Hily

I’m not great at small talk and I honestly dread first messages on dating apps. Most of the time, I’d rather not start anything than send some awkward “hey.” What helped me on Hily was their convo starters. They’re lowkey perfect for introverts like me who want to connect but don’t know how to break the ice. I matched with someone who replied to the same prompt and boom — instant flow. No pressure to be super charming or witty right away. The app feels more like a soft entry into dating, which I appreciate so much. It’s not trying to push you into anything, it just creates a vibe where conversations can happen naturally. Finally, a space where introverts don’t have to pretend to be extroverts just to get noticed.

I didn’t go on Hily looking for love right away. Honestly, I was just curious and open to conversations. What surprised me was how many people were actually open to chatting about life, goals, even careers. One match turned into a regular brainstorming buddy — we both work in design, and now we swap ideas and support each other’s projects. It’s not even romantic (yet?), but that’s what makes it cool. Hily didn’t force anything, and that’s rare. It gave space for connection to evolve into whatever it’s meant to be — friendship, partnership, or something in between.

After my divorce, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to date again. Most apps felt shallow or too chaotic. But Hily was surprisingly different. It didn’t feel like I was being thrown into a meat market. The vibe was calmer, and the questions they ask when setting up your profile made it feel like they actually care about who you are, not just what you look like. I matched with someone who’d also been through a divorce, and we connected over that shared experience. We didn’t rush anything — just got to know each other, one message at a time. And for the first time in years, I felt like dating could actually be kind and supportive, not exhausting.