Susan
June 3, 2020
Let’s face it: These days, the best dating apps 2020 are not only one of the most common ways to meet someone, but also one of the most realistic. That said, with an ever-growing number of options available, each with their own take on digital romance, it can get downright overwhelming trying to figure out which one to download. Don’t stress — I’ve done all the legwork for you to determine the best dating apps in 2020, depending on what you’re looking for.
Finding love isn’t easy under normal circumstances — now add in a global pandemic that’s completely changed the way we socialize, and it’s a whole new ballgame. Amidst the coronavirus pandemic — with so many restaurants, bars, and other typical gathering places for singles closed — apps are increasingly becoming the best way to spark up a romance. That might explain why Hinge has reported a 30% increase in messages throughout the app’s user base, and Tinder has seen 20% more conversations (with chats lasting 25% longer) worldwide.
Dating apps may get a bad rap for being hookup hotbeds, but according to a new 2020 Pew Research Center, 12% (or 39% of online daters) said they found a committed long-term relationship or got married as a result of using dating apps. Without a doubt, Tinder has become one of the most well-known apps, and with good reason — it’s super easy to set up a profile, has a sleek and intuitive interface, and it boasts one of the largest pools of people to choose from. But Tinder isn’t the only app around worth downloading. Now, there’s a dating app for everyone from Christians and dog lovers to foodies and farmers.
Whether you’re a 50-something guy, a single mom, or a young professional — here are the best options for swiping your way to something special.
Top Dating Apps 2020 for Relationships
Hinge
All you really need to know about this app is its motto: “designed to be deleted.” In other words, it’s specifically geared toward people who are seriously looking for long-term love, not just their next one night stand. To help you find a meaningful connection, the app poses prompts and questions so you can build out a more detailed profile. And since users have the ability to comment on specific images, quotes, and information, you have plenty of conversation starters right at your fingertips. Another advantage is that users are able to display some key info about themselves that could prove to be dealbreakers — like how often you consume alcohol, whether or not you’re interested in having kids someday, and your political beliefs. Best of all, people can only message you if you’ve matched.
Bumble
What sets this super popular app apart is that it turns a time-honored dating tradition on its head by only allowing women to make the first move. Only after two people have matched can those users message each other, and only after the woman has reached out can the guy respond. Since ladies only have 24 hours to message their matches before the connection disappears forever, there’s a little added pressure motivating users to make moves. If you’re a woman who procrastinates, is too busy to check their dating apps daily, or is too shy to make the first move, this one’s probably not for you. But if you’re a woman who knows what she wants (or a guy who appreciates that kind of woman), then you’ll likely find this app to be refreshing AF. Also, it’s worth noting that the app recently added voice and video features, which make dating in quarantine way more fun and engaging.
Coffee Meets Bagel
If you’re tired of swiping away on a seemingly endless array of people, then you may want to give this unique app a shot, which is all about quality over quantity. Coffee Meets Bagel sends a small number of curated matches (or “Bagels”) based on your profile and preferences every day at 12 noon, so they basically do the vetting for you. You have 24 hours to decide whether you’re going to “like” or “pass” on those options, and if the attraction is mutual between two users, the app allows you a 7-day chat window to connect. What’s more, the app also suggests some quality icebreakers as inspiration for your first exchange. How’s that for effortless online dating?
Top Dating Apps for Over 40
Match
As far as dating apps go, Match is kind of the OG — in fact, it’s been around since the ‘90s, well before Tinder exploded. Sign-up is super simple, and in addition to providing you with daily personalized matches, the app also has a personalized dating “coach” that sends you recommendations based on your interests and desires.
While the app is free for setting up a profile and browsing the dating pool, you’ll need to pay for a subscription (plans start at $20.99 a month) if you want to actually engage with anyone. A premium subscription gives you the ability to not only see who scoped out your profile and liked your photos, but also send other users who caught your eye a “wink” (their digital version of flirting). More recently, Match has added a ton of new features to ease the process of virtual dating, including a Tinder-esque Mixer, the option to voice and video snippets to your profile and a video chat tool called Vibe Check.
According to SurveyMonkey, 58% of adults between the ages of 45 and 54 use Match — which is more than double the amount who use Tinder. So, this one definitely seems to have a special appeal for middle-aged daters.
OKCupid
With a massive user-base and easy-breezy messaging tools, OKCupid is one of the biggest (and oldest) names in the biz. And the app is continually evolving, too — new(ish) features include personality quizzes, Instagram integration, and a fun “Flavors” system that allows users to quickly get a sense of potential matches by their self-branding (World Travelers, Beard Lovers, etc.).
You’ll need to have the patience to answer a seemingly endless slew of questions, but the benefit of all that extra time spent is that profiles end up far more in-depth than on many dating sites — and that might make it easier for you to tell who you actually have things in common with. To make things even easier, once you’ve answered the necessary questions about yourself, OKCupid rewards you by providing a percentage on profiles that might help you gauge your compatibility with each user. The bad news? Anyone — literally anyone — can message you, whether you’ve “liked” them or not. Also, while the app is free, you’ll need a premium subscription to get access to refined search tools and have the ability to see who’s got their eye on you.
Top Dating Apps For Over 50
OurTime
Did you know that 20% of Internet users between the ages of 54 and 64 have used a dating app, according to Morning Consult? This “mature dating” company states “We recognize that what people want in their 50s, 60s and beyond is often very different from what they wanted in their 30s and 40s, let alone their 20s.” Amen! This app skips all the nonsense and encourages users to search for everything from long-term partners and potential spouses to pen pals and friends. Ready to forgo the guessing games and form lasting, meaningful relationships? OurTime just might be the right service for you. According to Statista, nearly a million users in the 50+ age group are on this app.
One of the largest age groups on eHarmony is 55- to 64-year-olds, and it totally makes sense — the sign-up process entails a lengthy “relationship questionnaire” that’s designed to help users build out a thorough personality profile and find people they’ll actually click with. The app serves up a selection of matches (as well as deets on your areas of compatibility) every single day, but since they only send a few at a time, you’re less likely to get overwhelmed (the swipe fatigue is so real, you guys!).
From there, you’ll have the option to favorite the ones who pique your interest, or get your flirt on by sending a “smile.” Stumped for what to say? Don’t fret — eHarmony offers a selection of prewritten Quick Questions, which you can use as icebreakers when you’re at a loss for words.
Registration is free (and super easy if you opt to sign up with your Facebook profile), but paid premium subscribers do get expanded discovery and matching options, as well as other features (like the ability to check out who’s recently viewed your profile).
BTW — if you’re not satisfied with eHarmony in three months, the company promises to give you another three months free.
Lumen
Charly Lester, founder of Lumen, started the site in 2018 because she noticed a lot of people in their 50s and 60s who were just as glued to their phones as millennials didn’t have their own app to meet like-minded daters. Lumen is free to join, but you do need to pay for premium features, such as the capability to filter potential partners by their height, or whether or not they smoke or have children. One major perk is that since the site verifies the photos on every single profile (each of which has to have at least three photos as well as a bio), you never have to worry about catfishers.
Best Exclusive Dating Apps
If you’re an Ivy League grad or successful professional with sky-high standards then look no further than this “elite dating app” that takes your college alma mater and job title into account (via your LinkedIn profile) when you apply. No matter how ambitious or well-educated you are, you may need to be a little patient about getting approved — especially in big cities, which often have long waiting lists. Its newest in-app speed-dating feature, League Live, lets you chat with three potential matches for six minutes each so you can test out your chemistry in a time-efficient manner.
Channing Tatum, Demi Lovato, and Matthew Perry — these are just a few of the celebs who have reportedly used the ultra-exclusive dating app Raya. Even Amy Schumer met her husband on it! What distinguishes Raya is that it’s geared toward creative professionals, and many people use it for networking purposes as well as dating. So, you just might find your next business partner on here while you’re looking for “The One.” Of course, not just anyone can join Raya — you’ll need a referral from a current member, and even then, your application must be evaluated on certain algorithmic values before an anonymous committee finally gives you the stamp of approval. That process can take a few weeks or even a few months, and once you’re in, you’ll pay a reasonable membership fee of $10 for a month, or $30 for six months. Once your profile becomes active, you’ll be able to review your carefully curated prospects or use “Social Mode” to see hotspots where other members are hanging out IRL. While no one really knows for sure what gets you approved on Raya, there’s reason to believe that having a cool career and a high number of social media followers definitely can’t hurt.
Best Dating App For Single Moms
Plenty Of Fish
Not only are 44% of Plenty Of Fish (POF) users single mothers — but they also reportedly find a partner 10% faster than the average user. The app is continually evolving with the times, too: During the coronavirus pandemic, POF launched a free livestream feature that allows users to get a better sense of each other via video. Once you’ve signed up, the app gets a sense of your likes and dislikes, as well as your wants and needs from a relationship, to ensure you’re matched with people who are on the same page.
If dating is a numbers game, POF certainly has a leg up with more than 90 million users. However, there is a catch — with more users comes more pesky bots. Also, the sign-up process can feel somewhat time-consuming. Still, the app claims you’re 2.7 times more likely to enter a conversation in your first 24 hours on POF than you are on other apps.