Best Relationship Dating Apps

1. Best Dating Sites For Relationships
2. Best Dating Apps For Long Term Relationships
3. Best Apps For Relationships
4. 10 Best Dating Apps
5. Best Relationship Dating Apps

Though only five percent of coupled-up folks met their partner online, according to the Pew Research Center, online dating has definitely taken off in the past decade. Though if you’re single, that’s no news to you: it’s nearly impossible to get through a conversation with anyone without someone asking “Are you online? That’s what the kids are using these days!”

But with so many choices: Tinder, Hinge, Bumble and countless other apps and websites, if you’re not looking to date until you drop (or until you develop carpal tunnel), which online sites are best for finding a relationship? Though there are no guarantees that who you’re matching with is actually single or looks like the photos they post (the fear of Catfishing is real, y’all) — online dating experts have been able to narrow down the playing field and give honest, candid advice about what apps will actually produce people who, ultimately, are swiping for the same thing you are: love.

So before you dive into the pool of quick decisions based on a single image and where one small box of text defines you, let those who swipe best give you some pointers of where to start:

1. Hinge

12 Best Relationship Apps for Couples. Simply Us: Top Relationship Calendar Apps for Couples. Simply Us is an app to organize your activities. Whether you want to make to-do lists, projects, send photos between each other, and stay in the loop when you’re away, Simply Us has you covered. Many couples have a hard time remembering everything.

What it is: Hinge is a dating app that will only match you with first, second and third degree connections via your Facebook friends. That way, you kind-or-sort-of have a mutual connection, or know someone who knows your possible future happy hour date.

EHarmony – Best App for Marriage and Serious Relationships eHarmony is the crown jewel when it comes to dating apps for relationships. The site prides itself on attracting singles that are looking for something special. You’ll find very few, if any, people just trying to find something casual. Check out the best dating apps for finding new friends, hook-ups and romantic partners, whether you're looking for a long-term relationship or just a quick fling.

Cool features: You have to act fast if you want to keep your match. Recently, they introduced a new feature where your match disappears within 24 hours if you don’t reach out or they don’t. Also, unlike some other apps, Hinge limits your daily match pool to 5-15, so you’re really forced to check back day after day.

Why it’s good for relationships: Julia Spira, online dating expert and founder of Cyber-Dating says Hinge is great because you know exactly who you’re talking to, since it lists their first and last name pulled from Facebook. “It gives you a feeling of confidence and safety to know that the person is genuine and authentic. Women love the app because it makes them feel safer while dating,” she says. “Users can also check with their friends to get the digital thumbs up or down on a potential date.”

2. Coffee Meets Bagel

What it is: Coffee Meets Bagel is a dating app feasts on your lunchtime break from work: you’re sent one match per day at noon.

Cool feature: Like, Hinge, time is of the essence: once you match, you can start chatting privately right away, but your messages will disappear after eight days. So if you like someone, grab their digits, stat.

Why it’s good for relationships: Spira says that CMB won the hearts of singles looking for love online the founders, the Kang sisters, turned down $30 million from Mark Cuban on Shark Tank because it didn’t feel right. Plus, Spira says, if you’re balancing a full-time job, a busy social life and still trying to find love, CMB makes it simple and not time consuming to date. “For those of you who feel overwhelmed with too many choices, or are too busy to log on regularly, this is a more manageable dating app,” she says.

3. Happn

What it is: Happn is an app that kind of gives you the option to have a meet-cute with someone you walk by every single day. Based on your location, it tracks people you’ve matched with who are literally close by and tells you every single time you pass each other in real life. If you can get over the stalkerish vibe, it’s actually a good way to meet people who live in your neighborhood.

Cool feature: You can connect the app to your instagram to see if your hashtags are compatible, too.

Why it’s good for relationships: “Remember Craiglist’s Missed Connections? Happn is the modern approach,” Spira says. “If you think you might miss out on a digital crush who hangs in the same hood as you, but are on the shy side, this app is for you. You won’t have to wonder about the one who got away.”

4. Bumble

What it is: Often referred to as the ‘Feminist’ dating app, Bumble is a lot like Tinder (and was created by former Tinder co-founder and VP, Whitney Wolfe), except that once you match with someone, only the female can make the first contact.

Cool feature: Like other dating apps — CMB and Hinge — you have to act fast to express interest because matches disappear within 24 hours if you don’t strike up conversation.

Why it’s good for relationships: “It's great that women can enjoy being the one in control. Let's face it. Guys are competitive and want to get selected,” Spira says. “They also know they won't be rejected if she's starting the conversation.”

5. Tinder

What it is: Though Tinder is typically labeled 'the hookup app', it also happens to be the fastest growing location-based mobile and you can’t ignore that sometimes, it does produce relationships. After all with nine billion matches, 10 million users and 16 million swipes every single day, how could it not?

Best Dating Sites For Relationships

Cool feature: While Tinder is free, you can pay for Tinder Plus to use their passport feature (allowing you to swipe in other cities you’re visiting or relocating to) and the ability to go back if you accidentally swiped left on someone you meant to swipe right on. No more Swipe Regret for you!

Why it’s good for relationships: Spira says that digital dating is a numbers game and if you want a relationship, having Tinder puts the odds in your favor. Someone who might not be that into online dating may give Tinder a shot, only because it’s so easy to use — signing up with Facebook — and so many people already use it.

Want more of Bustle's Sex and Relationships coverage? Check out our new podcast, I Want It That Way, which delves into the difficult and downright dirty parts of a relationship, and find more on our Soundcloud page.

Images: Fotolia; Hinge, Coffee Meets Bagel, Happn, Bumble, Tinder

Hoping to dip your feet back into the dating world after a prolonged period of practicing social distancing? If matching with a potential new partner in the'before times' was complicated—adding a global pandemic to the mix has made it even trickier to find that spark or connection. During this new normal, flirting with potential paramours over an online dating app might be the best way to get to know someone.

But the truth is, online dating can feel overwhelming. It’s not just having to make judgements based off a couple of photos and one-line bios, or the awkwardness of sending direct messages (or DMs) to strangers only to be ghosted. The sheer number of apps and users can make simply swiping seem like a daunting task.

In fact, the online dating audience is expected to grow to 37.5 million users by 2023, according to data from Statista. And by 2040, eHarmony predicts that 70 percent of couples will have started their relationships online. It's possible to make that dating world feel manageable, though—you just have to find the right app. For example, there are niche platforms specifically for those who love farming, bacon, or even beard-stroking (yes, seriously).

Best Dating Apps For Long Term Relationships

So if you’re looking to make a broader connection with, say, someone over 50, newly dating after divorce, hoping for a virtual video date, or are searching for a relationship, these online dating apps (some, even free) cover all the bases.

1. Match

Apple, Android

Match is the most popular online dating app in 17 states according to PCMag’s survey of 2,000 people. As one of the OG dating services (it’s moved from website-only to a website and app), Match has a specific appeal to those between 45 and 65 looking for a serious relationship; additional research by SurveyMonkey found that 58 percent of adults 45-54 years old use Match, more than double the percent who use Tinder. You can download it for free, although that will restrict you to browsing; if you want to actually message potential partners, subscriptions start at $21.99 a month.

2. OurTime

Apple, Android

Dating apps aren’t just for millenials; 20 percent of internet users between the ages of 55 to 64 have used a dating app or service, according to a poll from technology and research company Morning Consult. OurTime turns the idea of hookup culture on its head; instead, it encourages users to search for pen pals, friends, dates, long-term relationshipsand marriage partners. The free-to-download app lets you send emails, flirt, and match with potential partners, and a premium subscription ($38 per month) allows for additional features like the ability to see who has liked your profile.

3. Bumble

Apple, Android

Bumble set itself apart from all the other dating services crowding the app store by requiring women to make the first move once a match is made. You also only get 24 hours to send a message, unless you invest in a Boost membership, which starts at $10.99 for a week. Women love the app because it cuts down on the number of unsolicited messages, and men love it—in fact, 58 percent of the respondents who preferred Bumble in PCMag’s survey were guys—because it takes some of the pressure off initiating. Plus, once you find somebody you're interested in, you have the option of going on a video date in-app.

4. Tinder

Apple, Android

Tinder may have brought on'hookup culture,' but it’s still one of the top dating apps in the U.S. It has about 8 million users, the most of any other dating app surveyed by Statista. That means you have a pretty solid chance of eventually matching with someone who piques your interest—even if it takes a lot of left-swiping to get there. The app is free, but you can access premium features like Tinder Plus starting around $9.99 a month.

5. Plenty of Fish

Apple, Android

Another one of the original dating websites-turned-apps with an eye towards finding a relationship, POF had 90 million users in its heydey. It’s still popular (Statista ranked it as number two), and the app claims you’re 2.7 times more likely to enter a conversation in your first 24 hours than on other apps. In polling its female users, the app found that 44 percent were single mothers—and that they find a partner 10 percent faster than the average user. Download and swipe for free, and upgrade to add more photos or show up first to potential partners starting at $19.99.

6. Hinge

Apple, Android

After filling in the app’s questionnaire and prompts (think standard icebreakers like:“my biggest pet peeve is…” and“my go-to karaoke song is…”), Hinge will start matching you with users who share common interests. The algorithm also serves you with your“Most Compatible” matches—who you’re eight times more likely to go out with, they say. And not only does the app show you how many people have liked you, it also tells you what they liked about you, making it easy to start a conversation.

7. OKCupid

Apple, Android

OKCupid’s algorithm uses a series of questions to determine what“percentage” you’ll match with any of its five million users. That compatibility-driven focus is especially appealing to women, who made up 58 percent of the respondents who preferred this app in PCMag’s poll. It’s also super inclusive, offering 12 gender identities and 20 sexual orientations so you can define yourself however you want and match with exactly who you’re looking for.

8. Zoosk

Apple, Android

Originally a Facebook app, Zoosk is now one of the largest dating sites out there, with over 30 million downloads since its launch in 2007. Today, it has over a million active users, according to Statista—and 500,000 of those are paying members, which means more than half of the users are seriously committed to find a match. Instead of forcing you to fill out a lengthy questionnaire, the app’s algorithm notes who you’re interacting with to better serve up potential matches.

9. eHarmony

Apple, Android

At this point, eHarmony is a household name. It’s Match’s biggest competitor, and it’s two largest age groups are 30- to 44-year-olds and 55- to 64-year-olds. The sign-up process—which includes a very detailed, 150-question questionnaire—is a journey, but the brand once claimed to be responsible for creating 4% of marriages in the U.S. Plus, premium subscription members have the option to go on a video date before meeting in person.

10. Coffee Meets Bagel

Best Apps For Relationships

Apple, Android

Everyday at noon, Coffee Meets Bagel will curate and send you quality matches—or'bagels' as they call them—selected by its algorithm. With no swiping involved and a limited daily selection, this app is designed not to overwhelm. Plus, the in-depth profiles and'ice-breaker' questions encourage meaningful conversation, making this app perfect for those looking to start serious relationships.

11. Hily

Apple, Android

With more than 14 million users, Hily stands for'Hey, I like you!' The app uses AI to continuously improve matchmaking, and has features like Hily stories to help you better capture who you are. The app is free, with an optional subscription for an ad-free and incognito-mode experience.

12. BLK

Apple, Android

If you're looking for fellow Black singles who share your interests, BLK is a dating app that specializes in finding that connection in their community of users. With over 4 million downloads, the free app lets you match and chat with potential partners. Or, upgrade to a premium membership ($10 per month) for an ad-free experience, a boosted profile, unlimited number of likes, and the ability to'rewind' by giving somebody a second chance.

13. Happn

Apple, Android

Got a crush on that cute neighbor but don't know his or her name? Regularly make eye contact with someone while walking your dog but haven't initiated conversation? Happn is a dating app that can help make those seemingly lost connections a reality. By using the location on your phone, you can match with people also on the app who are nearby. With over 100 million users worldwide, chances are you might just find your neighborhood crush.

10 Best Dating Apps

14. HER

Apple, Android

Created by queer women, this LGBTQ+ dating app (and social platform) is for women and nonbinary people who want to find love in a safe space. For their 6 million users, HER provides in-app communities and hosted events to help encourage those sparks to fly.

15. Inner Circle

Apple, Android

Best Relationship Dating Apps

If you're serious about finding your other half and want to avoid the swiping into the void, Inner Circle requires all users to accept'The Date Better Pledge' that details a commitment to be'respectful, reliable, and inclusive.' The app provides detailed profiles, unique filters, and conversation prompts—so you can avoid the dreaded one-liner'hey' messages.