Age 25-34 35-44 45-54

Raya in 10 seconds

  • Exclusive dating app to find relationship and friends
  • Raya committee approves or denies membership
  • Private membership club based application process
  • Famous for being used by celebrities
  • Only available on iOS devices
  • Two matchmaking functions available. Learn more
  • Premium membership is cheap and available in 1-month package
“Raya keeps adding new features beyond dating, but if you're thinking about joining, consider this: even though it's marketed as exclusive, recent reviews suggest the experience is pretty typical.”

Chris Pleines, Founder of DatingScout and Author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies"
How many Raya members are from your city in Hong Kong?

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Who is Raya for, and not for?

Raya is for…
  • People looking for serious relationships
  • Singles who want to casual flirting that can potentially lead to love
  • Those looking for friendships and profound connections
  • Singles who want to network with an exclusive. private community
…and not for
  • Those searching for erotic adventures and casual encounters
  • Singles who are are looking for quick hookups with famous people
  • Those who do not have elite connections

Raya pros & cons

  • You have to be invited or referred to join
  • Totally secure app because applications are also screened by a committee
  • Choose between two matchmaking functions depending on your interest
  • Application screening takes from a day to a few months
  • App only available for iOS devices
  • There are hardly any celebrities or influencers among the limited active memebers

What Raya really costs

Compared with other dating services, Raya is average-priced.
Raya costs last updated on Feb 6, 2025
Membership
This is a monthly subscription with unlimited messages, member browsing and the option to turn off app visibility. It renews automatically.Total
1 month 9.99 USD / month 9.99 USD Notice period: 3 days
Our pick: 1 Month costs 9.99 USD and gives you unlimited messaging, member browsing and the option to turn off app visibility. We would choose it because it is the only plan available.
Payment options
Credit CardVia Mobile Phone
No anonymous payment.With Raya you cannot pay anonymously, the charge appears on your bank statement.
On your bank statement
Raya App Inc is the billing company on statements
Raya costs screenshot
Can you try Raya for free?
  • You can test Raya free of charge
  • You cannot read messages without paying
  • You can download the app and start your application for free, but messaging is paid.
  • You pay after the waiting process, as the final step in the application.
  • The subscription renews automatically.
Free services
  • Download the app
  • Start application process
Paid services

Once you have successfully joined Raya, you will be able to enjoy all its perks and services. After the waiting process, you will be asked to pay for the subscription as a final step in the application.

All of the app's function including messaging features will be unlocked for you.

How to cancel your Raya subscription →

Who is signed up on Raya?
5,000
Members in Hong Kong
200
weekly active members

Gender proportion: 45% ♀ / 55% ♂

Raya age range and age distribution

18-2415%
25-3435%
35-4420%
45-5420%
55+10%
  • Younger members dominate the site
  • Male to female member ratio is almost equal
  • Majority of the members are from the United States, but has users from other countries
  • Straight members made up most of the site membership
  • You get a personal profile which you can fill out

Raya, a chic and exclusive dating site, attracts predominantly younger members from around the world, though it also appeals to some middle-aged and mature users. Due to its club-like membership, Raya has fewer members compared to more mainstream dating apps. The site boasts a diverse membership base, primarily straight, from various countries.

Despite being marketed as an elite network, recent reviews and a detailed journalist account suggest that Raya’s user experience might not significantly differ from other dating apps. This insight is vital for users considering the membership cost, as the exclusivity appears to be more about marketing than genuine user distinction.

How does Raya work?

  • Create a photo-centric profile in "slideshow" format
  • Swipe right to approve or left to reject profiles
  • App moderators screen pending applications
  • Raya applicants need to receive an official referral from an existing member to ensure that you'll be a good fit for the app
  • Only available for iOS users

Raya is an exclusive dating app that is only available for iOS users. Accounts are approved by the app's screening committee and you will need to have an official referral from an existing member to be considered fit for the app.

Create a photo-centric profile in "slideshow" format to show prospective mates who you are and what you look like. You can examine prospective matches in a single-file queue, which you may accept or reject by swiping right or left. Every day, Raya offers you a few fresh profiles.

Is Raya right for you?

Find out if Raya is the right service for you or if there are better options.

Raya in detail

Signing up at Raya ★★★★★ 4.0/5

Email & password
  • You must be at least 18 years old to sign up
  • You must sign up to browse Raya

To sign up, visit the Raya website or download the Raya app, available only on iOS. To complete the registration, provide all required information.

Required information

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Location
  • Your occupation

Raya verifies new profiles via:

  • Phone number verification (required)

Applications are reviewed by hundreds of committee members from around the world. These members come from diverse backgrounds, interests, ages, and sexual orientations, and they don't know each other's identities. The review process can take anywhere from a day to several months. Once a decision is made, you'll receive an email letting you know if you've been accepted or denied.

raya signup

Making contact on Raya ★★★★★ 4.0/5

  • There is a chat function
  • Nearby members will appear on your radar
  • Matches are based on location
  • Members can turn their app visibility off
  • Sending messages for free is not possible

Getting in touch with other Raya members is similar to regular dating apps.

In terms of communication features, you will have a tab to show you whose nearby your location, and another tab that lists all your messages in one place.

You can contact anyone and send as many messages as you want since you will have to start paying for the premium the moment your profile is approved.

Setting your location up is a required step during the registration since matching is done geographically. However, if you are not in the mood to mingle and prevent other users nearby from hitting you up, you may turn off your visibility.

Profile quality ★★★★★ 4.0/5

  • Active Instagram account is required
  • There are no fake profiles
  • All members have photos
  • "Social" and "Work" functions available
  • Profiles are pleasantly detailed
  • Profile pictures are visible to everybody for free

Profiles at Raya are good for looking at photos. As expected from an exclusive app, it has a seamless look and feels to maximize the space intended for photo browsing.

The information available on profiles are name, age, and a member's location. When viewing profiles, you will have the ability to tell the app whether you like a person or not so much.

As Raya improved its app to include professional networking functions, you can switch between "Social" and "Work" modes. Social mode allows you to find relationships and friendships, while the Work mode will help you build professional connections which is why you can indicate the company you are currently working for.

The Raya app

  • Available for iOS devices only
  • App is available for free
  • You can only create an account on the app
  • The app will tell if you are accepted or waitlisted
  • The app is easy to use

The app is seamless and easy to use. As Raya is only available on iOS devices, this is where you will be creating the account as well. There is a separate Raya website, but it only contains information on how the app membership and services work.

After signing up using the app, it will only pop up a message telling you to wait until you are notified. You can only signup once using the app and it will remember if you have used the device for signing up in the past.

Our field test ★★★★★ 4.0/5

I tried to apply at Raya because I am not a fan of traditional dating apps and would rather try to meet a like-minded individual who understands how I feel about dating. It took a while before I was taken off waitlisted and I can say that the wait is worth it. I was able to find a real person whom I can talk to, and I was rid of bots trying to pose as a real person like in my experiences with other apps. - Shiela, Professor, 29

Design & usability

Design and Usability

Raya has such a simplistic design that will let you find everything that you need in one place. Its features are easy to use and the navigation feels crisp and sharp.

You will easily find your way on the site even if you are a non-tech savvy person. The functions are easy to understand and there is a dedicated website to answer all of your questions.

Special features

Raya is a unique social networking app used for dating. It has the following special features for you to enjoy:

Work Mode +

Are you on the lookout for more professional connections? Raya has a Work mode which you can use to find people who are working on the same industry and company as you.

Social Mode +

Use this mode if you are ready to mingle with other members and find friends and relationship.

Cancelling your Raya subscription

How you can cancel

  • Via your profile settings on Raya

Contact details

CompanyRaya
Emailcontact@rayatheapp.com

Do subscriptions auto-renew?

Subscriptions renew automatically, cancel at least 3 days before your current term ends.

Money-back guarantee

  • Raya does not offer a money-back guarantee
Final results
Signup4.0/5
Making contact4.0/5
Profile quality4.0/5
Field test4.0/5
Overall3.5/5

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Share your Raya experience ★★★★★

Raya FAQ

FACTS
What is Raya?

It is a club-membership based dating app that has become famous for having celebrity members.

Is Raya legit?

Raya is a registered online dating service provider that operates in several countries.

Does Raya have an app?

It has a website and an app, but you can only use its services using the app.

Is it hard to join Raya?

Most people were denied membership by Raya because they maintain a certain number of members at a time. Denied members will be put on hold in the waitlist.

MEMBERSHIP
How can I contact Raya?

You can get in touch with Raya using their customer support email contact@rayatheapp.com

How can I get accepted at Raya?

People who know a current member have a higher chance of getting accepted because they can ask for referrals.

What is the email address of Raya?

You may send an email to their team at contact@rayatheapp.com

How do I cancel my paid membership at Raya?

To cancel your membership, you must let their team know by sending a request to the customer support team.

How to set up Raya account?

You may set up an account using the app. However, you will have to wait for a while until you receive a membership confirmation.

How long before I get accepted at Raya?

You may have to wait from a day to a few months before getting a membership confirmation.

COST
Is Raya free?

Raya is a premium dating app which means that you will have to purchase a subscription to enjoy their services.

SECURITY
Is Raya safe?

The app uses security features to filter out unwanted entities from entering such as bots and people creating fake profiles.

Is Raya illegal?

It is a registered online dating and professional connection service provider that operates in several countries.

Is Raya legal?

It is a legal online app that abide by the laws of the countries where it operates.

Are there fake profiles in Raya?

Raya has one of the hardest registration procedure among apps so members are sure that they won't be infiltrated by scammers and such.

You did not find your question? Ask us!

Founder of DatingScout and Author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies"
Chris founded DatingScout 17 years ago, and today he is one of the leading Online Dating Experts. He is the author of the book "Online Dating for Dummies" and the author of the Internet's largest online dating study analyzing 20 Million Profile Pictures with artificial intelligence. Chris Pleines holds a master degree in media science and appeared in numerous television interviews and publications to give expert advice as well as tips about online dating.
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