What is the difference between Closer and Hank?

Closer is a friendship app that uses manual / self-select matching with groups of Intentionally small groups, priced at $$ ($20/month after 3-month free trial, plus $35 initiation fee), available in 3 cities. Hank is a friendship app using interest-based matching with groups of Varies, priced at Free (Free to download and use), available in 0 cities. Key differences include their matching approach, pricing model, and city coverage. Closer's strengths: No app download required — just sign up on the website. Hank's strengths: Purpose-built for 55+ — no competing with twenty-somethings or navigating dating-app mechanics.

Which is better, Closer or Hank?

It depends on what you're looking for. Choose Closer if you prefer manual / self-select matching, Intentionally small groups groups, and weekly events — Facilitated social experiences for real connection.. Choose Hank if you prefer interest-based matching, Varies groups, and on-demand events — Walks, coffee, and happy hours for adults 55+.. Both are available as IRL social apps. Compare pricing (Closer: $$, Hank: Free) and city availability on Søren to find the best fit for meeting people in real life.

Closer

Hank

Closer vs Hank

Closer and Hank 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

Closer Hank

CategoryFriendshipFriendship

Price$$ — $20/month after 3-month free trial, plus $35 initiation feeFree — Free to download and use

Group SizeIntentionally small groupsVaries

MatchingManual / Self-selectInterest-based

Frequencyweeklyon-demand

Age Range21-4055+

PlatformsWebiOS, Web

Cities3 cities0 cities

Founded20232020

Pricing

Closer is priced at $$ ($20/month after 3-month free trial, plus $35 initiation fee), while Hank comes in at Free (Free to download and use).

Format & matching

Closer uses groups of Intentionally small groups, compared to Hank’s Varies, and Closer relies on manual / self-select matching while Hank uses interest-based matching.

How they work

Closer: Head to becloser.co and create an account with your name, email, and phone number. Your first three months of membership are free — after that it's $20/month. Browse upcoming experiences in your city: dinners, drinks nights, live jazz, yoga and wine, home-cooked meals, or weekend getaways. Reserve a spot and show up solo. A facilitator guides the evening with conversation prompts designed for small groups, so you skip the surface-level small talk and get to real conversations fast. There's a $35 initiation fee at your first event.

Hank: Download the app and create a profile. Browse a calendar of local activities — walks, coffee meetups, happy hours, museum visits, book clubs, and more — happening near you or online. Join anything that catches your eye. Before the event, you can see other attendees' profiles and start a conversation. After the activity, stay connected with people you clicked with through in-app messaging. If you don't see the right activity, create your own — set the time, place, and description, and Hank handles the rest.

What to love

Closer: No app download required — just sign up on the website. Three free months of membership to try it risk-free. Variety of experience types beyond just dinners — yoga, jazz, trips, home meals. Facilitated format means you skip awkward small talk and get to real conversation. Everyone comes solo, so there's no feeling of being the odd one out.

Hank: Purpose-built for 55+ — no competing with twenty-somethings or navigating dating-app mechanics. Completely free with no subscription walls or premium tiers. Both in-person and online activities mean you can participate regardless of mobility. You can host your own events, not just join existing ones. Clean, simple interface designed for accessibility.

Reality check

Closer: Currently limited to 8 cities — mostly US, plus London, Toronto, Montreal, Sydney, Melbourne. $35 initiation fee at your first event on top of the monthly membership. No matching algorithm — who you meet is based on who else signed up for that event. Late cancellation ($10) and no-show ($20) fees can sting if plans change last minute.

Hank: Currently strongest in the New York area — thinner activity selection in other regions. No Android app yet (planned but not launched). Smaller user base compared to mainstream apps means fewer activities in less populated areas. No algorithmic matching — you browse and choose activities yourself.

Søren's take

On Closer: Closer sits in a sweet spot between a dinner club and a full-blown social platform. The facilitated format is the real differentiator — most social clubs just put people in a room and hope for the best, but Closer's prompts and small-group structure actually create the conditions for meaningful conversation. The three-month free trial is generous, and the event variety (not just dinners!) keeps things fresh. If you're in one of their cities and tired of forced networking energy, this is worth a try. Just be aware of the initiation fee — it's not huge, but it's an extra cost they don't highlight upfront.

On Hank: Hank fills a gap that's been wide open for years: most friendship apps are designed for people in their 20s and 30s, and the 55+ crowd has been left to figure it out on their own. Hank's approach is refreshingly straightforward — here's a calendar of things to do, go do them with people your age. No personality quizzes, no swiping, no algorithms. The free pricing is a big deal for this demographic. The main limitation is geographic reach — it started in NYC and is still building out — but if you're 55+ and looking for community, this should be on your phone.