In the past ten years, I’ve used far too many of the top dating services. The programs are terrible to use, to be honest. But if you’re reading this, you can understand that one of my only options for meeting people in person is a dating app.
Most popular apps compared:
- Tinder: Largest user base (26M daily matches), best in urban areas, $24.99-49.99/month premium
- Bumble: Women message first, equal gender ratio, $29.99-79.99/month premium
- Hinge: Most relationship-focused, ages 23-36, fewer fake profiles
Free vs. paid features:
- Free tiers often limit swipes/matches.
- Premium unlocks filters, unlimited likes, and visibility boosts.
- Prices range from $24.99 to $79.99/month for most apps.
Location matters:
Apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge work best in urban areas; smaller cities have limited pools
More than 91 million individuals currently use location-based mobile dating applications to find love, and new apps appear daily. There are too many options, and who has the time to try them all out?
Avoid wasting time on programs that aren’t worth downloading. Instead, use these 7 Best dating apps for relationships.
The best Dating Apps For Relationships, at a glance
- Best Dating Site for Relationships: Match
- Best Dating App for Marriage: eHarmony
- Best Dating App Overall: Hinge
- Best Dating App for Casual Dating and Hookups: Tinder
- Best Dating Site for Inclusivity: Thursday
- Best Dating App for Social Networking: Bumble
- Best Dating Site for Over 50: SeniorMatch
1. Best Dating Site for Relationships: Match
Best for finding: Long-term relationships.
Pros: Match is a well-known dating site that helps people discover love and begin committed relationships. There are individuals here who share your interests if that’s what you’re looking for.
Cons: Registration and using Match is free, but you will need to purchase a subscription to read and send messages. There is a single exception to this rule: if a user has a Connect subscription, you can speak with them.
Top tip: Before purchasing a subscription, try Match for free. Based on its basic dating features, you should be able to decide if it’s the perfect match for you.
Paid-for features on Match
- Match paid subscription: Unlocks key features, such as the ability to check who has visited your profile and send unlimited messages and video chats to other people.
- Select Upgrade: allows you to select who can contact you and receive read receipts.
- Connect Upgrade: Allow anyone to reply to you, even if they don’t have a Match subscription.
2. Best Dating Site for Marriage: eHarmony
Best for finding: Love based on serious relationships.
Pros: eharmony offers some free features, such as the ability to take a compatibility test. In addition to receiving an infinite number of matches, you can begin communicating with people by sending likes, icebreakers, and smiles.
Cons: You can use the app for free, but in order to use all of eHarmony’s dating services, you will need to pay a subscription fee every month. These include sending unlimited messages and viewing all of your matches’ images.
Top tip: Have a look at their website for date ideas in different cities across the UK.
Paid-for features on eHarmony
- Eharmony Premium membership: Allows you to use all of the app’s communication tools, send and receive unlimited messages, have an infinite number of matches, view the images of all of your matches, and make use of improved search features.
3. Best Dating App Overall: Hinge
Best for finding: Relationships based on individual preferences.
Pros: People you’re Most Compatible with are recommended by Hinge’s algorithm.
Cons: You’ll be notified and offered the chance to match with someone each time you ‘like’ them on this site. Because of this, it could look a little more daunting than a mindless Tinder swipe.
Top tip: You won’t get many chances to browse and match on Hinge until you complete your profile.
Paid-for features on Hinge
- Hinge+ allows you to send an unlimited number of likes, view all of your fans, sort likes, upgrade preferences, and find people in additional ways (e.g., by location).
- HingeX: These are the same features as Hinge+, plus the ability to send priority likes, skip the line, and improve suggestions.
4. Best Dating App for Casual Dating and Hookups: Tinder
Best for finding: Casual hookups and relationships.
Pros: One of the most popular dating apps is Tinder. Even if you’re in a very rural area, you’re sure to find people to talk with because so many people use it. If you go to their website, you may use Tinder online as well.
Cons: It’s a tad too easy to accidentally swipe the wrong way, especially when using “Super Likes,” which notify the other user.
Top tip: When writing your bio, stay clear of the common Tinder cliches, such as “fluent in sarcasm”, “don’t match if you’re not going to talk”, or “6ft because apparently that matters.” Keep it light and be unique.
Paid-for features on Tinder
- Tinder Plus: Allows you to go incognito, hide advertisements, match with people worldwide, undo your last swipe, and have an infinite number of likes.
- Tinder Gold: You can see who has liked you, receive five daily Super Likes, receive one monthly Boost, and receive new Top Picks every day. It has all the same features as the free and paid editions.
- Tinder Platinum: The free, Plus, and Gold versions’ capabilities are all included, along with the ability to message before matching, send prioritized likes, and see the likes you’ve sent in the previous week.
5. Best Dating Site for Inclusivity: Thursday
Best for finding: Dates on Thursdays.
Pros: You could overcome your temptation to spend every night on dating apps by using this app. Only on Thursdays are you able to match and communicate with others. Additionally, have a look at their weekly live events.
Cons: There isn’t much time to talk with users on the app because messages are removed at midnight.
Top tip: You can meet new individuals and go out with your single friends on Thursdays. To find out if there are any upcoming events in your area, check the app.
Paid-for features on Thursday
- Thursday Premium Membership: Among the features are the ability to use ghost mode, send unlimited likes, get boosted, and obtain five Love Keys (to unlock matches).
6. Best Dating App for Social Networking: Bumble
Best for finding: Casual hookups, relationships, work contacts, and new friends.
Pros: When people of the opposite sex match, women initiate contact (the Opening Moves tool allows you to make requests to matches). Faster-paced discussions are promoted by the need that the initial messages to be sent within a specific time frame. You might be able to get a job and a new best friend on this site, thanks to the Bizz and BFF options.
Cons: You must use Bumble frequently enough to meet the deadlines for sending the initial message and responding. If you don’t, you can lose matches with people you like.
Top tip: According to Bumble, the ideal time for users between the ages of 18 and 22 to use the app’s date setting is from 7 to 10 p.m.
Paid-for features on Bumble
- Bumble Boost: Allows you to replay, use Bumble Spotlight once a week, extend matches for longer, have unlimited swipes, and use five SuperSwipes per week.
- Bumble Premium: The features of Bumble Boost are also available, along with infinite Advanced filters, the ability to view who has liked you, the ability to rematch with people, travel mode, and incognito mode.
- Bumble Premium+ – All of the features included in Boost and Premium, along with two weekly compliments, five additional SuperSwipes, and access to Profile Insights.
7. Best Dating Site for Over 40: SeniorMatch
Best for finding: Casual dating, serious relationships, and companionship for singles 40+
Pros: Exclusive to users over 40, ensuring an age-appropriate dating pool. Private photo albums for selective sharing. Advanced search filters for compatibility based on interests, beliefs, and lifestyle.
Cons: Limited interaction in the free version; messaging requires a Premium subscription. Exclusivity may limit dating options compared to broader platforms
Top tip: SeniorMatch allows users to search for travel partners or activity companions, making it ideal for those seeking more than just romance.
Paid-for features on SeniorMatch
- Premium Membership – Unlocks messaging capabilities, private albums, and advanced search filters for more refined matches.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Dating Apps
1. What are the best free dating apps for relationships?
Some of the best free dating apps for serious relationships include Bumble, eHarmony (with limited free features), Hinge, and OkCupid.
2. Is Bumble a free dating app?
Yes, Bumble offers free features such as swiping, matching, and messaging. However, premium features like Bumble Boost and Bumble Premium provide extra benefits.
3. What’s the best free dating site for serious relationships?
Sites like OkCupid and eHarmony offer compatibility-based matchmaking, making them great options for serious relationships. While eHarmony has a free version, access to full features requires a paid subscription.
4. Are there free dating apps without payment required?
Yes! Apps like Tinder, Bumble, and OkCupid provide free basic services without requiring payment. However, premium upgrades enhance the matchmaking experience.
5. What are the best dating apps for young adults?
Young adults often prefer Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, or Coffee Meets Bagel for modern matchmaking with a casual or serious relationship focus.
6. How does online dating work?
Online dating platforms allow users to create profiles, browse potential matches, and connect through messages based on interests, location, and preferences.
7. What are the best dating apps for men?
Apps like Tinder, Match.com, and Bumble provide tailored experiences for men looking for serious relationships, casual dating, or meaningful connections.
8. Which dating app is most successful for relationships?
eHarmony is often considered one of the most successful apps for long-term relationships due to its compatibility-based matchmaking.
9. What are the top 5 dating apps? Some of the best dating apps include:
- Match—Best for long-term relationships
- Tinder—Best for casual dating
- Bumble—Best for women-first dating
- Hinge—Best for well-rounded matches
- OkCupid—Best for thoughtful questions
10. Which dating site is best for serious relationships?
Match and eHarmony are highly rated for serious relationships, offering detailed profiles and compatibility-based matching.
11. Is Bumble better or Tinder?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Bumble encourages women to make the first move and is often seen as more relationship-focused, while Tinder is known for its fast-paced, casual dating environment
