{"id":412,"date":"2023-01-30T10:27:25","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T10:27:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.privategirlsinadelaide.com.au\/blog\/the-20-best-dating-apps-of-2022-based-on-your-preferences\/"},"modified":"2023-01-30T10:27:25","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T10:27:25","slug":"the-20-best-dating-apps-of-2022-based-on-your-preferences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.privategirlsinadelaide.com.au\/blog\/the-20-best-dating-apps-of-2022-based-on-your-preferences\/","title":{"rendered":"The 20 best dating apps of 2022, based on your preferences"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Back in my day, a killer dating profile was a Myspace page<\/a> with a moving .gif background and perfectly curated “Zoolander” quotes. A thirst trap was setting your AOL instant messenger status to the lyrics of your crush\u2019s favorite Snow Patrol song, and typing \u201ca\/s\/l<\/a>\u201d? into a Neopets chatroom was the closest thing to letting a stranger know you may be “dtf” (Or down to … you know).<\/p>\n

When I found myself newly single after college and living in the big city, a friend told me to download Blendr<\/a> \u2014 the \u201cGrindr for straight people\u201d with her. We were very hush-hush about it, because it was 2012 and online dating still had a big social stigma attached: namely, that it was for wanton people with unwholesome intentions.<\/p>\n

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Thank goodness, we\u2019ve come a long way, baby. The social stigma of app dating has dissipated, and with the incredible boom of social media and the smartphone, online dating is now not only socially acceptable, it\u2019s the norm. And there are over 1500 apps and websites<\/a> out there looking to set you up.<\/p>\n

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With so many options, where do you even begin? Here are some lists, based on what you may be looking for, with a breakdown of what each app can offer below.<\/p>\n

Best Free Dating Apps<\/h2>\n

Best Dating Apps for Relationships<\/h2>\n

Best Lesbian Dating Apps<\/h2>\n

Best Gay Dating Apps<\/h2>\n

Best Christian Dating Apps<\/h2>\n

Best Jewish Dating Apps<\/h2>\n

Best Dating app for over 40+<\/h2>\n

Tinder<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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There\u2019s no way you\u2019re surprised to see Tinder on this list. As the behemoth of the dating app world (literally the reason that \u201cswipe right\u201d<\/a> has become part of everyday language) Tinder is<\/a> the leader of the pack in terms of popularity, and has been for years<\/a>. It provides a mixed bag: Tinder doesn\u2019t separate the hookup-seekers from those who want more serious relationships. But when it comes to the quantity of potential matches, Tinder cannot be beat. If you want to get your noodle wet, sometimes you have to throw a lot of spaghetti at the wall, and Tinder has all<\/em>\u00a0the spaghetti.<\/p>\n

eHarmony<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Notice that eHarmony is on several of our \u201cbest dating app for [blank]\u201d lists? That\u2019s with good reason \u2014 While it\u2019s lack of \u201cswipes\u201d or social media novelty may make it feel a little old-fashioned, when it comes to making a serious and lasting connection, eHarmony<\/a>\u2019s numbers speak for themselves: Research published<\/a> by the National Academy of Sciences shows that eHarmony ranks first in creating online marriages than any other online site. It also states that couples that meet through eHarmony are significantly less likely to break up<\/a> than couples who met through any other online method.<\/p>\n

Match.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Founded in 1995, Mach.com is maybe the<\/em> OG dating site -they basically laid the original blueprints for what a dating site should be. Their layout doesn\u2019t seem to have changed much in the last couple of years \u2014 but hey, if it ain\u2019t broke, don\u2019t fix it. Match.com is so confident in their skills that they offer a guarantee: if you don\u2019t find someone special to date within 6 months, you\u2019ll get the next 6 months of your subscription for free. That\u2019s the kind of cocky arrogance I can get behind, though the rules are somewhat complicated<\/a>.
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Facebook Dating<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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To be completely honest, I don\u2019t love the idea of Mark Zuckerberg having anything to do with picking my romantic partners (though it is totally<\/em> a reality tv show I would watch!), but Facebook Dating is one of the only truly free dating applications out there \u2014 there are no \u201cextra\u201d or \u201cpremium\u201d features hidden behind a paywall or subscription. And it pulls info from your Facebook Profile, so it\u2019s easy to setup, plus it has a super cute \u201csecret crush\u201d feature that\u2019s worth checking out. It has a smaller user base (for now) so if you\u2019re looking for quantity you might want to stick to something like Tinder. But<\/em> Facebook Dating is already built right into facebook mobile, so odds are you already have it on your phone, meaning you don\u2019t have to download a new app, so\u2026 may as well try it out, right? Find a breakdown here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hinge<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Personally speaking, Hinge<\/a> is currently on my personal blacklist, because years ago after a painful breakup it sent me a recommendation email for a date\u2026 with my very recent ex-boyfriend. To be fair, Hinge didn\u2019t know! Annoyances at having my ex\u2019s stupid handsome face grin at me from the screen aside, I have to begrudgingly admit that Hinge\u2019s algorithm clearly understands my type.<\/p>\n

Hinge<\/a> is also a great alternative to other apps because it stalwartly refused to jump on the swipe wagon. There\u2019s no waiting for someone to match with you: you can immediately comment on or \u201clike\u201d an aspect of a person\u2019s profile. I do find though, that because I\u2019m unwilling to pay for a Preferred Membership subscription, I run out matches quickly on a given day. So be intentional, and save the mindless swiping for Tinder (remember: there’s no reason you have to pick just one app).<\/p>\n

Bumble<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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While online dating can suck for everyone, we know it\u2019s scarier for women, right? Do I even have to say it at this point? Lauded as \u201cfeminist Tinder\u201d, Bumble\u2019s goal is to empower all users to create safe and healthy connections<\/a>. And it does this by forcing the women to make the first move, empowering them to control the conversation.<\/p>\n

Bumble is nipping at Tinder\u2019s heels<\/a> when it comes to sheer number of dating app downloads, and more users = more potential matches. You can also filter matches by all different categories: religion, political leanings, even pet preferences and astrological signs. I\u2019ve personally had more successful dates come from Bumble than any other platform, but I\u2019ve also had a guy ask for feet pics and then block me \u2014 so you win some, you lose some.
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OkCupid<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Until recently, I thought OkCupid<\/a> was a thing of the past. Their most recent ad-campaign<\/a> \u201cFor every single person\u201d convinced me I was so, so very wrong: OkCupid is geared towards helping users be specific and find exactly what they\u2019re looking for, which is why it crosses over onto so many of our Best lists.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been described as the \u201cdating site version of a left-wing hipster who wears ‘Make America Gay Again’ hats<\/a>\u201d. It involves a relatively lengthy application-process, with a lot of questions to fill out, but it makes it a fun experience, like taking an online quiz. OkCupid is like an ice cream bar with every conceivable flavor of ice cream, making it a great place for those who know exactly what flavor they want \u2014no matter how niche it may be.<\/p>\n

Plenty of Fish<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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True story: Plenty of Fish<\/a> is how my sister met her now-husband! So… it works! Another true story: they\u2019re now getting divorced, but hey, that\u2019s not Plenty of Fish\u2019s fault.<\/p>\n

Plenty of Fish is one of the most immediately usable dating apps: it doesn\u2019t require a premium paid upgrade for you to enjoy most of the benefits. Specifically, thanks to its free messaging services, it focuses on conversation. One thing to note, however: you cannot filter people based on location, so this is not the app if you\u2019re looking to send an eggplant emoji and a 1:00 a.m. \u201cU up?\u201d text.<\/p>\n

Coffee Meets Bagel<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Why does casual dating have to be synonymous with hookups and one-night stands? As a single woman in NYC, sometimes it feels like my romantic pursuits are shoved into one of two categories: I\u2019m either forced to be the type of woman who is seeking a soul mate, dreaming of my wedding day, or I\u2019m a sexy independent one-night-stand-loving kinda gal, perfecting my Stride of Pride (I don\u2019t believe in the term \u201cwalk of shame\u201d) every weekend.<\/p>\n

Coffee Meets Bagel takes all the pressure off, keeping dating casual but without the immediate unspoken \u201cso\u2026are we gonna bang or what?\u201d feeling sneaking in. CMB keeps dating casual, but meaningful<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The League<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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No, I\u2019m not talking about \u201cthat funny fantasy football show<\/a> starring the dude who got in trouble for lying about 9\/11<\/a>.\u201d I mean the dating app that\u2019s gotten flack for being \u201celitist<\/a> Tinder\u201d.<\/p>\n

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As a modern dating-app-savvy woman who has been ghosted by enough flaky dudes saying something to the effect of \u201cI dunno, I\u2019m just like, working stuff out\u2026\u201d, I have to say that I do respect the League\u2019s Mission to maintain a selective and high-quality dating and social networking community<\/a>. And as the bad-ass, ambitious bish that I am, I\u2019ve been told that I can be \u201cintimidating.\u201d So a platform that seeks to pair me with men who know what they\u2019re signing up for is appealing.\u00a0 That is, if my application were to be approved<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thurst<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Proudly claiming the title of \u201cFirst Dating app for queer people of all genders<\/a>,\u201d Thurst has a strong emphasis on safety and privacy: they don\u2019t connect to social networks, and do not share user data. Strict community guidelines let you know that all gender identities and sexual orientations are welcome here -and all users have to be on board with that. At least one review calls this app quite literally \u201clife-saving\u201d.
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Qutie<\/strong><\/p>\n

Founded out of a frustration with the usual dating scene, Qutie is designed to help members of the LGBTQ community find meaningful connections. A fun, unique feature of this app is that users can send 10-second video clips to one another, reassuring you that you aren\u2019t being catfished.<\/p>\n