Tinder is a popular dating app with more than 530 million downloads since 2012, but it’s not the best for everyone. If you’re looking for a serious relationship or a personalized online dating experience, Tinder may not be the best to explore. Due to its popularity, people often try Tinder for all their dating needs without considering their other options –– and trust me, there are other options!
Here, we offer 14 dating apps that are better than Tinder for a variety of reasons. Keep reading to find out which one is best for you!
Better Than Tinder for Relationships
Tinder is not typically used for romantic relationships. Many singles complain that it’s hard to find Tinder matches who are serious about settling down. Consider the five dating apps below if you’re looking forward to going on your last first date.
1. Match
Match.com has come a long way since it launched in April 1995. This well-reputed dating site has honed its match algorithm to identify long-term compatibility and facilitate countless first dates, serious relationships, and successful marriages. Match’s esteemed dating experts go to great lengths to guide singles to a seriously good match.
- Match is the world’s longest running dating site
- The Discover section has search filters by interests, looks, lifestyle, and more
- Match is available in 50 countries and 15 languages
- Browse Match profiles 100% free »
Match is a very popular dating app, and almost everyone knows someone who used Match and found true love. The dating app is not new to helping singles find compatible matches, boasting 2.6 million success stories so far. Match Founders Gary Kremen and Peng T. Ong launched the platform in 1995 with a mission to help singles find the kind of relationship they desire. And based on the current results of the app, they’ve done a successful job doing so.
“Every month, we hear from hundreds of successful couples from all over the world — sharing love stories, sending invitations to weddings, and announcing the births of new babies. It’s no wonder everyone knows someone who’s found love on Match.com!” said the Match team.
Match is free to download and use, which is one of the reasons it has such a large dating pool. — anyone can join. Basic members can chat with their top recommendations daily, and access customized searches. But if you want access to premium features, an upgrade is required. Premium members can read and send unlimited messages, view all their matches, and have one-on-one sessions with a dating expert.
The Match team has learned a lot about how singles like to date. And the team continues to find new ways to make online dating a fun and exciting dating experience for all. Beyond conversations, members can participate in video chats and attend virtual or in-person events. Match events range in price, but premium members receive exclusive discounts on events — which is a pretty sweet deal!
EliteSingles.com maintains a sophisticated network of young professionals seeking a relationship. Over 80% of its members hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree, and over 90% are over the age of 30. Elite Singles uses an intelligent matchmaking system to introduce daters to someone on their level.
- Over 2 million monthly users
- Premium members receive 20 wildcard matches a day
- Search features include age, height, education, ethnicity, and lifestyle habits
- Browse Elite Singles profiles 100% free »
Busy singles often run into trouble finding dates, and they don’t have time to swipe through Tinder’s database. EliteSingles is the perfect dating app for professional singles who are looking to settle down with someone who understands their lifestyle. The platform’s vision is to maintain the industry’s highest standards and is committed to ensuring that every member is successful in finding love.
“At EliteSingles, you can be assured that numerous people are working tirelessly to bring you the best possible experience, and help you start your relationship journey,” said the EliteSingles team.
EliteSingles is only used for serious dating, and more than 90% of EliteSingles users are over the age of 30 and have a college degree. Most of these singles are looking for someone to share their success with.
EliteSingles is unique because it takes an intelligent matchmaking approach to online dating. Members receive three to seven highly suitable matches a day based on their preferences, education, location, and personality. This is quite helpful for busy singles because they don’t have to spend a lot of time finding someone they’re compatible with.
“I had seen commercials for EliteSingles, and was originally hesitant,” said EliteSingles user Mark in a testimonial. “But after registering and interacting with the site, I was impressed with the quality of my partner suggestions and just how much they took into consideration what I was looking for in my search for a partner. I have to admit I have been pleasantly surprised.”
3. eharmony
Since its launch in 2000, eharmony has endeavored to find the formula for love. Its 32-dimension personality test uses psychological truths to identify areas of compatibility between two individuals. The dating site’s mission is to foster relationships that last, and every potential match has a reason behind it.
- Over 2 million people have found love here
- Users can filter their match recommendations by age or city
- Compatibility Quiz identifies common interests, lifestyles, and goals
- Browse eharmony profiles 100% free »
Known as the number one trusted dating app, eharmony provides a great dating experience for those looking for a serious relationship. eharmony was created in 2000 and is on a mission to help singles find authentic relationships in an easy-going dating environment. Dating can be challenging at times –– especially on the web when you’re new to the online dating scene. But eharmony supports daters every step of the way.
With more than 15 million members, eharmony’s main goal is to match you with someone who truly gets you. Tinder uses the traditional swipe method to match people, but eharmony offers a personalized matchmaking process that benefits all its members.
Members take a personality quiz and answer up to 80 compatibility questions about what they like and dislike, their communication style, and their ideal match. From there, eharmony matchmakers can release their cupid arrows and pair members based on the results. Premium members can receive an in-depth eharmony personality profile that identifies characteristics and communication styles.
To help narrow down the search, eharmony has niche filters to help members find their community. A lot of members find these filters helpful in meeting like-minded people from the very beginning.
Christian Mingle is a faith-based dating website for singles who want a relationship grounded in Christian values. People of all religions and backgrounds turn to this site in hopes of meeting a good Christian man or a good Christian woman. Christian Mingle’s claim to fame is that it has the highest percentage of Christian members of any dating site or app in the world.
- For singles interested in God-centered relationships
- Over 3.5 million monthly users around the world
- Available as an app on Google Play and the App Store
- Browse Christian Mingle profiles 100% free »
Christian Mingle isn’t just your ordinary faith-based dating app. The platform launched in 2001, and is one of the few Christian dating sites that focus on helping singles even after they find a match. Christian Mingle’s mission is to help Christian men and women find a God-centered relationship that is built on faith and love. Members can foster meaningful relationships in a Christian community that understands and supports them.
Members can browse the site anonymously and find matches based on their dating preferences. Similar to Tinder, Christian Mingle has a lookbook feature that allows swipe-style matches, which some singles prefer because they feel more in control.
Christian Mingle has more than 16 million members who bond over their shared faith. Religion is important for a lot of people and dating someone outside of that just isn’t practical for others. To ensure couples are successful beyond matching, Christian Mingle’s Believe magazine offers readings about bible verses, tips on meeting Christian singles, and other relevant content.
“At Christian Mingle, we are passionate about helping Christian singles find love and companionship within a safe and welcoming environment. Join our community today and discover the power of faith-based connections,” said the Christian Mingle team.
5. Hinge
Hinge is widely known as the dating app that was “designed to be deleted.” That means everything from the in-depth profile to the matchmaking formula works overtime to connect singles to that perfect match. The goal isn’t to get single people in as many chats and on as many first dates as possible. The goal is to streamline the process of finding a relationship and then retiring your Hinge profile forever.
- Profiles require multiple photos and responses to prompts
- Users can send a message with their match request
- The app collects post-date feedback to improve its system
- Browse Hinge profiles 100% free »
Hinge is the dating app that was designed to be deleted. A lot of dating apps fail to help daters realize that online dating is a temporary tool, but not Hinge. From the very beginning, Hinge makes it clear that its goal is to help you go on your last first date. Hinge has a team of high-spirited and motivated individuals who want to see you win.
“We’re looking for people who want to make dating effective, not addictive,” said the Hinge team.
Hinge’s ultimate goal is to help make the world a less lonely place. The platform offers a safe dating experience with dating tips, fun date suggestions, and insightful blogs to accomplish that.
Hinge is also one of the few dating apps that promotes diversity and respect. As a result, members feel more comfortable on their love journey. A lot of singles suggest people who have never tried online dating before should use Hinge.
Better Than Tinder for Casual Hookups
A casual hookup is not hard to find on Tinder, and that’s what the app is known for, but it’s limited in some areas. Below are three apps that offer a new approach to using online dating for casual hookups.
Ashley Madison is a breath of fresh air for single or attached folks experiencing a sex slump. This exciting dating site and app offer tons of opportunities to mingle, match, flirt, and hook up discreetly. Over 80 million profiles await you on Ashley Madison, and it’s free to create an anonymous account.
- Discreetly arranges one-night stands and extramarital affairs
- More than 80 million profiles worldwide
- Travel-friendly features for seeking matches in other cities
- Browse Ashley Madison profiles 100% free »
Ashley Madison is the first married dating website in the world and currently has more than 80 million member accounts. Married people can use Tinder to creep around but may find it difficult to find someone looking for the same type of arrangement. That’s why Ashley Madison was created for people to have discreet affairs without having to turn to traditional dating apps.
“Connecting with a man of a different culture or someone taller or much older — something that my husband will never be, it is all okay,” said an anonymous user in a review on the homepage.
Ashley Madison revolves around the idea that consenting adults should have the liberty to do as they please in private. Even though the world is evolving and people are becoming more accepting of relationships, judgment still lurks when people act on their sexual desires. Members use Ashley Madison for various reasons, and it is a judgment-free zone that supports them every step of the way.
Anyone can make a free account on Ashley Madison and receive access to basic functions to scout out the dating scene. But what’s great about Ashley Madison is that women never have to worry about paying anything while on the app. Even with an upgraded membership, women can use premium features, including chatting, for free.
Registering for an account on Adult Friend Finder (AFF) is like speeding into the fast lane of the online dating world. This hookup site puts you in the center of action and encourages sexy singles and swingers to satisfy their secret fantasies. Anyone over 18 can join AFF and browse millions of profiles for free, but only full-fledged members have access to the revealing content in the community forums and chat rooms.
- One of the largest adults-only sex communities
- Free and fast registration process
- Dating forums and live chats foster live flirtation
- Browse Adult Friend Finder profiles 100% free »
Adult Friend Finder is the world’s largest dating and social network for adults. Today, it’s common to see people of all ages use online dating platforms. With dating apps such as Tinder that have a mixed age group of people, it can take longer to find a match. Adult Friend Finder is exclusively for adults and is one of the few dating sites that offers X-rated content. Since its launch, Adult Friend Finder has managed to foster more than 3 million connections.
On Adult Friend Finder, you can expect the heat to be turned up a bit. Members often find hookups, sex partners, and threesomes, among other types of fun. Adult Friend Finder has one of the most supportive sex communities in the online dating industry. Everyone on the site is open-minded, which is great because no one has to beat around the bush. The platform encourages members to be honest about their dating expectations from the beginning.
Adult Friend Finder is available for free both on the Apple App Store and Google Play. If you’re on a budget, you’ll be pleased to know that you don’t have to upgrade to a paid subscription to use Adult Friend Finder. Members can watch live nude cam videos, view other member photos on their timelines, and chat in the members-only discussion forum for free. But with a premium membership, people can add friends, use instant chatting, and have one-on-one conversations with people. Premium memberships start at a 12-month commitment.
“I’d say that AFF is probably above average, there’s worse out there and it has the most important thing — a bunch of women,” said Nick, an Adult Friend Finder user in a testimonial. “There are occasional time wasters but overall I like this site a lot and will be taking a longer subscription when my month trial runs out.”
Since its launch in 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has created an African American singles network that stretches across North America. This niche dating site has 1.5 million members who are attracted to Black and biracial people. It takes less than two minutes to create a full profile and start browsing through profiles sorted by age, location, and orientation.
Niche dating sites are great because they increase your chances of finding a compatible partner. BlackPeopleMeet is a dating site that paves the way for African-American singles to find love. The platform was founded in 2002 and is now considered one of the largest online sites for Black singles in the world. BlackPeopleMeet provides high-quality dating services and a large user base.
As an African-American woman, I know how refreshing it is to date someone within my race. Although I never boxed myself in, when I started dating my boyfriend (who is Black as well) I discovered I enjoyed bonding over our shared upbringings and culture. Similar to my experience, many other Black singles are looking for #BlackLove for the same reason. BlackPeopleMeet makes it possible for Black people to connect, whether it’s for romance or just a fun night.
BlackPeopleMeet offers communication tools and a platform that reflects modern dating.
Members can view who’s online and available to chat, peruse suggested matches, and search for potential partners, all for free. A paid membership grants members access to instant messages, enhanced match options, reads and replies to messages, and shows when your messages are read.
“This is my favorite dating app for my fellow African-Americans. It’s been such a success meeting people of my race. I’m so grateful for BlackPeopleMeet!” said Kymberlee, a BlackPeopleMeet user, in a review.
Better Than Tinder for Senior Singles
Older singles aren’t typically on Tinder since youngsters are its core demographic. Nor do older singles have the patience for swiping through tons of profiles. Here are three dating sites that know exactly what seniors need to excel in dating.
SilverSingles offers a secure dating experience for singles of a certain age. Anyone over 50 is welcome to join the network and browse for dates by using the simple search filters and match recommendations. Every month, over 800,000 senior singles join the dating site and start their journey toward love.
- Global membership base of exclusively single seniors
- Free members can browse matches, send smiles, and favorite profiles
- 24/7 online customer service
- Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free »
SilverSingles is exclusively for singles over the age of 50. Looking for love online is the last thing an older single may have imagined, but SilverSingles proves that finding true love does not have an age limit. Unlike other dating sites that serve a broad audience, SilverSingles only allows people over the age of 50. This to allow people to enjoy dating others who understand the stage of life they’re in.
The SilverSingles matchmaking process is not only effective but also personalized. Members take an in-depth personality test upon joining so SilverSIngles dating experts can get to know them better, which ultimately helps provide better matches. From there, members receive three to seven new matches every day until they connect with someone who truly interests them.
This is great for older singles new to the dating scene who want to match with people based on their goals, values, and preferences.
10. OurTime
OurTime gives singles over 50 a confidence boost by introducing them to age-appropriate dates online. The dating site offers multiple ways to connect and discover commonality, and it has led to thousands of success stories in the last few years. Whether you’re looking for a pen pal, a friend, or a relationship, OurTime has got it covered.
- Thousands of success stories from all over the world
- Find senior dates using advanced search filters and match suggestions
- The Help Center offers quick tips and guidance
- Browse OurTime profiles 100% free »
OurTime is a senior dating site that changes the way people over the age of 50 date. OurTime is part of Match Group, and was created to elevate the online dating experience for older singles. Online dating is often seen as a resource for the younger generation but that is far from the truth. Seniors now have a dedicated online space and can find meaningful connections from the comfort of their homes.
“Our unique focus is on celebrating this time of your life and helping you find the quality connection you’re looking for. Whether it’s marriage, romance, friendship, or companionship — we want to help you find someone special to celebrate this time of your life with,” said the OurTime team.
A lot of older singles are wary of online dating for safety reasons. This is understandable, considering there are plenty of stories of people encountering catfishers or scammers on the web. But OurTime members don’t have to worry about such problems because the team reviews every photo and profile.
11. SeniorMatch
SeniorMatch is one of the most trusted names in the senior dating scene. Since 2003, the over-50 dating site has catered to divorcees, widows, and other singles seeking a second shot at love. It’s free to create an account on SeniorMatch, and you can browse profiles, discover matches, send messages to paid members without needing to upgrade or subscribe.
- Exclusively for men and women over 45
- Add a profile to your Hotlist to save it for later
- Seniors shares dating advice in members-only forums
- Browse SeniorMatch profiles 100% free »
SeniorMatch is the premium senior dating app for mature singles looking for a genuine connection. The platform has more than 1 million senior singles over the age of 50 on the app and is growing more every day. SeniorMatch isn’t your ordinary senior dating site. Its primary focus is to help seniors find relationships with those who share their passions.
SeniorMatch doesn’t allow anyone under the age of 40 to join because it’s strictly for mature singles. This makes it easy for members to connect and relate to one another. And you don’t just need to be looking for love on SeniorMatch. Some members who are widowed or haven’t been in a relationship in years are just looking for social connections. People can find friendships, companionship, travel mates, and even activity partners on SeniorMatch.
“As a senior, it isn’t exactly easy to re-enter the dating pool, especially if you’ve been with a partner for a long time and that is no longer the case. SeniorMatch makes it easy to date again, no matter what your age might be,” said an anonymous SeniorMatch user in a testimonial.
FAQ: Which Dating Apps Have Free Messaging?
Facebook Dating, OkCupid, and Zoosk have free messaging. You can find a lot of dating apps to join for free, but only a select few dating apps allow you to message people for free.
These three dating apps just so happen to fall into this category, so they might be a good place to start if you want to communicate without purchasing a membership or subscription.
Is There a Lesbian Dating App Like Tinder?
Similar dating apps to Tinder for lesbian daters include HER, Lex, and Lesbian Personals. All three of these apps have similar chat features as Tinder and are known for providing singles with a free space to find hookups and date on their terms.
LesbianPersonals is one of the most popular hookup sites for women because of its fun-loving and sexually empowering atmosphere. Women don’t have to play it coy or act like a lady here. They can outright state that they’re looking for no-strings-attached sex and find partners who want the same things.
- Open to single women, couples, and groups interested in sex
- Private text and video chats accessible 24/7
- Women add over 25,000 photos and videos each week
- Browse LesbianPersonals profiles 100% free »
But HER, Lex, and Lesbian Personals cater to lesbians, so their dating pools are more focused on the community. These platforms also provide a safe space for women to connect with like-minded daters.
Is Bumble Better Than Tinder?
Bumble and Tinder have been bitter rivals since Bumble Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd left Tinder and sued her fellow co-founders (one of whom was an ex-boyfriend). In terms of numbers, Tinder has the edge — 530 million downloads versus only 100 million for Bumble.
However, Bumble’s women-first messaging policy has earned it a reputation as a more quality-driven space with greater care taken toward online dating safety and fostering mutual respect.
Is the Tinder App Completely Free to Use?
You can use it for free as long as you wish, or you can upgrade to Tinder Plus, Tinder Gold, or Tinder Platinum. Paid subscription plans offer more perks and help daters find better matches faster.
Messaging is free, so Tinder users don’t have to upgrade to connect with potential matches. Free members may need to swipe a little more to find a compatible date, though.
Escape Swipe Life on a Quality Dating Platform
Complaints about burnout come from the swiping feature Tinder invented. It’s the status quo for many dating sites today, but it’s not the only matchmaking feature you can find out there.
Plenty of apps and sites have unique tools to foster meaningful connections, so if Tinder isn’t your jam, take heart!
