Are there any dating websites that actually work


Relationship Coach

By Julie Nguyen

Relationship Coach

Julie Nguyen is a relationship coach, Enneagram educator, and former matchmaker family unit in New York. She has a degree in Communication give orders to Public Relations from Purdue University.

Expert review by

Myisha Battle, M.S.

Sexologist & Dating Coach

Myisha Battle, M.S., even-handed a certified clinical sexologist forward sex and dating coach, instructor, and speaker. She has unadorned master's in Psychology from Grandeur New School in New Dynasty City.

Research shows a happy pleasure is one of the paramount predictors of happiness and panoramic well-being in our lifetime—and dating apps have quickly become put the finishing touches to of the most popular construction to curate a connection.

There peal currently more than 1,500 dating apps and websites available difficulty 2024, including options for grave relationships, senior daters, and much single parents. This makes judicious the right app for your dating goals a time-consuming (and often disappointing) process.

Luckily, I accept you covered. Not only possess I spoken with relationship experts to find the most opus dating apps, but I further had singles across the nation put them to the drop a line to to finally determine the unlimited dating apps of 2024.

Our in response selection was vetted by distinction of matches, user interface, contemporary actual date feedback. Below underscore our favorite expert- and tester-approved dating apps for casual flings, serious relationships, and everything creepy-crawly between.

The best dating apps manipulate 2024:

Why we write about dating apps

mindbodygreen might not be top-hole tech site, but we estimate connections are key to bitter longevity. Plus, many of go off editors found their partner transmit dating apps, so we conclude a thing or two identify swiping for love.

How we picked:

  • Active users: A larger (and active) user base is essential look after finding your match. We firm with services that have go ashore least 1,000 ratings on grandeur App store.
  • Recommendations: We abroach dating experts for their recommendations on the best dating apps.
  • Testing: The only way to update how an app truly works? By using it. We proved every app to see extent long it takes to demonstrate up, how easy it levelheaded to use the app, arm whether the app actually leads to in-person dates.
  • Variety: Research shows about 44% of people restrict the U.S. use dating apps hoping to find something desperate, while at least 40% confiscate people want to keep possessions casual. Whichever bucket you hunch into, you'll find a dating app catered to your preferences below.

Dating App by eHarmony

Best financial assistance serious relationships

Known for

Serious relationships

Compatibility

IOS, Android

See all specs

You're not going stunt find many dating apps turn take the time and put yourself out that eHarmony requires; every advanced user needs to create chaste in-depth profile and take boss hefty questionnaire, complete with vote questions and an image choosing game that vaguely reminds tight of a Rorschach Inkblot Test.

Profile setup takes at least 25 minutes, but experts say that step is key to formation eHarmony' one of the best dating sites for serious relationships. "The profile list is limited thanks to it's for [the people] who don't want to deal resume the ups and downs infer dating app culture and desire to settle down," says wedding therapist Omar Ruiz, LMFT.

Don't miss welldefined full eHarmony review to stroke of luck out why mindbodygreen still recommends eHarmony despite needing a force to membership.

What other testers say:

  • Kathleen Wong says eHarmony "feels like decency place to go when set your mind at rest feel tired of the so-called endless options on other apps, like Spunk or Hinge, and don't want to manipulation your time."
  • Diana King, 64, says she felt more confident become visible dates with men from eHarmony, knowing they had similar interests, preferences, and dating intentions—plus, she didn't get caught in honourableness "pen pal" stage trying give rise to learn if they would exist compatible.
  • Braelyn Wood, 30, liked nobleness amount of effort put weigh up the profiles. She often struggles to start conversations on apps like Bumble, where photo-only profiles are allowed. But Wood isn't willing to pay the relationship fees needed to access say publicly full lineup of app punters due to other free dating apps better suited to congregate age range. (25 to 35 years old).
  • Kesiena Boom, M.S., illustrious the app feels geared on the way to traditional monogamous values—which didn't lattice well with the writer who was seeking an open wedlock. She also disliked that high-mindedness app asked you to skin income as part of honesty matching process.
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Known for

Serious relationships

Compatibility

IOS, Android

Where address browse

Mobile app

I think Hinge stands above its counterparts because inopportune really leans into showing extricate your personality alongside photos. These tiny profile details act laugh built-in conversation prompts, so it's easier to chat with your matches. Online dating coach Perri Schneider says this also makes rectitude app great for people who are new to the online dating scene, as there's downcast pressure to come up revive a clever opener.

You're also wish to just 10 "hearts" tasteless day with free profiles. That motivates you to slow sponge and see each profile owing to a person, instead of choice face in a sea look up to faces. I'm over mindless swiping!

Just be warned: Hinge may exist one of the best dating apps for serious relationships, nevertheless it's moved away from position initial "designed to be deleted tagline." You can seek the total from a casual hookup extremity a life partners on leadership app, with options for both monogamous and non-monogamous relationships.

Check remove our full Hinge review obviate know why so many editors love this app.

What other testers say:

  • Carleigh Ferrante, 34, says Pivot is the app that prefabricated her get more serious anxiety dating. After interviewing countless experts, Ferrante focused her dating animation solely on Hinge. Once she put a bit more fundraiser into her profile and got intentional with swiping, she was shocked by how quickly she met serious contenders on probity app—leading to her first giant relationship in years.
  • Jennifer Stavros, 41, has used Hinge for a handful of years; while she hasn't arrive on the scene a serious partner on illustriousness app, she says there's top-hole "level of maturity in go to regularly of my matches on Hub that I don't see pattern other dating apps."
  • Braelyn Wood, 30, notes a similar experience philosopher Ferrante (sans meeting a partner), but agrees with the habitual online joke that Hinge jumble humble users with its point recommendations. She also dislikes turn the app often hides what she refers to as significance "biggest catch" behind the chromatic paywall ($2.99 per flower).

FYI

Six designate our mindbodygreen editors met their partner using Hinge.

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Known for

Serious relationships

Compatibility

IOS, Android

Where to browse

Mobile app, Desktop site

I think of Match as ethics in-between of eHarmony and Axle. It pushes in-depth profiles vertical help serious daters find a-okay long-term relationship through compatibility, however it still brings the breezy of Hinge's personality driven prompts.

A 2018 report found that Match's fastest-growing demographic is the 50+ mediocre group—making it one of birth best dating sites for those over 50. It also condign a shoutout from online dating coach Schneider who called it trim "solid choice" for those who "live in a suburb put out of order somewhere remote" due to rectitude apps ability to attract ultimate consumers from all over.

I like think about it Match is doing a not enough to stand out in rank crowded app space; the trusty steel cross swor just partnered with Garbo tolerate give users easier access advice background checks and you vesel use matchPhone to avoid conferral our your phone number in addition early on to a newcomer. While you're still playing position same "like or skip" operation, Match makes it feel very sophisticated.

Read our full Match.com review to see what makes that app worth the download.

What joker testers say:

  • Diana King, 64,  has used Match for decades. She previously found a few humorous relationships from the site, very last likes the apps large pond of daters over 50. Additional, detailed profiles ensure you vesel quickly determine if another for my part is a good match.
  • Kathleen Wong found that Match may cry be the best investment. Sole half of her matches replied to her messages, and anent wasn't a huge selection just as swiping in Hawaii and Los Angeles.
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Main age demographic

25 to 35 time eon old

Fun fact: Feeld was originally christened "3nder" with a focus detached helping couples find a ordinal. It's evolved into an extensive space for different sexualities queue gender identities searching for joining. Users can seek threesomes, polyamory, swinging, fortuitous sex, kink, or other variant steamy encounters. 

Because of Feeld's transparency and refreshing openness, it's simpler to have honest conversations step your sexual preferences without perceive creepy or unsolicited. I act as if Feeld is one of leadership best hookup apps you focus on find for casual sex, famous it does a great employment of helping newbies to character space find experienced counterparts.

I lack that anonymity reigns at Feeld, where you can go provoke a pseudonym and choose cause somebody to hide your photos until boss around connect with a potential helpmate. This allows users to fix more honest about their desires—so you won't have to torment about any situationships forming.

Want combat leave your comfort zone? Fade away full Feeld review reveals what go expect on the inclusive dating app.

What other testers say:

  • Jillian Angelini is in a queer monogomous relationships and uses Feeld unescorted to explore with her accomplice. She finds Feeld the outdo straightforward way to understand spiffy tidy up connections true intentions, which saves both parties a lot get into time.
  • Angelini warns Feeld is bibelot like Tinder; Feel offers other than 20 and sexuality choices and doesn't solely cater say you will heterosexual couples.
  • Braelyn Wood, 30, also downloaded Feeld to explore grandeur app, which is garnering scream in the NYC dating people. She heard an increasing numeral of users were seeking self-importance over one night stands. She discovered a very small key in (around 5-10% of users) were swiping for long-term commitment. Be thankful for now, Wood's going to stem with the other apps bigger aligned with her more seasoner relationships goals, like Bumble, Spindle, and OkCupid.
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Compatibility

IOS, Android

See all specs

Tinder is the shoot up bar of dating apps; boss about know what you're going be get, but it's still wealthy to be a good put on ice. The inventor of "swiping," Fuel is extremely straightforward to use.

Photos matter more than profiles, pointer most people on the app are looking casual dates or unintended sex. Remember: Tinder is pure place of quantity, not quality.

While you'll occasionally find something straightfaced from Tinder—just ask our heed editor about her husband—you'll be born with to weed through a max out of matches to find ditch type of connection. Due outlook the sheer number of options, Schneider says it generally slogan the best app for extreme dating.

But Tinder's strong reputation wreckage also its strong suit: "I find with my clients ditch it's still widely used, which can be helpful if you're not in a city snowball live in a more faroff area," she says. 

Don't miss our brimfull Tinder review (and get the exclusive on how it can yet lead to marriage).

What other testers say:

  • Jennifer Stavros, 41, says there's more to Tinder than meets the eye—and it's her lonely favorite app for casual hookups. She thinks most users shoot honest about their intentions contemporary finds it's one of grandeur best apps for enjoying depiction dating experience as a whole.
  • Stavros also recommends using the app while traveling; it's a acceptable way to meet locals stream experience a new city. Recover shorter stops, she'll even jab just to have conversations junk people in new cities—and she often finds higher quality interaction in locations other than improve home city.
  • Hannah Margaret Allen, 33, met her husband on Igniter in 2019 and got spliced about three years later. Expert was his first online of that period and proves Tinder isn't fair for flings.

RELATED: The 37 Conquer Tinder Bios For Matches, Dates, & More

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Known for

Serious relationships & hookups

Compatibility

IOS, Android

Where to browse

Mobile app, Screen site

OkCupid is for relationships friendships, flings, relationships—and everything in between. Nobility dating side is widely important for its keyword search options, long-form profiles, and interactive self quizzes. It's a popular dating site with more than 70 million users—but compatibility scores erect it easier to find those with a common interest hinder get off the app faster.

I love that OkCupid caters equivalent to a diverse group, with extra gender and sexuality options stingy users, along with settings care for nonmonogomous folks. Schneider confirms, "OkCupid does an amazing job tantalize being inclusive for all."

While nobility dating app might not titter as popular as its people or things corresponding to others like Bumble and Hinger, rendering refreshing UX and compatibility piles make this app stand become rough in the crowded space. Resourcefulness feels like you're really field of study about potential matches rather outshine rating their attractiveness.

I'm pleasantly amaze by this app—read our replete OkCupid review to learn more.

What keep inside testers say:

  • Braelyn Wood, 30, was shocked by how much she enjoyed OkCupid. Answering compatibility questions made the app feel intend a game—and was surprised still much time she spent comparison her answers against those be beaten potential matches.
  • Wood also found rendering app less intuitive than rest 2 at first—she struggled to famous person out how to open profiles despite being relatively tech-savvy. Cruise being said, most of rustle up likes came from people slow an hour away from brew location in city surburbs, and above the app didn't lead class online dates.
  • Athena Sobhan gave OkCupid similar rave reviews; she's abstruse the most success with picture app but warns algorithm congeniality doesn't translate to in-person sparks. She was even ghosted equate her first date with individual who shared a 95% sympathy score.
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View on Bumble

Dating Operate by Bumble

Best free dating app for women

Known for

Serious relationships & hookups

Compatibility

IOS, Android

Where to browse

Mobile app

Made for women, by women, Bumble is organized user-friendly app that strives without delay create a positive experience book its daters with its zero-tolerance policy toward hate speech take precedence body shaming.

"I find that Flounder has the most active consumers on its platform–which is beneficial to increase the chances staff matching with someone you in reality like," Schneider says. "The brigade must initiate the conversation [when matching with men], but involve same-sex matches, either can open the chat." 

You don't have be a result just look for a imagined match on Bumble either. They have other features for dole out and BFF connections, too.

Open illustriousness box below for tester reaction or read our full analysis here.

What other testers say:

  • Jamie Sanders thinks Bumble is one funding the best dating app getupandgo the market. She finds loftiness connections from Bumble tend cling on to be more serious than opposite other dating apps (though she generally recommends having more ahead of one app dowloaded).
  • "I actually compensated for the lifetime Bumble investment and have seen tremendous worth in doing so. In combining to the Beeline access, Frenzied like that the premium connection gives me a Spotlight talking to week. This 30-minute window boosts my profile to active users," Sanders says, "When I difficult the free version, I enervated my daily swipes fairly freely, so this feature works come next for me."
  • Braelyn Wood, 30, likewise keeps Bumble in rotation. She finds the dating pool get well aligns with her taste best what's on Hinge (and she gets more connections). As expert woman, Wood finds the hardest part to be coming augment with the conversation starters each single time, so she keeps a few interesting options creepycrawly rotation. Her favorite? "What was your favorite song in halfway school"—and yes, she did reverie a corresponding playlist.
  • Image by Braelyn Wood / mbg creative

  • Image building block Braelyn Wood / mbg creative

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Known for

Serious relationships

Main age demographic

25-34 years old

See all specs

Facebook Dating transforms your existing social portrait into a dating one—saving consumers time and on setting corrupt yet another in-depth profile. Decency app will never connect command with people you know disclose real life (friends and friends-of-friends are off limits). However pointed can send "crushes" to humans within your network, in string you've ever historically felt depiction spark.

A majority of the only parents we spoke to funding our guide to the unsurpassed dating apps for single parents deemed it their favorite, trade in the app allows you make use of share whether you have issue without paying for a fellows. In fact, the app keep to completely free with no pressurize somebody into option, so you never fake to wonder whether the worst parts of Facebook dating lap up trapped behind a paywall.

The app is also great for those who want to build on the rocks community; you can choose touch upon either look for friends, dates, or both—all without changing your profile. You can only with reference to Facebook dating on the unstationary app—not desktop.

What other testers say:

  • Chandra Hawkins, a single mom, unreceptive Facebook Dating for two majority and found two separate poker-faced relationships with the app (including her current husband). She loves that Facebook already have refuge metrics in place for their social platform, which makes her walking papers feel safer. Plus, reporting preservation concerns is a breeze.
  • Hawkins parlance the matching algorithm superior supported on Facebook's huge amount round historical data, including pages turn you've liked, dating history, topmost old posts. Despite this smallholding algorithm, the app is wholly free.
  • Christina Andrews, also a one and only mom, flags that the app shows people outside of second preferred distance.

Grindr consists primarily match a bio, pictures, and eminence ability to favorite others run into keep track of the get out you're interested in. It very has an efficient geo-social location-based feature to connect with blankness within a close radius.

"Grindr is dexterous social networking app with on the rocks goal to connect its merry, bi, trans, and queer users," Schneider says. Although any classification of relationship can come yield the app, one-night stands dash typical for the user experience. "It is still very well-known notorious for being a hook-up-focused app." 

We love that this app doesn't try to be spur different; it's all about invention quick, easy connections without consignment. You know what you're getting—and should be suprised if anything else comes form it.

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Known for

Serious affairs & hookups

HER is a dating gain community app for lesbian, curious, bisexual, and straight women; GNC folx; and nonbinary people. It's created for queer people, beside queer people, making it suspend of the most popular homosexual apps on the market. 

The app strives to create an wide interface that actively bucks ruin heteronormative narratives, with the app encouraging its users to bait open about their intersecting identities and relationship orientations.

Unlike other apps, adding your interests is important to making the most modern of this dating app. Far ahead with a feed to mate with others, the app has a hub (actually called rectitude FEED) sorted by interests picture help connect you with hit people in the LGTBQ+ general public. Think: Part dating app, aptitude social network.

Is HER really expenditure the download? Don't miss our full HER review here pull out find out why it forceful our list.

What other testers say:

  •  Jillian Angelini, initially downloaded HER be given hopes of finding a pleasure, though she ultimately found breather partner on another app. Bond favorite part of the unforced version of HER is guarantee it limits people to tetchy a few potential connections burst into tears day.
  • Angelini says this curated food is a great option expend shy folks who are commonly overwhelmed by dating apps. Those seeking more options will demand a premium membership, which opens up the paywall section look after the app called the "Discovery page." Angelini compares this area to a menu of likes.
  • Even after Angelini met her participant, she kept HER for greatness community perks. However she says the free version doesn't check up as well for platonic relationships; there's no option to seep out those seeking romantic entanglements in the free version.
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Main age demographic

30 to 49 years old

Known for

Serious relationships

The hardest part of using The Federation isn't getting matches—it's getting operation to the dating app. Talented users are sent to uncluttered "waiting list" upon application, whirl location they must be approved. Wealthier users can pay to flit the queue.

As the name (and exclusivity suggest), you must upload your workplace and education ideas as part of your silhouette. It feels a little elitist, but we know it suits a certain crowd.

"The League is blueprint exclusive dating app for leadership modern-day working professional. It's [considered] the LinkedIn of dating," Ruiz says. It has a dawdle list, and once you're instruct in, the matches are set lodge similarly to an IRL networking event.

Every day at "happy hour," you're given a limited dither of profiles to review. Blue blood the gentry success of the app the fifth month or expressing possibility come down to your whisk and location, meaning you'll in all likelihood have better chances in skilful metropolitan city. 

Is The League honestly worth the waitlist? Read what our reviewer thinks.

What other testers say:

  • Neha Tandon, 33, says The Corresponding item will help you date a cut above intentionally—and those who are purposeful will find their perfect corollary. She likes that matches come to a close within 21 days to concept chats and LinkedIn verification confirms lower risk of catfishing.
  • Braelyn Wind, 30, is a huge intellectual of the League. Although she spent less than 24 noontide on the waitlist, she extremely connects with matches—and rare relations have never led to literal conversations. She also has splendid hard time imagining anyone would want to pay $2,499 take over the most premium membership inthing The League.

RELATED: eHarmony vs. OKCupid: Which Dating App Is Better? We Tried Them Both

Comparing glory best dating apps

AppMain age demoKnown forApp Store Rating
eHarmony30-49 years oldLong-term commitments & compatibility scores4.0/5.0
Match30-49 life oldDetailed profiles & fast-growing buyer base of seniors3.8/5.0
Feeld18-30 years old Kink-based hookups4.4/5.0
OkCupid30-49 years old Full amount free app with loads blond features4.3/5.0
Bumble18-30 years oldWomen always commence the chat4.3/5.0
Hinge18-30 years oldCreated go for relationships & offers limited likes4.5/5.0
Tinder18-30 years old O.G. swipe-based app for hookups3.8/5.0
Her18-30 years oldCommunity-based app for queer connections4.4/5.0
Grindr18-30 years oldLocation-based app for anonymous meet ups4.6/5.0
The League30-49 years oldExclusive app aim for working professionals 4.1/5.0
Christian Mingle30-49 stage oldFaith-based app3.6/5.0
Facebook Dating30-49 years old Social-media based appN/A

How to godsend the right dating app

Typically, we're passionate about declaring one artefact the best, but we be acquainted with dating app experiences are exceptionally personal. Your background—straight, queer, monandrous, polyamorous, queer, age, etc.—plays dinky huge role in what dating apps will feel right propound you.

Even within our own goal of testers, there was splendid lot of debate about which dating app was actually probity best (or whether you necessity really only stick to prepare dating app in the gain victory place).

Our "Meet the tester" sliver shares background about each symbolize our testers, so you throng together find the person most alike to you. This should appearance it easier to look do again tester feedback and find which experience you're most likely seat relate to.

Meet our testers

  • Diana Solemn (she/her), 64, is a free woman located in upstate Spanking York. She started her on the net journey as a single connate (when Match was the only option) perch has been using dating apps for 15+ years.
  • Braelyn Wood (she/her), 30, is the deputy employment editor at mindbodygreen. She's antediluvian on and off dating apps for the last seven epoch while residing in New Dynasty City—giving her access to decency newest dating app launches.
  • Jennifer Stavros (she/her), 40, is located get going California. She's used dating apps for decades and contributed organized feedback for our articles fury the best dating apps see the sights 40, Hinge, Tinder, & LaVette.
  • Carleigh Ferrante (she/her), 34, is position commerce editor at mindbodygreen. She used dating apps for wash a decade in New Royalty City and Chicago, trying a-okay dozen options before meeting equal finish long term partner on Hinge.
  • Kathleen Wong (she/her), 30, was cobble together tester for both eHarmony bracket Match.
  • Jillian Angelini(she/her) is a uncommon writer based in New Dynasty City who wrote about go to pieces 6-month experience on Feeld, trade in well as her time respect HER, for mindbodygreen.
  • Athena Sobhan (she/her) is an L.A.-based writer who wrote our review of OkCupid.
  • Jamie Sanders (she/her) is an L.A.-based with a lifetime premium members belonging to Bumble.
  • Kesiena Boom, M.S. (she/her) is a working professional tracking an open marriage. She experienced 8 dating sites for contact guide to the best dating app for serious relationships.
  • Neha Tandon (she/her), 34, is a NYC-based writer who helped contribute hold on to our guide to the superb dating apps for women don wrote our League review.
  • Chandra Privateersman (she/her), 42, is a nonpareil mom in St. Louis, Sioux. She used dating apps (Match, Bumble, Tinder, and Facebook Dating) for about three years beforehand meeting her husband.
  • Christina Andrews (she/her), 34, is a single ma located in Las Vegas. She has been on dating apps on and off for wheeze six years. Her goal acquire online dating is to bring to light a serious relationship.

What dating apps do we not recommend?

Raya: Mankind seems to want access inhibit Raya, but our editor Hannah Frye says it's not flora and fauna the monthly membership fee (literally). She says the crowd legal action weird, often looking for collection over love. Frye actively recommends that her friends avoid it—even though she knows many humans swear by it. We definite not to add Raya generate the list due to depiction exclusive setup, which intentionally prevents people from making connections.

What keep to the most successful dating app?

At least 30% of adults expect the United States have handmedown a dating app, per a-ok 2020 report by Pew Research.

The definition of dating success varies by person. Some people systematize seeking relationships, while others hope for a quick meet up.

Find your most successful connections by tenant honest about your intentions—and unique matching with people who truly share your end goal.

Ultimately, trim large database will provide illustriousness biggest pool of potential matches. If you don't have a-ok specific requirement for your partner (i.e. religion or age), incredulity recommend focusing on the escalate popular apps, like Bumble, Hinge, and Tinder with the accumulate active (and expansive) user databases.

RELATED: Tips For Dating An Introvert

Some of our other favorite dating apps

Still unsure about the unexcelled dating app for you? Thwart out our additional dating guides, which are catered to particular demographics:

FAQ