14 best dating apps: Tinder, Clover, Happn, eHarmony
Online dating no longer has a stigma attached to it with so many people using different apps to bag a date, get introduced to new people or even meet a future husband/wife each day (even if we do still lie to ourselves and others about it all of the time).
With it being one of the most popular ways to met a new partner nowadays, there are so many different sites catering for people from all walks of life and interests, so we’ve chosen our 15 favourites to help you decide which one’s for you, whether you want to pay for one or get your hands on a free one, take the whole process really seriously or just swipe through thousands of faces each day.
Image via Shimelle’s Flickr.
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
What is it?
Probably the most popular dating app at the moment, Tinder is a location-based dating app that works in tandem with your Facebook account, showing you pictures of potential dates, based on distance, along with mutual friends and interests. Flinging you photo after photo, you swipe right to like them or left if you don’t fancy them at all. If someone you swipe right to also swipes right, you can begin chatting via instant message.
It’s available to download for free on iOS and Android.
Who’s it aimed at?
While there are some older people using Tinder, it seems very much aimed at a younger, tech-savvy audience. There’s always the option to limit what ages of users you can see anyway.
How easy is it to use?
Almost too easy. Casually flicking left or right to random men’s pictures sometimes makes Tinder feel more like a game than a dating app.
Is it actually going to get me a date?
It depends completely on what you’re looking for. We know people who have found love on Tinder, and now in happy relationships, but we’ve also encountered a lot of men just on the app for some fun, if you get our drift. It’s usually pretty obvious as soon as a match starts talking what they’re on the app for. Just say no to gym selfies, girls!
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
What is it?
So, Clover’s whole thing is that it’s different from Tinder, but, from our experience with the app, we’ve found that it’s exactly like Tinder, just with less good-looking people, and a way of paying to speak to people you haven’t matched with. Desperate much?
It’s free to download, but is only available on the iPhone at the moment.
Who’s it aimed at?
The same people as Tinder, but we found there were a lot of 18-year-olds and over 40s while using the app (even though we set our desired age range as 22-29), so it’s got a wide range of people on there.
How easy is it to use?
There isn’t really much to it, so it’s pretty easy to use. If you use Tinder, you’ll find this interface very familiar.
Is it actually going to get me a date?
If you have low standards, then probably. If, like us, you’re fussy when flicking through all the men, and seeing who likes you, then no.
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
What is it?
Probably our favourite app on this list, even if it is a bit creepy, Happn works by showing you a list of everyone else with the app downloaded who’ve walked past you during the day. It also shows you where and when you walked past them on a map, as well as mutual Facebook friends and interests. Once on your list, you can then click a heart or cross, depending on whether you like them or not. If they heart you back, you can start chatting.
Happn is free to download on iOS and Android.
Who’s it aimed at?
It seems to be very young London professional-based. Weirdly, a lot of people on the app seem to be in the media too. We’ve spotted some minor celebs on the app as well, but we’re not telling who!
How easy is it to use?
Very easy. Just go for a walk, tap a cross or heart, and start chatting!
Is it actually going to get me a date?
We’re still yet to find anyone in a relationship through Happn, as it’s still quite new, but we think this is definitely an app for people wanting a bit more of a serious thing than Tinder. On a side note, there seem to be a lot more good-looking men on here than any other app, which is always a plus.
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
What is it?
eHarmony is a little bit different to your average dating site. It matches you with others through personality, based on answers you give to a series of questions. Once matched, it allows you to send them some ‘Icebreakers’, where you choose to ask them what they’d do in certain situations.
eHarmony is free to download on iOS and Android, but to actually use the app properly, you’ll need to pay membership. Basic membership ranges from £12.95 per month with a 12 month contract to £44.95 per month with a month membership, while a Total Connect membership ranges from £15.95 per month with a year’s membership to £39.95 per month with a three month membership.
Who’s it aimed at?
As it’s a paid dating website, there does seem to be less young users, with most people we found being upwards of 30, so it’s definitely more suitable to those looking for a serious long-term relationship.
How easy is it to use?
Really easy. Being given 10 new matches a day is great, as it means all the legwork is already done for you, and it’s really simple to sift through them. The ‘Icebreakers’ make messaging others way more inviting too, as it’s never usually easy being the first one to actually start the chatting, but eHarmony made us want to.
Is it actually going to get me a date?
Being a paid website, eHarmony users are obviously a lot more serious about their quest for love, so it’s much more likely to get you a date than, say, Tinder. The only problem we had with it is that everyone seemed a bit too old for us.
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
5) Rendeevoo
What is it?
If you thought Tinder was shallow, wait ’til you’ve heard about Rendeevoo. After seeing five Facebook photos and a short description of someone, the app allows you to meet someone in a bar in London, cocktails included. No pre-chatting allowed.
Rendeevoo is free to download, but only available for iPhones at the moment.
Who’s it aimed at?
Seeing as it’s only available for London bars, it’s definitely aimed at young professionals living in London.
How easy is it to use?
This app is so simple to use. Find someone you like the look of, pick a bar and pick a date and time. Done.
Is it actually going to get me a date?
Seeing as the point of the app is to actually date rather than just chatting to someone for ages, yes, it’s pretty much a done deal you’ll get a date.
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
What is it?
One of the oldest and most popular free dating websites, PoF, as it’s affectionately known, hasn’t really got any gimmicks. It just lets you browse through millions of members using filters like age, distance and religion, and then message them all you want.
Plenty of Fish is available to download for free on iOS and Android.
Who’s it aimed at?
PoF’s users are mainly aged from 25 to 35, but there are still quite a lot of younger and older members on the website too.
How easy is it to use?
It’s pretty easy to use, but you’re going to have to do a lot of filtering to be able to find your perfect man, as there are just so many users. Each profile has
Is it actually going to get me a date?
With it being a free website, you’ll have to do a lot of sifting through absolute weirdos, and ignoring of a hell of a lot of messages from perverts, but, from my experience, it is definitely possible to get a date (or four different dates in a week, sometimes).
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
7) Revealr
What is it?
Revealr is like Tinder, but voice-based. You get a pixellated picture of someone, along with a 20 second clip of their voice, and then you swipe right or left depending on whether their voice tickles your fancy or not. When it’s a match, you can start chatting.
Revealr is free to download, but only available on the iPhone at the moment.
Who’s it aimed at?
This app pretty much has the same sort of users as Tinder, with its easy-to-use interface, and game-like nature.
How easy is it to use?
It’s as easy to use as any other app. The hardest part is deciding what to say in 20 seconds. Do you tell a joke or say something sexy?
Is it actually going to get me a date?
Revealr is still quite a new app, so there aren’t that many people on it yet, but we’re sure if you try hard enough, you can find a date out there.
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
8) Hitch
What is it?
Like the virtual version of ‘meeting through a friend’, Hitch works by allowing your friends to set you up with another one of their friends. The catch is that you’ll only know the gender and the age of the person you’re chatting to, so, obviously it could be someone you know quite well, but never thought of dating them. If, after a while, you realise you like this person, there’s an option to reveal your identity.
Hitch is available to download for free on iOS and Android.
Who’s it aimed at?
We’d say it’s aimed at people aged 25 to 40, but, more to the point, it’s really aimed at people with loads of friends who don’t really know each other that well, which doesn’t happen THAT often.
How easy is it to use?
So easy. If you get matched up to someone by a friend, you get a notification telling you and you can then immediately start chatting.
Is it actually going to get me a date?
This is one of those where it could go either way. In some ways, it’s more likely to get you a date, because the fact that person knows your friend is quite comforting, but, in other ways, it’s entirely likely you’ve already heard a lot about that person, and already made pre-judgements, so may get put off of dating them.
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
What is it?
Like eHarmony in that you have to answer 50 questions to start using the website and get matched with people, except it’s free.
OKCupid is available to download for free on iOS and Android.
Who’s it aimed at?
Pretty much anyone and everyone looking to meet someone.
How easy is it to use?
Once you get past the 50 questions, it’s incredibly easy to use. Just prepare to do a lot of filtering to actually find someone good.
Is it actually going to get me a date?
As it’s a free website, again, you’ll have to sort the wheat from the chaff if you’re looking for more than a quick fumble, but we do know people who’ve found love on OKCupid, so it’s possible!
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
10) Smeeters
What is it?
Smeeters claims to offer “a new approach to meeting people” by matching up two groups of existing friends — three guys and three girls — based on “profiles” you create in the sign-up process. Both groups of people meet up in a London bar with the first round of drinks included in the £15 fee.
It’s not really an app. You just sign up to the Smeeters website with your Facebook account, pay £15 and then get an email telling you where to meet.
Who’s it aimed at?
Like Rendeevoo, it’s a very London-orientated app, so it’s mainly young London professionals using it. Annoyingly, it’s only applicable to people who have two other single friends as well.
How easy is it to use?
Seeing as all you need to do is create a profile using Facebook, find some friends also up for it, then pay £15, it’s easy, as Smeeters finds a group of single guys for you. The hardest part is finding two friends who also want to meet three strangers in a bar.
Is it actually going to get me a date?
Well, yes, as that’s the point of the app. The awkward thing, we’d imagine, is deciding who gets who, so a second date isn’t necessarily on the cards, but at least there’s a likelihood you’ll meet some new friends.
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
11) DoingSomething
What is it?
Another London-centric dating site, DoingSomething lets you choose who to go on a date with, based on date ideas (and a picture). All you need to do is write down a date idea (I chose Up at the O2), upload a photo and then you’re free to stalk everyone else’s date ideas and choose which ones you’re interested in. There are tons of singles events carried out through the website too, which we REALLY WANT TO GO TO! Having just had Giant Twister at The Shard, they’re now holding Sleepover at The Shard! The only catch with this website is the price.
Membership to DoingSomething costs between £29 for one month, and £7.10 a month for 12 months.
Who’s it aimed at?
Again, being a London-centric site, it’s mainly aimed at young London professionals, but those who are bored of the standard meeting-for-drinks procedure, and want to do something less awkward.
How easy is it to use?
It’s pretty easy to use. As there’s the option to answer some questions about yourself on your profile, you can search based on people, but you can also search through date ideas. See someone or an idea you like? Just message them.
Is it actually going to get me a date?
As it’s a paid-for dating site, definitely. Plus, the date will be a lot more fun than your average one, so even if the person’s boring, at least you’ve had a fun day/night out.
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
What is it?
Pretty much the same as POF, except you pay for it, so it’s more for the serious dater. match.com has plenty of incredibly useful search features to choose from. You can do the standard search where it will look for someone who matches the criteria you’ve set, but you can also search by area, keyword or a whole variety of filters in the advanced search.
match.com is free to download on iOS and Android, but to do more than just browse you’ll have to pay between £12.99 a month for a six months membership and £29.99 for a month’s membership.
Who’s it aimed at?
Definitely for the older users who are more serious about their quest for love, as it’s quite pricey. match.com prides itself on the amount of marriages and babies it’s spawned.
How easy is it to use?
Very easy. If you don’t like searching match.com also has a feature called Daily 6, where it picks six new profiles everyday that you can quickly say yes, no or maybe to.
Is it actually going to get me a date?
Yes. If you don’t get a date within your first month, match.com refunds you your first month free, so the site really does want you to find love.
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
13) Lovestruck
What is it?
Lovestruck is a site that aims to make sure people, mainly in London, find time to date, by setting you up for lunch with other singles nearby, and arranging singles events around London. It does also still work like a normal dating website too though, allowing you to browse and message members.
Lovestruck is free to download on iOS and Android, but, if you want to do more than just browse, standard membership will cost you between £11.58 per month for a year, or £39 for a month, while premium membership ranges between £14.08 per month for a year and £49 for a month.
Who’s it aimed at?
Definitely young busy London professionals. That’s obvious by the sheer number of Tube adverts for Lovestruck alone.
How easy is it to use?
So easy, and the singles events are really fun to attend with groups of friends.
Is it actually going to get me a date?
Probably, seeing as it’s quite expensive, so people are definitely going to be more inclined to date. Also, the singles events are a great way of getting a date!
[/nextpage] [nextpage]
What is it?
Like Hitch, MySingleFriend gets your friends to do the matchmaking, but it’s not through their friends. They basically set up your profile for you, and search through other users’ profiles created by their friends too. It sounds weird, but in some ways having your friends write the good stuff about you is easier than writing the good stuff about yourself.
MySingleFriend isn’t an app, it’s just a website. It’s free to join, but if you want to actually message anyone, membership ranges from £13.17 per month for six months and £28 for a month.
Who’s it aimed at?
It’s got quite a wide range of users. Even though it’s a free website, MySingleFriend seems to have less people looking for a quick hook-up.
How easy is it to use?
Very easy, as your friend does most of the work for you anyway!
Is it actually going to get me a date?
If your friend is a good enough wingwoman, then yes! One of shinyshiny’s writers met her boyfriend on this website (we’re not saying who), and they’ve been together a long time now, so there’s hope for the rest of us!
[/nextpage]
Comments are closed.