# HookedIRL vs GateMate

The clearest difference is rating: GateMate at 5.0 against HookedIRL's 3.9. GateMate also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 85%) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 9 days). HookedIRL's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (28 vs 3). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. GateMate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. HookedIRL asks for nothing beyond the download.

GateMate holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HookedIRL has 28 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of HookedIRL's written reviews are positive against 100% of GateMate's.

HookedIRL ships an update every 9 days, GateMate every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HookedIRL | GateMate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hookedirl/id6748921014/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gatemate-step-in-link-up/id6767096468/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **28** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 84.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 126 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Hooked Social Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888058316) | [QAlytics LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896380388) |

## What reviewers say

### HookedIRL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hookedirl/id6748921014)

This app helps you discover and connect with other singles at real-life events. Scan a QR code to join an event, create a temporary profile, and see who's open to connecting. Mutual likes lead to matches and in-app chats, with all event data automatically deleted afterward.

**Highlights:** Event-specific, time-limited profiles, QR code event check-in, One-tap matching, In-app messaging for matches, Auto-disappearing event profiles, Secure account creation, Business event support

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### GateMate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gatemate-step-in-link-up/id6767096468)

Connect with people at real-world events and locations through private live rooms. Share messages, photos, and see who's attending in real-time. Discover public rooms nearby or find fellow travelers with overlapping itineraries.

**Highlights:** Join rooms with 6-letter codes or QR scans, Live attendee lists with profiles, Room-specific chat for messages and media, Discover public rooms by category, Find travelers with overlapping itineraries, Create private, temporary rooms, Privacy-focused with no background tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GateMate+ Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| GateMate+ Annual | $39.99 | per year |
| GateMate Night Pass | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HookedIRL free?

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

### Is GateMate free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HookedIRL or GateMate?

GateMate is rated higher. HookedIRL averages 3.9 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while GateMate averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do HookedIRL or GateMate have ads?

Neither HookedIRL nor GateMate shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HookedIRL or GateMate?

HookedIRL ships an update every 9 days, and GateMate every 4 days. Most recently, HookedIRL was updated on October 30, 2026 and GateMate on October 31, 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.*