Which online dating site is best for me? One of the (very few) good things about online dating in 2022 is that we’re spoiled for choice. There’s a broad range of apps out there and each one offers its own unique benefits. Check out just some of the options below to help you work out which one is right for you.
- Bumble: Best for women who like making the first move. Bumble is a dating site that was designed with women in mind. When talking to men online, women frequently have to deal with men sending unwanted pictures or bombarding them with pickup lines. Bumble tries to reduce that from happening by including a function where only women can initiate the conversation. If women don’t initiate conversation with their match within 24 hours, the match expires.
- Tinder: Best for casual flings. Tinder was the original dating app, and people use it for everything from finding hookups to finding soulmates. But with the influx of other dating apps on the market, Tinder does seem to have fallen more into “hookup only” territory. There’s not as much effort required in a Tinder profile as there is in other dating apps, so it’s quick and easy for people who are just looking for something quick and easy.
- Kindred: Best for people who don’t want kids. Kindred is one of the best apps to use if you don’t want kids. The app links people who can’t have or don’t want children, so you don’t have to wade through conversations with people who want different things from you. While other apps allow you to include a preference in your profile, that you do or don’t want kids, Kindred cuts right to the chase and only matches you with other child-free people.
- Hinge: Best for people seeking a serious relationship. Hinge has been described as the best app for those looking for the one. The profiles on Hinge require considerably more effort than other dating app profiles. So that filters out a lot of people who are just looking for a casual fling. Hinger profiles also contain many prompts and questions that reveal a lot about your personality. The focus is on the person, not what they look like.
- HER: Best for LGBTQIA+ people. While LGBTQIA+ people can use a range of dating apps too, HER has been designed specifically for them. It provides a safe space for lesbian, queer, bisexual, and straight women, and non-binary people, to hook up, form special relationships, or just hang out. The core features of the app are completely free.
- Thursday: Best for spontaneous dating. Are you the kind of person who wants to go on a date with someone as soon as you’ve matched? Then Thursday might be for you. Every Thursday, the app shows you the people who would like to meet in person that day. All you have to do is jump on and match with someone and you’ve got a date in less than 24 hours.
- eHarmony: Best for people dreaming of marriage. Launched in 2000, eHarmony was one of the first online dating websites and pioneered the path for the rest to come. As the service is a paid one, it is largely considered best for people who are serious about finding the one. Elle describes it as the best online dating site for those who want to get married.
- Jungle Dating: Best for people who are anxious about dating. Let’s be honest: dating can make you anxious. Jungle is one of the best apps for people who are nervous about dating. Why? It allows you to get together groups of people for a single date. That way, you can bring other single friends along as support until you’re ready for a one-on-one date.
- The League: Best for picky people. If you struggle to find anyone to match with on dating apps because few people meet your standards, you could try The League. The app describes itself as bringing “busy, ambitious professionals together who are looking for the ‘real thing’”. The good news? This is probably one of the few dating apps where you’ll run into a celebrity. The bad news? It can be difficult to get accepted as a member. After all, this is the app for picky people!
- Muz Match: Best for Muslim women. Online dating can be especially tricky for Muslim women. Muz Match is a safe app for Muslim people to meet and date in ways that are still respectful of their beliefs. The app facilitates chaperoning of dates and other conventions that might make regular dating hard for people of the Islamic faith.
- The Sauce: Best for people who need more than photos. The Sauce is described as “the only app where it feels like you’ve already met.” Basically, the profiles on this service contain videos, not photos. This allows people to get a better idea of what their matches look and sound like. If you’ve ever been caught off guard when meeting your match in real life, because they look nothing like their photo, this app might be for you.
