What Is Facebook Dating? (2024 Review & Recommendations)

It’s common to hear couples say they met through social media. Whether it’s Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, one DM conversation can change the love lives of people from all walks of life. Facebook has paved the way for billions of those connections since it launched in 2004. 

I remember when I joined Facebook. It was my first social media account, and I was amazed that I could stay connected with loved ones around the world and meet new people along the way. Now that Facebook Dating is an option, even more singles can shoot their shots in the dating scene. Facebook Dating is a Facebook extension that helps users build new relationships based on common interests and beliefs. 

Although Facebook Dating isn’t considered the top dating platform, it can certainly get the job done. Here are a few interesting facts that can help you better understand what Facebook Dating is all about and how it could be useful in your dating life. 

We all know the story of Facebook, and what started as an idea to connect college students turned into a global social outlet. Then in 2018, Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would be expanding into online dating. Shortly after Mark’s announcement, Facebook Dating launched, and singles began to explore all of the dating options the app had to offer. 

“I think Facebook Dating is actually the best software and easy to use, plus it’s free. You get to see everyone who likes you and search by interest. I have met a couple of people there and every other site over the years. I think a lot of people don’t know about it so the user base isn’t as big as it could be,” said an anonymous Facebook Dating user in a testimonial on Reddit. 

Even though Facebook has more than 3 billion active members, not all of them are looking for true love. Facebook Dating supports singles as they search for committed relationships, casual dates, and even hookups. The app’s fluidity invites user engagement, but it can be hard to navigate through the dating pool when you encounter people with wildly different dating expectations. It’s just a matter of being honest about your intentions and remaining patient throughout the process.

If you’re anything like me, you love a good deal. One of my favorite things about Facebook Dating is that it is completely free. Without having to worry about hidden fees, singles can date freely and never have to pay anything. Users receive full access to the app’s dating resources and support. Singles can scout out the dating scene by filtering members based on location, religion, age, and even parental status without having to worry about upgrading their membership. 

Facebook is all about chatting and making connections through conversations –– and Facebook Dating works much the same way. Users can access free chatting features and have peace of mind knowing that they are safe. Facebook Dating ensures that member safety and privacy are protected and respected. If you’re looking for a more discreet dating experience, you’ll enjoy Facebook Dating. One popular feature on the app is Secret Crush which allows members to view their friend list and secretly add them to their crush list without the other person being notified. Both members would have to select each other as a secret crush for it to be a match and notify them.

Your Facebook friends will never know you’re using the dating service or see your activity unless you want to show them by posting it on your timeline. This is helpful for people who don’t want their nosy relatives to get all up in their business — trust me, I understand! 

“Your Facebook Dating profile and conversations will not be shared with anyone outside of Dating. And everything you need to start using your independent Couples profile will be found in the app you already know,” confirmed the Facebook Dating team.

It’s important to note that, although Facebook Dating launched in 2019, it is still working its way up in the online dating industry. A lot of singles are hesitant to connect social media with online dating and Facebook Dating may be suffering as a result.

It certainly hasn’t gained traction in the same way that Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge have. But there are still promising results to come from using the app for your dating needs. 

Facebook Dating has also expanded by creating an events section for users to find out about upcoming events — and who may be there. People tell me all the time that they found out about a local event because of Facebook. I also use it sometimes to get out of the house, so it’s a great resource that can make dating easier. 

“If we’re focused on helping people build meaningful relationships, then this is, perhaps, the most meaningful of all,” Mark said as he reviewed Facebook Dating for a rapt audience.

Facebook Dating works similarly to many mainstream dating apps. It has the standard profile swiping and mutual matchmaking that you’ll see from all the big names in the space. The main difference is that Facebook Dating has a much smaller following than more established dating services, including Match, which launched in 1995 when Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was still in grade school.

Match

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Match

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Our team of editors and writers draw from their industry expertise to calculate dating site and app ratings based on a variety of criteria that impact the user. We compared pricing and analyzed factors such as:

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Our Experts Say: “As the largest and most diverse dating site in the world, Match features profiles of millions of local singles and a popular app. If you only try one dating service, make it Match…” Full Review »

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Match has been a true pioneer in the online dating industry and has a much larger dating pool than Facebook Dating. Match is typically used for serious dating, so it is a great option if you find yourself running into flaky people on Facebook Dating who aren’t looking for committed relationships.

Ashley Madison is another good alternative to Facebook Dating. The hookup site offers a free signup, just like Facebook Dating, and female members can chat for free. Ashley Madison recently reached a milestone of 80 million members, so casual daters should have plenty of romantic options to sort through.

Yes! You need to download the Facebook app and pair Facebook Dating with your profile. The simple process helps with verification, which ultimately makes Facebook Dating safer for members. Facebook is careful to keep Facebook Dating activity separate from the user’s public profile, so your Facebook friends won’t know unless they’re on the platform, too, and swipe on your dating profile.

Facebook Dating is not available through the Facebook website. You’ll need the app to join, swipe, and chat on this unique dating service. The Facebook app is available for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play. 

Facebook Dating is a great dating platform to try, but it shouldn’t be the only dating app that users download. It’s best to join multiple apps to see which one fits your dating style — and that might just be Facebook Dating. 

If you’re hoping to meet a lot of potential matches at once, Facebook Dating may not fulfill your expectations as the best dating app in your arsenal. With a growing membership, the app continues to help people find real connections, but it’s not the most popular one on the market. The good news is that Facebook Dating is completely free, so it doesn’t cost money to swipe and chat.

“I know someone who got married to their partner and they met through Facebook Dating. I won’t say it works for everyone but there’s no harm in trying,” said an anonymous Facebook Dating user in a review.