Key Takeaways
Our team has spent over a decade testing and reviewing the most popular dating apps with free features.
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Match provides free chatting for all mutual matches on the platform.
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Ashley Madison is a more casual dating space with free messaging for women and free replies for men.
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As a senior dating site, OurTime.com offers free chats between matches who are over 50.
Free dating apps have transformed the way we online date. Singles are no longer limited in where, when, and how they can meet singles — you can swipe on dating profiles while standing in line at Starbucks, walking the dog, or dancing at the club (if that’s your vibe).
Besides the convenience dating apps have brought into our lives, some are also saving us money while we search for a hookup, date, relationship, or whatever else our heart desires. Here are our 14 Best Free Dating Apps, chosen not just for their $0 price tag but for their reputations, features, and success stories.
1. Match
Match puts quality first, and yet still offers affordable deals. It is free to join, create a dating profile, browse profiles, send likes, and message your matches. The dating app has a subscription option, but it isn’t necessary to do the basics. The only reason to upgrade would be to see who’s liked or viewed you and/or use the advanced search filters for religion, politics, ethnicity, and interests. The majority of Match members are seeking a serious relationship, so you can expect profiles to be fully completed and to carry a lot of personal detail. Match has one of the highest success rates in the industry, and it won’t cost money to land a great date here. Best Free Feature: Send and receive messages from all mutual matches.
2. Ashley Madison
If you want to stay anonymous while seeking dates, Ashley Madison has you covered. This discreet dating site has industry-leading privacy tools, including incognito browsing, blurred profile photos, and private photo galleries. Women enjoy unlimited free messaging on the app, and men can send some free replies while using credits to unlock more messaging. Members use tags to identify in their profiles if they’re more private or open to sharing their life story and relationship history with others. While not everyone on Ashley Madison is necessarily single, they’re all looking for casual romances without making a big commitment. Best Free Feature: Send anonymous chats with a blurred or masked face in your photos.
3. OurTime.com
OurTime is a senior dating site that is affordable, efficient, and definitely worth a try if you’re over 50. The free membership includes unlimited browsing and some communication tools to get you started. OurTime requires members to complete certain parts of their online dating profile (age, location, gender, sexual interest, etc.) and have at least one approved photo. If you choose not to upload a photo, you will not be able to send messages on OurTime. Free members can message their mutual matches, but only premium members can see who’s liked and viewed their profile. Best Free Feature: Exchange private chats with seniors who match with you.
4. Victoria Milan
Victoria Milan is a casual hookup site where members don’t have to be necessarily single to mingle. Known for affairs, the site offers a low barrier to entry, not even requiring a photo to get something going. Victoria Milan offers free anonymous browsing that includes search filters for relationship status, love nest availability, income, and lifestyle. A new person can create a free account to get the lay of the land and see if any sexy photos stand out from the crowd. Singles and swingers can be honest about their dating intentions in their Victoria Milan profile and attract people who have similar interests and fetishes. While free chatting is limited to replies only, it offers an affordable credits system, so you’re not stuck with recurring bills just to chat up matches. Best Free Feature: Mask or blur yourself in photos and send winks or replies to other users (no matching needed).
5. Fling.com
Fling.com is a trusted name in the casual dating space. This hookup site is open to all sexual proclivities with kink filters and video chat rooms to spice things up. The adult dating site has a ton of freebies available — including free messaging, community forums, profile verification, video streaming, and advanced search filters. It even has online games and active user rewards. The interface is full of flirtatious fun, and users often say they enjoy chatting up hotties here. Best Free Feature: Free messaging does not require a match.
6. NaughtyCharm
Not every online dating scenario has to end in a relationship or marriage, and NaughtyCharm understands and embraces that. As an anonymous hookup app, NaughtyCharm gets rid of all the pretenses and helps members get right to the point, without giving up much identifying info. From extensive search filters to sexy icebreakers, NaughtyCharm has a ton of free features to get a feel for the platform. The Like Gallery lets you quickly sift through photos of eligible singles, and the search tab lets individuals search in any city in their country of origin. No real names are required on NaughtyCharm, so it’s easy to stay under the radar on the hookup site. Best Free Feature: Set search filters for hair color, eye color, height, tattoos, ethnicity, and more.
7. Hily
Hily is a free dating app with a simple goal: to foster more meaningful conversations than “Hey” and “What’s up?” The Hily mantra is all about personality-first dating. It offers fun icebreakers as well as unique profile questions to help individuals show their sense of humor and connect on the things that matter to them. Answer the prompts honestly to catch the attention of others who share similar hobbies, ambitions, and lifestyles. Since its launch in 2017, Hily has been downloaded 43 million times and seen over 11.7 billion likes sent on the platform. Best Free Feature: Swipe on local profiles and chat with mutual matches.
8. Bumble
Some dating apps are notorious for using female profiles as bait for single men and failing to keep scammers, creeps, and dicks at bay. That’s why Bumble has made such a positive impression on single women in the online dating world. Since 2014, this app has endeavored to look out for the rights and interests of all women seeking meaningful connections. I think it’s done a bang-up job. Bumble began as the passion project of Whitney Wolfe Herd, an entrepreneur who helped found Tinder in her early 20s and decided to break away from the male-dominated space to make a more respectful dating community. The feminist app takes particular care to ensure women have a say in who can slide into their DMs. Best Free Feature: New matches have 72 hours to send a free message and start a conversation.
URL: https://bumble.com
9. OkCupid
Since 2004, OkCupid has offered free matchmaking services that use math to inspire love. This dating app is free to download, and you can start chatting as soon as you fill out your profile. We do recommend answering at least 20 personal questions because the app uses your answers to questions like “Do you like beer?” and “Is religion important to you?” to find someone who shares your views and values. OkCupid uses a mutual matching system to bring like-minded singles together, but you can also send a free initial message to anyone you like to get their attention. The core features you need to meet people on OkCupid are free, and the only reason to upgrade would be if you’re dying to see who’s liked you or remove ads from the interface. Best Free Feature: Send an intro message to anyone and send unlimited replies to your matches.
10. Wild
Wild promises it’s “the fastest way to meet and date with hot singles nearby.” Founded in 2016, the app is available for free via iTunes and Google Play, where it has a 4.4 and 4.3 star rating, respectively. More than 65% of members have been verified by the Wild team, and you can filter potential matches by their gender, age, location, distance radius, intention, interests, ethnicity, body type, height, and the last time they logged in. Wild is a casual dating platform where singles don’t have to be restrained by prudishness or traditional courtship norms. Users can come right out and say they’re looking for wild sex with a complete stranger. Best Free Feature: Add a private photo and message daters who’ve liked you.
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/app/wild-dating-app
Google Play: play.google.com/wild
11. Coffee Meets Bagel
If your focus is on building a serious relationship, then you’re better off going beyond the Tinder-verse and seeking an online dating app that puts quality first. That’s where Coffee Meets Bagel comes in. This free dating app is designed to slow the online dating process down a bit and highlight only the most compatible profiles for your approval. CMB users can only view a certain number of dating profiles a day, and these curated matches are only available once. As soon as you like or pass on the dating profile, it’s gone from the app as far as you’re concerned. This app works best if you’re genuinely looking for a soulmate and don’t mind investing some time into the search. The CMB app is free, and the focus is on quality over quantity, so it should definitely be on your radar if endless swiping isn’t working for you. Best Free Feature: Curated profile lists and a seven-day window to chat with mutual matches.
12. Hinge
Hinge is a free dating app that helps singles create real relationships. It’s free to download, free to swipe, and free to message mutual matches. Some search filters are included as well, so you’re not swiping blindly. The app’s profiles offer fun prompts and a good mix of photos and voice notes to make it feel more personalized. A user must comment or like a specific part of the profile to spark a match, and they can also spring. The only real limit on chatting is that if you have eight unanswered messages in your inbox, you won’t be able to send new likes until you’ve stopped ghosting on those people. Pretty reasonable, if you ask me! Best Free Feature: All communication is free between mutual matches with no time limits.
URL: https://hinge.co
13. Tinder
Tinder is definitely one of the most popular dating apps for meeting single people, making new friends, and arranging casual hookups. It’s free to download, free to swipe (with daily limits), and free to message all mutual matches. The only reason that it ranks a little lower on our list of free apps is its bias toward horny singles in their 20s. About 60% of Tinder users are under 35. That’s a pretty significant factor to consider when pursuing dates here. It’s a decidedly young crowd, and that’s great if you’re 22 and exploring your sexuality, but it’s kind of a letdown if you’re a divorcee with more life experience under your belt. Tinder is completely free for everyone, but younger singles definitely get the best deal and receive more matches and messages on average. Best Free Feature: Unlimited chatting with mutual matches.
14. WooPlus
“Big girls, you’ve got more admirers than you think” are the encouraging words of the WooPlus team. This free app is dedicated to helping BBW, BHM, and their admirers find romance without stigma. With over 12 million users, WooPlus isn’t the largest dating pool, but it does have the largest users and a great body-positive vibe. It’s free to download the app, and then you can fill out your information, upload photos, browse profiles, and communicate at no cost to you! WooPlus is a popular dating app for singles who are curvy and sexy. It’s a space where no one hides their curves in photos or shies away from disclosing their weight in their profile. People here are looking for bigger dates, and that’s a liberating fact in itself. Best Free Feature: Limited daily messaging with matches only.
What Does “Free Dating App” Actually Mean?
I think all of us savvy shoppers and deal hunters know that the word “free” is often a loaded marketing term. In online dating, it’s thrown about a lot and used even if the platform is only free to join or free to browse…but I’d say we can all agree that free chatting is what actually makes a free dating app truly worthwhile.
The good news: All the dating apps on this list have free messaging capabilities, but there might be some limits on when you can message, who you can message, or how long you can message.
Free dating apps typically have optional upgrades that can range from extra search filters to rewind buttons and read receipts. Swiping apps also often include the ability to see who liked you first.
I wouldn’t upgrade straight out of the gate on a dating app, but if you’re not getting the results you want, it could be a good idea to try those premium features for a month or two.
Which Dating Apps Offer Free Messaging?
The free dating apps on this list have some version of free communication on offer, but there are rules involved that users should know about. Here’s a breakdown of what free chat tools are included for each app:
| Dating App | Free Messaging | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Match | Message all mutual matches for free. | Free members can’t see who’s liked them first. |
| Ashley Madison | Women message for free. Men can reply for free. | Men need credits to unlock unlimited messaging. |
| OurTime | Message all mutual matches for free. | Free members can’t see who’s liked them first. |
| Victoria Milan | Reply to messages from paid members. | Sending greetings requires credit payment. |
| NaughtyCharm | Send prewritten icebreakers. | Unlimited messaging starts at $2.99. |
| Fling.com | Unlimited free messaging. | Some messages and videos are blurred out. |
| Hily | Message all mutual matches for free. | Matches expire after 48 hours of inactivity. |
| Bumble | Message all mutual matches for free. | Matches expire after 72 hours of inactivity. |
| OkCupid | Message all mutual matches for free. | Storage limit of 5,000 messages. |
| Wild | Message all mutual matches for free. | Lockout penalties for user reports. |
| Coffee Meets Bagel | Message all mutual matches for free. | Seven-day time limit. |
| Hinge | Message all mutual matches for free. | Cannot message anyone new if you have 8 unanswered messages. |
| Tinder | Message all mutual matches for free. | Free members can’t see who’s liked them first. |
| WooPlus | Message all mutual matches for free. | Matches expire after 48 hours of inactivity. |
What all this boils down to is user activity. You’ve got to be active and have a profile that attracts matches to get the most out of free dating apps. That’s going to be easier for individuals in bigger cities, of course, but folks in less populated areas can always expand their search radius to get more options.
Is There a Completely Free Dating App With No Subscription?
Almost all dating apps are going to have some sort of subscription option because they have to make money somehow. But ideally, those are optional upgrades, not necessities. The freemium model in online dating means users can get by with a free membership, but the paid membership adds extra benefits.
Sort of like when you go see a movie in the theater, you can choose to bypass the concessions and save cash…or you can grab yourself a treat and upgrade your experience.
The freemium model in online dating means users can get by with a free membership.
If you want a dating site where payment isn’t even on the table and everything is completely ad-run, LuvFree comes to mind as a historically free site for meeting singles.
When the LuvFree.com team says it’s 100% free, they really mean it. The free features include communication with matches, virtual kisses, blog posts, video chat, seeing who’s liked your profile, and abundant search parameters.
Should I Pay for Tinder Upgrades?
Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold, and Tinder Platinum are premium add-ons that I’d honestly say you can skip if you’re a woman, and you should think about if you’re a man. Sorry if that sounds sexist, but women tend to have zero trouble getting matches and messages on Tinder, while men face more competition and may need a little help to get the upper hand.
Tinder Plus features include: Tinder Passport, Rewinds, Incognito Browsing, and more weekly Super Likes.
Most users stay free forever on Tinder and are able to meet people
Tinder Gold costs a little more per month because it includes the ability to see who likes you, which can take a lot of guesswork out of swiping. Tinder Platinum pulls out all the stops and includes higher visibility and priority placement on the app.
I wouldn’t recommend upgrading a Tinder subscription unless you’ve been a free member for at least two weeks and haven’t gotten any traction with matches.
Most users stay free forever on Tinder and are able to meet people, though it may take some effort and profile updates to find a sweet spot.
What’s Facebook Dating?
Facebook Dating is an interesting venture by Facebook to harness the power of social media in the online dating scene. The free application is available in the Facebook app only, and it’s totally free to try (for now).
Since its launch in 2019, Facebook Dating has attracted curious singles everywhere from the United States to Peru. Members aren’t exactly hanging up their Tinder accounts and betting on this free dating service, but its ability to use your Facebook friends as potential love matches makes it worth giving a try.
Facebook Dating has used an established social network to help singles find romance in their Facebook friends list. How does it do that? By getting singles to admit to their secret crushes.
Singles who use Facebook Dating can name up to nine friends that they have a crush on, and the app will only notify that person if any crush shares the same feeling. You must both name each other as crushes, or the love connection won’t go anywhere.
While you’re waiting on your crush to join Facebook Dating, you can swipe on new people and make a potential match that leads to a conversation and a first date. This free feature is available 24/7, and all you need is a Facebook account to join.
How Do I Spot Fake Profiles on a Free Dating App?
Not all users on a free dating app will be genuine and authentic. People lie online simply because they can. You might encounter some shady or unpleasant characters occasionally. That’s part of the trade-off in a completely free space.
While dating apps try to eliminate scammers through increasingly advanced verification, some might still slip past. That’s why it’s smart to remain a bit cautious with new matches.
- Avoid profiles with suspicious photos or no photos at all.
- Be suspicious of profiles that spout platitudes without specifics.
- Ask follow-up questions to see if the person’s stories line up and make sense.
- Do a reverse image search or social media search to fact-check them.
- Block anyone who asks for money, loans, favors, or gifts.
Some of the warning signs that a profile is fake include unnatural wording, broken English, not completing every section of the profile, or only have one blurry, edited, or unclear photo.
Of course, much to online daters’ chagrin, the rise of AI profiles can make it difficult to tell what’s fake and what’s real, and that’s why you need to pay close attention to the online chat.
Be a little wary if someone seems too good to be true. It never hurts to look an online match up on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or another social network to make sure that person is telling the truth and doesn’t have any skeletons in the closet.
3 Tips for Finding Real Matches on a Free Dating App
At the end of the day, the successful online dater has to choose the right dating app, put together a dynamic profile, and be proactive about creating matches and sending messages to desirable people online. And they have to put consistent effort in.
1. Be Active & Responsive
You can’t just sit back and hope that the match algorithm will deliver your dream date to your inbox. The burden is on you to write engaging responses in your profile and post great photos that are a step up from a blurry bathroom selfie.
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Many apps learn what you like by studying who you’ve liked in the past, so the more you use the app, the more accurate your match suggestions will become.
2. Write Thoughtful & Personalized Messages
Another important part of the online dating process is the actual conversation you have with your matches. You need to say more than just “hi” or “how are you” to grab attention.
Assume that you’re competing with a roomful of strangers, and put on your A-game from the moment you press send on a first message. Here are some good online dating questions to help get the ball rolling and spark a conversation based on shared values and interests.
3. Be Resilient to Rejection
Most importantly, a good online dater is polite, persistent, and understanding when things don’t work out as planned. It’s never a good idea to call, text, or harass someone who ghosts you, stands you up, or outright rejects you. That’s only going to get you banned from a dating app or site.
Not all romantic connections are going to work out, so you’d better have a thick skin and a determined spirit if you want to thrive in the online dating scene.
Are Free Dating Apps a Waste of Time?
No, joining a dating app is definitely not a waste of time as long as you have the charm and patience to turn matches into conversations and dates. That’s no easy task, for sure. But I know many friends and family members who found love online, and that’s what motivates me in the swipe scene.
Some singles use dating apps as a fun distraction on the weekend, while others are looking for something more serious, and they both can find satisfaction in the right dating environment.
I recommend joining Tinder, OkCupid, or Fling.com if you’re mostly interested in playing the field and joining Match, eharmony, or Hinge if you’re ready to get serious and find a lasting relationship.
I’ve heard plenty of success stories from singles who say online dating helped them build self-esteem, lose their virginity, find new friends, or meet the love of their life, and it’s become one of the most popular ways for singles to meet their future spouse. That’s hardly a waste of time!
I get that online dating takes a lot of time, energy, and effort, and it can be draining if you’re meeting more flaky dates and dull chatters than real matches. However, you can always change up your routine and mix things up by downloading a new free app or updating your profile with more photos and fun facts about you.
The dating apps on this list are well worth exploring, and any of them could help you escape swipe burnout and find that satisfying romantic connection you’ve been looking for.
Methodology: How We Chose the Best Free Dating Apps
Our dating writers, reviewers, and editors evaluated the most popular free dating apps on the market by actually testing the features and determining how useful the free membership would be for the typical user.
The rating system takes the following criteria into account: Popularity, Features, Ease of Use, Safety, and Value.
We looked closely at the actual free capabilities included on the app and made note of any restrictions, drawbacks, or hidden fees that come up along the way.
Editor’s Note: Because many dating apps use a freemium model, inclusion on this list does not mean every feature is free. Our goal is to highlight apps that offer a useful dating experience without requiring an upfront subscription.
A Free Dating Platform Can Help Modern Singles Find the One
You don’t need a subscription to succeed at online dating. It’s also nice to see that so many of them offer free, comprehensive memberships, so you can focus more on finding the right person for you and less on breaking the bank.
A free dating app could be the key to a more exciting and rewarding love life. It doesn’t require much time, effort, or money to swipe. If you’re eager to jump into the dating world, just download an app, create your profile, and start liking profiles until you find a worthwhile match. Best of luck!
