Recently we had an opportunity to speak with Hari Gopal, the Creator at Hearts Dating Inc. about Hearts
Please share with us the backstory of what motivated you to create this app.
I have been a dating app user since 2012. I have paid hundreds of dollars in monthly subscriptions on popular apps such as Tinder, Bumble, Hinge and others, with the average being around $30/month. But in return I made only about 3 meaningful matches every month. I felt the average cost of $10/match is extremly high. I did some market research and found there are 400 million dating app users globally but only 5% of them are paid subscribers. I felt there is a huge revenue potential if I can create an app that is affordable to the non-subscribing users. And hence I built a pay-per-match dating app that charges only $1 if a user makes a match.
How is your app different than the rest of the market? Which unique need does it fill?
All dating apps today implement freemium pricing, wherein users get to create their profile for free but to get the full benefits of the app they need to sign up for a monthly subscription. Hearts is unique because it implements a pay-per-match approach. Everything on the app is free; i.e.: there is no daily limit to viewing profiles, giving/getting likes and visitors, etc. Only when two users want to match with each other is when both pay $1 each. The pay-per-match approach gives users the full experience of using a dating app but not being burdened with a monthly subscription.
What is the coolest or most innovative feature of your app?
The coolest and most innovative feature is our pay-per-match logic. If a user wants to match with someone, they send them a message. The recipient gets a blurred version of the message along with a link to the senders profile. If the recipient wants to match with the sender, they can open the message. When the recipient opens the message, the recipient and the sender pay $1 each. All further messaging is free.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of the creation of this app?
I truly believe in the power of technology to connect people. But I also believe that people should not be financially burdened while they are seeking meaningful connections. When I look at the diaspora of dating app users, from college students to retired adults, and from users in developed countries to emerging economies, I believe Hearts is delivering tremendous value to all users by charging them only if they get something meaningful in return from the app.
What surprised you most in your journey to create this app?
I was very surprised to see that Hearts was the first-ever to implement a pay-per-match approach in online dating. So, we applied for a utility patent with the USPTO and received our patent in 2024. The patent gives us tremendous advantage in the highly competitive online dating sector.
How did you decide which platforms to release your app on and do you plan on releasing your app to other platforms?
Hearts is available for iOS and Android. From the very beginning we have been mobile-native and will likely not have a web-version. Being available only on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store increases user security significantly. Purchases made by users are via their iOS or Android store accounts and hence give them highly secure transactions.
Which other mobile apps or technology have inspired you?
My all-time favorite app is Craigslist. It was first created in 1995. From a business perspective I am amazed that Craigslist has only about 50 employees and yet has an annual revenue exceeding $500 million. Their monetization approach charges nominal fees of $5-$10 for business listings while users who are customers incur no costs.
What features do you hope to roll out to your app in the future?
The next feature we are releasing is the Clubs feature. We will have 3 clubs; Bronze, Silver and Gold which allows users to match over increasing distances; 100 miles, 500 miles and 2,500 miles. Bronze is Free to join and $1 per match, Silver is $25 one-time to join and $5 per match, and, Gold is $125 one-time to join and $25 per match. By joining their club of choice, users can expect to get more matches.
Do you have any recommendations or advice for others wanting to create a mobile app?
My advice for someone considering building a mobile app is to clearly identify the target users and the total addressable market. Clearly state the value proposition that your idea is bringing to the users. Have a clear path to monetization since the app must be able to become profitable in the long run. And finally, apply for a patent to protect your idea and fend off competitors.