Key Takeaways
Our dating researchers scoured the web and interviewed insiders in the online dating market to nail down average monthly user counts for the most popular dating sites.
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It’s no surprise that Tinder is the most popular app, but Ashley Madison coming in 3rd is proof that anonymous dating is very desirable.
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The most popular senior dating site is OurTime.com with 8.9 million monthly users.
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Among traditional relationship dating sites, Match won out with 5.8 million users.
Ranking dating sites by popularity is tricky because the numbers are constantly changing. Some new dating apps start trending for a couple months and then falter as the glamour wears off. Meanwhile, some dating sites have maintained a steady following for years but haven’t exactly broken online traffic records or become household names.
Our experts have used average monthly member statistics to recognize the time-tested dating sites and apps that consistently keep singles matching, swiping, and dating online.
The following dating services have highly engaged membership bases and are an undeniably popular way to meet new people.
1. Tinder: 50M Monthly Users
In 2012, Tinder rocked the online dating industry with its innovative swiping tools. The app created a mutual matching system that put singles in the driver’s seat, and it fundamentally changed the way people mix and mingle.
Since its launch, Tinder has been downloaded over 630 million times and created over 100 billion matches. And its current statistics are just as impressive. Tinder sees about 50 million monthly users and arranges 1.5 million dates per week.
Tinder users can swipe, match, and message for free, and it’s entirely possible to pick up a date without upgrading to a Tinder subscription. However, over 6.6 million Tinder users have a paid membership, which gives them the ability to send unlimited likes and swipe outside their own city limits.
The Tinder app has been setting trends and breaking records since day one, and it continues to be among the most popular dating apps of all time.
Just be aware that not all singles on Tinder take their swiping that seriously. Over half of Tinder users are under 25 years old, and most of them are not looking for a committed relationship.
2. Badoo: 29M Monthly Users
Since it launched in 2006, Badoo has amassed a truly gigantic dating pool. This site keeps a running tally of how many people have joined its membership base over the years, and it currently boasts over 491 million users — and counting!
More than that, Badoo supports over 29.3 million monthly active members, making it a power play in the online dating market.
Badoo has a huge total number of registrations, but that doesn’t tell the whole story about its popularity. We looked at monthly membership statistics to see how many users actually use Badoo. And it’s a lot.
Every month, Badoo members add more than 300 million photos to its gallery and send more than 350 million messages. Our Badoo review goes into greater detail about how the dating site works and why it is so popular, particularly among young singles in Latin America and Europe.
3. Ashley Madison: 15M Monthly Users
Some people criticize or condemn Ashley Madison as a dating site for cheaters, but it has proven to be undeniably popular among single and not-so-single people around the world.
In the last 25 years, Ashley Madison has attracted over 91 million members, and it sees more than 20,000 unique signups every day.
Ashley Madison welcomes about 15 million monthly users to an open-ended dating space where relationship status isn’t a dealbreaker. It has anonymous browsing features that ensure privacy despite the large pool of date prospects.
- Relationships: Hookups, Casual Dates, Affairs
- Match System: Search by age, location, appearance, and more
- Our Experts Say: “With its massive user base and advanced privacy features, Ashley Madison is the #1 site for discreet hookups, dates, or relationships.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
The vibes here are certainly a bit more flirty, casual, and secretive than the mainstream. Members are free to make their own rules and explore under an alias and masked photo.
Ashley Madison provides free communication privileges to all female users, and it does not require users to form a match before sending a message. This full review can provide more details to help newcomers get their footing.
4. Hinge: 15M Monthly Users
Hinge is a free dating app that has recorded the best first-date success rate in the business. According to its user feedback, over 90% of Hinge users say they had a good time on their first dates, and over 70% say they would go on a second date.
Since its launch in 2012, Hinge has been downloaded over 21.3 million times. The app has around 15 million monthly active users, making it among the most popular dating apps on the market. It also happens to be owned by the same company that runs Tinder and Match.
Hinge markets itself as the dating app that was “designed to be deleted.” That means its aim is to get people to stop swiping and get in relationships. It worked for me and my husband in 2019. Today, though, we’ve seen many reviewers saying it’s been overrun by casual daters.
5. Grindr: 14.7M Monthly Users
Grindr is hands down the most popular gay dating app for men. Since 2009, the app has grown its user base to include over 145 million men in 192 countries and territories. It now boasts over 14 million monthly active users.
Something guys seem to love about this free dating app is that it uses real-time location data to spark matches that lead to same-day dates and hookups.
Grindr is open to gay men, bisexual men, trans men, and others who are questioning their sexual orientation. The dating app doesn’t out guys by requiring them to use their full name. Men can even crop out or blur their faces in photos and show only their six-pack or bicep muscles to start things off on a flirtatious note.
Grindr’s photo rules expressly forbid pictures of minors, weapons, drugs, or violence, and nude photos are not allowed to be publicly displayed. However, Grindr Xtra members can exchange graphic photos as long as both members identify as “Accepts NSFW” in their settings.
6. OurTime: 8.9M Monthly Users
Powered by People Media, OurTime is a popular senior dating site with a network reaching over 8.9 million singles worldwide. Over 20,000 new members create a profile here every week.
- Relationships: Dates and Relationships
- Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more
- Our Experts Say: “OurTime makes dating after 50 feel simple, with senior-friendly search tools and an easy-to-use layout.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
OurTime allows senior singles to search for like-minded dates in their age range, and it also recommends local prospects based on dating profile information. OurTime users can send likes and message their matches for free, but they will need to upgrade to a paid membership to see who has liked or viewed their profile.
7. Happn: 6.5M Monthly Users
Happn put online dating on the map in 2014 when it launched as one of the first mobile dating apps to integrate smartphone GPS data into its matchmaking. Busy singles embraced the app because it provided a shortcut to nearby dates.
In the 2020s, Happn grew to encompass a total of 180 million members spread across 40 countries. The app currently sees about 6.5 million visitors per month.
The app analyzes location data and shows its users where they cross paths in everyday life. Maybe you go to the same coffee shop, or you both like the same hole-in-the-wall restaurant.
The reference map does not reveal anyone’s real-time location — it’s just a fun way to break the ice and discover common ground.
8. Match: 5.8M Monthly Users
Match.com was launched in April 1995 and is currently the longest-running dating site on the market. Throughout its history, the Match user base has supported about 75 million members and facilitated more marriages than its competitors. Match now has over 5.8 million active users.
The site is particularly popular among more mature singles seeking a relationship. In fact, over 75% of Match members are over 30 years old.
- Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
- Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
- Our Experts Say: “Match pairs a large dating pool with search filters specific enough to make that size useful rather than overwhelming.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Match offers a free membership package that includes creating a profile, uploading several photos, and sending a limited number of likes per day.
Free members can only message their mutual matches, which means you have to get likes if you want to chat. If you’re serious about getting into a committed relationship, you can upgrade to a paid membership. Prices range between $4-20 a month, depending on the subscription type.
9. Plenty of Fish: 4.7M Monthly Users
Plenty of Fish gets its name from the old saying “there are plenty of fish in the sea,” and the popular dating site definitely lives up to that mantra. The POF community includes over 150 million users in total, and it sees approximately 4.7 million monthly active users.
It launched as a Canadian dating site in 2003 and is now available in 20 countries and 11 languages.
One of the reasons POF has become so popular is that it offers completely free chatting to all members. No matching needed. A single person can dive into conversations immediately after completing a POF profile and having their photos verified as genuine and appropriate.
In 2019, POF banned the use of face filters on photos in an effort to reduce catfishing on the site.
10. eharmony: 4.1M Monthly Users
For over 26 years now, eharmony has been celebrated as one of the best dating sites for finding a serious relationship.
This website has used psychology to calculate long-term compatibility in temperament, lifestyle, and values. Its smart matchmaking formula has led to over 2 million marriages in the U.S.
- Relationships: Casual Dates, Deep Relationships
- Match System: Personality test suggests matches
- Our Experts Say: “eharmony's compatibility questions do the sorting up front, so matches arrive based on personality rather than photos.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
When ranked by popularity, eharmony wins out by offering a good balance of quality and quantity. It sees a respectable 4.1 million visitors per month.
eharmony promises a more values-driven and slow-paced dating experience than the typical swiping app. Its registration and compatibility quiz are available for free, but only paid members can send messages.
11. Adult Friend Finder: 3.2M Monthly Users
Since launching in 1996, Adult Friend Finder has welcomed millions of horny singles and swingers year after year. The adult site promotes exciting opportunities to flirt, sext, and arrange a hot date on the down low.
The AFF community boasts having over 105 million members, but not all of them are actively browsing for sex. We estimate the hookup site supports more than 3.2 million users per month, a majority of them being male users seeking female companionship.
- Relationships: Hookups Only
- Match System: Search by location, interest, more
- Our Experts Say: “Make no mistake: this site isn't about making friends, it's about finding hookups and casual encounters. No adult site has a larger or more active user base of those seeking discreet fun.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Adult Friend Finder offers a large dating pool where talking about sex and sharing fetishes isn’t taboo. Its X-rated chat rooms are free to join, and members can post naked photos, erotic blogs, personal ads, and even polls to get attention.
Our Adult Friend Finder review goes into more graphic detail about the site’s membership stats, cost, features, and success rate.
12. OkCupid: 3.1M Monthly Users
OkCupid is a free dating site with some pretty impressive numbers. It creates more than 91 million matches per year, sees over 3.1 million visitors per month, and inspires 50,000 first dates per week.
It’s completely free to send and receive messages on OkCupid, so its messaging rates are off the charts as well. The platform sees over 7 million messages exchanged every day, and its smart matchmaking algorithm helps users connect over shared interests and values.
When ranking dating sites by popularity, free dating services tend to come out on top because they offer a great deal to a budget-conscious dater. OkCupid doesn’t charge a penny for its messaging features or match ratings. It’s free from start to finish.
13. Bumble: 3M Monthly Users
Bumble is a feminist dating app where single women come first. Its unique messaging system caused quite a stir when it launched in 2014, and many online daters have flocked to this dating app in hopes of finding fewer dick pics and more real relationship opportunities.
As of 2020, Bumble surpassed 100 million total members, which makes it one of only a handful of dating services to reach that milestone. Every month, Bumble sees more than 3 million users swiping and matching on the app.
Bumble has been hailed as the anti-Tinder because its main goal is to spark friendships and relationships, not hookups. In a poll, fewer than 1% of Bumble women said they’re interested in a hookup, and over 85% of respondents said they hope to find a boyfriend or girlfriend on the dating app.
All messaging on Bumble is free, but male users cannot send an unsolicited message to a woman. Instead, men must wait for her to say something and set the tone for the conversation.
14. Christian Mingle: 2.4M Monthly Users
Since 2001, Christian Mingle has created a faith-driven dating network that encompasses more than 16 million singles in the U.S. and abroad. The site sees over 2 million users and ranks among the most popular niche dating platforms on the market.
It’s free to join the site or download the app on any iPhone or Android device. Free members can send unlimited messages to their mutual matches.
Christian Mingle is especially appealing to singles looking for marriage. Its algorithm focuses on connecting individuals through common interests, values, and aspirations. You don’t have to belong to a specific religion, but Christians are the vast majority here.
15. HER: 1.5M Monthly Users
A lesbian woman came up with the idea for HER in 2013 because she was tired of running into creepy men and fake profiles on traditional dating sites and apps. HER is a women-only dating app where real romances can blossom. HER promises no BS, no stereotyping, and no dudes.
The HER community encompasses over 15 million verified members, has made over 300 million matches, and sees 1.5 million monthly active users.
HER is a tremendously popular and successful dating app for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women. You can look up #WeMetOnHER stories for proof that HER can help a single woman find a loving relationship.
16. FriendFinder-X: 1.2M Monthly Users
FriendFinder-X is a hookup site that offers a fast solution for horny adults of all types. According to our research, FriendFinder-X sees over 1 million monthly users prowling the site.
- Relationships: Hookups Only
- Match System: Search by location, interest, more
- Our Experts Say: “A hookup site specializing in casual encounters, secret affairs, live chats, and member videos, FriendFinder-X skips the awkward "dating" stage of a relationship and fast-forwards straight to the sex.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
New users must provide a valid email address, ZIP code, and some basic profile information to join the FriendFinder-X dating pool. Photos are not required.
Free members have the run of the hookup site and can conduct kinky searches, comment on photos or ads, and read erotic blogs for as long as they want. However, only a paid subscriber on FriendFinder-X can send private messages and view livestreaming videos.
17. SilverSingles: 800,000 Monthly Users
This is a senior dating site where a personality quiz powers the match list and compatibility ratings. Senior singles can customize their dating preferences in their profile, and the SilverSingles algorithm will prioritize their interests when recommending compatible dates.
SilverSingles was created by the same team that launched Zoosk, so it has a massive database to back its smart matchmaking features.
More than 800,000 senior singles visit this niche dating site in an average month.
18. MenNation: 780,000 Monthly Users
With over 100 million profiles in its database, MenNation has a reputation as one of the largest gay hookup sites in the world. However, not all its members are actively prowling the network every month.
MenNation hosts around 780,000 users in the average month. All its members are men seeking men, and they tend to skip the small talk and get straight to arranging sexual encounters.
- Relationships: Daters & Hookups
- Match System: Search by age, zip code, more
- Our Experts Say: “MenNation is a men-only hookup site where guys can enjoy video chat rooms, public forums, and private messaging. All you need is an email address to join.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
MenNation has been a wingman for tons of guys seeking a sexual release. Its adult chat room and video streams can certainly make a raunchy impression, and it has millions of X-rated pics in its photo gallery to tempt and tantalize male users.
19. Coffee Meets Bagel: 119,000 Monthly Users
Coffee Meets Bagel began as the passion project of three Asian sisters in San Francisco, and now it is one of the most celebrated dating apps for finding a romantic relationship. With over 50 million matches to its name, Coffee Meets Bagel has some serious street cred.
More than 21 million users have downloaded Coffee Meets Bagel, and the dating app supports almost 120,000 users a month.
The founding principle of Coffee Meets Bagel is to slow the online dating process down and encourage single people to be more thoughtful when making a new match. For that reason, the dating app actually limits the number of dating profiles a single person can like and message in a day.
20. BlackPeopleMeet: 106,000 Monthly Users
BlackPeopleMeet has looked out for African American singles since 2002. The niche dating website flourished by promoting Black love and interracial relationships, and it is now the largest Black dating platform available in the U.S. and Canada.
We broke down the numbers and found that BlackPeopleMeet has over 106,000 active members (who visit the site or app at least once a month).
- Relationships: Deep Relationships or Just Casual Dates
- Match System: Search by location, age, more
- Our Experts Say: “BlackPeopleMeet.com is the one of the largest and most popular dating sites for black and biracial singles, and the site is used by more than 5 million people a month.” Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
When you join BlackPeopleMeet, you can immediately jump on the advanced search tools to explore the diverse dating pool. Free members can view profiles, upload photos, send likes, and even respond to some messages on the BPM platform. Full messaging privileges are reserved for paid members, though.
21. NaughtyCharm: 100,000 Monthly Users
If casual dating is your thing, then NaughtyCharm may be the right dating site for you. The site is open to sexually active men and women in 10 countries, including the U.S. and Canada.
NaughtyCharm has well over 100,000 monthly users and around 13 million valid dating profiles. An additional 20,000 new members join the dating pool every day, so there is always something new to discover on the hookup website.
- Relationships: Hookups, Chats
- Match System: Search by encounter, location, and more
- Our Experts Say: “NaughtyCharm is a premier hookup app where you can feel comfortable expressing your desires. Plus, it's free to join, browse, and flirt.”
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
NaughtyCharm is a good place to meet new people on your terms. If any person gives off bad vibes or sends harassing messages, you can hit the block button and report the offending profile. A customer support number is also available 24/7.
How Do the Most Popular Dating Sites Actually Work?
The registration process can take anywhere from 1-15 minutes, and it usually requires at least one photo, some demographic information (age, location, sexual orientation), and a bio.
Relationship-centered dating sites like eharmony often have unique prompts or questionnaires to help online daters discover shared interests. Meanwhile, dating apps like Tinder focus more on photo-based swiping.
Almost all dating sites and apps rely on smart algorithms to identify compatible profiles. It could be displayed in a search grid or a swiping setup, but behind the scenes, the thinking is very much the same. Compare profile details, check preferences for dealbreakers, and promote the most active users (and/or those who’ve paid).
You can search for dates based on specific criteria (age range, for example). And you can always block anyone you don’t want to contact you.
Is It Better to Join a Popular Dating Site or a Niche Dating Site?
That depends on what you like. Popular dating sites can overwhelm users with too many options. The paradox of choice means when an individual feels they have essentially unlimited choices, they have trouble choosing just one. Swipe burnout is common on apps like Tinder.
Some people like niche dating sites because they’re not overcrowded. Others dislike them because there are fewer local people to connect with, and driving two hours for a date is not high on their to-do list.
Safety is another important consideration. A niche dating site likely won’t have the same level of cybersecurity that a mainstream app will. Customer support might be more responsive though because they have fewer inquiries to field.
Payment is another big difference. Bigger sites and apps can often afford to run on ads and some optional paid perks. Smaller dating sites, not so much. They’re more likely to put up paywalls on messages or even profile viewing to bring in revenue and keep the lights on.
I also want to note that some niche dating sites are part of a larger network (like the Passions Network), so even if you join a site for a specific type, you might be thrown into a general pool anyway and encounter people across different niches.
How Should I Choose the Best Dating Site?
Do some research by reading reviews and looking at the demographics, statistics, and costs of the most prominent platforms. Dating site reviews can help clarify how online dating works and how it can work for you.
Don’t be shy about asking your friends and family members for their tips and experiences.
If you want our recommendation, we consistently rank Match.com among the best dating sites for getting into a real relationship. It has been around longer than every other online dating service, and it allows free messaging between mutual matches.
It can be difficult to choose just one dating site or app because so many of them have millions of users and solid reputations. Our definitive list of dating sites has 100 top-notch options categorized by size, price, and niche to help people find the right platform for their needs.
Individuals should consider what type of online dating experience they want — casual vs. serious, fast vs. slow, free vs. paid — and create a profile on the platform(s) that best represent their interests.
This interactive tool needs JavaScript to run. See our top-rated dating apps instead.
Is It Safe to Use Popular Dating Sites?
Yes, the most popular dating sites also tend to be among the safest dating sites. And not just because there’s safety in numbers. Word travels fast when an app doesn’t have the profiles to back its promises, and user reviews hold the bad actors accountable.
Moderators have to be proactive about removing fake profiles to keep online dating users happy. It’s so easy for a site to get a bad reputation that repels new signups.
On the other hand, if someone has a great experience on a dating app (like when I met my husband on Hinge), it’s pretty common to hear them bragging about it and posting testimonials, thus drawing more people to the apps with a better user experience.
Legit dating sites can introduce a dater to authentic matches, but it’s always a good idea to vet a new love interest before meeting in person or establishing a serious relationship.
Singles can make sure they’re not falling for a scam by searching for the person on social media, asking for a selfie, or arranging a video call or phone call before their first date.
Remember that it’s easy to lie or give a false impression online, especially in the age of AI, so exercise caution when getting to know a new person.
Online dating is an overall safe way to explore local date prospects and start conversations, but no site can guarantee that it won’t have a catfish profile here or there. It falls to the user to use good judgment.
Dating Sites With More Users Typically See More Success
Online dating often feels like a numbers game, so choosing dating sites based on popularity is a common strategy. The idea is simple: the more choices you have at your disposal, the better your chances are of meeting someone compatible.
This list can offer a snapshot of a platform’s monthly membership activity, but it’s by no means the end-all, be-all of the online dating world. Thousands of dating services have risen and fallen in popularity over the years, and there may be a local dating site making waves in your ZIP code that didn’t quite make the cut here.
Remember that popularity is a matter of perspective, and it depends greatly on who you are and what you’re looking for. Whether you’re mingling on a mainstream dating site or a niche dating app, the important thing is to surround yourself with promising matches and put your best foot forward. Good luck!
