The world of dating has undergone a revolution for people of all age groups, from teens to the elderly looking for prospective partners. In the not-so-distant past, one had to look around for a date, ranging from the department store to the apartment lift. The number of prospective partners was few and just limited to the areas you would visit regularly. For those that you did not come across in your daily life, the likelihood of ever dating them was almost zero!
Thankfully, things have changed for the better, courtesy of the internet and a slew of digital devices ranging from smartphones to tablets. Now, there is a myriad of ways to connect with people from all walks of life. The fastest-growing mode of dating has become online dating, which has grown exponentially over the past few years. With millions of people hopping onto the online dating bandwagon, things have never looked better to find a prospective partner. The great thing about these websites and apps is that they not only help to find potential partners, many of those that meet online also get hitched and have committed to relationships.
With online dating going great guns, and possibly the future of human relationships, there is a wealth of dating apps and websites that have popped up to choose from. Whether you are using an app or a website to find dates online, the experience is smooth and consistent, making online dating an absolute pleasure.
Let us look at some of the most popular dating apps for iOS/Mac users that are trending:
Zoosk
Billing itself as the numero-uno among the scores of other dating apps, Zoosk must be something special to ensure it lives up to its tag. With purportedly a client base of more than 25 million members from all corners of the planet, you certainly will not fall short of options. With a unique behavioral matchmaking search engine, it does seem to have a lot going for it and definitely improves the online dating experience.
Consistently ranked as one of the best dating apps out there by a wide variety of dating experts, Zoosk is a great option for singles to start with. It has a very simple to use design and walks you through the signup process in a step–by-step manner to ensure you don’t make any mistakes!
Zoosk tends to focus a bit more on long-term relationships but can also work well for those who aren’t looking to settle down right away. With so many people using it there will be people looking for all sorts of things. When you’re just starting off bigger is usually better.
Tinder
Probably most, if not all, of those in the dating game would have heard of Tinder. Apart from being user-friendly, it also has millions of users worldwide. In addition to the thrill of hooking you up with a date, it skillfully uses technology to ensure a Facebook friend is aware of the date you plan to meet. An easy-to-use interface makes it fun to play around with, just a right swipe to connect or a left swipe to ignore. As simple as that!
Coffee Meets Bagel
While a lot can happen over a cup of delicious coffee and yummy bagels, Coffee Meets Bagel is growing in popularity as the dating app to use, particularly with the millennial generation. In addition to its massive database, it offers two options when it comes to finding a prospective date, either from your list of contacts or from Facebook.
Match TM
This is one app that seems to be improving user satisfaction regularly. It is slickly designed, with a great interface, and displays full-size photographs (unusual to find among other apps) of members. An added feature is it belongs to the same network as Tinder, which gives it a boost in terms of security and user experience.
Happn
If there ever was anything like a happening app, Happn would probably bag top honors! With some very unique and endearing features, including if you are close to another Happn member, their profile will be displayed on your device. Just perfect to strike up a conversation, you could begin with the obvious reference to their profile popping up on your smartphone or device. A really cool way to break the ice!
Plenty of Fish
If you are looking for someone special and have had little luck finding them, give Plenty of Fish or POF a shot! Check out the database of prospective partners that catch your eye and message them. Both sending and receiving messages are absolutely free. With a large and growing database, you will never fall short of potential partners. For users looking to upgrade, there is the option of in-app purchases.
OkCupid
Another popular dating app is OkCupid and it ranks high with online users that give it the thumbs up. Whatever your dating preferences or orientation, whether straight, bi, gay, etc. it is well suited to all users. With OkCupid, a major hit with the online dating community, you get access to a massive and ever-increasing database, which increases the likelihood of meeting your special partner through this app.
Bumble
Any millennial currently into the online dating game probably already know Bumble. It’s an app where the female (or the queen bee) should make the first move within 24 hours after a match has been made. If it’s a same-sex connection, either side can make the first move. What makes this app great is that it also has a business feature as well as a friendship feature. Plus, this app offers video chatting if you’re not ready to meet that person in real life yet!
Hinge
Some people find the fast-driven swiping offered by apps like Tinder boring. If you’re looking to focus on relationships and deep connections, Hinge might just be the one for you. In fact, the app’s goal is to help users find their forever companion through the app to the point that you would no longer need its service. You get to build a more detailed profile in the app where you can post pictures and stories. People can comment on these and they can serve as conversation starters!
Grindr
If you’re specifically looking for gay and/or bisexual men, you should download Grindr. It’s all men in there and creating a profile is easy-peasy. The app allows you to choose a Tribe that has the best description of your type. From there, you can begin finding users within the app and open new conversations.
Her
On the other hand, if you’re a lesbian, bisexual, or queer, there’s an online dating app specifically designed for you called Her. Signing up is fairly easy as long as you have a Facebook or Instagram account. After you sign up, you’ll see a feed of activities from other users in the app, some within your area and some from other parts of the world.
eharmony
A long-time player in this industry, eharmony is also another online dating app worth looking into. After creating an account, you get to answer a Relationship Questionnaire that allows the app to match you with people of the same personality. The app will provide you with different sets of matches every day considering your type and your compatibility.
The League
Dating apps are highly known for flings and one-night stands. Although there are success stories without a doubt, the stigma that dating apps are for non-long term relationships is still there. The League, however, is the total opposite of that. The League dubs itself as the dating app for “overly ambitious that know what they want & refuse to settle”. Think of LinkedIn but for dating. So if you are not looking into long-term relationships, you are good with the other dating apps previously mentioned.
Zoe
While Her is open to the whole LGBTQIA++ community, Zoe is exclusive to lesbians, bisexuals, and queer women globally. It is not surprising to see that dating apps now have a specific niche than the all-encompassing ones we are used to like Tinder. Zoe is relatively new compared to the other dating apps. It is so exciting to see how this app will grow!
