15 best dating apps for every gender and sexuality in 2026, reviewed
I was convinced that I wasn't going to find the LOML on the dating apps. So much so that for eight (long) years, I placed a bet with every member of my family that I'd end up with a boyfriend I met as the result of a meet-cute. But, much to my surprise, my better half was hiding on Hinge, waiting for me to swoop in and ask for his version of a perfect Sunday.
So, now, I won't stand for dating app slander. I get it, swiping, matching, and messaging can be a slog. However, in this digital age, is there a better way to boost your chances of a love match?
But what dating apps would I actually call on if I were single in 2026? It goes without saying, really, that you've got options: specifically, more than 1,400. Yet, in a bid to reduce your time browsing, I've spent the last six years road-testing as many as possible to crown the very best. This includes Match.com, eHarmony, Bumble and Tinder— plus a host of lesbian dating apps, dating sites for people over 40 and dating apps for single parents.
- Ahead, the dating apps I'd actually use in 2026
- Dating apps we're currently testing
- Dating app FAQs, answered
- How safe are dating apps?
- What is the best dating site for a serious relationship?
- Do paid dating apps work better than free dating apps?
- What dating app is best for beginners?
- Meet the experts
- How I choose the best dating apps
- Why you can trust me
I've also spoken to countless industry experts — many of whom still see dating apps as one of the best ways to meet people in 2026, but also see the need for some edits. This includes Tegan Broomfield, founder of Evntful Dating: "Yes, they are still one of the best ways to meet people, but not in the way current apps are turning the experience into a ‘game’.
“A recent BBC documentary highlighted how dating apps have become gamified, intentionally designed to keep users swiping, chasing rewards, and staying on the platform, rather than helping them build real-life relationships. This mirrors what many people feel: that dating apps are good at capturing attention, but not at turning matches into meaningful offline connections.”
She continues: “The average person spends 12 hours a week on dating apps — so the appetite is still there, but a huge cultural shift is taking place. Now, searches for singles events, run clubs, and community-based meetups have surged by 400%, showing a clear desire to date in a safer, healthier and ultimately more human way.”
Thankfully, I've found apps that offer this, too. So, read on to see which we've named as the best dating apps to use in 2026, as well as answers to common dating FAQs.
Ahead, the dating apps I'd actually use in 2026, after six years of testing:
Best dating app for long-term relationships: eHarmony
According to eHarmony's Married Couples by the Numbers facts report, 71% of women and 69% of men meet their spouse on the site within a year of joining. Sold. Our tester confirmed that setting up a profile is simple, and the algorithm filters matches by personality, habits and interests — AKA expect meaningful matches.
For context, the most popular age groups on the dating site are between 30 and 44, and 55 to 64.
- Cost: Free membership, though this is limited, and you have to pay for more premium plans. Subscription costs start at £7.95 per month for 24 months.
- Who is it for? Those looking for serious, monogamous relationships.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: High success rate, matches based on personality and values.
- Cons: You need to subscribe if you want to send customised messages and receive unlimited access to your match’s profile.
Best dating app for beginners: Match
Match.com is one of the biggest dating sites in the UK, boasting over 3 million UK users. And according to their site, 1.6 million people have, umm, met their match. While some dating sites can be a minefield of ads, notifications and messy layouts, Match's interface is very user-friendly.
A bit like Tinder, Match will show you one profile at a time, and you can decide whether to match or skip them. But unlike Tinder, you'll be given more information on the potential match as a person, so you're not just judging their hotness.
- Cost: Free to join, but paid-for plans start at £12.99.
- Who is it for? Singles looking for a long-term relationship. It's perhaps better suited to beginners in this field than eHarmony is. Around a quarter of users are under the age of 30, and another quarter of users are above 50. What's more, 59% of its users are single parents.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: Lots of users, lots of information provided, easy to use.
- Cons: The demographic on Match tends to skew a little older.
Best dating app for non-conformist dating: Feeld
Eliminating the judgment barrier that those open to polyamory and sexual fluidity (to name a few preferences), Feeld makes accessing your romantic and sexual passions more of a reality — play the field, as it were.
“People have their own interpretations because it’s so open,” explains Kirova. “Ultimately, it’s a platform where you can meet people without having a goal. I think a lot of dating apps have this specific, either spoken or not, goal for the user, and they design the app in that way.
“FEELD is truly made for expression and exploration, and for a lot of serendipity. Meeting something maybe you weren’t expecting, discovering something about yourself, and that’s what makes it quite hard to define. The shortest version: a space where open-minded people find like-minded.”
But what really makes the app unique? “We don’t really have an algorithm,” details Kirova, who founded the app with her partner back in 2014. "That’s why it takes time to find a person on FEELD, because we don’t cater things to your taste. We filter based on some parameters like age, distance from you, gender and whether you’re okay with partnered people or not. Then the rest is just who’s there.
“I think that creates a slightly more unexpected environment — it might take a little longer — but relationships and the different structures people can explore are just infinite."
- Cost: Free to download and use, with membership options with added features for a fee.
- Who is it for? For individuals with a penchant for exploring new things and looking beyond the age-old, outdated archetype of a nuclear family, Feeld will likely be worth your time.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: Diverse and non-judgmental.
- Cons: The opportunity to highlight your sexual interests can quickly steer the conversation in that direction.
Best dating app for young people: Hinge
Hinge is great for seeing someone's personality (as well as their looks) at first glance. It lets you customise your dating profile to add three key bits of personal information, plus videos and voice prompts to really embed your personality within your profile.
But it's the brand's newest feature that I adore. Rolled out in September 2024, Your Turn Limits is a first-of-its-kind feature which addresses one of the biggest online dating challenges: unanswered messages from matches. Essentially, the app will stop you from messaging someone new if you have too many people waiting for your response. In an early test, the brand found that it increased responsiveness on the app by 20%.
Speaking exclusively to Glamour, Hinge's Director of Relationship Science, Logan Ury, says: “In our research, we found that you're most effective at getting to a date when you're talking to eight or fewer people at the same time. So, now when daters hit that limit, they have to respond or close out conversations before they match with someone new.”
However, we've all heard some label dating as a “numbers game,” suggesting you should attempt to meet or date a higher number of people to improve your chances of success (AKA bagging a relationship). Ury's response to that: “Yes, you need to go out with a certain number of people to find the person that you want to build a life with, but it's not a numbers game in that if you just keep dating more people, you'll automatically find someone."
She continues: “I really want to change the narrative to make it about focusing on the conversations that you're having and giving each person a chance, making a decision in an intentional way.” Preach.
- Cost: Free to download, with Hinge Subscription options from £10.49.
- Who is it for? Younger people looking to date via an app, but who want something a little more serious than the matches Tinder offers.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: People tend to want something a little more serious.
- Cons: It comes with the pressure of coming across as witty, fun and effortlessly debonair. Plus, the answers might get a little old – we get it, people hate slow walkers.
Best dating app for mature singles: Our Time
Our Time is a dating website owned by the Match Group, with free membership and over 150,000 active users. It's a fairly new addition to the dating site scene, but it's perfect for anyone tired of swiping left and right and just wants to meet someone in person for a walk in the park or a takeaway coffee. Your profile will appear on other dating sites owned by the Match group when you sign up, but that can only be a good thing since it widens your pool of potential partners.
- Cost: Membership is free, but you have to pay for a plan (starting at £19.99) if you want to access the features.
- Who is it for? Arguably, the best dating sites for people over 40 looking for love.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: They also host regular singles events, which you can actually take up to three friends along to for moral support.
- Cons: It's aimed at over-40s, so consider what you're looking for before you sign up. You also have to pay to send messages, and the sign-up process takes a little bit of time.
Best dating app for safety: Evntful
When I was single, the one word I would always use to discuss my recent dates was ‘eventful’. But this new dating app is reclaiming that, and vows to spare you endless swiping, too.
“Our mission is simple: Make dating easier, more fun, and much safer,” says founder Tegan Broomfield. “Many people don’t realise the mental load carried every time you agree to meet someone new, especially for women. Evntful addresses this directly with safety features that let users share who they’re meeting and where they are, giving friends visibility and daters peace of mind."
But the brand also prioritises in-person connection, rather than swiping and faceless messaging, with the app allowing you to book spaces at curated social events (think run clubs, DJ nights and live dating shows) and one-on-one dates. Currently free for all users, I'm yet to see a major downside… further testing pending!
- Cost: Free membership.
- Who is it for? Anyone who may have found online dating overwhelming in the past.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: Prioritises safety and in-person connections.
- Cons: New app, so it offers a limited pool — plus there's currently a limited number of available sign-up spots.
Best dating app for personalised matches: Zoosk
An all-rounder, whether you're looking for a short-term fling or something longer-lasting, Zoosk has had over 30 million downloads since its launch. Thanks to being super modern, Zoosk is often hailed as one of the best dating sites in the country – though it's lesser-known, so it's a good one to try if you're tired of Tinder, Hinge and Harmony.
Instead of completing the usual personality test upfront, Zoosk’s Behavioural Matchmaking algorithm gets to know each member as they use the dating site, and then their SmartPick function gathers matches to pair you with singles you're likely to be attracted to.
- Cost: Free to join, but some features are paid-only. Plans include: £29.99 for a month, £20 a month for 3 months, and £15 a month for 6 months.
- Who is it for? Younger singles who have gotten bored with Tinder and Bumble. It has a modern interface, a Tinder-like swiping mechanism to sort matches, and the average age is between 18 and 40. It's also hugely popular in the US, so if you live in America, check it out.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: You can do video dates from the app.
- Cons: There aren't any options to register as anything other than a man or woman when you sign up for the site.
BreezeBest dating app for offline dates: Breeze
If it's the endless rounds of 21 (surface-level) questions that put you off dating apps, you'll be relieved to hear that Breeze doesn't allow you to chat with your match — at all. Here's how it works: every day, once at 7 am and again at 7 pm, you'll get sent a max of 20 matches (yep, this one allows you to bid goodbye to endless swiping). Then, if the feeling's mutual, you can set up a date at a safe, partnered pub or bar nearby.
Note that you will have to pay £9.50 to secure your booking; however, the co-founder and success story of Breeze, Marsha Goei, believes the investment works in users' favour, weeding out the people who are only on the app for some light entertainment.
But our favourite feature of all? Ghosters get their accounts frozen temporarily in a bid to teach them that communication is key. “There is a lot of choice paralysis in dating, with certain apps making it so easy to always look for the next match and look for something else," details Goei. "I feel like this abundance makes for a very toxic culture. In human interactions you have in real life, you wouldn't just ghost someone — but somehow, over the years, it became okay to do it online. If we make these apps or technologies more human-centred, then it's a lot healthier for everyone.”
- Cost: Free to download, but you'll need to pay £9.50 to secure each date. This also covers your first drink.
- Who is it for? Single men, women or gender nonconforming people looking to get past the swiping and matching stage.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: Gets you off the app fast, plus removes all anxiety about finding a suitable date location. To date, it's facilitated more than 250,000 (!) first dates.
- Cons: There's no checking your compatibility beforehand.
Best dating app for millennials: Bumble
The world of dating is filled with tiresome tropes like ‘you’ve got to wait 72 hours before you send them a message,' or rather, in heterosexual relationships, ‘only the man can propose!’ Bumble sets out to dismantle those archaic traditions and seeks out forward-thinking individuals as the crux of its user base.
Suitable for both Apple and Android devices, Bumble takes a somewhat feminist stance and challenges long-outdated norms of the dating world - i.e. that men have to make the first move. Yep, for heterosexual couples, Bumble asks its female users to start conversations and then gives their male counterparts 24 hours to respond before the connection expires.
Plus, for those not up for an intimate relationship, Bumble's also well-known for its BFF finder - great for users just moving to new towns and cities.
- Cost: Free to download and use, with premium options available for a surplus.
- Who is it for? 18-35 year-olds looking for serious relationships, flings and casual dating. The male/female split is fairly equal.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: Gives women control.
- Cons: For same-sex relationships, both parties are encouraged to message first, thus rendering the unique ‘quirk’ of the app a little targeted in favour of straight couples.
Best new dating app: Cherry
Who better to update you on a new route to love than the app's founder? Yep, Cherry is the latest in a long (long) line of dating apps, working to help millennials and Gen Z alike to find love — except it's doing it differently.
Sharing all the details in an exclusive chat with Glamour UK, founder Jo Mason revealed the brand took a safety-first approach when designing the automated matchmaker: “While a few apps offer ID verification, it’s often optional. At Cherry, every account must be fully verified. This includes submitting a selfie alongside an official ID, which is then cross-checked with the uploaded photos, ensuring that every user feels secure and authentic.” Uh, yes, please.
Also different to some of its swiping sisters? The timeline. “When it comes to matching, I believe in striking the right balance," Mason continues. "Bumble gives you 24 hours, which can feel rushed, while Tinder offers unlimited time to connect, which lacks urgency. At Cherry, matches expire after a week, giving enough time to connect, but with just the right sense of urgency.”
But her favourite feature: the compatibility percentage score. “I love this because, when you're browsing profiles, and you’re uncertain whether to swipe left or right based purely on looks, a higher score gives that profile more consideration. On the other hand, if you come across your ideal match physically, but their score is low, it makes you think twice — will you invest your time getting to know them, or move on to someone with a higher compatibility score?”
- Cost: Free to download.
- Who is it for? Everyone — although currently 26% of users are aged between 38 and 47, while another 25% fall into the 28 to 37 bracket.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: You're only shown matches who have selected the same ‘vibe’ as you. So no more matching with John Doe, who's ‘looking for long-term, open to short,' when you're hunting for a husband.
- Cons: New, and so you'll be swimming in a fairly small pool… for now.
Best dating app for unfiltered dating: RAW
It's something I think about often — how authentic are people on dating apps? Because we all vow to be 100% ourselves… before using ChatGPT to answer prompts, and adding subtly edited shots to our profiles.
But RAW encourages people to show the true, unfiltered version of themselves through daily, real-time photo updates. Yep, literally show me what you're doing and how you're doing it. Ultimately, it did reassure me that the person I had planned to meet would actually look like the one on their profile. But did I feel a slight pressure to make sure my hair and makeup were on point before my daily update? Absolutely.
Think of it like BeReal, only exclusively for the purpose of meeting a beau.
- Cost: Free membership — although certain extra perks are available with a RAW Premium membership, or as a reward for in-app activity.
- Who is it for? Anyone 18+ who craves authenticity.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: No filters and no fakes, plus it creates an air of spontaneity.
- Cons: Our testers felt a slight pressure to be camera-ready at all times.
Best dating app for hooking up: Tinder
It’s no secret that Tinder is one of the most widely used, most saturated apps and if you’re looking for a whole host of options, Tinder’s the place for you. You can get swiping immediately, you can choose how much you reveal about yourself, and it even has a catfishing, scam-proof feature called Loops, where you can see GIFs of potential matches.
- Cost: Free, with Tinder Plus options from just 79p.
- Who is it for? Most Tinder users are aged between 25 and 34, but those aged 55 and above account for 16% of all users. It's best used for those who are after casual hook-ups or friendship.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: Easy to use. Wide dating pool.
- Cons: Tinder seems geared towards casual dating, so if that's not your bag, you might look towards a dating site or app like Hinge. What's more, profiles aren't quite as detailed as they are on other apps – it's just your name, job, education, location and links to your Spotify and Instagram accounts, which can be included. It has been reported that not all users are real people.
HAYSTACKBest dating app for IRL events: Haystack
A new player in the mix, and one we're rather excited about. The brand's mission? To make dating more fun, more inclusive and less sh*t. Gorgeous.
It's the brainchild of Lucy Rout, who, after three years of being single and feeling sick of the modern dating options available to her, decided to give up entirely. Then, she ended up falling in love with someone IRL after a warm introduction (adorbs) and now throws dating events that use a matching algorithm to connect people with similar interests and values — and with no awkward speed dating.
Three months post-launch and three sell-out events later, Lucy has now hosted more than 1000 singles — plus, one in five who have attended the events have gone on to have a first date.
Speaking exclusively to Glamour UK, Rout says: “At regular dating events, you’re crammed into a room full of hundreds of people and given no indication as to who you might be compatible with. So, the love of your life could be in the room, but the chance of actually meeting them is slim. But Haystack's science is working, and I couldn’t be more excited to help more people find love!”
- Cost: Tickets start at £18.
- Who is it for? Singles in London, Manchester and Bristol who may be sick of swiping left. Currently, the average age of attendees is 33.
- Availability: An app is in the works, but tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Pros: No swiping, chatting or ghosting. But, most importantly, fully disability inclusive, only using wheelchair accessible venues for its IRL events.
- Cons: Fairly new, so a rather small dating pool.
Best dating app for LGBTQIA2S+ dating: HER
A top pick for lesbian, bi, queer, trans and non-binary or non-conforming gender identities, HER offers a safe space for non-cis and non-heterosexual singles alike to meet and connect, not to mention being an 'editor's choice' app on the App Store.
- Cost: Core features are free, with premium options from £13.99.
- Who is it for? Lesbian, bi, queer, trans and non-binary or non-conforming gender identities.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: Great for meeting new friends in the community as well as potential partners, and, for users in sleepy towns, it allows them to extend their dating scope into busier, neighbouring cities with a more thriving LGBTQIA2S+ scene.
- Cons: You'll have to bypass a paywall to unlock unlimited swipes and gain access to certain intel, such as who's already liked you.
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Best dating app for dating people nearby: Happn
Happn aims to connect you with people you regularly cross paths with. If you pass them IRL, they'll appear on the app – and Happn will rack up how many times you come close to each other. There's no doubt about it – this is the best dating app for approaching that guy you always stare at on the Northern Line without looking like a stalker.
Karima Ben Abdelmalek, CEO and President of happn, says: "At happn, we have a unique offering based on geolocation that allows our users to find people they have potentially met with in real life, crossed paths with, frequent the same bars as, and even share daily interests with.
"The app is a reflection of real life, and that's what's important. happn uses technology to make your life easier, to provoke some destiny — to give you that chance to meet someone who fits in with your everyday life... It's quite extraordinary.
"Our users today need this link with real life, the ease of meeting people, because it is increasingly difficult to meet someone in such a fast-paced world. Having a service designed to combat this and fit in to your natural routing, that is what makes us a leading dating application with over 165 million registered users worldwide."
- Cost: Free, with starter packs of coins available from £1.99.
- Who is it for? Younger people living in cities.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: Great for local dating. Easy-to-use interface.
- Cons: Living in a big city can cause issues – think needle in a haystack.
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Dating apps we're currently testing:
While I personally consider the above to be the best in terms of efficacy, ease of use and safety, there are hundreds more options when it comes to dating apps. Here are the apps we — myself, and a team of dedicated, single freelancers — are currently reviewing.
Best dating app for curing dating app fatigue: Thursday
It was only released to the masses back in May of last year and, as its name suggests, has been working only on Thursdays ever since. It encourages users to spend time on themselves six out of seven days of the week, then exchange numbers – and meet up – with people close to them when they can log on. Your matches disappear at midnight on a Thursday, so you have to act fast.
- How much does it cost? Free to download.
- Who is it for? It's LGBTQIA+ inclusive, and the gender split is 52 per cent men to 48 per cent women. The age range skews younger, with most daters in their twenties.
- Availability: Apple and Android apps.
- Pros: Fun and unique concept.
- Cons: It's only available in London and New York City.
Best dating app for meaningful matches: Parship
Parship is a great dating site, which uses a pretty complex test to analyse your personality traits when you first sign up. Sounds complicated, but it really does mean you'll be able to start chatting to like-minded people more quickly.
- Cost: Free limited membership, or from £14.90 per month.
- Who is it for? There is a fairly even male/female split in the users, and 52 per cent of them are graduates. It caters well to the LGBTqia+ community.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: It's great for finding long-term relationships with other professional people. Most members on the site have fairly similar incomes and education levels. There's a specific gay version of Parship for those looking for a committed and long-term same-sex partner.
- Cons: You can pay above the basic free membership to be able to message your matches.
Best dating app for professionals: Elite Singles
If career goals and intelligence are what turn you on, then Elite Singles is definitely the site for you. According to their website, 82% of its members are graduates, and with pretty steep fees, it's clear this dating site is targeted at those who not only have disposable income but have grown out of quick hook-up culture and want a mature relationship.
- Cost: £89.95 a month or £29.95 a month for 12 months.
- Who is it for? Elite Singles is best for finding someone with similar aspirations.
- Availability: Online.
- Pros: Daily profile quality checks to ensure a safe dating experience with real people.
- Cons: It's quite expensive in comparison to some other dating sites, particularly if you pay monthly. The stats on their site are a tad outdated.
Best dating app for setting up your mates: Mysinglefriend.com
Wish your friends could do all the hard work for you? Well, you're in luck. My Single Friend is the best dating website for shy/cringed-out singletons because every person on this site (including yourself) is recommended by their mates. The result? A fun and friendly space for you to chat to like-minded people - sans personal trumpet blowing - and hopefully fall in love.
- Cost: It's free to create a profile, but to unlock all features, you'll need to be a subscriber. Subscriptions start at £10.50 a month.
- Who is it for? Those who find dating websites super cringe, hate blowing their own trumpet and feel too shy to strike up a conversation with someone.
- Availability: Online only.
- Pros: Takes the pressure off.
- Cons: You can only select “man” or “woman” as your gender when you sign up, making it a little less inclusive than others.
Best dating app for Jewish daters: Jdate
JDate is the internet's largest Jewish dating service, and it has been around for nearly two decades. You simply upload a bio of around 100-150 words and up to six photos. Then, you can browse other dating profiles to your heart's content, filtering by physical features, hobbies, religious practices, and the type of relationship they're after.
- Cost: Membership is free.
- Who is it for? Jewish singles looking for love. It's LGBT inclusive.
- Availability: Website, on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
- Pros: There's a Look Book feature which makes it super easy to track who has liked you, and who you've liked in return.
- Cons: There aren't quite as many members as other dating sites.
Best new Christian dating app: SALT
Publicly dating within the church can often feel awkward and pressured, so SALT was launched to provide a digital option for keen Christian daters. Run by a small team of single and married Christians who know what you want/need, they've fitted the app with useful features like voice notes and video calls. But the brand also offers in-person events, in case you're also keen to connect in person.
- Cost: Free to download. Upgrade to SALT Premium to unlock additional benefits like Global Search and Private Mode.
- Who is it for? Single Christians seeking someone who shares their faith and values.
- Availability: Android and iPhone apps.
- Pros: Offers in-person events, as well as a dedicated YouTube channel offering videos intended to encourage and entertain. Also, use the latest selfie verification and fraud detection technology to give you peace of mind.
- Cons: Maybe not one for older daters? With the age slider maxing out at ‘55+’, you'll have to filter your matches yourself.
Best dating app for young professionals: Seeking
Framing itself as a ‘luxury dating site’, Seeking was designed with high-powered professionals in mind, matching those who share similar values, as well as sky-high levels of ambition and drive. Originally launched as SeekingArrangement in 2006, it has evolved with its audience — but makes it clear that those interested in sugar dating or financial arrangements should head elsewhere. But how exactly does it work? Use the advanced search tools and filters to narrow down the number of potential matches.
Speaking exclusively to Glamour UK, CEO Dana Rosewall says: “Seeking is the largest luxury dating platform for successful singles who want successful relationships. We currently have 56 million users in 130+ countries, and endless success stories as we give singles the chance to enhance their lives and find someone who can add a fresh perspective, excitement, and substance.
“As a Gen-Z CEO, I understand the fatigue of modern dating and endless swiping. Our platform is designed to cut through the noise and gamification of today’s dating world, encouraging members to lead with values rather than looks or other superficial factors. Members make an effort to share their intentions, desires and expectations upfront.
"Connection is common in our hyperconnected world, but true connection is timeless. Where you look for that connection is the key, and it starts with where you choose to date.”
- Cost: Free membership, though this is limited. Also, a Premium (from £79.95) and Diamond (£119.95) option for those willing to invest.
- Who is it for? ‘Accomplished individuals’ — AKA professional workers seeking connections with other corporate workers.
- Availability: Online, Android, Apple Store.
- Pros: Uses a Selfie Liveness Check to limit fraud and fake profiles.
- Cons: We're not so fond of the cheesy, heterosexual short film that welcomes you to the home page. You'll have to upgrade to Premium or Diamond status to send messages.
Dating app FAQs, answered:
“Dating is one of the most intimate things we do, and doing it online shouldn't mean compromising our safety and authenticity,” says Yoel Roth, Senior Vice President of Trust & Safety at Match Group. "At Match Group, we think about safety not as a feature but as the foundation of the experience, embedded at every stage, from profile creation to every interaction on our apps.
“Our goal is to make our apps the safest and most effective way to meet new people, and we continuously build and refine tools that help our users connect with confidence, both online and in real life. We do that by backing our safety policies with experts, continuously investing in technology to innovate and stay ahead of bad actors, and working across the industry to form coalitions and alliances to increase our collective impact — Match Group notably cofounded the Tech Against Scams Coalition, which aims to drive collective, cross-industry efforts to disrupt the rapidly evolving landscape of online scams.”
"That said, technology is one layer of protection, not the whole picture, especially when it comes to romance scams. The warning signs are worth knowing: pressure to move off the app quickly, reluctance to meet in person, and requests for money or investment advice. Trust your instincts, talk to people you trust, and report anything that feels off.”
“Contrary to popular opinion, when I was single, I found Hinge to be the best free dating site and perfectly suited to serious relationships,” Glamour's Senior European Commerce Editor Sophie Cockett said. "Many of my friends have met fantastic partners on Hinge, too. It has countless people who don’t want to mess around – way more than Tinder did – and you can send an unlimited number of first messages. As well as prompts, voice notes and videos. It helps you to get an insight into a date’s personality before you meet them.”
Elsewhere, eHarmony is the best dating site for serious relationships since it's exclusively designed to match people to find long-lasting love. You'll be paired based on compatibility scores, dealbreakers, personalities, habits and interests after taking a lengthy but worthwhile quiz, so countless new subscribers report it being more successful than making a go of things through social media.
This is a subject still up for debate. Some would argue that paid dating apps, or those with premium features which require an upgrade membership, have additional perks, such as increased visibility — both of your profile, and of who is liking yours — as well as better filters for potential matches and fewer fake profiles. However, many people find love using free dating apps, especially on apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge.
Personally, I'd recommend Match, Bumble and Hinge, considering that all have user-friendly interfaces and setting up a profile is fairly simple. They also have a wide user profile, meaning they also work as suitable dating apps for single parents and dating apps for professionals who may have a few more non-negotiables when it comes to finding a match.
Meet the experts:
| Hayley Quinn | Relationship expert at Match.com. |
| Logan Ury | Director of Relationship Science at Hinge. |
| Jo Mason | Founder of Cherry Dating. |
| Marsha Goei | Co-founder of Breeze. |
| Ana Kirova | CEO of Feeld. |
| Karima Ben Abdelmalek | CEO and President of happn. |
| Dana Rosewall | CEO of Seeking. |
| Tegan Broomfield | Founder of Evntful Dating. |
| Yoel Roth | Senior Vice President of Trust & Safety at Match Group. |
How I choose the best dating apps:
At Glamour, we pride ourselves on offering unfiltered, unbiased and truthworthy reviews on anything (read: everything) a reader might need or want, from new-in beauty to viral wellness buys and, of course, dating apps.
Despite being in a happy, healthy relationship, I'm obsessed with the ever-evolving dating landscape, and so having spent the last six years reading up on new apps and personally testing a host to recommend to my friends. But before reaching a verdict on each, I consider the following:
- Ease of use — Was the app easy to set up? Is the interface simple to navigate?
- Suitability — What kind of matches does the app help me secure? Is it suitable for all genders and sexualities?
- Efficacy — How long did it take me to secure a match, and/or a date?
- Safety — How safe did I feel on the app? What kind of safety and profile verification measures are in place?
But it’s not just my opinion that counts, so I have made sure to read countless online reviews, have asked dating experts for their insight and have even followed long Reddit threads where people are brutally honest about their experiences of dating apps and IRL dating events, ensuring I share the most important information here.
Why you can trust me:
While I started my career (six years ago) working alongside a tabloid agony aunt, giving people answers to their sex, relationship and family drama concerns, I turned my focus to commerce three years ago. My working week now consists of reviewing new sexual wellness and menstrual health releases, as well as the latest dating apps, in an attempt to make meeting your match easier.
To ensure I'm an authority on all things love and relationships, I regularly attend press days and app launches, interview dating experts and brand founders, plus have personally downloaded at least 100 dating sites, road-testing each to ensure they live up to their designers' claims.
But I'm also a big advocate for dating apps, considering I met my other half on Hinge at the end of December 2024. Yep, it started with a discussion of our perfect Sundays. Fast-forward, and we've just moved into our first home together and are currently debating whether we get a cat or a dog first. Essentially, there's hope in this digital age.
