Online dating is, in a word, hard — but so is dating in person. Ironically, or perhaps completely fittingly, searching for someone to love (or even just like, tbh) using dating apps can be the absolute worst. That's why we're always trying to save you time and energy by downloading and testing the best online dating sites, including the best dating apps for introverts, college students, and, hell, even the best sexting apps for those who just want to "date" from home.
Even with our tips and recommendations, online dating will require some effort, so at the very least, you don't want to waste a bunch of money too, especially if you're newer to the online dating game. Free dating sites can be a great way to get a sense of what you want out of online dating, and we've tested the top apps for you already.
Many people turn to online dating is that creating an account can be simple and completely free. Of course, some apps offer a "free" version as bait, and it's only after you sign up that you discover all the necessary features are behind a paywall.
Even if a dating site offers a free version or free trial, that doesn't mean it's a truly free experience. So, when reviewing the best free dating apps for users, only apps with a robust free experience made the final cut. After extensive testing and interviews with online dating users, we've narrowed down our list of free dating apps to the following:
Yes, you can technically treat platforms like eHarmony and Match as free dating sites — that is, if you don't mind being unable to actually message or match with people (though Match's free features have recently become a tad more lenient).
The good news is, spending $40 a month on a dating app isn't a prerequisite for finding love (or lust) online. In many cases, the best dating sites offer at
The barebones of matching and messaging entirely for free. Features like seeing people who've already liked you, sending messages without matching at all, and profile boosts are where you'll need to pony up. Though these can be convenient time savers, they don't necessarily increase your chances of meeting that perfect person. Even with purely paid sites, dating takes time and energy.
Overall, we think that free dating apps like Tinder, OKCupid, and Grindr offer the best mix of features and user base for free users, but there are some great niche dating sites worth considering as well. We've reviewed all of the best free dating apps for you below, so keep reading for our in-depth experience reports.
It's almost impossible to find a dating site or app that doesn't have some sort of paid upgrade feature, but all of the dating sites below have a free membership option that gives you almost everything you need for the full experience. These aren't like Match
Tinder is the place you go to find someone to flirt with ASAP. Everyone and their mother is on Tinder, and the huge user base means it will work even if you don't live in a big city. Tinder is great for those trying to connect with someone nearby, and it's especially handy if you're looking for a vacation fling or a local to show you around a new place. It's online dating without the commitment: You can use it when you're bored, ignore it for three weeks, and come back to find new matches and a new crowd to swipe through.
This isn't to say that Tinder is only used for finding a one-night-stand or friends-with-benefits situation, though. A lot of people have found real relationships on Tinder, and it's likely that you know at least one couple that met on Tinder (if you don't, just look at these mushy Tinder success stories).
Quote, Tinder gets a lot of shit for being superficial. But let's be honest with ourselves —photos are still the first thing we look for on any dating site, even the ones that are designed for super deep connections. So, if you're looking for a casual encounter, Tinder's speedy, no-frills process is exactly what you want.
Well to leave it off the list. Plus, it's kind of perfect for singles on a budget (if you only use its free version). Tinder has its obvious negatives, but the user-friendliness, instant connecting, and
Though it's technically in the "dating app" category, it's true that many of the app's users aren't there to find a serious relationship. Whether you love it or think it's trash, Tinder is here to stay for the foreseeable future, and those are just The Facts. After all, if it didn't work to some extent, Tinder's user base would have gone downhill long ago.
Take full advantage of this app's element of mystery while you're on it. Each time you open Tinder is a gamble, meaning your next match could be your future spouse —or it might just be some rando asking if you're DTF. That's just the unpredictability of love.
This is the place for, well, pretty much everyone who takes dating seriously but still wants to have fun. Though OkCupid's advertisements may have "DTF" plastered all over them, the site's intentions and matchmaking process are no joke. The best free dating apps have plenty of features for free users, and that's one of the reasons we love OKCupid.
We also want to mention that OkCupid and its user base are pretty liberal. The ads with same-sex couples are an obvious giveaway, but OkCupid has snuck in other little features that filter out the most conservative-minded people. For instance, they'll ask questions about whether you're for or against the defunding of Planned Parenthood or same-sex marriage —all as a way to tell right off the bat if your potential match leans left or right. (This can help you avoid awkward date conversations in the future.) Of course, all of this means that OKCupid may not be a very friendly site for conservatives looking for love.
Liberal ladies found that this worked to their advantage, as OkCupid released statistics showing that liberal-leaning answers to those questions made you significantly more likely (as in, more than 80% more likely) to find love on the site. People interested in non-monogamy will also be happy to know that once you set that as a preference, the site will only show you other people interested in non-monogamy (which is 100% more groundbreaking than it should be).
OkCupid is a seriously hip LGBTQ-friendly app that has won the hearts of millennial and mature singles alike. I've said this a million times before and I'll say it again: OkCupid's advertising is outstanding. They deserve endless applause just for that, but I realize many people on dating apps care about more than aesthetics. Good thing OkCupid is so much more than that, taking compatibility factors into account that other sites haven't even thought of.
Its profile-building process is a lot more fun than other apps since it almost feels like an online quiz. It asks a range of questions, from simple stuff like if you smoke and drink to more intimate things like how many dates you typically wait before sleeping with someone. Pro tip: The app says the more questions you answer, the better your matches will be. The deeper you go, the more accurate your profile is — and in turn, OkCupid will have a way easier time finding matches for you.
Though OkCupid has a super robust user base, you'll have the best results in well-populated areas. For city dwellers, this is fine, but singles in smaller towns may want to opt for a different app.
All in all, OkCupid is the perfect happy medium for progressive people who don't want anything to do with trendy swiping apps but don't want to feel like they're desperately looking for marriage either. OkCupid genuinely wants dating to be a good experience for you, and its multi-faceted matchmaking and modern vibe help you have fun talking to people online.
Hinge is the place for people who want a real relationship but don't want to commit to a full-fledged dating site with extensive questionnaires. Hinge calls itself the app "designed to be deleted" because you're meant to find a relationship so you can stop using dating apps (and subsequently increase your phone storage, once and for all).
While Hinge first started by showing you Facebook friends of friends, their algorithm has been getting smarter and smarter, and is now able to surpass friends of friends as a predictor of compatibility. This means you won't be matched with someone all wrong for you simply because you have a mutual acquaintance. Rather, Hinge will help you get to know the other person more deeply by having users answer prompts to show off personality and interests. Deep, authentic connections FTW.
Hinge has the modern feel and no-patience-required matching of Tinder but with the relationship (rather than hookup) mindset that sites like eHarmony or Match offer. Pretty much everyone is on the same page and knows that this app isn't just for
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