Chappy was a dating app for gay men that was launched in 2017 by British entrepreneurs Max Cheremkhin, Ollie Locke, and Jack Rogers. The app was created as an alternative to existing gay dating apps that focused on hookups rather than relationships. Chappy positioned itself as a more respectful and safer space for gay men to connect.
Chappy’s unique selling point was its requirement for users to verify their accounts with a selfie. This helped to reduce the number of fake profiles on the app and improve the user experience. The app also had a sliding scale for users to indicate what they were looking for, from casual dating to a long-term relationship.
In February 2018, Bumble Inc, the popular dating app company founded by Whitney Wolfe Herd, acquired Chappy. The move was seen as a strategic one for Bumble, which had already expanded into the gay dating market with the addition of a “Bumble for Gay” mode. By acquiring Chappy, Bumble was able to expand its reach in the LGBTQ+ dating market.
However, in December 2020, Bumble announced that it would be shutting down Chappy. The company cited the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the closure. Bumble Inc stated that it would be integrating some of Chappy’s features into its main Bumble app, including the ability for users to select their preferred pronouns.
Chappy’s closure was met with disappointment from many of its users, who appreciated the app’s focus on respectful and safe connections. The app was praised for its efforts to create a more inclusive and welcoming space for gay men to date. While Chappy may no longer exist as a standalone app, its legacy lives on through Bumble’s continued efforts to improve the LGBTQ+ dating experience.
How big was Chappy’s user base?
There is no publicly available information on the exact size of Chappy’s user base. However, according to a report from The Guardian in 2019, the app had “hundreds of thousands of users.” The same report stated that Chappy had seen a 30% increase in active users over the previous year, indicating that the app was experiencing some growth at that time. It’s worth noting that Chappy was not one of the largest dating apps on the market, but it had carved out a niche among LGBTQ+ users seeking more meaningful connections.
In which country or countries was Chappy popular?
Chappy was primarily popular in the United Kingdom, the United States, and other English-majority countries.
Who were Chappy’s primary competitors?
Chappy’s primary competitors were other dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and Grindr. These apps also targeted the LGBTQ+ community and provided similar features, including swiping through profiles, matching with other users, and messaging. Chappy tried to differentiate itself by focusing on inclusivity, safety, and authenticity, and by offering additional features such as Chappy Friends and Chappy Scale to help users find more meaningful connections. However, the app faced tough competition from larger and more established dating apps, particularly Tinder and Bumble, which dominated the market with their large user bases and extensive marketing campaigns.
Active apps like Chappy
There are several dating apps that cater to the LGBTQ+ community and have a similar focus on inclusivity and respect, such as:
- Grindr – the largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people with over 27 million users worldwide.
- Growlr – is a gay bear social networking app that allows users to meet and chat with other gay bears in their area.
- HER – a dating and social app designed specifically for queer womxn and non-binary individuals, with over 7 million users worldwide.
- Scruff – a dating app for gay, bi, trans, and queer men that emphasizes community and inclusivity, with over 15 million members worldwide.
- Jack’d – a location-based dating app for gay, bi, trans, and queer men that promotes authenticity and respect, with over 5 million users worldwide.
- Taimi – a social and dating app for the LGBTQ+ community that also includes features for creating and joining interest-based groups, with over 10 million users worldwide.
These apps share some of Chappy’s values and are actively working to create a safe and inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community to connect and build meaningful relationships.