# Empath vs Upward Dating

The clearest difference is rating: Upward Dating at 4.3 against Empath's 3.1. Upward Dating also leads on ratings volume (163K vs 70) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). Empath's advantage is review sentiment (49% vs 11%) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Upward Dating sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per 7 days. Empath asks for nothing beyond the download.

Upward Dating holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Upward Dating has 163K ratings behind it against 70, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 49% of Empath's written reviews are positive against 11% of Upward Dating's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Empath ships an update monthly, Upward Dating weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Empath | Upward Dating |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empath/id1122581674/reviews) | **[4.3 (163K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upward-dating-meet-singles/id1499137942/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 70 | **163K** |
| Positive reviews | **49.2% of reviews** | 11.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#48** |
| Size | 11 MB | 265 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.7** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [InspiringApps](https://appshunter.io/developer/342848610) | [Affinity Apps, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1253586890) |

## What reviewers say

### Empath

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empath/id1122581674)

Share your true feelings anonymously in a supportive community. Connect authentically with friends who show you love, and track your emotional journey over time. Build deeper relationships by opening up when you feel comfortable.

**Highlights:** Anonymous emotional posts, Friend-initiated connection, Emotional journal tracking, Profile with minimal info, Express a range of emotions, Community emotional trends

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Upward Dating

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upward-dating-meet-singles/id1499137942)

**Currently charting:** #48 Top Free · Social Networking, #51 Top Grossing · Social Networking (US App Store)

Connect with Christian singles seeking meaningful relationships based on shared beliefs and values. This app facilitates faith-based connections for individuals across various denominations. Find potential partners, long-term relationships, or new friends within a supportive community.

**Highlights:** Connect with Christian singles, Profile creation with faith statement, Swipe to like or pass, Chat with mutual connections, Premium features: Super Likes, Rewind, Boost, Elite features: See who liked you

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 week Elite membership | $17.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 month Elite membership | $19.99 | per month |
| Elite 1 Week | $19.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Elite | $21.99 | per 7 days |
| Upward Elite Membership | $29.99 | per month |
| 1 month Elite membership | $29.99 | per month |
| 3 months Elite membership | $44.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 months Elite membership | $71.99 | per 6 months |
| Super Like - 5 Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Super Like - 5 Pack | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great concept for Christian dating
- 👍 Matches seem more serious about relationships
- 👍 Facial recognition feature to verify profiles
- 👍 Ability to chat with matches

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Severely limits matches unless you pay for subscription
- 🚫 Lack of distance filter, shows people far away
- 🚫 Subscription prices are too high
- 🚫 Fake profiles and scammers on the app
- 🚫 Glitches and technical issues with the app

**Reported bugs**

- Accounts being disabled for no apparent reason
- Matches disappearing and reappearing in the feed
- Notifications not accurately reflecting new likes/matches
- Inability to undo accidental swipes

**Requested features**

- Add distance filter to show only nearby matches
- Implement user verification system to weed out fake profiles
- Improve subscription model and make it more affordable
- Enhance chat features and allow video/voice calls
- Provide better customer support and communication


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Empath free?

Empath is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Upward Dating free?

Upward Dating is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Empath or Upward Dating?

Upward Dating is rated higher. Empath averages 3.1 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Upward Dating averages 4.3 from 163K ratings.

### Do Empath or Upward Dating have ads?

Upward Dating shows ads; Empath does not.

### Which is updated more often, Empath or Upward Dating?

Empath ships an update monthly, and Upward Dating weekly. Most recently, Empath was updated on November 2, 2026 and Upward Dating on November 5, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*