Stir review
A dating app for single parents, with free matching and paid messaging and visibility controls.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Stir is a dating service for single parents, available on the web, iOS and Android. Members create profiles with photos, like other profiles and chat after a mutual match. Recommendations draw on profile information and activity, including likes, skips and matches. StirTime adds a practical way to share dating availability. The free account covers matching and chatting, making Stir a fit for single parents who want those core functions without starting with a subscription. It is less suited to people looking for a dating service beyond its single-parent focus.
The subscription features center on earlier contact and greater control over visibility. Both Basic and Premium let members see who likes them before matching, use Private Mode and receive one free Boost a month. Basic also includes messaging before a match and one free Super Like a month. Premium adds unlimited messages, read receipts and Rewind. Private Mode on Premium is limited to the mobile app, so web users should factor in that platform distinction. These options may appeal to people who want to initiate conversations sooner or manage when their profile is visible; anyone content with matching before chatting can stay with the free account.
The choice between plans depends on which controls matter. Basic is the tier for pre-match messaging and a monthly Super Like, while Premium makes sense for unlimited messaging, read receipts and Rewind. Both paid tiers include seeing likes before matching, Private Mode and a monthly Boost, so those features alone do not distinguish the plans. Stir’s feature set is oriented around meeting other single parents and coordinating availability rather than a broader set of dating purposes. Choose it if that focus and its matching, chat and StirTime tools suit your needs; consider another app if you want a service not centered on single parents or need Private Mode on the web with Premium.
Stir pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free accounts support profile creation, matching and chat
- StirTime lets members share when they are available to date
- Subscriptions add pre-match messaging and profile visibility controls
- Where it doesn't
- Seeing who likes you before matching requires a subscription
- Unlimited messages and read receipts are Premium features
- Private Mode is available on mobile only with Premium
Stir fact sheet, pricing and score →
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