Raya Dating App Review [+ How To Get On It In 2024!]

When it comes to finding your ideal partner, your standards are high - and since you’re looking for Raya dating app reviews, you’ve probably hit your limit for how many times you can swipe left on Tinder.

Intelligence, creativity, ambition, successful career - is that too much to ask?

Enter Raya - the elite dating app for creatives where those qualities aren’t just in abundance, they’re required.

Since 2009, VIDA's team of dating experts has been helping thousands and thousands of singles meet quality matches on dating apps and sites, and we've found Raya to be an effective data app for many of our clients.

This Raya review has all the details you want to know about this ultra exclusive dating app, so you can decide if it’s worth it!

Let's start with one of the most common questions people have about this exclusive dating app: How do I actually get on Raya?

Raya Dating App Requirements

Raya was designed specifically as place where people in creative industries can meet each other - either for dating or networking.

But it’s not just for any creative type people - you need to be at the top of your game to make it past the metaphorical velvet ropes.

Acceptance means you’re joining the ranks of celebrities on Raya like Ben Affleck, Demi Lovato, Channing Tatum, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Lizzo and Rivers Cuomo.

In addition to celebrities, you’ll find plenty of top level executives, athletes, and other high-profile singles as well.

Admittance depends on their anonymous acceptance committee which is comprised of 500 individuals from around the globe.

It’s their job to determine if you’ve got that elusive something extra, which includes an impressive Instagram presence. It's been rumored the bare minimum for followers is 5,000, and ideally you'll have 250,000+.

Part of the sign-up process is granting access to your IG so the committee can check it out, and the app’s acceptance algorithm will determine your overall IG influence and how many other Raya members follow you.

In most cases, you’ll need a referral from an existing member to get in - and that member’s Instagram influence will also be a factor in your application.

According to a feature in The New Yorker, a full 87% of applicants who pass the acceptance process are either referred by existing members or have Raya members listed in their phone's contacts.

If you don’t have a referral, you can still submit an application for the committee to evaluate.

Here’s Raya’s process for admission, straight from the horse’s mouth:

Raya’s waiting list is constantly changing as people are accepted or rejected, so the length of time you’ll be on it varies from a day to a couple of months. You may not even get a Raya rejection letter. Your application will just stay ‘pending’ indefinitely.

If that happens to you, give, Teleport, Tinder Select or The League a shot.

Getting Started: Raya Application Questions

Signing up for the app is easy - qualifying to be on Raya is the hard part. This elite celebrity dating app comes by its “Tinder Illuminati” nickname honestly.

Once you're in, you can start using it.

For starters, member privacy is paramount. You’ll have to agree to follow the app's guidelines for members:

Due to the exclusivity of its members, Raya has strict privacy guidelines. If you screenshot a profile, you’ll be sent a warning notice that you’ll be removed from the app if the image pops up anywhere online.

In fact, if you break Raya's code of silence in just about any way, you risk getting booted off the app.

In addition to the 'no screenshots' rule, users are also warned against mentioning Raya's users on other social medial platforms.

Another major difference between Raya and other dating apps is your profile. Raya profiles consist of a slideshow of photos pulled from your Instagram account, set to a song you select.

How To Use Raya

When you’re interested in someone, you tap the checkmark icon. If you’re not, tap the “X”. When both people express interest, you can start exchanging messages.

Raya shows you members both near and far - as in all over the world. But if you want to see people currently in your immediate vicinity, you can turn on “social mode”.

That will bring up a map of members who are hanging out in clubs, bars, or hot spots nearby - and you can hopefully go from match/message to meet-up in time to grab a drink together.

Raya also has a “Directory” feature, which is a searchable roster of members. Users can search for other users by city, company, or industry. You’ve also got the option to switch on ‘work mode’ if you’re more in the networking than dating mood.

Is Raya Better Than Apps Similar To Tinder?

Pros:

• All members are scrutinized prior to acceptance, so the singles you’ll find are likely highly intriguing people.
• At only $9.99 per month, Raya is a screaming deal compared to much pricier exclusive dating apps like The League.
• It’s not just for dating. Many users use Raya and the Directory feature for networking or hiring a "Raya-approved interior designer, for example. And 10% of Raya users indicate they are "there for friends" in their profiles.
• The app is extremely security conscious, so if discretion is important to you it’s unlikely you’ll find your profile leaked to Page 6 or TMZ.

Cons:

• Like any app that requires committee approval to make it through the door, the user pool won’t be nearly the same numbers you’ll find on apps like Tinder and Bumble.
• Raya’s acceptance is largely determined by your level of Instagram influence - and some critics question how a social media following could possibly make a difference in how “dateable” you are.
• If you’re not in a city like New York or Los Angeles that’s known for its creative industries, you might not find many users in your area.

Meet The Best Singles - On Any Dating Site Or App

If you’re checking out Raya dating app reviews, you’re savvy enough to not want to waste time, effort, and money on apps that don’t work.

But if you want to meet your ideal partner sooner, rather than later - you need an overall dating strategy. No matter which app or site you use, your photos, profile, and messages need to be on point.

Whether you’re on Raya, Tinder Select, Bumble or Hinge, if those 3 pieces aren’t coming together to portray you as the Total Package, you probably won’t meet the highest quality singles in your area.

Why not let VIDA’s dating experts help you get a leg up on your competition? Not only will we determine the best possible combination of dating sites and apps for you, we’ll handle everything else too.

Profile writing, photo selection, message exchanges - every single aspect will be in our expert hands. Your job is to simply show up for the dates with the best singles in your area!

Want to know more? Just click here...