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Raya
IndependentBest for an application-only, vetted exclusive community
Raya is the invite-only app built on scarcity — a committee vets every applicant, and nothing works until you're accepted and paying.
Key facts
Owner: Independent (no parent company on record).
Free tier: Raya's free tier is rated Demo-only; you cannot message your matches without paying.
Cost: The cheapest premium tier costs $9.50/mo in the US.
App Store rating: On the Apple App Store, Raya holds 4.04 out of 5 from 15,747 ratings. source
Safety: No cited data-breach incidents are on record for Raya.
Raya sells exclusivity. You don't sign up so much as apply: an anonymous global membership committee reviews your application (social presence, occupation) and you sit on a waitlist until you're accepted — historically only around 8% of applicants get in, per The New York Times. It's built around creatives, founders and the occasional celebrity, and it protects that with a hard no-screenshots rule (the app detects captures and bans repeat offenders). If the appeal is a curated, low-profile pool, that's the product.
The honest reality: it's pay-to-play with a velvet rope. Nothing is usable until you're accepted and subscribed, so we rate the free tier demo-only. Membership runs ~$9.50/mo on the annual plan up to $24.99/mo monthly, with an optional Raya+ tier at $49.99/mo. Verification is thin — age is self-declared, with no biometric or document check — and in practice many members treat Raya as networking or clout as much as dating. You're paying for the filter, not for safety features.
US position: Niche 'exclusive' US dating/networking app around creatives and celebrities; historically only ~8% of applicants accepted (per The New York Times) with a large waitlist — scarcity/exclusivity, not market share, is its defining position. [src]
Pricing (US)
| Tier | Per month | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Membership (annual) | 9.50 USD | $113.99 up front for 12 months (~$9.50/mo effective) — cheapest standard rate; still requires an accepted application. [src] |
| Membership (monthly) | 24.99 USD | $24.99/mo flat auto-renewing membership; 1/6/12-month terms offered. [src] |
| Raya+ (premium) | 49.99 USD | Optional upgraded tier listed as an in-app purchase at $49.99/mo. [src] |
Cheapest premium floor (cost-to-connect): $9.50/mo
Free tier
- Message matches for free: No
- Free likes/day: not capped / unknown
- Paywalled: messaging, matching/liking, browsing members, all core dating and networking functionality
Safety & privacy
| Photo verification | No |
|---|---|
| Screenshot blocking | Yes |
| Incognito mode | — |
| Encryption notes | No biometric or document verification; users self-declare age. Applicants are vetted by an anonymous global membership committee and profiles/photos are manually reviewed. Screenshots of profiles and chats are prohibited — the app alerts on capture and repeat violations lead to bans. |
Breach & privacy ledger
No cited data-breach incidents on record.
Feature matrix
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| owner | Raya App Inc (independent operator) [src] |
| application_committee_vetting | Application-only; an anonymous global membership committee vets each applicant (social presence, occupation) and applicants sit on a waitlist until accepted. [src] |
| no_screenshots_rule | Taking screenshots of profiles or conversations is banned; the app detects screenshots and repeat violations cause removal. [src] |
| membership_model | Flat paid membership (not freemium) — nothing usable until accepted and subscribed, with an optional Raya+ tier. [src] |
Screenshots
© Raya App Inc, via the Apple App Store listing — editorial/nominative review use
Head-to-head
Frequently asked questions
Is Raya free to use?
Raya's free tier is rated Demo-only; you cannot message your matches without paying. Paid features include messaging, matching/liking, browsing members, all core dating and networking functionality.
How much does Raya cost in the US?
The cheapest premium tier costs $9.50/mo in the US. That is the lowest effective monthly rate, usually on a longer plan; single-month plans cost more.
Who owns Raya?
Raya is owned by Independent (no parent company on record). That makes it one of the few apps here with no parent conglomerate.
Has Raya had a data breach?
No cited data-breach incidents are on record for Raya.
What is Raya's App Store rating?
On the Apple App Store, Raya holds 4.04 out of 5 from 15,747 ratings.