There's a Dating App for People Who Just Want to Cuddle and Nothing More

Cuddlr matches users with people nearby who just want to hug or lie around together

By Jenna Mullins Sep 24, 2014 9:26 PMTags
Cuddling CatsGetty Images

Alternative name for this app: Friend Zone.

For those who think Tindr is full of people moving too fast and Match is full of people moving too slow, there's something for you that's right down the middle: Cuddlr. And yes, it's exactly what it sounds like.

Cuddlr is an app that matches you with people nearby who just want to cuddle. It works like most dating programs: you have a profile with your name and photo and you can send "cuddle requests" to people in your area. The recipient of said "cuddle request" then has 15 minutes to accept or reject you. If they accept your cuddle-gram, the fun(?) really begins!

The people behind Cuddlr ask that you keep things clean when you meet someone for a cuddle-date. "Unlike some other apps, Cuddlr is strictly about PG-rated experience," reads the app's intro. "Keep the cuddle a cuddle!" 

After a session (which, according to the app's suggestions, can be lying in the park, window shopping or just hugging), you can rate someone's cuddling skills with an up or down voting system. And there is zero room for grab-assers on Cuddlr. Got it, creeps?!

"Once you meet and have a cuddle, you can give a thumbs-up if everything went ok, or in the event of a somewhat too-grabby cuddle, you can report the user. That's it!" says the website. "The app also lets you share a picture of the cuddle, and, when you're ready, you can ask for another cuddle through Cuddlr."

The Cuddlr team can also ban people who are clearly taking advantage of cuddly-starved folk and users can block others at any time.

So what was the inspiration for this app of good, clean all-American fun? According to the Cuddlr website FAQs:

"Our culture doesn't have a space for closeness without pressure. The way we talk about meeting and sharing space and contact with someone assumes that it's centered explicitly around sex and dating, or based on the kind of affection a parent might show a child. We're not getting the right type of contact often enough; we don't give and get enough hugs. Hooking up is certainly not always a bad thing, but there's definitely an under-explored time and a place for a more gentle, no-pressure intimacy, and that's what Cuddlr aims to help with."

If you are interested in using Cuddlr, all you need is a Facebook account. And a phone. Duh. Currently, the Cuddlr app doesn't reveal gender or age, so the filtering is done only through the photos.

For those who have been rejected on Cuddlr, we know your pain. We send "cuddle requests" to our cat every damn day and never, ever get an answer. They just ignore us until we smother them on the couch with hugs while yelling out, "Love me!"