I’ve spent the last decade diving into the wild world of online dating, trying out way too many apps and websites in search of something real. Let’s be honest: most dating apps can feel like a slog. A great first date is pure magic, but getting there—sorting through endless profiles, dodging flaky “talking stages,” and swiping through a sea of selfies—can be exhausting, especially when you’re juggling a busy life. Still, as someone who doesn’t have a ton of chances to meet people IRL, dating apps are often my best shot at connection. Whether you’re hunting for a lifelong partner, a casual fling, a third for your relationship, or just a new friend, you’re probably nodding along. Maybe you want someone who gets your politics, shares your faith, understands life as a parent or divorcé, or is ready to join you on global adventures (or Netflix marathons). Whatever you’re after, the right app can make it happen.
Not sure where to start with online dating? Don’t worry—I’ve done the legwork. I signed up for over 15 dating platforms, chatted with psychologists, therapists, and matchmakers, and polled my single and coupled-up friends to figure out which apps are actually worth your time. I waded through lengthy questionnaires, dodged annoying pop-ups pushing “Roses” or “Winks,” and navigated pricey subscriptions that often gatekeep basic features like messaging or seeing who’s into you. After all that, I’m here to share the best dating apps for 2025, tailored to different goals—whether you’re after love, hookups, inclusivity, or something specific like faith-based or age-focused dating. There’s hope for both of us, so let’s dive in.
The Best Dating Apps for 2025
Here’s a quick rundown of the top dating apps, followed by a deeper look at each one:
- **Best Overall**: Match
- **Best for Marriage**: eharmony
- **Best for Serious Relationships**: Hinge
- **Best for Casual Dating & Hookups**: Tinder
- **Best for Social Networking**: Bumble
- **Best for Inclusivity**: OkCupid
- **Best for LGBTQ+**: Grindr
- **Best for Over 40**: SeniorMatch
- **Best for Over 50**: OurTime
1. Best Dating App Overall: Match
**Who It’s For**: People 30+ seeking serious relationships
**Why It Stands Out**: Match, around since 1995, is a heavyweight in online dating with over 96 million users. Its long-form profiles let you share up to 4,000 characters—way more than competitors like Bumble (300 characters)—so you can really get to know someone before matching. You can add up to 26 photos, answer questions about lifestyle, faith, and more, and use icebreaker prompts to spark conversation.
**What I Like**: The free version lets you like up to 50 profiles a day, which is generous compared to others. You can see who’s viewed your profile, and paid plans offer perks like email read receipts and access to dating-expert webinars or in-person events. It’s great for mature users—44% are 30–49, 37% are over 50, and 59% are single parents.
**What’s Tricky**: Only paid subscribers can send unlimited messages, and the desktop site can feel clunky. Subscriptions range from $7–$43/month depending on the plan.
**Tester’s Take**: “Match gave me more context about people upfront, which saved time. It took effort to sift through profiles, but it paid off—I met my husband within two months,” says Brigitt Earley, a Glamour contributor.
**Where to Find It**: Match.com, App Store, Google Play
2. Best Dating App for Marriage: eharmony
**Who It’s For**: 30+ folks looking for serious relationships or marriage
**Why It Stands Out**: With over 2 million love connections, eharmony’s been a go-to for serious daters for over 20 years. It's a 70-question compatibility quiz that digs deep into your personality, values, and relationship goals, asking things like how you’d act at a wedding or your ideal thermostat setting. It’s thorough, which makes it ideal for finding a compatible partner.
**What I Like**: The compatibility scores on profiles are a nice touch, showing how well you align with someone. You can browse anonymously and send icebreakers or up to five messages for free, though you’ll need to pay to see photos or message freely.
**What’s Tricky**: No photos in the free version is a bummer, and subscriptions ($36–$66/month) are pricey. Still, the focus on personality over looks feels refreshing, almost like *Love Is Blind*.
**Expert Insight**: “eharmony’s comprehensive quiz and matching algorithm make it perfect for those seeking long-term commitment,” says LeMeita Smith, PhD, director at United Health Services.
**Where to Find It**: eharmony.com, App Store, Google Play
3. Best Dating App for Serious Relationships: Hinge
**Who It’s For**: 25–40-year-olds open to casual or serious dating
**Why It Stands Out**: Hinge is my favorite for its thoughtful design. You like or comment on specific parts of someone’s profile—like their skydiving photo or “perfect Sunday” answer—which sparks better conversations. Voice prompts let you hear someone’s vibe, and the app’s algorithm curates matches based on your preferences.
**What I Like**: You can see who likes you (one at a time for free, or all with a subscription). It’s low-effort but high-quality, with creative prompts like “Two truths and a lie.”
**What’s Tricky**: The free version limits you to eight likes a day, which can feel restrictive. Subscriptions run $30–$50/month.
**Expert Insight**: “Hinge is great for busy professionals—it’s low-effort and doesn’t force you to start every chat,” says Suzannah Weiss, marriage and family therapist.
**Where to Find It**: App Store, Google Play
4. Best Dating App for Casual Dating & Hookups: Tinder
**Who It’s For**: 25–40-year-olds seeking hookups or casual dates
**Why It Stands Out**: With 55 billion matches and users in 190 countries, Tinder’s the ultimate “gateway app.” It’s simple, swipe-based, and packed with people looking for everything from dinner dates to wild nights. The Passport feature lets you connect while traveling, and incognito mode keeps things discreet.
**What I Like**: Its massive user base means endless options, and weekly subscriptions ($17–$50/month) give flexibility. It’s also surprisingly popular with seniors for its ease of use.
**What’s Tricky**: Its hookup reputation can lead to mismatched expectations, and some users change their vibe across apps, which can feel inauthentic.
**Tester’s Take**: “Tinder’s my go-to for its range of people. I can find exactly what I want, and the location accuracy is spot-on,” says a New York-based Glamour reviewer.
**Where to Find It**: Tinder.com, App Store, Google Play
5. Best Dating App for Inclusivity: OkCupid
**Who It’s For**: 25–45-year-olds seeking long-term relationships
**Why It Stands Out**: OkCupid’s been inclusive since 2003, offering 22 gender and 13 orientation options. Its in-depth questionnaire and deal-breaker filters let you zero in on matches who share your values, from politics to sleep habits. With 91 million connections yearly, it’s a solid pick for diverse daters.
**What I Like**: The compatibility scores and personality quizzes make matching feel precise. The free version offers unlimited likes and deal-breaker filters.
**What’s Tricky**: Free users get limited profile access, and pricing ($15–$40/month) isn’t always clear upfront.
**Tester’s Take**: “OkCupid’s filters helped me find my current partner by narrowing down the pool to people who truly aligned with me,” says Glamour reviewer Tasneem Anjarwalla.
**Where to Find It**: OkCupid.com, App Store, Google Play
6. Best Dating App for Social Networking: Bumble
**Who It’s For**: 25–35-year-olds looking to date, make friends, or network
**Why It Stands Out**: Bumble empowers women to message first in hetero matches, flipping traditional dating norms. It also offers BFF mode for friendships and Bizz mode for networking. You can link Spotify or Instagram for a fun, social vibe.
**What I Like**: The swipe interface is quick and user-friendly, and making the first move cuts down on lame openers. I’ve made friends via BFF mode, too.
**What’s Tricky**: Matches expire in 24 hours, which feels rushed, and premium features like seeing likes or extending matches cost $30–$55/month.
**Tester’s Take**: “Bumble matched me with my husband, who wasn’t my usual type. Eight months later, we were engaged,” says Glamour’s Loneeja Talukdar.
**Where to Find It**: Bumble.com, App Store, Google Play
7. Best LGBTQ+ Dating App: Grindr
**Who It’s For**: LGBTQ+ (especially gay and bi men) seeking hookups or casual dating
**Why It Stands Out**: Grindr’s the biggest app for gay, bi, trans, and queer folks, with millions of daily users. It’s location-based, showing a collage of nearby people, and lets you filter by “tribe” or create private photo albums.
**What I Like**: Its focus on proximity makes meeting up easy, and it’s great for quick connections. The Grindr for Equality initiative adds a community feel.
**What’s Tricky**: Ads and catfishing can be issues, and it’s less geared toward serious relationships. Plans cost $12–$40/month.
**Tester’s Take**: “We met on Grindr, lived a block apart, and now we’re engaged with a dog and a home. It’s known for hookups, but love happens too,” says a Glamour reviewer.
**Where to Find It**: Grindr.com, App Store, Google Play
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8. Best Dating App for Over 40: SeniorMatch
**Who It’s For**: 40+ folks seeking casual or serious dating
**Why It Stands Out**: SeniorMatch is exclusive to those 40+, with 6,000 daily active users. It’s great for finding love, companionship, or activity partners, with filters for specific criteria like religion or hobbies.
**What I Like**: The free version lets you browse, send winks, and reply to premium members. Community blogs and forums add a social element.
**What’s Tricky**: You need a paid plan ($16–$30/month) to start conversations, and the exclusivity can limit the user pool.
**Where to Find It**: SeniorMatch.com, App Store, Google Play
9. Best Dating App for Over 50: OurTime
**Who It’s For**: 50+ singles seeking love, friendship, or companionship
**Why It Stands Out**: With 9 million monthly visitors, OurTime caters to those 50+ who are widowed, divorced, or new to dating. Its simple “like or pass” interface and ConnectMe phone system (for safe calls) make it stress-free.
**What I Like**: It’s tailored for serious connections, not just hookups, and the free version lets you browse and reply to premium members.
**What’s Tricky**: Free users can’t message freely, and plans cost $18–$30/month.
**Where to Find It**: OurTime.com, App Store, Google Play
Other Dating Apps to Consider
If none of these feel quite right, here are some other solid options:
- **Plenty of Fish**: Great for a large user base and free messaging.
- **Facebook Dating**: Free and integrated with your existing Facebook profile.
- **Feeld**: Ideal for polyamory or open relationships.
- **Raya**: Exclusive, invite-only app for creatives and high-profile folks.
- **Coffee Meets Bagel**: Curates a small batch of daily matches for quality over quantity.
- **HER**: Designed for queer women and nonbinary folks.
- **SilverSingles**: Another great pick for 50+ daters seeking serious relationships.
- **Jdate**: Tailored for Jewish singles.
- **Muzz**: Focused on Muslim daters.
- **Christian Mingle**: For Christian singles seeking faith-based love.
- **Badoo**, **Stir**, **The League**, **Inner Circle**, **#Open**, **Hily**, **Plura**, **Happn**, **Flirtini**, **Tea**, **Zoosk**, **Taimi**: Each caters to specific niches, from single parents (Stir) to location-based matches (Happn).
How the Best Dating Apps Compare
Each app shines for different goals. Match and eharmony are best for serious relationships, with detailed profiles and a compatibility focus. Hinge balances casual and serious dating with thoughtful prompts. Tinder’s massive user base makes it king for hookups, while Bumble’s women-first approach and social modes appeal to younger daters. OkCupid excels in inclusivity, Grindr dominates for LGBTQ+ hookups, and SeniorMatch and OurTime cater to older crowds. Free versions vary—Match and OkCupid offer decent free features, while eharmony and OurTime limit messaging without payment.
FAQs
Which app is best for serious relationships?
eharmony and Hinge are top picks for their in-depth matching and focus on compatibility.
Are there good free dating apps?
Hinge, OkCupid, and Match offer solid free versions, though messaging or seeing likes often requires a subscription.
What’s the best app for older daters?
SeniorMatch (40+) and OurTime (50+) are tailored for mature users, with user-friendly designs and specific filters.
Can I find inclusive or niche apps?
OkCupid and Grindr are great for inclusivity, while Feeld, Jdate, Muzz, and Christian Mingle cater to specific communities.
No matter your goal, there’s an app out there for you. It’s a jungle, but with a little patience, you might just find your match. Happy swiping!