One of the most popular things to do on WhatZoo is to check the compatibility between two people. You upload two photos, and out comes a set of scores — love, friendship, and work — plus a description of the pair's chemistry. But where do those numbers come from? This guide pulls back the curtain.
Two faces, two animal types
Compatibility starts exactly where single analysis ends. Each of the two photos is run through the same pipeline: MediaPipe detects 478 facial landmarks, those points are converted into proportions, and each face is matched to its closest animal type. (If you want the full detail on that step, we have a separate guide on how analysis works.)
So before any "chemistry" is calculated, the app has reduced the question to something simple: how well do these two animal types go together?
From animal types to a score
Every pairing of animal types has a defined relationship in the app. Some pairs are classic complements — the kind of duo where each one's strengths cover the other's blind spots. Others are high-energy matches of two similar temperaments, which can mean instant understanding or a bit of friendly rivalry. The compatibility engine looks at the traits associated with each animal and evaluates how those traits interact.
A few of the things that shape a score:
- Complementary vs. similar temperaments. A bold, leader-type animal paired with a warm, supportive one often scores highly because the roles fit together. Two equally dominant types can be electric — or competitive.
- Shared social energy. Two sociable, playful types tend to click effortlessly in friendship.
- Working styles. Some animal archetypes are planners, others are doers; the work score reflects how those styles mesh on a team.
Why there are three separate scores
People don't relate in just one way, so a single number would hide too much. WhatZoo breaks compatibility into three lenses:
- Love — romantic chemistry: attraction, balance, and how the two temperaments handle closeness.
- Friendship — everyday rapport: shared energy, humor, and how naturally the two get along.
- Work — collaboration: complementary skills, reliability, and how the pair would split roles on a project.
The same two people can score high on friendship but only moderate on work, or vice versa — which is part of what makes the results feel true to life and fun to discuss.
Reading the result
Alongside the numbers, you'll get a written analysis covering the pair's strengths, the things to watch out for, and some communication tips. These are written to be useful and relatable — a playful nudge toward "here's what's great about you two, and here's where you might rub each other the wrong way."
A high score doesn't mean a relationship is destined to succeed, and a lower score doesn't doom anything. It's a conversation starter, not a compatibility certificate.
Why your score can change
Just like single analysis, compatibility depends on the photos you use. If one person's photo is tilted or poorly lit, they might match a slightly different animal type — and that can shift the pairing and the score. For the most consistent result, use clean, frontal, well-lit photos for both people. (Our perfect-photo guide covers exactly how.)
The honest disclaimer
We'll say it plainly, because it matters: face compatibility is for entertainment. The facial measurements are real, and the logic that maps animal pairs to scores is consistent and deliberate. But the idea that two people's facial proportions predict their real-world relationship has no scientific basis. Chemistry between real people comes from values, communication, timing, and a thousand things a photo can't see.
So use it the way it's meant to be used:
- As a fun icebreaker with a friend, a date, or a coworker.
- As a conversation starter, not a decision-maker.
- As a game, not a guide for who to love or hire.
In a nutshell
- Both faces are analyzed and matched to animal types.
- The app evaluates how those two types' traits interact.
- That produces separate love, friendship, and work scores.
- A written analysis turns the numbers into a relatable story.
Try it with a friend and compare your three scores — then take the results with a smile and a grain of salt.