Fact Checked by: Dr. Nicolette Natale
Fact Checked by: John Stringfellow, CEH
Technology has revolutionized the way we find love. With over 366 million people using dating apps, you don’t have to set foot within 100 miles of a bar these days to find what you’re looking for. The best dating apps connect like-minded singles from all over the globe with the swipe of a finger or the touch of a button!
But with so many dating apps for iPhones, Androids, Google phones, Windows phones, etc.—how do you know which ones are actually worth your time? That’s where we come in. We’re here to help you avoid the duds, find the studs, and get what you’re looking for. Below you’ll find a list of the top dating apps for singles in 2024.
eharmony reigns as the leader in marriages and serious relationships.
Dating App Success Testing Score: 9.31/10
There’s a reason that so many people call eharmony the best across the board—because it works. To date, over 2 million people have found love through the app’s matchmaking algorithm, which works out to a new couple about every 14 minutes! By the time you get done reading this article, another couple will have found love. Maybe you’re next? With over 2.3 million messages sent weekly, eharmony is a must-try for singles looking for committed and serious relationships. It’s no surprise that eharmony tops the list of the best dating apps for marriage too!
- Biggest Pro: Impressive track record of matchmaking success
- Biggest Con: More costly than some lower quality apps.
- Starting Price: $35.90 per month
- See the full eharmony review
Zoosk members send over 3 million messages every single day.
IMPORTANT: Spark Networks, the owner of this app, is currently undergoing insolvency hearings in German courts. At this time, we are not sure what the future for the company looks like. We’d highly recommend check out one of our safest dating site recommendations in the meantime, until this is sorted out.
Dating App Success Testing Score: 8.36/10
35 million members…3 million messages sent daily…and a decade and a half in the online dating community. These three stats alone should tell you why Zoosk is a must-try for singles in the US and internationally (available in over 80 countries). What’s great about Zoosk is the dating app caters not only to singles looking for serious relationships (like Elite Singles and eHarmony), but it also works for those looking for a little more relaxed (which is why it also headlines our list of the best casual dating apps). If you want the most options out there, try out Zoosk.
- Biggest Pro: Over 35 million singles in 80 countries.
- Biggest Con: Not all members want serious relationships.
- Starting Price: $12.49 per month
- See the full Zoosk review
Elite Singles dazzles with over 400k new users every month.
IMPORTANT: Spark Networks, the owner of this app, is currently undergoing insolvency hearings in German courts. At this time, we are not sure what the future for the company looks like. We’d highly recommend check out one of our safest dating site recommendations in the meantime, until this is sorted out.
Dating App Success Testing Score: 8.02/10
When it comes to leaders in the online dating app world, Elite Singles is one that almost always (and should) be at the top of the conversation. With almost 400,000 new users every month and 85% of the membership base holding an above-average education, it’s a great place to find high-quality, successful, and educated single men and single women. Elite Singles is a great pick for those looking for a relationship or at least dating that could eventually turn into a relationship with the right person.
- Biggest Pro: Majority of users are highly educated.
- Biggest Con: Interface is intuitive but a tad dated.
- Starting Price: $44.95 per month
- See the full Elite Singles review
Bumble boasts over 43 million monthly users with a woman-led swipe-based approach.
Dating App Success Testing Score: 8.39/10
Bumble is a unique swipe-style dating app where users are shown profiles of users in their area. If you and another user both indicate interest in each other, a conversation is opened up. However, unlike the original swipe dating app Tinder, only the woman may send the first message. If she chooses not to after 24 hours, the match expires.
For many, they love this as it works to break the stereotypical gender norms of dating. However, for others, they aren’t fans because it puts pressure on the women to make the first move and leaves no opportunity for men to take the lead. Ultimately, whether you like it or not is going to come down to personal choice. But with over 43 million monthly average users, the app is incredible popular and certainly worth holding a spot on our best dating apps list.
- Biggest Pro: Innovative matchmaking process that favors women
- Biggest Con: Men may miss out on matches if they aren’t messaged in time
- Starting Price: $29.99 per month
- See the full Bumble review
Hinge offers the most customizable and robust profiles in the dating app industry.
Dating App Success Testing Score: 7.74/10
Hinge, one of the latest acquisitions by Match Group (the company that owns Tinder, Match.com, Chispa, etc.), has grown in popularity, especially among younger and more creative users. The app allows you to create a much more interactive and creative profile than any other dating app on this list. You can choose which prompts you answer, where your pictures go, and add video, voice, and questions/polls for other matches.
For some, this is a welcomed opportunity to show off their creativity and create a profile that truly shows who they are. However for some, it’s a little too outside of the box and makes it hard to find the important information you want to know about your matches.
- Biggest Pro: Unique profiles offering a chance to express creativity
- Biggest Con: Might be “too outside the lines” for some people
- Starting Price: $34.99 per month
- See the full Hinge review
Tinder is the highest trafficked casual dating app in the world.
Dating App Success Testing Score: 7.40/10
Despite their being some stories of couples finding love on Tinder, this is probably not one of the best dating apps for you if you’re looking for serious dating. However, if you’re looking for casual fun that maybe could turn into something more and you want it now—Tinder is the winner. The app leverages your location to show you potential matches geographically close to you that fit your matching parameters. See someone you like? Swipe right. Not interested? Swipe left. If two people swipe right to indicate interest, a match is created and a conversation opened up.
The reason this app is so low on our dating app is that in addition to it’s reputation for being a hookup app it’s notorious for causing dating app burnout. In a recent study our team found that nearly 80% of adults say they have experienced burnout or fatigue from using dating apps and over 53% of those polled had been using Tinder.
This dating app is incredibly popular and if you’re looking for something casual, easy, and affordable then you really can’t go wrong. Just make sure you’re looking our for your own mental wellbeing and staying safe online.
- Biggest Pro: Super easy dating app for casual hookups and friendships.
- Biggest Con: Not ideal for anyone seeing something serious or over 30.
- Starting Price: $4.50 per month
- See the full Tinder review
Match may be due for an interface update, but still offers a sizeable membership base.
Dating App Success Testing Score: 6.38/10
Another name you always hear in the discussion of the best dating apps is Match.com. While the features have remained fairly consistent over the years, the platform still is relevant and does a good job of connecting singles. According to Match.com, hundreds of thousands of singles find love on the app every single year. Available on desktop, iOS, or Android, you’ve got a lot of flexibility if you’re looking for a place to find a committed relationship.
So why isn’t this higher up on our list of the top dating apps? Well, despite all it’s accomplishments Match.com hasn’t always played fair and they were sued by the FTC in 2019. The largest claim was that the Match and other dating apps owned by the company were creating fake profiles internally to trick users into purchasing subscriptions.
This traditional dating app has certainly worked for a lot of people since it’s start in 1995, but it’s got a lot of work to do in earning user trust before we’ll feel comfortable moving it up on our listt.
- Biggest Pro: Quality selection of singles in most of the United States.
- Biggest Con: Many seem to prefer eHarmony for serious relationships.
- Starting Price: $18.99 per month
- See the full Match review
In This Review
How We Test | Testing | Worth It | How They Work | Arguments
How We Test These Apps
Our team has reviewed over 250 apps through rigorous testing, expertly designed focus groups, and consistent re-testing to ensure that we offer the best results that give you a great chance of finding love. All of our testing is done across 8 categories and over 70 different data points.
Here are the 8 categories and the weight we put on each.
| Factor | Weighted Average |
|---|---|
| Safety and Security | 20% |
| Profile Engagement | 15% |
| Feature Effectiveness | 15% |
| Pricing | 15% |
| UX and Usability | 10% |
| Popularity | 10% |
| External Reviews | 10% |
| Feature Growth | 5% |
To learn more, please check out our full methodology page on how we test.
Best Dating App Testing Results
Below, you’ll find the results of our testing for the best dating apps. For each app, we’ll share the overall scoring for each category, as well as any pertinent notes about our results. If you’d like to see more granular data within each category, please reference the full reviews linked above with each dating app recommendation.
First, here are the overall results by app.
| App | Total Score |
|---|---|
| eharmony | 9.31 |
| Elite Singles | 8.02 |
| Zoosk | 8.36 |
| Bumble | 8.39 |
| Hinge | 7.74 |
| Tinder | 7.40 |
| Match.com | 6.38 |
Next, here are the results broken down by app and category.
eharmony Testing Results
| Test Category | Results (out of 10) | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and Security | 9.1 | 20% | Known for thorough profile vetting and identity checks, helping reduce fake accounts, |
| Profile Engagement | 8.6 | 15% | Members are typically relationship-focused and more willing to invest time in conversations, though the in-depth process can feel slow to casual users. |
| Feature Effectiveness | 9.7 | 15% | Compatibility quiz and tailored match suggestions help people seeking serious partners; limited gamification |
| Pricing | 9.3 | 15% | Messaging requires a paid plan but value considerations make for high results |
| UX and Usability | 9.7 | 10% | Clear layout and easy navigation, but longer sign-up surveys and an older design can feel less appealing for users accustomed to swipe apps. |
| Popularity | 9.9 | 10% | Strong brand among those looking for long-term partners; 3.2 million monthly traffic (web) |
| External Reviews | 9.1 | 10% | Press and users often commend the compatibility model, while critiques center around high pricing and fewer matches in rural areas. |
| Feature Growth | 9.5 | 5% | Occasionally releases new tools like video dating, but updates are less frequent compared to rapidly evolving competitors; may be a positive in avoidance of gamification |
| Overall | 9.31 |
Elite Singles Testing Results
| Test Category | Results (out of 10) | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and Security | 7.4 | 20% | Good security, but some data shared with ad providers |
| Profile Engagement | 8.3 | 15% | Profiles seem to be largely legit and filled out |
| Feature Effectiveness | 8.1 | 15% | Straightforward process with matching quiz and traditional process |
| Pricing | 8.3 | 15% | Can be pricy, but expected in this type of niche |
| UX and Usability | 7.8 | 10% | Good UX reviews on iOS; lacking on Android |
| Popularity | 9.1 | 10% | Large user base, strong niche |
| External Reviews | 7.9 | 10% | Polarized reviews largely based on personal experience |
| Feature Growth | 7.1 | 5% | Limited new features being released, but still maintained |
| Overall | 8.02 | ~ | ~ |
Zoosk Testing Results
| Test Category | Results (out of 10) | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and Security | 8.3 | 20% | No known issues with safety and security |
| Profile Engagement | 9.1 | 15% | Very few incomplete profiles located |
| Feature Effectiveness | 8.1 | 15% | Lots of features, but possibly too many |
| Pricing | 8.5 | 15% | Pricing for longer term memberships is very affordable (more savings) |
| UX and Usability | 7.3 | 10% | Possibly too many features making navigation somewhat confusing at times |
| Popularity | 8.5 | 10% | 30 million+ downloads; declining trends |
| External Reviews | 8.7 | 10% | Fairly positive reviews on external posts |
| Feature Growth | 7.8 | 5% | Same update message (iOS) for last year of just bug fixes |
| Overall | 8.36 | ~ | ~ |
Bumble Testing Results
| Test Category | Results (out of 10) | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and Security | 5.5 | 20% | Proactive moderation, photo verification, and blurred lewd photos help reduce scams, though fake accounts still appear in busy regions. Adjustment made for swipe-technology |
| Profile Engagement | 8.6 | 15% | High activity; recent changes to women-first policy may mean more engagement |
| Feature Effectiveness | 8.2 | 15% | Video chat, voice calls, and unique filters add value, though premium-only features limit access for free users. |
| Pricing | 7.4 | 15% | Free version allows matching and chatting, but premium upgrades like Incognito and Travel Mode can become costly over time. |
| UX and Usability | 9.1 | 10% | Clean, modern design and fast navigation make it user-friendly, despite occasional reports of bugs or lag. |
| Popularity | 9.7 | 10% | Extremely well-known worldwide with millions of users, keeping match potential high, especially in major cities. |
| External Reviews | 8.1 | 10% | Mostly positive press and user feedback highlight safety and features, but some still complain about bots and ghosting. |
| Feature Growth | 9.3 | 5% | Regularly adds creative tools like Speed Dating and Compliments, showing strong commitment to evolving the app. |
| Overall | 8.39 | ~ | ~ |
Hinge Testing Results
| Test Category | Results (out of 10) | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and Security | 5.2 | 20% | Proactive moderation, photo/video prompts, and profile verification enhance safety, though scammers still occasionally appear like on all dating apps. Lawsuit concerns over addictive technology |
| Profile Engagement | 9.1 | 15% | Likes tied to prompts encourage real conversations and meaningful connections, leading to high-quality interactions and fewer ghosting reports. |
| Feature Effectiveness | 8.1 | 15% | Standouts, voice notes, and Roses create unique ways to match, but some premium-only features limit full access for free users. Some concerns with “too busy” |
| Pricing | 7.8 | 15% | Free version works well for casual use, though daily like limits and premium filters can push serious users toward paying for a subscription which can get expensive |
| UX and Usability | 8.3 | 10% | Smooth, stylish interface makes the app feel modern; some concerns about too many features |
| Popularity | 8.6 | 10% | Growing quickly, especially among those seeking serious relationships, though user base is strongest in urban areas. |
| External Reviews | 8.5 | 10% | Widely praised as the app “designed to be deleted,” with positive feedback on fostering real relationships, despite occasional cost complaints. |
| Feature Growth | 8.1 | 5% | Regularly adds features like video prompts and audio notes, but innovations arrive slightly less frequently than Bumble or Tinder. |
| Overall | 7.74 | ~ | ~ |
Tinder Testing Results
| Test Category | Results (out of 10) | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and Security | 4.6 | 20% | Strong safety features like photo verification and offensive message detection, but large user base means scams and fake profiles remain an issue. Heavy gamification |
| Profile Engagement | 8.8 | 15% | Massive global activity ensures high matching potential, though many connections stay casual or surface-level. |
| Feature Effectiveness | 7.3 | 15% | Swiping is fast and intuitive; premium features like Super Likes and Boost enhance visibility, but cost extra. Not ideal for serious relationships |
| Pricing | 6.5 | 15% | Free version works for basic use, but premium subscriptions (Plus, Gold, Platinum) quickly add up, especially for global features like Passport. |
| UX and Usability | 8.8 | 10% | User-friendly design with smooth navigation, though occasional bugs or app crashes are reported. |
| Popularity | 10.0 | 10% | Universally recognized and widely used across all demographics, offering unmatched reach. |
| External Reviews | 7.7 | 10% | Reviews praise scale and features, but note drawbacks for serious dating seekers and frequent fake accounts. |
| Feature Growth | 8.8 | 5% | Continuously innovating with Explore tab, social features, and new ways to connect, keeping the app feeling fresh. |
| Overall | 7.40 | ~ | ~ |
Match Testing Results
| Test Category | Results (out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Safety and Security | 2.5 |
| Profile Engagement | 7.3 |
| Feature Effectiveness | 8.0 |
| Pricing | 8.5 |
| UX and Usability | 7.3 |
| Popularity | 8.67 |
| External Reviews | 6.1 |
| Feature Growth | 2.0 |
| Overall | 6.38 |
Are Dating Apps Worth It?
The bottom line upfront is that YES online dating apps do work and therefore are completely worth it if you’re looking for a better way to meet singles in your area. However, there are a lot of caveats to this that can increase or decrease your success rates. These include things like joining the right app, putting the right amount of directed and intentional effort into the process, and approaching the entire process with the right expectations.
While most people you talk to will have anecdotal stories about whether or not they think online dating works, the reality is that these are just their opinions and personal experiences. Their success or lack of success does not properly indicate whether or not you’re going to have success dating online. Instead, we’d invite you to look at the bigger picture that the data shows.
Here are a few stats that help to drive home the point that, yes, dating apps do work.
- 57% of people who have used online dating apps say it was a positive experience (Pew Research Center)
- Over 2 million people on popular dating app eharmony have found love (eharmony)
- Most of the best dating apps have extensive lists of success stories you can see. Here are a few examples:
As we mentioned, there are a few factors that can help your success rate with online dating apps and can ultimately be the make or break on whether it is worth it for you or not. Let’s look at a few of those now.
It Matters What App You Join
Don’t worry; this is not going to be a shameless plug for any dating app in particular. What we want to say, though, is that online dating apps only work if you join the right app. Which app is the right app? The reality is—there is not one app that is right for everyone. You need to find the option that fits your needs the best and is most accommodating to what it is that you’re looking for. That’s the reason this list has several options and not just one single app that is the best dating app for everyone. It just doesn’t exist.
The point is that if you join the wrong type of dating site, you’re not going to have much luck. For example, if you’re looking for a fling and you join eharmony, you’re not going to have much luck. That site is really only for people looking for something serious, and you’ll be lost.
Additionally, joining a free dating site that doesn’t have the resources to invest in proper security is a losing recipe. Stick to higher quality dating apps, even if that requires you to pay for a premium membership. A small investment can go a long way to making sure online dating works for you.
It Matters If You Put in Effort
Just joining the right online dating app is not the only key to getting dating apps to work. You have to be willing to put in some effort. We aren’t saying that you need to commit 12 hours a day to the process, but you do need to be willing to give it the effort it needs to work.
This means that you need to fill out your profile, take the time to upload some photos, and actually look around and find some people to message. When you find people that you are interested in and want to message, YOU NEED TO MESSAGE THEM. We can’t tell you how many people we’ve talked to that say online dating isn’t working and then proceed to tell us they’ve sent out and responded to zero messages.
If you aren’t willing to engage in the process and give things a chance, it will never work for you. You don’t just join a dating app, and Mr. or Ms. Right shows up on your doorstep in 30 seconds. While online dating certainly makes the process easier and more efficient, it still requires some effort from you.
It Matters Your Expectations
Remember when we mentioned that the quality of your matches was a good indicator of the quality of an app? You’ve got to do your part, too. If you’ll only accept someone who’s 6’1”, jacked, has black hair and green eyes, owns a successful chain of high-end cheese shops, and wants to get married in the next six months, you will definitely be disappointed by every app you try. Preferences are one thing, but if you’re so set in your ways that your search yields zero results, it’s probably not a problem with the app.
Don’t settle, but if you’re not finding the kinds of people you’d like to meet, take a little time to reflect on what your relationship goals are, and understand the difference between a priority and a preference. You may be missing out on meeting the love of your life just because you have a fantasy person already imagined.
How Do Dating Apps Work?
Often, people have a mental block to accepting that dating apps do in fact work. When we talk to these people, we find that the block is often rooted in the fact that they just don’t understand how dating apps and dating sites actually work. In light of today’s discussion, we thought we’d give you a quick overview. This should help you to see the merits of the process and better understand that it can be a viable way to meet someone special.
Here is how online dating apps work. Keep in mind that things will be different on each app, but here is the general way. Members (like you) join an app and share some information about yourself, what you’re looking for, and a picture of yourself. While you are doing this, other members are doing the same thing.
The dating app then takes all of this information and puts it into a profile for you. Based on your preferences of what you are looking for and what other members are looking for, they show your profile to them and their profile to you. If either of you is interested (or if both are interested in some instances), you can send a message to each other! From there, it is up to you if you want to talk on the phone, meet in person, go on a date, etc.
Other dating apps follow a similar process but use what is called mutual match to control conversations. As you look at other user’s profiles and they look at yours, you can swipe to indicate that you are interested or not. As soon as two people indicate interest in each other, a conversation is opened up and both users are notified. This does reflect the way the bulk of dating apps work nowadays, though, there are a lot of concerns about how swipe-style dating apps affect your mental health. It’s the reason you see very few of these options on our list of the best dating apps above and more options that follow a traditional profile approach to the process.
The bottom line is that online dating is real people looking to connect with other real people using technology to make that process easier and more efficient.
Common Arguments Why Dating Apps Don’t Work
Most people who are asking if dating apps are worth it or if they really work have probably been told by someone else that they don’t or they have their own thoughts as to why not. What we wanted to do is talk about the most common arguments as to why dating apps don’t work and share our opinions on each.
“Dating sites are full of scammers.”
This 100% depends on which dating app or site you use. Are some of them full of scammers? Absolutely. Romance scams do exist. But the higher quality dating apps with great processes in place do wonders to remove these people. Yes, there will be some that slip through the cracks, but how is that different than when you go to meet people in person? In person, you have no systems trying to verify if the person is real or not.
Online, you at least have technology trying to help. And as long as you trust your guy, this is not a reason that online dating doesn’t work. And if you’re really concerned (which is ok), you might want to check out our list of the safest dating apps for more options and information.
“I had a bad experience dating online.”
Often, this is from someone who met someone online who things didn’t work out with. Does this mean that all of online dating is terrible? Does it mean that everyone online is awful? You’re considering joining and you’re not terrible! So that debunks that right away. The same could be said about bars being bad for dating because a lot of people have met people at bars and it didn’t work out. One case does not speak for every opportunity in online dating.
“No one sent me any messages.”
Effort. Period. If you haven’t sent a single message to anyone else and just expect them to reach out to you, you’re probably going to start to think that online dating sites don’t work. We’ll get more into details shortly but you have to be an active participant in the process if you want any chances of having success.
Unrealistic Expectations
There are zero places on planet Earth that can produce the perfect guy or girl for you in just a few minutes. Sure, it happens rarely, but the norm is that it takes a while to find the right person for you. This doesn’t change with online dating apps, nor do they pretend that is going to be the case. If you go into online dating expecting miraculous things to happen that just aren’t realistic, you’re setting yourself up for failure. And when that failure happens, the easy thing to do is blame the dating apps.
This also leads into your expectations of what you’re looking for. If you’re someone who doesn’t really have life altogether and things are a bit of a mess (that’s okay if that’s the case) but you’re looking for Prince Charming who is rich, handsome, and is looking for someone to pamper—you probably aren’t going to have a lot of luck. Not only do your expectations for the sites need to be inline but your expectations for an ideal match should be as well.
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