Free to join
Looking for a Hiki Alternative?
If you have tried the autistic dating apps and want something that works in a browser, keeps the free tier usable and puts written profiles first, this is what Autistic Dating does differently.
First, credit where it is due
Hiki is a friendship and dating app for autistic, ADHD and neurodivergent adults, founded by Jamil Karriem and running since 2019. It was one of the first products to treat neurodivergent connection as a category worth building for rather than a niche to tag onto a mainstream app, and it deserves the recognition it gets for that.
Plenty of people are happy on it. If you are one of them, there is no reason to move.
This page is for the people who searched for an alternative, usually for one of three reasons: they want to use it on a computer, they hit the paywall sooner than expected, or they want more room to write than a phone-first app tends to give them.
How the two compare
Both are built for neurodivergent adults. The differences are mostly about format and access.
| Autistic Dating | Hiki | |
|---|---|---|
| How you use it | Any browser, on desktop, tablet or phone. Nothing to install. | Distributed as an iOS and Android app. |
| Who it is for | Autistic adults first, with ADHD, AuDHD and other neurodivergent members throughout. | Autistic, ADHD and neurodivergent adults. |
| Dating or friendship | Dating and companionship, with a community feed, member articles and polls alongside. | Both dating and friendship, chosen in the app. |
| Cost to start | Free to join, build a profile, browse and match. VIP is optional. | Free to download, with a paid premium tier and a seven-day trial. |
| Profile style | Written profiles with interest tags, built for people who express themselves better in text than in photos. | Photo-led app profiles. |
| Reach | Members across the UK, US, Australia, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand. | Strongest presence in the United States. |
Hiki details taken from its own website and its Google Play listing, checked July 2026. App stores change; check the current listing before deciding. Nothing here is a criticism of Hiki, which is a well-regarded app doing a good job for a lot of people.
The three reasons people usually switch
They want a proper keyboard
If you think better in long-form text, writing a considered first message on a phone is a chore. This runs in a browser, so you can draft on a real keyboard and take as long as you like over it.
They hit a paywall early
The free tier here is not a demo. You can join, write a full profile, browse, match and be matched without paying. VIP adds unlimited messaging and advanced filters when and if you want them.
They want words over photos
Interest tags and written profiles do the heavy lifting. If your best case for yourself is a paragraph rather than a selfie, this format suits you better.
You can use both
Neurodivergent dating pools are smaller than mainstream ones. Being on two platforms is a sensible response to that, not a betrayal of either.
A fair number of members here are also on an app, and the two behave differently enough that it rarely feels like duplicated effort: one for browsing on the sofa, one for writing properly at a desk.
Joining is free, so the cost of finding out is your time and nothing else.
Join free and have a look
Common questions
Is Autistic Dating an app?
It is a website that works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet and phone. There is nothing to install, no app store account needed, and no notification badge unless you choose to allow one.
What does the free membership actually include?
Joining, building a full profile, browsing members, matching and being matched. VIP is optional and adds unlimited messaging, advanced search filters, profile insights and priority placement.
Do I need a formal autism diagnosis?
No. Self-identifying members are welcome and nobody is asked to provide a report.
Is it available outside the United States?
Yes. Members are spread across the UK, United States, Australia, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand, and you set your own search radius.
Is it for friendship as well as dating?
The primary purpose is dating and companionship, and there is a community side with member stories, articles and polls. If you are looking purely for platonic friendship, an app built around that may suit you better.
Can I compare it with the mainstream apps too?
Yes, there are write-ups on how it differs from Hinge, Bumble and Dating4Disabled in the comparisons section.
Have a look before you commit to anything
Free to join, free to browse, and no app to install.
Join Autistic Dating Free