If you're searching "how much does Timeleft cost," you've probably already downloaded the app and hit the paywall before booking your first dinner. Here's the honest short version: Timeleft is free to download, but you need a paid subscription to actually book a dinner — and you pay for your own food on top of that. This guide breaks down the Timeleft cost in full: the subscription model, whether it's ever free, the costs people forget about, and whether it's worth it.
How much does Timeleft cost?
Timeleft runs on a subscription model. Downloading the app and taking the personality quiz is free, but the moment you want to book a seat at a dinner, you hit a paywall. You pick a plan, pay, and only then can you reserve a slot.
A few things shape the Timeleft price you actually see:
- Your country and city — pricing is localised, so the figure on your screen depends on where you are.
- The plan length — shorter plans cost more per week; longer commitments bring the weekly rate down.
- Promotions — first-timer discounts and seasonal offers come and go.
Because the exact number moves with all three, this guide won't quote a hard figure that could mislead you. The price on the sign-up screen in the app is the only number that's actually true for you — check it there, and read carefully whether it auto-renews before you confirm.
Is Timeleft free?
Partly. Timeleft is free to download and free to take the matching quiz, so you can install it and look around at no cost. What isn't free is the part you actually came for: booking a dinner requires a paid subscription.
People sometimes search "is Timeleft free" hoping for a free dinner — that's not how it works. There's often a free trial or a discounted first booking to lower the barrier, but it converts into a paid subscription afterwards. If you only want to try it once, set a reminder to cancel before the trial rolls over.
Timeleft subscription plans
Timeleft typically offers a few subscription tiers — think weekly, monthly and quarterly options. The trade-off is the usual one:
- Shorter plans (e.g. weekly): highest cost per week, lowest commitment — good for a one-off try.
- Longer plans (e.g. monthly or quarterly): lower effective weekly cost, but you're locking in. Only worth it if you genuinely plan to go to several dinners.
The key thing to check: is it auto-renewing? Most subscription complaints about Timeleft aren't about the headline price — they're about forgetting to cancel and getting charged for another cycle.
The hidden costs beyond the subscription
The subscription is only part of what a Timeleft night actually costs you. Budget for:
- Your meal and drinks — you pay for your own food at the restaurant. Depending on the venue, this can easily be more than the subscription itself.
- The after-party — some cities have an optional post-dinner drink, which adds to the tab.
- Getting there — transport to and from the restaurant.
- Auto-renewal — the cost you didn't mean to pay, if you forget to cancel.
So the real question isn't just "what's the subscription" — it's "what does one dinner actually cost me, all in?" Add the subscription, the meal, and the drinks, and compare that to what you're getting: one evening with five strangers you may or may not click with.
Is Timeleft worth the cost?
That depends on what you want from it. You're paying for the matching and the booking, not the meal — the food you'd pay for anyway. The value is in being seated with people you wouldn't otherwise meet, with zero planning on your part.
It's worth it if:
- You're new to a city and want to widen your circle fast.
- You're comfortable carrying a dinner conversation with strangers.
- You'll go often enough to justify a longer plan.
It's a harder sell if:
- You want a guaranteed connection — paying doesn't buy chemistry, and a quiet table makes for an expensive, awkward dinner.
- You'd rather do something than sit and talk for two hours.
- You only want to go once (in which case, watch that auto-renewal).
A hands-on alternative: Timecraft
If the part you're unsure about is paying to sit and make small talk over dinner, there's another way to meet people that solves exactly that.
Timecraft is the handcraft version of Timeleft — built for city life in Taiwan. Instead of a dinner table, each week we bring you together with 4–6 kindred spirits to complete a calm, creative handcraft session: fluid bears, scented candles, dried-flower arrangements, embroidery. Having a shared task as the conversation means the icebreaking just happens — which is especially kind to introverts — and unlike a dinner that ends when the plates are cleared, you leave with something you actually made.
| Timeleft | Timecraft | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay for | Subscription + your own meal | A creative session, materials included |
| What you leave with | A conversation | A piece you made + the people you met |
| Best for | Confident talkers | Calm, creative, introvert-friendly types |
| Icebreaking | You drive the chat | The task does it for you |
For the bigger picture on how the two compare, see What is Timeleft? How it works and the handcraft alternative, and for real-user opinions, the full Timeleft review.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Timeleft cost?
Timeleft is free to download, but booking a dinner requires a paid subscription, and you pay for your own food on the night. The exact subscription price is localised to your country and plan length, so check the figure shown on the sign-up screen in the app — that's the only number that's accurate for you.
Is Timeleft free?
The app and the matching quiz are free, but you can't book a dinner without a paid subscription. There's often a free trial or discounted first booking, which converts to a paid plan afterwards — set a reminder to cancel if you only want to try it once.
Does Timeleft have a free trial?
It frequently offers a free trial or discounted first dinner to lower the barrier to entry. Read the terms carefully: trials usually auto-renew into a paid subscription unless you cancel before they end.
What's the cheapest way to use Timeleft?
Watch for a first-timer promotion, pick the shortest plan if you only want to try it, and cancel before it auto-renews. Remember the meal itself is a separate cost on top of the subscription.
Is Timeleft worth the money?
You're paying for the matching and the booking, not the food. It's worth it if you'll go often and enjoy dinner-table conversation with strangers; it's a harder sell if you only want to go once or would rather do an activity than talk for two hours.
Prefer making something to paying for small talk? Try Timecraft
If you like how Timeleft brings people together but would rather create than just chat — and want to know exactly what you're paying for — Timecraft is made for you.
📍 First wave of sessions: Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, launching soon 💌 Early-access sign-ups are open! Get started now