HelloPinay Review (2024) - A Good Idea Let Down by Clunky Design

Read the full review below but here's our unbiased rating of HelloPinay in the key areas

Design and usability

Size of membership base

Quality of members

Cost and value for money

★★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★★

Summary

Whilst there are some beautiful real women on HelloPinay, the poor design, low membership numbers means there are better Filipino dating apps out there

The Full Review

I’d heard a bit about HelloPinay before signing up, but to be honest, I went in with pretty low expectations. It’s not as well-known as some of the bigger Filipino dating apps, and I wasn’t sure if it would live up to the hype it had in some online forums. After using it for a while, I’ve got a few thoughts—some good, some not so much.

User Base & Demographics

The first thing you’ll notice about HelloPinay is that it’s relatively small. It’s not going to have the massive number of users that platforms like FilipinoCupid or PinaHeart boast, and that’s pretty clear right from the start. It caters specifically to foreigners looking for relationships with Filipinas, but the user base is much smaller, so if you’re in a more remote part of the Philippines, or looking for something very specific, it might feel a bit limiting.

In terms of demographics, I found it to be a mixed bag. There’s a good range of women, from those in their early 20s to mid-40s, but a lot of the profiles seemed pretty bare-bones, with only basic information filled out. A bit frustrating if you’re like me and want to know more about someone before making the effort to reach out. I will say that I came across a lot of profiles from women in major cities like Manila and Cebu, so if you’re hanging out in those areas, your options are going to be better. Smaller towns? You’ll be scrolling for a while.

You also get shown both genders when you first sign up which is weird. To only show women you need to do a custom search.

Design & Usability

Now, when it comes to the design of HelloPinay, I’ve got to be honest—it feels like it’s stuck in 2010. The interface is old-school, almost like it hasn’t been updated in a decade. The navigation is basic, and while it’s easy enough to find your way around, it doesn’t exactly feel intuitive or modern. The mobile experience is particularly clunky, but I’ll get into that a bit more when I talk about the app.

One of the most annoying things I found was the lack of advanced search filters. Sure, you can search by age and location, but I’m used to having more control, like filtering by interests, lifestyle habits, or even education level. You don’t get any of that here, which means a lot of time spent clicking through profiles that just don’t match what you’re after.

App Functionality

Here’s where things go a bit downhill. HelloPinay doesn't have a mobile app. So, tough luck—you’re stuck using the mobile site, which isn’t exactly smooth sailing. It’s not designed for mobile, and I found myself getting kicked out a couple of times while trying to message someone. Not ideal when you’re in the middle of a conversation.

The mobile site design mirrors the desktop version: clunky, outdated, and lacking polish. If you’re used to the slick interfaces of more modern apps like Bumble or even FilipinoCupid, this one’s going to feel like a bit of a step back. The notifications also felt unreliable; I missed a couple of messages because they just didn’t come through until I manually checked the app later.

Clicking on elements on the website is tricky as it's just the desktop site in a responsive mobile layout but it's not mobile first so everything is small and clunky.

Messaging & Communication

Here’s the thing with HelloPinay—like most dating sites, it’s a freemium model, meaning you can sign up and browse for free, but messaging? That’s going to cost you. While this isn’t uncommon, the way it’s set up feels a bit like they’re nickel-and-diming you at every step. You’ll need to pay for a premium account to unlock unlimited messaging and a couple of other features, like video chat, which is probably the standout option here.

The message system itself? Average at best. I found that messages took a while to load, especially if you’re messaging multiple people at once. Also, the inbox layout feels cramped and difficult to manage if you’re juggling a few conversations. Not a huge deal if you’re just talking to one or two women, but if you’re trying to keep things casual and cast a wider net, it’s annoying.

Safety & Verification

One thing I do appreciate about HelloPinay is that they’ve got a decent focus on safety and scammer prevention. The platform offers a profile verification system, so you can tell which users have gone through the process and are likely legitimate. I’d recommend only engaging with verified profiles—it cuts down on the risk of scammers or fake profiles, though to be fair, I still encountered a couple of sketchy accounts.

I flagged a couple of suspicious profiles, and they were quick to respond and remove them, which was a nice surprise. That said, don’t expect the same level of vigilance you’d get on a bigger platform. While HelloPinay does its best, the smaller scale means you might still run into some less-than-honest characters, so always keep your wits about you.

Customer Support

Now here’s where HelloPinay doesn’t win any points. Customer support is available via email and that’s pretty much it. No live chat, no phone support. I had an issue with my premium subscription not activating properly, and it took them a solid 48 hours to get back to me. When they did respond, they resolved the issue, but the lack of instant support is frustrating, especially when you’re paying for a service.

The lack of live support can be a deal-breaker for some, especially if you run into more pressing technical issues. Personally, I like having the option to chat with someone or at least get a quicker response when I need help.

Cost & Premium Features

Let’s talk about the cost. HelloPinay falls into the cheaper range of pricing for Filipino dating sites, with premium plans that unlock the usual features—unlimited messaging, the ability to see who’s viewed your profile, view authenticity rating, response rating and a bunch of other less useful features.. They offer a few different subscription plans, ranging from one month to three months. The one month option is $12 USD and goes up to $24 USD for three months so you do save more if you take a longer plan.

Is it worth the price? I personally don't think so. If you’re serious about finding a relationship and plan to spend a fair bit of time on the site, the premium subscription is almost necessary. But if you’re more of a casual user just checking things out, I’d say it’s overpriced for what you get, especially considering the limited features and somewhat dated interface. The additional features like view when they joined the site are offered free on other sites so they don't seem that valuable.

Success Rate

Now, as for the success rate, this one’s a bit tricky. Because the user base is smaller and the search filters are limited, it takes a bit more effort to find someone who’s genuinely compatible. I chatted with a few women here, and while most were friendly, I didn’t feel like the site was particularly good at helping you find a serious match. With a clunky messaging interface, I found myself jumping between pages to message Filipinas vs actually spending time. Their often appeared to be profiles added years ago that were no longer active either.

That’s not to say it’s impossible—there are definitely real women looking for relationships on here, but it’s going to take a bit more legwork to find them. If you’re patient and don’t mind putting in some time, you can meet someone worthwhile. Just don’t expect instant success like you might on a bigger platform.

Final Thoughts

Overall, HelloPinay has its pros and cons. If you’re looking for something simple and straightforward, it’s fine. The design is functional (if you can overlook the bugs) but basic, and the focus on safety is a plus. But it’s not the most polished platform, and the lack of more advanced features can be a turnoff.

For me, the small user base and outdated interface were the biggest drawbacks. I found the site to be a bit underwhelming compared to others like FilipinoCupid or ChristianFilipina. If you’re serious about finding a relationship, you might want to give it a shot, but be prepared to pay for premium and deal with a few headaches along the way.

Would I recommend it? Probably not, if you’re looking for something cheap and more low-key and aren’t too picky about the bells and whistles. But if you want a more comprehensive, user-friendly experience, there are better options out there.

We recommend the following dating sites

#1 FilipinoCupid

#2 ChristianFilipina

#3 PinaHeart

9.6 (Excellent)

8.9 (Great)

7.5 (Good)

More Filipino Dating Sites to Check Out