Hampton vs Timeleft
Hampton is a networking app and Timeleft is a friendship app. They take different approaches to helping you meet people IRL — here’s a detailed comparison.
Side-by-side comparison · Updated 2026
At a glance
Pricing
Hampton is priced at $$$$ (Annual membership (pricing disclosed during application process)), while Timeleft comes in at $$ (~$13/month + cost of your meal).
Format & matching
Hampton uses groups of 8 per core group, compared to Timeleft’s 6 per table, and Hampton relies on manual / self-select matching while Timeleft uses algorithm-based matching.
How they work
Hampton: Head to joinhampton.com and submit an application. Hampton is invitation-only with an ~8% acceptance rate — you'll need to be an active founder or CEO of a tech-enabled business with at least $3M in annual revenue, $3M in capital raised, or a $10M+ previous exit. If accepted after a paper screening, structured interview, and community veto process, you pay an annual membership fee and get placed into a Core group of eight curated founders in your city. Your Core group meets in person ten times a year, facilitated by a trained moderator. Beyond that, you get access to local chapter events (dinners, workshops, signature experiences) and a private Slack network of 1,000+ members for rapid Q&A on business and personal topics.
Timeleft: Download the app and take a short personality test covering your interests, conversation style, and what you're looking for. Pick your city and a Wednesday that works. Timeleft's algorithm assembles a table of six people who have something in common — you won't know who until you arrive. On Wednesday evening, you'll get the restaurant name and a table number. Show up, sit down, and spend the evening with five strangers. No icebreakers, no name tags — just dinner.
What to love
Hampton: Extremely curated membership — ~8% acceptance rate ensures high-caliber peers. Core groups of 8 create real accountability and trust over time. In-person only meetings in your city — no Zoom calls pretending to be community. No-solicitation policy means nobody is trying to sell you anything. Bootstrapped company with long-term vision — not optimizing for a VC exit.
Timeleft: Genuinely algorithmic matching creates surprisingly good conversation. Available in 300+ cities across 60 countries. Low-commitment weekly format makes it easy to try. The Wednesday ritual becomes a habit that compounds. No awkward planning — just show up.
Reality check
Hampton: Pricing is not transparent — you have to apply just to learn the cost. Strict eligibility requirements exclude early-stage founders. Currently in 16 cities — if you're not in one, you're out of luck. No app — everything runs through a website and Slack.
Timeleft: Restaurant food cost is separate and can add up. Wednesday-only schedule is rigid. Quality of matches can vary by city size. Some cities have limited restaurant variety.
Søren's take
On Hampton: Hampton isn't for most people, and that's the point. If you're a tech founder doing $3M+ in revenue and you're tired of generic networking events full of people pitching you, this is the real deal. The Core group model — eight people, same group, ten meetings a year — creates the kind of trust and candor you can't get from a conference or a Slack community alone. The price tag and exclusivity will turn off a lot of people, but for the founders who get in, the ROI is reportedly massive. Just know that this is a long-term commitment, not a casual membership you dip into.
On Timeleft: I think Timeleft is the gold standard for IRL social platforms right now. The personality-matching algorithm actually works — I've had tables where every single person clicked. The Wednesday-only format sounds limiting, but it's actually genius: it creates a ritual. My one gripe is that you're paying the subscription AND buying dinner, so a night out can run $50-80 total. Worth it if you're new to a city or just want to break out of your social bubble.
