Best Dating Apps We Tested In 2024 (& The Worst)

Whether you like it or not, dating apps have a permanent role in the world of romance. An estimated 440 million people are expected to use dating apps by 2027—and early research suggests they're now the most common way for couples to meet.

Our editorial team is proof: Six of our editors met their current partners on dating apps, and the remaining singles are still swiping in the hopes of finding the one (or the one for tonight). We've seen firsthand how experience on dating apps can vary by age, sexuality, location, and desired outcome.

Known for: Serious relationships | Main age demographic: 30+ | Available on: IOS, Android | App rating: 4.0/5.0 | Where to browse: Mobile app, Desktop site

You're not going to find many dating apps that take the time and effort that eHarmony requires; every new user needs to create an in-depth profile and take a hefty questionnaire, complete with poll questions and an image selection game that vaguely reminds us of a Rorschach Inkblot Test.

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

Known for: Serious relationships | Main age demographic: 18-30 | Available on: IOS, Android | App rating: 4.5/5.0 | Where to browse: Mobile app

Remember the six editors we mentioned earlier who met their partners on dating apps? Well, all but one of them used Hinge.

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

Our reviewers also like that you're limited to just 10 "hearts" per day with free profiles. This motivates you to slow down and see each profile as a person, instead of another face in a sea of faces. We're over mindless swiping!

Known for: Serious relationships | Main age demographic: 50+ | Available on: IOS, Android | App rating: 3.8/5.0 | Where to browse: Mobile app, Desktop

We like to think of Match as the in-between of eHarmony and Hinge. It pushes in-depth profiles to help serious daters find a long-term relationship through compatibility, but it still brings the fun of Hinge's personality driven prompts.

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

Known for: Hookups | Main age demographic: 25-35+ | Available on: IOS, Android | App rating: 4.4/5.0 | Where to browse: Mobile app

Fun fact: Feeld was originally called "3nder" with a focus on helping couples find a third. It's evolved into an inclusive space for different sexualities and gender identities searching for connection. Users can seek threesomes, polyamory, swinging, casual sex, kink, or other alternative steamy encounters. 

Because of Feeld's transparency and refreshing openness, it's simpler to have honest conversations about your sexual preferences without feeling creepy or unsolicited. We believe Feeld is one of the best hookup apps you can find for casual sex, and it does a great job of helping newbies to the space find experienced counterparts.

Known for: Hookups | Main age demographic: 18-30 | Available on: IOS, Android | App rating: 3.8/5.0 | Where to browse: Mobile app

Tinder is the dive bar of dating apps; you know what you're going to get, but it's still going to be a good time.

The inventor of "swiping," Tinder is extremely straightforward to use. Photos matter more than profiles, and most people on the app are looking casual dates or casual sex.

Remember: Tinder is a place of quantity, not quality. While you'll occasionally find something serious from Tinder—just ask our executive editor about her husband—you'll have to weed through a lot of matches to find that type of connection. Due to the sheer number of options, Schneider says it generally not the best app for serious dating.

Known for: Serious relationships & hookups | Main age demographic: 18-30 | Available on: IOS, Android | App rating: 4.3/5.0 | Where to browse: Mobile app

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

We love that OkCupid caters to a diverse group, with additional gender and sexuality options for users, along with settings for nonmonogomous folks. Schneider confirms, "OkCupid does an amazing job at being inclusive for all."

Known for: Serious relationships & hookups | Main age demographic: 18-30 | Available on: IOS, Android | App rating: 4.3/5.0 | Where to browse: Mobile app

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

"I find that Bumble has the most active users on its platform–which is great to increase the chances of matching with someone you really like," Schneider says. "The women must initiate the conversation [when matching with men], but with same-sex matches, either can begin the chat." 

You don't have to just look for a romantic match on Bumble either. They have other features for business and BFF connections, too.

Known for: Serious relationships | Main age demographic: 18-30 | Available on: IOS, Android | App rating: N/A | Where to browse: Mobile app

Facebook Dating transforms your existing social profile into a dating one—saving users time and on setting up yet another in-depth profile. The app will never connect you with people you know in real life (friends and friends-of-friends are off limits). However you can send "crushes" to people within your network, in case you've ever historically felt the spark.

A majority of the single parents we spoke to for our guide to the best dating apps for single parents deemed it their favorite, as the app allows you to share whether you have kids without paying for a membership. In fact, the app is completely free with no paid option, so users never have to wonder whether they're really getting the most of Facebook Dating.

Known for: Hookups | Main age demographic: 18-30 | Available on: IOS, Android | App rating: 4.6/5.0 | Where to browse: Mobile app

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

"Grindr is a social networking app with a goal to connect its gay, bi, trans, and queer users," Schneider says. Although any type of relationship can come from the app, one-night stands are typical for the user experience. "It is still very much notorious for being a hook-up-focused app." 

Known for: Serious relationships & hookups | Main age demographic: 18-30 | Available on: IOS, Android | App rating: 4.4/5.0 | Where to browse: Mobile app

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

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

Known for: Serious relationships & networking | Main age demographic: 30-49 | Available on: IOS, Android | App rating: 4.1/5.0 | Where to browse: Mobile app

The hardest part of using The League isn't getting matches—it's getting access to the dating app. All users are sent to a "waiting list" upon application, where they must be approved. Wealthier users can pay to skip the queue.

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

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

Known for: Serious relationships | Main age demographic: 30-49 | Available on: IOS, Android | App rating: 3.6/5.0 | Where to browse: Mobile app, Desktop app

Although other apps filter for religious preferences, it's not their primary focus. If religion is important to you, we recommend finding the app that aligns with your views. For example, we recommend, JSwipe for Jewish singles and Salams for Muslim singles.). If you are Christian, we think your best bet is Christian Mingle.

Be prepared to share details about your faith; the app asks for your religion and denomination to help curate the best matches. Naturally, profiles will also ask info about how often you go to church—but there are also standard questions about interests and hobbies.

Similar to other apps, you can scroll through a feed of all users or sort potential matches based on activity, proximity, and compatibility.

We think Christian Mingle is a great option for those who consider faith to be essential to their romantic connections, but we wouldn't recommend to non-religious users.

All dating apps share a basic premise: to help you match with a potential suitor. However, the process for finding your match differs by app.

Most apps operate on a swipe system, which allows you to either swipe left (no) or right (yes) on a profile. Some apps offer minimal information before the swipe, such as Tinder, which makes vetting your potential suitors all about looks.

Others incorporate fun features like profile prompts, videos, and audio to help you get a better sense of the person on the other side of the screen.

If you're really picky about the way you vet potential suitors, you might want to opt for apps that offers a compatibility score based on your profile; while it's an algorithmic guess, these scores often reflect interests and values instead of physical appearance.

When you swipe right on a potential match, the app will let you know if it's a match. If you don't get a match right away, don't stress. Your profile may not have appeared in another person's line-up just yet, especially if your profile is new. Once two people both swipe right or express interest in each other, the app typically will send a prompt notifying you of the match.

Similar to the UX design of different dating apps, the actual matching algorithm varies. Profiles can appears based on your location, algorithm-based compatibility, or at complete random. For this reason, you'll often hear about people attempting to "hack" the algorithm to find the best matches.

The general rule of thumb? The more you use an app, the quicker it will learn your preferences and understand your type—which is ideal for apps that promote profiles based on compatibility.

That being said, there are a few ways to filter who pops into your swiping feed. Almost all apps allow you to set a preferred age and location range with the basic or free version of the app.

Additionally, most apps will give you a chance to place filters on height, politics, and education, but these metrics are not as strict (so you will find a few people that make it into your feed).

We've got a whole rundown of the best online dating tips — but here are a few of our favorites:

1. Use dating apps with a clear goal (and write your profile accordingly). It's important to know whether you want to find "the one" or simply want a casual fling before trying the apps. Otherwise you might end up falling for another person who doesn't have the same romantic goals. Be sure your profile reflects what you're looking for!

2. Be honest and transparent. Authenticity and vulnerability help you build authentic relationships. Be upfront about who you are and what you hope to get from the dating apps—otherwise you might become the person who is leading someone on!

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

The definition of dating success varies by person. Some people are seeking relationships, while others want a quick meet up. Find your most successful connections by staying honest about your intentions—and only matching with people who actually share your end goal.

The best dating app for you depends on what you're looking for. We think eHarmony is best for serious datings seeking a long-term commitment, while Hinge is one of the most popular apps for young adults. And if you're still trying to explore and expand your sex life, we'd recommend going with Feeld over Tinder (where dates tend to be more respectful).