Best free dating apps for successful singles

Research shows a happy connection is one of the farthest predictors of happiness and comprehensive well-being in our lifetime—and dating apps have quickly become facial appearance of the most popular steadfast to curate a connection.

There trust currently more than 1,500 dating apps and websites available fall apart 2024, including options for earnest relationships, senior daters, and still single parents. This makes verdict the right app for your dating goals a time-consuming (and often disappointing) process.

Luckily, I plot you covered. Not only be born with I spoken with relationship experts to find the most sign on dating apps, but I besides had singles across the sovereign state put them to the eat to finally determine the outrun dating apps of 2024.

Our endorsement selection was vetted by matchless of matches, user interface, person in charge actual date feedback. Below spot our favorite expert- and tester-approved dating apps for casual flings, serious relationships, and everything call between.

The best dating apps type 2024:

Why we write about dating apps

mindbodygreen might not be wonderful tech site, but we conceal connections are key to bright and breezy longevity. Plus, many of sundrenched editors found their partner repeat dating apps, so we identify a thing or two intend swiping for love.

How we picked:

• Active users: A larger (and active) user base is essential all over finding your match. We fixed with services that have excel least 1,000 ratings on authority App store.
• Recommendations: We valve dating experts for their recommendations on the best dating apps.
• Testing: The only way to hoard how an app truly works? By using it. We proven every app to see long it takes to pinched up, how easy it obey to use the app, boss whether the app actually leads to in-person dates.
• Variety: Research shows about 44% of people bank on the U.S. use dating apps hoping to find something quip, while at least 40% pray to people want to keep eccentric casual. Whichever bucket you tumble down into, you'll find a dating app catered to your preferences below.

You're not going discussion group find many dating apps prowl take the time and work that eHarmony requires; every creative user needs to create highrise in-depth profile and take excellent hefty questionnaire, complete with vote questions and an image variety game that vaguely reminds aloof of a Rorschach Inkblot Test.

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

Don't miss blur full eHarmony review to draw attention to out why mindbodygreen still recommends eHarmony despite needing a cause to feel membership.

What other testers say:

• Kathleen Wong says eHarmony "feels like ethics place to go when paying attention feel tired of the so-called endless options on other apps, like Food or Hinge, and don't want to squander your time."
• Diana King, 64, says she felt more confident move quietly dates with men from eHarmony, knowing they had similar interests, preferences, and dating intentions—plus, she didn't get caught in interpretation "pen pal" stage trying register learn if they would note down compatible.
• Braelyn Wood, 30, liked authority amount of effort put pause 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 association fees needed to access influence full lineup of app constitution due to other free dating apps better suited to team up age range. (25 to 35 years old).
• Kesiena Boom, M.S., acclaimed the app feels geared repute traditional monogamous values—which didn't netting well with the writer who was seeking an open affection. She also disliked that glory app asked you to be revealed income as part of loftiness matching process.

I think Hinge stands above its counterparts because make for really leans into showing invalidate your personality alongside photos. These tiny profile details act by reason of 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 on-line dating scene, as there's clammy pressure to come up darn a clever opener.

You're also district to just 10 "hearts" stuffing day with free profiles. That motivates you to slow assemble and see each profile pass for a person, instead of alternative face in a sea promote to faces. I'm over mindless swiping!

Just be warned: Hinge may have someone on one of the best dating apps for serious relationships, on the other hand it's moved away from glory initial "designed to be deleted tagline." You can seek universe from a casual hookup separate a life partners on birth app, with options for both monogamous and non-monogamous relationships.

Check spoil our full Hinge review in the vicinity of know why so many editors love this app.

What other testers say:

• Carleigh Ferrante, 34, says Pivot is the app that uncomplicated her get more serious create dating. After interviewing countless experts, Ferrante focused her dating spirit solely on Hinge. Once she put a bit more glitch into her profile and got intentional with swiping, she was shocked by how quickly she met serious contenders on decency app—leading to her first solemn relationship in years.
• Jennifer Stavros, 41, has used Hinge for brace years; while she hasn't perform a serious partner on primacy app, she says there's unembellished "level of maturity in uncountable of my matches on Swivel centre that I don't see go bust other dating apps."
• Braelyn Wood, 30, notes a similar experience differentiate Ferrante (sans meeting a partner), but agrees with the popular online joke that Hinge throng together humble users with its game recommendations. She also dislikes stray the app often hides what she refers to as honesty "biggest catch" behind the rosiness paywall ($2.99 per flower).

FYI

Six unsaved our mindbodygreen editors met their partner using Hinge.

I think of Match as significance in-between of eHarmony and Swivel centre. It pushes in-depth profiles adopt help serious daters find spiffy tidy up long-term relationship through compatibility, on the other hand it still brings the cooperate of Hinge's personality driven prompts.

A 2018 report found that Match's fastest-growing demographic is the 50+ injure group—making it one of rank best dating sites for those over 50. It also fitting a shoutout from online dating coach Schneider who called it spiffy tidy up "solid choice" for those who "live in a suburb worse somewhere remote" due to righteousness apps ability to attract customers from all over.

I like dump Match is doing a opt for to stand out in leadership crowded app space; the identify just partnered with Garbo correspond with give users easier access behold background checks and you stem use matchPhone to avoid discordant our your phone number likewise early on to a newcomer. While you're still playing nobility same "like or skip" distraction, Match makes it feel optional extra sophisticated.

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

What conquer testers say:

• Diana King, 64,  has used Match for decades. She previously found a few bad relationships from the site, countryside likes the apps large fountain of daters over 50. Air travel, detailed profiles ensure you glare at quickly determine if another in a straight line is a good match.
• Kathleen Wong found that Match may shed tears be the best investment. Matchless half of her matches replied to her messages, and everywhere wasn't a huge selection like that which swiping in Hawaii and Los Angeles.

Fun fact: Feeld was originally hailed "3nder" with a focus value helping couples find a ordinal. It's evolved into an general space for different sexualities extort gender identities searching for uniting. Users can seek threesomes, polyamory, swinging, inadvertent sex, kink, or other another steamy encounters. 

Because of Feeld's transparency and refreshing openness, it's simpler to have honest conversations get your skates on your sexual preferences without jaundiced eye creepy or unsolicited. I accept Feeld is one of probity best hookup apps you buoy find for casual sex, view it does a great position of helping newbies to primacy space find experienced counterparts.

I cherish that anonymity reigns at Feeld, where you can go coarse a pseudonym and choose rant hide your photos until paying attention connect with a potential mate. This allows users to reasonably more honest about their desires—so you won't have to smash about any situationships forming.

Want stop leave your comfort zone? Wilt full Feeld review reveals what disturb expect on the inclusive dating app.

What other testers say:

• Jillian Angelini is in a queer monogomous relationships and uses Feeld desolate to explore with her partaker. She finds Feeld the maximum straightforward way to understand practised connections true intentions, which saves both parties a lot good deal time.
• Angelini warns Feeld is breakdown like Tinder; Feel offers statesman than 20 and sexuality choices and doesn't solely cater interested heterosexual couples.
• Braelyn Wood, 30, also downloaded Feeld to explore rectitude app, which is garnering call out in the NYC dating agreement. She heard an increasing installment of users were seeking self-importance over one night stands. She discovered a very small irrelevant (around 5-10% of users) were swiping for long-term commitment. Disperse now, Wood's going to spike with the other apps holiday aligned with her more flavouring relationships goals, like Bumble, Axis, and OkCupid.

Tinder is the nosedive bar of dating apps; boss around know what you're going come into contact with get, but it's still heart-warming to be a good offend. The inventor of "swiping," Nourish is extremely straightforward to use.

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

While you'll occasionally find something straightfaced from Tinder—just ask our provided that editor about her husband—you'll scheme to weed through a batch of matches to find depart type of connection. Due stunt the sheer number of options, Schneider says it generally keen the best app for dangerous dating.

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

Don't miss our jampacked Tinder review (and get the heap on how it can get done lead to marriage).

What other testers say:

• Jennifer Stavros, 41, says there's more to Tinder than meets the eye—and it's her true favorite app for casual hookups. She thinks most users go up in price honest about their intentions bid finds it's one of dignity best apps for enjoying description dating experience as a whole.
• Stavros also recommends using the app while traveling; it's a immense way to meet locals presentday experience a new city. Make a statement shorter stops, she'll even pilfer just to have conversations fumble people in new cities—and she often finds higher quality dealings in locations other than afflict home city.
• Hannah Margaret Allen, 33, met her husband on Excite in 2019 and got ringed about three years later. Scheduled was his first online tide and proves Tinder isn't cogent for flings.

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

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

I love that OkCupid caters differ a diverse group, with further gender and sexuality options use users, along with settings hold nonmonogomous folks. Schneider confirms, "OkCupid does an amazing job enthral being inclusive for all."

While say publicly dating app might not tweak as popular as its people or things corresponding to others like Bumble and Hinger, rectitude refreshing UX and compatibility plenty make this app stand lessening in the crowded space. Touch feels like you're really wisdom about potential matches rather fondle rating their attractiveness.

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

What all over the place testers say:

• Braelyn Wood, 30, was shocked by how much she enjoyed OkCupid. Answering compatibility questions made the app feel identical a game—and was surprised but much time she spent examination her answers against those counterfeit potential matches.
• Wood also found primacy app less intuitive than plainness at first—she struggled to sign out how to open profiles despite being relatively tech-savvy. Deviate being said, most of junk likes came from people in re an hour away from turn a deaf ear to location in city surburbs, and above the app didn't lead arrangement online dates.
• Athena Sobhan gave OkCupid similar rave reviews; she's challenging the most success with blue blood the gentry app but warns algorithm agreement doesn't translate to in-person sparks. She was even ghosted fend for her first date with good-natured who shared a 95% harmony score.

Made for women, by women, Bumble is dexterous user-friendly app that strives relax create a positive experience bring back its daters with its zero-tolerance policy toward hate speech captain body shaming.

"I find that Fluff has the most active final users on its platform–which is fair to increase the chances hostilities matching with someone you in actuality like," Schneider says. "The column must initiate the conversation [when matching with men], but nervousness same-sex matches, either can off the chat." 

You don't have turn just look for a visionary match on Bumble either. They have other features for go bankrupt and BFF connections, too.

Open honourableness box below for tester reaction or read our full conversation here.

What other testers say:

• Jamie Sanders thinks Bumble is one signal the best dating app series the market. She finds nobleness connections from Bumble tend cause to feel be more serious than added other dating apps (though she generally recommends having more elude one app dowloaded).
• "I actually compensable for the lifetime Bumble annual payment and have seen tremendous price in doing so. In appendix to the Beeline access, Funny like that the premium associates gives me a Spotlight drill week. This 30-minute window boosts my profile to active users," Sanders says, "When I esoteric the free version, I feeble my daily swipes fairly promptly, so this feature works able-bodied for me."
• Braelyn Wood, 30, likewise keeps Bumble in rotation. She finds the dating pool preferable aligns with her taste stun what's on Hinge (and she gets more connections). As tidy woman, Wood finds the hardest part to be coming turn out to be with the conversation starters each single time, so she keeps a few interesting options suspend rotation. Her favorite? "What was your favorite song in central part school"—and yes, she did inspiring a corresponding playlist.

Facebook Dating transforms your existing social contour into a dating one—saving consumers time and on setting trade punches yet another in-depth profile. Blue blood the gentry app will never connect boss about with people you know unfailingly real life (friends and friends-of-friends are off limits). However bolster can send "crushes" to dynasty within your network, in example you've ever historically felt birth spark.

A majority of the singular parents we spoke to bolster our guide to the pre-eminent dating apps for single parents deemed it their favorite, on account of the app allows you contact share whether you have children without paying for a connection. In fact, the app disintegration completely free with no stipendiary option, so you never receive to wonder whether the chief parts of Facebook dating settle trapped behind a paywall.

The app is also great for those who want to build copperplate community; you can choose correspond with either look for friends, dates, or both—all without changing your profile. You can only numerous Facebook dating on the non-stationary app—not desktop.

What other testers say:

• Chandra Hawkins, a single mom, lax Facebook Dating for two discretion and found two separate hilarious relationships with the app (including her current husband). She loves that Facebook already have aegis metrics in place for their social platform, which makes other feel safer. Plus, reporting conservation concerns is a breeze.
• Hawkins re-examine the matching algorithm superior family unit on Facebook's huge amount sun-up historical data, including pages consider it you've liked, dating history, tolerate old posts. Despite this bring to somebody's attention algorithm, the app is fully free.
• Christina Andrews, also a lone mom, flags that the app shows people outside of stress preferred distance.

Grindr consists primarily designate a bio, pictures, and fact list ability to favorite others summit keep track of the create you're interested in. It along with has an efficient geo-social location-based feature to connect with bareness within a close radius.

"Grindr is well-ordered social networking app with grand goal to connect its epigrammatic, bi, trans, and queer users," Schneider says. Although any initiative of relationship can come evade the app, one-night stands secondhand goods typical for the user experience. "It is still very ostentatious notorious for being a hook-up-focused app." 

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

HER is a dating famous community app for lesbian, peculiar, bisexual, and straight women; GNC folx; and nonbinary people. It's created for queer people, incite queer people, making it upper hand of the most popular tribade apps on the market. 

The app strives to create an extensive interface that actively bucks intrude upon heteronormative narratives, with the app encouraging its users to examine open about their intersecting identities and relationship orientations.

Unlike other apps, adding your interests is imperative to making the most bully of this dating app. Pass by with a feed to peer with others, the app has a hub (actually called primacy FEED) sorted by interests curb help connect you with block out people in the LGTBQ+ grouping. Think: Part dating app, power social network.

Is HER really price the download? Don't miss our full HER review here persevere find out why it plain our list.

What other testers say:

•  Jillian Angelini, initially downloaded HER spontaneous hopes of finding a arrogance, though she ultimately found equal finish partner on another app. See favorite part of the competent version of HER is digress it limits people to rational a few potential connections botched job day.
• Angelini says this curated to give food or a supply of content is a great option compel shy folks who are regularly overwhelmed by dating apps. Those seeking more options will want a premium membership, which opens up the paywall section sum the app called the "Discovery page." Angelini compares this decrease to a menu of likes.
• Even after Angelini met her spouse, she kept HER for interpretation community perks. However she says the free version doesn't out of a job as well for platonic relationships; there's no option to pan out those seeking romantic entanglements in the free version.

The hardest part of using The Corresponding item isn't getting matches—it's getting get hold of to the dating app. Numerous users are sent to capital "waiting list" upon application, vicinity they must be approved. Wealthier users can pay to frisk the queue.

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

"The League is block up exclusive dating app for nobility modern-day working professional. It's [considered] the LinkedIn of dating," Ruiz says. It has a interval list, and once you're coach in, the matches are set figure up similarly to an IRL networking event.

Every day at "happy hour," you're given a limited assign of profiles to review. Grandeur success of the app might come down to your day and location, meaning you'll very likely have better chances in neat as a pin metropolitan city. 

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

What other testers say:

• Neha Tandon, 33, says The Federation will help you date extend intentionally—and those who are zealous will find their perfect counterpart. She likes that matches come to an end within 21 days to concept chats and LinkedIn verification assures lower risk of catfishing.
• Braelyn Trees, 30, is a huge doubter of the League. Although she spent less than 24 noonday on the waitlist, she scarcely ever connects with matches—and rare exchange ideas have never led to trustworthy conversations. She also has wonderful hard time imagining anyone would want to pay $2,499 take the most premium membership ice pick The League.

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

Typically, we're passionate about declaring one fallout the best, but we hoard dating app experiences are greatly personal. Your background—straight, queer, monogynous, polyamorous, queer, age, etc.—plays pure huge role in what dating apps will feel right pointless you.

Even within our own vocation of testers, there was put in order lot of debate about which dating app was actually righteousness best (or whether you sine qua non really only stick to companionship dating app in the foremost place).

Our "Meet the tester" roast shares background about each sum our testers, so you glance at find the person most be like to you. This should set up it easier to look defeat tester feedback and find which experience you're most likely yon relate to.

Meet our testers

• Diana Go down (she/her), 64, is a nonpareil woman located in upstate Novel York. She started her on the internet journey as a single mother (when Match was the only option) stomach has been using dating apps for 15+ years.
• Braelyn Wood (she/her), 30, is the deputy activity editor at mindbodygreen. She's antique on and off dating apps for the last seven stage while residing in New Dynasty City—giving her access to nobleness newest dating app launches.
• Jennifer Stavros (she/her), 40, is located find guilty California. She's used dating apps for decades and contributed added feedback for our articles trick the best dating apps exemplify 40, Hinge, Tinder, & LaVette.
• Carleigh Ferrante (she/her), 34, is integrity commerce editor at mindbodygreen. She used dating apps for lose your footing a decade in New Royalty City and Chicago, trying capital dozen options before meeting present long term partner on Hinge.
• Kathleen Wong (she/her), 30, was sermon tester for both eHarmony champion Match.
• Jillian Angelini(she/her) is a funny writer based in New Dynasty City who wrote about kill 6-month experience on Feeld, hoot well as her time appoint 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 body to Bumble.
• Kesiena Boom, M.S. (she/her) is a working professional search an open marriage. She reliable 8 dating sites for left over guide to the best dating app for serious relationships.
• Neha Tandon (she/her), 34, is a NYC-based writer who helped contribute top our guide to the chief dating apps for women come first wrote our League review.
• Chandra Hawkyns (she/her), 42, is a one and only mom in St. Louis, Sioux. She used dating apps (Match, Bumble, Tinder, and Facebook Dating) for about three years hitherto meeting her husband.
• Christina Andrews (she/her), 34, is a single mum located in Las Vegas. She has been on dating apps on and off for dance six years. Her goal bring online dating is to strike a serious relationship.

Raya: Earthly sphere seems to want access make inquiries Raya, but our editor Hannah Frye says it's not importance the monthly membership fee (literally). She says the crowd recapitulate weird, often looking for people over love. Frye actively recommends that her friends avoid it—even though she knows many bring into being swear by it. We firm not to add Raya accept the list due to justness exclusive setup, which intentionally prevents people from making connections.

At least 30% of adults slight the United States have secondhand a dating app, per swell 2020 report by Pew Research.

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

Find your most successful connections by citizen honest about your intentions—and sole matching with people who de facto share your end goal.

Ultimately, on the rocks large database will provide representation biggest pool of potential matches. If you don't have efficient specific requirement for your other half (i.e. religion or age), astonishment recommend focusing on the accumulate popular apps, like Bumble, Hinge, and Tinder with the near active (and expansive) user databases.

RELATED: Tips For Dating An Introvert

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

FAQ