Top Dating Apps For Serious Relationships
With the ease and convenience of dating apps, dating is becoming easier for some but harder for others. Regardless of whether or not you find it easy, there is one thing we all have in common. It is getting hard to tell who is on the app for what reasons. So, what are the best apps for finding long-term relationships?
Branded as the dating app “designed to be deleted,” Hinge markets itself squarely to people looking for serious relationships. App founder Justin McLeod said the Hinge prompts allow people to “ put themselves out there a bit more.”. There’s a myth floating around amongst older people that millennials only use online dating for quick fixes. EHarmony proves how misleading stereotypes can be. This is a relatively low-cost app, making it attractive to many younger singles, but it is also geared towards serious relationships.
The best dating apps to use when looking for serious relationships are as follows. Hinge, Eharmony, Bumble, Elite Singles, Tinder, and finally, Match dot com. With that in mind, it is important to remember that you should still specify what you are looking for in your bio.
In this article, we are going to start off by talking about the 6 best dating apps for serious relationships. We will then move on to the best dating apps for college students, the best dating apps for people in their 30s, the best international dating apps, and a whole lot more. So, keep reading.
6 Best Mobile Dating Apps For Serious Relationships
Before we even get into this list I just need to mention something very important. Just because you are looking for a dating app that is geared towards serious relationships, it does not mean you should not have fun. Why do I say this?
Well, let’s say you get a date with somebody who is also looking for a serious relationship, that’s great. However, it doesn’t always mean that he/she is the right person for you. And so, you might realize this very quickly into the date. It happens more than you think. Most dates do not lead to anything serious.
If you go there with a mindset of “this has to be a serious relationship or at least turn into one” it might be a problem. The date might go horribly wrong and you can miss out on a really great night with a great person. They might not just be the long-term material that you are looking for.
With all of that being said, let’s get into the best 6 dating apps for serious relationships.
Hinge
This is one that slips under a lot of people’s radars. However, it is fully geared towards people who want serious relationships. The app itself is very easy to use and has a simplified design. This makes it nice, pleasant, and easy to browse through profiles.
When we say that hinge is geared towards serious relationships, we mean it. The reason why this made it to first on this list is because when you open the app, it says “this app is designed to be deleted. Right from the start, the developers are trying to tell you that they want you to match with people with whom you want to spend a long time with.
This app used to be highly rated on the app stores. Unfortunately, it took a slight knock when they added a feature called “stand out”. This focuses primarily on attractive people. For some people, this might be great but for your average user, they don’t like it. Remember though, it is something you can just look past.
Hinge has a free version and a premium version. Now, unlike most dating apps that don’t allow you to message people on their free versions, Hinge allows you to do just about everything to a limited extent for free.
Hinge’s pricing starts at $19.99 per month. However, if you go for the three or six months subscriptions, it costs $39.99 and $59.99. Is that expensive? Well, considering the fact that the app is designed to be deleted and your chances of finding a serious relationship are so high, I say the price is worth it.
Eharmony
eHarmony has been around for about two decades. Yep, that is before apps even became a thing. It was started in the year 2000 and has recently upgraded to include mobile apps which is a nice touch. I think it is almost impossible to compete without a dedicated app these days.
For the longest time, Eharmony has been known to cater to those that are looking for serious long-term relationships. The app uses a very technical matchmaking system that matches people down to the t.
Although this might not seem like a lot, eHarmony in 2013 ranked as the number one dating site and has created 4% of all marriages inside the United States. As I said, that number may seem small but it is quite significant.
eHarmony has about 10 million users. So, if you are concerned that they might not be able to match you with anybody based on your preferences, I wouldn’t worry about that. 10 million people is a significant amount and there is bound to be somebody with enough in common with you.
The pricing on eHarmony is quite tricky. The one-month plan goes for $59.95 whereas the 3-month plan goes for $29.95 a month. Finally, a six-month plan will cost you $29.90 per month. That might be a little bit steep for some people. However, you can browse the app for free and see if you like it before diving in with your cash.
Bumble
Bumble is an app geared towards heterosexual interactions. With that being said, I’m sorry ladies, you will have to make the first move on this app. The creators behind Bumble saw the problem of men always having to make the first move. And so, they created this app that changes that dynamic completely.
As much fun as that is, the app is geared towards long-term relationships and it matches you with people, or at least, shows people in your area starting as close as possible and then spreading out, much like tinder.
I must add that bumble can really be rather harsh. It doesn’t matter how good-looking you are or what you are standing next to in your photos. You have to make your first photo catch the eye of somebody.
I think this has to do with the fact that women have to make the first interaction. So, they are more careful with who they match with. So, guys make sure that your photo is not blurry and try to make your profile as interesting as possible.
Bumble does have a free version. It also has a premium version that costs $24.99 a month. Also, you can rather use bumble coins if you use the application for a limited amount of time. You can start using coins for as little as $1.99. The coins allow you to perform premium actions on a small scale.
I wouldn’t necessarily say that you need Bumble premium. However, if you do live in a very busy or dense area such as a major city, then it could be worth it because you are competing against a lot of other singles.
Elite Singles
This app is a little bit different from others and it is actually all in the name, elite singles. The majority of users on this app are quite educated with over 85% of them holding a degree. Now, this does not mean that the people on this app are snobbish, It does however mean that they are looking for other like-minded people.
If you have a degree and you want to find somebody with a similar educational background to you, then this is the app that you can use to find a serious long-term relationship. The people on this app tend to be down-to-earth. They generally do not have a problem socializing with people who aren’t as highly educated as they are.
However, with that being said, it is important to remember that the people on this app use it because it promises to match them with someone like themselves. So, keep that in mind before joining.
It might sound tempting to some to use this app to find somebody who is financially well-off. Allow me to just warn you that the people on this app are young enough so that they are not going to try and be anybody’s sugar daddy or sugar mommy.
Also, it is important to remember that just because somebody is highly educated, it does not mean that they are swimming in money.
Elite Singles has an extremely high success rate with over 2500 people finding love on the app every single month. I guess it is because the people on this app have so much in common with each other.
Elite Singles has a premium version that costs around $29 per month. Please remember that this price is subject to change. So, please keep that in mind if the price is different when you get onto the app.
Tinder
Ok, I know Tinder is mainly used for hookups, I get it. However, that is not always the case. Tinder is by far one of the most popular dating sites ever released. Its ease-of-use and swiping system was a revolution in the dating app industry.
Yes, a lot of people do use tinder just for hookups and one night stands. With that being said, every single day I use Tinder, I see profiles that clearly state they are in it for the long term prospect.
While you could argue that people just put “no hookups” and “no one-night stands” in their bio because they are worried that friends and family might see their profile. Also, I know that a lot of people do not admit to meeting each other on Tinder. That might just be through the fear of reaction. After all, Tinder does have a reputation that most other apps do not have.
At the end of the day, you can specify what you are looking for on Tinder and that is the beauty of it. You can state that you are looking for a long-term relationship and you are more likely to get matched with people who are like-minded.
Also, because tinder is a location-based app, meeting up with your date shouldn’t be too much of a problem in terms of travel.
Most people just use the free version of Tinder. There is also a premium version called “Tinder Plus”. The pricing for this is a little bit tricky and quite biased in my opinion. For anyone, under 30 years old you can expect to pay around $10 a month and if you are over 30, you can expect to pay $20 per month.
Match
Match.com has been hailed as one of the best online dating sites and apps available. It has an extremely high success rate with 11% of users say they have found the one they love on this app.
Match is very similar to Tinder. The reason why it is better for long-term relationships is because while the app works like Tinder, you get a lot more information and you learn a lot more about the person you are looking at than you can on Tinder.
This app encourages its users to give as much information about themselves as possible. Other than that, it uses location-based matchmaking.
In terms of pricing, it is one of the more expensive apps out there at $41.99 per month. However, most of what you can do on the app, you can do it for free. This includes creating a profile, viewing profiles, sending winks, and sending messages to users.
Nothing works as good as the premium version. It just gives you so many more options. So, if you are serious about getting into a long-term relationship via online dating apps, go for the premium. If you are just casually thinking about it, maybe $41 is not the good value that it is for others.
2 Best Dating Apps For College Students
This article would not be complete if we didn’t start going into other topics. That means that in this section, we are going to take a look at the two best dating apps for college students to use. Now, because not all students are looking for the same thing and as a college student, you could be looking for a variety of things. Making this list was rather difficult.
We had to take a look at the demographic of the people that are using the apps. Yes, Tinder did make this list again, and to be honest with you, it is the most popular app out there and it will probably make a few more lists in this article.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the two best dating apps for college students. This is mainly created using the demographics of the apps.
Tinder
The thing about tinder is that so many people use it and for so many different reasons. However, one thing that Tinder does extremely well is it allows you to control the age of the people you meet or match with.
I am also assuming that you know exactly what you are looking for and you can just include that in your bio. If you are looking for hookups, friendship, long term relationships, and even study partners, whatever it is you need, you just put it in your bio.
Like-minded people will match with you. These people will be in the age group that you selected and around your location.
The location accuracy of Tinder is what really sets it apart for college students. You probably want to match with people who are on the same college campus as you. All you have to do is just set your radius to 5 miles or something.
CLikD
CLikD is not specifically for college students. The reason that it made this list was because of the demographic that uses it. Mostly, it is college students that use the app, and weirdly enough, college students seem to love the control they have over who they meet.
It is basically similar to tinder except it removes a lot of the nuances that Tinder has. People have reported that when they go on dates from CLikD, they feel like they have more in common with the people they are meeting. This is important even if you are just meeting for a hookup.
Whether you are trying to meet the love of your life or you just want to hook up, things can get really awkward if the person you are meeting is not somebody who you would usually find yourself mixing with. That is the beauty of CLikD and that’s what makes it stand out from Tinder.
Best Dating App For Singles In Their 30s
Top Dating Apps For Serious Relationships Review
It is one of the most original memes out there. “Dating in your 30s be like” and you could put pretty much anything at the end of that sentence and know that it is rather accurate. Dating in your 30s can be quite difficult. If you know what you are doing and you use the right apps, be easy. Let’s take a look at the best dating app for singles in their 30s.
Bumble
Although it has already made it onto this list, Bumble is the best dating app, in our experience, for people in their 30s. There are many reasons for this but one thing for me stands out the most. Let’s get into it.
If you are a woman in your thirties, I’m sure that due to work, you don’t have time for nonsense. You also don’t really care about making the first move. If this sounds like you, give Bumble a try.
If you are a guy in your 30s This might appeal to you because you are also probably looking for a no-nonsense person. Trust me, if a woman is willing to make the first move, which defies all gender norms, it is rather refreshing.
So, because of the demographic, the ease of use, the no-nonsense matchmaking, and the fact that most women in their 30s really don’t mind making the first move, bumble is the best dating app for you in your 30s.
Best Dating App For International Dating
International dating can be thrilling and exciting. However, I must warn you that international dating is more for people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. This is because you do actually need quite a bit of money to make a success of it.
You also need to be comfortable in awkward situations because trust me, you could speak to somebody for months and months but the minute you meet them and they are from a different country, you could struggle to figure out what to say and how to act.
you also need to consider the fact that you need to be established enough within your career so that you can take a few days off every now and then. This is to either travel or welcome the guest that traveled to you. With that being said, let’s take a look at the best app for international dating.
Hinge
I know, this is another app that has already made the list in the first section of the article. There is one thing that I did not mention in that section. Hinge allows you to select where you want to date and not just within your borders.
I want you to do me a quick favor. Download Hinge, make your profile, you don’t even have to put too much time into it. You also don’t have to pay for premium. Go to your preferences, select your location, and drag it anywhere in the world and see what comes up.
You could find people just to talk to or you could find somebody who lives in a different part of the world and with a different culture that makes you smile.
2 Best LGBT Dating Apps
The LGBT community plays a significant role in our society and as a community, they are becoming more accepted, and rightfully so. Also, the number of people who identify as being part of the LGBT community is growing significantly. So, it is only fair to include dating apps for those that identify as part of the LGBT.
Most online dating apps allow you to select your preferences, you can select whether or not you want to date your preferred sex or at least match with those people.
HER
For the longest time, Grindr was the only online dating app for the LGBT community. Well, at least it was the most popular, but it catered mostly to males and Transgender females.
That is where “HER” comes in. It is an app designed specifically for lesbians to interact with each other and to hopefully meet the love of their life. The app works like most other dating apps do in this day and age. It matches you with people based on your preferences and in most cases, according to your location.
The app is slick, easy to use, and it has a rather high success rate.
Grindr
Grindr is a dating app that is geared towards the LGBT community. It is also one of the oldest to do so. More specifically, Grindr is a place where men can meet other men. It is used for hookups and also by those who are looking for long-term relationships.
On Grindr, you get different types of profiles. You get the people who just use their pictures without saying anything and then you get those who give you a more detailed profile of who they are.
This is a great way to tell if somebody is using the app to meet people or if they are using the app just for hookups. If they speak about themselves, they are probably looking for friendship or a relationship.
Best Dating App For Millionaires
For people who have amassed a significant amount of wealth, there is an app dedicated to you. We understand that you might want to date people who are in a similar financial position to you. With that being said, there is 1 particular millionaire dating app that stands out.
Luxy Millionaire Dating
This app is an exclusive one and before you can become a member, you have to submit an application. This application will contain documentation that proves who you are and how wealthy you are.
When you send your application in, there is a board that reviews it individually and you need to get a 50% approval rate from these members. They will judge you on your attractiveness, your education, but most of all, they will judge you based on your wealth.
The more documentation you submit, the better your chances are of getting accepted. However, I would be careful what you share with the developers of the app.
Final Thoughts
To close off this article, I just want to tell you to be safe. Most people do not have bad intentions. However, when you go on a date, let somebody know where you are going to be and who you are going to meet. I know I’m closing this article off with a bit of a bummer but I think it is important to mention this.
%H</div>hrs</div></div>:</div>%M</div>mins</div></div>:</div>%S</div>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.
Popular Searches
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).
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
Best Apps For Serious Relationships
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
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.
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
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.