There’s a dating app for everyone, whether you’re looking for a fling or a long-term relationship. From the hyper-specific—FarmersOnly, JDate, 3Fun—to the general ones we review here that cast wider nets, there are many, many options. A dating app that only works on Thursday? What a concept! Many even have special video services that let you test the vibe before meeting face to face. With so many choices, how can you find your perfect, loving match? We’ve gathered our choices for the best dating apps here. Read on for our top picks, followed by everything you need to know about online dating.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Match
Best for Long-Term Relationships
Why We Picked ItMatch makes it smooth and easy to form virtual connections. Rich and robust profiles, not just hot photos, let you know if someone is worth your time before you start talking. Thanks to the Vibe Check feature, potential partners already in a conversation can also begin a live video chat session if they both agree. Who It’s ForMatch is for anyone looking for love. It is a premium dating app that offers a premium experience. It wants you to truly get to know a person, and judge your compatibility, before potentially entering a serious relationship. It’s the Editors’ Choice pick for finding lasting love.
PROS
Robust, vetted profiles
Intuitive interface
Excellent filtering tool
Video chat
Features that specifically target longer relationships
CONS
Expensive
Profile approval isn’t instant
SPECS
Name
Value
Video Calls
Desktop App
Starting Price
$44.99 per month
Mobile App
Free Account Offered
Tinder
Best for Casual Dating
Why We Picked ItTinder’s young, online-oriented users are no strangers to forming virtual connections. It innovated the “hot or not” mobile interface now used by almost all other dating apps. Once swiping gets old, Tinder’s video chat app, Face and Face, lets consenting partners start talking and get real.Who It’s ForTinder is for finding love right now, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Who knows? While some hookups stay casual, others may blossom into something more. Tinder is the Editors’ Choice pick for quick, young romance that favors the physical.
PROS
Simple, modern interface
Addictive swiping feature
Free to use the basic functionality
Video chat
CONS
Geared more toward hookups than relationships
Lots of incremental ways to spend money
SPECS
Name
Value
Video Calls
Desktop App
Starting Price
$19.99 per month
Mobile App
Free Account Offered
Why We Picked ItA gamer-focused dating app potentially sounds like a bad idea, but Kippo pulls it off with execution worthy of an Editors’ Choice pick. You can customize your stylish profile to highlight your geeky interests, and enjoy premium features for affordable prices.Who It’s ForKippo’s smart design and clever features make it a welcoming haven for nerds in search of love. Its shared social space features, where you can hang out online with other people and play games together, also makes it a gentle way to try out the “metaverse.”
PROS
Stylish futuristic aesthetic
Profiles let you express geeky interests
Affordable premium version
Fascinating arcade social space
CONS
Only audio chat
Offers NFTs
SPECS
Name
Value
Video Calls
Desktop App
Starting Price
$10 per month
Mobile App
Free Account Offered
Bumble
Best for Woman-First Dating
Why We Picked ItBumble empowers its most vulnerable users to send the first message when looking for dates, knowing that they won’t get unsolicited messages in return. Bumble also offers many ways to communicate beyond text. You can send audio notes, add a Virtual Dating Badge to your profile, and begin a video chat when you’re ready.Who It’s ForBumble is for women and nonbinary folks who don’t want cis men to have all the power in online dating. It flips the script on who controls the flow of the conversation, as men can only talk to people who have already expressed interest. In an unbalanced world, Bumble helps make things a bit more fair.
PROS
Excellent privacy and safety features
Robust free version
Fun and inclusive interface
Video chat
CONS
Profiles aren’t particularly substantial
Superfluous friend-finder and business-networking options
SPECS
Name
Value
Video Calls
Desktop App
Starting Price
$16.99 per month
Mobile App
Free Account Offered
Happn
Best for Meet Cutes
Why We Picked ItHappn encourages real-world romances by connecting you to people you literally pass by on the street. Its hyper-local, location-based matching inspires rom-com meet cutes as you first encounter the love of your life at your favorite coffee shop. Don’t worry, it protects your privacy, too. Who It’s ForHappn is for users who want to quickly turn virtual dates into real ones. It backs up this strong gimmick with a well-designed, surprisingly feature-rich app, as well as a community that features millions of members. Just be ready to go premium for the best experience.
PROS
Clever location-based features
Slick interface
Video verification
Robust community
Doesn’t display your current location
CONS
Limited free version
Profiles lack substance
SPECS
Name
Value
Video Calls
Desktop App
Starting Price
$24.99 per month
Mobile App
Free Account Offered
Hinge
Best for Beautiful Profiles
Why We Picked ItHinge’s attractive, elaborate profiles give you a good sense of what a person’s about, and provide multiple ways to engage with their interests. Take it further through video chat. Use the “Dating From Home” menu to start video calls, and get intimate with audio recordings that answer Hinge’s creative icebreaker prompts.Who It’s ForHinge strikes an excellent balance for people looking for something between the youthful immediacy of modern dating apps and the deeper dives you want when looking for a stronger connection. Hinge’s profiles do it all, and look beautiful while doing it.
PROS
Robust profiles
Multiple ways to like profiles
Great interplay between photos and text
Video chat and voice recordings
CONS
Limited likes for free users
Lacks a desktop version
SPECS
Name
Value
Video Calls
Desktop App
Starting Price
$29.99 per month
Mobile App
Free Account Offered
OkCupid
Best for Thoughtful Questions
Why We Picked ItDating apps let us learn so much more information about a potential partner than we ever could from a random conversation at a bar. OkCupid’s wide range of questions, from fun tidbits to serious dealbreakers, make your messages that much more informed and your romantic success that much more likely.Who It’s ForOkCupid is for people who want to choose how much they put out there. You can answer as many questions as you want to give the algorithm more data to work with, but you pick what you will and won’t answer. It feels empowering rather than overwhelming.
PROS
Most of the app can be used for free
Robust profiles
Inclusive identification options for gender and sexual identities
CONS
Search function sometimes returns errant results
Free interface serves ads and may invite casual browsers
No video chat
SPECS
Name
Value
Video Calls
Desktop App
Starting Price
$9.95 per month
Mobile App
Free Account Offered
Learn More
OkCupid Review
eharmony
Best for Test Takers
Why We Picked ItEharmony is a somewhat old-fashioned dating service. For example, it was a little slow to add same-sex options. However, with modern features like video dating alongside the classic questionnaire, eharmony has stayed current without giving up what already works. Who It’s ForEharmony is for people who want to date through data. Its extensive questionnaire uses more than 100 questions to take in as much useful information about you as possible. It then uses that data to find matches that are truly compatible in the long term.
PROS
Robust privacy and security features
Thorough profile-building process
No in-app transactions
Video dating
CONS
Expensive
Basic features locked behind paywall
Daunting sign-up survey
SPECS
Name
Value
Video Calls
Desktop App
Starting Price
$69.90 per month
Mobile App
Free Account Offered
Learn More
eharmony Review
Facebook Dating
Best for Facebook Users
Why We Picked ItA dating app can have all the features in the world, but it won’t matter if it has no users. As the world’s biggest social network, Facebook has nearly three billion users, and a lot of them are probably looking for love. Facebook Dating uses your Facebook/Instagram data to build a profile and connect you to other users for free. Don’t worry, none of this will be revealed on your main feed.Who It’s ForWe don’t blame you if you want to keep Facebook far away from your dating life. However, if you’re interested in leveraging the massive social media to help you find romance, Facebook Dating offers a platform no other app can match.
PROS
Rich profiles are easy to build
Connects with Instagram and other Facebook services
Information not shared on public Facebook
Completely free
CONS
Lacks a browser-based version
No built-in video chat
Requires a Facebook account
SPECS
Name
Value
Video Calls
Desktop App
Starting Price
Free
Mobile App
Free Account Offered
Learn More
Facebook Dating Review
POF (Plenty of Fish)
Best for Messaging Without Limits
Why We Picked ItPlenty of Fish (POF) puts few obstacles between you and whoever you want to message in its vast dating ocean. It suggests prompts to improve your messages, too. You can even live stream yourself, to your date or to the whole POF community. Who It’s ForPlenty of Fish is a good dating app, especially for free users. While the low barrier to entry may invite a lot of spam (or folks not worth dating), ultimately you want a large pool to choose from, and the service delivers just that.
PROS
Few messaging limits
Simple onboarding
Many prompts that encourage you to send quality messages
Live video streaming
CONS
Free messaging could mean more spam accounts
Can’t link outside accounts like Instagram or Spotify
SPECS
Name
Value
Video Calls
Desktop App
Starting Price
$19.99 per month
Mobile App
Free Account Offered
Learn More
POF (Plenty of Fish) Review
Buying Guide: The Best Dating Apps for 2024
(Credit: Facebook)
Which Dating Apps Are Free?The first thing you need to decide is your commitment level. As in, how much do you want to pay to make your heart go pitter-patter? Some apps, like Plenty of Fish, let you view profiles and send messages for free. Most of the others let you view your potential matches without charging you a penny, but they make you pony up and subscribe if you want to reach out to them without limits—especially if the interest is one-sided. While the monthly charges for the apps we review here range in price from $10 to more than $40, most offer a discount if you commit to a long-term subscription, such as six months or a year. (You’re not afraid of commitment, are you?) Tinder even lets you show off by choosing to spend $500 per month as a VIP.Then there are all the add-ons. Options—for example, letting you pay to boost your ranking in search results, letting someone know that you are really, really interested in them, or undoing a dreaded left-swipe that was supposed to be a right-swipe—cost you extra. Although some apps may advertise themselves as free, they all try to get a buck from you in the end. Only Facebook Dating is totally free, and that’s only if you don’t consider your existing personal Facebook profile data to be currency.
(Credit: Bumble)
How to Make the Best Dating App ProfileWhen it comes time to put yourself out there and create a profile, all apps ask for the basics: name, age, location, a photo, a short blurb about yourself, and (usually) if you can stand a person who smokes. Beyond that, it can be a bit of a crapshoot. For example, Tinder values photos over personality. Eharmony makes you fill out a length questionnaire before you can even think about browsing for your match. Still, Zoosk and other similar apps ask so little that you’re left to wonder what’s being used to match you with like-minded love-seekers.If you don’t fall into the cis-hetero dating pool, you’ll be happy to know that most of the apps reviewed here are inclusive. Even eharmony finally embraced same-gender couples. However, some are friendlier to the LGBTQ community than others. For example, OkCupid goes beyond forcing users to choose between being a male or female, including options like Hijra, genderfluid, and two-spirit. Other apps target identities beyond gender and sexuality. For example, Kippo’s nerd-friendly features attract gamers, Vinylly connects matches people through a shared love of music, and SilverSingles reskins EliteSingles for a senior audience.
(Credit: Hinge)
Finding Matches on Dating AppsOnce you pick that perfect selfie and write paragraphs to sell all your best attributes to your future digital Valentine, it’s time to start browsing. This is where the significant differences between these apps are apparent. For instance, Tinder, with its famous hot-or-not swiping interface, makes it quick and easy to find your next date. Bumble, on the other hand, puts all the power in women’s hands; men can’t even contact a woman unless she’s first expressed interest. Others, such as Match and OkCupid, have robust profiles that let you dive deep into a user’s personality (or at least the one they decided to present to you), before you decide to go on the pursuit. Hinge lets users create profiles that are a beautiful blend of visuals and text.Now that you’ve perused the dating pool and have your eyes on that special someone, it’s time to bite the bullet and actually reach out to them. Each app offers different ways of showing your interest. Match lets you Wink at a fellow member for free, and Plenty of Fish doesn’t charge for messaging. In most dating apps, messaging is typically free when both users like each other. However, free users only get so many likes per day, with Hinge being especially limited. In other instances, you’ll get charged for reaching out. If you’re not ready to express your feelings in words, Bumble lets you send Bumble Coins to prospective matches, for $2 a pop. Zoosk lets you buy coins to anonymously browse profiles, as well as reward anyone who views your own profile (for an additional fee, of course).
How to go on a virtual date during the coronavirus pandemic
Staying Safe on Dating AppsAll of these services, even the decades-old Match, offer both Android apps and iPhone apps. Most also have desktop counterparts for when you’re at work and want to take a break from your spreadsheet to set up a weekend tryst. Just be aware that the functionality can vary substantially between the app and desktop interfaces. For example, there’s no swiping on Tinder’s browser version. Facebook Dating and Hinge are only available as mobile apps.Once you’ve installed these apps and signed up for the services, get ready for a barrage of notifications and email. Some, like daily match suggestions, are helpful, while others, like alerts that tell you every new “like” you get, can just be annoying. The good thing is you can easily tweak these alerts by drilling down into the settings menus in each of the apps.Any activity that involves meeting strangers from the internet carries some safety risks. If you find yourself in a toxic situation and need to cut off contact, all of these apps let you block and report users who haven’t taken the hint. These services try to vet their profiles and keep unwanted inappropriate material from appearing. Bumble blurs nudes with AI. Tinder offers multiple verification tools and lets you secretly alert emergency services if you’re on a particularly bad date. There are even third-party solutions. UrSafe is a hands-free, voice-activated personal safety app with features for online daters who are looking to meet up with their matches in-person. Not having to use your hands is especially appealing during a viral pandemic, which brings us to our next section.
Recommended by Our Editors
Video Dating AppsIdeally, online dating should lead to meeting in real life. However, sometimes it’s good to break the ice beforehand. The most straightforward virtual dating solution is video chatting, which lets you at least see each other face to face instead of just texting. Bumble, eharmony, Hinge, Match, Plenty of Fish, and Tinder all offer video chat. Apps with more specific target audiences are also adopting this feature, including the mobile-only Muslim dating app Muzz. Snack introduces TikTok-style video functionality to dating profiles. Beyond chatting, video adds other useful features, such as age verification and scam thwarting.
How to Avoid Online Dating Scams
Which Dating App Should You Use?Dating is hard, so we did some of the legwork for you by taking a deep dive into 10 of the most popular apps. We weren’t popular enough to get into The League, the dating app for celebrities. Everyone’s needs and wants are different, so not every app will be a great fit for you. Match and Tinder are both Editors’ Choice picks because they excel in their respective lanes: lasting relationships and fast hookups. Other apps have strengths, too, and you can learn more by reading our in-depth reviews. If things don’t work out, we have a handy list of the best breakup apps, too.For more on dating, check out: How I Ended Up in a Tinder Ad Campaign, Match vs. Tinder: Which Dating Service Deserves Your Everlasting Love?, Best Hookup Apps, Secrets From a Dating App Founder, and Caught in a Sham Romance: How to Spot Online Dating Scams.
