The best dating sites for finding a boo this summer

Read our full review of Match.

Pros:

• Huge user base

• Compatibility-based algorithm

Cons:

• Have to pay to use most features

• Younger people might not find too many others in their age range

You've probably known what Match was since you were little. It's decades in the business bring constantly-evolving insight to the table for singles looking for that spark. But if you're expecting a corny questionnaire and ancient graphics reflective of the fact that it was born in the '90s, think again.

Match has totally reconstructed its questionnaire to be less of a tedious interrogation and more of a conversational probe into how you'd react to realistic situations — both with a partner and, say, a neighbor who needs help at 3. a.m. The probe into your daily habits and values (plus the ability to mark traits that are deal breakers) ensures that match sets you up with someone whose ideal lifestyle matches yours. The meshing of playfulness and rational thinking downs the pressure of signing up for a paid dating site.

The site's push to appeal to a younger crowd goes past the clean app redesign. AskMatch, a free dating advice service that lets you pick the brain of a dating coach, makes constant appearances in reviews on the App Store. In 2020, Match launched Vibe Check, a social distancing-era video call feature that aims to give new matches the closest thing possible to a first date, which lets you ensure the person on the other end is legit and gives you access to one of the most popular first date settings without having to give out any personal contact info. Users can now talk to their Top Picks without a paid subscription — a free feature that's sure to make up some people's minds. 

At the end of the day, Match's mix of classic and modern has helped it grow a user base that's bigger than the population of New York City. "Match is the family brand," Spira says. "It's the one where someone could see their grandmother on, and someone could see their grandson on. It has the largest critical mass, and they have done a fabulous job of keeping up with the technology."

Privacy policy: Match shares some of your information with third parties for marketing, advertising, and analytics and with other Match Group businesses. You have the option to allow or deny permissions to certain personal information. Read Match's full privacy policy here.

Pros:

• More genuine connections than Tinder without the pressure of a serious dating site

• Prompts provide conversation starters, so you aren't flooded with "hey" messages

Cons:

• People on Tinder and Bumble tend to be more upfront about what they're looking for, where on Hinge you might have to suss it out by having That Talk

• Can't send photos, which sucks for sharing memes, but rocks for not getting unsolicited explicit pics

Having a profile on Tinder probably means you have one on Hinge and Bumble, too. The big three rapid-fire apps may seem interchangeable, but Hinge has an arsenal of unique profile criteria and a data-based algorithm that sets it apart from competitors who simply throw everyone in a 10-mile radius in your direction.

Despite the fact that we're actively seeking out new dating apps and feel a rush every time a cute contender swipes right back, no one wants to be on these. Unless a friend with benefits is the max connection you can handle right now, the whole point of online dating is to find your person so you can stop looking for your person. That was the idea behind Hinge's 2019 rebrand to "the dating app designed to be deleted." It's a really smart combo of witty and optimistic that should deliver users some hope. Hinge's real-world statistics speak for themselves: The "We met" feature asks users how the first date went. Some 90 percent said the first date was great and 72 percent said they'd be down for a second date.

Hinge is set up for you to get to know people, whether you're looking for something super serious or a bit more casual. Instead of cheesy questionnaires and emails about the 50 winks you were sent, Hinge uses personal prompts to help you find matches you'll actually want to talk to. Prompts range from "The most spontaneous thing I've ever done" to "Two truths and a lie." You can also message people directly from their pictures and voice prompts, which just makes the whole experience feel a lot less "Hot or Not" derivative than other swiping apps. Profiles will also show a potential match's height, college (if they went), political affiliation, stance on drugs, and more. By covering so many bases before even messaging someone, Hinge lowers your chance of meeting someone you'd hate. You can send eight likes per day with the free version of Hinge, but there isn't a limit to how many people can like you per day.

Privacy policy: Hinge collects cookies for the website/app's functionality as well for third-party providers that work with the company. You have the option to opt out of nonessential cookies. Read the full privacy policy here.

Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder.

Read our full review of OkCupid.

Pros:

• Almost everyone on the app is going to be on the same page politically and socially

• Modern app design is actually fun to use

Cons:

• User base might not be big in smaller towns

• Most communication is behind a paywall

Is your worst nightmare going on a date with someone super hot just to find out they don't care about women's issues? OkCupid understands that the hottest, coolest person in the world isn't that hot or cool if they're tone deaf when it comes to the current social justice climate.

Users can illuminate the issues they hold dear and weed out people they'd want to argue with by answering deal-breakers like "Would you date someone who keeps a gun in the house?" or "Should the government require children be vaccinated for preventable diseases?" As one of the most inclusive dating sites on the market by far, OkCupid is known for its decision to let all users choose their pronouns. In June 2020, the site introduced the option to add a Black Lives Matter badge to your profile. Per OkCupid's own stats, liberal women and people who plan on voting have significantly better luck on the site.

Of course, politics aren't the only determining factor in romance. In-depth user bios, derived from questions that are smart, on the cusp of modern dating, and dive into your love language without crossing the cliché line. A compatibility percentage on the profile of every person you come across gives a quick glance at the answers you had in common (or didn't). It's an algorithm that OKC has been perfecting since 2004. 

If you prefer to do some searching on your own, the site's filters allow you to find potential matches who share common interests, mentioned certain words in their profile, or answered the questionnaire a particular way. No extra payment is required for this feature, and it definitely gives you a bit more of a say in the search for your person (no shade to the algorithm). 

Privacy policy: OkCupid is part of Match Group, so its privacy policy is very similar to Match's. The company shares some of your information with third-party partners, though its policy says they follow a strict vetting process before working with any parter. Read the full privacy policy here.

Pros:

• Can send GIFs, photos, and voice messages in the app

• Women can't get unwanted messages from men without initiating the conversation (though unfortunately this doesn't save you from the guys who turn out to be creeps a couple messages in)

Cons:

• 24-hour time limit might be too much pressure (but it can weed out dead matches)

• Location automatically changes while using the app, so if you travel, you might get flooded with likes from people who don't live in the same city as you

In an attempt to correct one of the common complaints of dating apps — that women get spammed with tons of creepy messages — women are required to message first with Bumble. It pushes some women out of their comfort zone, but like Tinder, you'll at least know that someone also swiped right on you before making a move. It also takes the pressure off of dudes who hate breaking the ice every time. (With same-sex or nonbinary matches, either party can kick things off.)

Bumble is also famous for tossing matches after 24 hours. This is clearly not the ideal setup for someone who wants to sit back and wait for the algorithm to send them a soulmate in due time, though the expiration period does make you consider who you really care to engage with. Even if you are actively looking for love, this time limit can still feel a little imposing if you just so happen to have a busy day here or there (Boost and Premium time extensions give you a little more leeway though.)

The photos and short bios are pretty close mock of Tinder, except for the fact that Bumble relieves the anxiety of accidentally swiping left on a hottie by letting you backtrack. It also mimics Hinge with profile prompts that act as ice breakers. Filtering by zodiac sign is also a thing. The internet is divided over whether this will actually help you find people you'd get along with, as anyone with basic astrology knowledge knows that sun signs aren't a tell-all. 

Bumble also offers a BFF feature to find strictly platonic friends and a LinkedIn-ish networking feature called Bizz in attempts to remind everyone that it's not just a casual hookup app.

Privacy policy: Bumble uses strictly necessary cookies for site functionality and also collects third-party cookies that link to social networks and that are used for advertising. You're able to manage your cookie preferences. Read the full privacy policy here.

Pros:

• Huge user base, even in small towns

• You can find pretty much any type of relationship whether you want a hookup or something long-term

Cons:

• Tons of App Store reviews talk about users getting banned from Tinder for seemingly no reason

• Don't be surprised if you get some gross messages

The OG swiping app is a great place to start if you don't really know what you're looking for. On Tinder, you can find people wanting a quick hookup, looking for something serious, and anything in between. Just swipe right on people you like and if they swipe right on you, it's a match and you can start chatting.

With each update, Tinder becomes more like a social media platform, making it kind of fun to find someone to date. And because it's arguably the most popular dating app, you'll actually be able to find people who interest you on there, even if you live in a small town. Unlike some of the more niche dating sites and apps that see a smaller user base.

On your Tinder profile, you can write a bio, add a song you consider your anthem, indicate your sexual orientation, include photos, and more. The free version of the app is plenty useful, but if you want to take it up a notch, three paid membership tiers give you more features like undoing a swipe, unlimited likes, and Passport which allows you to find people outside of your zip code.

It may not be the most streamlined dating app experience, but it certainly isn't trying to be. To swipe on Tinder is to learn all about the possibilities of meeting someone online. 

Privacy policy: Tinder has teams dedicated to keeping data secure and aims to be transparent in how your information is shared. Your information may be shared with third parties for data hosting, customer care, analytics, marketing, advertising, payment processing, and security operations. Read the full privacy policy here.

Read our full review of eharmony.

Pros:

• Compatibility-focused algorithm

• Almost everyone is looking for an actual relationship

Cons:

• Not very LGBTQ-friendly

• Might run into matches with incomplete profiles (aka, no photos... yikes)

Ever see a commercial for eharmony and wonder if a dating site that corny actually works? Weirdly enough, it does. A spokesperson for the site says it's been used by 54 million people, and is apparently responsible for 4 percent of U.S. marriages. That doesn't mean you're going to walk down the aisle within the first year, but it at least narrows your options to singles who are open to being exclusive, meeting the family, or moving in together.

What was once a doozy of a sign-up process is now short, sweet, and free of the corny, religious questions that held it back from being a top choice for the younger crowd. The comprehensive questionnaire now covers 32 dimensions (up from 29) of what makes a happy relationship. Instead of blatantly asking if you get mad easily or if you're emotionally stable, eharmony may ask how you handle apologizing after a fight or if a certain action would piss you off. These hypotheticals draw more natural responses, and a few other fun ones are thrown in to cover surface-level basics like hobbies, too. The site highly encourages honesty throughout its questionnaire which, if you're looking for a life partner, completely makes sense.

It should be noted that eharmony hasn't always been a welcoming place to members of the LGBTQ community. Following a 2010 lawsuit, their gay and lesbian spin-off site Compatibility Partners has been folded into eharmony's overall site, but users on Reddit as recently as 2019 say that it still seems geared more toward straight people. It was only as of December 2021 that bisexual users could see potential matches of both genders at the same time.

Privacy policy: eharmony collects cookies for its own purposes and for third-party advertisers. You have the option to opt out of certain cookies. Read the full privacy policy here.

Read our full review of EliteSingles.

Pros:

• Matchmaking algorithm learns your habits to suggest better matches

• Older, more mature user base if you're feeling out of place on Tinder and Hinge

Cons:

• Only get three to five matches per day, and they might not all be winners thanks to the small and spread out user base

• Can't set location preferences closer than 50 miles away

A difference in work ethic and professional schedules can really throw a wrench into even the most head-over-heels relationships. For those unwilling to budge when it comes to their partner's educational values and career goals, EliteSingles attempts to offer more specificity where eharmony and Match leave off.

EliteSingles loves to brag that 85 percent of their members are college educated, and with most of its members between 33-50 years old, we can pretty surely say you won't have to worry about accidentally coming across a fresh college graduate. College kids probably wouldn't be down to pay over $20 a month on a dating site anyway, and that high subscription price is just another giveaway that EliteSingles is targeted toward more established folks with a disposable income.

Rather than being thrown into an endless pool of profiles, EliteSingles attempts to match you through the Five Factor Personality Test. Via 29 algorithms, the site will try to find singles to complement your attachment style, selfishness, and more stuff that you should try to be honest about. The boring parts are broken up by chill questions like "Do you like sleeping with the window open?" and "Which of these foods would you like the best?" It takes forever and a lot of the questions are fake deep, but how else do you expect to be successful on a dating site?

Plus, you can take comfort in the fact that you won’t be dealing with too many fake or scam accounts, as EliteSingles manually verifies all accounts with an upscale fraud detection system. However, though you can technically filter potential matches by profession (for example, a teacher looking to date another teacher), it’s difficult for any dating site to track down every single person lying about their job or how much money they make.

Privacy policy: EliteSingles collects and uses your data for internal services like analytics and site improvements and for third parties for marketing and advertising. By using the site, you automatically agree to all cookies, and you have to contact the company if you want to opt out of any. Read the full privacy policy here.

Pros:

• Matches are vetted and curated before you see them

• In-depth profiles go beyond a handful of corny prompts

Cons:

• Bland features compared to some of the more popular dating sites

• Not great if you're looking for a large pool of potential matches

Grabbing coffee is the low-pressure date idea that lets you skip trying to choose a dressy-but-not-too-extra outfit for a concert or a restaurant. Coffee Meets Bagel is like the "grabbing coffee" version of dating apps. (It's actually one of the few dating apps that doesn't get completely roasted on Reddit, and threads on a few Reddit posts are full of promising success stories.)

Millions upon millions of active users is usually a plus. It is nice to know that your options are virtually limitless, but it's a bit jarring to have 20 new messages to read every time you sign on. This happens on eharmony and Tinder alike — people want connection, and they want it now. The slow and steady approach is great for singles who are rusty, introverted, or who simply don't feel like scrolling every free minute.

Every day, CMB offers seven of its best matches (bagels) for you, chosen by your answers to prompts, how you swiped on yesterday's batch, and who has already expressed interest in you, too. You're encouraged to get the ball rolling with matches disappearing in seven days. It's less pressure than Bumble's 24-hour time limit but still eliminates a list full of people who don't care enough to respond or plan a meet-up. 

Privacy policy: Coffee Meets Bagel's privacy policy includes a list of actions you agree not to do on the app, including advertising products or multi-level marketing schemes. As for your information, CMB collects the basic personal and anonymous cookies and collects information from your Facebook profile when you link it during sign-up. CMB shares your information for direct marketing, research, fraud prevention, and information security. Read the full privacy policy here.

Pros:

• Something for every type of queer woman

• Space for community events

Cons:

• Might run into fake profiles or couples looking for a third

• Poor user interface

Apps like Tinder and Bumble are technically for all orientations, but they don't necessarily cater to the LGBTQ community. Given the existence of Grindr and Scruff, the need for an online dating arena specifically for queer women was clear — thus, HER. Founders of the award-winning app are committed to cultivating a space that’s “so ragingly queer" that frustrated women can delete apps that don't feel like home.

As the user base of over 4 million grows, HER could widen your dating pool beyond the queer women you already know. Users can get creative in profile building with categories like diet preferences (like veganism), and star signs, as well as a "What does this mean?" field in the sex, gender, and pronoun categories to supply a more well-rounded understanding of identity. The traditional text bio is where you can flex your sense of humor or describe what kind of relationship you're seeking. Joining niche groups like "newly out" or "travelers" can introduce you to people using the app for similar reasons.

Above all else, HER is an online space strictly for queer women. Many of the app's regulars are simply looking to make friends or scope out the queer community in a new town. Switching over to the community feed opens the door to virtual hangouts with self-curated groups for queer women of color or interests like local LGBTQ events or the new lesbian films that mainstream Twitter will probably ignore. 

Privacy policy: HER collects personal information that can identify you and anonymous information that is not tied to you. The company uses cookies for marketing purposes like emails to see if users are actually opening promotional emails. HER also uses third parties for advertising. There is not a clear way to opt out of cookies on its website unless you are a California resident. Read the full privacy policy here.

Pros:

• Virtually every gay gay looking to date is on Grindr

• Easier to find a hookup than Tinder

Cons:

• You will likely get some unsolicited dick pics or NSFW messages from strangers

• Occasional biphobia

With Chappy shutting down in February 2019, there aren't many apps specifically for queer men that aren't some iteration of Grindr's ab pic and dick pic-filled feed. But even after a decade of the same horny agenda, Grindr remains a go-to for instantaneous location-based hookups for gay and bi men — even in small towns with a meager queer population where Tinder and OkCupid haven't caught on.

Instead of swiping right or left to match, you'll get a borderline-infinite collage of people who are close location-wise. Aside from it being overwhelming and slightly frightening, it's obvious that there are a ton of men out there waiting for a conversation. Whether someone is looking for a relationship or just to bang will probably be obvious within the first few messages, though you can also use the basic filters to suss out what people might be looking for before ever sending a message. By far, the biggest advantage of the grid system is that it all but guarantees you'll find someone down to meet in no time. 

The main complaint from bisexual people about Grindr isn't that it's aggressively horny or 99 percent men. It's the biphobia. This entire thread of Reddit users have experienced it in some way, describing the disappointment they feel from not being supported by their LGBTQ community and getting messages like "vaginas are gross" at the first mention of being bisexual or anything that's not strictly gay. 

Privacy policy: Grindr aims to be transparent with your privacy by sending privacy pop-up notifications that explain anything you might opt into. You're able to withhold some personal information. Some information is provided to third parties for advertising and service purposes. You are able to opt out of some cookies. Note: Grindr has had data breaches in the past. Read the full privacy policy here.

Pros:

• Large pool of people 50 or older

• In-depth personality test at sign-up helps the algorithm find actually compatible matches

Cons:

• Only three to seven matches per day

• Setting a location limit is basically pointless because you'll still get matches outside of your radius

Dating over 50 means that, more than likely, this is your second or third attempt at love. When Match or eharmony's user bases still pose too much of a never married, no kids crowd, SilverSingles is here to let you know that putting yourself back out there during your golden years doesn't have to be scary. 

A sister site to EliteSingles, SilverSingles uses the same intense compatibility system that EliteSingles does, bringing in the popular big five personality traits to assess five levels of your being: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Rather than sitting around sifting through a never-ending pool, you'll receive five handpicked matches per day.

Reddit user LSMJIMMY, who found the "right one" on SilverSingles in 2020, gave this advice on Reddit: "I put up 18 pictures and changed the primary picture every few days to keep it fresh. I also edited or changed the responses to the questions about once per week. I spelled out what I DID NOT want...I am not a couch potato and love to travel fish, boat, ride motorcycles, hotrods, etc, etc. That cleans out the "sit and knit" crowd and I mentioned that I am "actively romantic" which cleans out the ladies that have lost the Zest for Life, if you know what I mean. I don't have time to drag this dating thing out, so I think it helped by getting what Who I am and want I am looking for on the table early."

Privacy policy: SilverSingles uses SSL encryption and fraud detection systems to keep your information secure. It uses your information for site functionality purposes and for targeted ads through its website, email, social media channels, or third-party sites. Read the full privacy policy here.

Pros:

• Sexting and dirty video chats are encouraged

• Photos delete after being seen and you are notified if someone takes a screenshot, giving you peace of mind that your nudes aren't staying with a virtual stranger

Cons:

• Small user base might limit your options of close hook-ups

• Might run into sex workers just trying to promote themselves

Let's scrap the dreaded "What are we?" talk, shall we? Pure is the place to find a hookup who won't text you earlier than midnight. App rules urge you to "pretend like you're strangers afterwards," making no-strings-attached the only name of the game here. This minimalistic and hella millennial app is no-nonsense, sex-positive, and even features some art — the blueprint of what a hookup app should be. 

Your uploaded selfies, personal info, and conversations with others self destruct every 60 minutes, promoting spur-of-the-moment and borderline anonymous connections. The app will ask for your phone number and credit card info, but that's just to make sure you're a real person. The app uses your geolocation and sends out the sex version of an Uber request, rather than trying to pair you with someone who lives in another state.

We like that Pure gives all the feels of a hookup-only site without the obnoxious spam and nudes everywhere. The surge of blatant sex positivity is a breath of fresh air when compared to other dating apps that try to convince you that you'll find your soulmate. Pure understands that your perfect match is someone willing to get down and dirty in the same ways you are. 

Privacy policy: Pure collects personal and anonymous data to provide site/app functionality and monitor personal use. It shares data to third parties for marketing and anti-fraud purposes. Read the full privacy policy here.

Pros:

• Unique concept that you won't see on mainstream dating apps

• You actually get to know someone instead of swiping based on looks and a short bio

Cons:

• Super small user base and not available everywhere

• Some users had issues with their profile photos being removed for "not meeting photo guidelines"

Whenever Love Island contestants ask each other what their usual type is, they without fail say something like, "I don't really have a type. I usually go for personality." If you, too, go for personality first, looks second, Jigsaw is the dating app for you.

Jigsaw works by covering faces in photos with a jigsaw puzzle. As you message a person and get to know them, pieces will fall away to eventually reveal the face of the person you now have somewhat of a connection with. It's like the app version of Love is Blind. You judge someone based on how well you get along instead of how hot they look in their profile pictures. The app doesn't even ask for your height, body type, or ethnicity when you create a profile. Instead you pick answers to prompts like what your love language is and to what extent you drink, including your drink of choice. You also choose qualities on a slider scale like whether you're an introvert or extrovert and whether you're more creative or logical. And finally, you select three ice breaker questions to give people a jumping off point for getting to know you.

The downside? Jigsaw is still pretty new, with only about 100,000 users and only available in certain areas, like New York City. But if dating apps are feeling a little too superficial for your tastes, it might be worth joining the growing user base.

Privacy policy: Jigsaw collects the data you give for your profile, information about the device you use for the app, and location data. It also gets data from third parties for targeted advertising. Jigsaw may share your data with third parties such as service providers like web hosts, analytics services, and legal services. Read the full privacy policy here.

Pros:

• You can meet people locally and have higher odds of meeting that special someone who frequents that same spot as you 

• More swipe-based model still available if you want to discover users the old-fashioned dating app way

Cons:

• Though it does have a decent user base, if you don't leave in a super populated area, you might not find the most variety in the people you cross paths with. 

• Might make for some awkward run-ins down the line if it doesn't work out, though, to be fair, this is a risk you run with dating in general

A common complaint about dating apps is that they take away the magic the in-person chance encounter that turns into something more. But what if there was a dating app that made sure you didn't miss out on any potential meet cutes? 

Enter happn, the app version of a "missed connections" page. The app uses your current location to show you other users nearby that you might've just been a little too nervous to approach in person. Unlike the location-based approach of Tinder, happn uses a map to show you where the users are, and only leaves their profiles up for up to 30 days, so you don't have to worry about it getting so filled with profiles that it's impossible to sort through. And if you're not in the mood to see every single happn user you come across, you can set filters for gender and age range.

If while you're waiting to spot that cutie you want to do some discovering, this app also gives you the option to do some more standard dating app swiping. Almost every profile has a clear picture with the person's face on it (necessary for confirming that is in fact that same person you've been checking out every time you grab your morning coffee) thanks to sign-up screening process. In addition, users are required to answer a series of standard dating app questions, like if you smoke or have kids. 

Privacy policy: Happn collects information like your location, identification data, and data on how you interact with the app. Happn uses this information for basic functions of the app like suggesting people you've crossed paths with as well as delivering marketing and advertising content. Read the full privacy policy here.

Read our full review of Zoosk.

Pros:

• Behavioral matchmaking algorithm

• Historically large user base 

Cons:

• Have to pay for communication features

• Too many dead or fake profiles

What initially began as a Facebook app developed in 2007 has grown into a company with more than 40 million users in more than 80 countries. Although it's grown impressively, where it's at currently doesn't make it all that admirable an option for finding your future someone.

Rather than asking its users for dating questions, Zoosk picks dates for its users based on quick questions about physical appearance and religion, and then keeps tabs on who you talk to the most to get a better idea of what you're after. It's a decently cool feature, but also not wildly different from most other dating apps — apps which have better overall better interfaces, more users, and don't cost money to use. 

Incorporating "liking" photos and having a similar look as a Facebook feed was attractive to young, single people... in the early 2000s. The problem is that Zoosk hasn't changed much since then. It's plain, riddled with dead or fake profiles, and there certainly aren't any modern tweaks like OkCupid's politics-related ice breakers or Match's overhauled questionnaire. Despite Zoosk being advertised everywhere, people started opting for Match Group's offerings with more premium designs, less messy notifications, and personalized algorithms.

Zoosk is free to sign up for, but you'll need a paid subscription to do basically anything. Not only is there a fee on the end of every message, but Reddit users complain about random charges to their account and ignored requests to cancel their subscriptions. The company also uses its own form of currency called "Zoosk coins" that are available for purchase. The whole coin system feels less like romance and more like you're playing some sort of pop-up ad game, but they're there. Personally, we'd say Zoosk is the last dating site you should try, but it has had a good success rate in the past, according to the company itself. 

Privacy policy: Zoosk tracks cookies and provides information to third parties for custom advertising, to improve services, and to prevent fraud. Zoosk has faced legal action for data breaches in the past. Read the full privacy policy here.