Key Takeaways
I looked into how Timeleft works and if it could be used instead of dating apps to meet people IRL.
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Timeleft is better suited for friendships and casual conversations, not dating.
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The $27.99/mo price also makes it more expensive than the typical dating app.
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Match is a superior option for landing real dates with a free membership.
If you’re sick of trying to meet people on dating apps, you’re definitely not alone. Something like 78% of singles feel dating app burnout, and they’re looking for alternatives. Eventbrite recently reported seeing a 64% increase in speed dating events hosted on the platform.
And now Timeleft, an app that matches strangers for group meetups, has entered the chat.
The app began by offering dinner parties with strangers, and it’s since expanded to meetups ranging from coffee chats to city walks. It’s not exactly a dating app–Timeleft claims to be “a tool to help you create strong friendships.” But it could spark romance. I’ll get into how it works, what it costs, and how it stacks up next to popular dating apps.
Timeleft Seats You at a Dinner With Strangers
More than 4 million users flock to Timeleft to be booked into dinners with small groups of strangers. You can join the fun by signing up online or in the app, picking your city and desired date, and choosing an age group (18-29, 30-39, 40-49, and 50+).
I selected Atlanta (the closest big city to me) and the age group 30-39 because adults with spending money and no back pain have the most fun.
Then I took a short personality quiz and answered questions ranging from how important academic success is to me (pretty important) to how introverted or extroverted I am (very introverted).
Timeleft crunches your answers to pick the perfect dinner spot and create a compatible group of four to six attendees.
You’ll receive the name of the restaurant and a time to show up–no logistics to handle on your end. While dinners are Timeleft’s bread and butter, you can also join a group walk, go for coffee, or meet at a bar instead, so keep in mind the venue may vary.
After arriving at the restaurant, notify the staff you’re with Timeleft to be seated. At 7 p.m., the dinner begins, and an icebreaker prompt opens in the app to spur conversation.
You have three hours to enjoy each other’s company. Some report the app will provide a recommendation for a bar to head to after dinner if everyone is still vibing and wants a change of scenery.
The event takes place at a big dinner table full of people, not just two individuals, so the format is best suited for making new friends rather than picking up a date.
Match & eharmony Are Better for Dating
Timeleft is a social networking tool. Not a dating service. The intake quiz does ask what you hope to get out of the app, and “meet someone special” is an option, but romance comes second to just having a friendly conversation in a group setting.
Fortunately, swipe-weary singles have plenty of alternatives to group dinners. The following two apps offer more straightforward ways to meet singles who are eager for romantic connections.
- Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
- Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
- Our Experts Say: “Match pairs a large dating pool with search filters specific enough to make that size useful rather than overwhelming.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Match puts single people in control of their dating lives. Its robust dating filters allow you to search for partners by lifestyle and desired relationship type, and each user displays three non-negotiable Core Values on their profiles so you can assess compatibility quickly.
Messaging matches is also completely free, so it’s possible to meet people on Match without having to pay. That’s not the case on Timeleft, as I’ll get into later.
Plus, I can guarantee Match users aren’t just there for friends. Joining Match is an investment that only serious daters, usually over 30, decide to take.
- Relationships: Casual Dates, Deep Relationships
- Match System: Personality test suggests matches
- Our Experts Say: “eharmony helps relationship-minded singles meet compatible people who share their values and long-term outlook.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
eharmony is famous for its oh-so-thorough Compatibility Quiz. The app uses the results of this questionnaire to match singles who have similar communication styles and life goals.
All eharmony matches start off knowing they have common ground. The personality breakdown is detailed and makes direct comparisons, such as, “You’re both extroverted and enjoy new experiences.”
You’re not at the whims of Timeleft’s booking process and people’s busy schedules. And you have way more date prospects at hand than four or five random people at a dinner table.
What a Timeleft Dinner Costs: Subscription, Single Events and Extras
Timeleft is a subscription-based service (isn’t everything nowadays?), so that means you’re not paying for an individual dinner; you’re paying for a membership that lets you book dinners and other events.
Pricing varies based on location, but in Atlanta, Georgia, I was quoted 1 month for $27.99, 3 months for $65.99, and a year for $123.99.
At first glance, the monthly rate might sound like a good value. It’s comparable to a dating app, and it gives you the chance to meet different people at multiple events. BUT be aware that food and drinks (and tips!) are not included in that price.
I think every active online dater knows that going out to dinner every week can add up pretty quick! The real cost of Timeleft could run more like hundreds of dollars per month if you’re using it regularly.
Timeleft does have a 100% money-back guarantee that promises a refund if you’re not satisfied with the events within 14 days of purchase.
It’s free to cancel more than 48 hours before an event. Cancellations between 24 to 48 hours ahead of time may incur a penalty; cancellations less than 24 hours before may incur a no-show fee of 35% of your monthly subscription price. Not showing up will incur that same no-show fee.
As we’ll cover in the refund section, there isn’t much grace extended for extenuating circumstances. You need to keep an eye on your billing dates and cancel your booking within 24 hours if you don’t plan on attending.
Three or more late cancels in a month can get you suspended or banned.
How Timeleft Handles Safety & User Privacy
To prevent fake profiles, Timeleft requires text verification and a clear photo at signup. Some privacy features are also in place to protect users from feeling uncomfortable or put on the spot.
Before the event, the app opens a group chat with the other attendees, but you can’t view profile photos, see any identifying information, or start a chat one-on-one until after the event.
Timeleft hosts its events at pre-vetted venues. These venues must apply through a selective partnership process to ensure members never end up at a super sketchy place.
Of course, you can mitigate personal risk by letting someone know your plan before you go and arranging reliable transportation via friends or rideshare.
If an event attendee makes you uncomfortable, notify restaurant staff to keep an eye out for you. Once home, you can block them in the app and leave a safety note to never be paired with them at an event again.
Timeleft moderators review offenses by members and will issue warnings for a faux pas and permanently ban severe violators.
Timeleft User Complaints About Billing and Support
Timeleft reviews are mixed: 3.2 stars on Trustpilot, 4.5 stars on the App Store, and 4.1 stars on Google Play. Plus, I saw a whole lot of Reddit chatter about boring or poorly attended gatherings.
Many members voiced disappointment with the app’s shift to becoming subscription-only and the discontinuation of single-event tickets. There’s also widespread dissatisfaction with the high price—I mean, c’mon, food isn’t even included.
“Subscription model sucks because you have to pay regardless of whether the event happens,” one disgruntled user stated on Trustpilot. “First dinner I signed up for was canceled. Second dinner, everyone else no-showed.”
Most damning of all to me, canceling seems to cause a lot of headaches for members. The subscription automatically renews, and I saw many people say they got trapped into paying more than they’d anticipated simply for failing to cancel within the appropriate time frame.
Timeleft Policy Says: “If your subscription renewed automatically and you canceled after the renewal charge, including on the same day, the payment is generally not eligible for a refund because the new billing period has already started.”
You can cancel your subscription whenever you’d like, but you won’t get a refund for the remaining time if, say, you want to stop three months into a six-month subscription. And if your account is terminated or suspended, you won’t get a refund either.
Timeleft has an entire section of its Help Page dedicated to subscription issues, and you can create a ticket with customer service to lodge a complaint and try to fight for your right to a refund.
FAQs: Is Timeleft a Dating App?
Timeleft isn’t a dating app in the traditional sense. There are no profile pictures or swiping tools. In one Reddit thread, several users said attendees were often in relationships and vibes were very much not romantic. Some said it only became creepy or awkward when a person tried to make it about dating.
“It’s actually the people expecting to find a date who are making it weird.” -Timeleft member
I hate to be the one to burst this bubble, but a table of strangers isn’t the best setting for intentional dating. You’re relying a lot on luck and personal charm, and you have no guarantees that your values and goals will be aligned with the person sitting next to you.
Timeleft is a good way to put yourself out there and take the pressure off meeting new people. But even its marketing positions itself as “the Friendship App,” so don’t have high hopes for anything remotely romantic happening at these events.
Is Timeleft Safe to Attend Alone?
Timeleft is designed to be attended alone, and it’s generally safe to do so in the pre-vetted public venues. Your participation is entirely left to you. That means you can leave whenever you want if things feel off.
The app’s safety guidelines encourage attendees to take the precautions they would on any other outing: let someone know the plans before you leave, keep drinks and belongings within eyeshot, and don’t exchange personal information like your workplace or residence until you’ve built some level of trust with someone new.
Can You Get a Refund If You Cancel a Timeleft Dinner?
The short answer: Don’t expect one. All event charges are non-refundable if not canceled within the designated cancellation period. (See the cost section for a full breakdown.)
Remember, there are no refunds when you cancel a membership early, and since events are housed within the monthly membership fee, you’re not getting a refund for not making it to an event due to a scheduling conflict or changing your mind about it.
My Advice: Make sure you really jive with the Timeleft setup before committing to it for longer than one month. If you tend to flake out on in-person events, this isn’t going to work well for you.
If you believe your penalty was done in error, Timeleft recommends contacting customer support within 30 days to contest it.
What’s the Best Timeleft Alternative for Finding a Date?
As one of the oldest dating sites, Match offers a large pool of singles, most of whom are over the age of 30. This can be a welcome change of pace from mainstream dating apps and Timeleft, which both skew younger in their membership base.
Match’s search filters help intentional daters find what they’re looking for. Unlike a Timeleft dinner, where you might not know someone’s relationship status or readiness to date, Match shows you people who want the same things you do.
Match’s membership prices sure beat Timeleft. You don’t even need to subscribe to chat with matches on the dating app, and you’ll pay less than $20 a month to see who likes you and get more search functionality.
Plus, Match has been known to host members-only events as well, so if you join and keep an eye on your emails, you might get the chance for an in-person event that is much better suited for dating purposes!
Timeleft Gets You a Table, But It May Not Get You to a Date
Timeleft started with a lot of fanfare and excitement to try this new way of networking. But now I’d say its steady decrease in popularity across some markets means that your time and money are better spent elsewhere if your goal is to find a compatible date.
The app is only useful in highly populated cities, and its reach is limited. I’ve seen reports that Timeleft events held within the last year have been sparsely attended.
If you’re serious about meeting a romantic match, dedicated dating apps or local singles events are still the way to go. Sure, an especially outgoing dater could very well meet someone at a Timeleft dinner, get their number, and go off into the sunset. But that’s leaving so much up to luck and serendipity.
