If you’re single and looking for love, chances are you’re doing a bit of your searching online. Dating apps are continuing to grow in popularity, with 19% of American adults logged on in 2022. However, with so many different ones to choose from, it’s hard to know which one will help you find “The One” (or at least a decent date who isn’t going to ghost you after three weeks of messaging). Below are the best dating apps to try your luck on in 2023. You’ll notice some familiar names, but there may be a few you’ve never heard of before.
Best dating apps for 2023
Tinder
Tinder is one of the most well-known and widely used dating apps in the world, if not one of the best. It has a simple swiping mechanism, allowing users to quickly and easily connect with others based on mutual interest. With its massive user base, users have a good chance of finding a match quickly.
That being said, the matches you do get may not be interested in a long-term relationship. Tinder is well-known for being a hookup app, largely because many of its users seem to be looking for easy access to sex rather than an actual date. However, the sheer number of users — more than 75 million around the world — you never know. You might just find a diamond in the rough.
Bumble
Bumble is a unique dating app that sets itself apart from apps by leaving it up to women to make the first move, empowering them to control their dating experiences. This app also features a variety of modes, including Bumble Date, Bumble BFF, and Bumble Bizz, allowing users to find different types of connections.
Admittedly, Bumble is better for users who really enjoy the dating experience in general. You’ll get to meet all kinds of people from all different walks of life. While there’s no guarantee they’ll turn into romantic connections, it doesn’t matter. Part of the fun of Bumble is the experiences you’ll have with your matches.
Hinge
Hinge is a dating app designed for people who are looking for deeper connections than they’re likely to find on other apps. It asks users to fill out in-depth profiles, answering questions about themselves and what they are looking for in a relationship. The app also incorporates prompts into its user profiles, making it easier for users to start conversations.
Gen Z will most certainly rate this as one of the best dating apps for 2023. And indeed, many of its users fall into that age bracket. However, Hinge welcomes millennial singletons too, so don’t be shy!
OkCupid
OkCupid is a popular dating app that uses a unique matching algorithm to help users find compatible partners. It’s been around since 2004, and its continued existence proves just how effective it is. Users fill out detailed profiles and answer questions about themselves, allowing the app to suggest matches based on shared interests and values. With a large and active user base, OkCupid is a great option for those looking for connections based on your actual personality type.
Not only that, OkCupid manages to make putting your dating profile together fun rather than tedious. It asks the big questions, yes, but also allows you to personalize and show off your quirky side. This makes it more likely to meet someone you’ll actually gel with in person.
HER
HER is a dating app designed specifically for LGBTQIA+ women. It offers a safe and inclusive space for users to connect with others, and features a variety of modes, including dating, events, and community. With its commitment to empowering the LGBTQIA+ community, HER is a great choice for anyone looking to connect with like-minded people. HER describes itself as a “geosocial networking app,” meaning you’re likely to find more than just a romantic match there.
It should also be noted that HER doesn’t just welcome cisgender women. Nonbinary people and transgender women are also welcome and encouraged to join. While other dating apps offer same-sex and queer matches, HER specifically focuses on this community. That makes it one of the best dating apps for 2023, for sure.
Coffee Meets Bagel
Coffee Meets Bagel is a dating app that focuses on quality over quantity. Each day, users are presented with a curated selection of potential matches, and they have the option to like or pass. If two users like each other, the app encourages them to have a meaningful conversation before meeting in person. The company claims that 91% of its users are looking for a serious relationship. If that’s what you’re looking for, you might want to try your luck.
In order to up your chances of finding meaningful connections, the app limits the number of people you chat to per day. After all, it’s all about quality over quantity. If you don’t have a lot of time to swipe or simply don’t want to, this might be for you.
Happn
Happn is a location-based dating app that allows users to connect with others who they have crossed paths with in real life. The app uses GPS technology to show users a list of potential matches who have been in close proximity to them. This unique feature helps to facilitate serendipitous encounters and makes it easier for users to connect with people they may have missed out on meeting otherwise.
The app claims to have more than 100 million users, though your pool will be much smaller given its tie to your current area. However, one of its more unique offerings is a map that records all the people you’ve interacted with. It’s a really cool way of keeping stock of your dating life.
Kippo
Addicted to your PlayStation? Kippo might be for you. It’s a new dating app designed for gamers that aims to create a community where gamers can connect with each other based on their shared interests. The app features a variety of ways for users to engage with one another, including the ability to swipe on profiles, send messages, and play mini-games together.
In addition to its gaming-focused features, Kippo also offers traditional dating app elements. For instance, you’ll still match based on an algorithm and you’ll still need to create a profile. The app’s unique approach to dating aims to provide a fun and supportive environment for gamers to meet. If this is your niche, you need to try it!
Clover
Clover is a mobile dating app that aims to bring a more personalized approach to online dating. (Yes, like every other dating app!) It offers a variety of standard features. However, one of the most interesting is the “Mixers.” This allows users to join or create groups based on shared interests. If you’re super into football and love the Miami Dolphins, for instance, you could match up with other users and create a group chat that includes all of you. Pretty cool!
In addition, Clover offers a unique “On Demand Dating” feature, allowing users to quickly find a date by selecting a specific time and place for their date. This feature eliminates the need for lengthy conversations and allows users to cut straight to the chase. After all, who has time to waste?
