The State of Hookd 2026: The Truth About Modern Dating Apps
Hi all,
And welcome to our first blog post in a little while! Today, I want to talk about what’s happening behind the scenes at Hookd, how we’re growing, and what we want to achieve through the rest of the year and into 2027.
The State of Hookd
So, where do things actually stand?
Well, we're still growing! It’s encouraging to see video views, downloads, account sign-ups, and—most importantly—our active user numbers increasing every single week.
Is the growth slower than I’d like? Absolutely. But it proves that people are still looking for real, mindful connections. We’re still here, we aren't pivoting away from our core vision, and while we aren't growing at the breakneck speed we’d love, we’re moving in the right direction.
The State of Dating Apps
Right now in 2026, we’re seeing a noticeable shift away from dating apps and singles events—almost like a collective "deload" from dating-specific spaces.
I think that's a natural reaction to the rise and fall of mainstream apps like Hinge. Platforms that started free and mission-driven eventually turned into revenue machines, paywalling basic features while organizing fewer and fewer genuine dates.
We set out to do things differently at Hookd, but people understandably need time to recover from burnout and bad experiences before they're willing to trust another player in this space.
What That Means for Us
Because trust across the industry is at an all-time low, growth is an uphill climb. People assume an unfamiliar dating app is full of bots, has an empty user base, or is just harvesting personal data.
That skepticism is completely valid, but it makes reaching critical mass much tougher. It has also led to a few frustrated reviews from people who—understandably—want an app that is both free and heavily populated.
Where We Go From Here
We’ve intentionally slowed down on introducing brand-new features because the core app is already in a solid place. It does what it was built to do: match you with compatible people who want the same things, without ranking you by who pays the most or penalizing you with hidden algorithms.
My main focus now is distribution and trust. Where, how, and when do we share our message to reach the right people?
Wrapping Up
Moving forward, our number one priority is community growth.
If you believe in what we're building, see our content online, or talk dating with your friends, please share Hookd with them! Word of mouth is everything for an independent platform like ours. Our goal is simple: help you meet compatible people and have better dates, whatever kind of connection you're looking for.
Thanks for all the support so far.
Jesse Hayward
Founder & CEO, Hookd
