Best Europe Dating Apps

Online Dating

12 Best Europe Dating Apps & Sites (Sep. 2023)

Amber Brooks

Written by: Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks is the Editor-in-Chief at DatingAdvice.com. When she was growing up, her family teased her for being "boy crazy," but she preferred to think of herself as a budding dating and relationship expert. As an English major in college, Amber honed her communication skills to write clearly, knowledgeably, and passionately about a variety of subjects. Now with over 1,800 lifestyle articles to her name, Amber brings her tireless wit and relatable experiences to DatingAdvice.com.

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Edited by: Lillian Castro

Lillian Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of journalism experience to ensure DatingAdvice articles have been edited for overall clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, The Gwinnett Daily News, and The Gainesville Sun covering lifestyle topics.

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Whether you’re backpacking across the continent, living your best expat life, traveling for business, or reconnecting to your family history, you probably have high expectations for romance while in Europe. The movies make it seem like every bakery and bistro is teeming with love interests, but in reality it’s easier to find love in a European country when you visit a solid Europe dating app or site.

International dating sites and apps help people seeking love and casual sex outside of their home country.

Some online dating services for those living in or traveling through Europe are just an extension of a larger network, while others are specific platforms for international connections. No matter which chat avenue or dating route you choose, you can find a lot of potential matches on the right platform.

★★★★★
EliteSingles.com 4.7/5.0

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

4.7/5.0

Relationships: Serious Relationships

Match System: Search, Receive Partner Suggestions

Our Experts Say: “EliteSingles is a leading dating site just for busy, single professionals. More than 80% of members have earned a college degree, and most are looking for a serious commitment…” Full Review »

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Although Elite Singles isn’t only for international daters, the dating site definitely attracts an upscale international base of active users. Frequently selected as the best dating site for highly educated daters, Elite Singles attracts a higher caliber of people, with over 80% of the members holding a Bachelor’s degree or better. 

Elite Singles is a popular dating platform that streamlines every step of the online dating process. Signup is quick and easy, though you’ll have to wait a little while after submitting your information for approval and verification. Once you’ve signed up, Elite Singles sends curated potential matches directly to you, which eliminates a lot of the legwork. 

2. Match

★★★★★
Match.com 4.9/5.0

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

4.9/5.0

Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships

Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more

Our Experts Say: “As the largest and most diverse dating site in the world, Match features profiles of millions of local singles and a popular app. If you only try one dating service, make it Match…” Full Review »

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Match consistently gets top ratings from experts ranking the best dating apps, and it’s a big favorite among our experts for very good reason. While the gem of the Match Group network isn’t specifically a European dating site or app, Match operates around the world, with country-specific sites in France, the UK, Germany and other countries. Whether you’re in the US or traveling, you can connect with singles looking for a long-term relationship on Match anywhere in the world.

Once you’ve signed up, you can browse for a potential partner based on the criteria you select, including location and ethnicity. Match also uses a person’s date criteria to suggest Top Picks from among the user base. You can contact your Top Picks for free, no mutual match required. For full access to private messages and chatting, you may want the paid membership option.

★★★★★
eharmony 4.8/5.0

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

4.8/5.0

Relationships: Casual Dates, Deep Relationships

Match System: Personality test suggests matches

Our Experts Say: “Simply put, eharmony is where you go if you’d like to speed up the marriage process. Complete a free questionnaire, get matched for free, and find your lifelong partner all in one fell swoop…” Full Review »

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It may come as a surprise that eharmony is also popular outside the US, but the long-term relationship dating site includes members from around the world, especially in Europe. The eharmony approach to matching is based on intense compatibility and starts with its in-depth personality test and the features the dating site uses to help bring singles together.

A key advantage that eharmony offers for European dating is the ability to filter potential matches by geographic location, which means you can start contacting people before you even land in your new city, to get to know them and have a preset social life. With the premium membership package, you can also use voice chat options to get a better idea of who you’re talking to. 

4. Zoosk

★★★★★
Zoosk 4.7/5.0

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

4.7/5.0

Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships

Match System: Search and get match recommendations

Our Experts Say: “Geared toward young singles, Zoosk boasts a lengthy free trial and an huge user base (including straight, gay, and lesbian singles). Its app’s chat room-like feel makes it one of our favorites…” Full Review »

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Zoosk started out in 2007 as a Facebook app extension, so it’s no surprise that the online dating app and site feel more like a social network than a traditional dating platform. If you want to connect with European singles without having to pay for a premium subscription, Zoosk provides a lot of opportunities.

While search options are more limited on Zoosk compared with those on other dating sites, the online dating site does provide a daily recommended match based on your set criteria and your swiping patterns. It’s also easy to sign up using your social media profile to fill in your details and verify who you are. The Zoosk platform has members around the world, from South America to Eastern Europe, so you’re sure to find someone you like in the country you’re interested in.

★★★★★
OurTime.com 4.5/5.0

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

4.5/5.0

Relationships: Dates and Relationships

Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more

Our Experts Say: “OurTime is our top choice for free senior dating, with a simple interface and tons of mature and senior users. Its site, app, and free trial are for those 50 and older only…” Full Review »

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Dating in Europe isn’t just for young folks, and the dating site OurTime recognizes that seniors seek international love affairs as well. The 50+ dating platform makes it easy for older singles around the world to find love and romance, friendship and even casual dates. From signup to customer service, OurTime keeps things simple, guiding seniors through the process.

Easy-to-navigate search filters help you sort matches based on location, relationship type, interests, background, and religion, among other criteria. As an added benefit, OurTime hosts in-person events around the world, so if you want to get social while you’re traveling, you can sign up and join in on the fun.

6. OkCupid

While OkCupid isn’t based in Europe, the international dating service has a large user base in several European countries. As part of the Match Group, OkCupid sets itself apart by offering all its core services for free, so signup, browsing, and messaging users doesn’t cost single people a thing.

Okcupid screenshot
OkCupid has an international database and doesn’t put local limits on browsing.

Another key benefit for international singles is the fact that the dating platform’s search filters enable you to specify locations. You can search for compatible people not just in another country, but within a certain distance of specific cities, so if you’re new in town or planning to visit particular places on a trip, you can score a date before your plane has even landed.

7. Happn

If you want more spontaneity in your online dating efforts, Happn is the mobile dating app for you. The service, launched by French entrepreneurs Didier Rappaport, Fabien Cohen and Antony Cohen, has a simple premise: to put you in contact with the people who tend to be in the same places you are. Happn runs in the background on your phone and works like a metal detector for potential dates. Whenever you happen to cross the path of another user, the app tracks that information and serves it up in a daily offering of matches.

Once you’ve received your report on people whose paths you’ve crossed throughout your day, you have the option to “like” their profiles. If both you and the other person like what you see, you connect and communicate to set up a date. You can also play Crush Time, which presents you with four different profiles and lets you guess which of the four already liked your profile. While all the basic features are free, a premium membership gives you plenty of perks, from Invisible Mode to better access to Crush Time.

8. eDarling

Compatibility-based dating is far from new, but German dating site eDarling takes things to a scientific level. The dating network is massively popular in its native country, but it’s also a favored choice throughout Europe, with success stories stemming from couples who met each other across international borders. 

eDarling screenshot
The eDarling platform is based in Germany and serves European singles.

The dating site uses the Big Five personality traits model, offering each new user the same questionnaire and then matching members based on compatibility of traits. But the scientific approach doesn’t stop there. Fake profiles are a plague for every dating site, and eDarling takes a unique approach to monitoring for them: An AI system paired with verification processes makes it a lot harder for scammers to get a foothold on the platform. 

9. SingleMuslim

Muslim singles in Europe often struggle to maintain their cultural values while also finding love, and the team behind SingleMuslim endeavors to help. Leveraging the social practices in predominantly Muslim cultures, friends and family can set up your profile for you, or you can set it up yourself, and browse for potential partners in privacy and security. Female users on the site and dating app get full access for free, but men must pay for premium membership to access all features and especially for communication purposes.

If you’re looking for marriage and want to find eligible singles in Europe, SingleMuslim provides a safe, respectable atmosphere for your search.

10. TapDat

If you’re looking for a happy ending, as opposed to a happily-ever-after, TapDat offers a sex-positive approach to dating apps that puts security and a judgment-free atmosphere first. The interface is clean and respectful, and the users are straightforward about their casual dating desires.

TapDat screenshot
TapDat is a hookup app that empowers singles to create intimate connections.

For hookup seekers in the UK and US, the app promotes security through verification systems that prove you’re a real person and offers discretion and privacy to talk about what you’re looking for after you’ve found a match. The people behind the platform also encourage honesty and safe sexual practices, and welcome everyone to the platform.

11. eLoveDates

If you want to keep your dating life a little more social, eLoveDates is a solid platform for you, with an emphasis on community and friendship as well as finding love. The free dating site offers a forum and chat room experience to connect with strangers, as well as the ability to search for potential partners and matches for romantic connections around the world.

Connecting with strangers is what eLoveDates is all about, and the site maintains a community across multiple European countries and is supported in several languages. The best part? All of the features on eLoveDates are free.

12. muzz

Formerly known as muzzmatch, muzz is an app to help Muslim singles around the world find love and compatible marriage partners who share their faith and culture. Since Muslim cultural values don’t often allow for casual dating, the app provides a go-between, a kind of virtual matchmaking system where singles can chat and get to know each other without crossing any lines. While all members get free access to chatting options with a mutual match, Gold members get bonus perks, including the ability to message someone out of the blue once per day. 

FAQs: What’s the Best Dating App for Free Chatting With Europeans?

Several online dating platforms offer free chat options for members around the world, so finding a dating app to talk to potential European partners is easier than you may think.

Facebook Dating launched in 2019 with a straightforward premise: to use Facebook’s infrastructure to bring people together for long-term relationships and hookups alike. Just as with the parent platform, Facebook Dating offers all of its core features for free, so finding and chatting with European singles won’t cost you a thing.

Screenshots of Facebook Dating
Facebook Dating offers free messaging between all mutual matches and secret crushes.

International Cupid is part of a larger network of niche dating sites, allowing members who are interested in a little international romance to find each other and connect. The dating website isn’t limited to European countries, but you can use your profile as a starting point on one of the country-specific sites in the Cupid Media network. 

Plenty of Fish has been around for a long time, and the free dating site and app remain popular because the team behind them sticks with the standards set in the beginning: free signup, free contact options including chat, and everyone is welcome. It’s easy to get started on the online dating service, and you don’t have to pay a penny to contact the European singles of your dreams.

Is Tinder a Popular Dating App in Europe?

Tinder is very popular in Europe, with France, Spain, Germany, Belgium and the UK all landing in the top 10 for Tinder downloads globally. In fact, by some estimates, Tinder could be the most popular dating app in the world, with over 530 million downloads. 

Tinder Plus is an attractive option for people who travel a lot, since the premium membership package lets you “passport” to other locations, which comes in handy for setting up a date before you even arrive in a country. 

Which Eastern Europe Dating Service is Good for Meeting Singles?

People looking for love in Eastern Europe have a lot of options for their preferred online dating platform. While jokes about “mail order brides” persist, a lot of singles in Eastern European countries want to find meaningful relationships outside of their country.

If you’re a single man looking for a Ukraine date, GenerationLove can help connect you with the perfect match. The Eastern European dating site keeps things simple, with registration that takes less than a minute to complete. Signup, browsing, and your first message are free, but you don’t get unlimited communication on the platform unless you pay for the premium membership.

“The meetings were well organized by GenerationLove, and the interpreter translated everything very well. I am still in contact with Valentina. We are building our relationship.” — Rainer, 2018

YesDates helps Eastern European women connect with men all over Western Europe, the United States, and elsewhere to find a potential partner for long-term love. The online dating service works hard to avoid some of the biggest issues with most dating sites, using backend security and I.D. verification systems to prevent the fake profile trolls and scammers. YesDates also offers video chat to help you connect before you make the arrangements to meet in person.

Ladadate is a more traditional marriage-oriented online dating service. Think of it like a digital matchmaker for Slavic single women to find compatible matches for marriage around the world. The platform doesn’t shy away from the “mail order brides” moniker because the people behind it don’t see any reason to be ashamed. Users can connect and discover someone with similar interests, before planning a first meeting and making arrangements for a long-term relationship. 

Europe Dating Is Much Easier When You Start Online

Finding love in another country can be tricky, especially when you’re not fully adapted to the customs and culture. Online dating sites make it easy for international singles to connect and get to know each other before they meet in person, taking some of the stress out of finding the perfect match.

Whether you’re looking for a one-night stand in a new country, or want to find romance while you’re working overseas, European dating apps and sites make it easy to meet new friends and encounter new lovers anywhere in the world. Log on and find your next romantic adventure!

Is EliteSingles (4.7/5.0) Right for You?

Hopefully, our guide “12 Best Europe Dating Apps & Sites (Sep. 2023)” and our recommendation of EliteSingles will help fulfill your dating needs.

Remember that sites like EliteSingles can have their pros and cons. With 2 Million users per month and an expert rating of 4.7/5.0, EliteSingles has many features to like:

  • Free membership option as well as a variety of affordable subscription choices.
  • In-depth personality test provides accurate and intelligent matchmaking.
  • Advanced privacy and safety tools.
  • Customer Care Team (based in Germany) available via contact form, phone, and mail.
  • Intuitive app helps connect busy singles date on the go.
  • Helpful blog written by experts who dish out advice that singles can actually implement into their dating lives.
  • Responsible for over 2,000 new relationships each month.

But that’s not the whole story on EliteSingles. Among its drawbacks:

  • Not an appropriate site for singles who just want a casual date or hookup.
  • The signup process can be time-consuming because of the Personality Test.
  • Only Premium Members have unlimited communication on the site.

For further research, be sure to check out our full review of EliteSingles, where we break down its 4.7 rating, its usability, and what its 2 Million monthly users get from their EliteSingles profiles. Or check out these EliteSingles alternatives if you’d like to consider similar options we recommend.

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