Thousands of dating apps exist — from the standard to the strange — and narrowing down the best on your own can be as hard as narrowing down your favorite cheese. I mean, brie is great for just about any occasion, but you can’t go wrong with a classic cheddar. cheddar. And, then, what about Parmigiano Reggiano? Pasta would be lost without it. Sorry, I’m getting distracted.
To help get your love life on the fast track and save valuable time, we’ve looked at all the dating apps out there and created a list of the 22 most popular — based on size, of course, as well as pricing, user base, relationship intent, and consumer reviews.
Most Popular Dating Apps Overall (#1-3)
The next three apps are hugely popular, but unlike the stereotypical clique you might remember from school, they welcome everyone. They don’t exclude anyone based on age, race, gender, location, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, culture, or background. Everyone can find a place here.
1. Match
Match has more than 22 years of helping daters under its belt. Since its founding in 1995, more than 42 million people have signed up for Match. It also sees 13.5 million monthly users, and that number is only going to continue to grow.
- 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.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Match isn’t just big, though. It’s also well-liked. The app has numerous five-star reviews on iTunes and Google Play, including Vanna M., who says, “I have had nothing but happiness and an increasingly better track record in men. Brilliant tool.”
2. OkCupid
One of the reasons so many singles (40 million, to be exact) have used OkCupid is that it’s been free from the very beginning, and the team promises to keep it that way until the end of time. Another reason OkCupid is so high on our list is that the app uses a one-of-a-kind algorithm to match users based on more substantial qualities and characteristics, not just pictures, age, and location.
3. Tinder
Launched in 2012, Tinder has been at the forefront of dating app innovations. It was one of the first, if not the first, to allow swiping, GPS-based matching, and common connections via social media.
Tinder is available in more than 190 countries, it’s responsible for more than 20 billion matches so far, and it facilitates more than 1.6 billion swipes and 26 million matches a day as well as 1.5 million dates a week.
Most Popular “Free” Dating Apps (#4-6)
Sometimes free is bad. For example, do you really want a free dental cleaning? Probably not. Then sometimes free is awesome. For example, wouldn’t you want to try out a dating app before paying for it? Probably so. Well, the good news is all of our most popular free dating apps don’t cost anything to download, create a profile, upload photos, browse, or receive matches. They also won’t charge users to add members to Favorites, and send and receive likes, among other things.
4. Elite Singles
Not only does Elite Singles see over 290,000 users every month, but the app also helps over 2,500 people find love every month. Elite Singles’ target audience is college educated, commitment-minded 30+ singles. More than 80% of members have a bachelor’s, master’s, and/or doctorate degree, 100% are looking for a long-term relationship, and 90% are at least 30 years old.
We’re not the only ones who have good things to say about Elite Singles. Paul Rymaszewski called it a “truly genuine app. Way ahead of other scam apps [whose] only purpose is to make you watch, browse through fake or dead profiles, and pay for it, obviously.”
5. Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish (POF) is beloved among singles and celebrities alike. The app has been featured in music videos such as Lady Gaga’s “Telephone,” Ke$ha’s “We R Who We R,” Jason Derulo’s “Ridin’ Solo,” and Britney Spears’ “Hold It Against Me.” According to POF, users have more conversations here than on other dating apps, exchanging 1 billion messages a month. And they never have to pay to have those conversations.
6. Bumble
Often called the female-friendly Tinder, Bumble requires two people to mutually match, and then the women have to initiate the messaging within 24 hours (if you’re gay, lesbian, or bisexual, either party can make the move). The team said their mission is to put the power in the women’s court and prevent them from receiving a ton of unsolicited, vulgar messages (we’re looking at you, dick pics).
Founder Emily Wolfe said within the first eight months of launching, approximately 5 million unique conversations were initiated, all by women, and today the average user spends about 62 minutes on the app every day.
Most Popular “Gay” Dating Apps (#7-9)
Gay singles can sometimes feel neglected and frustrated on traditional dating apps because the platforms and matching systems aren’t necessarily built with them in mind. LGBT users on Tinder have long complained about receiving matches they’re not looking for (e.g., the wrong gender or sexual orientation). However, they can confidently turn to the three dating apps below.
7. eharmony
With over 40 million members worldwide, 30 million downloads, and 2 million marriages, eharmony boasts impressive numbers. It also has a 4-star rating on Google Play and one of the largest user bases among dating apps.
- Relationships: Casual Dates, Deep Relationships
- Match System: Personality test suggests matches
- Our Experts Say: eharmony has opened its registration to same-sex couples, including gay men, so everyone can benefit from its psychology matching system. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
In addition to its impressive numbers, this app has a legendary matching system based on psychology. The compatibility quiz has over 60 questions ranging from thoughtful to silly.
8. Grindr
Grinder was founded in 2009 by Joel Simkhai in response to the problems gay and bisexual men were having in the dating app industry. It works in similar ways as other apps (set your location and swipe right for yes and left for no), but it was the first to be 100% dedicated to this audience. The latest stats show that Grindr reaches 196 countries and 2.4 million users on a daily basis.
9. Hornet
While Grindr is for finding hookups, Hornet is a dating app and social network for gay, bisexual, and curious men to find friends, dates, and serious relationships.
“Redefining the gay app,” Hornet has over 20 million users and several useful features, including push notifications when someone follows you or likes your photos.
Most Popular “Lesbian” Dating Apps (#10-12)
A close friend of mine who’s lesbian has had some of the worst experiences on some dating apps — most of them to do with spending hours swiping left on dudes when clearly that’s not what she’s looking for. Like other lesbian singles, she’s been close to giving up on online dating altogether, but we want to encourage you not to do that. We have three apps that will show you how worthwhile online dating can be.
10. Zoosk
Zoosk, of course, has users select their sexual orientation and the preferred sexual orientation of their ideal match, and the app allows them to search just that. However, it also has extensive search filters to zero in on other things important to you — like ZI{ code, education, appearance, and interests (just to name a few).
We’ve found a lot of positive comments online about Zoosk, one being Dana P., who wrote on SiteJabber.com that, “Zoosk was the easiest to use and the best for getting to know people. I have recommended it to many of my friends.”
11. HER
HER (formerly Dattch) was created by LGBTQ+ women for LGBTQ+ women to find companionship in any form. You’ve got the app, which provides streamlined profiles and your own customized feed of potential matches. But you’ve also got daily lesbian news and a regularly updated list of LGBTQ+ events in your area — so you can get off your phone as soon as possible.
12. Hinge
Hinge has gotten the nickname “the anti-Tinder” — because its mission is to “swipe left on swiping” and make dating apps have less of a game-like feel, as CEO Justin McLeod puts it.
On Hinge, your profile is known as your Story, where others can comment and ask questions. This is just one of the many personal touches that make this app unique, especially for commitment-focused lesbians.
Most Popular “Black” Dating Apps (#13-15)
According to BlackDemographics.com, people who identify as “black only” or “black in combination with another race” make up 14.5% of the US population, which is about 47 million people. If they’re single and interested in dating someone who’s also black or biracial, dating apps are the top way for them to meet. On the next three apps, they don’t have to worry about filtering by race and can, instead, concentrate on other important filters.
13. BlackPeopleMeet
BlackPeopleMeet is one of the most renowned black dating apps because it was around way before so many others you see today. You can join its 1.4 million users by downloading the app via iTunes or Google Play (it’s free to do). After that, you can view profiles and photos, see who’s viewed your profile and photos, and send and receive flirts and emails.
- 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.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Don’t just take it from us, though. Chan C. met his now-fiancé on BlackPeopleMeet and said it “worked miracles for me. It can for you as well!”
14. BAE
BAE stands for “before anyone else,” and the app puts you and your needs first when finding you that special someone. BAE’s features include a Hot-or-Not-like feature, real-time notifications, and the ability to bookmark members who catch your eye. Black daters will have a lot of fun and, most importantly, success on BAE — no matter if they’re using a smartphone or tablet.
15. MELD
MELD believes “you deserve to be happy,” and so do we — which is why we’re recommending the app to you. Dedicated to single black professionals, MELD connects you with like-minded people for meaningful connections, whether it’s romance or networking. The app uses Facebook to verify everyone’s identify and LinkedIn to verify everyone’s jobs — so you can rest assured you’re talking to someone who truly is who they say they are.
A basic membership on MELD doesn’t cost anything and allows you to upload your info and photos and browse through profiles — which you can either Pass or “MELD.” Before communication is open, two people have to mutually like each other, so say goodbye to unwanted messages!
Most Popular “Senior” Dating Apps (#16-18)
I have several older family members and family acquaintances who aren’t the most tech-savvy folks, especially on smartphones. They’ve got calling, texting, taking photos, and getting on Facebook down pat, but they seem to get lost in terms of everything else, including online dating. In this section, we’ll highlight three senior dating apps that take all the unnecessary bells and whistles out of the process.
16. OurTime
Receiving more than 1.4 million users a month (and counting), OurTime is among the largest over-50 dating apps. Something also worth noting is this app is a part of the Match family, so you know it’s a reputable app with a high success rate.
- 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.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Tomi Antony gave the app five stars on Google Play, saying, “Women are themselves on this app, and so many photos are just honestly the person you’re looking at. It’s fun to browse and take souls in.”
17. SilverSingles
This is a sister site of Elite Singles (they’re both owned by Spark Networks), but it specifically caters to daters aged 50 and over. You can sign up for a basic account, which never charges you to edit your profile, including your photos, browse through its members, and communicate in certain ways.
In addition to a desktop version, SilverSingles is also available via your smartphone or tablet, so you never have to miss out on a compatible match — you could be at the gym, on a road trip, at a restaurant, or anywhere else.
18. SeniorMatch
SeniorMatch is the self-proclaimed “#1 senior dating app for over 50 single people to meet local 50-plus men and mature women.” The brand has been around for more than 16 years and is headquartered in Silicon Valley. After you download SeniorMatch (on either an iOS or Android device), spend some time testing out the app’s tools such as virtual winks and Sparks.
Most Popular “Hookup” Apps (#19-22)
Just because you may be experiencing a lull in dates doesn’t mean your sex life has to suffer. Or maybe you’re just horny and looking for a hot girl or guy to spend the night in bed with. Whatever it is, our favorite hookup apps can help you accomplish your goals.
19. Adult Friend Finder
Adult Friend Finder isn’t just a leading sex app — it’s also one of the most established, as its parent company was founded in 1996. Here, you can give in to your desires without worrying about someone passing judgment. We’re talking one-night stands, threesomes, fetish or swinger partners, affairs, you name it — and 77 million members to put the moves on.
- Relationships: Hookups Only
- Match System: Filter by distance, gender, encounter
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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 Photos Now
One user named 112211D wrote on ViewPoints.com: “Currently, I have met four women… all of them were average to slightly above based on looks. They want the sex just as bad as you do.” Now it’s time to go see for yourself!
20. NaughtyCharm
The team behind NaughtyCharm doesn’t just care about finding you a hookup. They also care about helping you find a hookup as quickly, easily, and safely as possible. Give the app your location, and, within seconds, it’ll start making suggestions. Plus, the app uses SSL encryption to keep you and your personal information out of the hands of scammers.
- 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
One of the best user reviews we’ve read about this app comes from Sam S., who shared on SiteJabber: ” What can I say? Ten minutes since I registered and I’ve already got four messages from muscled gods. Won’t lie — it felt good.”
21. FriendFinder-X
FriendFinder-X is “where good girls do bad things,” but the guys on this app are definitely down to do some bad things as well. Signup online takes a couple of seconds, and then you’ll be a part of the most welcoming online sex community.
- Relationships: One-Night Stands, Threesomes, Affairs
- Match System: Search on your own, plus receive matches
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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 Photos Now
FriendFinder-X offers a lot of communication features for getting to know your future sex partner before meeting them in person — including private photos and videos and live two-way webcams. If you happen to come across any issues, there’s also a section where you can ask for advice from your fellow members.
22. PURE
PURE calls itself “the hookup app for awesome people,” and one of the things that makes them so awesome is they know precisely what they want, vocalize it, and go for it. The app encourages this focused determination — once you match with a sexy single or couple, you have one hour to exchange contact info and/or set up a meeting. Uiytui J., who gave PURE a 4-star rating, said: “Love it. I get exactly what I want out of it.”
Watch Your Dating Life Take Off Thanks to These Popular Apps!
While you may still be deciding on your favorite cheese (I’m right there with you), hopefully we’ve helped you choose the right dating app for you among so many good options. In fact, you don’t have to choose only one. Just like mac and cheese is better with three cheeses in it, your dating life will see significant improvement the more apps you try!
