12 Best College Dating Apps (2024)

When I was in college, I was in no hurry to find a relationship. I saw my 20s as a golden opportunity to try new things and find out what I liked best. I was single, I was free, and I was determined to make the most of it.

If you feel similarly, then you should check out college dating apps. These footloose and fancy-free platforms were designed to satisfy the youthful, adventurous, and experimental spirit of today’s college-aged singles. It’s not just about hookup culture — it’s about discovering who you are and finding your place in the dating scene. Maybe that’s by one person’s side, or maybe it’s playing the field.

We’ve done our homework and researched the best dating apps for college singles, and we’ve even done some extra credit by answering frequently asked questions found along the way. Take notes, and you might learn something.

Starting off our list are the dating apps that consistently rank at the top of the class. They break the curve. They ace the test. Most importantly, they get results. If you want to make the grade in the college dating scene, then start by downloading these top-rated apps.

1. Match.com

★★★★★

4.9/5.0

Available on: iOS, Android

• Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships
• Match System: Browse by location, age, interest, and more
• About the App: Available via the App Store and Google Play, Match is a fantastic app for dates and relationships. With a user base of 30 million singles, Match is where you'll have a high chance of success. It's free to download, create a profile, search for date prospects, and receive compatible matches based on personalized preferences. Free members can also chat with select members and send unlimited likes.
• Browse Free: View Profiles Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	App Cost
All Singles*	49%* 51%*	13.5 Million*	Free Download

Launched in 1995, Match is about the same age as many of its most active users. The dating site and app have years of experience and wisdom when it comes to matchmaking, and that’s helpful for young singles just starting to find their way.

While only 25% of Match.com members are under 30, the young people who do create accounts here do so because they’re tired of playing games and swiping blindly through dates. The Match app gives them a chance to slow down, consider their options, and get to know dates on a personal level.

Match has become particularly popular among college-educated singles — nearly 75% of its members have attended college — because it offers personality-driven tools to set singles up for success in the online dating scene.

2. EliteSingles

★★★★★

4.9/5.0

Available on: iOS, Android

• Relationships: Deep Relationships
• Match System: Search by education, lifestyle habits, age
• About the App: Commitment-minded, professional daters will feel at home with EliteSingles, which can be downloaded for free in the App Store or Google Play. Not only is everyone looking for a long-term partner, but 80% of members hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree. EliteSingles sees 210,000 visitors and 2,500 users finding love every month, so it's one of the fastest growing and most reputable apps.
• Browse Free: View Profiles Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	App Cost
All Singles*	43%* 57%*	290,000*	Free Download

EliteSingles is for the go-getter singles who don’t want to settle for second-rate dates. This upscale dating app uses a smart matching system to bring compatible people together and help them break the ice.

The biggest upside to EliteSingles is its high-quality dating pool. Over 85% of EliteSingles members have attended college and are pursuing careers in medicine, law, business, and other professional fields. These are serious folks seeking a serious relationship, and they’re willing to invest in the app’s premium features.

EliteSingles is a pay-to-chat app that attracts successful singles looking for that missing piece of the puzzle in their lives. It’s free to create an account and see what it has to offer you.

3. Tinder

If you’ve been single for a minute, you’ve probably heard about Tinder, and maybe you’ve even tried it out before. This dating app is the go-to wingman for many 20-somethings. In fact, the median age on Tinder is 26.

When it launched in 2012, Tinder invented swiping and offered singles a new way to sift through the dating scene. College singles immediately embraced it, and the app has been a fixture in the college dating scene ever since.

Tinder empowers singles to create matches, enjoy flirting, and date multiple people at once.

Tinder is the top dog in the online dating scene with impressive stats to back up its success. The dating app leads to over 1 million dates per week, and it sees over 2 billion views per day. Plus, it’s gotten some rave reviews on Google Play and the App Store.

“It’s a really good app to meet new people and experience new things,” said Chance Scott in a review. “Perfect for new-to-town people.”

Let’s be honest, most college students are on a tight budget. Broke college student memes are funny but also painfully true. Between meals, books, fees, and rent, it’s hard to save some cash for fun stuff — like non-used furniture and non-broken kitchen appliances — much less for online dating.

Thankfully, we can save you a bundle of cash by recommending some completely free dating apps. After all, love shouldn’t cost a thing.

4. Zoosk

★★★★★

4.8/5.0

Available on: iOS, Android

• Relationships: Casual Dates, Relationships
• Match System: Search for and receive matches
• About the App: Zoosk is the number one app for finding dates, and if you sync up your Google+ or Facebook account, you can have a profile in seconds. The app has 38 million members and will deliver matches to your inbox on a daily basis based on your behavior such as who you search for, like or don't like, and message. The Carousel is another section for matching (tap the heart if it's a yes and the X if it's a no).
• Browse Free: View Profiles Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	App Cost
All Singles*	48%* 52%*	3.8 Million*	Free Download

Zoosk is a socially savvy dating app with many interactive and engaging features. Since launching in 2007, the app has amassed a global following of over 40 million singles, and its members send over 3 million messages a day via the app.

The Zoosk team has developed a one-of-a-kind behavioral matchmaking system that learns what singles like by observing which profiles they like, view, and message. Zoosk will recommend compatible dating profiles in the Carousel and SmartPick sections, but it also has advanced search filters to help singles find attractive dates on their own.

It’s free to download Zoosk and browse dating profiles, send likes, and see if anyone sticks out. Zoosk also offers limited chatting to free members (you’ll only get to respond to certain messages in your inbox, not everything), and it has affordable subscription packages that cost as little as $13 a month.

5. Bumble

Bumble

earned its reputation as the world’s first feminist dating app by consistently and unapologetically putting women first. In 2014, Bumble broke the standard online dating mold when it required women to send the first message once a mutual match had been struck between a man and a woman.

The female-led Bumble team essentially threw gender stereotypes out the window and empowered young women to be the deciders in the dating scene. Today, Bumble has the highest concentration of 20-somethings of any dating app.

Women can take control of their matches thanks to Bumble’s progressive setup.

It’s free to download Bumble, and it’s free to swipe on Bumble, and it’s free to chat on Bumble, so there’s really no reason to upgrade your account unless you’re dying to see your likes, get unlimited swipes, and boost your experience with premium features. These features are great perks, but they’re not necessary to picking up dates on Bumble.

6. OkCupid

OkCupid

is the original free dating app. Since 2004, the OkCupid team has promised to provide free signups, free matching, and free unlimited communication to all users, and that’s worked out pretty well for everyone involved. College students flock to OkCupid to try out the free features and discover dates who share similar lifestyles and interests.

The OkCupid matchmaking system is distinctly data-driven — after all, it was created by Harvard math majors — and uses a combination of in-depth profile information and personality questionnaire responses to calculate a compatibility rating that has proven correct time and time again.

Every year, OkCupid creates over 91 million love connections and unites singles of all ages.

OkCupid is sort of like the choose-your-own-adventure book of the online dating world. It can be anything you want it to be. Some singles use the app for hookups, others for friendships, and others for relationships. You can state in your dating profile what type of relationship you’re looking for, and the app will automatically pair you with singles who are seeking the same.

You never know what you’re going to find on OkCupid. I joined on a whim in my mid-20s, and I ended up meeting someone I dated for over a year. Check out these success stories to hear about other couples who hit it off on OkCupid.

Many people come out as LGBTQ+ when they’re in college. Maybe being away from home makes them feel comfortable creating a new identity. Maybe they meet attractive people and want to explore new romances. Maybe they’re just ready to be out and proud.

Whatever the reason, coming out as gay, lesbian, bi, queer, trans, or gender fluid can be liberating as well as challenging, and it helps to have the support of like-minded folks in the area. College-aged LGBTQ+ singles can benefit from the online communities accessible via dating apps. Not only are these great places to pick up dates, but they’re also good for meeting singles who fall across the spectrum of sexuality.

7. Grindr

Grindr

has been around since 2009, and it has become the go-to dating app for gay and bi men all around the world. As of 2017, the app had over 27 million users and saw about 8 million views per day.

Grindr is one of the most frequently used dating apps around with 70% of members checking the app on a daily basis. This is an action-packed, chat-friendly app where singles have to hustle if they want to connect. On average, Grindr members check the app six times a day.

The Grindr network is active in over 200 countries.

Men seeking men can use Grindr to find date prospects who are just around the corner or just across the bar from them. The app’s location-based matching system facilitates real-time connections, and it has been known to lead to late-night hookups and one-night stands.

“People know what they want on Grindr and aren’t afraid to unabashedly ask for it,” said an Elite Daily writer. “On Grindr, people are unbelievably forward. They aren’t afraid to text you, ‘Hey’ with a full nude of their bodies and dicks.”

8. HER

HER

, formerly known as Dattch, is a female-driven dating app where womxn can feel safe, welcome, and supported. Over 4 million lesbian, bisexual, trans, and other queer womxn have created dating profiles here and joined the diverse HER community.

When you log into HER, you’ll see a frequently updated news feed of photos, stories, and events shared by members in your area. You can like, comment, or RSVP on the app to start making new friends and building relationships with people.

HER is a social dating app where lesbian, queer, and bisexual womxn can meet new people.

HER’s core principles are to be supportive, inclusive, and fun for all womxn seeking connections. Its success stories are a testament to the good work the app does for LGBTQ womxn.

“We want to encourage love, open minds, and comfort,” the HER team says. “Whether in person or on the app, we want you to fully enjoy the community we have within HER.”

9. MenNation

★★★★★

3.4/5.0

Available on: iOS, Andriod

• Relationships: Strictly Hookups
• Match System: Search by location, interest, more
• About the App: MenNation is a casual sex brand that's been around since 1996, and more than 79 million turned-on singles and couples have joined ever since — making it one of the world's largest gay dating and hookup apps. Its free app only adds to its authority. Android and iOS compatible, MenNation doesn't charge anything to add the app to your phone, upload your information and photos, view profiles, and flirt.
• Browse Free: View Profiles Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	App Cost
Singles & Couples*	95%* 5%*	780,000*	Free Download

MenNation keeps guys entertained by promoting sexy profiles, fast chat tools, and stimulating blog content. The hookup platform caters to single men and gay couples in the mood to party.

After you create a free account on MenNation, you can explore an anonymous dating scene full of horny guys. Over 77,000 singles visit MenNation every day in search of no-strings-attached sex, and they’re often excited by the low inhibitions and high sex drives of the men they encounter online.

10. LesbianPersonals

★★★★★

4.1/5.0

Available on: iOS, Andriod

• Relationships: Casual Sex
• Match System: Browse by area, appearance, and other identifiers
• About the App: LesbianPersonals is the self-touted world's largest lesbian dating app, with over 30 million lustful members and counting. It's iOS and Android friendly, totally free, and successful for lesbian singles and couples. Once you complete your profile, start interacting with potential sex partners via chat rooms, photos, videos, and live webcams.
• Browse Free: View Profiles Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	App Cost
Singles & Couples*	10%* 90%*	500,000*	Free Download

With millions of profiles in its database, LesbianPersonals has a claim to being the world’s largest lesbian dating site.

Registration is open to single women, lesbian couples, straight couples, and groups, and it takes no more than five minutes to become a full-fledged member of this sex-positive community.

LesbianPersonals supports instant messenger and two-way webcam chats, but members must pay for the pleasure of connecting in this way.

Across the U.S., college students are becoming less religious. In 2016, 31% of college students said they have no religious affiliation, and only 23% said they were Catholic, 7% were Baptist, and 3% were Methodist. As a result, Christian singles can have trouble finding a good Christian date on a college campus.

Fortunately, Christian dating apps have been the saving grace of many people of faith, offering them a way to fall in love with a partner who shares similar beliefs and expectations.

11. eharmony

★★★★★

4.5/5.0

Available on: iOS, Android

• Relationships: Long-Term Relationships, Marriages
• Match System: Get daily match suggestions
• About the App: Responsible for 4% of marriages in the U.S., eharmony is among our top picks for relationship-minded heterosexual singles. To become a member, add the app to your phone (iOS or Android) and then take its 29 Dimensions® of Compatibility Matching Quiz. It's absolutely free to do both these things — as well as receive matches and communicate during other special events.
• Browse Free: View Profiles Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	App Cost
Straight Singles*	48%* 52%*	4.1 Million*	Free Download

Since 2000, eharmony has cultivated an upstanding reputation as a trustworthy and relationship-driven dating site, and that appeals to Christians who are serious about settling down.

A Christian theologian and psychologist named Dr. Neil Clark Warren founded eharmony to strengthen the institution of marriage by making sure the right people meet and fall in love. The site’s Compatibility Quiz gets to the heart of what makes a relationship work in the long run. Today, eharmony claims responsibility for over 2 million happy relationships — and counting.

“I was about to give up on online dating, but fortunately Mark saw my profile,” said Lisa in a testimonial. “We went on our first date, and I began to have faith in online dating. It didn’t take long for us to realize we had found something special.”

12. ChristianMingle

★★★★★

4.4/5.0

Available on: iOS, Android

• Relationships: Dates or Serious Commitments
• Match System: Search and receive matches
• About the App: Christian dating doesn't get any better than on ChristianMingle. With the free app, available on any iOS or Android device, you can browse the more than 2.4 million Christian singles. Since you already know that everyone is on the same religious page, you can focus on other things like age, distance, hobbies, and education to make a deep connection with someone of the same faith.
• Browse Free: View Profiles Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	App Cost
Christian Singles*	44%* 56%*	2.4 Million*	Free Download

ChristianMingle is a highly respected dating site and app in the Christian community. It boasts having the highest concentration of Christian singles of any dating app, and many faith-oriented singles flock here to find a values-driven alternative to mainstream dating.

You don’t have to be Christian to create a profile on ChristianMingle — the app shuts its doors to no one — but you do have to be willing to be in a relationship with a Christian because that’s the whole purpose behind the platform.

ChristianMingle currently has a 3.6-star rating on the App Store with many reviews saying it made a difference in their love lives. “The best $35 I ever spent is on a one-month membership,” said Zoe Dunning. “If I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have been able to talk to my boyfriend of a little over a year now! I will always and forever be grateful to ChristianMingle for connecting us.”

College advertisements often feature racially diverse students laughing in a joyful, post-racial study group. However, that utopian vision isn’t exactly representative of the true collegiate society. According to a 2013 survey, the most selective four-year institutions have a combined enrollment that is 77% white.

Unless they’re at a historically black college or university, African-American students may have difficulty finding classmates who share similar backgrounds, upbringings, and perspectives. Fortunately, diverse dating apps can go a long way to provide common ground for minorities seeking love and understanding.

13. BlackPeopleMeet

★★★★★

4.0/5.0

Available on: iOS, Android

• Relationships: Dates, Relationships
• Match System: Browse by city, hobbies, age, etc.
• About the App: Since it was founded in 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has established the largest online dating community for black and biracial singles of all orientations. Every month over 1.4 million daters use this simple and safe platform to connect with African-American singles in their area. You can download the app and create a profile for free to find new friends, hot dates, and love interests online.
• Browse Free: View Profiles Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	App Cost
Black Singles*	47%* 53%*	1.4 Million*	Free Download

First of all, we have to hand it to BlackPeopleMeet for being the most popular dating option for black and biracial daters in the U.S. and Canada. The dating site has united an online community around the idea that black is beautiful, and that’s no mean feat.

BlackPeopleMeet offers free registration and browsing to help singles get acclimated to the online dating scene. You can use the search filters to find folks who meet your standards, and then you can use tokens to get a subscription to take the connection to the next level.

“I have found the woman of my dreams on this site and am completely happy,” said a BlackPeopleMeet member from Sacramento, California. “I am looking forward to the future with this woman.”

14. PlentyOfFish

PlentyOfFish

is a totally free dating site and app with unlimited chatting and matching for everyone. Since its launch in 2003, the POF community has grown to include over 150 million members, and it sees over 65,000 new signups every day.

The PlentyOfFish matchmaking system is powered by a five-factor Chemistry Test that measures self-confidence, family orientation, self-control, social dependency, and flexibility. Over 37 million POF members have taken this optional quiz and used the results to make smarter matches online.

POF supports a safe and respectful dating environment where college students can mingle for free.

As long as you are kind, authentic, and respectful, you can stay a free member on PlentyOfFish for as long as you like. The dating app doesn’t pressure singles to rush into a relationship or play games to land a date. Instead, it gives them the freedom to be themselves and make the most of the local dating pool. So jump on in — the water’s fine!

15. Happn

Love the idea of serendipity? Chance meetings? Instant connections? Then Happn could be the right dating app for you. The idea behind the app is that singles cross paths with potential soul mates all the time without realizing it — and they deserve a second shot at a first impression.

Your Happn Timeline shows you the profiles of people you’ve crossed paths with in real life.

Happn uses the smartphone’s built-in location data to pinpoint where singles could run into each other as they go about their day. Maybe your match gets coffee at the same hipster joint downtown, or maybe you both like to study at the same on-campus library. Maybe the right person has been sitting behind you in class, but you’ve never said hello!

Thanks to Happn, singles can take advantage of those missed opportunities and start a conversation via the app. Instead of letting romance pass you by, you can reach out, send a like, and make something happen.

About 20 years ago, a survey of 1,000 college women revealed that 63% of single women wanted to meet their future husband in college, yet only half of female seniors had been asked on six or more dates since attending college. Online dating has offered an effective solution to this issue by making it much easier to get asked out on a date and build a relationship that could lead to marriage.

As of 2017, nearly 39% of straight couples met online, and over 60% of same-sex couples said they had met online. Some early studies even suggest that couples who meet online commit to one another faster yet stay together longer than couples who meet IRL.

16. CoffeeMeetsBagel

CoffeeMeetsBagel

was created by three single women who had been through the ringer on casual dating apps and wanted to create something more serious for singles like them. To date, over 1 million people have downloaded CoffeeMeetsBagel.

The CoffeeMeetsBagel matchmaking system prioritizes quality over quantity. This relationship-focused app limits the number of likes and matches users can make per day. It’s free to match and chat on CoffeeMeetsBagel, but premium members can view an activity report and see how often their crush responds to messages and when the last time he or she logged in.

CoffeeMeetsBagel offers a curated list of matches with real relationship potential.

Instead of offering an endless list of people, CoffeeMeetsBagels releases a short list of daily matches at noon, and it imposes a time limit on conversations to give singles an incentive to take the match seriously and not dawdle when setting up a date.

The fast-paced swiping scene can lead singles to treat dates like disposable commodities, so CoffeeMeetsBagel has slowed the swiping process down and introduced more authenticity and value into the online dating scene.

17. Hinge

When it comes to building relationships, Hinge has reached the master level. For years now, it has distinguished itself as the relationship app, the anti-Tinder, and the app designed to be deleted. That messaging appeals to singles who are tired of the swiping carousel and are ready to get off the emotional rollercoaster that is being single in the 21st century.

How does Hinge inspire relationships? By making sure every mutual match is based on something real. Singles have to like or comment on something specific on the profile to initiate a match and therefore a conversation. It could be as simple as complimenting a photo or asking a follow-up question about something they said about their favorite movies, food, or hobbies. This feature sets conversations up for success and helps singles build deep relationships online.

Hinge is a quality-driven app where users share common interests and get to know one another on a deeper level.

I joined Hinge a couple years ago, and I’ve gone on several excellent dates and gotten two boyfriends out of the deal, so I’d say it was well worth the $0 I paid for my membership.

I’m not the only one giving Hinge a rave review. The app has a 4.1-star rating on Google Play, and 4.5 stars on the App Store with many singles praising the quality of its members and matches. “Pretty sure I met ‘The One’ on here,” said trembli0s in 2019. “I was fortunate enough to find someone after a few months on Hinge that had me deleting the whole panoply of apps.”

18. Hater

Finally, we can’t hate on Hater, the dating app that brings singles together based on common dislikes. It may sound like a joke, but it’s very much real, and this original dating app has led to its fair share of first dates and relationships.

Hater allows singles to identify dealbreakers right from the get go, so vegans don’t have to waste time with people who say they hate vegan food, and hardliner conservatives can move on when they see someone say they hate Trump and love Bernie.

Hater gives you the chance to meet dates by asking Icebreaker questions about their likes and dislikes.

On Hater, you can rate over 3,000 topics as something you love, hate, like, or dislike, and you can see how you stack up against potential crushes in terms of your mutual interests and mutual disinterests. Intrigued? Read our full review to learn more about how Hater works and who it serves.

“I think this app is hilarious,” said one Google user in a review. “I’m having a blast hating or loving the topics here. I just wish there were more users!”

According to a survey of Washington University undergraduates, nearly 54% of college students actively use dating apps to boost their confidence, find dates, and hook up. Another study found that 72% of college students engage in a hookup at least once, and less than a quarter of them reported being virgins.

Meanwhile, at Harvard, 60% of students surveyed said they were sexually active (meaning they’d done the deed within the last year). Even at the Ivy League, a majority of students make time to satisfy their sexual desires and enjoy intimate experiences, and you can join them by signing up for a hookup app.

19. BeNaughty

★★★★★

3.5/5.0

Available on: iOS, Android

• Relationships: Casual Encounters
• Match System: Sort profiles by zip code, appearance, more
• About the App: On BeNaughty, everyone is interested in finding sexual encounters with no strings attached. Within a couple of minutes, you can get a profile up for $0. Free membership includes unlimited photos, browsing, matches, winks, and chats. BeNaughty also has an advanced anti-fraud system to ensure your personal information stays private while you flirt online.
• Browse Free: View Profiles Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	App Cost
All Singles*	48%* 52%*	13.3 Million*	Free Download

BeNaughty is a straightforward, sex-positive dating space where singles can flirt, chat, and arrange hookups without shame.

Singles can use the advanced search filters for age, location, gender, body type, ethnicity, and other physical characteristics to discover attractive profiles and get in touch by sending likes or messages on the platform.

Not sure what you want? Then head to the Like Gallery for inspiration. This section shows you one profile at a time and asks “Cute or not?” Only members with photos show up in this section, and you must have a photo to send likes and contact other BeNaughty members.

20. AFF.com

★★★★★

3.8/5.0

Available on: iOS, Android

• Relationships: Hookups Only
• Match System: Filter by distance, gender, encounter
• About the App: With 77 million members, Adult Friend Finder is one of the most popular apps for the sex community. It doesn't matter if you're single or part of a couple — you're welcome to search for sex buddies, threesomes, and other casual encounters. And you won't have to pay to do that as well as download the app, fill out a profile, and chat.
• Browse Free: View Profiles Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	App Cost
All Singles*	65%* 35%*	25.5 Million*	Free Download

Adult Friend Finder is a hookup site for singles and swingers who are 18 and older. The adult-friendly platform has over 98 million members, and it sees thousands of new signups every day.

Whether you’re sharing an erotic story on the blogs or sending a private message to a special someone, you can let go of your inhibitions and cultivate a sexy alter ego on this anonymous hookup site.

AdultFriendFinder is open for business 24 hours a day, so it’s a perfect way to let off steam after an all-nighter or boost your spirits before a long day of classes.

21. FriendFinder-X

★★★★★

3.9/5.0

Available on: iOS, Andriod

• Relationships: One-Night Stands, Threesomes, Affairs
• Match System: Search on your own, plus receive matches
• About the App: FriendFinder-X is "where good girls do bad things," so if you're looking for adult fun, you've come to the right place. Not to mention, the site has millions of guys doing bad things as well. Once you get the app (free for iOS and Android), you can fill out a profile, complete with your specific sexual desires, search, have compatible profiles sent to your inbox, and communicate.
• Browse Free: View Profiles Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	App Cost
Singles & Couples*	64%* 36%*	1.2 Million*	Free Download

The FriendFinder-X tagline is “where good girls do bad things,” and that pretty much summarizes what it has to offer singles. Singles, couples, and groups can enjoy being a little naughty on this local hookup site.

FriendFinder-X is a discreet dating site where you can register under a nickname or pseudonym, and you never have to disclose your real identity or post photos of yourself if you don’t want to. Tens of thousands of sexy profiles await on FriendFinder-X, and the simple five-step signup process makes sure you waste zero time in the online dating scene.

College students are all about dating apps. You’d think they’d meet enough date prospects in class, at the dining hall, at bars or clubs, at parties, or at the gym, but they still have the energy to flirt online throughout the day as well.

About 60% of surveyed singles under 30 say they have used a dating app at some point in their lives, and in 2017, it officially became the most popular way for today’s singles to meet their spouse.

The post-digital generation isn’t squeamish about meeting people and arranging dates online.

Some stats indicate that Generation Z is more open to online matches than previous generations, too. These young singles say yes to 33% of their matches, which is 15% more than millennials and 20% more than Gen Xers.

Whether you’re looking for a significant other, a hookup, or just a distraction from work, a dating app could be the key to unlocking your dating potential and making you feel more attractive and confident than ever.

Hell yes, they do. College students are some of the most active Tinder users around. In fact, 84% of college students say they prefer Tinder over any other dating app. Tinder is fast, it’s free, and it’s fun to use, so it makes sense that young people have rallied around it.

With a free Tinder membership, you’ll receive one free Top Pick per day on the app. Tinder selects the most compatible profile according to your swiping history and date preferences, thus inviting users to swipe right on the cream of the crop.

If you want to see all your Top Picks at once, you can upgrade to a Tinder Gold subscription. You can view the entire list of Top Picks anytime you want, and you also have the option to buy more Top Picks or expand your Top Picks to other cities when you’ve exhausted your original list of local matches.

That’s up to you to decide. At 18, you’ll be among the youngest in the mainstream dating scene, and that can mean a lot of wanted and unwanted attention. Some older singles may think you’re too immature to hang with them, while others may try to take advantage of you because of your young age and relative inexperience. I know that sucks, but it’s the reality of the situation.

Dating can be complicated as a teenager — even without the added stresses of online dating.

As a freshman in college, it can be tempting to jump blindly into the online dating pool and see what happens, but you should definitely do your homework first and choose a dating site or app that’s going to have your back. Read expert reviews, ask your friends for advice, and make the decision that feels right for you.

If you feel ready to date and understand the potential risks of meeting someone online, then go ahead and join a popular app like Tinder or Hinge. If you’re still in high school and not sure you want an adult dating experience, we’d recommend staying in your age group and check out free teen dating sites where you can chat without worrying about old singles creeping on you.

I didn’t really have a steady boyfriend — or a steady anything — in college, and that was just fine with me. I was focused on spending time with my friends and acing my tests, and dating was just something I did to let off steam in the margins. It gave me a nice distraction, but I didn’t take it seriously until I got a little older.

The college atmosphere is full of promise and opportunities, and that can help young people grow into who they want to be. Whatever their goals, all they need is the right resources to support and encourage them along the way. In the dating scene, the best resources come in app form.

Today, dating apps have become undeniably popular and powerful ways to meet singles who may have escaped your notice in class or at last weekend’s party. You can use location-based tools and real-time chatting to make a connection on the fly and see where it takes you. Have fun!