Luv or Pop
In short: Luv or Pop is a dating app launched in February 2026 by Arlette Amuli and Bolia Matundu, the creators of the viral YouTube series Pop the Balloon or Find Love. Users collect or pop balloons for other members, and a Match Lock feature pauses other conversations. It emphasises Black relationships and requires identity verification.
Key facts
| Type | Dating app |
|---|---|
| App Store | App Store listing |
| Founder | Arlette Amuli and Bolia Matundu, a married couple, created the YouTube series Pop the Balloon or Find Love and launched the app [AfroTech, 13 March 2026] |
| Launch | The app Luv or Pop was released on the App Store on 6 February 2026, with Daballoon Entertainment LLC as developer [MWM, 6 February 2026] |
| Fact | Match Lock pauses a user's conversations with other matches once two people decide to focus on each other [AfroTech, 13 March 2026] |
| Users | The YouTube show had nearly 1.5 million subscribers as of early 2026 [AfroTech, 13 March 2026] |
| Fact | Users must verify their identity before creating a profile [AfroTech, 13 March 2026] |
| Fact | Subscription is $14.99 a month with a seven day free trial [MWM, 2026] |
About Luv or Pop
Luv or Pop is a dating app built around the format of the YouTube and TikTok series Pop the Balloon or Find Love. The series, which debuted in 2023 and had nearly 1.5 million YouTube subscribers by early 2026, shows singles meeting face to face and signalling interest or rejection by popping a balloon. It was created by Arlette Amuli and Bolia Matundu, a married couple, who also host a podcast.
The app was released on the Apple App Store on 6 February 2026, with Daballoon Entertainment LLC listed as the developer. Users collect balloons for people they like and pop balloons for those they do not. A feature called Match Lock pauses a user's conversations with other matches once two people decide to focus on each other. Users must verify their identity before creating a profile, and the App Store description adds human moderation. The creators say the app is open to everyone but celebrates Black relationships.
The App Store listing shows a subscription at $14.99 a month with a seven day free trial. Amuli told AfroTech she wants Luv or Pop to be the number one dating app people think of within five years. Coverage in Global Dating Insights and AfroTech does not name a company, platform list or website.
Stories about Luv or Pop
- Pop the Balloon's App: Spectacle or Sustainable Matchmaking?
Pop the Balloon or Find Love, a YouTube dating show, has launched a dating app with its cast members, testing whether spectacle can keep users.
Also mentioned in
Questions about Luv or Pop
What is Luv or Pop?
Luv or Pop is a dating app from the creators of the YouTube series Pop the Balloon or Find Love, where users collect or pop balloons for other members.
Who created Luv or Pop?
Arlette Amuli and Bolia Matundu, a married couple who created the series, launched the app.
What is Match Lock?
Match Lock pauses a user's conversations with other matches once two people decide to focus on each other.
Also known as: Daballoon Entertainment LLC, Pop the Balloon or Find Love.