Best dating apps of 2023 (2024)

Best Overall: Hinge

Why we chose it

Hinge gives you a limited number of connections per day, making it a better option for those looking for more serious relationships.

Pros and cons

Overview

Hinge started as a way to connect friends of friends and people in your network. When the app was founded by CEO Justin McLeod, the app showed people's profiles based on their proximity, as well as Facebook friends they shared in common. Now it easily connects users with people near their chosen neighborhood.

Users can choose to connect with someone by pressing the chat button and matching or leaving a comment on a page. Profiles offer prompts to get the conversation started, such as "If it's wrong to love, I don't want to be right..." and "The one thing I'd like to know about you is..."

Hinge shows you more information about people, so if you're not comfortable meeting strangers over the Internet, it will be easier. It gives you people's last names and usually their neighborhood, age, height, job, city and university.

The app is free, but wants people to pay and asks them to pay for virtual "roses" intended for high-profile matches that the service picks for you based on what you're looking for. It all feels very much like an episode ofUngkarlen. The algorithm's daily selection of your best match is also notoriously useless. Often they will choose someone who is extremely far away or with completely different political preferences. In some cases, they may show you someone you already know, which can be a little awkward.

Unlike other apps where you both have to agree to match before a message can be sent, people on Hinge can message you to start the conversation. Although it is free, there is also a paid version. The "Preferred Member" membership allows you to post an unlimited number of links and set stricter filters. Prices for different membership and subscription options can range from $9.99 to $59.99 depending on the number of months you purchase.

Best for Marriage: Match

Why we chose it

We chose Match because it is the best option for serious daters who are focused on marriage.

Pros and cons

Overview

Match is an old standby for a reason. Since users have to pay for a membership, it means that the people who join are focused on engagement. Match.com was founded in 1995 by Gary Kremen and Peng T. Ong. It has remained popular ever since, especially among people looking for serious relationships.

When you sign up, you fill in your name, age, height, whether you want children or not, how single you are and whether you smoke. Then you answer the question: “What makes you happiest?” to choose from activities such as concerts, cooking, blogging, binge-watching shows, sports and more. Then you choose what you're looking for in a partner, including age range, height range, religion, and whether these items are "must-haves."

With the free option, members will be notified that someone has sent them a message, but they won't be able to see and reply to it unless they sign in. The Premium option allows members unlimited messaging, likes, the ability to see everyone you like who has viewed your profile, one-on-one conversations with a dating expert, and more.

Unfortunately, if you want to use Match, you have to pay; otherwise you won't be able to see who is messaging you or what they are saying. Memberships cost $19.99 per month for an annual subscription, $24.99 per month for six months, and $34.99 per month for three months.

Best for exclusivity: Raya

Why we chose it

Raya is known as an exclusive dating app frequented by celebrities and influencers.

Pros and cons

Overview

Raya is known as one of the most exclusive dating apps, promoting A-listers and influencers as members. Because it's invite-only, there's a sign-up process, and people have to pay to join, the appeal is higher quality than a typical app.

Raya offers one, six and twelve month memberships. Membership package options appear to start at $19.99 and let you swipe through people all over the world. If you reach your daily likes, you can pay $10.99 for more likes, or you can simply chat with your current connections, which is what the app prompts you to do. Once you're a member, you can give friends a Friend Pass, which can help speed up their registration, although the app reserves the right to decline requests.

Its members are located all over the world and usually work in creative fields. It's basically the Soho House of dating. You can connect to your Instagram account, choose a song, create a photo slideshow, and search for romantic connections or friends. You can also search by location via the app to see who is nearby. Raya also shows you which friends you have in common if you both have a mutual friend's phone number, so you can always ask your friend if he or she would vouch for your potential date. You can also search for members in a specific city or industry, making it even easier to network or meet people.

Best for First Dates: Bumble

Why we chose it

Bumble has a unique concept: women message men first and then they have 24 hours to respond, making it a female-driven app.

Pros and cons

Overview

When Bumble was founded in 2014 by female founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, it was based on the idea that women would message first, meaning they could choose a conversation starter and control the narrative. Wolfe Herd kept makingForbes30 Under 30 list tooTime100 List and became the youngest woman to take a company public at the age of 31.

Using Bumble is quite simple. Create a profile with your photos and information about yourself, then you can sign up for a free subscription or pay for other options. The 'Spotlight' plan promises more matches and puts you at the front of the queue for 30 minutes so your potential matches see you first.

The other option is SuperSwipe, which allows you to make more calls. With SuperSwipes you can super like someone so that he or she receives a notification that you like him/her and sees your profile. If you don't want to pay for these two options, you can also upgrade your account to premium to unlock all features at once. Premium users receive unlimited likes, advanced filters, a travel mode to see who's swiping in certain places, and unlimited backtracks if you swipe someone the wrong way, among many other features.

Bumble is a great option for someone who is starting out and wants to see all the eligible people around them. You have to swipe right to match with people and then you have 24 hours to make the first move and start chatting, so you have to check the app often or the matches will expire. Men then have 24 hours to respond. You can search the app with filters, choosing who you're interested in (men, women or all), age group and distance. You can also set advanced filters, search for a specific altitude, astrology sign, educational background and more.

Best for LGBTQ Dating: HER

Why we chose it

We chose HER because it is the world's largest free dating app for LGBTQ+ women.

Pros and cons

Overview

HERE is the world's largest free dating app for queer women, offering matching and over 30 different groups for users to join. The app acts as a community and tries to be welcoming and supportive.

Just like Tinder, HER is all about swiping. A swipe to the left means you're not interested in the person, while a swipe to the right (or a heart emoji) means you'd like to get to know the person. Then that person can decide if the feeling is mutual and send you a message.

Although it is free, there are also three types of premium subscription memberships. A one-month premium membership starts at about $15, six months about $60, and a year about $90.

Best for Jewish Dating: JSwipe

Why we chose it

JSwipe is a great opportunity for Jews to swipe and meet each other wherever they are.

Pros and cons

Overview

JSwipe is a great option if you are Jewish or want to date Jewish men or women. The Brooklyn-based app was launched in 2014 during the Easter holidays by founder David Yarus, who also worked for Birthright Israel at the time, and later bought by its competitor JDate.

On JSwipe you enter a short biography, your education and your age. You will also be asked to indicate whether or not you are kosher and follow your religion. Then you can start ironing. Your profile page links to your Facebook page, so you can see what interests you share with matches based on what you've previously liked on Facebook.

JSwipe offers both a free version and a premium version. The upgraded version lets you see who liked your profile and includes a profile boost, super sipes, a swipe note, and more.

Premium memberships cost between €17.99 and €59.99, depending on the number of months you purchase. Like Tinder, it shows you who is swiping around you based on location, but you can also set the mile radius much larger and see singles all over the world.

Best for casual dating: Tinder

Why we chose it

You can't ignore the original dating app, Tinder, that led to the swipe. It is ideal for appointments or long-term dating.

Pros and cons

Overview

Tinder is truly the app that started it all. Launched in 2012, it changed the dating scene forever, introducing singles to a world of swiping left or right to match potential bedmates or serious significant others.

And while there used to be a lot of people looking for all those different things, now it's much more focused on casual dating. Tinder probably works best in a small town where not as many people use the more niche apps, but they certainly know that people are looking for more casual events.

Although it started out as a completely free app, there is now a free and paid premium option that allows users to 'super like' people (an additional form of flattery that supposedly triples your chances of a match). Use the pass function to see who is out. somewhere else and see who liked you before swiping straight to it. Tinder Gold offers users all that and more, while Tinder Platinum gives users these options as well as the ability to message someone before matching. Prices vary depending on the number of months you subscribe and which package you choose.

Downloading a dating app can seem like a big commitment and feel a bit overwhelming if you're not sure which one to try first, as they all have very different vibes. Hinge is the best option if you want to get a little more serious about app dating. It gives you more information about possible dates and encourages more meaningful conversations. Raya is great if you want to spot a celebrity or network with other like-minded creatives, but getting an invite can be tricky.

Bumble is great if you want to go on a lot of first dates. The app doesn't tell you much about people, but it makes it easy to endlessly swipe and start chatting. Think of it more like a casual meeting with someone at a bar. If you want to date women and want an app for that, HERE is the best choice. And if you want to keep it casual, Tinder is the old faithful for a reason.