Whether you're looking for short-term fun or a long-term relationship, there's a dating app that suits your needs. From the hyper-specific—FarmersOnly, JDate, 3Fun—to the more general ones we include here that cast wider nets, many options exist for finding love in various forms. Some offer special video services that let you test the vibe before meeting in person. With so many choices, how can you find your perfect, loving match? We've gathered our choices for the best dating apps here. Read on for our top picks, including Editors' Choice winners Kippo, Match, and Tinder, followed by everything you need about online dating.
Overview
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![Match]()
Best for Long-Term RelationshipsMatch
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![Tinder]()
Best for Casual DatingTinder
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![Kippo]()
Best for GamersKippo
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![Bumble]()
Best for Woman-First DatingBumble
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![Happn]()
Best for Meet CutesHappn
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![Hinge]()
Best for Beautiful ProfilesHinge
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![OkCupid]()
Best for Thoughtful QuestionsOkCupid
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![eharmony]()
Best for Test Takerseharmony
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![Facebook Dating]()
Best for Facebook UsersFacebook Dating
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![POF (Plenty of Fish)]()
Best for Messaging Without LimitsPOF (Plenty of Fish)
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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![Match]()
Best for Long-Term RelationshipsMatch
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Match makes it incredibly easy to form virtual connections. Rich and robust profiles, not just hot photos, let you know if someone is worth your time before you start talking. Thanks to the Vibe Check feature, potential partners already in a conversation can begin a live video chat session to test the energy.
Who It's For
People looking for real relationships: Match helps you truly get to know a person and assess your compatibility before potentially entering a serious relationship. That separates it from rivals more interested in short flings. For that reason, it's the Editors' Choice winner for finding lasting love.
Romantics willing to pay: Match is expensive because it's a premium dating app that offers a premium experience, ranging from $19.98 quarterly to $239.88 per year, depending on the features you want. That money doesn't just get you better features; it filters out users not as invested in finding the real love connections the app seeks to create.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop App Free Account Offered Mobile App Starting Price $44.99 per month Video Calls Learn More Match Review -
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Credit: Tinder
![Tinder]()
Best for Casual DatingTinder
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Tinder's young, online-oriented users are no strangers to forming virtual connections. It pioneered the "hot or not" mobile interface now used by almost all other dating apps. Once swiping gets old, Tinder's video chat app, Face and Face, lets consenting partners start talking and get real.
Who It's For
People who want short flings: Tinder is for finding love right now, and there's nothing wrong with that. Who knows? While some hookups stay casual, others may blossom into something more. If you find yourself in the former camp, know that Tinder is the Editors’ Choice pick for quick, young romance that favors the physical.
Singles who want cool features: Tinder is arguably the most innovative dating app. It constantly introduces new ways to form connections, such as making blind dates, matching with college classmates, or giving you a sneaky way to view the app at work.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop App Free Account Offered Mobile App Starting Price $24.99 per month Video Calls Learn More Tinder Review -
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![Kippo]()
Best for GamersKippo
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
A gamer-focused dating app potentially sounds like a bad idea, but Kippo pulls it off with execution worthy of an Editors' Choice winner. You can customize your stylish profile to highlight your geeky interests and enjoy premium features for affordable prices.
Who It's For
Lovesick gamers: Kippo's smart design and clever features (typing messages and profile information resembles writing code in a text editor!) make it a welcoming haven for nerds seeking love. Not to play into stereotypes, but sometimes the most chronically online people need a little help making these connections.
Platonic nerdy friends: Kippo's shared social space features, where you can hang out online with other people and play games together, also make it a gentle way to try out the "metaverse." It's a cool way to meet new people, even with no romance involved.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop App Free Account Offered Mobile App Starting Price $10 per month Learn More Kippo Review -
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Credit: Bumble
![Bumble]()
Best for Woman-First DatingBumble
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Bumble empowers its most vulnerable users to send the first message when looking for dates, knowing that they won't get unsolicited messages in return. Bumble also offers many ways to communicate beyond text. You can send audio notes, add a Virtual Dating Badge to your profile, and begin a video chat when you're ready.
Who It's For
Women who want to make the first move: Bumble is for women and nonbinary folks who don't want cis men to have all the power in online dating. It flips the script on who controls the flow of the conversation, as for the most part, men can only talk to people who have already expressed interest. In an unbalanced world, Bumble helps make things a bit fairer.
Folks who want friends: Bumble also branches out beyond dating with features designed to find friends or network for business opportunities. If it involves meeting another person, Bumble has you covered.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop App Free Account Offered Mobile App Starting Price $16.99 per month Video Calls Learn More Bumble Review -
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Credit: Happn
![Happn]()
Best for Meet CutesHappn
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Happn encourages real-world romances by connecting you to people you literally pass by on the street. Its hyper-local, location-based matching inspires rom-com meet cutes as you first encounter the love of your life at your favorite coffee shop. Don't worry, it protects your privacy.
Who It's For
Singles in the real world: Happn is for people who want to turn virtual dates into real ones quickly. It backs up this strong gimmick with a well-designed, surprisingly feature-rich app and a community of millions.
City dwellers: Metros are chock full of young transplants ready to date, but Happn helps you find local singles wherever you live. Having that shared experience of living in the same place is a great foundation for building something more.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop App Free Account Offered Mobile App Starting Price $24.99 per month Video Calls Learn More Happn Review -
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Credit: Hinge
![Hinge]()
Best for Beautiful ProfilesHinge
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Hinge's attractive, elaborate profiles give you a good sense of who a person is and provide multiple ways to engage with their interests. Use the "Dating From Home" menu to start video calls, and get intimate with audio recordings that answer Hinge's creative icebreaker prompts.
Who It's For
Flexible daters: Hinge strikes an excellent balance for those looking for something between the youthful immediacy of modern dating apps and the deeper dives you want when seeking a stronger connection.
People who love a good profile: Your potential match forms their first impression of you after seeing your profile, so you want that profile to look good. Hinge's profiles are so visually striking, with a sleek layout combining big pictures with meaningful information, you're bound to grab eyeballs.
Specs & Configurations
Free Account Offered Mobile App Starting Price $29.99 per month Video Calls Learn More Hinge Review -
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Credit: OkCupid
![OkCupid]()
Best for Thoughtful QuestionsOkCupid
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Dating apps let us learn so much more information about a potential partner than we ever could from a random conversation at a bar. OkCupid's wide range of questions, from fun tidbits to serious dealbreakers, makes your messages that much more informed and your romantic success that much more likely.
Who It's For
People who want to control their narrative: OkCupid is for people who want to choose how much they put out there. You can answer as many questions as you want to give the algorithm, but you choose which ones to answer. It feels empowering rather than overwhelming.
Introspective daters: OkCupid offers so many personal questions that by answering them, you may discover something about yourself you never realized. That kind of personal growth also makes you a better potential romantic partner.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop App Free Account Offered Mobile App Starting Price $9.95 per month Learn More OkCupid Review -
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Credit: eharmony
![eharmony]()
Best for Test Takerseharmony
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Eharmony is one of the older dating sites, but with modern features like video dating alongside the classic questionnaire, it manages to stay current without giving up what already works.
Who It's For
People who want to date through data: Eharmony's extensive questionnaire uses more than 100 questions to take in as much useful information about you as possible. It then uses that data to find matches that are truly compatible in the long term.
Wholesome daters: Although eharmony has thankfully grown less discriminatory and more progressive in its features, it retains a somewhat folksy, wholesome vibe that may appeal to you. It feels like it wants you to start a family.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop App Free Account Offered Mobile App Starting Price $69.90 per month Video Calls Learn More eharmony Review -
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![Facebook Dating]()
Best for Facebook UsersFacebook Dating
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
A dating app can have all the features in the world, but it won't matter if it has no users. As the world's biggest social network, Facebook has nearly three billion users, and a lot of them are probably looking for love. Facebook Dating uses your Facebook/Instagram data to build a profile and connect you to other users for free. Don't worry, none of this will be revealed on your main feed.
Who It's For
Facebook users: We don't blame you if you want to keep Facebook as far away from your dating life as possible. However, if you’re interested in leveraging the massive social media to help you find romance, Facebook Dating offers a platform no other app can match.
People in the friend zone: Many people have Facebook friendships they wish could turn into something more. By leveraging that existing connection, Facebook Dating may bridge that gap.
Specs & Configurations
Free Account Offered Mobile App Starting Price Free Learn More Facebook Dating Review -
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![POF (Plenty of Fish)]()
Best for Messaging Without LimitsPOF (Plenty of Fish)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Plenty of Fish (POF) puts few obstacles between you and whoever you want to message in its vast dating ocean. It quickly and easily gets you into the pool and suggests prompts to improve your messages, too.
Who It's For
People who don't want to pay: Thanks to its generous messaging options, Plenty of Fish is especially good for free users. Although its low barrier to entry may invite a lot of spam (or folks not worth dating), ultimately, you want a large pool to choose from, and the service delivers just that.
Specs & Configurations
Desktop App Free Account Offered Mobile App Starting Price $19.99 per month Video Calls Learn More POF (Plenty of Fish) Review -
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Best For | Best for Long-Term Relationships | Best for Casual Dating | Best for Gamers | Best for Woman-First Dating | Best for Meet Cutes | Best for Beautiful Profiles | Best for Thoughtful Questions | Best for Test Takers | Best for Facebook Users | Best for Messaging Without Limits | Best for Long-Term Relationships | Best for Casual Dating | Best for Gamers |
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Starting Price | $44.99 per month | $24.99 per month | $10 per month | $16.99 per month | $24.99 per month | $29.99 per month | $9.95 per month | $69.90 per month | Free | $19.99 per month | $44.99 per month | $24.99 per month | $10 per month |
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Buying Guide: The Best Dating Apps for 2026
(Credit: Facebook)Which Dating Apps Are Free?
The first thing you need to decide is your commitment level. As in, how much do you want to pay to make your heart go pitter-patter? Some apps, like Plenty of Fish, let you view profiles and send messages for free. Most of the others let you view your potential matches without charging you a penny, but they make you pony up and subscribe if you want to reach out to them without limits—especially if the interest is one-sided. While the monthly charges for the apps we review here range from $10 to more than $40, most offer a discount if you commit to a long-term subscription, such as 6 months or a year. (You're not afraid of commitment, are you?) Tinder even lets you show off by paying $500 per month for VIP status.
Then there are all the add-ons. Options—for example, letting you pay to boost your ranking in search results, letting someone know that you are really interested in them, or undoing a dreaded left-swipe that was supposed to be a right-swipe—cost extra. Although some apps may advertise themselves as free, they all try to get a buck from you in the end. Only Facebook Dating is totally free, and that's only if you don't consider your existing personal Facebook profile data to be currency.
(Credit: Bumble)How to Make the Best Dating App Profile
When it comes time to put yourself out there and create a profile, all apps ask for the basics: name, age, location, a photo, a short blurb about yourself, and (usually) if you can stand a person who smokes. Beyond that, it can be a bit of a crapshoot. For example, Tinder values photos over personality. Eharmony makes you fill out a lengthy questionnaire before you can even think about browsing for your match. Still, Zoosk and other similar apps ask so little that you're left to wonder what's being used to match you with like-minded love-seekers.
If you don't fall into the cis-hetero dating pool, you'll be happy to know that most of the apps reviewed here are inclusive. Even eharmony finally embraced same-gender couples. However, some are friendlier to the LGBTQ community than others. For example, OkCupid goes beyond forcing users to choose between being a male or female, including options like Hijra, genderfluid, and two-spirit. Other apps target identities beyond gender and sexuality. For example, Kippo's nerd-friendly features attract gamers, Vinylly connects people through a shared love of music, and SilverSingles reskins EliteSingles for a senior audience.
(Credit: Hinge)Finding Matches on Dating Apps
Once you pick that perfect selfie and write paragraphs to sell all your best attributes to your future digital Valentine, it's time to start browsing. This is where the significant differences between these apps are apparent. For instance, Tinder, with its famous hot-or-not swiping interface, makes it quick and easy to find your next date. Bumble, on the other hand, puts all the power in women's hands; men can't even contact a woman unless she's first expressed interest. Others, such as Match and OkCupid, have robust profiles that let you dive deep into a user's personality (or at least the one they decided to present to you) before you decide to go on the pursuit. Hinge lets users create profiles that are a beautiful blend of visuals and text.
Now that you've perused the dating pool and have your eyes on that special someone, it's time to bite the bullet and actually reach out to them. Each app offers different ways of showing your interest. Match lets you Wink at a fellow member for free, and Plenty of Fish doesn't charge for messaging. In most dating apps, messaging is typically free when both users like each other. However, free users get only so many likes per day, and Hinge is especially limited. In other instances, you'll get charged for reaching out. If you're not ready to express your feelings in words, Bumble lets you send Bumble Coins to prospective matches for a fee. Zoosk lets you buy coins to anonymously browse profiles, as well as reward anyone who views your own profile (for an additional fee, of course).
Recommended by Our Editors
Staying Safe on Dating Apps
All of these services, even the decades-old Match, offer both Android apps and iPhone apps. Most also have desktop counterparts for when you're at work and want to take a break from your spreadsheet to set up a weekend tryst. Just be aware that the functionality can vary substantially between the app and desktop interfaces. For example, there's no swiping in the browser version of Tinder. Facebook Dating and Hinge are only available as mobile apps.
Once you've installed these apps and signed up for the services, get ready for a barrage of notifications and email. Some, like daily match suggestions, are helpful, while others, like alerts that tell you every new "like" you get, can just be annoying. The good thing is you can easily tweak these alerts by drilling down into the settings menus in each app.
Any activity that involves meeting strangers from the internet carries some safety risks. If you find yourself in a toxic situation and need to cut off contact, all of these apps let you block and report users who haven’t taken the hint. These services try to vet their profiles and keep unwanted, inappropriate material from appearing. Bumble blurs nudes with AI. Tinder offers multiple verification tools and lets you secretly alert emergency services if you’re on a particularly bad date. There are even third-party solutions. UrSafe is a hands-free, voice-activated personal safety app with features for online daters looking to meet their matches in person.
Video Dating Apps
Ideally, online dating should lead to meeting in real life. However, sometimes it's good to break the ice beforehand. The most straightforward virtual dating solution is video chatting, which lets you at least see each other face-to-face instead of just texting. Bumble, eharmony, Hinge, Match, Plenty of Fish, and Tinder all offer video chat.
Apps with more specific target audiences are also adopting this feature, including the mobile-only Muslim dating app Muzz. Snack introduces TikTok-style video functionality to dating profiles. Beyond chatting, video offers additional useful features, such as age verification and scam prevention.
Which Dating App Should You Use?
Dating is hard, so we did some of the legwork for you by taking a deep dive into 10 of the most popular apps. We weren't popular enough to get into The League, the dating app for celebrities. Everyone's needs and wants are different, so not every app will be a great fit for you. Match and Tinder are both Editors' Choice winners because they excel in their respective lanes: lasting relationships and fast hookups. Other apps have strengths, too, and you can learn more by reading our in-depth reviews. If things don't work out, we have a handy list of the best breakup apps, too.