Best Sites Like Tinder
Tinder might be the all-around most heard of and popular dating app, and with more than 50 million users, there’s probably a good reason for that. However, while Tinder was the pioneer of dating apps, it wasn’t the first online dating option out there, when meeting someone online was deemed very dangerous and a lot of stigmas surrounded it. So of course, come of this online dating websites have adapted to the times and are now solid competition for Tinder.
- Best Sites Like Tinder
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- Free Alternatives To Tinder
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Furthermore, there have been new dating apps that have been developed, with refreshing outlooks and with distinguishing features that try to make them stand from the rest and, for some, provide an extra something to what Tinder seems to offer, be it in the style of dates, the type of person they’re targeted towards or the final goal of its users. So let’s check out the competition for Tinder and see if maybe, one of these actually suits your needs way better than Tinder.
Bumble is one of the best apps like Tinder. Interestingly, the creator of Bumble is the co-founder and former executive of Tinder, so you can bet that she knows a thing or two about dating apps. Bumble gives you that familiar Tinder vibe as you swipe right or left on your screen. Check Out the Best Movies of 2021. Feels kind of like a cross between Tinder and Snapchat — you can swipe right on profiles that look interesting and chat via live video. The app has also. Tinder is 1 of the worst transphobic misogynistic apps period! Only one of these sites/apps is in any way inclusive and respectful or safe place for entire transgender community that is okcupid. Problem is most the sites and apps only recognize m2f or f2m and completely ignore non gender binary trans people. Eharmony Dating App eharmony is the first dating service provider and best Tinder alternative in the online dating domain.
15 Alternative Apps like Tinder
1. OkCupid
OkCupid is one of the best dating apps in the industry for the longest period of time. Its approach seems to be more holistic than Tinder, considering that their attempt is for the matches to be based on information rather than on photos and your looks. Therefore, you have to put a lot more information about your likes, dislikes and what your interests in general, allowing for a more personalized match.
Pros: It allows for a more informed match, going beyond the physical appearance.
Cons: Most of its features require you to pay for them.
Verdict: While knowing a bit more about the person is helpful, this will only be the app for you if you have money to spare and time to read through all the info! But it’s definitely a good option for those of you looking for more than a casual fling.
2. eHarmony
Another pioneer of online dating services that have adapted to the new mobile apps is eHarmony. With a compatibility algorithm, it certainly looks to provide you with matches that are actually quite compatible with you and your interests, evaluating around 29 spheres of compatibility, a change from the more superficial Tinder.
Pros: Dates are certainly more fun if you already know more about the things you have in common!
Cons: Asides from the time required to do your profile, is only available in a selected number of countries, so no passing flings while on your vacation!
Verdict: This is definitely one of the most scientific approaches out there, so if you’re looking for something long term and are a believer in science, this might just be your app!
3. Bumble
Considered by many as Tinder’s main competitor, Bumble offers a different star to the conversation, with only women allowed to make the first move in the space of 24 hours. It also has a feature for making friends for those that are just looking for someone to hang out with without any further intentions.
Pros: Gives more power to women and helps them avoid the terrible pick-up lines that sometimes take place on Tinder.
Cons: If you had a busy 24 hours, you might miss on the chance of texting your match, and then they’ll be gone, forever.
Verdict: Certainly useful if you’re a woman that likes to make the first step. As for what you’re looking for…well, really, anything goes on Bumble as well as on Tinder, although it’s a bit less hookup oriented.
4. Do I Date
This concept it’s really crazy but also quite interesting. On Do I Date app, you can actually review the people you have gone out with and say the good or the bad things about them. Almost feels as if you’re a place and they are rating you for future visitors. Weird, but certainly different from the other apps out there.
Pros: It certainly gives you information about the other person aside from their pictures.
Cons: What if someone feels vindictive and wants to mess up your profile? Exes are not always the friendliest of people.
Verdict: If you are the most amazing person ever and like to get reviewed like a restaurant, then this app is for you! And considering the system, probably not the best place to find something long term.
If you’re looking for casual sex then check these best hookup apps.
5. Double
Another different dating concept is Double. In this one, you and another single friend have a common profile and your matches are with other pairs of singles, and then you all get to go out together! Now, this is surely a way to try and guarantee your safety as well as an awesome way to break the ice since it has a more laid back feel to it.
Pros: It takes a lot of the stress out of meeting a new person if you get to be with one of your closest friends while you do it.
Cons: What if both guys like one girl and vice versa? This might quickly backfire and turn a fun night into a dramatic one.
Verdict: Certainly a great fit for the shiest of you out there and who knows? Even if it doesn’t work out for any of you, you might all become friends!
6. Coffee Meets Bagel
In Coffee Meets Bagel, Girls are bagels, and men are coffee, and isn’t this a different outtake already? And it gets better, the guys get 21 options of “bagels” around noon and they get to swipe from this select few, then, the most compatible ones are presented to the girl, who already knows that these guys are interested and gets to like them back or not. And voila! Coffee has matched with bagel!
Pros: Girls already know that the guys are interested and the time consumed for both men and women is a lot less than in other apps.
Cons: You do get limited options, which might certainly reduce your number of matches.
Verdict: If you don’t like to dedicate a lot of your time to your dating apps, this one was definitely made thinking about you! Go ahead and be a bagel! Or a coffee, and meet your match!
7. Plenty of Fish
There are really a lot of fishes on this sea, with more than 70 million users in the app! Plenty of Fish has a similar platform as Tinder, with the main difference being that practically all of its features are free! So you can send any number of messages you want and you’ll never run out of swipes, considering the huge number of people on it.
Pros: You get a wide variety of options to choose from.
Cons: It becomes very difficult to weed through the bunch of fake profiles and people you are not interested in.
Verdict: If you just one get out there and have a little fun, it might be time for you to go fishing!
8. Hinge
Now talk about being specific! Hinge is an app that allows you to like specific parts of the other person’s profile. This is for sure a great conversation starter as well as a way to specify what you are interested in from the very beginning and it certainly motivates the users to tell a bit more about themselves and their passions.
Pros: It provides a bit more of information about your possible match without making it way too long.
Cons: It does use your Facebook information to match you with your friend’s friends, so it is going to get out there that you are hitting on your acquaintances. But hey, they’re doing it too!
Best Sites Like Tinder
Verdict: Considering that its slogan is “the relationship app”, it is mostly directed to those of you looking for an actual relationship, with someone you know…of.
9. Happn
Now this one is like destiny meets technology and creates its own love story, or fling story, as you wish. With Happn, you actually match with people that have downloaded the app and that have crossed paths with you, and then, you get to decide if you are interested in them or not. Hey, you crossed paths 14 times! Maybe you should go out for drinks!
Pros: It’s a great way to meet those around you and making sure that you match with people near to you.
Cons: Well, it might get awkward if you actually go on a date and it goes badly, then you might be seeing each other all the time.
Verdict: If you’re not afraid of getting your favorite coffee shop ruined, you might just find out that the love of your life was always on your elevator ride!
10. Elite Singles
Isn’t the name such a bore already? However, the concept is not bad at all. On Elite Singles, the users must all be highly educated, preferably with a college degree. This, of course, skews the age curve quite a bit with around 90% of its users being over 30. No Generation Zs are allowed here!
Pros: If you are only interested in college graduates since you are one as well, this might be the right app.
Cons: It does feel a bit snobbish and it might stop you from meeting someone amazing that made something of themselves without going to college!
Verdict: It’s probably good for long term matches, especially considering that if you’re just looking for a hookup, you’re unlikely to care about their college degree.
11. Grindr
Grindr is definitely the most used apps out there by gay men, bi, queer and transgender people. With millions of downloads, it is targeted towards men only, and it helps clarify and facilitates meeting people with their same sexual orientation. Fun fact: It actually pre-dates Tinder, since it was released in 2009.
Pros: It’s easy to use and fairly straight forward.
Cons: It does tend to have some glitches and the interface is not the friendliest one out there.
Verdict: If you are gay, bi, queer or trans and you are looking for a hookup, this is definitely your app.Although I do have to say that I have two friends that met there and are married today so, anything can happen! If you’re looking for Grindr alternatives then here is the best gay dating apps.
12. Luxy
Another more snobbish app, although understandably so, it’s Luxy. Here, you can have a profile only if you’re a certified millionaire. And yes, I know that’s a very exclusive group out there, but it does have a bit of sense that they might want to screen and rule out any sugar babes getting near their very full pockets.
Pros: It does have 24/7 customer service and, if you are a millionaire, allows you to date with people with a lifestyle probably similar to yours.
Cons: Well, first you have to be a millionaire and second, the love of your life might be someone who doesn’t have a penny to their name and you’ll never find out.
Verdict: If you are a millionaire looking for a millionaire to be millionaires together, this is your app.
13. Now
So for all the extremely busy souls out there, here is Now, an app that basically allows you to put which ones are your free schedules and matches you with people that have the same time off. Talking about leaving out all the rescheduling and trying to figure out the right time to go out way behind!
Pros: It certainly is convenient if you have a terribly packed schedule.
Cons: Well, the only things you have in common before you go out is that you were free at the same time, I don’t have many hopes for that date.
Verdict: I might be mistaken, but it does seem more convenient for casual hookups than for trying to build a meaningful relationship. So if you just want to release some pent-up energy, this might be the one for you!
14. Her
I guess you could say it’s the equivalent to Grindr, but it’s not. Although Her is targeted towards lesbian, bi, queer and trans communities, it encompasses a lot more than Grindr, with not only the possibility to match with someone but also to find out about the next LGBTQ+ events out there as well as getting news related to the community.
Pros: It helps to find people with the same sexual orientation with hopefully none of the “hey my boyfriend and I want a threesome” messages.
Cons: The interface is not the friendliest one and sometimes it might feel a bit cluttered with all that is going on.
Verdict: If you are lesbian, bi, queer or trans and are looking to stay up to date and on the dating circles, this app is for you! If you’re interested in similar apps, then check these best Lesbian dating apps.
15. Feeld
Feeld might be one of the best Tinder alternative apps out there since it’s targeted to people interested in relationships or hookups with more than two people involved. So that couple looking for the threesome on Tinder? Well, they should definitely read about Feeld and maybe try their luck there!
Pros: If you are interested in alternative lifestyles, relationships or meet-ups, this might be the app for you.
Cons: The anonymity that is sometimes preferred by the people into these lifestyles is lost here. So you might end up finding out about your boss’s kinky side.
Verdict: A good place for those interested in exploring beyond the mainstream dating world and experimenting different alternatives.
So there you go! Hopefully, if you were discontent with Tinder or if you’re entirely new to the dating apps’ world, now you might have a better idea of what are some of your options and decide which one better adapts to your needs! If you’re looking for casual flings/sex then we recommend you to check out best hookup sites.
Datermeister gets it, you’re frustrated with that soul-sucking app.
So are there dating apps better than Tinder out there?
Many people are asking this question.
…so we put up a list with the 9 best Tinder alternatives in 2019.
BUT:
Before you go and try other apps like Tinder, it’s good to know why Tinder didn’t work out for you.
At the end of the article there’s 5 possible reasons why it didn’t work (and how to avoid the same mistakes on these other dating apps).
But let’s get to the Top-9 list first:
1. Bumble – probably the best app like Tinder
Bumble works pretty much the same way as Tinder:
You swipe left and right, and if there is a match, communication may start.
BUT.
On Bumble the woman has to send the first message. And if the first message is not sent within 24 hours of the match, the connection is lost forever.
So Bumble encourages its users to actually start a conversation.
Bumble is probably the closest Tinder competitor as it’s also heavily focused on photos and the left/right swiping thing. But recently they have introduced some updates on their profiles which encourage people to actually get to know the person better. Therefore it’s also a good dating app for serious relationships.
- Available for: iOS (Apple App Store) / Android (Google Play Store)
2. EliteSingles – best Tinder alternative for 30+ successful singles
Are you around 30 or over? And highly educated? And looking for something a bit more serious?
Then check out Elite Singles.
It has quickly become one of the best dating sites in America. It’s primarily a dating site but they also have an app these days which is available for iOS and Android smartphones. But when reading the Elite Singles reviews on the App stores, it’s better to use the website version – it works better.
Elite Singles is basically the complete opposite of Tinder. When you join, you fill out a personality test which will be used to match you with other members. It’s actually quite an interesting test which will help you in focusing in the right things when looking for a relationship.
EliteSingles.com is the perfect alternative to Tinder if you’re looking for other ambitious and successful singles.
Start by registering at EliteSingles.com
3. Badoo – one of the most popular apps like Tinder:
Another popular social network especially for younger people in their late teens and early 20s.
It is a dating app like Tinder in a way that they also have a like/dislike swiping system. But you can also browse for other people’s profiles nearby your location. Or people you have bumped into. Apparently it follows your geo-location and gives matches if you have crossed paths with another Badoo user.
Badoo is one of the best Tinder alternatives if you are young and looking for something not too serious.
- Available for: iOS / Android / Website
4. Happn – another location based Tinder alternative
Do you ever have those moments out there in the real life when you have eye contact with someone cute but never dare to approach them?
Happn App was made for those moments. It is location based and will give you partner suggestions according to the ones you have
Happn might work well in big cities such as New York or Los Angeles. But the app is simply not SO popular that it would have a lot of users in smaller cities. But, you could give it a try.
- Available for: iOS / Android
5. Zoosk – a good dating app like Tinder if you want a relationship
Zoosk is a massively popular dating app for “serious daters”. As they mention in the Google Play store description:
“Zoosk is a relationship app with one goal—to help people connect, talk and find romantic love.”
Best Sites Like Tinder Post
It’s one of the best Tinder replacements if you’re looking for a serious relationship.
You can also search for users according to location, religion, education, body type and so on. They also have a matching system called “SmartPick™” which gives you partner suggestions according to your personality.
- Available for: iOS / Android
6. Coffee Meets Bagel – a bit more serious alternative to Tinder:
CMB is a Tinder equivalent for people who are looking for something a bit more serious.
As their slogan goes something like “We create meaningful connections”.
They will not allow you to endlessly browse for profiles but you will receive matches every day at noon.
This actually slows down your brain a bit as you have to concentrate a bit on the matches you have. It is a proven fact that too many choices makes us humans miserable (=Tinder). It is better to focus on quality rather than quantity when you do online dating and browse through other singles profiles.
- Available for iOS / Android
Free Alternatives To Tinder
7. Hinge – the relationship app to replace Tinder:
Hinge has an awesome slogan:
“Designed to be deleted”.
If you’re looking for a bit more meaningful connections, Hinge could be the Tinder alternative for you. Their goal is to get you on real dates. And not just endlessly swipe around photos and have superficial “conversations” as you encounter on apps like Tinder.
Hinge matches you with other users who are similar to you and helps in getting the conversation started.
Hinge is not massively popular (compared to mainstream apps and sites like Bumble and Match) but it’s a app worth trying if you live in a big city.
- Available for iOS / Android
8. POF – gazillion users = one of the best dating apps like Tinder:
POF.com aka Plenty of Fish has been around for ages.
This dinosaur of online dating now has an app too – very similar to Tinder. You can swipe left and right for users and see all your matches for free.
But, as it’s a massively popular site with tons of users, you might have to go through some fake profiles and scammers. But other than that, it’s good. You won’t run out of profiles any time soon.
And it’s completely FREE.
- Available: iOS / Android / Website
9. Match.com – massive amounts of users and therefore a good alternative to Tinder:
If the quality of matches on POF gets too low, Match is another good alternative to Tinder.
Although when you read Match reviews on the Appstore, most people are complaining that you need to pay before even getting properly started on this app.
But, Match has massive amounts of users as it has been operating since the late 1990s, probably around the same time as Tinder’s founder was born. It is definitely one of the best dating sites out there and therefore their app will give you lots of profiles to browse (if you are ready to pay).
Match is a mainstream site for singles of all backgrounds – it’s also one of the best dating sites for over 50-year-old singles.
Best Sites Like Tinder Dating
- Available for: iOS / Android / Website
5 possible reasons why you’re looking for Tinder alternatives
It’s good to know WHY you are not meeting the people you hoped to meet on Tinder.
Right?
When you can recognize a problem you can then try to fix it.
1. Tinder is only good for these groups of people:
- Very good looking men – let’s say, the top 5-10 % of the male population (in looks).
- Women
Ok, it’s not quite so simple – many women are not happy with Tinder either. Possibly because many men right-swipe them but then they don’t start conversations or go on dates so actively. Women get a lot of attention on Tinder (46 % of women get right swiped according to this study – compared to just 14 % of men). It’s just a continuous cat and mouse race where no one gets no one.
2. Tinder has tons of people who are already in a relationship
One study a few years ago suggested that 42 % of Tinder users are already in a relationship. So it has also become a way for some people to cheat on their partner – or purely to just “test the waters” and see if the grass is greener on the other side.
3. Tinder is for ego boosting
Another group of people who might make your Tinder experience unsuccessful are the ego boosters.
They are not particularly looking for real dates but just shots of dopamine for their brain to feel good for a short moment. When you get a match and messages from other people, you get these short moments of pleasure, right?
But the ego boosters are addicted to always getting new matches and possibly doing some dates and one night stands. They always return to the app to seek for something a bit better, and more exciting.. nothing will be ever good enough.
So if you are looking for something more meaningful from your dates, it’s definitely worth looking at the other more serious apps like Tinder.
4. Tinder’s algorithm does not show you well enough?
You know how Facebook algorithm shows you the stuff you like – or whatever political agenda they want to brainwash the people with?
Tinder kind of works in the same way – they have certain algorithms which means that your profile might not be shown to many users. And you won’t even know this. Therefore a good alternative to Tinder is a site where you can search for users yourself.
Our guess is that it depends on your ”score” in the algorithm. Many things could affect this score such as:
- if you swipe everyone right, it’s bad (you don’t have standards for your partner)
- if you don’t get ANY right swipes, it’s bad (time to pimp your profile)
- if you get blocked by many users, it’s bad (write some nicer messages)
- if you are a paying member or not
- ..and who knows what other factors are involved.
Tinder has a lot more men than women. Let’s say that a man right swipes EVERY woman on his screen. The algorithm might think that you don’t have any criteria for your women and you’re not to be taken very seriously = your profile will be shown to less women.
On many dating apps like Tinder you can browse and search for users yourself and not be on the mercy of Tinder’s algorithm.
5. Your profile is not good enough
Ok, let’s not blame everything else than ourselves.
Every human is good enough to find love but your Tinder profile might just not be good enough. You need great photos and something interesting or funny in your profile text. People spend possibly less than 1 second on your profile so you need a STRONG first photo.
Actually it is the same thing on many of these apps like Tinder, such as Bumble or Badoo. People make a decision of swiping right in probably less than a second. If you’re looking for apps which are more about the personality, then you’d want to try Hinge or EliteSingles.com for example.
Conclusion
To conclude this article, here’s a few things to remember:
- Don’t take Tinder or other similar dating apps too seriously – they are just games for many people
- Try a few of these Tinder alternatives from above (the ones which suit your desired demographics)
- Also, don’t forget the offline dating world (yes, it’s still possible to open up conversations out there in the real life)
Now it’s your turn:
Why did you ditch Tinder? What is YOUR favorite Tinder alternative and why?
Leave a comment below.