Hank vs Timeleft
Hank and Timeleft 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
Pricing
Hank is priced at Free (Free to download and use), while Timeleft comes in at $$ (~$13/month + cost of your meal).
Format & matching
Hank uses groups of Varies, compared to Timeleft’s 6 per table, and Hank relies on interest-based matching while Timeleft uses algorithm-based matching.
How they work
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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.
