Technology

Best Free Dating App for Singles: Top 5 Apps for Every Relationship Goal

Getting to know potential partners online can be a bit stressful, as it is, which is why we recommend you spend some time choosing a dating app. They’re not all created equal, and some suit serious relationships while others are more casual. 

To find the best free dating app for single people, we narrowed down the choices using such criteria:

  • Reliability of the app (works smoothly and without bugs or crashes)
  • Opportunity to use the app for free and reasonable paid plans
  • Decent security, privacy, and blocking tools
  • Advanced filtering
  • Personalized matches
  • Popularity among users and positive reviews
  • Availability for Android and iOS

Let’s take a look at five dating apps that have their standout features and work for different relationship goals. 

Hily

Available since: 2017

Compatible devices: Android and iOS

Cost: free version or paid premium subscription starting from $14.99/week 

Hily is the best free dating app for singles that has been around for almost ten years and has 42+ million downloads.

The app is widely used in the United States, and it is a good choice for serious relationships, but it’s not too rigid about this. You can successfully use the app for both casual chats and for finding a meaningful connection.

Hily offers a convenient interface, strong consent features, and advanced matchmaking algorithms to make sure you talk to compatible people. 

As for the features of the Hily dating app, they include the following: 

  • Personalized recommendations and improved matching system
  • Quizzes to check compatibility and score on every profile
  • Discover tab with potential matches
  • A way to show interest before matching (Major Crush)
  • Consent Guard feature to prevent explicit content
  • Filtering system
  • Conversation starters
  • Strong security features and tools for blocking and reporting

Hily excels at making a dating space safer for everyone thanks to its security features. The app offers a good mix of features and is suitable for casual and serious dating. 

Bumble

Available since: 2014

Compatible devices: Android and iOS 

Cost: Free and also paid version with more features starting from $15/month   

If you’re interested in using an online dating app that allows women to decide whom they want to talk to from the start, you should test Bumble.

The way it works is simple: either only women can message first, or they can add prompts to their profiles to be contacted by men. 

The features include the following:

  • Women message men first in matches
  • Separate BFF mode for finding friends
  • Voice calls and video calls
  • Filtering system to specify your preferences
  • SuperSwipe feature to show maximum interest (Premium)
  • Spotlight feature to showcase your profile (Premium)
  • Profile recommendations every day

Bumble is a variant for women and men who are not against ladies making the first move. The app is widely installed in the U.S. and overall has 50+ million users. 

Tinder

Available since: 2012

Compatible devices: Android and iOS 

Cost: free and a paid version that costs around $25/month

Another app that has been among the pioneers of the dating app world is Tinder. Singles using Tinder look for different relationship formats, but traditionally it’s not viewed as the best option for serious dating.

It’s a perfect app for casual connections and expanding your pool of acquaintances. 

The peculiarities and features of this most popular dating app include the following:

  • Simple systems of liking or disliking people by swiping
  • Possibility to talk to people from other countries (Premium)
  • Video chats and calls
  • Video profiles
  • Boosts to stand out from others (Premium)
  • Super Likes to catch more attention
  • Extensive list of filters
  • Privacy and blocking features

Over 75 million people have installed Tinder over the years, so it’s a well-known app worldwide. 

Coffee Meets Bagel

Available since: 2012

Compatible devices: iOS and Android

Cost: free and also paid subscription available for around $35/month

While not as popular or as widely installed as others on the list, Coffee Meets Bagel is an app used by 10 million people worldwide, especially in Canada and the U.S.

The app is more about serious relationships rather than casual matches, so it’s something to keep in mind. 

The key features of this exclusive dating app include:

  • Compatibility-oriented matches
  • The number of matches is limited each day
  • Filters for preferences
  • Discover page to look up profiles
  • Suspicious activity detection and reporting tools
  • Profile boosts with Premium

The app encourages a more serious approach to dating, so it doesn’t have a swiping system in place. 

Happn

Available since: 2014

Compatible devices: Android and iOS

Cost: free and a premium subscription from $20/month 

Another best free dating app for single men and women that has a user base reaching 180 million is Happn.

The standout distinction of this app, popular in Europe and Latin America, is that it matches people based on proximity and location. It’s a convenient app for people who want to get to know others locally. 

The features of this application include:

  • Matching is based on where you live and go
  • Personalized matches
  • Voice messages and video calls
  • SuperCrush feature to express attraction
  • Discovery based on your approximate geolocation
  • Tools to report and block users
  • Privacy and preference configurations

Happn works best if you like to match with people who share your lifestyle or location rather than finding love abroad. 

Final Thoughts

So, what’s the best dating app to install? There is no single answer to this. You should make a choice according to your interface preferences, how you like to interact with others, and what your goals are. 

As for our list, Bumble takes a woman-first approach, Tinder is more about casual connections, and Happn is ideal for when you want to meet others in your city.

You should probably use Coffee Meets Bagel if you have more serious intentions.

For smart matchmaking, excellent consent features, and diverse relationship goals, you should go for Hily.

Kavichselvan

Kavichselvan is a Cybersecurity Enthusiast and Journalist covering Cyber Attacks, Threats, Breaches, Vulnerabilities and other happenings in the cyber world.

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