Dil Mil Review 2026: Real Profiles or Scam?
Dil Mil is a legit dating app for South Asian singles, not a scam: it is a real San Francisco company with over a million downloads on Google Play, a selfie verification badge and a large desi user base in the US, Canada and the UK. But the Dil Mil dating app is pricey for what it gives you (VIP Elite lists at $39.99 a month), the free tier stops you at 10 Likes a day, and fake profiles and far-away matches are the top complaints. Try it free first if you want a partner who shares your culture, and only pay on the web discount if the free version shows you real people near you.
What is the Dil Mil dating app, and who runs it?
Dil Mil ("hearts meet" in Hindi and Punjabi) is a swipe-style app built for South Asian singles and the diaspora. Its store listing says its users are spread across the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and India. Its About page dates it to 2014. The app is published by Dil Mil, Inc., 200 Townsend St, San Francisco, according to its Google Play listing and its Terms and Conditions (version dated February 25, 2025).
It is no longer an independent startup. In November 2019, TechCrunch reported that Dating.com Group, an investment of SDVentures, bought Dil Mil in a deal worth up to $50 million, with founder KJ Dhaliwal staying on. One clause worth knowing: the Terms include "co-registration", meaning that by creating an account you agree you "might be registered" on Dil Mil partner sites or apps.
You use it on iPhone, Android or the web app at dilmil.co. It is 18+ in both stores and in the Terms.
Who it is for (and is it only for South Asians?)
Dil Mil is built for desi singles who want a relationship or marriage with someone who shares their background. Profiles ask for community and religion up front, and its store description lists communities from Gujarati, Punjabi and Sindhi to Tamil, Telugu, Malayali and Bengali, and faiths from Hindu and Sikh to Muslim, Christian and Jain.
Nothing in the Terms limits sign-ups to South Asians: you need to be 18 and follow the rules. In practice, though, everything in the app (filters, prompts, community chat) assumes you are looking within the culture, so a non-South Asian who just wants to date broadly will get more out of a general app.
- Good fit: second-generation and NRI singles in big US, Canadian or UK metros, people whose family cares about community or religion, and anyone tired of filtering a general app by hand.
- Poor fit: people in areas with few South Asians (reviewers keep reporting matches hundreds of miles away), casual daters, and anyone who will not pay but wants plenty of matches.
How Dil Mil works
The help center describes a classic like-or-pass app: you sign in with a phone number, add five details (height, community, religion, education and career), photos and a short bio, and Dil Mil shows you potential matches. If two people like each other, they match and can chat. You cannot message someone before you match, unless you pay for a Request (see below).
- Filters: age, distance, community and religion. Advanced filters (community, career, education) are a VIP Elite feature.
- Dil Details and prompts: short profile prompts and, per the latest App Store release notes, a Dating Intentions filter, shared interests highlights and photo captions.
- Community Chat: group chat rooms by interest. The VIP page lists filtered Community Chat as part of VIP Elite.
- Audio and video calls: with your matches, a useful way to check that someone is real before meeting.
- Hide your profile: a Profile Discovery toggle in Settings takes you out of the swipe deck while you keep chatting with matches.
Is Dil Mil free? What you get without paying
Yes, you can download it, build a profile, like, match and chat for free in the USA. The limit is how many people you can like: the help center says you get 10 Likes a day, and unused Likes expire. Everything that speeds things up is paid.
| Feature | Free | VIP Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Profile, swiping, basic filters | Yes | Yes |
| Likes | 10 a day | Unlimited |
| Chat with your matches | Yes | Yes |
| See who liked you, instant matches | No | Yes |
| Message before matching (Request) | No | 1 a day |
| Super Likes | No | 1 a day |
| Advanced filters (community, career, education) | No | Yes |
| Change location (other cities or countries) | No | Yes |
| Rewind, reset dislikes, Elite picks | No | Yes |
| Boost, read receipts | No | 1 a month each |
| Restore archived matches and chats | No | Yes |
Sources: Dil Mil's VIP Elite features, messaging and location help articles and its VIP Elite page, checked October 2026. The Google Play listing also says the app contains ads.
Ten Likes a day is tight but workable in a big city if you are picky. The real problem reviewers describe is different: a Google Play reviewer in September 2026 says the app told him he was "out of profiles" even with every filter expanded, while people who had liked him never appeared in his deck. That is the moment the app nudges you to pay to see your likes.
Dil Mil VIP Elite prices in 2026
Dil Mil sells one main paid tier, VIP Elite, and its price depends on where you buy it. The web checkout is the only place with a clear price list:
| Plan | Web list price | Web offer (25% off) | Offer per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIP Elite, 1 month | $39.99 | $29.99 | $29.99 |
| VIP Elite, 3 months | $79.99 | $59.99 | $20.00 |
| VIP Elite, 6 months | $119.99 | $89.99 | $15.00 |
Prices checked October 2026 on dilmil.co/vip-elite. The page calls the 25% discount a "web-exclusive life-time discount" that applies to future renewals too. That is the "current offer" most people are asking about; the homepage also advertises a "LIFE TIME offer" without stating its terms.
In the app, it is messier. The US App Store listing says VIP Elite "starts at $39.99 per month" and sells extra Super Likes and Boosts from $1.99, but its in-app purchase list shows several prices for the same plan IDs: 1 month at $29.99 or $59.99, 3 months at $59.99 or $99.99, 6 months at $89.99, $99.99 or $129.99, plus a "VIP Access" item at $19.99 and "VIP Elite Access" items at $34.99 and $49.99. Apps often test prices this way, so the number you see on the payment screen is the one that counts. If the app quotes more than $29.99 for a month, the web checkout is cheaper.
A web subscription can be used in the app: Dil Mil's VIP page says to go to Settings, Redeem Promo Code, and enter RESTOREWEB.
Real profiles or scam? What the numbers really say
Dil Mil is a real business with real members, but its own numbers do not line up, so treat the big claims as marketing:
- Users: the store descriptions claim "4 million users" and "30 million matches". When it was sold in 2019, TechCrunch reported "over 1 million" users in the US, UK and Canada. Neither figure says how many are active today.
- Success stories: the homepage says "4000+ success stories"; the help center says Dil Mil hears "about one success story a day". Both are self-reported and unverifiable.
- What is measurable: 1M+ downloads and 17.9K reviews on Google Play, about 21K ratings on the US App Store, and app updates through September 2026. That is a maintained app with a solid niche audience, far smaller than the general apps.
Fake profiles, complaints and ratings
On the US App Store, Dil Mil has 4.0 stars from about 21K ratings; on Google Play, 3.6 stars from 17.9K reviews (both October 2026). The Indian App Store shows 3.8 from 1.1K ratings. The recurring complaints:
- Fake or scam profiles: a 2022 App Store review calls the matches fake accounts that "ask for money" to meet. A 2026 Google Play reviewer says messages from matches "suddenly disappear". The help center says a vanished match means the person unmatched, deleted their profile or was blocked by Dil Mil, which often happens to fake accounts.
- Matches too far away: an April 2026 Google Play reviewer set a 10-mile filter and kept seeing people 200 miles away; an older App Store review mentions a 500-mile minimum radius. Dil Mil's own homepage says 70% of its success stories started with couples who lived miles apart, so long-distance matching is a feature, not a bug, for them.
- Paywall pressure and price: "overpriced" and "pushes you hard towards subscription" appear again and again, along with comparisons to Hinge, Bumble and Coffee Meets Bagel giving more free matches.
- Trial charges: a 2021 App Store reviewer says a "3 day free trial" charged her before it ended. The Terms say you must cancel before a trial ends to avoid the charge.
- Bans and moderation: some users report bans for content shared in private chat or in Community Chat. The help center says profiles are banned for inappropriate media, fake profiles or Terms violations.
- Bugs: crashes, battery drain and repeated profiles, in reviews from 2020 to 2026.
Dil Mil is not a pay-to-chat trap: matches message each other for free, and the paywall is on reach (Likes, filters, seeing who liked you), not on replying. The scam risk is the usual one on any dating app, which is why the next section matters.
Safety and verification on Dil Mil
Dil Mil does more than many niche apps, but less than its marketing suggests. Its safety page and Terms say:
- Selfie verification: you tap the grey check next to your name, take a selfie in the pose shown, and a moderator reviews it. Verified members get a blue checkmark. It is optional, so filter your attention toward blue checks.
- One phone number per profile: a valid phone number is required, and each number can be tied to only one active profile.
- Human photo moderation: new photos are reviewed for a clearly visible face and no celebrity or inappropriate images.
- No background checks: the Terms state that the company does not run criminal background checks or verify what users say about themselves. A blue check proves the face matches the photos, not the job, age or intentions.
- Report, block, unmatch: on a profile, tap the three dots, then Report; for a match, Unmatch and pick Fake Profile/Spam (help center steps). The help center warns that a report does not guarantee removal; the safety page says verified reports lead to a ban.
- Privacy: the App Store privacy label says identifiers may be used to track you across other companies' apps and sites.
Dil Mil's own Terms list the red flags: links to other websites, rushing you to chat off the app, asking for money, vanishing and reappearing under a new name, and asking for your address "to send flowers". The FTC's romance scam guide adds the classic one for diaspora apps: someone who says they are abroad, cannot meet and suddenly needs money. Never send money or gift cards, ask for a video call (the app has one) before meeting, meet in public, get there on your own and tell a friend.
Pros and cons
Pros
- A pool of South Asian singles with community and religion built into every profile.
- Matches can chat free; no pay-to-reply.
- Selfie verification badge, one phone number per profile, human photo review.
- Audio and video calls in the app.
- Web plans 25% cheaper, down to $15 a month on six months.
Cons
- Only 10 Likes a day on the free plan.
- Expensive in the app: VIP Elite from $39.99 a month at list price.
- No refunds on in-app purchases, and web subscriptions are cancelled by email.
- Recurring reports of fake profiles, far-away matches and "out of profiles" walls.
- User numbers that disagree between its own pages and the press.
How to cancel VIP Elite and delete your profile
Where you paid decides how you cancel, and deleting your profile does not cancel a subscription.
- Paid in the iPhone app: cancel in your Apple account's Subscriptions (Apple's steps). The plan renews within 24 hours before the period ends, so cancel at least a day early.
- Paid in the Android app: cancel in the Play Store under Payments & subscriptions (Google's steps).
- Paid on dilmil.co: there is no cancel button; Dil Mil's help center says to email support@dilmil.co with your account details. Keep the reply as proof.
- Delete the profile: Account, Settings, scroll down to Deactivate Profile (help center). You lose all matches and conversations.
Refunds: the help center says Dil Mil does not refund in-app purchases, and the Terms add that a banned account gets no refund. Two exceptions in the Terms: subscribers in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin may cancel within 3 business days of buying without penalty (through Apple's Report a Problem, or the in-app "Email us feedback" button with your Google Play order number), and EU and UK members get 14 days.
Dil Mil vs Hinge and other alternatives
Is Dil Mil better than Hinge? For finding someone from your community, yes: Dil Mil's whole pool is South Asian and community and religion are on every profile. For everything else, Hinge is the stronger app: a far bigger general pool, richer profiles built around prompts, and a better reputation (it is one of the highest-rated apps on this site). Nothing stops you from running both: Hinge for reach, Dil Mil for the community filters.
- Hinge: the best general app for relationships, with real profile depth.
- Coffee Meets Bagel: a slower app that sends a few curated matches a day instead of an endless deck.
- Bumble: a mainstream app with a large pool if Dil Mil feels too small where you live.
- eHarmony: if marriage is the goal and you want a long compatibility questionnaire.
For the whole field, see my serious dating apps rankings, or browse every review in the A to Z of dating site reviews.
How I rate it
My 3 out of 5 is based on public pricing, features, safety tools, app store reputation and value, not on hands-on use. Value for money 2 (10 Likes a day free, $29.99 to $39.99 for a month, no refunds), safety and verification 3.5 (selfie badge, one number per profile, human photo review, but no background checks and no verification of what users say), evidence of an active user base 3 (1M+ Android downloads, about 39K ratings across the two US stores, updates in 2026, but inflated user claims and many far-away match complaints), features for its audience 4 (community and religion built in, Community Chat, video calls), transparency 2 (conflicting in-app prices, web cancellation by email only, co-registration clause). Average 2.9, rounded to 3.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dil Mil a good dating app?
It is a good niche app if you want a South Asian partner and live in a big US, Canadian or UK metro. It is a real company with selfie verification and over a million Android downloads, but reviewers complain about far-away matches, fake profiles and pressure to pay. Try the free version before buying anything.
Is Dil Mil free in the USA?
Yes. You can create a profile, like, match and chat with your matches for free. The free plan gives you 10 Likes a day that expire if unused, and seeing who liked you, advanced filters and messaging before a match require VIP Elite.
How much is Dil Mil VIP Elite?
On the website, VIP Elite lists at $39.99 for one month, $79.99 for three months and $119.99 for six months, with a 25% web discount bringing them to $29.99, $59.99 and $89.99 (October 2026). In-app prices vary and the App Store says plans start at $39.99 a month.
Is Dil Mil better than Hinge?
Dil Mil is better for meeting someone from your own community, since every member is looking within South Asian culture and community and religion are on every profile. Hinge has a far bigger pool and richer profiles, and nothing stops you from using both.
Is Dil Mil only for South Asians?
The Terms do not restrict sign-ups by background: you only need to be 18 or older. But the app is built for South Asian singles, with community and religion filters, so non-South Asians will usually do better on a general app.
How do I cancel Dil Mil?
Cancel in Apple or Google Play subscriptions if you paid in the app. If you paid on dilmil.co, email support@dilmil.co with your account details, since there is no cancel button. Deactivating your profile does not cancel the subscription, and Dil Mil does not refund in-app purchases.