Top quality dating apps

By: Jason Lee Updated for 2022

Technology has revolutionized the way we find love. You don’t have to set foot within 100 miles of a bar these days to find what you’re looking for. The best dating apps connect like-minded singles from all over the globe together with the swipe of a finger or the touch of a button! But with so many dating apps out there how do you know which ones are actually worth your time?

That’s where we come in. Our team has cultivated a list of the absolute best apps for dating out there. We’re here to help you avoid the duds, find the studs, and get closer to what you’re looking for.

Top 10 List:

Want more information? Maybe more options? Whatever it is you’re looking for, we guarantee there’s a dating app built to meet your needs. We’ll use the remainder of this page to explore the 32 top dating apps and what makes them good for users.

Elite Singles

When it comes to leaders in the online dating app world, Elite Singles is one that almost always (and should) be at the top of the conversation. With almost 400,000 new users every month and 85% of the membership base holding some form of an above-average education, it’s a great place to find high-quality, successful, and educated single men and single women. Elite Singles is a great pick for those looking for a relationship or at least dating that could eventually turn into a relationship with the right person.

• Best Dating App for High Quality Singles
• Biggest Pro: Majority of users are highly educated.
• Biggest Con: Interface is intuitive but a tad dated.
• Starting Price: $44.95 per month.

Zoosk

35 million members…3 million messages sent daily…and a decade and a half in the online dating community. These three stats alone should tell you why Zoosk is a must-try for singles in the US and internationally. What’s great about Zoosk is the dating app caters not only to singles looking for serious relationships (like Elite Singles and eHarmony), but it also works for those looking for a little more relaxed and casual dating. If you want the most options out there, try out Zoosk.

• Best For: Options
• Biggest Pro: Over 35 million singles in 80 countries.
• Biggest Con: Not all members want serious relationships.
• Starting Price: $12.49 per month.

eHarmony

There’s a reason that so many people call eHarmony the best dating app across the board—because it works. To date, over 2 million people have found love through the app, which works out to a new couple about every 14 minutes! By the time you get done reading this article, another couple will have found love. Maybe you’re next? With over 2.3 million messages sent weekly, eHarmony is a must-try for singles looking for committed and serious relationships.

• Best For: Meaningful Relationships and Marriage
• Biggest Pro: Someone finds love every 14 mins.
• Biggest Con: More costly than some lower quality apps.
• Starting Price: $35.90 per month.

Christian Mingle

Christian Mingle has been around for over two decades and boasts an impressive 15 million members. Focused solely on faith-based dating (Christian), the app is perfect if you’re a “Church five days a week” guy or gal or you’re a “just get there on the major holidays” type of person. As the leader in Christian dating apps, it’s a must-try if your faith is something important to you in a potential partner. And as you might expect, not a great site for casual dating, but awesome for committed relationships.

• Best For: Christian Singles
• Biggest Pro: All singles will share your faith and values.
• Biggest Con: Not good for casual Christian dating.
• Starting Price: $24.99 per month

SilverSingles

Dating apps don’t just cater to the young and tech-savvy anymore. SilverSingles, part of the prominent Spark Network brand of sites, is exclusively for singles 50 years and older. What’s great is that users report the site is filled with “young at heart” singles and is a great place to find single men and women who are in the same season of life as you. Whether you are looking for friends, casual dating, or to find the love of your life—SilverSingles is amazing for the 50+ community.

• Best Dating App for Singles Over 50
• Biggest Pro: All users dating with this app are 50 or older.
• Biggest Con: Look elsewhere if you want to find younger singles.
• Starting Price: $19.95 per month

The League

One of the newest dating apps out there is The League (founded in 2014, so not that new). It’s a unique spin on online dating where prospective singles have to join a waiting list and get voted onto the app. The idea is a higher caliber of singles, specifically those who have excelled in life and their field of choice. The League has caught some flack for being too “elitist” and not being open to everyone, but it’s hard to deny that the quality of singles (at least by these metrics) is quite high. If you’re curious, hop on the waiting list!

• Best for: Professionals
• Biggest Pro: Like you, this dating app has high standards.
• Biggest Con: Approval screening process can take some time.
• Starting Price: $67 per month

Jdate

While Jewish singles can have a lot of luck on more traditional dating apps, why not go to where men and women of the faith have been meeting for over 20 years. Jdate is hands-down the undisputed leader for Jewish dating apps. With robust profiles, an active userbase, and unique features to search, match, and connect, Jdate is another brand from the Spark network of sites offering a niche experience that’s actually worth your time.

• Best for: Jewish Singles
• Biggest Pro: Millions of Jewish singles registered worldwide.
• Biggest Con: Though fully functional, app design is a bit underwhelming.
• Starting Price: $29.99 per month

Catholic Match

Niche dating apps are either really great or ghost towns that should be avoided. For Catholic Singles, there is good news. Catholic Match is the largest Catholic dating site on the planet and is 100% focused on faith-based relationships. What’s really neat about this app is that it has the endorsement of several Catholic leaders, so you don’t have to worry about stepping outside of the lines of your faith to find other Catholic singles.

• Best for: Catholic Singles
• Biggest Pro: Great selection of singles & backed by major Catholic leaders.
• Biggest Con: Only geared for active practicing Catholics.
• Starting Price: $9.99 per month

Bumble

One of the few successful dating apps operating independently from the two biggest networks is Bumble. The entire premise of this swipe-style app is to put the power in the hands of females. Once a mutual match is created, women are the only ones with the power to send the first message. If they do within the first 24 hours, it unlocks the conversation from both sides. If they don’t, the match expires and no one can send a message. It’s an ideal option for women looking to be in the driver’s seat about who they talk to.

• Best for: Women First Messaging
• Biggest Pro: Women aren’t overwhelmed with unwanted messages.
• Biggest Con: Matches are lost after 24 hours without communication.
• Starting Price: $18.99 per month

Match

Another name you always hear in the discussion of the best dating apps is Match.com. While the features have remained fairly consistent over the years, the platform still is relevant and does a good job of connecting singles. According to Match.com, hundreds of thousands of singles find love on the app every single year. Available on desktop, iOS, or Android, you’ve got a lot of flexibility if you’re looking for a place to find a committed relationship.

• Best for: Traditional Online Dating
• Biggest Pro: Quality selection of singles in most of the United States.
• Biggest Con: Many seem to prefer eHarmony for serious relationships.
• Starting Price: $15.99 per month

Hinge

Sporting the clever tagline “the dating app designed to be deleted,” Hinge is a dating app built on a Nobel-Prize-winning algorithm. What does that mean for you? It means it’s technology geared up to help you find love faster and more efficiently. The app follows the growing trend of swipe-style dating but offers a few unique ways to interact like the ability to “like” a section of someone’s profile. Hinge is available on iOS or Android, but does not have a web-friendly (desktop) version.

• Best for: Intuitive Casual Dating
• Biggest Pro: Modern and unique features for casual online dating.
• Biggest Con: Matchmaking is more about accessibility than compatibility.
• Starting Price: $14.99 per month

Tinder

If you’re looking for a serious relationship, Tinder is probably not one of the best dating apps for you. However, if you’re looking for casual fun that maybe could turn into something more and you want it now—Tinder is the winner. The app leverages your location to show you potential matches geographically close to you that fit your matching parameters. See someone you like? Swipe right. Not interested? Swipe left. If two people swipe right to indicate interest, a match is created and a conversation opened up.

• Best for: Casual Dating and Hookups
• Biggest Pro: Super easy dating app for casual hookups and friendships.
• Biggest Con: Not ideal for anyone seeing something serious or over 30.
• Starting Price: $2.33 per month

Higher Bond

A brand new dating app launching in mid 2022 made our list because of the unique and focused approach the site is taking towards Christian dating. Leveraging a high-powered algorithm and unique messaging features, Higher Bond is geared towards Christians who take their faith a little more seriously. Users take a 35 question matching questionnaire that looks at things like their faith, finances, priorities, and lifestyle. Based on their answers, Higher Bond helps to match them with other single Christians based on their preferences and compatibility.

• Best New Dating App
• Biggest Pro: A new and unique spin on meaningful faith based matchmaking.
• Biggest Con: Will not launch until later in 2022. Only Preregistration available.
• Starting Price: $19.99 per month

Our Time

In addition to SilverSingles, Our Time is another dating app designed for the 50 and over crowd. Available in several markets around the world, Our Time comes as an iOS app, Android app, or a desktop version. The perks of Our Time are that it is easy to use and clearly is designed for people who may not be as fluent in the use of technology. If you’re looking for seasoned singles looking to have fun and enjoy the later years of life, Our Time could be the app you’re looking for.

• Best for: Seniors
• Biggest Pro: Available in the US, Canada, UK, and other European countries
• Biggest Con: No identity verification to enhance profiles and security
• Starting Price: $15.96 per month

HER

Originally known as Dattch, HER is an inclusive dating space specifically designed for lesbian, queer, and bi singles. With over 8 million LGBTQ+ women on the app, it’s an incredible place to meet like-minded ladies looking for love and friendship. What’s really unique and the HER dating app is that the company offers access to a lot of sponsored events in the area in case you want to take the conversations offline. So if you’re lesbian, bi, queer, non-binary, a transgender woman, a transgender man, or gender non-conforming—HER is a welcoming space for you.

• Best Lesbian Dating App
• Biggest Pro: Safe and inclusive online dating app for lesbian women.
• Biggest Con: Some features like swipes are limited with free membership.
• Starting Price: $7.50 per month.

OkCupid

Undergoing a major rebrand a few years back, the OkCupid dating app has left behind its antiquated shell and moved into the discussion of the top dating apps of today. With an impressive over 91 million connections made every year and 50,000 dates weekly (some good and probably some not so good), OkCupid is a great place to get access to a lot of singles in a short amount of time. Famous for being the first major dating website to launch an app and the first app to introduce 22 gender and 13 orientation options, the community is inclusive no matter what it is you’re looking for.

• Best Dating App for Gender Diversity
• Biggest Pro: Very inclusive. Select up to 5 genders or sexual orientations.
• Biggest Con: There are a substantial amount of bots and fake profiles.
• Starting Price: $5.99 per month.

Badoo

One of the most international dating apps out there is Badoo, with over 60 million active users in over 190 countries. If you’re US-based, you may not have heard much about this app as it’s most popular in South America and European countries, but does still get some traction in the states. The best two words to describe Badoo would be casual and quirky. With some unique matching features and ways to communicate, it takes a spin on the traditional dating app to something that could be refreshing.

• Best for: Finding Singles Internationally
• Biggest Pro: Millions of members from over 190 countries worldwide.
• Biggest Con: Privacy and security issues in the past.
• Starting Price: $9.99 per month.

BLK

Owned by the powerful Match Group (owners of apps like Match.com and Tinder), BLK is a free dating app designed for black singles. Available via iOS and Android, BLK has a fairly large user base designed to help match singles. The app follows a freemium model giving you the basic functionality at no cost but you have the option to buy add-ons to enhance the experience. User reviews do mention a high prevalence of spam/fake profiles, but that’s probably to be expected from a platform that is 100% free to join.

• Best Dating App for Black Singles
• Biggest Pro: Safe, unified dating app for black singles.
• Biggest Con: BLK membership pricing and structure can be confusing.
• Starting Price: $0.29 per credit.

Grindr

Billed as the world’s largest social network for gay, bi, trans, and queer people, Grindr is most notably known as the leading app for gay men on the market. While there are some fringe user reports of finding more serious relationships on the app, Grindr is generally known for being a more casual (sometimes a hookup) focused app. If you’re looking for something a little bit more serious, Grindr might not be the ideal option for you. However, if you’re looking for Mr. Right Now—it’s probably a winner.

• Best Dating App for Gay Men
• Biggest Pro: Huge selection of single gay men to browse.
• Biggest Con: From time to time that app can be pretty glitchy.
• Starting Price: $3.99 per month.

Coffee Meets Bagel

Making the list of the best dating apps doesn’t always mean you have to overcomplicate things and reinvent the wheel. Coffee Meets Bagel (no, the site has nothing to do with coffee or bagels) takes a casual and modern approach to online dating. According to the CMB staff, over 90% of the people on the site are looking for something a little more serious. Regarding how Coffee Meets Bagel works, the app gives you a few matches a day and lets you choose who you are interested in. Oh, and if you’re a fan of the show Shark Tank, you may have seen Coffee Meets Bagel turning down an offer to sell the entire company for $30 million dollars in their early days!

• Best Modern Dating App
• Biggest Pro: Matches are suggested based on CMB’s compatibility algorithm.
• Biggest Con: List of potential matches is limited to 5 per day.
• Starting Price: $15.00 per month.

Raya

One of the most exclusive and elite dating apps out there is Raya. The app got famous as it’s billed as the spot where celebrities and the rich go to meet and find love (and that is, in fact, what it actually is). What’s interesting is the Raya app is extremely inexpensive (under $10 a month), but getting in is the hard part. You sign up, get on the waiting list, and join the other over 100k people waiting to hopefully get approved or invited in by an existing member. Probably not an ideal option for us “normal folk,” but still unique enough to include and take a look at.

• Best For: Exclusivity
• Biggest Pro: Extreme exclusivity means only the highest quality singles.
• Biggest Con: Less than 10% of applicants are accepted
• Starting Price: $9.99 per month

Happn

If you’re old enough to remember the Missed Connections on Craigslist, then you already understand the premise behind Happn. The swipe style app doesn’t just search in a radius around you, but instead, it pulls any members you pass by or physically cross paths with into your queue. If there’s a mutual match, a conversation is unlocked. So if you walk past a cute guy or gal in the grocery store and they happen to be a Happn member, they’ll get added to your list of potential matches. The app has good reviews in heavily populated areas and not so great in more rural areas—for obvious reasons.

• Best For: Casual Encounters
• Biggest Pro: Provides a fun and unique twist on modern casual dating.
• Biggest Con: Personality or compatibility-based matching not available.
• Starting Price: $10.00 per month

Black People Meet

Also falling under the flag of Match Group is Black People Meet (the company’s second dating app for black people along with BLK). With a more traditional feel and matching process than the BLK app, Black People Meet is a nice way for black singles to connect with other black singles interested in finding love. Two of the major perks of this dating app over its sister app BLK are the longer track record of success and the requirement for users to pay for an account, which cuts down significantly on spam and fake profiles.

• Best For: Single Black Americans
• Biggest Pro: Most prominent dating app for black singles.
• Biggest Con: Only accessible in the US and Canada
• Starting Price: $10.00 per month

Asian Dating

With over 4.5 million members located in the US and Asian countries primarily (though there are members all around the globe), Asian Dating is easily the leader when it comes to niche dating apps for Asian singles. Backed by the Cupid Media brand, the site follows the same affordable and simplistic approach to matchmaking. User reviews tend to be big fans of the highly customizable profiles and the very traditional (what you’re used to) approach to online dating.

• Best For: Asian Singles
• Biggest Pro: Respond to members without premium account
• Biggest Con: We think the dating app could be more user friendly.
• Starting Price: $10.00 per month

WooPlus

Whether you classify yourself as curvy, a BBW, or just more to love, there is now a dating app specifically for you. WooPlus is one of the leaders when it comes to plus-size dating. With just under half a million users, this newer dating app has created an inclusive community for curvy men and women to meet, connect, and find love. Featured in over 50 major media outlets, it’s no surprise that WooPlus is quickly becoming the leading brand in plus-size dating. The app is available through the Apple store or on Android.

• Best Dating App for Plus Sized Singles
• Biggest Pro: Costs less than most other BBW dating apps.
• Biggest Con: There is a limit on daily matches
• Starting Price: $8.25 per month

International Cupid

Made famous by the show 90 Day Fiancé, International Cupid is the leading dating app for singles looking to either meet singles who live in other countries or meet ethnically diverse singles living in their area. While International Cupid is not available on iOS, it is available through the Google Play store and is still a mobile-responsive website that you can use from the browser on your phone or via desktop. With over 4 million members from all over the world, this is the ideal option if you’re looking for international love.

• Best International Dating App
• Biggest Pro: Easy connect with singles worldwide.
• Biggest Con: Local user pools are often very small.
• Starting Price: $10.67 per month

Positive Singles

Just because you may have been diagnosed with an untreatable STD does not mean you shouldn’t get to participate in the online dating community. Yes, people with positive diagnoses can have success through traditional and mainstream apps, but it makes for some less-than-ideal conversations and a challenging experience. This is where Positive Singles shines. With over 2 million single members, Positive Singles is the leader in confidential Herpes and STD dating sites. On top of the impressive member numbers, the dating app boasts over 2.5 million monthly conversations, 20,000 blog posts, and over 60,000 success stories to offer support along with a matchmaking community.

• Best for: Singles With STDs
• Biggest Pro: Warm, private, and accepting community.
• Biggest Con: Free trial comes with very limited options.
• Starting Price: $15.95 per month

Clover

Lesser-known on the dating app scene but still worthwhile is Clover. Consider this app the Frankenstein of dating apps as it pulls features from traditional dating apps as well as swipe-style apps to make its own blend of matching processes. The Clover dating app has unique features like the 20 Questions game, Boosts, On-Demand Dating, and more. Towards the bottom of the list of the best dating apps but still on the list thanks to its unique approach to the scene.

• Best Lesser-Known Dating App
• Biggest Pro: Unique icebreaker games and mixers.
• Biggest Con: Smaller pool of users than similar dating apps.
• Starting Price: $10 per month

Plenty of Fish

Also known as POF, Plenty of Fish underwent a major makeover over the past few years (much like OkCupid). The POF team aimed to create a dating app that was less spammy and antiquated than it was in years before. The results? Mixed. Some users are big fans of the site (probably partially because it’s completely free), but others think the spam accounts and hookup culture are still too prevalent. The bottom line is if the budget is super tight and you can’t afford to invest in a paid membership anywhere, this might be the best option you have.

• Best Free Dating App
• Biggest Pro: As one of the earliest dating apps it’s stood the test of time.
• Biggest Con: Majority of users are slightly older (35 and up).
• Starting Price: $6.78 per month

Hily

Powered by machine learning, Hily boasts 22.5 million users, 2 million likes daily, and 600k conversations between members daily. Hily helps to match people through its compatibility quiz, video dating feature, and icebreaker questions. As one of the leading apps via ratings and rankings in the lifestyle sections of the app stores, this could be an option worth considering. With more of a focus on substance instead of just looks, Hily looks to be a top dating app for more serious connections.

• Best for: Conversations
• Biggest Pro: Unique social media feel makes chatting fun and easy.
• Biggest Con: Anyone can and will message you—match or not.
• Starting Price: $29.99 per month

Taimi

Self-proclaimed as the world’s largest LGBTQ+ social and dating app, Taimi has an impressive 4.3 star rating in the iOS store and a 3.8 star rating in the Google Play store. What’s unique about Taimi is that it really does operate much like a Facebook-esque type social media platform with posts, stories, and more. Additionally, users have the option to host streams, share content, hold video calls, and even join in on streaming sessions. And when it comes to dating, there’s a swipe-style feature with a feel very similar to what you’d see on Tinder. Taimi is probably a social media app first and a dating app second, but the unique approach gets them on the best-of list.

• Best for: LGBTQ+ Social Dating
• Biggest Pro: One of the safest sating sites for gay singles.
• Biggest Con: Users have reported app crashes and glitchy features.
• Starting Price: $6.00 per month

Kippo

The final option on the list of best dating apps is one specifically for our 1337 gamers out there. Kippo is an online dating app 100% targeted towards gamers. The site has been going through some rebranding as of late, and looks to be potentially pivoting more towards a place to make friends in the gaming community with dating taking a backseat. Even so, it will still be a good place for serious gamers to make connections and potentially find someone special to tackle digital worlds with.

• Best Dating App for Gamers
• Biggest Pro: Access to single gamers who share your interests.
• Biggest Con: May be an overwhelming environment for casual gamers.
• Starting Price: $10.67 per month

Written By:Jason Lee

Jason Lee is a data analyst with a passion for studying online dating, relationships, personal growth, healthcare, and finance. In 2008, Jason earned a Bachelors of Science from the University of Florida, where he studied business and finance and taught interpersonal communication.

His work has been featured in the likes of The USA Today, MSN, The Motley Fool, Net Health, and The Simple Dollar. As a business owner, relationship strategist, dating coach, and officer in the U.S. military, Jason enjoys sharing his unique knowledge base with the rest of the world.