What is the difference between 222 and Heylo?

222 is a friendship app that uses algorithm-based matching with groups of Small groups, priced at $$ (Free app; events typically $30–$60 per experience), available in 0 cities. Heylo is a friendship app using manual / self-select matching with groups of Varies, priced at Free (Free to use; Heylo takes a small percentage when groups collect payments), available in 0 cities. Key differences include their matching approach, pricing model, and city coverage. 222's strengths: No profiles, no DMs, no swiping — removes all the friction and awkwardness of typical social apps. Heylo's strengths: Replaces GroupMe, Venmo, Google Forms, and email chains with a single platform.

Which is better, 222 or Heylo?

It depends on what you're looking for. Choose 222 if you prefer algorithm-based matching, Small groups groups, and on-demand events — Curated nights out with algorithm-matched strangers.. Choose Heylo if you prefer manual / self-select matching, Varies groups, and on-demand events — Events, payments, and chat for community groups.. Both are available as IRL social apps. Compare pricing (222: $$, Heylo: Free) and city availability on Søren to find the best fit for meeting people in real life.

222

Heylo

222 vs Heylo

222 and Heylo are both friendship apps that help you meet people in real life, but they take different approaches. Here’s how they stack up across pricing, format, cities, and more.

Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026

At a glance

222 Heylo

CategoryFriendshipFriendship

Price$$ — Free app; events typically $30–$60 per experienceFree — Free to use; Heylo takes a small percentage when groups collect payments

Group SizeSmall groupsVaries

MatchingAlgorithm-basedManual / Self-select

Frequencyon-demandon-demand

Age Range21+—

PlatformsiOSiOS, Android, Web

Cities0 cities0 cities

Founded20242018

Pricing

222 is priced at $$ (Free app; events typically $30–$60 per experience), while Heylo comes in at Free (Free to use; Heylo takes a small percentage when groups collect payments).

Format & matching

222 uses groups of Small groups, compared to Heylo’s Varies, and 222 relies on algorithm-based matching while Heylo uses manual / self-select matching.

How they work

222: Download the app and complete a detailed personality quiz — it covers your interests, values, social style, and what kind of experiences you're into. 222 uses this to build a 'curation profile' that determines which events you get invited to and who you'll be grouped with. When an experience is available in your city, you'll get an invite — say yes, and you're in. On the night of, you show up to the venue and meet your group. The evening is planned for you: dinner, drinks, a venue, maybe a second stop. All you have to do is show up and be yourself.

Heylo: A group leader creates a branded group page on Heylo with their logo, colors, and a custom URL. They post events with all the details — location, time, registration caps, guest policies — and members get notified by push notification and email. Members RSVP, pay if there's a fee, and join event-specific group chats to coordinate. The leader can collect recurring membership dues, require waivers, screen new members before letting them in, and track attendance over time. Members manage everything from the app or web — no separate payment apps, no email threads, no spreadsheets.

What to love

222: No profiles, no DMs, no swiping — removes all the friction and awkwardness of typical social apps. Personality-based matching means you're not just thrown in with random strangers. Full evening experiences (dinner + activity) feel like a real night out, not a forced meetup. All members are vetted before being selected for events. Strong TikTok community and word-of-mouth reputation in major cities.

Heylo: Replaces GroupMe, Venmo, Google Forms, and email chains with a single platform. Completely free to use with no paywall or usage limits — Heylo only takes a cut of payments. Branded group pages with custom URLs look professional and are easy to share. Built-in payment collection, waivers, and member screening solve real operational headaches. Works on iOS, Android, and web so nobody is left out.

Reality check

222: iOS only — no Android app available. Limited to a handful of US cities plus Toronto. Event costs add up on top of the free app. You can't choose who you go with — the algorithm decides.

Heylo: Not a friend-matching app — you need to already know about a group or start your own. Discovery of groups is limited; there's no curated marketplace of communities to browse. The platform's value scales with group size — solo users won't get much from it. Heylo's transaction fee on payments may not work for groups with tight budgets.

Søren's take

On 222: 222 is one of the more interesting approaches to IRL social I've seen. By removing profiles and messaging entirely, they've eliminated the part of friendship apps that feels most like work. The personality matching and curated evenings mean you show up, meet cool people, and go somewhere fun — all without planning anything. The catch is availability: it's iOS-only and in just a few cities, so if you're not in NYC, LA, SF, or Chicago, you're out of luck for now. If you are, though, it's worth trying at least once.

On Heylo: Heylo isn't a friendship app in the traditional sense — it's the infrastructure that makes community groups actually work. If you're running a running club and juggling Venmo requests, GroupMe threads, and Google Form RSVPs, Heylo consolidates all of that into one clean platform. The fact that it's free (they only take a cut when money changes hands) is a huge deal for volunteer-run groups. The limitation is discovery: Heylo doesn't help you find a group, it helps groups run better. If you're a group leader, this is a no-brainer. If you're looking for friends, you'll need to find the group first — but once you do, Heylo makes the experience seamless.