10 Best Dating Apps of 2026

1. 1

   Tinder

   The largest swipe-based dating app, owned by Match Group, with free matching and chat plus Plus, Gold and Platinum tiers.

   8.9overall

   The largest swipe-based dating app, owned by Match Group, with free matching and chat plus Plus, Gold and Platinum tiers.

   Best forSingles under 50 who want the largest pool of people nearby and are happy to start casual.

   Adoption data

   8,879 thousandMatch Group reported an average of 8,879 thousand Tinder Payers a month in the third quarter of 2026, down 4% from 9,258 thousand a year earlier.

   Match Group, Match Group Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (2026): “Payers: Tinder 8,879 (379) (4)% 9,258”

   Tinder remains the default first download because its audience dwarfs every rival that discloses numbers. Match Group's third quarter 2026 10-Q shows an average of 8,879 thousand Tinder Payers a month, close to four times Hinge, and Pew Research Center found that 46% of US online dating users have used Tinder, including 79% of those under 30. The free tier lets you send likes, match and chat, and Tinder's store listing describes prompts, interests, a Double Date mode for going out with a friend and a way to tell a friend when you meet someone. Paid tiers are Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold and Tinder Platinum, but the US App Store listing shows several prices without plan lengths, so we leave the price pending. The weak spot is momentum: Tinder payers fell 4% year over year, even as Match Group says daily active users returned to growth in September 2026.

   Strengths

   • +Largest paying base of any dating brand that reports one
   • +Free tier covers likes, matches and messaging
   • +Strong reach among users under 30 in Pew's survey

   Limitations

   • −Payers fell 4% year over year in the third quarter of 2026
   • −App Store listing does not show plan lengths next to prices
   • −Rarely used by people 65 and older

   SummaryThe app with the most people on it and a usable free tier, which makes it the first one to try. Pay only once you know which upgrade you need.

2. 2

   Hinge

   A relationship-focused dating app from Match Group built around prompts, comments on profiles and date follow-ups.

   8.5overall

   A relationship-focused dating app from Match Group built around prompts, comments on profiles and date follow-ups.

   Best forSingles in their 20s and 30s who want a relationship rather than casual swiping.

   Adoption data

   2,312 thousandMatch Group reported an average of 2,312 thousand Hinge Payers a month in the third quarter of 2026, up 23% from 1,873 thousand a year earlier.

   Match Group, Match Group Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (2026): “Hinge 2,312 439 23% 1,873”

   Hinge calls itself the dating app designed to be deleted, and its numbers suggest the pitch is working. Match Group's third quarter 2026 10-Q shows an average of 2,312 thousand Hinge Payers a month, up 23% in a year, the strongest growth of any brand in this ranking. Profiles are built from prompts, photos, video and voice, and each match starts with a like or comment on a specific part of someone's profile, which makes openers less generic. Hinge lists dating intentions, relationship type, religion and politics on profiles, offers Selfie Verification and asks how a date went after you swap numbers. The app is free to use; Hinge+ adds seeing everyone who likes you and unlimited likes, and HingeX adds enhanced recommendations and priority likes. Hinge earns more per payer than Tinder, $31.81 a month on average in the quarter against $18.02, so expect paid tiers to cost more. Its US App Store prices lack plan lengths, so we mark them pending.

   Strengths

   • +Fastest payer growth of any app that reports payers, up 23%
   • +Profiles show dating intentions, religion, politics and more
   • +Free to use, with paid tiers only for extra reach

   Limitations

   • −Smaller audience than Tinder
   • −Highest revenue per payer in Match Group's portfolio at $31.81 a month
   • −App Store listing does not show plan lengths next to prices

   SummaryThe best app for people who want a relationship and the fastest growing paid app we track. The free tier is enough to judge it before paying.

3. 3

   Bumble

   A women-first dating app where women make the first move, with Boost, Premium and Premium+ tiers.

   8.2overall

   A women-first dating app where women make the first move, with Boost, Premium and Premium+ tiers.

   Best forWomen who want control over who can message them first.

   Adoption data

   1,990.5 thousandBumble Inc. reported an average of 1,990.5 thousand Bumble app paying users a month in the third quarter of 2026, down from 2,344.1 thousand a year earlier.

   Bumble Inc., Bumble Inc. Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (2026): “Bumble App Paying Users 1,990.5 2,344.1”

   Bumble's women-first design is still its main reason to exist: women send the first message, and the app wraps that in more safety tooling than most rivals. Its store listing describes ID Verification, Share Date for sending location details to friends, Block and Report, and in-app video. Intentions, Looking For and Interest Badges narrow who you see, and Snooze Mode pauses the app without losing matches. Bumble is free, with Boost, Premium and Premium+ adding advanced filters, extended matches, Incognito Mode and Travel Mode. Pew found that 28% of US online daters had used Bumble, behind only Tinder and Match. The trend is weaker: Bumble Inc.'s third quarter 2026 10-Q shows 1,990.5 thousand Bumble app paying users a month, against 2,344.1 thousand a year earlier, and the company agreed on October 12, 2026 to be acquired in an all-cash deal that will take it private. Its US App Store prices lack plan lengths, so we mark them pending.

   Strengths

   • +Safety tools such as ID Verification and Share Date are built in
   • +Free tier with paid options for advanced filters and Incognito Mode
   • +Large US audience, used by 28% of online daters in Pew's survey

   Limitations

   • −Bumble app paying users fell about 15% year over year
   • −Company agreed in October 2026 to be acquired and taken private
   • −App Store listing does not show plan lengths next to prices

   SummaryThe best choice for women who want to set the pace and value safety features. Its shrinking paid base is worth watching, but the free tier remains usable.

4. 4

   Grindr

   A location-based dating and social app for gay, bi, trans and queer people, with XTRA and Unlimited tiers.

   8.0overall

   A location-based dating and social app for gay, bi, trans and queer people, with XTRA and Unlimited tiers.

   Best forGay, bi, trans and queer men who want to meet people nearby or while traveling.

   Adoption data

   1.4 millionGrindr reported 1.4 million Average Paying Users in the third quarter of 2026, up 10.9% from 1.3 million a year earlier.

   Grindr Inc., Grindr Inc. Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 (2026): “For the three months ended September 30, 2026, Average Paying Users increased by 142 thousand, from 1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, to 1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2026.”

   Grindr is the specialist pick in this ranking and one of the few dating businesses still growing its paid base. Grindr Inc.'s third quarter 2026 10-Q reports 1.4 million Average Paying Users, up 142 thousand or 10.9% in a year, and average app revenue per paying user of $27.15 a month. The free app shows people nearby on a location grid, with private photos, private albums, tags, filters, favorites and reporting. XTRA removes third-party ads, shows up to 600 profiles at once and adds online-now and position filters; Unlimited adds unlimited profiles, the full Viewed Me list, Incognito mode and unsending of messages and photos. Grindr also pitches itself as a travel tool for meeting locals and finding bars and events. Pew found that only 6% of all online daters had used it, but that it is far more popular among LGB adults. The US App Store lists most tier prices without plan lengths, so we keep the price pending.

   Strengths

   • +Paying users grew 10.9% year over year
   • +Free tier covers browsing, chat and filters
   • +Clear tier split between XTRA and Unlimited

   Limitations

   • −Free tier includes third-party ads
   • −Built mainly for gay, bi, trans and queer men, so a narrow audience
   • −App Store listing does not show plan lengths next to most prices

   SummaryThe default app for gay, bi, trans and queer men, with a growing paid base and a capable free tier. XTRA is enough for most people; Unlimited is for heavy users.

5. 5

   OkCupid

   A question-based dating app from Match Group that matches people on their answers to matching questions.

   8.0overall

   A question-based dating app from Match Group that matches people on their answers to matching questions.

   Best forSingles who want matches based on values and answers, and an inexpensive paid plan.

   Adoption data

   6%Pew Research Center's 2022 survey found that OkCupid, eharmony and Hinge had each been used by roughly one in five US online dating users, or 6% of all adults.

   Pew Research Center, From Looking for Love to Swiping the Field: Online Dating in the U.S. (2022): “OkCupid, eharmony and Hinge have each been used by roughly one-in-five online dating users (6% each among all adults).”

   OkCupid is the value pick for people who want to match on what they believe rather than on photos alone. Members answer matching questions, and the store listing says those answers feed the algorithm that ranks matches. Profiles support more than 60 gender identities and sexual orientations and show pronouns, which makes it one of the more inclusive mainstream apps. The free tier covers a profile and messaging. Paid A-List packages are sold in the app, and the US App Store lists a 3 month A-List package at $23.99, the lowest verified paid price in this ranking, with 6 and 12 month packages also listed. OkCupid's scale is harder to pin down: Match Group folds it into its Everyone Everywhere segment and does not report brand payers, so the best independent figure is Pew Research Center's 2022 finding that roughly one in five US online daters had used it. That age and lack of brand data hold its adoption score down.

   Strengths

   • +Cheapest verified paid plan in this ranking
   • +Inclusive identity and orientation options
   • +Matching on answers rather than photos alone

   Limitations

   • −Match Group does not report OkCupid payers separately
   • −Usage figure dates from a 2022 survey
   • −Store listing copy says little about safety tools

   SummaryThe cheapest verified way to pay for a dating app here, with question-based matching that suits values-driven daters. Its audience is smaller and less documented than the top four.

6. 6

   Match

   One of the oldest dating services, owned by Match Group, aimed at singles looking for a serious relationship.

   7.5overall

   One of the oldest dating services, owned by Match Group, aimed at singles looking for a serious relationship.

   Best forSingles 50 and older who want a relationship and do not mind paying for it.

   Adoption data

   31%Pew Research Center's 2022 survey found that 31% of US online dating users had used Match, second only to Tinder.

   Pew Research Center, Key findings about online dating in the U.S. (2022): “Some 46% of online dating users say they have ever used Tinder, followed by about three-in-ten who have used Match (31%) or Bumble (28%).”

   Match has been around for more than 25 years and still owns the older end of the market. Pew Research Center found that 31% of US online daters had used it, and that users 50 and older were about five times more likely to use Match than Tinder. The app pitches itself to singles with serious intentions, with customized search filters, conversation starters, profile checks and local singles events both online and in person. Without paying, you can create a profile, receive daily match suggestions, chat with recommended matches and join events. Premium adds unlimited profiles, advanced filters and the ability to reconnect with people you passed on. Paying is expensive: the US App Store lists 1 Month Basic and 1 Month Standard at $44.99, the highest verified monthly price here, while a 6 Month Bundle is listed at $129.99. Match Group reports Match inside its Everyone Everywhere segment, whose payers fell 23% year over year, so the brand's current size is not disclosed.

   Strengths

   • +Most popular app among online daters 50 and older in Pew's survey
   • +Free tier includes daily match suggestions and chat with recommended matches
   • +Local singles events online and in person

   Limitations

   • −Highest verified monthly price in this ranking at $44.99
   • −Match Group does not report Match payers separately
   • −Usage figure dates from a 2022 survey

   SummaryThe strongest option for singles over 50 who want a relationship, with events that help people meet offline. It is also the most expensive verified monthly plan here.

7. 7

   Plenty of Fish

   A Match Group dating app known as POF, with search, selfie verification and first-message limits.

   7.4overall

   A Match Group dating app known as POF, with search, selfie verification and first-message limits.

   Best forDown-to-earth singles who want to search directly and keep costs low.

   Plenty of Fish, now branded POF, is a Match Group app that keeps things simple. Its store listing highlights Selfie Verification, direct search for what you want and a setting that restricts first messages so you do not receive one and two word openers. The app is free to download, with tokens for extra actions and paid subscriptions. The US App Store lists a 1 Month Subscription at $29.99 and a 1 Week Subscription at $19.99, so the monthly plan is the only sensible paid choice. POF has 1.8 million ratings on the US App Store, as many as Tinder and Bumble, which points to a long-standing user base. But Match Group reports POF inside its Everyone Everywhere segment, which lost 23% of its payers year over year, and Pew's survey did not ask about POF by name. Without a citable user count, we score its adoption conservatively, which keeps it in the lower half of the ranking.

   Strengths

   • +Monthly price below Match and Coffee Meets Bagel
   • +Search lets you look for what you want instead of only swiping
   • +Option to block one and two word openers

   Limitations

   • −No brand-level user figure from Match Group or Pew
   • −Store listing describes fewer features than larger rivals
   • −Weekly subscription at $19.99 is poor value against the monthly plan

   SummaryA low-cost, search-first alternative for people who find swipe apps tiring. Its size is not documented, so judge it by who you see in your area.

8. 8

   eharmony

   A compatibility-matching dating service that pairs singles using a Compatibility Quiz and a matching score.

   7.2overall

   A compatibility-matching dating service that pairs singles using a Compatibility Quiz and a matching score.

   Best forSingles over 30 who want long-term compatibility matching and accept a paid plan to message.

   Adoption data

   6%Pew Research Center's 2022 survey found that eharmony, OkCupid and Hinge had each been used by roughly one in five US online dating users, or 6% of all adults.

   Pew Research Center, From Looking for Love to Swiping the Field: Online Dating in the U.S. (2022): “OkCupid, eharmony and Hinge have each been used by roughly one-in-five online dating users (6% each among all adults).”

   eharmony is the most structured service here. New members take a Compatibility Quiz, and the Compatibility Matching System turns the answers into a matching score shown on each profile; the company says higher scores mean a better chance of a lasting relationship. Every profile must be at least 50% complete, and eharmony describes a dedicated Trust and Safety team. The free Basic Membership lets you join and browse, but the app's listing says Premium memberships are needed to swap messages, so in practice this is a paid service. The US App Store lists eharmony Basic and PREMIUM light packages from $59.99 to $349.99 without plan lengths, so we leave the price pending rather than guess a monthly rate. Pew Research Center found that roughly one in five US online daters had used eharmony, and the company says it has helped over 2 million couples. It suits people who want fewer, better matched profiles and will pay for that.

   Strengths

   • +Detailed compatibility matching rather than swiping
   • +Profile completeness rule screens out low-effort accounts
   • +Says it has helped over 2 million couples

   Limitations

   • −Messaging requires a Premium membership
   • −App Store lists multi-month packages without plan lengths
   • −Usage figure dates from a 2022 survey

   SummaryA strong pick for people who want compatibility matching and a serious member base. Expect to pay before you can message anyone.

9. 9

   Feeld

   An open-minded dating app for people exploring non-traditional relationships, with a paid Majestic Membership.

   6.9overall

   An open-minded dating app for people exploring non-traditional relationships, with a paid Majestic Membership.

   Best forCouples and singles exploring open, queer or non-monogamous relationships.

   Feeld is built for people who want something other than a standard one-to-one dating app. Its store listing describes an alternative dating app for open-minded people, with more than 20 gender identities and more than 20 sexualities to choose from, and the option to explore over 20 popular cities worldwide. The app is free to download and use. Majestic Membership adds seeing who liked you, private photos visible only to your Connections and one free Ping a day; the US App Store lists it at $29.99 for 30 days, $49.99 for 90 days and $149.99 for a year, so the annual plan works out far cheaper per month. Extra Pings are sold separately. Feeld is privately held and does not publish user or payer counts; its press page lists team size and identity options but no audience figure, so we score adoption conservatively. That keeps it near the bottom of this ranking even though it leads its own niche.

   Strengths

   • +Built for open and non-monogamous dating
   • +Free to download and use
   • +Annual Majestic plan at $149.99 cuts the monthly cost

   Limitations

   • −No published user or payer count
   • −Smaller and more niche audience than mainstream apps
   • −Pings cost extra on top of Majestic

   SummaryThe best fit for open, queer or non-monogamous dating, with a fair annual price. Its audience size is undisclosed, so expect fewer profiles outside big cities.

10. 10

    Coffee Meets Bagel

    A curated dating app that sends daily batches of matches to people looking for a serious relationship.

    6.7overall

    A curated dating app that sends daily batches of matches to people looking for a serious relationship.

    Best forRelationship-minded singles in North America who want a short daily list instead of endless swiping.

    Adoption data

    150 million matchesCoffee Meets Bagel says it has made over 150 million matches; this is a company figure, not an audited user count.

    Coffee Meets Bagel, Coffee Meets Bagel: Dating App (US App Store listing) (2026): “We've made over 150 million matches and counting.”

    Coffee Meets Bagel takes the opposite approach to Tinder: instead of an endless deck, it sends daily batches of curated matches and asks up front what you are looking for. The company says 91% of its daters want a serious relationship and that it has made over 150 million matches. Profiles put education, interests and family plans up front, Icebreakers help start conversations, and a Seven-Day Chat Limit nudges matches to meet. You can stick to daily picks in Suggested, browse in Discover or match instantly in Likes You. The app is free, and Premium adds unlimited Suggested, unblurred likes, 8 flowers and 1 Boost a month, activity reports and read receipts. The US App Store lists 1-month Premium at $34.99 and 3-month Premium at $74.99, with Platinum above that. It only serves North America and the Caribbean and has 22 thousand App Store ratings, far fewer than the big apps, so its adoption score is low.

    Strengths

    • +Says 91% of its daters want a serious relationship
    • +Seven-Day Chat Limit pushes matches toward meeting
    • +Premium perks are listed in detail

    Limitations

    • −Available only in North America and the Caribbean
    • −Premium at $34.99 a month costs more than most rivals
    • −Only a company match count, no user or payer figure

    SummaryA calm, curated option for people who want a few serious matches a day. Premium is pricey, so stay on the free tier unless the daily list feels too short.

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