Which Dating App Is The Best? Here’s The Top 30 Free Dating Sites And Apps In 2022

List of the top 30 Online Dating App, Platforms (Sites and Apps) for people looking for serious relationships, future partners (marriages), love, and affection that are completely free, genuine, and have a high success rate.

In the ending of 2019 till date, COVID-19 has made online dating sites even more indispensable for the single set. It has been hard for singles to meet potential significant others since going out and being social is discouraged during the pandemic. But with an online dating website, you could try to get to know someone online through emails, texting, and video chat. Then, if you were both assured that the other was being safe, you might try to meet.

Dating sites and apps are numerous nowadays and asking someone about their favorite site will elicit a response as unique as the person themselves.

But what online dating websites should you try? Deciding what type of online dating website is right for you is a little like finding the right partner. What do you think is a great dating site, others may hate.

While some people might be searching for love and marriage, others may be looking for something more casual.

The best dating sites offer plenty of variety and privacy, among other features. This article on The Vibely aims to layout the best dating site for each person’s unique situation and relationship goals.

Read on for a list of some of the best free dating sites that you may want to try. Keep in mind that not all of these websites are purely free – some have free components that are worth your consideration.

Here are some of the most popular free dating sites:

  1. Largest dating app – Tinder
  2. Best dating app for women – Bumble
  3. Best free dating site – OkCupid
  4. Match.com
  5. Facebook Dating.
  6. Gindr
  7. Best for serious relationships – Eharmony
  8. Coffee and Begal
  9. Her
  10. Best personality matching system – Hinge 
  11. Snack
  12. XO
  13. Kippo
  14. Once
  15. Happn
  16. SwoonME
  17. Raya
  18. Plenty of Fish
  19. Badoo
  20. Clover
  21. Best married dating site – Ashley Madison
  22. Reddit R4R
  23. Serious dating site for under 30 – Zoosk
  24. BlackPeopleMeet
  25. OurTime
  26. Best for working professionals -Elite Singles
  27. Best casual dating site – Adult Friend Finder
  28. Best senior dating site – Silver Singles
  29. Best for christian singles -Christian Mingle
  30. More women than men – Seeking 

1. Tinder (Android; iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
(Image credit: Tinder)

Tinder blazed the trail set by Grindr toward a world of swipe and scroll dating apps. On its face, Tinder encourages you to make shallow, snap judgments about potential partners. You create a simple profile with a handful of photos and a few sentences about yourself, then throw yourself at the Internet’s mercy. 

The app displays singles in your area. With this popular app (also available on desktop), you can simply swipe through profiles – albeit with scant information on each potential match. As you look at photos, you can select a heart icon or an X; alternatively, you can swipe to the right if you like a profile or swipe to the left if you don’t. If you like somebody who also likes your photo, then you’ll be alerted that you have a match, and you’ll be able to message your potential date.

Upgrading to a paid Plus or Gold membership at Tinder gives you premium features like unlimited likes or rewinds that give would-be partners a second chance.

While the app is free, you can pay for Tinder Plus (around $9.99 a month if you’re under 30, or $19.99 if you’re older) and Tinder Gold (around $29.99 per month, depending on your location and age), which offer additional features, such as a rewind button that enables you to update your selection if you accidentally swiped the wrong way.

Tinder continues to tinker with its formula, rolling out a video feature that allows you to make in-app video calls to matches without exchanging personal details (a very important addition in the COVID-19 era). An even more significant change introduced a Safety Center feature that ties into Noonlight app and provides a panic button in case you wind up on a date where you feel unsafe. Later this year, Tinder plans to let you perform background checks of people, pulling data from public records. That feature’s coming to other dating apps operated by Tinder owner Match Group, in fact.

Download Tinder: AndroidiOS

2. Bumble (Android; iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
(Image credit: Bumble)

Bumble aims to help you line updates or make new friends in your area, and it’s on the queen bee (any female) to make the first move after two people mutually connect and are part of each other’s hive. There’s not much time to waste — there are just 24 hours to make some kind of contact or the connection disappears forever. For same-sex connections or friendships, either person has to make a move within 24 hours before that connection is gone, though you can get a 24-hour extension. 

Just looking to widen your circle of friends, as opposed to a romantic relationship? Bumble has a BFF feature for people who are not looking for dates and a separate section for making business contacts. The Bumble Boost upgrade, which ranges from $2.99 to $8.99, makes it easier and faster to meet or date people. 

There’s also a premium service that can screen your matches for certain qualities or criteria, like level of education. Prices vary from $7.99 a week to $32.99 a month, or you can pay $199.99 for a lifetime subscription to the premium service.

Bumble added a video two years ago, giving one of the best dating apps a leg up in the shelter-in-place era. A new Night, In addition, has added games starting with a trivia game to give you and your date something to do on your video chat.

Download Bumble: AndroidiOS

3. OkCupid (Android; iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
(Image credit: OkCupid)

OkCupid features a massive userbase and straightforward dating tools. But rather than rest on its laurels, OKC keeps refining and adding on features to its top dating app, such as a “Flavors” system that allows users to quickly view evocative flavors of potential matches, such as Kinky Nerds, Beard Lovers, World Travelers, etc. 

All this is in addition to OkCupid’s messaging tools, personality quizzes, Instagram integration, and other old favorites.

This popular dating website and app is free, allowing you to browse profiles and reach out to anyone you want to connect with. That said, you can pay for premium services, and those premium services can make the site a little easier to navigate. For instance, with the paid version, there are unlimited likes and no outside ads. You can also see who “likes” you before you like them. However, with the free version, you don’t know who has clicked “like” on your profile unless you also “like” them. Prices vary.

Download OKCupid: AndroidiOS

4. Match.com (Android; iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
(Image credit: Match.com)

Match.com offers its users a freemium dating experience on Android and iOS. Free users can set up online profiles, upload a few pictures of themselves and then engage in some online flirting with “winks”, and have new matches delivered to them daily. More comprehensive features, such as the ability to see who has checked out your profile and liked your pictures, can be unlocked by a Match.com subscription. 

Match has continued to add on to its features, such as a Tinder-like Mixer, Android Wear and Apple Watch integration, and the addition of voice and video snippets to your profile. This April, with people stuck at home, Match launched Vibe Check, which lets you enjoy video chats with your matches.

Like Tinder, Match also added a safety feature that lets you, alert friends, if you’re on a date and feel unsafe. Another recent addition even lets you set your political views, so you can better find a person whose outlooks line up with yours (or don’t, if you believe that opposites attract).

Download Match.com: AndroidiOS

5. Facebook (Android, iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
(Image credit: Facebook)

Facebook Dating, first unveiled back in 2018, launched in the U.S. last year after test runs in other countries. The service has since extended to Europe, including the U.K.

An opt-in part of the social network, Facebook Dating focuses on helping you find long-term relationships, not hook-ups. You access the Dating section from within Facebook’s mobile app, setting up a dating profile that’s separate from your regular Facebook profile. From there, Facebook finds matches for you based on your preferences, interests, and activities on the social networking site. 

Facebook won’t suggest matches among people you already know Facebook unless you use the service’s Secret Crush feature in which you can select up to nine Facebook friends or Instagram followers you have an interest in. If they also express an interest in you via Secret Crush, Facebook will match you up. 

You can add Instagram posts to your Facebook Dating profile as well as share Facebook and Instagram stories. Like other dating services, Facebook Dating is adding the ability to make video calls to your would-be sweetie, using the company’s Messenger app.

Download Facebook: AndroidiOS

6. Grindr (Android; iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
(Image credit: Gindr)

Grindr allows gay and bisexual men to meet up with like-minded men nearby. Profile creation is a fairly minimal experience, focusing on a profile pic, user name, and a few simple questions, and choosing a “Tribe” that describes your type, and then you’re up finding other users and chatting them up in minutes. 

Grindr is free to use and advertisement-supported, but the premium version, Grindr Xtra, offers ad-free browsing in addition to other features like adding multiple Tribes and advanced search filters. One notable downside? Unlike other dating apps, push notifications for messages require Grindr Xtra. 

Download Grindr: AndroidiOS

7. eharmony (Android; iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
(Image credit: eharmony)

eharmony is a long-time player in the online dating game, and the first service to push an algorithmic system to try to make the best possible dating matches for its members. Once you create an account, users go through a “Relationship Questionnaire” to create a personality profile that helps match you with other users that eharmony thinks you’ll click with. Every day, the app will provide you with a selection of matches and your areas of compatibility; you’ll have the option to connect if the interest is mutual. 

Premium subscribers get expanded matching and discovery options, and other features like being able to see who has recently viewed your profile.

Download eharmony: AndroidiOS

8. Coffee Meets Bagel (Android; iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
(Image credit: Coffee Meets Bagel)

Coffee Meets Bagel takes the opposite approach to many of the best dating apps, trying to focus on quality rather than quantity. Every day at noon, the app will send men a small selection of potential matches based on their profile and preferences, and women are then sent a number of matches who’ve shown interest in them, leaving the ladies the option of reciprocating the like. If the attraction is mutual, then the app will set you up with a 7-day chat window and icebreaker. 

A redesign of the dating app puts a greater emphasis on user profiles, giving you the ability to comment on profiles and photos in hopes of fostering more connections between Coffee Meets Bagel users.

Download Coffee Meets Bagel: AndroidiOS

9. Her (Android; iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
(Image credit: Her)

She is a dating and social network app designed with lesbian, bisexual, and queer users in mind. You sign up with Facebook or Instagram accounts, and then view a stream of activity from other verified Her users both in your area and globally. You can Like photos of other users, and if the interest is mutual, the app will link you up to chat. 

Of course, it’s also more than just meeting prospective dates, with the app offering social features, news, and articles about LGBTQ issues, events, questions, and more. While the app is free to use and sign up for, a premium subscription adds extra features.

Download Her: AndroidiOS

10. Hinge (Android; iOS: $10.99/month)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
(Image credit: Hinge)

Hinge is only available on your phone and not on your desktop or laptop. It is a free site, but like all of these sites, you can navigate the site more easily if you pay for its premium version. Prices vary for the premium version, but it starts at around $10.99 a month, and then the price per month goes down after that if you get a three or six-month membership.

Refusing to follow the trail blazed by swipe-driven apps like Tinder, the dating app Hinge puts its focus on relationships and interesting conversations. In fact, the service’s explicitly stated goal is to get you to the point where you’ve deleted the app altogether — presumably because you’ve found love and not because you’ve had it with the app.

Hinge turns its nose up at swipes for a more detailed profile that you fill in with pictures and stories. Users can then choose to like and comment on something in that profile, and that serves as a mutual conversation starter. Each day, you can check out new recommendations, as well as see people who have liked something in your profile.

Hinge responded quickly to our shelter-in-place situation imposed by the coronavirus pandemic by rolling out Date From Home features. Other changes include teaming up with the likes of Chipotle and Uber Eats to encourage users to have socially distanced dinner dates. And a redesign last year introduced the Standouts feature that highlights people who are more likely to be your type, along with topics that Hinge thinks will spark a conversation with your would-be match.

Download Hinge: AndroidiOS

11. Snack (iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
(Image credit: Snack)

Imagine TikTok, but for dating, and you’ve got a pretty good sense of what Snack has to offer. This dating app puts an emphasis on short videos. You sort through a feed of introductory videos to see if anyone sparks your interest, favoriting the ones of people you’d like to get to know. Should they favorite your video, you’ll be able to DM each other.

The emphasis on videos makes Snack a good dating app option for our socially distant times, though the focus is clearly on the under-30 crowd. Snack is only available on the iPhone at the moment, though you can sign up to be notified when an Android version drops.

Download Snack: iOS

12. XO (Android, iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
(Image credit: XO)

XO wants to put some of the fun back into dating by using games to help break the ice. Quizzes, drawing games, and other party activities let you share a laugh with somebody new and maybe forge a connection that leads to a relationship.

You find matches by filling out a profile and meeting up with someone who has similar likes. Or you can try one of XO’s other, more random pairings. Blind Date puts you in touch with someone to play a game and exchange messages before you see their profiles, while Random puts you in touch with someone from anywhere in the world.

People who are serious about finding a significant other right now may want to some of the other best dating apps, but XO seems like a fun, casual way to make new friends — and maybe that friendship blossoms into something more.

Download XO: AndroidiOS

13. Kippo (Android, iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
(Image credit: Kippo)

Of course, there’s more than one way to game online, and Kippo looks to attract online gamers in search of a little companionship. The app lets you customize your own profile — the more unique, the better — in which you can show off the things you’re truly passionate about. The app then tries to find matches based on the games you like.

Once you find a match, you’re ready to DM and chat, though the free tier of Kippo has some limitations on just how many profiles you can swipe each day and how many messages you can send. Joining a paid Kippo Infinity tier for $10 a month removes those restrictions.

Kippo says it verifies that everyone using its service is a real person, and there’s moderation to keep out any bad actors. 

Download Kippo: AndroidiOS

14. Once (Android, iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
Image Credit: Once

Once wants to slow down those frantic swipes as you try to find your ideal match. Instead of an unending string of photos to sort through, Once pairs you up with one potential partner a day, and you’ve got 24 hours to make a connection. You can keep chatting after that if both of you like another, but the idea is to focus on just one person at a time, so you can see if a more lasting connection is possible.

Matches are created with the Once algorithm, which draws on your profile and your past behavior to find an ideal match. You can use Once for free, but paid memberships speed up the searching process and give you more matches per day if you prefer.

Download Once: AndroidiOS

15. Happn (Android, iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
Image credit: Happn

Happn is all about the people whose paths you might have crossed who you might find interesting and might also be doing the same things you are. A location-based dating service, Happn shows you the profiles of other Happn users you’ve crossed paths with, along with time and location. You can like any of the profiles that show up, and if the feeling is mutual, the app gives you the option to connect. Paid options offer the ability to “Say Hi” to other profiles, which includes notification, as well as the ability to see profiles that have liked you.

Download Happn: AndroidiOS

16. SwoonMe (Android, iOS: Free)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
Image credit: SwoonMe

Let’s face it — even the best dating apps are heavily skewed toward swiping through photos to find a match. But SwoonMe wants you to look beyond the surface when you’re trying to meet someone new, whether it’s for friendship or a more serious relationship.

To that end, the SwoonMe app does away with photos in exchange for avatars — the photo you upload to the dating app is converted into a cartoon version of yourself. Instead, you search for would-be significant audio by listening to short audio clips the person has recorded. If you like what you hear, you can further communicate through audio messages, eventually reaching the point where you can reveal your true picture.

It’s a different take on dating than some of the other apps here, and as a fairly new service, SwoonMe isn’t as polished as some of its more well-established competitors. But it’s worth checking out if you find other dating apps to be overly superficial.

Download SwoonMe: AndroidiOS

17. Raya (iOS, $7.99 per month)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
Image credit: Raya

Somewhere between professional networking and a paywall-gated dating service sits the social app Raya. The iOS app originally began as a low-key dating service, but also began to be used to make professional networking contacts and friends, particularly among those in the creative industries. The fact that celebrities and influencers have started popping up on Raya probably helps the app’s profile among the best dating apps.

You don’t just get into Raya automatically — prospective members will need to send in an application, which will be vetted before you’re admitted. If you’re let into the club, then memberships will cost $7.99 per month or $29.99 over 6 months.

Download Raya: iOS

18. Plenty of Fish Dating (Android; iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
Image credit: Plenty of Fish

Plenty of Fish Dating lacks the depth of features found in some other apps, but it makes up for in breadth. This free dating app is one of the largest and most popular in the world, boasting more than 70 million members spanning the whole English-speaking world. 

Users set up a simple profile, including age, education, and profession, then search through potential matches and message them. Plenty of Fish keeps adding small tweaks to its app, including Chat Heads for Android users, VoIP calling for premium users, and Instagram image uploads. You’ll also find a free live stream feature that encourages dating over video.

Plenty of Fish, as its name suggests, features a wide selection of dating profiles. It is free, but you’ll probably find it far easier to use if you pay for the premium services. Prices vary, but you can expect to pay $12.90 a month for three months or $6.78 a month for 12 months. You can send and receive messages for free; the premium membership is an ad-free version that allows users to search more easily, using filtering options such as education and income.

Download POF Dating: AndroidiOS

19. Badoo (Android; iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
Image credit: Badoo

A standout in a rich field of dating apps, Badoo features 370 million-plus users from more than 190 different countries, all sharing their profiles and photos as they search for matches. The app uses a lot of varied means to find interesting matches, from a Tinder-like swiping system to viewing the profiles of nearby users. 

Badoo puts a premium on making sure that its users are actual verified people, instead of “catfish”-style scams, with verification methods based on uploaded photos, connected social media accounts, and phone verification. While the app is free to use, you can also buy premium credits for $2.99 to increase visibility or subscribe to gain “Super Powers,” which provides expanded features.

Download Badoo: AndroidiOS

20. Clover Dating App (Android; iOS)

Free Dating Sites And Apps
Image credit: Clover

With a little bit of Tinder and a little bit of OkCupid, Clover takes a grab bag approach with a variety of ways to find and meet potential matches, from Tinder-like swiping to questionnaires, date planners, and detailed profiles with lists of interests. 

Clover avoids the one-trick pony trap of more focused dating app experiences, so if you ever get bored of the swiping style, you can always try participating in live mixers, check out the 20 Questions game, or even experiment with Clover’s “on-demand dating.” As with other apps, Clover has premium tiers that can improve visibility and add or improve existing features.

Download Clover: AndroidiOS

21. Ashley Madison – Best married dating site

Ashley Madison is one of a kind, made for married individuals looking to have private affairs. It is not connected to social media accounts for this reason.

There are other privacy restrictions and features to help users stay anonymous if they are afraid of getting caught. Additionally, Ashley Madison has a travel option where members can search their upcoming location in advance.

22. Reddit R4R – Best for Reddit users

R4R, or Redditor for Redditor, is a subreddit dedicated to connecting users. The platform does not use a matching scheme, instead, it is a massive venue of personal ads.

A user’s search criteria bring up their preferred results. Reddit consumers use it to find activities, friends, parties, hookups, and even long-term relationships.

Even though it is a generalized forum, there are still rules relating to age, privacy, legality, and conduct. For example, NSFW posts are allowed but must be labeled as such so users can decide if they want to view the post or not.

23. Zoosk

The website employs something called “behavioral matchmaking technology” to help singles find compatible individuals that might equate to a match made in heaven.

After a free trial period, a Zoosk membership costs $29.99 per month.

24. BlackPeopleMeet

For over 18 years, BlackPeopleMeet has been connecting African American singles seeking love. The site’s 100,000+ members can flirt, email, and see who views their profile.

25. OurTime

As advertised on their many TV commercials, OurTime is for people 50 years old and up. Like Match.com, OurTime is a paid service. While it isn’t free, you can browse profiles for free, and that is worth something in the online dating world. The last thing anybody wants is to pony up money for a dating site, put up a profile and then look around and find out that the nearest potential person you might be interested in is 300 miles away. As for the prices, they vary, but you can expect to pay about $35 a month, with the price dropping considerably if you sign up for the six-month plan.

26. Best for working professionals – Elite Singles

27. Best Casual dating site – Adult Friend Finder

28. Best Senior dating site – Silver Singles

29. Best for Christian singles – Christian Mingle

30. More women than men – Seeking

Why Do People Use Online Dating Sites?

Dating sites expose people to a far larger pool of individuals than a single person would have the chance to meet in real life. This is especially the case for users that have a limited social group, are new to town, or otherwise.

Using these sites can also allow users to be more selective based on criteria that are important to them: shared values, hobbies, or the type of relationship they want.

Are Dating Apps Safe?

Generally, yes, dating apps are safe, but it does still require discernment and caution. Apps have privacy features in place to help members out, such as profile verification. Certain websites also scan participants manually, adding an extra layer of security to the process.

Individuals should never provide personal information before meeting someone in real life, such as their surname, address, or even their neighborhood. It is also smart to arrange a first date in a public space. Contacting a friend beforehand and letting them know they are going on a date with a stranger is also not a bad idea.

How to Ensure Your Safety While Online Dating?

Never provide personal information to someone online, especially before meeting in person. This information includes the surname, employer, address, and even neighborhood.

When encountering anyone online, arrange for the first few dates to take place in public places. This may be a café, a hotel, a theatre, or some other public space. Avoid isolated areas such as beaches, and never allow strangers into the house.

Finally, contact a buddy before the date to inform them of the whereabouts and anticipated return time. Notify them when it’s time to leave for home. To provide an extra layer of protection, request that they call or text during the date to ensure maximum safety.

First Date Suggestions

Dating for the first time can be overwhelming! To ensure optimal safety and to meet the match in person, follow these tips:

Maintain an open mind. Individuals may look very different in person than they do online, so be prepared for the preferences to change.

Avoid being too formal. Establishing a social meeting, such as a lunch date, allows the users to get to know one another without feeling obligated to spend hours together.

Review the conversations before going on a date. Re-read the person’s profile and review what was discussed, and schedule general discussion topics.

Is It Possible to Develop a Serious Relationship When Dating Online?

Yes, it is possible! If two people meet, are compatible, and chemistry is present, the relationship could turn into something stable and secure. It happens every day, thanks to sites like Eharmony

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