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Raya Dating App Review: How to Get On Raya, What is Raya, & How Does Raya Work

Raya Dating App Review: How to Get On Raya, What is Raya, & How Does Raya Work

Ever want to go out with Drew Barrymore, Olivia Rodrigo, or Simone Biles?

There are two ways to do so.

You can either follow them around TMZ style and use your best pickup line when you finally see them OR you can just download Raya.



Raya is what celebrities download when they’re tired of people swiping left on their Tinder profiles because they think they’re fake (looking at your Zach Efron).

This invite-only app was launched in 2015 and has been billed as a Digital Dinner Party for people in the creative industries.

That means that even though it’s widely known as the dating app for celebs, the vast majority of users aren’t in fact celebs, but rather people in “creative industries.”

What makes the Raya dating app so popular among the bold and beautiful (and gives the impression it’s only used by celebs) is that it has an acceptance rate of just 8%.

That means Raya users are damn hot, respected in the industry, and are at least according to the app, elite singles.

Let’s dive into the most secretive and exclusive of romantic platforms that is the Raya dating app.

raya dating app review

Raya Dating App

Shrouded in mystery and only used by a few thousand users, most people don’t even know what Raya is, and Raya likes it that way.

Just look at their homepage.

raya dating app

Yep, that’s literally it.



So let’s answer the question that even Raya itself doesn’t seem to want to answer.

What Is Raya?

Raya is a super selective dating app for people with clout.

Without even an about section on their website, Raya clearly is a big believer in how a little mystery can really spice up a relationship.

Even after 7 years of super hot singles swiping away on their app, few still understand what Illuminati Tinder is all about.

Luckily after a few years of purposely not talking to the media, the founder finally sat down for an interview with NYT.

During this chat we learned a few things about Raya including:

  • It has a waitlist of 100,000 people
  • It’s aimed at singles in creative industries
  • It’s invite-only
  • Many users are pro athletes, models, tech executives, IG models, and movie stars

Want to know how a user would characterize the app?

One user was quoted as saying, “It’s the Soho House of Dating apps. They have the really good-looking guys, athletes, the actors, the guys that have like 500 followers on IG but got accepted because they’re a DJ.

As she says, on Raya, “everyone is someone.”

That sums up the dating app perfectly.

So again, what is Raya?

Raya is incredibly selective a caters to those of status. 



what is raya

You won’t find Joe Shmoe on Raya, but you will find Joe Jonas.

And again, while Raya isn’t exclusively for celebs, it is their go-to dating app.

There are a few reasons for this, one certainly being Raya’s no screenshot policy. If a user takes a screenshot a message will pop up telling them to chill the hell out. Some users can even get kicked off the app if they disclose personal information about other users.

Stassi Schroeder learned the hard way when she was banned for talking about her match and Olympic swimmer Ryan with the public.

Basically, Raya is a dating app (and kind of networking) for influential creative people.

Or as founder Daniel Gendelan would tell you, it’s an app for interesting people who have been thoroughly vetted.

Oh and why is it called Raya?

The founder is Israeli, so he saw it fitting to name the app friend in Hebrew, hence the mysterious name, Raya.

How Does Raya Work?

For an app used by A to D-list celebrities, you’d think it would have super unique features and a world-class UX.

But when it comes to Raya, it’s really just like any other superficial dating app on the market.

Users are given a chance to upload a few photos, fill out a bio, and connect to their IG.



The biggest difference between a Raya profile and say a Bumble or Tinder profile is that when you want to see photos you have to play a slideshow that may play a song in the background of the user’s choice.

The bio is optional but connecting your IG account is mandatory.

Once you’re into someone simply hit the checkmark (like button) and if it’s a match you two can get to talking.what is raya

Who Is Raya Good For?

Raya is for the most desirable of desirable. It’s for the people you see on IG and think, wow I wish my life can be more like theirs.

Perhaps their life is actually a nightmare, but regardless you still want it.

Remember that Raya is an invite-only app created for ridiculously good-looking people with clout that work in entertainment.

If you work in the entertainment industry, have clout, and want to date interesting, hot, and influential people, Raya might be right for you.

But Raya certainly isn’t for everyone, even those that get accepted, just ask our celebrity stylist, Hailey.

what is raya

Hailey got accepted on Raya awhile back after two of her friends (already Raya users) referred her.

We asked her what her experience was like and what the downsides of using the app were.

She told us…



“It is seen as a “celebrity dating app”, therefore it appeals to people looking for an ego boost/status symbol. Aka they can be conceited.”

Many non-celeb users have said that Raya users are clout-chasers, vain, and more than anything just want to network or climb the social ladder.

Hailey adds that Raya users aren’t exactly into long-term relationships…

“I don’t have very high hopes because from my experience users are not as serious about LTRs on this app. I also know that other friends who are on it have had the same experience.”

But hey, as I tell our students, they shouldn’t rely wholeheartedly on any single dating app.

My favorites include Hinge, Bumble, and Tinder. If you get accepted to Raya, why not try it out?

That leads us to our next question.

Who Is Raya Not Good For?

Hailey tells us most users just want to hookup with other ridiculously good-looking people.

I mean, that’s probably why a 52-year-old Matthew Perry decided to Facetime his 19-year-old Raya match.

If you want something short-term Raya is good for you.

But at the same time, not all users want a quick romp in the same way not ALL Tinder users want a ONS.

If you want a LTR make that clear on your Raya profile.

Also if you 100% want to date someone in the creative industry Raya might be perfect for you. You won’t find any accountants, dentists, or insurance agents on Raya (unless of course they’re somehow influencers).

Raya might be a great way for you to weed out non-creatives living lifestyles that are dealbreakers.

Raya Features Overview

For the most part, Raya is like any other dating app.



It highlights your photos while pushing your written info and bio into the background.

However, there are some cool things about Raya worth noting:

  • Users can choose to play a song when other users look at their photos
  • You can view ALL Raya users regardless of location
  • Work mode (if you want to network professionally, similar to Bumble Bizz)
  • DM features that allow you to send a message to a user before matching
  • Direct Request (basically just a Super Like)

How Many Raya Users Are There?

It’s tough to say.

Some estimate as few as 10k active monthly users whereas others estimate 20k+.

What’s certain is that Raya doesn’t have a ton of users, especially when compared with major players Tinder (75+ million) and Bumble (47+ million).

Sure Raya is only used by the bold and the beautiful but despite its fame it still lacks users and of course is dominated by males like every other dating app.

That’s why you should have one or two of these dating apps in your online dating toolkit.

How To Sign Up For Raya

Like most other apps it’s a pretty straightforward process.

As soon as you download the app you’ll be prompted to apply.

Then you’ll have to fill out basic info like you name, gender, and DOB.

 

what is raya



You’ll be asked about what industry you work in, for your phone number, and if you have a referral (super important). If you don’t the following prompt will pop up.

raya application tips

But honestly, perhaps the most important part is your IG.

Some will say you need 100,000 IG followers to get accepted, others say at least 5k.

However, our celeb stylist Hailey got accepted and she only has 500 followers (she did however have two references and is very clearly in the creative industry).

We asked her if you need oodles of IG followers to be accepted and she said…

“That is definitely a myth. I only have 550 followers and was accepted. The only requirement is that your account is public during the application process.”

Raya Waitlist: How Long Does it Take to Get Approved

Raya famously claims to only have 10-15k users but more than 100,000 applicants on their waitlist.

The waiting list is so long because as founder Gendelman informed the New York Times, every applicant must be screened by 500 trusted members who are part of a screening committee.

It’s for this reason some people wait years to get accepted.

Of course your application won’t take nearly as long if someone uses their “friend-pass” to get you in. A friend-pass fast tracks friends of current members.

Each member allegedly gets one friend-pass.

And if you’re thinking that you’ll never get on Raya because you don’t have clout, founder Gendelman says otherwise.

In one of his rare interviews, a journalist drew up a hypothetical scenario in which a “terrible-looking old man with no public profile and no IG following to speak of” applied. He then asks if this person would automatically get rejected.

Gendelman’s response?



“Is Tony decently interesting? Is he passionate? I’m not kidding — we’re interested in curating digital dinner parties, so to speak, and that comes in all forms.”

So why not give it a go?

Sure you may wait a year to be accepted but as Hailey tells us, that’s not always the case.

“I was accepted within 24hrs but it varies. One friend of mine was accepted within a few weeks and for another it took a year.”

How Much Does Raya Cost?

You’d think an app designed for the rich and famous would cost hundreds a month to use right?

That’s just not the case with Raya.

Each and every member pays a flat fee of $9.99.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a photographer in SOHO or Ben Affleck everyone pays $9.99.

However, there are certain add-ons you can buy for a small fee.

The number of users you can swipe through in a day is capped. But for $4.99 you can have unlimited likes. You can also pay a little extra for Direct Requests (basically a super like) and a DM feature that allows you to send a message to a user before matching.

Is Raya Easy To Join?

Yes and no.

If you’re Hailey, yes. After all she got accepted in just 24 hours and with only 500 followers to her name.

But for most people no, it’s not easy to join.



Most users need significant clout demonstrated via IG followers AND a reference.

Even if you have those you still may need to wait in the 100,000-person line that is the Raya waitlist.

how to get on raya

Can You Join Raya Without Social Media Accounts?

Nope.

Raya requires users to not only have an IG account but to make it public while applying.

If you don’t have an IG account you’ll need to make one.

Raya claims that it requires an IG account in order to understand “how you see the world.

Does It Help To Get Referred by Another Raya User?

Perhaps even more important than a massive following is getting referred.

Reach out to friends to see if they’ll refer you. Better yet, ask them to use their “friend-pass” if they still have one to get your application expedited.

In Hailey’s case, two friends referred her which she says was a massive help. Remember it only took her 24 hours to get approved. For others, it takes weeks, months, or even years.

Raya Privacy Policy

Raya’s super private and at the same time not private at all.

What do I mean by this?

Let’s start by talking about how they value privacy.

When we asked Hailey if she had seen any famous peeps on the app she said yes but was hesitant to share. Raya has kicked off numerous people (including A-list celebs) for taking photos or talking about other Raya members.

Raya famously doesn’t allow users to take screen shots. If you take one a pop-up will allow threatening to kick you off the app.

Anyways back to Hailey’s response…



“Yes, I have! There are a lot of celebrities and athletes on the app due to its vetting process, exclusivity, and privacy. For example, if you screenshot anything on the app they kick you off. I honestly don’t know if I can share or not, they are so strict. (But of course I’ll tell you, Emyli 🙂 some I’ve seen are Jay Cutler, Brody Jenner, Pauly D and a ton of pro athletes)”

how to get on raya

Then there’s the not-so-private side.

For one you have to have to attach your IG. This isn’t the case on other apps.

Something much more revealing than that is that users can know where you are at pretty much all times. This is because Raya users can get a fairly good sense of where any user is at any moment. They can swipe anywhere in the world and as you can see from the map below, users are given a fairly decent idea of where every other user’s current location.

how to get on raya

Does Raya Work On Android?

Sadly it does not.

You think Raya would ever work on the working man’s operating system?

Illuminati Tinder clearly has a preferred OS and it’s not Android. Perhaps this is just another way to weed out users that aren’t Raya-ready.

What % of People Get Accepted to Use Raya?

8%.

Perhaps that number would improve if people studied and really learned how to get on Raya.

But for the moment it’s easier to get into Cornell or Carnegie Mellon than it is to get on Raya.

Raya vs Hinge vs Bumble

The biggest difference by far is that Raya aims to be an exclusive, utopian dating app full of interesting and genetically superior people.

That’s the aim at least.

It has a screening process that only admits 8% of applicants. 

The users are mostly beautiful, wealthy, and have some sort of influence.

That just won’t be the case for Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge.

As far as intentions go, Raya users are mostly into short-term flings just like Tinder users. If you want something more long-term go for Bumble or Hinge.

As for the number of users these apps have, Raya only has 10-20k users whereas Hinge, Bumble, and Tinder have millions.

Hinge and Bumble are also less superficial than Raya. The former require users to fill out a detailed profile that includes responding to prompts. Such personal information on Raya isn’t required.

When we asked Hailey how she would compare these apps this is what she had to say…

“I think it is much more “surface level” / appearance based. Not just due to its reputation, but simply the information and prompts you get. The only prompts you can fill out are: job, where you live, where you’re from, preset interest categories, and a song. Which, in my opinion, doesn’t tell you very much about the person. Unlike Hinge, which has a wide variety of prompts to choose from and a lot of information you can share i.e. do you drink? religious & political beliefs, etc.”

That being said you could always just stalk the Raya user to get a better impression of who they are. But it shows they give a damn and actually use the app to meet people IRL when they fill out their profile.

how does raya work

Is Raya Worth It?

Honestly, it’s difficult to say any app is worth it until you have a girlfriend by your side (that’s what we do, btw)

But if you’re looking for a woman who’s gorgeous, creative, career driven, independent, and a bunch of other awesome attributes, you may want to try Raya (if you get accepted!).

You can try other dating apps, but they just want to have the kind of quality women Raya boasts.

I’d say Raya is worth it as long as it’s not the end-all-be-all. If you don’t wholly rely on the app to score dates, download it and give it a shot.

Are There Any Apps Similar To Raya?

Two apps come to mind.

There is no single app that is a direct equivalent, however, two apps do share similarities.

For example, the hookup culture that Hailey says is so pervasive on Raya is also seen on Tinder.

This we know and is why we advise students of ours to use Tinder to supplement apps like Bumble and Hinge if they’re looking for a serious long-term partner.

However, the app that Raya is most similar to is The League.

how does raya work

The League is commonly known as elitist Tinder.

This is because like Raya it requires prospective users to apply and undergo a thorough vetting process.

As its founder has said, The League’s users are mostly wealthy, educated at top universities, and just happen to be super beautiful.

Sound like another app we know?

Though unlike Raya, The League has an acceptance rate of 20-30% and certainly has more than the 15k users Raya boasts.

The League is more geared towards creating long-term relationships with someone who like you is professionally established.

If you’re looking to meet a highly educated single and independent woman who’s career driver, The League might be for you.

Just be ready to pay some serious bucks to gain access to these women.

how does raya work

Raya Next Steps

So tell me…

Are you ready to apply to Raya and undergo a screening process that sees up to 500 screeners vote on your application?

Has your IG been optimized and do you have a reference or two willing to help you skip the line?

These are just a couple of things to keep in mind when applying. You now know how to get on Raya so start the app process, you’ve got nothing to lose!

Of course, getting onto Raya is only half the battle.

If you plan on catching the attention of D-list celebs you better have a kick-ass Raya profile and chat game.

If you’re struggling with the latter two we can help you out. 

Since 2012, here at emlovz we’ve created a coaching program to help you find the woman you’ve been dreaming of.

Over 10+ years we’ve developed a program that understands how the modern dating scene works and how to get the most out of it.

Via our robust online curriculum, mock dates, weekly coaching calls, monthly events, and a tight-knit online community we teach our students the tools they need to start MegaDating (dating multiple women at once) and find a long term relationship in record time.

Let’s learn more about each other via a 1-on-1 Zoom call. 

On the call we’ll learn more about your dating history, goals, and how our program, Dating Decoded can help transform your romantic life.

Don’t just take it from me, here’s what our students are saying.

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