Best Dating Apps Reddit 2021
Straight and same-sex couples. This is the dating app where women have to make the first. See the Top-rated dating sites in every category. We countdown the best sites for relationships, love, casual dating, and more. You’ll learn about free, paid, and trial dating sites available today.
Jane, a 58-year-old online entrepreneur in Florida who says she’s critiqued about 50 OLD profiles on Reddit, remembers one barbed comment that read: “Dude, just go back into your basement.”. But Jane sees her amateur dating coach duties as half cheerleader and half someone who will “kick you in the seat of your pants.”.
(Ad) With so many dating sites out there, it can be challenging to find something genuine. Luckily, there are plenty of apps and sites designed for singles looking to settle down, have fun, or find a travel buddy.
So read on and discover the 12 best dating sites to find the partner you want.
Top Dating Sites: First Look
- Best dating site for serious relationships - eHarmony
- Best feature-rich dating site - Zoosk
- Best dating site for women - Bumble
- Best free dating site for singles - Hinge
- Best dating app for Christian singles - ChristianMingle
- Best dating app for older singles - SilverSingles
- Best dating app for Jewish singles - JDate
- Highly rated by Time Magazine - OkCupid
- Best dating app for relationships - Plenty of Fish
- Best dating service for love and marriage - Match
- Best dating forum for Redditors - Reddit R4R
- Most effective dating site for all ages - Tinder
1. eHarmony - Best Dating Site for Serious Dating
Pros
- Ideal for serious dating
- Intelligent matching algorithm
- Large member base
Cons
- Expensive
- Only offers long-term subscriptions
eHarmony has been around since 2000 and has helped countless couples to find love. The platform boasts a unique matchmaking algorithm based on a detailed personality test that creates perfect matches. Currently, it's said that the site helps generate 15 million matches per day, and a large portion of those end in a serious relationship or even marriage.
On the downside, eHarmony only offers long-term plans, with the shortTest one being six months for $59.90. The annual plan is cheaper, ending up at $35.90. However, members have access to a wide range of valuable features such as the 'What If?' function, which provides you with 30 extra matches outside your preference list for more options.
2. Zoosk - Best Dating Site with Plenty of Features
Pros
- Plenty of active members
- Mobile app available
- Great for long-term relationships
Cons
- No messaging on the free plan
- Pricey
Zoosk's mission is to bring like-minded singles together. So, whether you're looking for a long-term relationship or a quick fling, this may be the app for you. The app is available in over 80 countries worldwide, and it has a large and active member base — guaranteeing matches.
However, Zoosk’s membership plans are a little expensive. If you want to get the one-month plan, that'll cost you $29.99, and the three-month subscription costs $59.99. With all that in mind, Zoosk offers many features, such as the 'Super Send' feature, which allows you to send a flirty text to multiple people at once.
3. Bumble - Best Dating Site for Women
Pros
- User-friendly and aesthetic
- Almost equal male to female ratio
- Sending messages is free
Cons
- No search option
- Needs to be linked with Facebook
Bumble puts the power of finding love into women's hands and is rated as one of the top dating apps for women. Founded in 2014, Bumble limits the ability to send the first message to women only, to give women more control, since most apps are male-dominated.
If you don't like the idea of linking Facebook with your Bumble account, unfortunately, there is no way around that. Other than that, Bumble offers plenty of interactive features that you can play around with, like 'SuperSwipe' to let someone know that you really like them.
Bumble is free to use and message with, but users can purchase BumbleBoost to get their profile features on the front page.
4. Hinge - Best App for Short- and Long-Term Relationships
Pros
- Good for serious dating
- Free dating site
- Mobile app friendly
Cons
- No desktop site
- Not many features
Hinge has done a massive turnaround on the type of app it used to be and is now best known for creating more serious partnerships. To prove that, Hinge encourages its users to delete the app once they've found their match, to seal the deal.
While there is no desktop version, the Hinge app is free to use, and if you opt for a membership, you can send unlimited likes and see everyone who likes you. The Preferred member plan costs $9.99 per month or $20.97 for three months.
5. ChristianMingle - Best Site for Christian Singles
Pros
- Fast registration
- Strict verification
- User-friendly app
Cons
- Limited free version
- Very basic features
- Expensive
ChristianMingle is a great site for religious singles looking for love. It follows a strict verification system to ensure that all members are honest about their identity, and currently, there are approximately 10 million members worldwide.
The profiles on ChristianMingle are very detailed and include plenty of photos. This is effective for finding a likeminded partner and helps to avoid fake profiles. Unfortunately, on the free plan, you can't send any messages. However, paying for a membership shows that you're serious about dating. Right now, the monthly plan costs a staggering $49.99, or you can pay $149.94 for six months.
6. SilverSingles - Best Dating Platform for Older Members
Pros
- Ideal for over 50s
- User-friendly
- Compatibility matching
Cons
- Limited free version
- Not a huge member base
Older individuals looking for love should give SilverSingles a try! It's organized in a way that's accessible to more senior members and is super user-friendly. Even though the member base isn't very active, it's still known to be one of the most popular apps for seniors in America.
SilverSingles features a free personality test, which lets you find more compatible matches. However, its other functions, like messaging and viewing photos, are only available on the paid plan. It's possible to get a six-month membership for $167.70 or a cheaper monthly one for $54.95.
7. JDate - Best Dating App for Jewish Members
Pros
- Easy to use
- Plenty of online and offline singles events
- Chatroom available
Cons
- Only paying members can message
- Costly
JDate app is designed to help Jewish singles find love, but you don't have to be Jewish to join the site. It's also an excellent platform if you aren't Jewish but would like to date someone who is. Statistically, JDate has been responsible for up to — which is a pretty impressive success rate!
On the downside, many features are only available to paying members, and the plans aren't cheap. Right now, a monthly plan costs $59.99, and it's $179.94 for six months. Even though plans are pricey, JDate makes up for it with its high success rate.
8. OkCupid - The Fastest-Growing Dating Site
Pros
- Large and active user base
- Most features are free
- Mobile-friendly app
Cons
- Many fake profiles
- History of major data leaks
OkCupid is a fast-growing site with an impressively large member base. Because there are so many active users, it's easier to find someone likeminded who shares the same values as you.
OkCupid’s large member base creates the potential for more fake profiles; however, these can be weeded out pretty quickly. OkCupid features plenty of subscription plans, but the free plan is pretty great. Users can message view other profiles and more without paying a dime.
9. Plenty of Fish - Best Dating App for Relationships
Pros
- Lots of free features
- Good security functions
- Free online personality assessment
Cons
- Many spam users
- Can't link outside accounts
PlentyOfFish has been around since 2003 and has over 90 million active members. Currently, it boasts of having created up to one million relationships from its app — which is pretty impressive. It offers a free online personality assessment to help you find the ideal match.
You can create an account and send messages for free, but you have access to more perks if you opt for a membership. For example, you then have access to the 'Meet Me' feature that lets you find matches based on your location and whether matches nearby are up for a date. Its best deal is the eight-month plan, which costs $81.40.
10. Match - Best Global Dating Site for Love
Pros
- Around for 20+ years
- Mobile-friendly
- High member activity
Cons:
- Pricey
- Limited free version
Match is one of the oldest relationship platforms, with a high success rate for creating long-lasting relationships. Best of all, Match offers a guarantee that if you don’t find love within six months of joining, it will provide you with six additional months for free!
The downside is that the free version is very limited, and you can't send messages unless you opt for a membership. The three-month plan is going for $44.97, and six months are $68.94. Yet, due to its impressive success rate and guarantee, it's worth giving Match.com a try.
11. Reddit R4R - Best Dating Site for Redditors
Pros
- Free to use
- Convenient
- Anyone can post
Cons
- Not for serious individuals
- Not all users post photos
Reddit R4R is a forum on Reddit that's designed primarily for meetups, hookups or casual no-strings-attached relationships. Usually, users post a quick intro about themselves, including their age and location, asking if anyone wants to meet up. While it's possible to find something more serious through this site, it's not as common.
12. Tinder - One of the More Popular Dating Apps
Pros
- Easy and fun to use
- Can connect with other apps
- Plenty of members
Cons
- Superficial
- Lack of security
Tinder is popular among all ages, especially the younger generation. It's free to download, and many users use Tinder to hook up or make friends.
Tinder's swiping function is very interactive, and once you match with someone locally, it's easy to make a date. On the downside, you need to have a Facebook account to join Tinder. However, if you have one, the process is simple.
Best Dating Sites: FAQ
Can I Find a Serious Relationship on a Dating Site?
Even if you're looking for a serious relationship, you may get lucky on a dating site. Plenty of platforms are designed for people who are tired of casual dating or hookup culture and want something real based on compatibility. Usually, these platforms include personality assessment and other features to find you the perfect match.
Which Dating Site Is Best for Serious Relationships?
Today, the best sites for something more serious are eHarmony, Match, and Hinge. These platforms are designed in a way that attracts more serious daters, and some even include a unique character quiz to determine your personality traits and find someone compatible with you.
What Makes a Dating Site Better for Relationships Than Others?
Websites like eHarmony tend to boast a unique matchmaking system aimed at matching people based on their shared interests, life values, and what they want out of a relationship. While it's costly, members who wish to invest in something long-term are often happy to pay more for this type of algorithm.
Though apps like Tinder are great for connecting likeminded people, they usually focus more on having fun and going on multiple dates. And while that comes with its own merits, sometimes it's trickier to find a lasting relationship that way.
How Can I Avoid Fake Profiles and Scams on Dating Sites?
Like any site, dating sites are also home to fake profiles and scams. So, it's important to know how to protect yourself online.
- Don't give out too much personal information. Never put your exact address, phone number, or place of work in an online profile.
- Never, under any circumstances, send money to or receive money from someone you don't know.
- Before you meet someone, make sure their story checks out. Google their name, or do a quick image search on Google.
Finally, stick to trusted sites like the ones mentioned today.
How Can You Stay Safe While Dating Online?
There are a few tips to keep in mind for staying safe while looking for love online.
- When you meet someone for the first time, do so in a public place, like a cafe or a restaurant.
- Tell your friends and family who you're meeting and where.
- Travel there and back yourself, and don't accept any rides from your date until you know them better.
Tips for a Successful First Date
First dates can be scary. But they don't have to be, if you avoid putting too much pressure on yourself. It's a good idea to imagine that you're meeting a friend, rather than a potential date, so there are fewer nerves involved.
Also, it's essential to be yourself and not put on an act. While it might be tempting to pretend that you like a certain football team even though you hate sports, lack of honesty will catch up to you in the future.
Finally, remember that a perfect match doesn't require perfect compatibility. Two people with singular interests can find common ground and have a very good relationship.
Best Dating Sites: The Takeaway
Hopefully, from the list of 12 dating sites, you can find the one that suits you best. Looking for love doesn't have to be scary, and it's made easy by sites like eHarmony, which rely on personality assessments to determine your ideal match.
The important thing is to remain openminded while you browse for the best dating site for you. Let us know your thoughts by commenting below, and thanks for reading.
Online dating has become all-the-rage over the past couple of decades, transforming the way that single people find a suitable partner.
From a technological perspective many of the best dating apps are pretty sophisticated – a factor that has helped them become a worldwide phenomenon.
In an age where people have increasing demands placed on their time, dating apps can take some of the stress out of trying to discover your perfect match.
Best Dating Sites Reddit
As with any type of technology not all dating apps are created equally, so read on as we look at some of the best in the business.
Tinder
According to a recent Betway study into the world of online dating, Tinder is the unrivalled number one when it comes user satisfaction.
Best Dating Apps Australia Reddit 2021
Their research showed that Tinder was the highest-rated dating app in the iOS app store in 86 percent of the 165 countries researched.
With two billion views per day, the app’s ‘swipe right’ feature to contact potential partners is a term that has become firmly embedded into popular culture.
According to Tinder’s website, the app is responsible for setting up around 1.5 million dates per week, while over 60 billion matches have been made since the app was launched.
Badoo
Badoo claims to be the most popular dating app in the world, although Betway’s study suggests that it is has been blown out of the water by Tinder.
Launched in 2009 by Russian entrepreneur Andrey Andreev, the app employs geolocation tools and facial recognition software to find suitable matches for users.
The latter feature allows users to upload an image of a person they like and find other Badoo users who look similar.
Badoo bears some similarities to social networking sites, with the ability to share photos and videos setting it apart from many of its dating app rivals.
Hinge
Aimed firmly at the Instagram generation, Hinge arguably offers a far greater level of accountability than many other dating apps.
When you download Hinge, you are given the option to join with your mobile number, although an increasing number of people choose the option to use Facebook when they sign-up.
It uses a sophisticated algorithm to help facilitate connections, with a new ‘most compatible’ feature taking the guesswork out of finding a suitable partner.
While Hinge is free to download, their paid-for preferred membership plan guarantees to generate at least twice as many dates and comes with more in-depth personal preference options.
Happn
Have you spotted someone in your local coffee shop who takes your fancy, but don’t have the courage to chat them up in person?
If the answer to that question is ‘yes’, Happn is the app for you as it uses geolocation technology to match singles based on their proximity to other users.
Where Happn really excels is the quality of their moderation, meaning that you are very unlikely to encounter someone with a fake profile.
Although Happn is more geared to singles who live in or near big towns and cities, it is unquestionably one of the best dating apps around.