A Baklava alternative for Arab singles
HeyArab, Editorial teamUpdated Oct 28, 20262 min read
Baklava is one of the few apps made for Arabs who grew up between two cultures, and plenty of people like it. If you want a Baklava alternative, or a second app to run next to it, here's an honest look at how HeyArab and a few others compare.
Who Baklava is for
Baklava calls itself an app to "find Arab dates and friends". Detroit Metro Times reported in 2021 that it launched in December 2020, that it's based in Detroit and Los Angeles, and that it's run by Arab women. You can use it for friendship, dating or something serious.
When it launched, the founders said they chose not to let people filter by religion or height. Its paid tier is called Baklava Gold, and it has thousands of ratings on the App Store. If you like it, keep using it.
Why people look for apps like Baklava
Usually it's not that anything is wrong. People just want more choice. Some reasons we hear:
- You've seen everyone near you and want new faces.
- Faith matters to you, and you'd like to filter by it, or have others see it on your profile.
- You want people to hear you before they judge a photo.
- You want to keep cousins, coworkers and your ex from seeing you.
How HeyArab compares to the Baklava dating app
| HeyArab | Baklava | |
|---|---|---|
| Made for | Arabs of any faith or none | Arabs living outside the Arab world |
| Where | Available in the US and Canada | Based in Detroit and Los Angeles |
| Religion | Optional, with a filter you control | No religion filter at launch |
| Privacy | Block your phone contacts, incognito with Club | Incognito on the paid plan |
| Paid plan | Club | Baklava Gold |
Baklava's details come from its App Store listing and press coverage, so check the app itself for anything that's changed.
What HeyArab does differently
You can hear people. A 30 second voice intro sits on your profile. Accent, laugh, the Arabic you slip into. It tells someone more than a fifth photo does.
Friends can vouch for you. People who know you can write a few lines about you. You approve each one, and up to three show on your profile at a time.
Family is out in the open. You say how involved your family is, from involved early to private until it's serious. Your match knows what to expect before you ever meet.
Faith is your call. Religion is optional. If you add it, you can filter by it, and turn on a dealbreaker if it really matters. Read how faith filters work if that's you.
You can hide from people you know. Pick contacts from your phone, like a cousin or a coworker, and you won't see each other. They're never told.
Where Baklava might suit you better
Baklava has been around longer, so in some cities more Arabs may already be on it. It also has a friends side, which helps if you've just moved somewhere and want to meet other Arabs. If friendship is your main goal, it's a good place to start.
Other Baklava alternatives
- buzzArab is for Arab and Muslim singles of every faith, and messages are free.
- Muzz and Salams are built for Muslims who want to marry. See our Muzz alternative page for more.
- Hinge and Bumble have far more people, but you'll do more explaining about family.
We compared all of them in our guide to the best Arab dating apps.
So which one?
If you like Baklava, there's no reason to leave. Plenty of people try HeyArab alongside it and keep whichever one gets them better conversations.