There is a new stage dating app called Feels. Its unique selling point is an interface that feels closer to a Snapchat-style story or a TikTok stream, rather than sliding cards found in other dating apps. TechCrunch reports Feels currently has about 100,000 users. Although the application is available globally, the company says it focuses primarily on the French market because it launches more.
Feels is called an “anti-dating app”, but to be clear, this is another dating app. Still react to profiles and have conversations, which, I’m sure, for a lot of people, will come to their meetings. At the same time, however, the Feels interface, ahem, feels different enough from the competition to make it interesting.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22446531/IMG_0607.jpg)
Profiles are made up of a combination of images, videos, and answers to prescribed questions (similar to Hinge), but each item fills your entire screen and you navigate through a profile by tapping left or right on the screen. Like I said, these are very Snapchat stories. These are the same elements that rival dating applications used before, but wrapped in a more modern interface. It’s promising, if a little lacking in customization options, beyond adding subtitles and locations to your photos and videos (although the company told me that stickers will be added in the near future).
Feels also makes a big deal out of the fact that it’s not based on the same drag gestures as other dating apps (a change we consider long ago), but the distinction is a bit academic. Finally, keep dragging through profiles; the animation is a little different. And you also can’t drag back to a previous profile without paying for a premium subscription, which adds other features, such as increased profile visibility. As of this writing, this costs somewhat expensive $ 9.49 / $ 9.99 / GBP 8.49 per week (although there are discounts for the monthly payment). TechCrunch notes that the company is still repeating its premium plan.
But a dating app is as good as the people on it, and in a few minutes I would have deleted it (ahem, I’m sorry, conducted) through just a dozen user accounts registered in London.
It is the first day for Feels and it is launched on a very crowded market. Well-known competitors such as Tinder, Bumble and Hinge have added pandemic-focused dating features to help singles meet social distancing and blocking, while Facebook has recently shown renewed interest in the area with tests of a new fast dating app called Sparked But with more users and profile customization options, Feels could be an exciting new dating app.
Feels is currently live on iOS, and the company told me it was working to bring its Android app back to the Google Play Store after it was launched yesterday. (Feeling CEO Daniel Cheaib tells me the team hasn’t found out yet why its listing was removed.)