Raya
Review 2024
Exclusive club of 15k members
A place for celebrities & elite singles
45% Female | 55% Male
- Exclusive club of 15k members
- A place for celebrities & elite singles
- 45% Female | 55% Male
In-Depth Review of
Raya
Raya has made a name for itself as a private social media app that requires its users to go through a rigorous verification process that may take years. Why’s that? Because it’s a place where celebrities and big names come to chat and meet other users. Actors such as Ben Affleck, Channing Tatum, and Drew Barrymore have reportedly been linked to the app. There are also other A-listers like Cara Delevingne, John Mayer, Lizzo, and Demi Lovato that have been known to use Raya.
There was even a moment back in 2019 when a comedian and writer out of Los Angeles connected with Ben Affleck and started messaging back and forth. After a while, she decided that there was no way she was talking to the real Ben Affleck, so she decided to block him. Shortly after, she received a message from the verified account of Ben Affleck asking why she had discontinued their conversation. She couldn’t believe she was talking to the real Ben Affleck, but lo and behold, it was really him.
Since its launch in 2015, Raya has taken identification verification more seriously than any other dating/social media platform. In fact, some users have even claimed that it took over two and a half years to get accepted by the platform. This is the type of exclusivity that has drawn celebrities, influencers, and other famous people to the app. There’s even a strict code of silence once accepted. Members must not expose other profiles to other social media platforms or the media itself, including screenshots of videos and chats.
Pros
For famous or elite singles
For networking, making friends, and dating
Secure app with screened members
Cons
Must be invited or referred
Has a long waiting list
How Much Is Raya?
1 MONTH
Per month: $9.99
Total: $9.99
Signing Up for Raya
Here’s where it gets tricky. Raya wants to be known for its exclusivity, and to be honest, they’re doing a bang-up job. If you’re not famous or have a referral from an existing member, your chances of getting accepted fall quite a bit—albeit, not impossible. Without a referral, you probably have to wait months or sometimes even years to get accepted. This is what makes Raya so popular with celebrities, professional athletes, and influencers.
If you do know members of Raya who will support your application, by all means, go for it. Just know that Raya will need access to your contact list to confirm that you’re friends with members of the app. Besides that, all you will need to provide is standard information such as your name, age, location, occupation, and email address. This process is a breeze, it’s the verification process that will take the longest.
So who decides if you get in or not? According to Raya, it’s up to thousands of committee members located all over the world. These members have various backgrounds and they are anonymous to each other, meaning they don’t collude. It probably goes without saying that people like Ben Affleck will get accepted much faster than the average joe. You will typically find out in days or months if you have been accepted or denied membership.
Member Structure
Raya has just 15,000 members with over 100,000 on the waiting list. This is why people like Simone Biles have met their professional NFL player boyfriends on the app. Aside from famous athletes and celebrities, Raya is composed of mostly younger members, but you will also see middle-aged users on the app.
Most members are from the United States, but you’ll still find a number of Canadians, Europeans, and people from other nations. Each member can fill out their personal profile so that other members can get to know a little bit about someone before initiating a conversation. You’ll find that most of Raya’s population is straight, which isn’t on purpose, those are just the people that Raya attracts.
Matching Process
Raya may be a difficult app to be a member of, but once you’re in, it’s not much different than other dating apps. You can browse for other singles that are in your same location and message anyone you want. And because everyone has to pay for the premium membership, all features are available to every member. That membership fee is only $9.99/month, which is very affordable for such an exclusive dating app.
When viewing other users’ profiles, you can see their names, ages, and location. There is also more information that users can provide in their bios, such as interests, hobbies, and preferences. You can then tell Raya if you are interested in another user or not. It’s really not that complicated of a matching system.
Contact Options
When it comes to communicating with other members on Raya, you have two options. You can try to find romance or friendship on “Social Mode,” or you can look for professional connections on “Work Mode.” This is what separates Raya from other dating apps. It’s a place where people can make all sorts of different connections, not just for companionship or hookups.
It’s important to note that the Raya app is only available on iOS devices (aka Apple devices). That means those using Android devices won’t be able to download the app.
Raya App
For those with an Apple device, the Raya app is free. It’s also the only place you can sign up for Raya. That means you won’t be able to sign up on a desktop computer. The app is also the place that tells you if you have been accepted or waitlisted. The app is super easy to use—you have a Work Mode to find professionals to meet up with; you have a Social Mode to find other singles to start friendships or relationships with; you also have your messaging area to talk to those you’ve contacted.
Conclusion
If you can make it into this exclusive club, why wouldn’t you be a part of Raya? You can meet celebrities, professional athletes, influencers, and other elite singles. If that’s not really your scene and you don’t have a referral or want to wait multiple months to possibly get accepted, then maybe a more traditional dating app would be a better option. But you might want to give it a chance anyways at just $9.99/month for the premium membership. Who knows… you might have someone in your contacts that’s already a member and can get into this exclusive dating club. It’s worth a shot!