Want to find love online? You need the right mindset, and the right tools for the job. Here, we look at the five things that can help you find online…
There are now so many dating apps on the market catering to every niche and marketing its different, unique features that it’s no wonder singles don’t know what to do. So, EliteSingles has done all the research so you don’t have to. Presenting, the very best US dating apps of 2023, from hookup apps, long-term relationship apps, as well as some quirky ones too.
In the Millennial and Gen X mindset there often comes the ‘power of indecision’. There are so many choices nowadays that people feel paralyzed about which choice to make because, well, what if it’s wrong? We research ‘the best…’ before committing to anything nowadays, which is why picking a dating app can be such a tricky situation. Should you go for a new dating app? A really popular one? A paid or a free dating app? Phew, there’s so much to think about.
Before we get into our top picks for US online dating apps in 2023, let’s all take a calming breath. Remember, you aren’t committing to anything by picking a dating app. You can try it out, see how you feel, and think about keeping it later. Also, you can have more than one dating app downloaded! Yes, if you like to mix it up and have a bit of variety then most people aren’t exclusive to their apps, so feel free.
Now we’re all feeling a bit more decisive and confident about our love life, let’s take a look at some of the best dating apps currently on the market!
The Best Exclusive and Members-Only Apps
EliteSingles
EliteSingles is one of the best apps for people looking for serious, long-lasting relationships with professional singles. While appearances matter, most people know that you need more to create a relationship. The membership of the EliteSingles app is from 30-50, so with the benefit of age comes wisdom to know that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Not a social media butterfly? No worries. EliteSingles doesn’t need any of your social network information to get you started. All you need is an email address and a password to sign up.
Raya
A relatively new trend in dating apps are ones that are private or members-only. Raya only allows members who meet specific requirements i.e. having a creative industry job or being an influencer on social media. After that, you’ll be vetted by the current users before being ushered onto this exclusive mobile dating app.
The League
The League is another elite dating app that requires you to provide information about yourself in order to be approved and gain access. The information isn’t anything too precious that you wouldn’t part with on any other online dating website; it includes your LinkedIn account, job title, and your educational background
Inner Circle
Clearly selected, cleverly connected is the Inner Circle’s tag line. With a screening process to ensure membership stays within the ‘inner circle’ and real-life singles events, this dating app is marketing more like an exclusive club than something you play with while you’re waiting for the bus. Like LinkedIn, you’ll also get alerts when someone is checking out your profile.
Luxy
Are you really, really rich? Are you looking to connect with other massively wealthy people? Then Luxy might be for you! This isn’t an app for singles to find their next rich husband, instead it’s so well-off members of society can date without the worry they’ll only be sought after for their material assets. Jealous? Us too.
The Best Free and Social Dating Apps
Tinder
One of the best-known dating apps around. Tinder allows users to ‘swipe right’ on images of users if they’re interested in them and ‘swipe left’ if they’re not. It uses a minimal interface and bases its matches on location to the user.
Hinge
Hinge hinges on (sorry) the fact that you have a Facebook account. Simply put, this dating app finds matches for you that already exist in your wider social network. So, anyone you chat to won’t be a stranger in the strictest sense. A good feature for women who might feel apprehensive about joining a dating app for the first time.
Bumble
Another dating app designed with women in mind. Bumble is one of the more popular dating apps among women due to its feature that only allows women to message first. A good choice for anybody looking to make the first move!
Ship
One of the newer dating apps on the market, Ship has a unique proposition – what if your friends and family could control your dating profile? Simply put, you sign up, add people you really, really trust to your ‘crew’ and voila. They can now swipe for you and connect you to members. With online dating becoming more popular, why not get a little help from your friends?
How About We
Born out of many singles crying out for an app that allows you to invite a date to an event you want to go to, meet ‘How About We’. A meet-cute rolled into an app it helps announce they are going to the cinema, concert, bar etc. And allows other users to request an invitation. It also has a great ‘Date Map’ which shows who else wants to have a chit-chat at 12am on Sunday.
Coffee Meets Bagel
Like punctuality? Then Coffee Meets Bagel might be the dating app for you. Every day at 12pm you’re sent ‘bagels’ — potential matches — and encouraged to start chatting with one of their personalized ice-breakers. Recommended as a good dating app for those who don’t want to be left on ‘read’.
Hily
Hily is a relatively new dating app and uses technology to match users better. Using swiping functions, likes, messages and the ability to create stories, the intelligent app learns more about you, giving you better match suggestions in the future.
Clover
Clover mixes and matches some interesting app features to create something unique. A pinch of traditional swiping, mixed with instant chat options, and top it all off with social mixers with no dating pressure and you’re got, Clover.
Facebook Dating
So far Facebook’s much-awaited dating app aptly called ‘Dating’ has been very hush-hush. In 2018, they invited Wired in to discuss some of the features. Unsurprisingly, it relies on users having a Facebook account and instead of just swiping you’ll be prompted to discuss something about the users profile — a picture, an event their attending, etc. Facebook Dating recently launched in the US to some users, but not all – will it take off?
Badoo
With 400 million members worldwide it’s highly unlikely you won’t meet someone worth flirting with on Badoo. No swiping here, Badoo gives you a small tailored pool of singles to choose from based on – wait for it – what celebrity you fancy. Yep, you upload a picture of celebrity you have a huge crush on and Badoo tries to find someone who looks like that for you. Great, right?
The Best Gay and Lesbian Dating Apps
Her
Her is one of the most popular lesbian dating apps on the market. It has the ‘swiping’ feature that lets you accept or decline prospective partners, hence it being referred to as the ‘lesbian tinder’. After you’ve swiped ‘yes’, you can send hearts before finally matching.
Chappy
Chappy, a merger of the word ‘choice’ and ‘happy’, gives gay men the option of filtering for short and long-term relationships in one simple app. If you’re looking for Mr Right or Mr Right Now, Chappy has you covered offering a safe, inclusive space to chat with other matches — giving the user a positive experience from a gay dating app.
Grindr
Gay men looking for a dating app like Tinder need to look no further. Grindr is a dating app that alerts you when other members are nearby. It’s also a dating app with a social reputation as being very popular in the gay community for its high success rate.
Zoe
A relatively new but growing queer dating app is Zoe. Aimed at lesbian, bisexual, and queer women, Zoe works by swiping like a lot of the modern dating apps but what it also does is ask you questions in between swiping. This gives Zoe a better idea of what you’re looking for in a partner and adjusts your matches accordingly.
The Best Religious Dating Apps
Christian Mingle
Christian Mingle is a religious dating app aimed at relationship-ready single Christians who are seeking a match who shares their values. Like the Christian Mingle site, the dating app prioritizes God-centered relationships and lets singles filter by factors such as denomination.
Jdate
Interested in Jewish dating? Then odds are you’ve heard of Jdate, a Jewish matchmaking site that turned 20 in 2018. The site pre-dates the rise of dating apps, but in recent years they’ve joined the smartphone revolution and now you can seek marriage-minded Jewish singles in the Jdate app.
The Best Niche and Quirky Apps for Dating
Hater
Tired of all the lovey-dovey cutesy dating apps? Then Hater might be just up your alley. It’s a simple idea really, instead of listing all the things you love on your dating profile and engaging in a passionate conversation with someone who shares your joy, just talk about things you hate. Hater will ask your opinion on various topics and you’ll be matched with someone who hates all the same things are you!
Tastebuds
If music, not food, is the key to your heart then Tastebuds might be the app to find your special someone. It also mixes in some social network elements like Clover so that you can chat in a low-pressure environment. If you’re looking for friends there’s also a ‘concert buddy’ option.
Quiz Date Live
If you’re looking to gamify your dating life then Quiz Date Live might be the dating app you’re looking for. Similar to popular reality dating shows mixed with a classic quiz format, Quiz Date Live invites featured daters who have applied to be on a live stream to other daters.
Pickable
Following off Bumble’s lead, Pickable empowers women by giving them ultimate control of their dating apps. Pickable allows women to be totally anonymous on the app, they can browse prospective partners and only allow themselves to reveal themselves to when they want.
Do I Date
Ever thought, if only I could show people how great I am on dates? Well Do I Date might have been reading your mind. Built on total transparency, Do I Date changes your profile into a place where past dates can leave reviews and rate you. If you’re a great person to date then a high rating will probably increase your chances of finding the special someone.
Dig
Everyone loves their dog, but do you really, really love your dog? Dig is a dating app designed for dog lovers only, show off your furry friend in your profile, do some swiping and then meet at a local dog park for a date. A great way to meet someone who values their pet as much as you do.
Happy Hour
Miss the days when you were waiting by the phone for that cute boy/girl to call? Well, with Happy Hour the concept is pretty similar. Join the dating queue on the app at 8pm and see who else is online. Find some matches and then do a video call for a max of five minutes, are you vibing? Then why not go out then and there? In an age where meeting IRL can be tricky, Happy Hour demystifies any anxiety.
Datefit
If the gym is your temple then Datefit might be the perfect dating app for you. You can match with people based on the kind of exercise you like to do, how often you do it, or how crucial it is to have a partner who helps you on your fitness journey.
Dine
Do you just want to meet up for good old fashioned dinner and drinks? Dine gives you the opportunity to match with likeminded people, you can see what kind of foodie they are as well. Once locked in, start chatting, pick a date to meet and then select a restaurant – all available within the app.
Loosid
More and more people are choosing to be alcohol-free, in fact, in the US 30% of people don’t drink at all. Which is why an app like Loosid is perfect for people who want to go out, enjoy life but do it without the booze. Aimed at people who simply don’t like booze, cannot drink, or have struggled with addiction, Loosid is an open friendly community.
Align
If you believe the tale of your next love is written in the stars then Align might be the best app for you. Users are matched on their star signs, you can also build your profile but the core idea is that you should be dating someone who matches with your sign. Trying to find that perfect Capricorn? Us too.
The Best Exclusive and Members-Only Apps
Raya
A relatively new trend in dating apps are ones that are private or members-only. Raya only allows members who meet specific requirements i.e. having a creative industry job or being an influencer on social media. After that, you’ll be vetted by the current users before being ushered onto this exclusive mobile dating app.
The League
The League is another elite dating app that requires you to provide information about yourself in order to be approved and gain access. The information isn’t anything too precious that you wouldn’t part with on any other online dating website; it includes your LinkedIn account, job title, and your educational background
Inner Circle
Clearly selected, cleverly connected is the Inner Circle’s tag line. With a screening process to ensure membership stays within the ‘inner circle’ and real-life singles events, this dating app is marketing more like an exclusive club than something you play with while you’re waiting for the bus. Like LinkedIn, you’ll also get alerts when someone is checking out your profile.
Luxy
Are you really, really rich? Are you looking to connect with other massively wealthy people? Then Luxy might be for you! This isn’t an app for singles to find their next rich husband, instead it’s so well-off members of society can date without the worry they’ll only be sought after for their material assets. Jealous? Us too.
The Best Dating Apps for Long-term Relationships
Match.com
Probably one of the most well-known dating apps is Match.com. Promising users a chance at real, long-term success, its app isn’t too different from its desktop site. Upload your profile, get matches and meet people — simple.
eHarmony
eHarmony is another serious dating site that prefers to connect its users based on personality. With its focus on marriage, it’s a solid choice for those in their 20s or early 30s who want to upgrade to a paid dating app.
OkCupid
OkCupid is well known for its personality test and savvy data understanding when it comes to dating. On its online dating app it allows users the freedom to express themselves, it’s very LGBTQI+ friendly with 13 different sexual orientations and 22 gender identities.
POF
POF (Plenty of Fish) has been around since 2003 so are experts in the dating game. They focus on long-term relationships more than some of the new dating app players. Signing up includes a lengthy ‘chemistry’ test designed to help POF give you more qualified matches.
Zoosk
Zoosk is often regarded as one of the best dating apps in 2023. It’s one of the most popular choices in the US, with millions of members joining the platform to find meaningful connections. Zoosk is all about helping you to find the right kind of relationship, whether that’s more casual connections or a serious relationship.
EliteSingles
EliteSingles is one of the best apps for people looking for serious, long-lasting relationships with professional singles. While appearances matter, most people know that you need more to create a relationship. The membership of the EliteSingles app is from 30-50, so with the benefit of age comes wisdom to know that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Not a social media butterfly? No worries. EliteSingles doesn’t need any of your social network information to get you started. All you need is an email address and a password to sign up.
Signing up for a dating website can be work for some people. Creating a profile, taking some nice pictures, and then you have to start searching for that perfect person. With EliteSingles we do the heavy lifting for you, we send you 3-7 matches per day so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy dating.
But how do you pick the dating app that’s right for you? If you search for dating apps you might see some articles asking ‘eHarmony vs. Match?’ this is because both of these websites serve similar members. Both websites have a huge amount of users. EliteSingles US has 173,000+ new members per month, all highly educated, professional singles looking for long-lasting love.
We cater to lesbian and gay dating, childfree dating, Christian dating, you name it and we probably have some members who are looking for love. The thing that unites all EliteSingles members? They all have a genuine desire to find that special someone to spend the rest of their lives with.
So, what are you waiting for? A real successful relationship is just a download away! Try the EliteSingles dating app free today.
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