Our verdict
EME Hive, known for years as EastMeetEast, is a dating site and app for Asian and Asian American singles, founded in 2013. Free members can browse, search and send messages; reading replies from other free members needs a subscription.
Bottom line: Worth adding alongside Hinge if you want a partner who shares an Asian background, but check how active it is near you before paying.
Great for: Asian American singles in North America
Not ideal for: People outside North America, or anyone who doesn’t want culture-based matching.
What EME Hive is
This EME Hive review starts with the name. EME Hive is EastMeetEast, the dating site and app for Asian and Asian American singles that Mariko Tokioka started in 2013 after struggling to meet a Japanese partner her parents would welcome (EME Hive). EastMeetEast, Inc., based in New York, still owns it. The website runs as EME Hive at emehive.co, while the iPhone app is listed in the US App Store as “EastMeetEast - #1 Asian Dating App”.
It’s aimed mainly at the diaspora in North America, with members from Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Hmong, Cambodian and Thai communities, among others.
How EME Hive works
You fill in a profile with photos, an intro and your interests. Photos are approved before they appear, usually within 24 hours. Then you search. The default sort is a “special blend”, and you can switch to newest members or who was online last. The filters are what make it different from a mainstream app: ethnicity, languages spoken, height, interests and even the age someone arrived in the US.
Every Thursday you also get a One-to-One match, a single profile picked for you by EME Hive’s algorithm. To show interest, send a smile or a message. Free members can send messages and chat with anyone who subscribes, but they can’t read replies from other free members; that needs Standard or Premium (EME Hive FAQ). The app also has live streams, with Diamonds sold as virtual gifts.
Is EME Hive only for Asians?
It’s built for Asian and Asian American singles, and most people there want a partner who shares something of their background. Its terms describe it as a personals service for adults and don’t bar anyone from joining. Non-Asian members can sign up, but it makes sense only if that focus is what you’re after too.
Is EME Hive legit?
Yes. It’s a long-running service with a real company behind it, a published fee table and a photo review process. The app reviews are a warning, though. The iPhone app is rated 2.7 out of 5 from 546 ratings in the US App Store, and around 2 out of 5 in the UK, Canada and Australia (checked October 27, 2026), so check how active it is near you on the free plan before paying.
EME Hive vs Hinge
Hinge has a far bigger pool, free messaging and a free ethnicity preference, but none of EME Hive’s detail on languages or arrival age. Many Asian American daters use both. Our EME Hive vs Hinge comparison covers when each works better, and our Asian dating sites ranking compares the wider field.
Our tip
Use the free plan to search your area with the filters that matter to you, such as language or community. If you find a good number of active members, pay for a short Standard plan on the website, not in the app, where the same month costs several times more.
EME Hive at a glance
| Audience | Asian and Asian American singles, mainly in the US and Canada |
|---|---|
| Typical goal | Relationships |
| Free version | Yes — Browse and search members, Send smiles and messages, Chat with members who subscribe, A personal One-to-One match every Thursday |
| Paid from | ≈ $8.99/mo (website) (see all plans) |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Built for Asian and Asian American singles since 2013
- Background, language and arrival-age filters
- Free members can send messages
- Website plus iPhone and Android apps
Cons
- Free members can’t read replies from other free members
- Low App Store ratings
- Website cancellation ends paid features at once, with no refund
- Small outside big North American cities
Key features
- Background filters
- Search by ethnicity, languages spoken, the age someone arrived in the US, height and interests.
- One-to-One match
- A personal match picked by EME Hive’s algorithm arrives every Thursday.
- Smiles and messages
- Send a smile to say hi, or write a message even on the free plan.
- Live streams
- The app has live streaming, with Diamonds sold as virtual gifts.
How much does EME Hive cost?
| Plan | Indicative price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Browse and search members, Send smiles and messages, Chat with members who subscribe, A personal One-to-One match every Thursday |
| Standard | ≈ $8.99 a month and up on the website | Read message replies, Chat with free members |
| Premium | ≈ $9.99 a month and up on the website; $39.99 to $44.99 for one month in the US App Store | Everything in Standard, Read receipts, Advanced sort and filters |
Prices are indicative, in US dollars unless another currency is shown, and were checked October 27, 2026. Apps often charge different amounts by country, age, platform and plan length — confirm the final price in the app before paying.
Want the full breakdown and ways to save? Read our EME Hive pricing guide and free trial options.
Is EME Hive safe?
Photos are approved before they appear, usually within 24 hours, and the hide user option blocks someone in both directions. Video-call before meeting and report suspicious profiles.
Before meeting anyone, follow our verification checklist.
Not sure EME Hive is right for you?
These alternatives may suit you better depending on your goals. See all EME Hive alternatives.
Best for: Finding a relationship in your 20s and 30s
- Detailed, conversation-friendly profiles
- Strong focus on real relationships
- Free version is usable, with free faith and ethnicity filters
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $16.99 (US App Store)
Best for: Busy people who want fewer, better matches
- Free likes and chat with your daily matches
- Free ethnicity, religion and relationship-goal preferences
- Selfie verification
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $34.99/mo (US App Store)
Best for: A big, well-moderated swipe app
- Big pool, with 100M+ Google Play downloads
- Photo verification required in the US
- Free in-app voice and video calls
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $2.99 for Boost (US App Store)
Best for: South Asian singles
- Built for the South Asian diaspora
- Free matching and messaging
- In-app audio and video chat
- Free version
- Yes
- Paid from
- ≈ $19.99 (US App Store)
Compare EME Hive
EME Hive FAQ
Is EME Hive the same as EastMeetEast?
Yes. EastMeetEast, Inc. runs the service as EME Hive at emehive.co, and its iPhone app still appears in the US App Store as EastMeetEast. Founder Mariko Tokioka started it in 2013.
Is EME Hive free?
Partly. Free members can browse, search, send messages and chat with subscribers. Reading replies from other free members needs Standard, from $8.99 a month on the website, or Premium, from $9.99.
Is EME Hive only for Asians?
It’s built for Asian and Asian American singles, and most members are looking for someone with a similar background. Its terms don’t bar anyone over 18 from joining, but go in respecting that focus.
Is EME Hive legit?
Yes. It has run since 2013 and is owned by EastMeetEast, Inc. in New York. Its app ratings are low, though: 2.7 out of 5 in the US App Store in October 2026, so check your local pool on the free plan first.