Best Dating Sites

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Women's Dating
Once I graduated college, I started thinking about settling down, finding love, and all that jazz, so I did what any millennial would do and looked on the internet for the best dating apps for women. This was quite a few years ago, and it took some trial and error before I found my way.
I learned a lot from all that messaging and swiping. I learned to respond briefly to formulaic questions like “How are you?” and “What do you like to do for fun?” I learned not to add pictures showing cleavage, unless I wanted to attract sleazy “sup girl” messages. But, most of all, I learned that online dating isn’t actually as scary or intimidating as I’d imagined.
Straight and bisexual women generally have an edge in the online dating world because men outnumber women on most popular dating apps, but women have to choose the right female-friendly dating platform first. So we’ve picked out our favorite dating apps to help women of all orientations have a great experience.
We don’t believe in delayed gratification or saving the best for last at DatingAdvice.com. We like to start strong with the best of the best right at the top of our lists. Below, you’ll find our picks for the most overall effective and successful dating apps for women.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
3.8 Million* | Free Download |
As a popular dating app, Zoosk tops our list because it uses socially savvy features to inspire conversations between flirtatious users.
It’s free to create a profile on Zoosk and send winks to anyone you’re interested in, and the dating platform also has special features and upgrades available if you want to up your game. There’s no pressure to subscribe, though. Zoosk offers a limited number of free messages to users, so you don’t need to pay anything to chat online.
In 2014, Bumble launched on a mission to change the online dating scene and make it a better place for women everywhere. The dating app marketed itself as the female-friendly alternative to Tinder, and millions of singles jumped on board. The idea is pretty simple: 1) Give women the power to message first 2) Keep creepy guys from sending unsolicited… chats. That’s it. There is no step three.
Women on Bumble are in the driver’s seat. Always. They’re the ones who can decide if a match with a man turns into a conversation. If they don’t send a message within 24 hours of the match, it disappears forever.
Bumble has made headlines as the world’s first female-friendly dating app.
Bumble’s motto is, “Life is short. Make the first move.” And its users live by that mantra. It may feel odd at first to always send that “hey, how are you?” message, but many single women enjoy having that power and no longer feeling like prey in the online dating scene.
In the last couple years, Bumble has expanded its reach beyond the dating world and given people a way to make new friends and network with potential colleagues on the app.
Dating can be an expensive pastime — the average American spends over $1,500 a year on dating-related costs– so it’s worth looking for ways to save anywhere you can. Your journey to keep dating costs down can start by finding a free dating site that has enough free features to help you meet someone.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
13.5 Million* | Free Download |
When you think of a free dating site, you may not think of Match, which has long put up a paywall to keep undesirable people from spamming users. However, Match does give its users limited free communication. What that means is you can read some of your messages and even send replies without subscribing to Match.
Couples can meet on the dating site and become yet another Match success story without paying anything.
You won’t have access to everything on Match with a free membership, but it gives you enough leeway to have a great conversation and land a date. And, if you end up liking people on the dating site, you can always upgrade your account. Match’s monthly subscription costs less than dinner at a nice restaurant, so you don’t have to break open your piggy bank just to send a message.
Hinge is a quality-driven dating app geared toward singles who want to find a relationship. The app has upgraded the traditional swiping functionality by adding more photos and personal details to every profile and requiring users to comment or like these posts to make a match.
Hinge’s game-changing interface encourages users to get to know one another on a deeper level right from the start. The profiles can include fun prompts like “two truths and a lie” and “favorite Disney movie,” or singles can choose to tell potential matches “what I’m looking for” and “my pet peeves.” The app allows singles to personalize their profiles, so you’re more than just a pretty face.
Hinge’s main goal is to get people off the app and into serious relationships.
From the outset, Hinge has striven to support singles who want more than a meaningless chat and hookup. The app focuses on personality and compatibility to drive every new match. The app even has a We Met feature so it can learn which couples hit it off in person and suggest more dateworthy folks in the Discover section.
I met my significant other on Hinge, and so did presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, so you can rest assured this app works if you’re serious about finding someone.
Women in the LGBTQ+ community can sometimes feel neglected by the online dating scene. Lesbian and bisexual women can have a tough time avoiding the creeps and finding one another on some apps.
However, LGBTQ-friendly dating apps have made an effort to level the playing field and provide a safe, nonjudgmental space for women of all orientations.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles* |
43%*
57%*
|
290,000* | Free Download |
Women love EliteSingles because it offers a high-caliber dating experience. The dating app and site cater to single professionals who want to be in a relationship. Its membership base tends to be well-educated, over-30, and highly successful.
According to the app’s internal stats, over 80% of EliteSingles members have graduated from college, and over 90% are interested in finding a committed relationship.
HER is a dating app created by womxn for womxn. The community includes over 4 million lesbian, bisexual, queer, and transgender womxn — and absolutely zero men. The moderators are quite strict about this rule, and verify all profiles through a social media-driven screening process.
Although HER is completely free to download, and you can also send messages for free, some members find they enjoy their time on the app more when they have certain premium features, including the ability to see who’s “online now.” The HER Premium Membership plans start at $14.99 per month.
HER is a social dating app with instant messaging, event pages, and a community-focused newsfeed.
HER is all about supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and it fosters a social atmosphere where members can discover events, share posts, and comment on photos. HER hosts social events in 15 cities worldwide, and it’s always coming up with new ways to increase engagement and show womxn they’re not alone.
Many couples use #WeMetOnHER to thank the team for bringing them together. “I can’t imagine my life without her ever again,” said Kelsey and Ashley, HER members who are now in a relationship.
Few people plan on being single in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, but then life happens. Relationships can end for all sorts of reasons, and then singles are left to start all over again. The only issue is that the dating scene has changed quite a bit in the last decade or so, and not everyone over 40 feels comfortable mingling in the online space.
Seniors are embracing online dating, slowly but surely, and many niche dating sites have cropped up to foster more mature dating spaces where people share similar values, experiences, and interests. Here are just two of the top dating sites for over-40 women.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Mature Singles (50+)* |
48%*
52%*
|
1.4 Million* | Free Download |
OurTime is technically for singles over 50, but the platform won’t turn away a 41-year-old single hoping for an elder match. OurTime was created to give mature daters a place they can call their own.
Most dating apps are dominated by 20- and 30-somethings — but not OurTime. The average OurTime user is over 55 and looking for companionship for their golden years. You can write in your profile if you’re looking for a friend, a casual date, or a relationship, and that can help compatible singles find you.
Relationships: Friendship, Casual Dates, Serious Relationships
Match System: Search by age, location, height, education, ethnicity, and religion
Our Experts Say: “SilverSingles caters to relationship-minded singles over 50 with simple, safe, and effective online dating tools...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
Mature Singles (50+)* |
41%*
59%*
|
800,000* | Sign up for FREE |
SilverSingles is another fantastic option for singles of a certain age. The app and site empowers its silver-haired members to come into their own in the online dating scene.
One thing that’s important to note is that SilverSingles is a strict over-50-only community. When you sign up, you will not be able to set up your profile if you are under 50 years old. Its moderators work hard to keep SilverSingles members safe and foster a friendly atmosphere for falling in love.
CoffeeMeetsBagel invites single women to “rediscover dating” and create romantic connections by paying closer attention to each profile. This dating app limits how many dating profiles users can like and view, thus ensuring that people slow down and place more value on the profiles in their inboxes.
A group of single women founded CoffeeMeetsBagel in April 2012, and the app has made more than 50 million matches since then.
CoffeeMeetsBagel began as a passion project of three enterprising women.
CoffeeMeetsBagel doesn’t throw singles together at random. Its curated match algorithm takes into account the individual’s dating preferences and past likes to identify the people who will pair well with one another. The goal is to introduce singles to their next boyfriend or girlfriend, and that’s a job the team takes seriously.
In the words of the team, “We create meaningful connections that spark hearts and inspire people to share themselves authentically and enthusiastically.”
Dating can be difficult if you’re looking for a particular type of person — but that doesn’t mean you should throw your standards out the window. You can find more targeted matches by exploring a niche dating site or using advanced search features on a general dating site.
If you’re a black or biracial woman, you can use the following two dating apps to diversify your date prospects and meet people who share similar backgrounds.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Black Singles* |
47%*
53%*
|
1.4 Million* | Free Download |
Since 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has been the go-to dating site and app for black and biracial singles in the U.S. and Canada. It has a lot of street cred, and there’s a good reason for that.
If you read through BlackPeopleMeet’s success stories, you’ll see that a lot of couples have fallen in love on the platform, and some have overcome great distances to be together. BlackPeopleMeet welcomes users of all backgrounds. Anyone who wants to date black singles can create a free profile, reach out to the community, and see what happens.
OkCupid is a 100% free dating app (and site) where singles can send messages to anyone they like for as long as they like. The app welcomes singles of all ages, orientations, and ethnicities, and its team has actually studied how race impacts attraction so it can support greater inclusivity and diversity.
Originally, when it launched in 2004, OkCupid was an online dating free-for-all, and women quickly became buried under a pile of unanswered, unsolicited messages. That wasn’t a great situation for anyone, so the OkCupid team rectified this by making it so only messages from your mutual matches will show up in your inbox — the rest will appear as introductory messages on the person’s profile.
OkCupid makes over 91 million connections every year.
OkCupid puts its users first and operates under the mantra “Dating deserves better.” Many women praise the filtering features, compatibility ratings, and free chat tools on OkCupid.
“Honestly, this app is pretty cool,” said Scarlet Number, who had never tried online dating before OkCupid. “With the personal questions, you can choose to answer privately or publicly. I feel like they can accurately gauge the character behind the profile.”
Religion is an important consideration when you’re dating someone. Interfaith marriage has become increasingly common in the U.S., but it’s not everyone’s first choice. Differences in faith can lead to conflict and compromise, and it’s just easier when you’re on the same page about things like going to church on Sunday.
Women seeking a good Christian relationship can look to the following dating apps for their salvation, at least where romance is concerned.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Straight Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
4.1 Million* | Free Download |
Although it isn’t a Christian-only app, eharmony has attracted a strong Christian audience. The Founder of eharmony was a Christian theologian, and he made Christian values the foundation of the platform.
With its psychology-driven matchmaking system, eharmony seeks to strengthen marriages and lead men and women to their soul mates. Many Christian singles have put their faith in the app’s match recommendations and been rewarded, and you can read its success stories on the site.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Christian Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
2.4 Million* | Free Download |
As you can tell by its name, ChristianMingle appeals to Christians in the online dating scene. Its members tend to be faith-driven individuals who believe in the power of God-centered relationships.
ChristianMingle used to serve a Christian-only community, but it has recently done the Christian thing and opened its doors to people of all faiths. Now anyone who wants to date or marry a Christian can create a free profile here.
Not all daters download an app hoping to find The One. Some just want to find one-night stands. If that’s the case, a general-purpose dating app may not do it for you. Anyone who wants to be in the fast lane of the online dating scene can download a hookup app to take things up a notch. Hookup apps attract sexually active singles and give them plenty of room to mingle.
We’ve picked out two trustworthy hookup apps that can help single women explore their sexuality without restraint.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
13.3 Million* | Free Download |
BeNaughty offers sexually active singles a place where they can pursue their desires and hook up with local dates. The dating platform has safety features that help it spot scammers and that ensure individuals behave themselves, but, as long as they follow the terms of use, people have free rein to do as they please.
BeNaughty currently reaches a global audience with millions of horny members in the U.S., the U.K., Spain, France, Italy, Canada, Australia, and beyond.
Tinder is one of the most well-known dating apps ever, so it may come as a surprise that it’s ranked 15th on our list. After all, it has made over 30 billion (yes, billion, with a B) matches since 2012, so it must be a great place to meet people, right?
Undeniably, you can meet a ton of singles on Tinder. The app has upwards of 57 million members. However, it’s not exactly a female-friendly environment. Tinder has the reputation of a hookup app, and a lot of guys hang out there hoping to score an easy date.
As a fast-paced hookup app, Tinder appeals primarily to teenagers and 20-somethings.
Tinder encourages what it calls #SwipeLife by highlighting photos over personal information and forcing singles to make split-second hot-or-not decisions on the app. This can lead to true emotional connections and relationships, but it’s more likely to lead to one-night stands and hookups.
If you’re into that, then that’s great, download Tinder and enjoy yourself, by all means. But women who are looking for something more than a flaky and superficial dating scene should consider the options further up on this list.
If you’ve never tried online dating before, you may wonder how effective it’ll even be. Will anyone like you back? Will your matches lead to dates? Will it be a colossal waste of time? Those questions were in my head, too, when I took the plunge into the dating world. You can’t really know the answers — you just have to click download and hope for the best.
Singles can use modern technology to make their dating lives much easier.
Dating apps can help singles meet a lot of new people in a short span of time, and that’s a valuable thing to carry around in your pocket. And it’s free. So, really, what do you have to lose?
We definitely think online dating is worth it, especially if you’re looking for a long-term relationship. The compatibility ratings, location-based matches, and instant chat features all reinforce strong romantic connections, and it’s honestly just fun to have so many options in the dating world.
Yes, swiping, matching, and meeting singles day after day can be a bit time-consuming. It can be nerve-wracking. It can even be emotionally draining. But it’s not all ghosting and catfishing out there. Lots of people have found their soul mates in the virtual world. You never know when you’ll find a spark and connect with someone on a deeper level, and that’s something worth signing up for.
Yes, dating sites and apps can work and help singles find dates, relationships, and even marriage. We’ve heard countless love stories from couples who met online, but online dating’s success goes beyond mere anecdotes.
In 2019, The Knot asked more than 14,000 engaged or recently married brides how they met their spouses and 19% said they met online, while only 12% met at work, 15% met in college, and 22% met through friends.
Couples who met online also report being happier with their relationships, and some evidence suggests that they are less likely to divorce as well. A majority of Americans now consider online dating to be a good way to meet people, and its stigma is all-but nonexistent.
Yes, couples can use Tinder to look for a partner interested in a threeway, but Tinder was not designed for that purpose, so you may not have great luck. A lot of bisexual women dislike being approached by couples or “unicorn hunters” on apps geared toward singles. They’re not there for a threesome — they’re there for a relationship.
Tinder doesn’t have explicit match options for couples, but some couples have joined.
Couples can (and should) write in their shared Tinder profile that they’re looking for a threesome — definitely do not surprise someone with that information halfway through your match — but Tinder probably isn’t going to be the best dating ground for you and your partner. It just doesn’t work that way. It doesn’t attract the right open-minded crowd.
These dating apps for couples will better suit your needs and give you access to swingers who don’t mind mixing things up now and then.
Online dating was a game changer for my dating experience. Suddenly, all it took was a couple minutes of swiping and chatting, and — boom — I’d land a date for Saturday. That’s a powerful feeling, and it’s exciting to have so many date opportunities at your fingertips.
Of course, not all dating apps are going to give you such a lovely, stress-free experience. You’ve got to do your research and figure out which ones cater to your needs or demographics. Hopefully, giving you a breakdown of the top dating apps for women has helped clarify how these apps works and how you can make them work for you. Good luck!
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