Any single woman will tell you: Dating is tough right now. The growing political gender divide makes finding a man with the same beliefs harder than ever. Fewer young men than young women have college degrees. And as situationships have become more common, commitment isn’t a given, even when you and your partner really like each other.
Thankfully, while finding a compatible partner has gotten harder, meeting people has gotten a lot easier. Women often find success on dating apps, sometimes getting so many matches they can’t respond to them all!
Since choosing the right partner out of your matches can be tricky, you need to start with the right dating pool and, by extension, the right dating app. There are a lot of choices on the app store, so how can you whittle them down?
We asked several women’s dating experts which apps they love for their clients. Follow their lead, and soon you’ll be matching with people you’re actually excited to meet IRL.
Bumble – Recommended by 4 out of 6 Experts
It should come as no surprise that Bumble, the app designed to make women feel safe from harassment in dating, is our experts’ top choice for single women.
Bumble has embraced its role as the world’s feminist dating app. The app launched in 2014 with the unique premise that women should send the first message and take the lead in a new romantic relationship. According to Bumble, over 85% of its users are looking for a long-term relationship, and less than 4% are looking for hookups.
- A female-friendly dating environment puts women in control
- Zero tolerance for bullying, misogyny, and rude behavior
- Conversations expire in 24 to 48 hours
- Browse Bumble profiles 100% free »
Therapist Patricia Bathurst’s Recommendation
“One of the best dating apps for women is Bumble. This app is great because it puts women first, allowing them to make the first move. Bumble also offers a version of the app for finding friends,” marriage and family therapist Patricia Bathurst said.
Matchmaker Lauren Sanders’ Recommendation
Matchmaker Lauren Sanders loves how Bumble takes much of the stress out of online dating for women. Instead of being bombarded with intense messages from men, they get to choose when they want to chat. “Bumble allows women to be more in control of their dating options with less pressure involved,” she said.
Dating Coach Amie Leadingham’s Recommendation
When women get to make the first move, it creates a safer environment overall. “Bumble remains a leading dating app for women by focusing on safety and user experience,” Amie the Dating Coach shared. “The app’s design emphasizes safety and respectful interactions, creating an environment where women can feel more comfortable exploring potential matches.”
“Bumble allows women to be more in control of their dating options with less pressure involved.” — Lauren Sanders, matchmaker
When we asked Amie about the specifics of how Bumble protects its users, she told us: “The platform’s ‘Opening Move’ feature allows either person to message first but maintains strong protections through verified profiles, video chat options, and comprehensive blocking/reporting tools. Beyond safety features, the Bumble app’s multi-faceted approach supports dating, friendship (Bumble BFF), and professional networking (Bumble Bizz), giving women flexibility in building different types of connections.”
Dr. Morgan Anderson’s Recommendation
Bumble’s structure challenges the heteronormative expectation that in dating, men should lead and women should follow. “I love the idea that you get to choose who you match with, and you get to make the first move,” Dr. Morgan Anderson told us.
Hinge – “I Met My Husband on This App”
Since the late 2010s, Hinge has shot up in popularity and become one of the top general dating apps, alongside Tinder and Bumble. Praised by many dating experts for its success in forging lasting relationships – The Knot recently found that Hinge was to thank for the most weddings of any dating app. It is a great option for any woman looking to find compatible partners.
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 »
DatingNews Editor Amber Brooks’ Recommendation
Our own editor-in-chief, Amber Brooks, had her life changed by Hinge. “Hinge is the dating app where I met my husband in 2019, so it’s safe to say I’m a fan,” she said. “I highly recommend Hinge for single women, particularly those seeking a long-term relationship.”
Amber believes the interactive nature of Hinge allows for personalities to shine faster than they might on other apps. “Hinge offers an engaging interface where users have an incentive to be original from their profile to their opening messages,” she told me. “All Hinge matches start with someone liking or commenting on a specific photo or prompt on a dating profile. It’s an opportunity to find common ground or ask a question about the person’s profile content.”
Amber’s husband chose to give a compliment to a photo she posted of herself dressed as Catwoman for a Batman movie premiere. “Once we matched, he broke the ice by talking about Marvel vs. DC, and the rest is history,” she said.
Psychologist Holly Schiff’s Recommendation
Licensed clinical psychologist Holly Schiff agreed that Hinge is a great asset. She explained: “Hinge is best for those seeking a more meaningful, long-term relationship. Profiles are more detailed with answers to prompts, and it focuses on fostering relationships rather than just casual hookups. If you are looking for something more serious, this would be the app for you because it is known for promoting more meaningful conversations and connections.”
OkCupid – “It Has a Very Large User Base”
You may not have heard much from OkCupid in the past few years, but it’s still around, and it’s still a great option for women who are serious about finding love. Its personality-based matching makes it easy to find someone with your same values before even going on a date. Setting up a profile might feel like a lot of work, but it will pay off in the long run by helping you find better matches.
In 2004, OkCupid’s founders decided to create a fool-proof formula for love, and they launched a free dating site to delve into what personal attributes made relationships work. OkCupid members can send unlimited messages for free. It’s easy to discover mutual interests and compatibility on the platform’s information-rich dating profiles.
- Free, unlimited communication for everyone
- Singles can swipe or search for a compatible date
- Over 91 million connections every year
- Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free »
While some other general dating apps may have a specifically younger user base, OkCupid is popular with singles of all ages. Women don’t need to worry about being treated differently on the app for their age or only finding young partners who aren’t ready to settle down.
Dr. Morgan Anderson’s Recommendation:
“This app is a great option across the board because it has a very large user base, meaning there is likely someone out there for everyone,” Morgan said.
Not all women are interested in starting relationships that lead to marriage or long-term commitment. Women looking for a short-term fling can still meet people on OkCupid, but they’ll definitely be better served by a more casual app.
Tinder – “Best for More Casual Encounters”
Yes, Tinder can be good for women! Some women want casual dating, and they can certainly find that on Tinder. And with its massive user base — it’s certainly the most popular dating app around — it can be a good option for women in less populated areas or those who would rather broaden their search on the front end.
Tinder has the reputation of a casual dating app, but 80% of Tinder users said they’d be open to a long-term relationship as well. The platform has created over 97 billion matches since its launch in 2012, and it’s one of the most well-known and widely used dating apps in the world.
- Women can decide who shows up in their inboxes
- Upload a picture and create a byline for free
- Mutual matching system leads to 1.5 million dates per week
- Browse Tinder profiles 100% free »
Psychologist Holly Schiff Recommendation:
“Tinder is best for more casual encounters, although users can also find more serious relationships,” Holly said. “It has a large user base and makes it easy to meet new people by swiping on their photo and bio. Of course, anybody with any intention can be on any of these apps, so it doesn’t necessarily screen for casual vs. serious, but knowing what your relationship goals are can help you better approach the apps and your matches.”
“Knowing what your relationship goals are can help you better approach the apps and your matches.” — Holly Schiff, psychologist
Many women find the sheer quantity of matches they get on Tinder overwhelming and sometimes paralyzing. “Women can feel overwhelmed by the number of messages they receive (more than men), and they receive more unwanted messages than men,” Dr. Terri Orbuch said. “Women do not have to respond to all the messages they receive, and they can block people if they experience continued unwanted messages.”
If you know what you want, you can easily use Tinder to meet many people quickly. Whether that means hooking up a lot or many first dates to find your future spouse is up to you.
FAQs: Is Online Dating Safe for Women?
Generally, yes. Most women dating online have safe experiences meeting with matches. We don’t have enough data to know if dates that met online are any more physically dangerous than dates that start in person, but most experts believe it’s unlikely.
Still, you absolutely need to be vigilant and practice personal safety, both online and offline. Terri emphasized the importance of protecting your identity while chatting with matches. “Protect your identity and anonymity – use your first name only when chatting online and don’t give out where you live and work,” she said. “No money should ever be exchanged.”
If you do decide to meet someone in person, don’t let your guard down. Tell a friend where you’re going. Meet up in public. Arrange your own transportation.
“Listen to your gut,” Terri said. “Pay attention to early warning signs that someone might not be legitimate or is not presenting themselves honestly.”
As they often say on the Crime Junkie podcast, “Be weird. Be rude.” A botched date is much better than getting hurt.
What’s the Most Successful Dating App?
It’s hard to define success when it comes to dating apps. Different daters want different things, and different apps shine in different areas.
When it comes to longevity, Match definitely wins. Started in 1995, Match is the oldest functional dating platform. It has connected countless married couples and forged many beautiful relationships.
Match has become a trusted name in the online dating industry by catering to quality singles looking for love and romance. Since 1995, the dating site has developed a time-tested matching system to facilitate deep connections between men and women who share similar goals in life.
- In-depth matching appeals to women with high standards
- Video chat tools help online daters establish a rapport
- An established singles network in 50 countries worldwide
- Browse Match profiles 100% free »
In terms of the quantity of matches and the number of users worldwide, Tinder leads the pack. But many of those matches stay online, and many Tinder users never meet anyone from the app offline at all. And with its more casual, limited-profile feel, Tinder may not be as successful for connecting long-term relationships.
Hinge seems to be the Goldilocks dating app, with both a high current popularity and a propensity for starting serious relationships. Being the best app for marriages seems like a pretty solid metric for dating app success.
What’s the Best App for Women Over 50?
Dating as an older woman can be a lovely experience. You may not feel the pressure to settle down that you did when you were younger. You may feel more confident and sexually empowered from life experience.
But at the same time, using dating apps can be disheartening. Many of the popular general dating apps skew younger, leaving you with a smaller dating pool and even mysterious fees tacked on for your age.
That’s why our team and our experts prefer senior-specific apps for senior singles. OurTime and SilverSingles are great options for women over 50 looking for love and connection.
OurTime has empowered singles over 50 to find the one for them online, and the streamlined matching process has won over online daters interested in quality over quantity. The dating site generates dozens of daily matches to help seniors find a mutual match with no muss and no fuss. OurTime currently has over 1 million members, and it’s growing by leaps and bounds every day.
- Popular among mature, relationship-minded single women
- User-friendly features that highlight compatibility
- Real-time messaging, flirting, and mutual matching
- Browse OurTime profiles 100% free »
OurTime is only for singles over 50, and its age verification process provides some additional security for users. Your chances of getting catfished are low.
SilverSingles is another site for seniors, and its personality-based profile makes it easier to find long-term compatibility with matches. Like OkCupid for younger daters, it’s best for women who are serious about finding love.
Which Dating App Is Best for LGBTQ+ Women?
Most dating apps have options for LGBTQ+ daters, but they may be ill-equipped to support and understand LGBTQ+ dating styles. Enter HER, the dating app designed for sapphic women, by sapphic women.
When I saw Robyn speak at Global Dating Insight’s industry conference, she explained that she saw how great Grindr was for gay men and wanted to create an app that offered the structure that sapphic women wanted. In her opinion, that meant focusing more on emotional connection and exploring whatever type of relationship that produced, be it romance, sex, or friendship.
The HER team believes in the unequivocal power of queer womxn, and its niche dating community lets these strong female voices ring out loud and clear. Whether you’re looking for a date, a travel buddy, or an interesting conversation, you can mingle freely and safely here.
- Welcomes women of all orientations
- Moderators patrol the app 24/7
- Location-based matches and events
- Browse HER profiles 100% free »
“No other dating app has quite captured the market of women-seeking-women like HER has,” Amber said. “When we talked to the founder, Robyn Exton, a few years ago, she told us that her journey to connecting single women started with trading shots for downloading the app (called Dattch at the time) and taking a chance on online dating. Now, the HER app connects 15 million women around the world. Whether you’re looking for friends, hookups, or a partner, HER is the place for women with standards.”
Meet the Experts
Here is a quick rundown of the expertise in this article.
Patricia Bathurst is a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in working with clients experiencing disruptive changes in their lives, such as her clients in need of rehabilitation at The Oasis Recovery. Whether you struggle to make your relationships stick or need help navigating love alongside mental health challenges, Patricia has advice to support your relationships.
Bespoke matchmaking organization The Love Crush Agency was founded by matchmaker Lauren Sanders, and the agency has been helping singles find values-aligned love ever since. Lauren has authored several books helping women find love the love they deserve, most notably, “You Deserve the World.” Her advice helps women find loving relationships without compromising their needs.
Amie the Dating Coach is a Certified Master Relationship and Mentor Coach who helps her clients find love free of judgment. She has shared her advice on CBS Network (Channel 8), Fox 5 News, People Entertainment Weekly, HelloGiggles, Martha Stewart Weddings, Nev Schulman and Laura Perlongo’s We Need to Talk, I’ve Got a Secret with Robin McGraw Podcast, and more. Her book, “A Woman’s Handbook to Online Dating,” is a great resource for single women struggling on the apps.
Dr. Morgan Anderson has dedicated her career to helping women find a “securely attached relationship that’s reciprocal, authentic, and emotionally safe.” Her podcast, Let’s Get Vulnerable, provides real talk on sex, relationships, self-improvement, and more. Check out her book Love Magnet for more wisdom on secure attachment and inspiration to become the confident woman you want to be.
Amber Brooks is a sought-after dating expert and editor-in-chief of DatingNews.com. Over the last 10 years, she has written over 1,800 advice articles. Featured in The Washington Times, Cosmopolitan, The New York Post, Bustle, Well + Good, AskMen, and others, Amber’s dating advice and app reviews have helped countless singles make informed choices about their dating lives.
Clinical psychologist Holly Schiff’s broad range of experience practicing psychotherapy in schools, outpatient clinics, and inpatient psychiatric hospitals and her research expertise make her a fantastic resource for women seeking deeper relationships. She has offered expert perspectives for publications such as Forbes, WebMD, The Today Show, AARP, Parade Magazine, The Washington Post, A & E, U.S. News World Report, Business Insider, People Magazine, Reader’s Digest, and Popular Science.
The Love Doctor, Dr. Terri Orbuch, is a relationship expert who changes lives through her simple, straightforward, science-based relationship advice. For more guidance from Dr. Terri, check out her TV show, “Secrets From The Love Doctor.” She is a popular relationship self-help author and the director of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study, where she has been following the same 373 couples for almost three decades.
Single Women Can Forge Their Own Path Online
Many single women are confident and powerful in their professional lives, friendships, and hobbies. So why not bring that same agency into dating?
Whether you want to find love or a casual fling, you can take action in your dating life. Gone are the days of waiting by the phone for someone to message. Just get on the right dating app, and message them yourself!
