When I joined my first dating app, I wasn’t in a hurry to meet anyone in person. I just wanted to chat. I thought if I could practice flirting and matching with guys online, the stranger-danger alarms in my head would calm down, and I’d master the art of online dating.
I didn’t really think I’d fall in love with anyone I met on a dating app, but that’s exactly what happened. Years of swiping led me to my dream guy (who is now my husband), and I’m so glad I let him chat me up one evening.
Chatting is essential to success in the dating world. Singles need those late nights of small talk to hone their flirtatious skills and figure out what they want. If you’re hoping to make a connection, I’d recommend using the following apps to get started.
NaughtyCharm
- Relationships: Casual Encounters
- Match System: Sort profiles by ZIP code, appearance, more
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About the App:
On NaughtyCharm, 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, and reading chats. NaughtyCharm also has an anti-fraud system to ensure your personal information stays private while you flirt online.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
NaughtyCharm is our favorite hookup platform because it is free, fun, and flirty. Women can join the sex-positive network and chat for free, as long as they have a verified photo uploaded to their profile. The free hookup site’s search tools, swiping game, and instant messaging features can help single people come out of their shells and find local dates on their terms.
| Upsides: | Sex-positive, anonymous browsing, quick signup, kink filters, free trial. |
| Downsides: | Smaller user base, limited free chat, NSFW. |
Casual daters can rely on NaughtyCharm to introduce them to local people who have similar intentions in the dating scene. Pretty much everyone joins the NaughtyCharm dating site looking for straight-up sex, and that makes the chatting extra exciting.
OurTime.com
- Relationships: Dating and Relationships
- Match System: Search by age as well as zip, gender, more
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About the App:
Made just for single seniors, OurTime is one of the most well-known niche dating apps. It’s a fun and straightforward app with simple swiping features. Once two people swipe right on each other, they can communicate. For more match options, visit the ConnectMe and I’m Interested pages.
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As we get older, our dating prospects naturally run thin, and that’s why senior dating sites have become so essential. OurTime is one of the top senior dating sites, with millions of age-appropriate date options available at the click of a button.
| Upsides: | Mature users, profile verification, lifestyle filters. |
| Downsides: | Limited free chat. |
OurTime is powered by People Media, which means newcomers have direct access to a singles database encompassing people of all creeds, colors, and backgrounds. Over 20,000 new members join this network every day, so you should never run out of chat opportunities.
While creating a profile is free on OurTime, communication is limited to paid subscribers to ensure that spammers and scammers don’t cause problems on the dating site.
Match.com
- Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships
- Match System: Browse by location, age, interest, and more
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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.
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Since 1995, Match has been a mover and shaker in the online dating world. It holds the distinction of being the longest running dating site, with countless relationships and marriages to its name.
Match is a premium dating site (with a companion dating app), so that means most conversations will be locked to free members.
| Upsides: | Compatibility matches, detailed profiles, expert support. |
| Downsides: | Can only message Top Picks for free. |
Free members can only access messages from the highest-ranking members in the database — aka their Top Picks. Note that you do not choose which profiles appear in your Top Picks, and in my experience, it can be a mixed bag.
Most singles on Match are serious about finding someone special and making a long-term commitment. According to the site’s internal data, almost 75% of Match users have earned a college degree and 67% are nonsmokers.
- Relationships: Dates, Relationships
- Match System: Browse by city, hobbies, age, etc.
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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.
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BlackPeopleMeet is another People Media site where like-minded folks can mix and mingle. The niche dating site caters to Black, biracial, and multiracial singles who want to date someone with a similar family history and cultural understanding.
| Upsides: | Highest concentration of Black users, ethnicity filters, fast swiping, free trial. |
| Downsides: | Inactive profiles, limited free membership. |
BPM isn’t just useful for pure chat or making a new friend — it could lead to true love. Since its launch in 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has collected quite a few success stories, including some from couples who have tied the knot.
“I have met the love of my life, and we will be getting married,” said a BlackPeopleMeet user from Long Beach, California. “Thank you, BPM, I had fun.”
5. Tinder
Tinder went viral in 2012 because of its unique approach to chatting and matchmaking. The dating app instituted a swiping system that empowered singles to choose who slid into their DMs.
Tinder’s matching system has become the status quo for most modern dating sites and apps, but I’ll go over the way Tinder works in case you’re not familiar. You swipe right on profiles you like and left on profiles you don’t like, and only couples who have liked each other can send messages on the app.
| Upsides: | Popularity, free chat, photo-based swiping, verified profiles. |
| Downsides: | Superficial matches, too many options, burnout. |
Since its launch, Tinder has created over 100 billion matches worldwide, and it facilitates over 1.5 million dates per week on average. It’s definitely a popular place to chat, but some singles complain that it’s too overcrowded and superficial for their tastes.
Lately, the Tinder team has been testing video calls and voice messages to keep up with the times. These integrated voice and video chat features add more depth, trust, and engagement as you meet new people through the app.
6. Bumble
Bumble prides itself on being a feminist dating app. Since 2014, the app has operated under a simple slogan: Ladies first.
Women seeking a date have to send the first message to unlock a conversation with a male match (anyone can send the first message in a same-sex match), or they can grant their match First Move privileges. Either way, users only have 24 hours after the match is made to say something. If they choose to stay silent, the chat window will disappear forever.
A guy can choose to Extend the match an extra 24 hours to give the connection extra time. But a free user has a limited number of Extends at his disposal, so ladies can’t count on that!
| Upsides: | Community-driven, safety features, affordable. |
| Downsides: | Shallow profiles, difficult to keep chats going. |
Outspoken feminist and entrepreneur Whitney Wolfe-Herd left an executive-level position at Tinder and founded Bumble because she wanted to support single women in the dating scene and bring more value and integrity to online dating.
Men can only reach out to women on Bumble after she has sent a message, and that essentially stops pickup artist culture in its tracks.
7. OkCupid
As a totally free chatting platform, OkCupid offers free messaging to singles of all ages, orientations, and backgrounds. Its inclusive, quirky, and fun features have made it a global success.
The origin of OkCupid traces back to a Harvard dorm room in 2004, where a group of math majors brainstormed a formula for love. Their efforts led to a data-driven dating site that evaluates compatibility through profile information and personal questions.
| Upsides: | Free unlimited messaging; fun icebreaker questions; profile options for queer, nonbinary, and poly dating. |
| Downsides: | Inactive profiles, no video chat. |
OkCupid operates under the mantra “Dating deserves better.” The team goal is to provide highly accurate match ratings, advanced search filters, and limitless opportunities to chat and match with like-minded folks.
Every week, more than 50,000 couples hit things off in an OkCupid chat and arrange a real-life date at coffee shops, restaurants, bars, parks, and other social spots around the world.
8. Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish is a free-to-chat dating app where over 4 million singles flirt and match every day. The user base includes over 150 million profiles, but you’ll only see the most active and attractive users at the top of your search results.
POF singles don’t have to send likes to send messages to one another, and there aren’t very many restrictions on chatting. Conversations expire after 30 days of inactivity, so keep the messages flowing if you want to pursue something.
| Upsides: | Affordability, large photo gallery, no ads. |
| Downsides: | Fake accounts, spam messages. |
Be sure to bring out your best pics when creating your Plenty of Fish profile. One study of POF users found that singles are six times more likely to message someone who’s smiling in an unfiltered photo than someone in a professional or filtered photo.
Plenty of Fish has earned praise from users, and it is expanding into video call technology and AI chat guidance as well.
9. Hinge
Launched in 2013, Hinge has set itself apart as an app focused on building relationships, allowing singles to connect over shared interests and opinions.
Hinge takes swiping to the next level by requiring users to like or comment on something specific on the dating profile. Many singles ask questions about a photo (as in “When did you visit Portugal?” or “How did you learn how to juggle?”), or they voice an opinion about a prompt (as in “I love putting pineapples on pizza” or “Lion King is my favorite Disney movie too”) to get the ball rolling.
Hinge aims to create genuine relationships, and the team is constantly brainstorming how to enhance online connections. In 2017, they introduced the “Your Turn” feature to gently remind singles when it’s time to respond, reducing accidental ghosting. Internal data showed this feature cut ghosting by 25%. Their latest AI Prompt Feedback feature helps users refine their profiles by identifying areas that could be improved.
| Upsides: | Detailed profiles, compatibility matches, more serious dating. |
| Downsides: | Limits on likes and matches for free users. |
Hinge has a We Met feature that allows singles to give feedback on the matches they met in person. Nothing too deep. You’ll simply indicate that you went on an IRL date (or even a virtual date), and then you can say that you enjoyed it and would go out again, or that you did not enjoy it and don’t see a second date happening.
This helps the Hinge app figure out how to foster genuine relationships. As a result, Hinge boasts being the best dating app for second dates!
10. Grindr
When Grindr launched in 2009, it was the only game in town for gay singles. Now, the all-male dating app faces a lot more competition, but it remains a leading matchmaker for gays on the go.
Grindr has over 27 million users all around the world. The dating app serves as a rallying point for gay, bisexual, queer, and trans men seeking hot male dates.
Grindr uses a location-based matchmaking system to help men find romance with no muss and no fuss. The anonymous chat app shows you date prospects who are near you, and that often leads to steamy encounters in bars, clubs, parties, and bedrooms.
| Upsides: | Popularity, all male profiles, local matches. |
| Downsides: | Superficial sex-driven swiping. |
Although it has the reputation of a hookup app, Grindr can lead to relationships of all types. “If it wasn’t for Grindr, I might not have met my gay best friend nor had some of the best sex of my life,” said a nursing student on Reddit.
11. Happn
Happn has taken the idea of serendipity and turned it into a dating app. It uses a smartphone’s real-time location data to let singles know where they’ve crossed paths with their matches. Maybe you both frequent the same pub, or maybe you study at the same library, or maybe you buy groceries at the same store. The app won’t give away anyone’s exact location, but it will show a map of shared destinations.
Singles don’t always have the opportunity to flirt with someone they see in public places. The Happn app gives them a second chance to make that connection and discover romance in their everyday lives.
| Upsides: | Location-driven matches, video verification. |
| Downsides: | Limited free options, small dating pool. |
Millions of singles have joined Happn in hopes of meeting someone who fits nicely in their routines and lifestyle. The app has been installed over 100 million times on Google Play, where it has a 4.3-star rating.
Honestly, it’s better than Tinder, shared a Happn user in a glowing five-star review. The feature showing where you cross paths is a real game changer.
12. HER
HER has become the top lesbian dating app by focusing on community rather than profits. As a female-driven space, the app has taken a firm no-boys-allowed stance and employs moderators to review incoming profiles and remove all fakers, scammers, and men. As long as you’re genuinely a woman seeking women, you shouldn’t have a problem finding partners here.
To quote the HER Community Guidelines, “We are all different shapes, sizes, colors, identities and that’s pretty badass that we can share this space together.”
The HER app has a frequently updated newsfeed and queer events calendar to help single women socialize, flirt, and get involved in the local LGBTQ+ community. Its membership currently includes over 15 million women of all different types.
| Upsides: | Niche groups by interest, queer friendly, incognito browsing. |
| Downsides: | Fake profiles, unicorn hunters. |
If you want to see HER’s impact on the dating community, take a look at the #WeMetOnHER love stories flooding its Instagram page.
“I promise to spend the rest of my life showing you unwavering trust, ultimate respect, and, above all else, unconditional love,” said Jessica to her new wife. “Huge thank you to HER for a successful first date and now marriage.”
FAQs: Which Dating Apps Have Free Messaging?
Most chat dating apps will let singles join for free, but not all include free unlimited messaging. Some singles think it’s worth paying a subscription fee to know they’re meeting the best of the best. Others would rather not pay for a dating service, and that’s fair, too.
Dating apps with free messaging include:
- Tinder
- Bumble
- OkCupid
- Hinge
Most of these apps have premium plans that allow singles to see their likes, expand their search parameters, and upgrade their dating experiences. But the chat features are available to everyone, no payment necessary.
OkCupid is one of the most popular free dating apps out there, and its team has promised to never charge users to send messages. You can send a first message to anyone you like, but that person has to like you back to respond and start a conversation.
What Is Badoo?
With over 500 million users, Badoo is one of the fastest-growing dating apps on the market. Every day, the app sees over 300,000 new user signups and over 350 million messages exchanged on the dating platform.
Those numbers are truly mind-boggling, but it makes sense once you see the engaging, seamless, and fast-paced social network and chat room.
Badoo provides a lively social environment where folks can mix and mingle. When setting up your account, you can label yourself as “here to make new friends” or “here to chat,” but most users choose “here to date.”
Our dating experts reviewed Badoo and gave it 4 stars in recognition of its diverse user base, interactive chat features, and straightforward matching.
What Is the Best Dating App for Relationships?
In 2000, Beyoncé was still a member of Destiny’s Child, “Cast Away” was the biggest movie of the year, and eharmony launched as one of the first dating sites on the market. Its founders designed the platform to strengthen the institution of marriage.
Today, eharmony is one of the most trusted names in the online dating world, and our experts consider it a reliable dating service for finding a forever love.
A clinical psychologist and Christian theologian named Dr. Neil Clark Warren came up with the idea for eharmony because he saw so many mismatched couples getting divorced, and he wanted to help singles spot dealbreakers and incompatibilities from the beginning.
Fast-forward two decades, and the dating site has evolved under new leadership, expanding its definition of love to embrace same-sex and queer matches. Experts estimate that eharmony has facilitated over 2 million relationships and marriages.
Every day, eharmony reviews user preferences, crunches the numbers, and creates over 15 million matches based on true, life-long compatibility. A person can look over potential matches, send a like or Icebreaker quiz, and engage in conversations that could lead to something more.
What Is the Most Popular Dating App?
The best all-around dating app is going to vary from person to person. If you’re looking for something serious, a relationship-driven app like Match or Hinge will have your best interests at heart. These personality-driven apps deliver compatible matches like nobody’s business, and I can say from experience that they work.
If you’re just looking to chat and explore, a casual dating app like Tinder might be your best bet. Tinder promotes the #SwipeLife, encouraging singles to swipe through profiles and chat with matches without any serious commitment.
Tinder sees over 2 billion swipes per day, so in terms of sheer size, it’s got the competition beat. However, all that endless swiping can lead to online dating burnout if you’re not careful.
That’s why our dating experts back quality-over-quantity apps like Elite Singles and JDate where real connections based on common interests can form.
What Is the Best App for International Chatting?
We’ve reviewed many international dating sites in the past 10 years. It’s a growing trend in the industry and a natural part of globalization. Singles are no longer stuck only dating someone within the same city, state, or even country. Modern technology allows us to take the search for romance all around the world.
Established in 2000, Cupid Media is a leader in the international dating scene, and it has helped over 30 million people search for dates around the world. Cupid Media now runs InternationalCupid as well as 34 niche dating sites that introduce chatty singles from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
InternationalCupid has over 5 million members worldwide and currently has 4.3 stars on Google Play, which is pretty impressive considering its diverse membership base.
Chatting is Easy (and Free) on the Best Dating Apps
When I started online dating, I was lucky to meet a lot of patient and kind people who were willing to keep the conversation going until I felt comfortable meeting for a date. It was nerve-wracking the first time I met an online pen pal in person, but I soon discovered that it wasn’t all that different from going on a blind date with a stranger you met by chance IRL.
The more I chatted and flirted online, the more my confidence grew. Eventually, I became accustomed to saying yes to a date after just a few days of idle chatting. Even though I didn’t start out with serious intentions, my online dating journey led me to a serious relationship, and I couldn’t be happier with my mutual match (not to mention our newborn son!) — I hope one day you can say the same.
Dating apps have empowered millions of singles to chat, match, and date on their own terms, which is fantastic for those who are shy, lonely, or just looking for some excitement. You can spark a romance with just one chat, and the apps on this list are here to help. Good luck!
