Best Dating Apps

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

Users can choose to connect with someone by tapping the conversation button and matching or leaving a comment on a page. Profiles offer prompts to get the conversation started like “If loving this is wrong, I don’t want to be right…” and “The one thing I’d love to know about you is….” 

Hinge shows you more information about people, so if you’re uncomfortable meeting strangers from the internet, this makes it easier. It gives you people’s last names and usually their neighborhood, age, height, job, hometown, and college. 

The app is free but wants people to pay, asking them to pay for virtual "roses" meant for standout matches the service chooses for you based on what you’re looking for. It all feels very much like an episode of The Bachelor. The algorithm's daily pick for your best match is also notoriously not helpful. Many times they’ll choose someone extremely far away or with wildly different political affiliations. In some cases, they might show you someone you already know which can be slightly uncomfortable. 

Unlike other apps where you have to both agree to match before a message can be sent, people on Hinge can message you an opener to get the conversation going. While it’s free, there is a paid version as well. The "Preferred Member" membership allows you to send unlimited links and set stricter filters. Cost for various membership and subscription options can range from $9.99 to $59.99 depending on how many months you are buying.

Match is an old standby for a reason. Because users must pay for a membership, it means that the people who join are focused on commitment. Match.com was founded by Gary Kremen and Peng T. Ong in 1995. Since then, it has remained popular, especially with people who are looking for serious relationships. 

When you sign up, you enter your name, age, height, whether or not you want kids, how single you are, and if you smoke. You then answer the question “What makes you the happiest?” choosing from activities including concerts, cooking, blogging, binge-watching shows, sports, and more. Next, you select what you’re looking for in a partner, including age range, height range, religion, and whether or not those topics are “must-haves.” 

With the free option, members get notified that someone has messaged them, but they can't see it and respond unless they sign up. The premium option allows members unlimited messaging, likes, the ability to see everyone who likes you and who has viewed your profile, one-on-one talks with a dating expert, and more.

Unfortunately, if you’re interested in using Match, you will have to pay; otherwise, you can’t see who’s messaging you or what they’re saying. Memberships cost $19.99 monthly for a yearly plan, $24.99 monthly for six months, and $34.99 monthly for three months.

Raya is famous for being one of the most exclusive dating apps, touting A-listers and influencers as members. Because it's invite-only, there’s an application process, and people have to pay to be members, there is a higher-quality appeal to it than a typical app. 

Raya is offers one, six, and 12-month memberships. Membership package options appear to start at $19.99 and you can 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 the app urges you to do. Once you’re a member, you can give friends a friend pass which could help expedite their admission, although the app reserves the right to refuse applications. 

Members are located all over the world and tend to work in creative fields. It’s basically Soho House for dating. You can connect your Instagram account, choose a song, make a slideshow of photos, and can search for romantic connections or friends. You can also search by location to see who’s nearby on the app. Raya will also show you which friends you have in common if you both have a mutual friend’s phone number, so you can always ask your pal if they vouch for your potential date. You can also search for members in a certain city or in a specific industry, making it even easier to network or meet people.

When Bumble was started by female founder Whitney Wolfe Herd in 2014, it was based on the idea that women would message first, meaning they could choose a conversation starter and control the narrative. Wolfe Herd went on to make the Forbes 30 Under 30 list as well as the Time 100 List and became the youngest woman to take a company public at only 31. 

Using Bumble is quite simple. Make a profile with your pictures and information about yourself, and then you can either have a free plan or pay for other options. The “Spotlight” plan promises more matches and puts you at the front of the line for 30 minutes so your potential matches see you first.

The other option is SuperSwipe, which says you’ll get more conversations. SuperSwipes allow you to super like someone, so they'll be notified you like them and be shown your profile. If you don’t feel like paying for these two options, you can also upgrade your account to premium to unlock all of the features at once. Premium users receive unlimited likes, advanced filters, travel mode to see who’s swiping in certain places, and unlimited backtracks in case you swipe the wrong way on someone, among many other features. 

Bumble is a great option for someone starting out who wants to see all of the eligible people around. You have to swipe right to match with people, and then you have 24 hours to make the first move and start the chat, so you do have to check the app frequently, or else 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 everyone), age range, and distance. You can also set advanced filters, looking for a specific height, astrology sign, educational background, and more.

HER is the world’s biggest free dating app for queer women, offering the ability to match, as well as offering over 30 different groups that users can join. The app works as a community and tries to be welcoming and supportive.

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

While it is free, there are also three types of premium subscription memberships. A premium, one-month membership starts at about $15, for six months it’s around $60 and for one year it’s roughly $90.

JSwipe is a great option if you’re Jewish or want to date Jewish men or women. Launched in 2014 over the Passover holiday by founder David Yarus, who also worked for Birthright Israel at the time, the Brooklyn-based app was later acquired by its competitor, JDate. 

On JSwipe, you enter a short bio, your education, and your age. You're also asked to fill out whether or not you keep kosher and your denomination. Then, you can begin swiping. Your profile page links with your Facebook page, so it will show you what interests you share with matches based on what you previously liked on Facebook. 

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

Premium memberships cost between $17.99 and $59.99 depending on how many months you buy. Much like Tinder, it shows you who’s swiping around you based on location, but you can also set the mile radius much larger and see singles all over the world.

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

And while there used to be lots of people looking for all different things, it’s now geared much more towards casual dating. Tinder is probably best in a small town where there aren’t as many people on the more niche apps but definitely know that people are looking for more informal arrangements. 

While it started as an entirely free app, there’s now a free and paid premium option that allows users to "super like" people (an extra form of flattery that allegedly triples your chances for a match), use the passport feature to see who’s out there in other locations, and see who liked you before you swiped right on them. Tinder Gold gives users all of that and more while Tinder Platinum gives users those options as well as the ability to message someone before matching. Prices vary depending on how many months your subscribe for and what package you select.