Raya Review 2024
| Active Audience | 80% |
| Quality Matches | 87% |
| Popular Age | 25-28 |
| Profiles | 1 500 000 |
| Reply Rate | 85% |
| Ease of Use | 8 |
| Popularity | 9.0 |
| Fraud | Very Rarely |
| Rating | |
| Registration | Free |
Raya users sign up here as well:
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Leona Kelly
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03 Jun 2020Updated:01 Dec 2024
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3747 Views
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10 min read
Pros and Cons
- Affordable;
- For successful people;
- Strict registration process;
- Mobile app;
- Zero tolerance guidelines.
- Not for general audience;
- No free membership;
- Mobile app for iOS only;
- Lengthy registration process;
- Small user base.
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Raya is a dating platform exclusively for people in the creative industry, which is an incredibly refreshing and new idea. After all, each dating provider has a different specialization that allows you to find just the right kind of people you want to date. Interested in a long-distance relationship with people in Asia? There’s a dating platform for that. Looking for quick hookups? There are plenty of sites for that. Looking for same-sex relationships? You can find quite a few dating platforms to suit your needs.
All the above are pretty common niches. But what if you are in the creative industry? What if you are not satisfied with people you see in mainstream dating apps? What if you want a complete package of ambition, creativity, intelligence, and a successful career?
This is where Raya comes in. You will find that all the qualities above are available in abundance. They are a prerequisite for all members. Raya claims to be an elite dating platform. But it is not only for dating. Members on this platform can also use this site for networking.
When was Raya Founded?
Raya was founded in 2015. It started as a dating platform before it transformed into a networking hybrid for people in the entertainment industry.
Who Owns Raya?
Raya App, LLC, is owned by Daniel Gendelman, who is quite a creative person himself, given his bright idea.
Registration & Profile
Since Raya is a dating platform exclusive to people in the creative industry, it makes sense to have a thorough vetting process. To become a member of Raya, users need to prove their worth. They need to be on top of their games so they can join a platform shared by the likes of Amy Schumer, Rivers Cuomo, and Demi Lovato. But users will not only find celebrities in movie or music industries. There are other high-profile individuals such as top-level executives, athletes, and many other elite people.
With that said, what are the requirements? First off, you need to show that you are quite famous. An anonymous Raya Raya decides whether you are good enough. The first category is fame, which means that you need to have at least 5,000 Instagram followers, although you want to have at least over 250,000.
To do this, users need to grant Raya application access to their Instagram account. When they do, Raya will launch a scan to gather data from their accounts. An algorithm known only to Raya will be used to calculate whether you are fit to become one of them. While we do not have clear data on what criteria will be considered in this calculation, we do know that users’ overall Instagram influence is a major factor. You will get bonus points if there are Raya members who follow you on Instagram as well.
But this is a hard way to get in. An easier alternative would be to get a referral by a Raya member. Their Instagram influence will also play a role in your evaluation. If you do not have a referral, you might have a hard time getting in.
According to Raya, you need to fill out an extensive application. It, as well as your Instagram account, will be subjected to a thorough scan by their algorithm. But not only machines and AI that make this decision. As mentioned before, there are anonymous committees on Raya that also play their part in this decision. Committee members comprise people with various backgrounds, interests, ages, and sexual orientations. That way, the final decision is as fair as possible.
The time it takes to get a response from Raya will vary. It can be as short as 24 hours, or it can take up to a few months. The waiting list is constantly changing, after all. But you will eventually get a response from them. If you do not make it, you will get a rejection letter. If that is the case, you can always look for other dating sites of a similar caliber, but more on that later.
If you do make it, you will become a member of Raya and you will need to pay membership fees to get started.
That said, here is a step-by-step registration process.
First, go to Raya website and click on sign in. You will be greeted by a 5-page form.
The first page asks you to fill basic information such as your first and last name, email address, date of birth, and gender.
For the second page, you need to provide your Instagram username and password. There is nothing to worry about here as Raya does not store your password and will only use this data to calculate your suitability. They will not store your data after this process.
Next, on the third page, you need to tell them about your career field and occupation. There is a menu, and you can select up to 2 options.
On the fourth page, they will ask for your phone number. You will receive a verification message with a code. Enter that code to confirm your identity.
Finally, on the fifth page, you need to choose some Raya members. This means digging into your contact list so they can give you a referral and recommendation. However, if you do not have anyone on the other side, you can skip this step. But Raya will warn you that only a few members got into Raya without admission, so your chances are pretty slim if you do not have referrals. So list as many as possible if you have people on the other side.
Then, all you have to do is wait.
Communication/Matches
Raya communication and matches function very similarly to Tinder and most other sites that implemented Tinder’s swiping approach. So, you should feel right at home. Contacting is done mostly via chat, but you can also send longer, email-style messages to Raya users.
How to Search for People on Raya?
Raya also features a regional search system, meaning that you can see other users’ locations in real-time. But if you want to refine your search and only see who is very close to you, you can switch on social mode, which will show you users who are very close by. Doing so will show you a map detailing the locations of nearby users. You can find them in bars, clubs, or other celebrity hot spots. That way, you can go and meet them in-person for a chat.
How to Delete Raya Account?
To delete your Raya account, you will need to contact customer support and request that they delete your account.
Members Structure
Next, let’s take a look at the member structure. Since Raya is a dating/social platform for the elite, you will not find many members here. You will not find many people living outside LA, where most celebrities tend to congregate.
Sexual Preferences
We have no data on Raya users’ sexual preferences, but since this is not a factor in admission, we can safely say that everyone is welcome regardless of their sexuality.
Race and Ethnicity
Again, we have no data on the user’s race and ethnicity, because Raya takes privacy very seriously. We do know that it is not considered in the admission process. Everyone is welcome, regardless of race and ethnicity.
Religious Orientation
It is the same story here. Religion does not play a role in the consideration process. Raya welcomes people from different backgrounds to diversify its userbase.
Pricing Policies
So how much does it cost to use Raya, a dating site for the elite and celebrities? Funny, but it is lower than some mainstream dating platforms.
Free Membership
Unfortunately, there is no “free membership” on Raya. However, given that it is a dating platform exclusively for celebrities and the elite, paying a premium fee to use a premium dating platform should not be a problem.
Paid Membership
Looking at the price, it is hardly considered a premium either, even for the common folks. Users only have to pay $8 a month, which rounds up to 25 cents per day. So clearly, Raya only charges its members just enough to keep the site running, nothing more. They could charge a bit more to get some more profit, but that is not their intent, which is respectable.
How to Cancel Raya Paid Subscription?
To cancel your Raya subscription and membership, you need to email the customer support team. They will cancel your subscription, and you can enjoy your membership until the end of the billing cycle.
Is Raya Safe?
If this is a dating site for the elite, how does its security compare to other platforms? We can say with absolute certainty that this is 100% safe.
Let’s start at the top. At the landing page, we are greeted with that cute little padlock icon next to the URL. That means that all connections to Raya are fully secured and encrypted. For those who are not tech-savvy, encrypted connection means that it is protected from hijackers.
What about scammer and user protection? We are also certain that there are no scammers, thanks to Raya’s strict registration process. Every application goes through a thorough vetting process by both anonymous committees, as well as the algorithm itself. There are two things that you need to get in: referrals and huge Instagram following, both of which cannot be fabricated. So Raya is 100% scammer proof.
On top of that, the environment is kept pristine and positive. All members need to behave very well, lest they get kicked out of this platform. A neat privacy feature is an anti-screenshot function that detects when someone takes a screenshot of other users’ profiles. However, this protection is not fully effective, as anyone can just take a photo of the screen using another device.
Raya is very strict in keeping its platform positive. Its users are encouraged to report badly behaving users. Those users will then be subject to an investigation and subsequently get removed from this site if found guilty. Raya has a zero-tolerance policy in place, so there is no room for mistakes.
What we love about Raya is that wealth does not play a role in its admission process. It is the least of their concern. They only accept members who are older than 18, do not show any form of violence or disrespect, and not flaunt their wealth aggressively. Instead, they value those who do good in the world and the company they keep. As such, there have been engineers, doctors, and scientists who have been admitted into Raya even though they had no existing connections.
Quality of Profiles
The profile quality is top-notch, as expected from a premium dating platform. When viewing other people’s profiles, you will be greeted with an interface similar to that of Tinder.
Every users’ profile is a slideshow with pictures that are imported from their Instagram account. Users can select a song to accompany the slideshow as well.
The interface should be very familiar. The X means that you are not interested, and Raya will show you another picture of another celebrity if you click on it. To show your interest in a user, you need to click on the checkmark icon. Similar to Tinder, you can only message other users if they are also interested in you.
Website Design and Usability
With that said, how do this site’s UI and design compare to other dating platforms? First, the overall aesthetics looks clean and minimalistic. This is done on purpose to give users a feeling of calm while using this site. The fonts are large, simple, and easy to read. The overall look is very professional, as it befits this premium platform.
Every single button is thoughtfully placed, as expected. Users do not have to look too far to find the settings they need to tinker with. The website is well-optimized to give the best browsing experience. We have nothing to complain about here.
The furthest we can get into is their landing page, which has all the aesthetic features that we have just discussed. There are no pictures except for the Raya logo at the top left corner. People will be greeted with a very simple yet professional screen where they can find out more about this site.
Raya provides many details about its goals, means, and values. Other than this, they provide clear guidelines for their members and make their application process transparent. Users can find out what exactly happens after they submit their application.
How does Raya Work?
When you have finally become a member of Raya, you will be asked to agree to their etiquette guidelines. Keep in mind that they have a zero-tolerance in place, so you will be punished if you violate these guidelines. While they are strict, they are common sense. Simply be an adult, and you should do fine. These guidelines are put in place to keep the environment as positive as possible, so there is no tolerance for disrespect or mean behaviors.
Since this is a platform for the elites, extra privacy precautions are put in place. One such protection comes in the form of screenshot protection. For instance, if someone were to screenshot your profile, they will receive a stern warning informing them that they will be expelled from the platform if this picture surfaces on the Internet.
Raya App
Raya does have a mobile application, which allows its users to remain connected on-the-go. However, it is available for iOS (or iPhone users) only. Other than this slight inconvenience, this app quality is as good as you would expect.
Alternatives of Raya
What if the bar is too high and you cannot get into Raya, but you still want to join a dating site of the same caliber? What options do you have? We have some suggestions:
- TinderSelect: Tinder with the same referral system and a tight-knit community as Raya
- The League: For ambitious and successful individuals, with a slightly lower bar
- Tinder: Very mainstream dating platform for everyone
- Match: Equally mainstream and safe dating platform for everyone
Conclusion
In the end, do we recommend you use Raya? Of course, if you can get through their registration process. Many people regard Raya as the Illuminati of Tinder due to its secretive nature. However, it is nothing like that. It is indeed a secretive platform designed for celebrities and the elites because it gives those people the privacy they need. Were they on Tinder, they would be bombarded with thousands of messages from fans.
Social media is not for personal use. Celebrities often have someone to manage their social media accounts for them. However, they still need something more personal. Raya satisfies this need by giving them a platform where they can talk to other celebrities and network without worry.
As expected, every feature on Raya is top-notch. While it lacks certain features common in other dating platforms, what users have here is more than enough to connect them to other people. The security and customer support is top-notch as well.
In short, Raya accomplished what it set out to do. It is a superb platform for celebrities, and we highly recommend using it to get through the vetting process.
Contact Information
Company: Raya App, LLC
Address: 1 N Clematis St # 500, West Palm Beach, FL, 33401 United States
Phone Number: (561) 832-3300
Email: [email protected]
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