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What Are The Best Dating Apps In 2023?
Whether you like it or not, dating apps are completely taking over our world. Never before has hopping online to find a fling or a forever partner been so widely socially acceptable.
So the big question is, what are the best dating apps out there besides Tinder, and which one(s) should you sign up to? Maybe you’re interested in the best dating apps for relationships.
Maybe you’re looking for dating apps like Tinder that can just be used for hookups. You probably also have questions about free or paid dating apps, or what platform they are available on.
The point is, that everyone is different, and on that note, the best dating app for you will be different to most. Regardless of what you are looking for, I’ve got you covered. Let’s take a look at the very best dating apps to try in 2023.
If you would like to see a breakdown of the top 5 dating apps for a relationship, a hookup, to see where things go, friendship or marriage, scroll to the bottom of the page where I have ranked these best apps for each type of goal.
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Best All-Round Dating Apps
Best Dating App For A Serious Relationship: eHarmony
Best For: Serious daters ready to find the one
Not For: Someone not quite ready to settle down
My perception of eHarmony has dramatically changed in recent years. And if you have any preconceived ideas about eHarmony before giving it a go, get rid of them right away.
I’ve included eHarmony so high on this list because, in my opinion, eHarmony has proven itself as the very best app when it comes to finding a relationship.
eHarmony is the world’s most trusted dating platform, and there’s definitely a reason for that. The fact that every 14 minutes someone finds love means that it works.
Age Distribution:
Made for:
Platform: Web, iOS, Android
Pricing:
eHarmony has three different membership levels. All three of them (light, plus, and extra) have the exact same features, the only difference is the price and the subscription time. eHarmony also allows you to pay upfront or in installments as shown listed below:
| Pricing Option |
|---|
| Free |
| 6 Months |
| 12 Months |
| 24 Months |
What Paid Membership Gets You: eHarmony’s free version comes with some pretty major hurdles. Unfortunately, you are unable to freely send messages back and forth.
The features that unlock once you begin a membership include unlimited matches, viewing all users’ photos, enhanced search features, and unlimited communication.
I feel the free version should be used to get a feel for the app and if it’s right for you. But if you’re looking for a free dating app with uninterrupted free messaging, eHarmony probably isn’t for you.
Pros:
- Very easy to use
- The highest success rate historically
- Questionnaire takes out the guesswork in helping find like-minded individuals
- Attractive profiles and user interface
- Lengthy sign-up process deter not-so-serious daters and scammers
- If you’re not satisfied after 3 months, the next 3 months are free…
Cons:
- Above average price
- History of not being the most welcome to the LGBTQ+ community, which has been changing in recent years
- Heavy limitations on the free version
Most Similar To: Match, Christian Cafe
Final Thoughts: According to eHarmony, 4% of all marriages that exist in the US today are because of eHarmony. Those stats are amazing and why eHarmony is the best dating apps for relationships. So what that means is that if you are adamant about finding someone special to settle down with, then eHarmony’s prices seem a lot more affordable. But if you’re not completely ready to fork out some cash, just go through the personality test and have a look around the app for free, which will at least give you a feel for whether it’s for you.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating Apps For Career Driven, Educated People: Elite Singles
Best For: Someone in their 30’s looking for someone on a similar path.
Not For: Someone not at a stage of their life of being career or relationship focused
Elite Singles is all about top-quality candidates looking for a serious relationship. It’s trying to move away from the hookup culture that comes along with many online dating apps.
Related: eHarmony vs. EliteSingles | Which App Wins?
It’s intended for a more mature audience with 90% of its users being over 30. They’re also an educated bunch with 80% having university degrees. Only hop on here if you’re serious about finding a potential partner.
So if you are serious about finding a serious relationship with someone who is like-minded and from a similar background to you, Elite Singles is one of the most streamlined ways to do that. Check it out here.
Age Distribution:
Made For:
Platform: Web, iOS, Android
Pricing
| Pricing | Total Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| 3 Months | $173.85 | $57.95 |
| 6 Months | $269.70 | $44.95 |
| 12 Months | $383.40 | $31.95 |
What Paid Membership Gets You: Paying allows you to send unlimited messages, view all user photos, as well as be frequently suggested to other profiles. A 6 or 12 months subscription will also allow you to be able to see which users have viewed your profile, get 20 extra matches per day and leave comments on profiles and photos.
Pros:
- Many similar and like-minded people
- Low chance of catfishing compared to free apps
- Highly successful track record in matching partners
- Fast growing
Cons:
- Reports of matches appearing slightly outside of the preferred distance range
Most Similar To: Match, Hinge
Final Thoughts: It is proven that similar backgrounds tend to drift towards each other, Elite Singles allows you to cut to the chase. So if you’re educated, career-driven, over 30, and looking for someone in the same headspace as you, give Elite Singles a try.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating App For People Sick Of Tinder: Hinge
Best For: Someone in their 20’s – 30’s looking to move on from Tinder
Not For: Over 50’s wanting a serious relationship
Hinge originally operated by helping users find a match that they share mutual friends with. Based on their Facebook friends Hinge will present many profiles that they can scroll down through. But it seems in recent years its algorithm has developed to work like more traditional recent dating apps.
It’s had a recent revamp putting a heavy focus on it being an app strictly for relationships. I guess it makes sense because you probably don’t want to have too many hookups with friends of friends. It could result in a few awkward moments at the next group drinks.
It apparently creates “smart matches” between people who are looking for something similar. This is because it allows users to make clear what they are “looking for” as well as a series of “prompts” of which they can choose 3. These include finishing sentences on their profile such as “the dorkiest thing about me is…”
I personally love Hinge, and although anecdotal, I feel like I notice conversations tend to flow a little bit easier. This is mainly down to the fact that the prompts serve as conversation starters. If you want an in-depth look at Hinge and its features, check out this article on How Hinge Works.
Age Distribution:
Made For:
Platform: iOS and Android
What Paid Membership Gets You:
Although Hinge does include a paid membership, you can easily get a lot out of the app without ever paying. When you do decide to upgrade to become a ‘preferred member’ you will be able to see who has liked you already, have extra preferences, and has unlimited likes.
Pricing
| Pricing | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| 1 Month | $19.99 | $19.99 |
| 3 Months | $39.99 | $13.33 |
| 6 Months | $59.99 | $9.99 |
Pros:
- Less sleazy people than on Tinder
- Easy sign-up process
- Can easily use without spending any money
- Advanced filtering capabilities allow you to find likeminded partners
Cons:
- Very limited barriers to entry mean there are more people just looking for a fling/not taking it seriously
- Not all that different to apps like Tinder/Bumble
Most Similar To: Coffee Meets Bagel, OkCupid
Final Thoughts: If you have ever used Tinder and think it might appear to be a tad sleazy, try out Hinge. I have found Hinge to be one of the better free apps in ways of sparking up flowing conversations with decent user activity.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating App for over 50’s: Silver Singles
Best For: Those in their 50’s looking for dates or their forever partner
Not For: Generally those under 50
If you are over 50 years old and are looking to try out online dating, get onto Silver Singles right now! It is by far the best app out there for people who are in their best years.
The way that it works is that you’ll fill out a personality test and based on the results, Silver Singles elite matchmakers will send you 3-7 profiles daily until you meet that special someone. I could not recommend Silver Singles enough!
Age Distribution
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Android
What Paid Membership Gets You: Paid membership unlocks unlimited communication, read receipts on messages, being able to see who viewed your profile, being able to view your own personality test results, and 20 extra ‘wildcard’ matches per day.
Pricing
| Pricing | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| 3 Months | $149.85 | $49.95 |
| 6 Months | $227.70 | $37.95 |
| 12 Months | $335.40 | $27.95 |
Pros:
- Don’t have to awkwardly field through people less than half your age
- Sign-up involvement deters scammers
Cons:
- Relatively small user base compared to other apps, but many more people in the 50+ age group than other apps
Most Similar To: eHarmony, Match
Final Thoughts: If you are new to the online dating world and are maybe feeling a tad hesitant, then get started with the free version of Silver Singles. The reason I suggest it is that everyone will be in the exact same boat as you. Silver Singles is definitely my top pick for anyone 50 or over.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating App For A Variety Of Dating Goals: Match
Best For: A relationship seeker who is also open-minded
Not For: Someone who doesn’t like people messaging you that you haven’t “matched” with
Match is mostly directed at those seeking a serious relationship as well as being inclusive of all dating goals. It allows users to browse profiles, but its algorithm also suggests types of profiles they may be interested in.
The algorithm does this by monitoring your behavior, so the more you use the app, the better it gets.
Age Distribution:
Made For:
Platform: Web, iOS, Android
What Paid Membership Gets You: Match’s free version doesn’t give you the option to freely send messages back and forth. So once you decide to upgrade will unlock the ability to message anyone. There is a further paid premium tier which isn’t much expensive than below. This unlocks a monthly boost as well as other features.
Pricing
| Pricing | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| 3 Months | $77.97 | $25.99 |
| 6 Months | $137.94 | $22.99 |
| 12 Months | $239.88 | $19.99 |
Pros:
- One of the largest user pools of any dating app
- More chance of finding someone if you are looking for a relationship but also open-minded
Cons:
- Much larger pool could mean it’s less pinpointed in finding someone you would like, compared to other apps
- Higher chance of scammers getting lost in the shuffle of massive user base
- Not much discount for the more months you subscribe
Most Similar To: Hinge, eHarmony
Final Thoughts: If you’re new to the online dating game and are ready to spend some money but not fork out a premium price for other apps, Match might be the best way to get started. I believe if you’re really serious about finding love that you are better off with eHarmony, but if you’re more open-minded, perhaps Match is up your alley.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating App For People Who Hate Swiping: Coffee Meets Bagel
Best For: Someone who would prefer quality over quantity
Not For: Someone who likes choosing their own matches
Coffee Meets Bagel puts a lot of the power in the hands of the ladies. How it works is every day the guy (known as “coffee”) will receive 21 matches (known as “bagels”).
They will either ‘like’ or ‘pass’ on their options. Following this, of the men that did express interest, the app will present the best possible matches to the ladies.
Users are allowing someone to do the choosing for them, but on the same note, it’s a very efficient form of dating. Especially for the ladies.
Age Distribution:
Made For:
Platform: iOS and Android
What Paid Membership Gets You: The paid subscription version of Coffee Meets Bagel is called CMB premium. It is extremely doable to never spend a cent, but upgrading to one of the below memberships will unlock certain features.
You will see things like user activity reports and get access to features like ‘skip the line’ which allows you to be suggested to more people more often. You will also receive 6000 ‘beans’ per month. If you decide to purchase more, you will receive 15% more if you are a premium member.
Pricing
| Pricing | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| 1 Month | $35 | $35 |
| 3 Months | $75 | $25 |
| 6 Months | $120 | $20 |
Pros:
- You don’t have to upgrade to use the app
Cons:
- Easy sign-up means that you will navigate through some blank profiles and possibly catfish
- Limited number of chances per day
- A smaller pool of users compared to apps like eHarmony, Match and Hinge
Most Similar To: Hinge, Match
Final Thoughts: Coffee Meets Bagel might be for you if you want something slightly more serious, are sick of the game-like approach of other dating apps and don’t want to spend much money.
Dude Hack Rating:
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Best Dating App For Liberals: OkCupid
Best For: Young and open-minded liberals
Not For: Conservatives ready to settle down
OKCupid is a much more refined form of online dating. It allows users to be very specific in helping them find a potential partner. It works off the concept of helping users find a partner based on interests and passions.
Users can select what they’re “open to” in terms of a relationship or hookup. Also, they have many more gender options to choose from.
OKCupid may be the right dating app for you to use if you’re sick of endlessly swiping through people to find someone that fits your particular preferences.
Age Distribution:
Made For:
Platform: Web, iOS, and Android
What Paid Membership Gets You: OKC comes with two different membership types, basic, and premium. Basic allows you to see who likes you, get read receipts, remove ads and see other profile attractiveness scores.
With the premium membership, you will get the above functions as well as an additional daily ‘auto boost, making your profile highly viewed for a portion of time each day.
Pricing
| Pricing | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| Basic: | ||
| 1 Month | $9.95 | $9.95 |
| 3 Months | $23.85 | $7.95 |
| 6 Months | $29.70 | $4.95 |
| Premium: | ||
| 1 Month | $24.90 | $24.90 |
| 3 Months | $68.70 | $22.90 |
| 6 Months | $119.40 | $19.90 |
Pros:
- Questionnaire and user base ensure you can find a like-minded person (if you’re liberal)
- Less chance of someone surprising you with conflicting views down the line
Cons:
- If you’re conservative you might not feel as welcome
Most Similar To: Hinge, Coffee Meets Bagel
Final Thoughts: If you’re a young, free-spirited individual, OKC might be for you. It has been running for 14 years, so it must be doing something right.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating App For Women Sick Of Tinder: Bumble
Best For: Women sick of guys sending sleazy opening messages
Not For: Men who like to break the ice with a smooth opener
Yet another app that puts the power in the hands of the ladies. Guys have to wait until the woman sends the first line, otherwise, the match will expire within 24 hours.
If the guy doesn’t reply to that message in 24 hours, it will also expire. Bumble’s main goal is to encourage actual conversations and also eliminate a bit of creepiness associated with some of its other online dating counterparts.
Bumble also has expanded with more in-app options. Bumble BFF is a feature you can select to help find friends. And Bumble Bizz is a networking platform.
Bumble is one of the most popular apps going. Its user interface and basic functions are very similar to Tinder. But the simple change of putting the ball in the court of the ladies has secured its spot as one of the most popular online dating apps in 2023.
Age Distribution:
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
What Paid Membership Gets You: Bumble’s paid membership is called Bumble Boost. You can easily get away with using the free version of the app and still get a lot out of it. But if you want to increase your chances of matches, Bumble Boost allows you to see profiles that have already liked you, extend matches for a further 24 hours so they don’t expire, rematch an expired match, and even set unlimited preferences. For an inin-depthook at Bumble Boost and whether it is worth it, check out this article about Bumble Boost.
Pricing
The pricing below is for Bumble Boost, although you can also purchase additional Bumble Coins to purchase ’Super Swipes’ which allows you to show that potential match that you like them just a little bit extra. You can buy 1, 5, 15 or 30 coins at a time, ranging from $2.99 for 1 to $39.99 for 30.
| Pricing | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Week | $9.99 | $39.99 |
| 1 Month | $14.99 | $14.99 |
| 3 Months | $39.99 | $9.99 |
| 6 Months | $47.99 | $15.99 |
Pros:
- Option to pay once for lifetime access to Bumble Boost
- No more sleazy messages from guys like on Tinder
- Very easy set up
- Extremely popular and growing rapidly
- More power to the ladies
- Equal Gender distribution
- Good variety of users intent (hook up/relationship)
- 60% of matches end in conversation
Cons:
- Might match but never get a chance to speak if the match expires
- There is still a slight hook up culture associated with the app compared to apps focused on relationships like eHarmony
- Easy sign-up could attract scammers and catfish
- Men can’t send the first message like other apps
- 24-hour time limit might mean life gets in the way and matches accidentally expire
Most Similar To: Hinge, Tinder
Final Thoughts: Bumble is one of the fastest-growing apps on the market today. The simple premise of giving power to the ladies has made quite an impression on users. If you are a younger female who has heard about the woes of online dating and wants to stay away from apps like Tinder, then Bumble is the perfect app to dip your toes into the online dating pool.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating App For Open-Minded Daters: Zoosk
According to Tech Crunch, Zoosk is the number one dating app in the app store. It efficiently connects to users’ social accounts and offers them personalized SmartPick introductions based on their profiles.
In its 13 years of existence, Zoosk has positioned itself as unique. Rather than pigeonholing a user based on what they are looking for Zoosk tries to match users based on what they are looking for using their smart algorithm.
Users also have to verify their profile, so they can rest assured there is no catfish present. Singles can browse through their suggested ‘introductions’ or search people based on certain preferences like body type, religion, etc. With 40 million members it may be worth the try!
Age Distribution:
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
What Paid Membership Gets You: Like some other apps on this list, Zoosk is very limited when it comes to its free version. Without upgrading you are unable to send messages to users. With its free version, you can browse profiles and send flirt pings. If someone sends you a flirt ping you will only be able to reply if you are upgraded.
Pricing
| Pricing | Upfront Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 1 Month | $29.99 | $29.99 |
| 3 Months | $59.99 | $19.99 |
| 6 Months | $74.99 | $12.49 |
Pros:
- You can send digital gifts to users
- You can fill interests for different categories
- Most profiles are mostly verified
- High member activity
- Massive user base
Cons:
- Need to pay to use basic features
- Limited number of smart picks
Most Similar To: Match, Plenty Of Fish
Final Thoughts: If you are open to a hook-up or a relationship, or anything in between, Zoosk may be for you. Its massive user base and tenure alone are reasons to give it a go. If spending money isn’t an issue. With that being said, even though Zoosk has a fairly good track record, I do believe apps further up on this list cater to the same target audience as Zoosk, arguably a bit better.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating App/Website For A Hookup: Adult Friend Finder
Best For: Those looking for a casual hook up
Not For: Someone who wants something more than a fling
Adult Friend Finder has been around for years, providing a non-judgemental platform for people to find hookups and flings.
Adult Friend Finder is for singles, swingers, those in open relationships, or basically anyone looking for short-term and casual fun.
Adult Friend Finder is predominantly a website, although there is an Android app version. I suggest using the website version mostly, but I had to include it on the list of best apps because when it comes to finding a hook-up, Adult Friend Finder is the best.
A lot of people tend to jump to the conclusion that popular dating apps like Tinder are strictly for hookups, which is less and less the case as the years go on. So if you are strictly looking for some casual, no-strings-attached fun, then get straight to the point and give Adult Friend Finder a try.
The site and app include adult chat rooms, adult videos, live member webcams, and many more features in the hot and steamy department.
Other than just the type of user it attracts, Adult Friend Finder is one of the best dating sites/apps because of its extensive features.
The site mostly works using a point system, making the site a fun, game-like approach. These points are used to view users’ naughty videos or gain access to particular areas of the site.
Made For:
Platform: Web, Android
What Paid Membership Gets You: The great news about Adult Friend Finder is that you can access quite a lot of the site/app without spending any money at all. Although, paying will definitely unlock some “naughty” features. The standard messaging, replying, and visiting profiles are doable without upgrading, but it has a cap on how much you can do.
Although, it is clear that if you are a male seeking female companionship, it is standard to upgrade to a paid membership. Mostly because this gives you absolute freedom and due to privacy issues, women can be turned off profiles that aren’t upgraded.
The features that unlock once paying include being able to view blurred raunchy videos of users, unlimited messages, and view private albums.
Pricing
| Pricing | Total Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| 1 Month | $39.95 | $39.95 |
| 3 Months | $80.85 | $26.95 |
| 12 Months | $239.40 | $19.95 |
Pros
- You can rest assured that everyone on the site is looking for the same thing
- Lots of users
- Many unique features and entertainment compared to other dating apps
Cons:
- Some escorts using the site
- Can’t view everything without paying
Most Similar To: SugarDaddie.com, Tinder
Final Thoughts: Plain and simple, if you are strictly looking for a hookup, don’t even bother on Tinder, go straight to a place where everyone is looking for the same thing.
Dude Hack Rating:
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Best Dating App For Friendship And Dating: Skout
Best For: Someone looking for friends/connections
Not For: Someone just looking for a hookup/not open to friends
Skout puts more focus on friendship or just making “meaningful relationships.” Users like or dislike profiles like Tinder, but profiles are presented in a grid for users to view.
Users can match with people locally or anywhere else in the world. It’s been around for ages and seems to be a little bit of an amalgamation of many popular dating apps and social platforms, rather than focusing on one core idea.
Give it a try if you’ve tried out all the other dating apps and are focused more on finding friends, and maybe something more.
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
What Paid Membership Gets You: You are able to upgrade to a paid membership on a monthly basis. What makes the membership of Skout stand out from the crowd is its standard, one size fits all payment structure of paying for one month at a time.
When you upgrade you are able to message members directly to their inbox, your chats will be at the top of users inbox, you will see insights on potential matches and have no ads. The app also includes credits that you can purchase at any time which you can use to unlock certain features.
Pros:
- You can meet people worldwide
- You can broadcast yourself live
- If you’re open to friendships as well, Skout is perfect
Cons:
- Accounts of some fake profiles
Most Similar To: Bumble BF
Final Thoughts: Skout is targeted toward creating connections. Whether that leads to friendship, a hookup, or a long-term relationship, well that’s up to you and your match. So if you’re a little more open-minded, give it a go.
Dude Hack Rating:
Most Straight Forward Dating App: Plenty Of Fish
Best For: Someone who wants to message whoever they want in a large user base
Not For: Someone who has privacy issues, or doesn’t like people messaging you that you haven’t already expressed interest in
Plenty Of Fish is one of the most popular dating apps in the world with roughly 70 million users. It’s a very traditional form of online dating with profiles being public, allowing anyone to spark up a conversation.
No gimmicks, rather just straightforward online dating. POF tends to lean more towards relationship-focused dating with bios usually being much more in-depth. If you are someone that doesn’t like random people sliding into your DM’s, this probably isn’t for you.
Age Distribution
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
What Paid Membership Gets You: POF’s paid membership unlocks certain features such as read receipts, showing up first on its Meet Me section, the ability to upload more photos, see exactly when someone last viewed your profile and no ads.
Pricing
| Pricing | Total Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| 2 Months | $38.70 | $19.35 |
| 4 Months | $51 | $12.75 |
| 8 Months | $81.40 | $10.18 |
Pros:
- You can get a lot out of the app without spending money
- Recent makeover
- Very large user base
- Large variety of user intent
Cons:
- Because it’s free with a large user base there is a potential of scammers, inactive users and potential escorts
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating App For Music Lovers: Tastebuds
Best For: Music lovers looking for a partner with similar taste
Not For: People who aren’t exactly passionate about music and are just looking for a date
Tastebuds is all about matching users with people who share a similar music taste. It’s also a great way for people to discover new music.
Users can search for people who also like similar artists or be suggested people based on their favorite artists. Basically what that means is that its algorithm will aim to match you with like-minded individuals. If you’re a music lover, find that special someone to visit gigs with.
It may sound like a niche app that would have a fairly small user base. Well, in 2022, there have been almost 1.5 million messages sent on the app worldwide. That means that user engagement is high!
Age Distribution:
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Web
What Paid Membership Gets You: Tastebuds paid membership is called ‘Backstage Pass’ and like many other apps on this list, you are fairly limited without upgrading. Without upgrading you get limited chances to send messages per day, which is probably the biggest limitation. Some of the other features that unlock include unlimited messaging, no ads, and being able to view other profiles anonymously.
Pricing:
| Pricing | Total Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| 1 Month | $10 | $10 |
| 3 Months | $19.98 | $6.66 |
| 6 Months | $30 | $5 |
Pros:
- If you are extremely passionate about music and want to find someone with similar tastes, Tastebuds can help you cut right to the chase
Cons:
- Need to upgrade to backstage pass in order to get the most out of the app
- Not just for dating, a lot of people looking for friends to attend gigs, etc
- Music matches aren’t always in the same location
Most Similar To: Bumble, Hinge
Final Thoughts: Although Tastebuds premise is fairly simple, a lot of users are jumping on to give it a try. A fact I also can’t ignore is the high user activity. This could allude to the fact that Tastebuds allows users to have a perfect icebreaker, jumping straight into talking about their interests, rather than how their day was. So if you love music and want someone to share in on that love, check out Tastebuds.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating App For Successful Individuals: The Inner Circle
Best For: Highly successful professionals who are looking for people in similar situations
Not For: Basically anyone else
The Inner Circle is all about quality, not quantity. You could say that, or call it the Tinder for highly successful people. The Inner Circle describes itself as a selective app that matches users with like-minded and similarly successful people.
Even though that sounds quite pretentious, the emphasis seems to be on people that are educated, career-driven, and have their life together. It connects users’ LinkedIn accounts, so if you want to get involved be sure that your profile picture on there isn’t too embarrassing!
Apparently, there’s quite a waiting list, as candidates are screened before joining. Although according to recent accounts in August 2022, it seems that verification is much quicker. Its interface is more similar to Facebook than Tinder, allowing users to browse profiles, rather than swipe.
The whole sign-up process isn’t exactly easy. It is designed that way to deter unwanted people. Your authenticity, as well as integrity, are assessed before being verified. Because it is an exclusive app, that means people get turned away, so be prepared for that being a possibility.
Age Distribution:
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
What Paid Membership Gets You: The Inner Circle will only really work for you if you pay. Yes, you can browse profiles, upload your own photos and browse events, but in order to actually send a message or attend any of those events, you will need to be a paid member. The membership is very straightforward with one weekly option.
Pricing:
| Pricing | Total Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| 1 Week | $5 | $20 |
Pros:
- Great user interface
- Very easy to use
- Strict security features keep unwanted people out
Cons:
- Need to pay in order to message anyone
- Quite pricey
- Can be rejected upon sign up
- Could have many arrogant users
Most Similar To: Elite Singles
Final Thoughts: I personally believe that if you are at the top of your professional game and want to find someone else highly successful then perhaps give The Inner Circle a go. Although, if you are thinking about spending the money, I would personally go with Elite Singles which ends up being a similar price (if you go for a 12-month membership) but has a wider user base and more user activity.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating App For Missed Connections: Happn
Best For: Someone looking for a missed connection
Not For: Someone who worries about personal/location security
Were you too afraid to say hello to that cute girl and regret it like crazy? That’s where Happn comes into play. It was founded on the idea of missed connections. It tracks users’ location and presents profiles they have been in the same vicinity as.
Unlike Tinder Places used to do, it doesn’t show the exact location they’ve passed by each other, so they don’t have to worry about a match showing up at their favorite coffee place. There are even added features like the ability to send voice messages.
Age Distribution:
Made For:
Platform: iOS and Android
What Paid Membership Gets You: The good news with Happn is you are able to get away with not spending any money. If you upgrade to Happn’s premium subscription you will be able to send 10 Hellos per day, have more privacy settings and remove ads. You can also purchase Happn Credits to unlock other features. Happn only gives you one option for membership which is to pay monthly.
Pros:
- Means that the lost connection might not be forever lost
- Can get away not spending any money ever
Cons:
- If you’re in a low-population area there won’t be many users
- Limited profile information
Most Similar To: Bumble, Hinge, Badoo
Final Thoughts: Really the only time you would use Happn is if you make eye contact with that cute girl or guy and hate yourself for not saying hello. Other than helping you connect with these missed out opportunities, Happn is a pretty standard dating app.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Religious Dating Apps
Best Dating App For Christians Looking For Love: Christian Cafe
Best For: Christian people of all ages looking for a relationship
Not For: Non-Christians, or those looking for a fling
If you’re Christian, you should really give Christian café a go. It’s a Christian app owned by Christians, so rather than another money-grabbing dating app, Christian Café knows what its users want.
Christian Café is still a niche dating app, yet it touts an impressive 2 million users worldwide, most of which come from the US.
Christian Café tends to lean more towards finding a serious relationship and even marriage, but there is also the ability to look for fellowship, support or guidance.
Christian Café also has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to any inappropriate behavior. This includes suggesting a fling or anything not in line with the Christian way of life. This is a great thing as it can give you that extra sense of security knowing that you are strictly surrounded by like-minded Christians looking for the same thing as you.
Age Distribution
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
Pricing:
| Pricing | Total Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Day Free Trial | ||
| 2 Weeks | $34.97 | $69.94 |
| 1 Month | $44.97 | $44.97 |
| 3 Months | $69.97 | $23.32 |
| 6 Months | $109.97 | $18.32 |
What Paid Membership Gets You: Christian Café is one of those apps that is fairly limited before upgrading, including being able to freely send messages back and forth. Upgrading allows you to freely send winks (a way to show your interest) and emails as well as clearing any photos and/or contact information from your match that might be blurred.
Pros:
- Very easy sign-up process
- You can use for the trial, get the email addresses of users you fancy and then stop paying
- Strict guidelines mean no unwanted people looking for the wrong things
- Strictly likeminded people
- One of the only places to be certain everyone is Christian
- Owned by Christians that understand you
Cons:
- Pretty unattractive user interface, especially on the web
- Have to pay for a number of months upfront, can’t pay monthly
- If you are strictly looking for a relationship, you may run into some users who are rather looking for fellowship, support or advice
Most Similar To: eHarmony, Match
Final Thoughts: Christian Cafe is like that restaurant that looks ugly from the outside but makes the best food on the street. Although the app doesn’t look very pretty, it works. In my opinion, Christian Café is the best faith-based, Christian app out there today.
Dude Hack Rating:
Test Christian Cafe’s 10 Day Free Trial
Best Dating App For Jewish People: JDate
Best For: A Jewish person looking for dating of any kind
Not For: Someone non-involved/not interested in Jewish faith and culture
JDate is a very popular and tenured dating site for Jewish people. It is open to non-believers, but they do have to state if they are open to converting to Judaism or not. It’s a much more traditional user interface and idea, as it has been around since 1997.
It’s similar to some of the above apps in that it will offer up several tailored suggestions per day, based on users’ interests. On top of that, singles may perform their own searches with many options.
JDate has been the cornerstone of online Jewish dating for years now. Give it a go if you want to find a Jewish partner (and preferably you’re Jewish).
Age Distribution:
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
What Paid Membership Gets You: Without JDate’s premium membership you will be fairly limited. You will really only be able to message other users if they are premium themselves, which most of the user base is, so it’s not all bad. But if you want full access you will have to pay some money. The features that will unlock include being able to read and respond to messages from anyone, browse profiles anonymously, hide online status, get read receipts and view all of the photos on a user’s profile as opposed to just one on the free version.
Pricing:
| Pricing | Total Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| 1 Month | $59.99 | $59.99 |
| 3 Months | $134.97 | $44.99 |
| 6 Months | $179.94 | $29.99 |
Pros:
- Responsible for 52% of all Jewish marriages that started online
- Includes events to meet Jewish singles
- Easy sign-up
- US-based customer care is available 7 days a week
Cons:
- Can’t contact all users without paid membership
- Easy sign-up means people might not be taking it seriously
- No way to screen if all users are Jewish
- Search filters are limited
Most Similar To: eHarmony, Hinge
Final Thoughts: If you are Jewish and your faith is important to you definitely give JDate a try. But even if your faith isn’t your whole world and just are looking to date some like-minded people with a similar background, JDate can be the perfect place for it. JDate’s user base also has a relatively larger older demographic (even though there are plenty of younger users), so if you are over 40, Jewish, and looking for a date, then look no further than JDate.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating App For Christians Wanting To Date: Christian Mingle
Christian Mingle is for people wanting to find like-minded believers ready for a serious relationship. It strives to help users find love in a Christian-focused relationship over anything else.
With a more traditional dating interface, users can filter their searches by a few factors such as denomination. If your faith is extremely important to you, it might be a good place to start.
Age Distribution:
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
What Paid Membership Gets You: With Christian Mingle’s free version, you are quite limited to only sending ’smiles’ which is Christian Mingle’s way of showing your interest, without being able to send a message. You are also able to view profiles, see who has liked you and like others. But once you upgrade you are able to send and receive messages freely, hide profile from potential matches, browse profiles anonymously and hide your online status.
Pricing:
| Pricing | Total Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| 1 Month | $49.99 | $49.99 |
| 3 Months | $104.97 | $34.99 |
| 6 Months | $149.94 | $24.99 |
Pros:
- Over 9 million users worldwide
- Nicer looking than Christian Cafe
- High-class security
- Growing numbers
Cons:
- Messaging not free
- Even though app is nicer looking than Christian Cafe, there are still functionality issues
- Web/desktop version is much easier to use than the app
Most Similar To: Christian Cafe, eHarmony
Final Thoughts: Christian Mingle is the most popular dating site and app for Christians in the world. Yes, it is popular, but is it the best for finding love? I personally believe that Christian Mingle is more for Christians just starting out in their dating game, whether that’s because you are fresh out of a split, or are looking to start dating again. Christian Cafe is more for people looking for love and settling down.
Dude Hack Rating:
Test Christian Mingle For Free
The Best Halal Dating App For Muslims: Muzz
Best For: Muslims wanting to date
Not For: Non-Muslims
Halal, free and fun. Muzz prides itself on being the place where single Muslims meet. With over 500,000 Muslim members in 190 countries, it’s a great place for Muslim users to find people that share their faith.
It offers a similar function and user interface to Tinder, asking singles to like or pass on others. It offers a couple of cool features with safety being a top concern. Users can keep photos hidden until they decide, plus they need to verify their profile with a selfie, SMS confirmation and a GPS location check.
Like a few of the apps already discussed, singles are rewarded for good behavior, earning profile badges if they receive positive feedback. For that extra peace of mind, users can include a chaperone (known as a Wali) in their conversations.
Age Distribution:
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Android
What Paid Membership Gets You: Muzz is an app that you can get quite a lot of use out of without ever upgrading. Its free version includes sending messages, exploring profiles and sending invites for conversations. Paying for a premium account will allow you to Instant Match, set Premium Preferences, have Unlimited Swipes and block ads. Muzz allows you to purchase additional credits which can be used to “Instant Match” with someone as well as other features.
Pricing:
| Pricing | Total Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| 1 Week | $4.88 | $21.15 |
Pros:
- Perfect place if you are strictly looking to date another Muslim
- Easy Sign Up
- Includes a Chaperone feature which can help users feel safe on dates
- Easy to use app
Cons:
- No website
- Fairly lower user base compared to more popular, non-niche apps
Most Similar To: OkCupid, Hinge, eHarmony
Final Thoughts: Muzz is the worlds leading Muslim dating app. So if you’re Muslim and you’re looking to date another Muslim, do I really need to explain further why you would try Muzz?
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Gay and Lesbian (LGBTQI+) Dating Apps
Best Dating App For Lesbians Looking For A Serious Relationship: HER
Best For: Any womxn wanting a serious relationship
Not For: Straight women or lesbians just looking for a hookup
HER is a dating app for a wide range of people “from lesbians to queers, bois to femmes, trans to fluid and everything in between.” It has over 3 million users and promises a safe and supportive community. It’s not only a dating app but also a social platform.
It allows users to get involved in community discussions as well as attend events. On the dating front, its UI is similar to Tinder in that users can either like or pass on a profile, with many preferences in their settings.
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Android
What Paid Membership Gets You: HER is thankfully an app that you can use for free without much friction. I suggest just starting here as you can easily send messages without upgrading. The features that do unlock once you upgrade include seeing who likes you, seeing who is currently online, unlimited swiping, rewinding, changing location and reading receipts.
Pricing:
| Pricing | Total Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| 1 Month | $14.99 | $14.99 |
| 6 Months | $71.99 | $11.99 |
| 12 Months | $89.99 | $7.49 |
Pros:
- No messages from heterosexuals or couples looking to spice things up
- If you’re a little bi-curious and would feel uncomfortable saying so on a more traditional app, HER means you will be surrounded by strictly like-minded people
- Rather than being inclusive, it is strictly for lesbians
- Easy sign-up
- Events are an extra way for you to connect
Cons:
- Quick and easy sign-up process means more potential of scammers/catfish
Most Similar To: Zoe, OkCupid, Hinge
Final Thoughts: HER is the best dating app to help womxn find love. The fact it’s an easy-to-use app with the addition of live events makes HER pretty awesome. Whether you are bi, bi-curious, queer or lesbian, definitely give HER a go if a serious relationship is what you’re looking for.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating App For Lesbians Wanting To See Where Things Go: Zoe
Best For: Lesbian/queer/bi womxn open to different dating types
Not For: Straight women
Zoe is another dating app for lesbian, bisexual and queer women. It has a simple user interface to Tinder allowing users to swipe left or right on profiles. The main difference is it includes a personality test, which gives users a compatibility-rating % with other users.
Where it mainly differs from HER is that Zoe is targeted toward Lesbians looking for dating or a hook-up. HER is about serious relationships.
Zoe also includes a series of questions for users to answer in their profiles such as Zodiac signs and Alcohol. It isn’t trying to strictly be a dating app, encouraging users to try it out even if they’re looking for a friend or just a chat.
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Android
What Paid Membership Gets You: Zoe is yet another app that you can access most of its functions without upgrading. Upgrading to Zoe’s paid membership will unlock features such as seeing who has liked you and setting advanced filters.
Pros:
- No messages from straight people or couples
- Very easy to sign-up
- Free version doesn’t give you many limitations
- Nice user interface
- Can switch features on and off easily
- No-pressure community to find dates with other lesbians
Cons:
- Must use Facebook to sign up
- Easy sign-up means potential catfishing or scammers
- Less people using the app than HER
Most Similar To: HER, Bumble, OkCupid
Final Thoughts: If you are lesbian, queer or a little bi-curious and aren’t quite exactly sure what you’re looking for, give Zoe a try. If you are looking for a more serious relationship, HER might be more up your alley.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating App For Gay Guys: Grindr
Best For: Gay guys looking for fun and dates
Not For: Gay guys looking for something more serious, straight people
Grindr is the world’s largest networking and dating app for gay, bi, trans and queer people. It works off a similar model to Happn in that it works off users’ device location services and shows other users close by, with a series of filters to use.
In its inception, it was mainly used for casual and quick hookups, but in recent years it has also opened its doors wider to more monogamous relationships.
Made For:
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
What Paid Membership Gets You: Grindr allows you to access most of the app without upgrading including messaging. When you upgrade you allow more capabilities such as ads being blocked, selecting more “tribes”, viewing more matches per day (600) and an unlimited amount of Blocks and Favourites.
Pros:
- Easy to meet singles nearby
- Over 6 million users
- Free version is mostly used among users
- Anonymous if you would prefer
- You know what other users are most likely there for
Cons:
- If you want more than a hook up you are limited
- App can glitch
- So many users looking for the same thing you can get lost in the shuffle or just feel like another number
Most Similar To: OkCupid, Bumble
Final Thoughts: Grindr has been the old faithful for gay hookups for years now. If you’re gay and looking for some fun, why are you still reading this and why haven’t you downloaded Grindr? If you are looking for something with a little more substance you would be better off using one of the more popular dating apps like Hinge, or even Bumble, which recently purchased Chappy, a gay app directed at finding a serious relationship.
Dude Hack Rating:
Best Dating Apps For Different Dating Styles (ranked)
Best Dating App For a Relationship
| Rank | App | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | eHarmony |  |
| 2. | Elite Singles |  |
| 3. | Match |  |
| 4. | Silver Singles |  |
| 5. | Coffee Meets Bagel |  |
Best Dating App to See Where Things Go
| Rank | App | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Hinge |  |
| 2. | Match | |
| 3. | Bumble |  |
| 4. | Elite Singles | |
| 5. | OkCupid |  |
Best Dating App For A HookUp
| Rank | App | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Adult Friend Finder |  |
| 2. | Sugar daddie .com |  |
| 3. | Grindr |  |
| 4. | Zoe |  |
| 5. | Bumble | |
Best Dating Apps For Marriage
| Rank | App | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | eHarmony | |
| 2. | Silver Singles | |
| 3. | Christian Cafe |  |
| 4. | JDate |  |
| 5. | Muzz |  |
Best Apps for Friendship
| Rank | App | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Skout |  |
| 2. | Bumble | |
| 3. | Tastebuds |  |
| 4. | Christian Cafe | |
| 5. | HER |  |
Other Noteable Dating Apps
Best Dating App For People That Have A Very Specific Taste: Badoo
Some of you may have never heard of Badoo, but it is one of the world’s most popular dating apps with over 400 million users. It is different to Tinder in the fact that users don’t swipe through profiles.
Rather, they upload a photo of a celebrity or someone else that’s their type and the profile works its magic to help try to find potential matches that are their taste.
Although it is supposed to be more tailored to users’ personal preferences, they will have a smaller number of potential dates to choose from. It’s an interesting concept that you should try out.
Paid or Free: Free, Paid Premium Version
Platform: iOS
Upcoming Dating Apps
Facebook Dating
Facebook Dating is not yet available for many people, but going into 2023 expect it to hit your news feed. As I wrote about in this article, once opted in Facebook Dating will give users daily suggestions of other singles.
Keep in mind, it’s technically not an app, but rather an extra feature within Facebook, like ‘marketplace’. Users can either express their interest in other singles, look through upcoming events or browse groups they are joined to view other like-minded singles.
Facebook appears to be putting a heavy focus on separating itself from apps like Tinder and being the go-to place for serious relationships.
Facebook Dating has been launched for testing in Colombia for over a year, and there is no word of a release date for the rest of the world. But if all goes smoothly in Colombia, expect Facebook Dating to be hitting your country soon.
Update: As of May 2023, Facebook Dating has been launched and made available to 50+ countries, including the United States.
Final Thoughts
The massive selection of dating apps can sometimes make it tough to pick which one is right for you. Online dating shouldn’t be a stressful thing, so if you are really worried, maybe try out a couple and see which one suits you best.
If you really don’t know what you are looking to get from online dating, try some of the free dating apps and that should soon help you form your opinion. Regardless of what app you’re going to settle on, or whether you’re even using Tinder now, all of them require you to have an about me or bio section.
Having a good bio can be the difference between being successful on a dating app or not, so make sure to download my free list of the 50 Best Online Dating Bios for you to copy.
