Which Dating App Is Right for You? (2024)

The best dating apps for you—you, specifically—are the ones that will connect you to people who are looking for the same thing you are. Someone seeking a serious relationship, for example, will use dating sites differently than someone who just wants the best hookup apps for no-strings fun.

Where you live is another factor to consider if you’re not willing to date long-distance: While you’ll typically find prospects across the country on the most popular apps like Tinder and Bumble, services with more of a niche focus may not have the membership numbers worth your time if you’re in a town that’s far from a major city.

Finding the right person for you can feel like a needle in a haystack situation, but take heart: There’s no shortage of humans looking for love (or lust) on the internet. Just over 44 million people used dating apps as of February 2022, according to available data, and usage is predicted to grow globally over the next few years alongside rising smartphone use and the fact that “We met online!” doesn’t carry the stigma it once did. Whether you’re considering giving online dating a try for the first time or gathering the strength to start swiping again after a break, you’ve definitely got options.

Below, you’ll find some of the best dating apps worth exploring, plus some insights from dating experts on how to have the best possible experience using them.

Are dating apps a waste of time?

In general, no: They can be a great way to meet people who may not organically cross your path otherwise.

While potential couples still meet in real life every day, “if you’re not dating online, you’re leaving out a lot of possible connections,” Marquita Johnson, LPC, a Georgia-based mental health counselor who also offers dating coaching, tells SELF. While dating online can get exhausting, Johnson reminds her clients that it’s worth the potential payoff. She also advises people to get clear on what they want and where they are in their own personal-development journey before jumping in.

“People will often go on dating apps and they’re not really working on themselves—yet they’re hoping to meet someone who has done all of this inner work and is this amazing person,” Johnson says. In other words, you don’t need to be some perfect version of yourself to find a romantic or hookup partner—that’s an unrealistic goal for all of us!—but an awareness of your past romantic challenges and relationship patterns will likely set you up for a better experience.

Another question you might want to ask yourself: “How can I maximize the time I’m putting into the dating app game?” Tennesha Wood, dating coach and founder of The Broom List matchmaking agency for Black professionals, tells SELF that it’s important to communicate exactly what type of connection you’re looking for in your profile so you don’t waste time weeding through people who aren’t on the same page. “I see a lot of bios that are extremely vague—it’s like, ‘Here’s a couple of photos of me; I’m looking to meet new people!’” she says. “That’s going to attract all sorts of people, some of which you might not want.”

Wood also encourages clients to develop “a keen eye for what people are ‘saying’ behind what they’re saying.” For example, late-night DMs that just say “ur gorgeous” likely won’t lead to anything productive if you’re seeking candidates for a serious relationship, she says. Or, you might notice someone’s profile lists tons of dating deal breakers and declarations like “don’t message me if you’re into ghosting.” This suggests they might not be in a positive headspace for a healthy relationship, according to Wood. And for those who need to hear this, she reminds you that “you don’t need to respond to every message.” Instead, to avoid dating-app burnout, conserve your energy for talking with people you find genuinely intriguing.

Wood’s final rule of thumb: Keep the initial messaging period brief and just meet up already (as long as you heed the safety advice below, of course). “If there’s a connection, see where that goes. If not, move on,” she advises.

What is the best dating app for a serious relationship?

With its enormous pool of potential matches (users go on 1.5 million dates per week worldwide), Tinder is a top pick for both Wood and dating coach Alyssa Dineen, StyleMyProfile founder and author of The Art of Online Dating: Style Your Most Authentic Self and Cultivate a Mindful Dating Life. In fact, Dineen tells SELF that Tinder’s where she met her own partner of five years.

Dineen also likes Hinge, another popular option on our list, where “you’ll find users from 18 to 50” looking for love. But your odds are solid on any platform if you’re willing to put in the effort, she adds. Your best dating apps for a relationship depend on a variety of factors, from sexual orientation to age to location. For instance, “Plenty of Fish is really popular in my older clients age group in Florida,” she says, while it’s a ghost town in some other parts of the U.S.

While many dating apps offer at least some of their features for free, you can consider paid versions—Dineen and her team recommend Tinder Gold or Bumble Premium—if you want to juice up your profile visibility and communication options after trying a couple of free apps.

What is the safest dating app?

No one app has been deemed the “safest” but, for now, Tinder offers the most built-in safety tools.

In 2021, Match Group—the conglomerate that owns services including Tinder, Match.com, OkCupid, Hinge, Plenty Of Fish, and OurTime—revealed plans to roll out background checks through the nonprofit platform Garbo. So far that feature has only launched on Tinder (as of March 2022), and users can buy background checks for $2.50 each. Tinder also offers an emergency button to call for help that’s powered by personal safety platform Noonlight.

Terrifying (if uncommon) stories of deadly online dates are just a Google search away, and as a 2021 BBC report outlined, apps offer varying, limited amounts of protection against harassment and sexual violence. In addition to physical safety concerns, documentaries and series like The Tinder Swindler and Catfish serve as reminders that scam artists use dating apps and social media to lure potential fraud victims.

The fact is, any date with someone you don’t know very well brings some element of risk, whether you met them on an app, in a bar, or in a church. Currently, dating apps largely place the responsibility for personal safety on the user—and a controversial internet law established back in the 1990s has shielded dating apps from responsibility for third-party harm (meaning, courts may not find an app liable for anything that happens to you at the hands of another user). As such, Bumble, Tinder, and our experts recommend following these best-practice first-date tips for safety.

Ahead of your first meet up:

• Limit the personal info you share, such as your home address and other places you can regularly be found, like a gym.
• Don’t share financial information—and definitely don’t wire anyone money!
• Keep all of your correspondence in the app itself, as opposed to giving them your phone number or social media profiles. Remember, no one has the right to pressure you into sharing additional information (even with “What, you think I’m a serial killer?!” attempts at levity).
• Request a brief in-app video chat to make sure they’re who they say they are, and/or check whether they’ve used the photo verification tool if it’s offered on the app you’re using. On Tinder and Bumble, that process works similarly: To verify, the app shows the user a sample selfie in a pose such as a wave, and the user snaps and submits their own selfie in that same pose. Then, the membership team makes sure the selfie’s facial geometry matches with the rest of the user’s profile photos (Tinder employs “a combo of trusty humans and facial recognition technology,” according to their website).

On your first in-person date:

• Meet your date in a public, well-trafficked place.
• Share your date’s name and your destination with a friend so they can easily find you in an emergency.
• Keep your cell phone charged in case you need to use it in a hurry.
• Never leave your beverages or personal items unattended—a safeguard against being drugged or robbed. (And yes, that means even if you leave a half-full drink on the table when you run to the bathroom. Order a new one when you return.)

Now that you’re basically an expert when it comes to using apps for dating, it’s time to actually download one (or two, or three). Keep in mind that digital dating is a time investment, so focusing your efforts on one or two platforms may increase your chances of finding a quality match and avoiding burnout. When coming up with our list of the best dating apps, we considered factors like popularity, ease of use, and niche. Here are 17 of our favorite dating apps for meeting your next special someone(s):

1. Tinder

Best for: People who want to meet IRL ASAP

The innovator that made swiping-right famous is the “world’s most popular app for meeting new people,” per the company’s site. Bio options include nine sexual orientations and an autofill list of genders (though you do have to choose to appear in search results under “men” or “women”). Tinder earned its initial rep as a top hookup app with a text-minimal, photo-forward interface, but these days, you can add more about yourself and choose from a pre-selected list of “passions” like activism and jiujitsu.

2. Bumble

Best for: Proactive women (interested in men) and shy guys (interested in women)

On Bumble, only women can send the first message to men. “For women who are reluctantly just getting into online dating, Bumble can be great because you’re not being bombarded,” Wood says. In the case of same-gender matches, either person can message first. Once you’ve sent a message, though, the receiver only has 24 hours to reply or the “connection” expires—important to know if you’re the type to only check in a few times a week.

3. Hinge

Best for: Finding people who are open to something serious

As “the dating app that’s designed to be deleted,” Hinge has lots of devotees. Profiles include interesting questions that help users find common interests. The app also checks in to find out if you’ve met your match, and that can nudge you to follow up on potential connections. Will you end up finding love and deleting that app? Unclear, but the interface is definitely more in-depth than its competition. By answering at least three personal prompts (“The key to making me laugh is” is one of many options) instead of filling out a traditional 240-character bio, you’re arguably able to present a more well-rounded version of yourself.

4. The League

Best for: People who want an “exclusive” pool of potential dates

The League dating app markets itself to those who hold certain expectations about things like careers and education—say your deal breakers include meeting a fellow doctor, or you care deeply about where your date went to college. Users connect their LinkedIn and Facebook profiles as part of the authentication process (they’ll prevent your connections on those platforms from seeing your profile if they’re also on the app, though, so no need to worry that all of your coworkers will suddenly know). While premium memberships can run as high as $300 a month, there’s a free guest option to try. Available in over 150 cities worldwide, The League’s FAQ is a bit cagey on how many actual matches you’ll get if you sign up in Boise, Idaho, for instance. Either way, prepare for a potential waitlist period—it even happened to Molly on Insecure!

5. Match

Best for: People willing to invest in the pursuit of love

Yes, there’s a free version of Match—but you can’t initiate messaging or reply to anyone except Premium subscribers, so it’s probably only worthwhile if you pay. The idea that paying members are more serious about dating isn’t necessarily true anymore, given all the great free dating apps that exist nowadays, though. As Dineen says, “You may just be paying to hook up with someone.” Still, the service boasts more than 25 years in the online dating game, so success stories abound (including a wedding in which this writer was a bridesmaid, for what it’s worth).

6. Tastebuds

Best for: Music fans who want a partner to go to shows with

If you’re a person who swoons over a carefully curated playlist, this might be one of the best dating apps for you. With music lovers in mind, Tastebuds allows you to match with people based on musical interests and exchange songs with them. Bonding over your mutual love of K-pop or metal concerts might just be the spark that ignites a lifelong connection.

7. Raya

Best for: People who dream of DM'ing with Charlie Puth

Known as “Tinder for famous people,” Raya is a membership-only app with a pretty intense waiting list and application process. The app doesn’t have any free features; if you’re accepted, it costs about $20 per month. Whether or not you’ll find love is anyone’s guess, but there’s a chance you’ll spot someone semi-famous if you swipe long enough.

8. OkCupid

Best for: Those seeking compatible taste in everything

An online dating mainstay since 2003(!), OkCupid’s evolved a little since being acquired by Match Group. There’s a swipeable app now, and users can only see messages sent by people they’ve actually matched with. OkCupid established itself on its data-based matching formula, which means you can answer a lot of granular questions about your interests, beliefs, and life goals—all on the free version. The company shares fascinating human-nature insights pulled from questionnaire data on their blog too.

9. CoffeeMeetsBagel

Best for: Those who crave in-depth dating profiles

This app is designed to create “meaningful connections” among users. So, instead of unlimited swiping, the app releases a batch of “fresh bagels” every day at noon. In theory, the limited number of options encourages more discernment than a traditional app, and user-created icebreaker conversation prompts—“If you could get one hour of your life back, which would it be?” or “Describe your personality in three emojis”—are meant to push you beyond “Hey, how are you?”

10. Hornet

Best for: LGBTQ singles seeking an alternative to Grindr

Hornet is an app that centers on queer people looking to date other queer people. The interface is pretty intuitive, letting you browse and match easily, and, as an added bonus, you can send profiles to friends (whether they’re on the app or not), which allows you to play matchmaker and discuss profiles with your group chat before you match.

11. Chorus

Best for: People who want their friends to play matchmaker

If you’re tired of swiping and you have a bunch of friends to do your bidding, Chorus might be the app for you. You create your own profile and select a “chorus” of loved ones who will swipe on your behalf. The app is meant to be a throwback to the days when friends would fix each other up. Chorus also has a feature called Date Roulette, whereby you’re paired with potential matches for five-minute video chats. It’s like speed dating without leaving your house.

12. Loosid

Best for: Sober people seeking like-minded matches

Loosid is a dating app for sober folks, but it offers community support and platonic connections as well. If you’re looking to connect with someone who is alcohol-free, or you simply don’t want to explain to a match that you’re not into wine-down Wednesday or beer-flight nights, this might be the app for you.

13. Feeld

Best for: Singles and couples open to consensual non-monogamy

If you’re looking for a threesome or want to explore polyamory, Feeld might be a contender. Couples can join the app together and singles can sign up on their own, and it’s open to all sexual orientations and gender identities. The app creates the perfect environment for couples and thirds to find one another. Since everyone on the app is at least remotely interested in a nontraditional arrangement, you can cut through the awkwardness and figure out whether you’re actually compatible.

14. S’More

Best for: People who are over the looks-based dating game

Let’s face it: A lot of us are swiping based on physical appearance. S’More aims to interrupt that tendency by creating a user experience through which you learn actual things about your matches before you see their face. As you chat, each person’s profile photo unblurs. There’s even a blurred video dating function so you can talk like cast members from Love Is Blind. As of right now, the app is live only in New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. But if you’re up for experiencing someone’s personality before you see their face, this is a solid option.

15. Her

Best for: Lesbian, queer, and bisexual women and nonbinary people

Her is a dating app for queer women and nonbinary people. With millions of users and robust communities based on interest, the app allows folks to match and connect in an environment that hopefully feels safe and inclusive (there are Her moderators to enforce community standards). The free version of the app is pretty limited, and premium membership will cost around $15 per month, so keep that in mind when you download it.

16. NuIT

Best for: Astrology fans

If you’re into astrology, then a dating app that factors birth charts into potential matches is a dream come true. Not only can you see if your love is, as the app says, “written in the stars,” but finding someone as passionate about planetary retrogrades as you are is a surefire way to have interesting conversations.

17. Meet Mindful

Best for: The spiritually-inclined

The website says that singles who use Meet Mindful “show up fully, connect with intention, and build strong relationship foundations.” So, if you’re all about living as mindfully as possible and want someone who feels the same, by all means, get connected. The app looks and operates like a typical swipe app, but keep in mind that (like many other niche apps) this might be best suited for folks who live in major cities.

Related:

• I Want to Find Love, Not Just a Virtual Date and a Pen Pal
• What Are the Red Flags in a Relationship You Should Never Ignore?
• 15 Signs You’re on the Wrong Side of a Rebound Relationship