Overview
Table of Contents
Gone are the days when people balk at you if you say you met your partner online. Dating apps have irrevocably changed the way we date — much like how social media networks changed the way we interact with each other on the whole. With so many apps, from Bumble to eharmony, it can be difficult to discern which ones to invest in — especially if you’re looking for that special someone.
According to 2023 findings from the Pew Research Center, one in ten partnered adults (married, living with a partner, or in a committed relationship) met their partner on a dating app or site. For younger and/or LGBTQ people, you’re more likely to have met your significant other online: one in five adults under 30 and nearly one in four for LGBTQ adults.
The same study found that almost half (44 percent) of dating app users said a major reason for using them was to meet a long-term partner. So, if that’s you, you’re certainly not alone.
If you’re online, however, you’re surely aware of the discourse around dating app culture these days. People are burnt out on dating apps, some opting for IRL events instead. Still, it’s undeniable that if you want to date from the comfort and safety of your home, a dating app is the way to do it. If you’re, for example, introverted or have difficulty approaching someone in person, an app does have its uses.
What is the #1 best dating app?
It’s difficult to quantify which dating app is the best, considering users have an array of experiences on them. Some people find their spouses on Tinder, while others are disappointed that their matches are only looking for hookups.
That being said, if you’re looking for something serious, your best bet is likely an app with a large user base, options for you to indicate what you’re looking for on your bio, and filters to weed out who you really want to partner with. There are also apps whose branding is geared towards finding one’s ultimate match — like eharmony and Match, both decades-old sites with reputations for helping users find their spouse. Hinge, Bumble, and Coffee Meets Bagel also have a reputation for more “serious” connections.
Depending on what relationship you’re seeking, you may also benefit from a more niche app. Take one app on our list, SilverSingles, for people over 50. Sure, there are older adults on apps like Tinder and Bumble as well, but you may have more luck finding someone age-appropriate if you’re in a space meant just for you.
Which dating site is best for serious relationships?
Mashable has researched to pick out a few from the plethora of dating sites (and apps) out there. These options are available for Android and Apple users, so whatever phone you have won’t determine your options. In terms of monetary investment, you can use some of these for free (like Tinder and Bumble), while others are more pay-to-play. We’ve also included some “niche” options, like the aforementioned SilverSingles and Elite Singles, so you have more than the standard buffet of dating apps.
Here are the best dating apps for serious relationships:
The Good & The Bad
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Free to sign up and get started
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In-person events and meetups in select cities
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Set dealbreakers to find your perfect match
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Massive user base means more chances to find someone special, even in smaller areas
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Laid-back profile building
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Date Check-In feature adds a layer of safety and peace of mind
- Slightly younger crowd than eharmony
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Frequent notifications might feel overwhelming
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Basic matching is free, but additional features require a paid subscription
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Some users encounter occasional bugs or glitches
- Subscription costs may vary depending on plans and promotions
So, if you’re not quite ready for the seriousness of eharmony or want a more inclusive dating experience, Match is a good alternative. It’s a platform designed for people who are ready to take their dating journey seriously but without the immediate expectation of marriage.
Match refuses to be left behind, constantly evolving its platform to stay current for all ages. Its questionnaire focuses on shared interests and important lifestyle factors like whether you want children or have pets and dealbreakers such as smoking or drinking, all so you can find a compatible partner. It’s also slightly less expensive than eharmony, making it more accessible to try out for a month or two.
In June 2024, Match partnered with relationship and dating expert Jay Shetty (now Match’s Relationship Advisor) to tackle “disillusionment” in the dating world. The app now offers features like the “Date Differently Challenge,” which is basically an in-depth quiz that helps users figure out what their main dating obstacle is and how to overcome it. A new “Core Values” section also gives members a chance to highlight their top three values to help them find their perfect match. Examples include friendship, humor, ambition, and optimism.
Details
Details
The Good & The Bad
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Free to sign up and browse matches
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Focuses on compatibility for lasting relationships
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In-depth personality quiz for better matches
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User-friendly interface for easy navigation
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Secure video dating option for a more personal connection
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Regular promotions on subscriptions
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Large pool of potential partners
- Science-based matching algorithm
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Pay-to-play model; can’t see full profiles or send messages without paying
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Lengthy personality test
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Past issues with LGBTQ+ inclusivity
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Subscription costs change frequently and aren’t cheap
- Cancellation process is a pain point
A spokesperson for the site says it’s been used by 54 million people and is responsible for 4 percent of U.S. marriages. While we haven’t independently verified these numbers, we can say that eharmony has built up a reputation for being the dating site to go on if you want the white-picket-fence fantasy in the very near future. We just wish it didn’t cost so much — and that you could message users without having to pay those high prices. But if you’re investing in something serious, this site might be worth it for you.
Although eharmony’s reputation also involves being known as a more traditional (i.e. conservative) dating site, it recently expanded its inclusivity and now welcomes users of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The app has become so welcoming that the company is in hot water with some conservative religious groups who claim it has abandoned its traditional values. One Million Moms even started a petition to have LGBTQ+ commercials removed from eharmony’s advertising.
Details
The Good & The Bad
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Free to sign up and get started; no longer requires a Facebook login
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Focus on a curated selection instead of endless swiping
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High second-date statistics suggest meaningful connections
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Bios with unique details help find real compatibility (e.g., stance on weed)
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Inclusive options for gender identities and pronouns ensure everyone feels welcome
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The algorithm learns your preferences to connect you with compatible matches
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Fun prompts spark engaging conversations and help you stand out
- Detailed filters refine your search
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Daily “likes” are capped
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No desktop version for PC access
- Some users might be active on multiple platforms (Tinder, Bumble, etc.)
Think of it as a blend of Tinder and Match, focusing on depth rather than surface-level attraction. With detailed profiles and multiple ways to interact, Hinge helps you find someone who appreciates the real you.
The app’s motto, “designed to be deleted,” reflects its commitment to helping users find genuine connections and potentially find someone worth leaving the app for. Hinge’s real-world statistics speak for themselves, with many users reporting great first dates and expressing interest in second dates.
On June 6, 2024, Hinge released its second annual LGBTQIA+ D.A.T.E. report, which highlights the growing trend of “slowmance” among queer daters, who are prioritizing emotional intimacy and building trust over rushing into romance. The report also provides insights into communication styles, first-date preferences, and the importance of humor in attracting potential matches.
With features such as daily like limits and sections for dating intentions and relationship types, Hinge empowers users to be more selective, whether they’re seeking a casual fling or a long-term partner.
Details
The Good & The Bad
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Create a profile and explore matches for free
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Time limit means you won’t have a backlog of months-old matches
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Plenty of active users on the app
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Filters, prompts, and bios encourage deeper profiles for meaningful matches
- Women and non-binary users make the first move on Bumble, so say goodbye to unsolicited messages from creepers
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Not ideal for men who prefer to make the first move
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Many of the users may also be on Tinder
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Matches are lost within 24 hours of no communication
- Premium option is pricey
By giving the reins to this empowered group, Bumble creates a space where women and non-binary folks can feel more in control of their dating experience and where unsolicited creepiness takes a back seat.
Plus, the recent addition of “Opening Moves” offers flexibility for everyone. While some women and non-binary individuals might prefer the original “message first” approach, “Opening Moves” provides prompts for those who need a little help starting the conversation. The app has also expanded its “Dating Intentions” badges to include options like “fun, casual dates,” “ethical non-monogamy,” “marriage,” and “a life partner,” so you know exactly where the other person stands as far as commitment goes.
The 24-hour match expiration encourages timely interaction, a plus for anyone focused on serious relationships. Bumble’s free communication features (text, voice, video) also let you get to know a match without investing in premium options.
Details
The Good & The Bad
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No cost to create a profile and browse connections
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Available on iPhone, Android, and your computer
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Connect with Facebook or email account
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Modern redesign that’s genuinely fun to navigate
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Inclusive identification options, including gender-fluid and non-binary
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Values like politics and social justice can be considered for matches
- Detailed questionnaire helps find compatible personalities
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Free version includes ads
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Doesn’t offer video chat
- Not great in small towns
Users can weed out people they’d fight with on Facebook by answering inquiries like “Would you date someone who keeps a gun in the house?” or “Should the government require children to be vaccinated for preventable diseases?”
As of 2023, OkCupid is also tapping into the powers of generative AI to improve its matchmaking questions.
“OkCupid matches people on what matters to them through in-app matching questions,” Michael Kaye, Director of Brand Marketing and Communications at OkCupid, said in a press release. “At the beginning of last year, we decided to have ChatGPT write our matching questions for us, and the chatbot-generated questions have been answered almost 4 million times.”
Details
The Good & The Bad
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High premium membership price weeds out people who don’t take dating seriously
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Low chance of getting catfished
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Recent update makes questionnaire more fun
- Bringing up jobs and money isn’t taboo
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Limited free trial; free users cannot see photos of potential matches until they upgrade
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Distance filter starts at 50 miles
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No support for non-binary users
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Might get suggestions that don’t match your filters
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No way to verify if people actually have a certain degree or job
- Too pricey for spotty results
Think of it as the Soho House of dating apps without the cost or waitlist of Raya. As a warning, this site can show profiles from outside your search radius, and definitely has a smaller user base than other sites on this list, but it can be worth checking out if finding someone career-oriented is a top priority for you when dating.
This is the place for folks who have hit a comfortable stride professionally and are now pursuing a partner who’s at the same point in their life. The site’s questionnaire decodes 29 personality traits to suggest matches who not only have an income compatible with yours but with whom you’d mesh based on communication styles, ideal first dates, and whether you’re one to make the first move.
Past users report a feed full of people living far away than they indicated in their preferences. It’s borderline ironic, considering the whole conceit of the site is about showing you a specific pool of daters. Plus, the lowest distance you can filter your search to is 50 miles away, so there’s built-in leeway for the reality that looking for a more specific type of person may require you to expand your physical location horizons some. And unfortunately, it’s hard for any dating website to catch anyone lying about their job or income.
Details
The Good & The Bad
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Free to sign up and get started
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Inclusive LGBTQIA+ community (designed for lesbian, bisexual, non-binary, pansexual, and queer people)
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Features communities and virtual events
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Made by queer women, for queer women
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Lots of details on profiles
- Curated groups, including queer women of color
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Not as successful in small towns
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Full of users complaining about being single
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Occasional biphobia and “gold star lesbian” seekers
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No real algorithm past age and location
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Free version includes ads
- Not available on desktop
If you’ve ever felt drained by mainstream options or encountered creepy predators, HER is the welcoming community you’ve been waiting for. It provides an inclusive space where you can be your truest self and connect with other LGBTQIA2S+ people who share similar interests.
The founders of the award-winning app are committed to cultivating a space that’s “so ragingly queer” that frustrated women can delete apps that don’t feel like home. As the user base of over 4 million grows, HER could widen your dating pool beyond the queer women you already know. As the app grows, users online have complained that there does seem to be an increase in bot accounts, so if you do come across a profile that seems suspiciously sparse, you’ll want to remain wary.
Still, HER remains a popular dating app for queer women, by queer women. Users can get creative in profile building with categories such as diet preferences (like veganism), star signs, and a “What does this mean?” field in the sex, gender, and pronoun categories to supply a more well-rounded understanding of identity.
The traditional text bio is where you can flex your sense of humor or describe what kind of relationship you’re seeking. Joining niche groups like “newly out” or “travelers” can introduce you to people using the app for similar reasons. The app also has a social media component for you to check out events going on in the queer community, either local to you or online, so you can make connections beyond romance. In addition to matching with people, you can also add them as friends if you’re the type that likes to start things platonically and see where they go. To clarify your intentions about something serious (and know where others may lie), fill out the “Looking For” section.
Details
The Good & The Bad
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Free to sign up and get started
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Large user base
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Extensive search options
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Inclusive platform
- User-friendly interface
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Limited messaging options for free users
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Potentially overwhelming due to its size
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Mixed profile quality
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Limited matching algorithm compared to other dating sites
- Limited location settings
What sets POF apart from other dating apps is its massive user base, which means you have an extensive pool of potential matches to explore. This diversity opens up endless possibilities, ensuring you can find someone who aligns with your dating preferences and relationship goals.
One caveat to this is that Plenty of Fish won’t strictly stick to your distance preferences when showing matches, so you might find yourself in a situation where the person you’re really connecting with isn’t exactly close by. If that’s a deal breaker for you, you may want to try out another app.
Once you connect with someone who catches your eye, the chat and messaging features make it easy to spark a conversation and build a real connection. Think flirtatious banter, meaningful messages, and endless possibilities to get to know someone deeper.
Details
The Good & The Bad
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Free to sign up and get started
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Clear and easy to navigate
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Matches sent daily
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50+ dating community
- Draws in a user base of older people
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Free version is limited; users’ photos are blurred out until you pay
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Setting a location limit will not stop you from getting matches who live outside of your radius
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No support for non-binary or bisexual users
- Time-consuming sign-up process
SilverSingles understands mature adults’ unique needs and desires. Focusing on compatibility and shared values, this dating app is designed to help you find a potential partner who’s at a similar stage in life, ensuring a higher likelihood of sparking a long-term, meaningful connection.
A sister site to EliteSingles, SilverSingles uses the same intense compatibility system that EliteSingles does, bringing in the popular big five personality traits to assess five levels of your being: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Rather than overwhelming users with an endless sea of profiles, SilverSingles presents a curated selection of five handpicked matches per day, saving time and energy. Just be sure to pay attention to the locations of potential matches, though (like its sister site, SilverSingles has a habit of ignoring location radius preferences).
Details
The Good & The Bad
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Free to sign up and get started
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Women don’t get messages from men they haven’t okay-ed
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Different crowd than Tinder or Hinge
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No messages from people you haven’t liked back
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Less judgment over the perfect profile picture
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Premium perks can be earned just by using the app
- Can get a lot of real dates out of it
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Only five matches per day
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Uneven gender split
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Somewhat empty user base, especially in small towns
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App has a lot of bugs
- No support for non-binary users
You’re encouraged to get the ball rolling with matches disappearing in seven days. It’s less pressure than Bumble’s 24-hour time limit but still eliminates a list of people who don’t care enough to respond or plan a meet-up. Like a few other apps, CMB won’t show your profile to other users unless you have a clear picture, automatically filtering the whole section of faceless profiles you’ll find on other apps.
Another standout feature of CMB is the activity report at the bottom of everyone’s profile. Though only available to premium users, it’ll show a user’s stats, like how often they’re active and how long it takes them to reply.
Details
The Good & The Bad
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Available for iOS, Android, and desktop users
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Free to get started
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Offers mobile sign-up (as a Facebook alternative)
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Easy, mindless, and instantaneous
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Massive active user base, even in small towns
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Extra fun while you’re traveling
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Multiple premium options (e.g., Tinder Gold, Tinder Plus, Boosts, and “Super Likes”)
- New dating intention features built into profiles
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Limited functionality for free users (e.g., limited free “likes” per day)
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Free version pushes ads
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Next-to-no filters
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No actual matchmaking algorithm
- Pretty much have to swipe through everyone nearby
Tinder, the iconic dating app that ignited swipe culture, is the go-to platform for casual dating, fun encounters, and hookups. While you may not find someone looking to settle down, Tinder isn’t a bad place to be if you don’t mind dating around or taking things slowly at first. Plus, with the app’s new “Relationship Goals” feature, it’s easier to see whether or not a potential match would be interested in something long-term.
Sure, you may not find someone looking to settle down for a while, but if you don’t mind dating around or taking things slow at first, Tinder isn’t a bad place to be. Plus, with the “Relationship Goals” feature, it’s easier to suss out from a quick glance at someone’s profile whether or not they’d be interested in something long-term or if they’re just looking for a casual relationship.
Details
Our approach for testing dating apps goes beyond reading app descriptions, Reddit complaints, and user reviews. We believe that the best way to judge a dating app is to actually use it. That’s why our reviews, written by our Sex & Relationships team, are based on real-world experiences. We share our honest opinions, the pros and cons, and an overall assessment of each platform, so you can make an informed decision about where to find your perfect match.
We’ve been swiping, matching, and messaging on many of these apps, like eharmony, Match, OkCupid, and Elite Singles, for years, so we know firsthand what works and what doesn’t. We also looked into each app’s usability, cost, safety and privacy measures, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
As with most dating topics, this question doesn’t have an easy, straightforward answer. The fact is, with large user bases come a variety of types of people, just like when you’re dating without apps.
However, we’ve tested each of the apps on our list to confirm that there are users on them with verified profiles that have been thoroughly filled out, giving off the intention that they’re actually looking for love. Our biggest recommendations? See which app you feel like you fit into best, and if something feels weird or spammy, it probably is. In our product cards above, we note any sites that feel like blatant cash grabs or are filled with fake accounts.
If your interests don’t lie in marriage but instead in casual sex, you can try our recommendations of the best apps for hookups. After all, Grindr users can be genuine, too, albeit in a hornier way.
Eharmony claims to be responsible for four percent of U.S. marriages, which is a great statistic. Unfortunately, it’s also tough to verify — and the statistic is from ten years ago. While using these apps won’t automatically put you on a path to marriage, it will better your odds, especially if you do a bit of trial and error with the different apps we’ve recommended.
There are a ton of great dating apps that fit different kinds of use cases. Overall, we believe that Hinge tends the best dating app for most people, as it has a large user base, a track record of creating successful relationships, and hits the sweet spot between casual and serious. However, some folks may find that Match and eharmony, and the more built-out profile structure and mature user base of both, fit their needs better. For more casual fun, Tinder and Grindr are the top hookup apps. We highly recommend checking out each of our picks above to see which most resonates with you.
Both Bumble and Hinge have campaigns about success stories. Both apps are known for being more relationship-focused as opposed to hookup-focused. The difference will come down to which one you prefer using.
Bumble is where women looking for men “make the first move” (send the first message). In 2024, however, Bumble launched Opening Moves, a way for men to technically message first. Straight women can set an Opening Move or prompt for men to respond to. Bumble also introduced prompts in recent years to make profiles more than photos and personality traits.
Hinge, meanwhile, is known for its prompts, encouraging users to ask questions or launch conversations with them. Hinge also recently introduced Your Turn Limits, a cap on how many unanswered messages you can have in your queue. If you have eight people to respond to, Hinge now limits your ability to match with someone new (you either have to respond or unmatch). This hints at a “quality over quantity” approach to dating.
Associate Editor, Features
Anna Iovine is the associate editor of features at Mashable. Previously, as the sex and relationships reporter, she covered topics ranging from dating apps to pelvic pain. Before Mashable, Anna was a social editor at VICE and freelanced for publications such as Slate and the Columbia Journalism Review. Follow her on Bluesky.
Bethany Allard is a Los Angeles-based shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, sex and relationships, and headphones. That basically means she puts her hair through a lot, scrolls through a lot of dating apps, and rotates through a lot of different headphones. In addition to testing out and rounding up the best products, she also covers deals for Mashable, paying an especially obsessive amount of attention to Apple deals and prices. That knowledge comes in handy when she’s covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, which she’s now done for three years at Mashable.
Tabitha Britt is a freelance writer, editor, SEO & content strategist. Aside from writing for Mashable, Tabitha is also the founding editor-in-chief of DO YOU ENDO — a digital magazine by individuals with endometriosis, for individuals with endometriosis. She has a Master’s degree in Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism from The New School of Social Research and is a grad of Sextech School. You can find more of her work in various online pubs, including National Geographic, Insider, Kinkly, and others.
