Best Dating Apps for Every Type of Relationship
On the hunt for the perfect dating app? These picks let you call the shots—set up your match preferences, plan your kind of dates, and vibe with people your way. You’re totally in charge of who you meet and how it goes down.
Check out these six top apps built to give you all the freedom you need.
Best Dating App for Bold Women: Bumble
Bumble’s the spot for women ready to make the first move—and who don’t mind a little clock pressure. Matches vanish after 24 hours if the guy doesn’t reply, so if you’re the type to check dating apps every couple of weeks, this might not be your jam.
But if you’re all about taking charge and want quick responses, Bumble’s worth a shot. From my experience, it’s a mix of bold women and shy guys, which can actually balance things out.
The whole "women message first" vibe also filters out a lot of the insecure crowd. Oh, and it’s not just for dating—Bumble BFF is a cool way to meet friends when you’re in a new city.
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iOS AndroidBest Dating App for Relationship Seekers: Hinge
If you’re serious about finding something real and don’t mind putting in some effort, Hinge might just be your thing. It’s a bit old-school compared to other apps—your profile needs photos and answers to prompts, so there’s no coasting through this one.
The setup is simple and clean, focusing on your pics and responses, which means you’ve got to put some thought into it. It’s free to use, but springing for Hinge+ gets you perks like seeing everyone who likes you, unlimited likes, and priority features.
Just a heads-up: there’s a daily like limit unless you upgrade, and you’ve gotta fill out three prompts to get started. It’s a bit of work, but worth it if you’re looking for something legit.
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iOS AndroidBest Dating App for Someone with Money to Spend: Match
Match.com still has a free version, but let’s be real—if you want results, you’re probably gonna have to pony up for a subscription. That’s old-school online dating vibes for you, back when paying meant you were serious about finding the one.
These days, though? My friends and I think dropping cash to meet someone feels a little… desperate. Especially when there’s a sea of free apps out there doing the job. Sure, some paid features on apps are worth it, but spending money just to find love? Yeah, I’m not sold on that idea yet.
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iOS AndroidBest Dating App for Local Dating: Happn
Happn takes location-based dating to the next level by focusing on the people you’ve literally crossed paths with IRL. As you’re out living your life, anyone else using Happn who’s nearby pops up on your timeline.
Feeling a vibe? Drop a sneaky little like, and they’ll only know if they like you back. It’s free to use, but if you’re all about extra perks, you can go premium to see who’s crushing on you, send SuperCrushes, toss out unlimited likes, and ditch ads. Perfect for anyone who wants a shot at love while grabbing coffee or walking the dog.
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iOS AndroidBest Dating App for Serious Relationships: Coffee Meets Bagel
Coffee Meets Bagel is like the chill cousin of those swipe-crazy apps. Instead of throwing a million faces your way, it serves up just a few matches each day, keeping things manageable.
If you’re a guy, you get a set of options to check out, and if you’re a woman, you’ll see matches who’ve already shown interest—aka your bagels. For same-gender matches, it’s all about mutual curation.
It’s free to use, but if you’re feeling fancy, a premium upgrade unlocks perks like unlimited profiles, seeing who liked you, and boosting your visibility. Perfect for slow-and-steady vibes.
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iOS AndroidBest for Social (Media) Butterflies: Badoo
Badoo’s got a massive user base and is all about keeping things interactive. Beyond just swiping, you can video chat with matches, throw up profile videos, or even go live to snag tokens for premium perks.
It’s free to hop on, but if you’re feeling extra, the premium upgrade lets you check out who’s crushing on you, see who’s bookmarked your profile, and rewind those accidental swipes. It’s like regular dating but with bonus entertainment.
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iOS AndroidBest Dating App for Casual Chat and Hookups: Tinder
Tinder’s been the OG of dating apps since 2012, whether you’re just here to flirt, find a fling, or maybe lock down something long-term. It’s where most of us dip our toes into the online dating pool, mostly because it’s ridiculously easy to use.
Swipe left if it’s a no, right if it’s a yes—simple as that. You get a handful of pics, a short bio, and the option to flex your Instagram and Spotify. Sure, it’s a bit “love at first glance,” but let’s be real, that’s dating in a nutshell anyway.
Pro tip? Play the numbers game. Match with as many people as possible to up your odds of landing something solid. Plus, Tinder’s got your back now with profile verification and settings to show exactly what you’re looking for—hookups, relationships, or whatever’s in between.
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