Plus, since it's one of the first dating sites ever it debuted in , its trusted name brings along a robust user base. OkCupid is also geared toward liberals and is extremely inclusive and LGBTQ friendly, which is a major bonus in our eyes. Our top pick for the best free dating app without a desktop version is Hinge: How could we not choose the love child of an all-in serious dating site and a laid back, millennial swiping app as our favorite? Hinge offers the minimalistic, download-and-go feel that impatient people love, but mixes in pinches of seriousness and a smart matching algorithm to give you a real shot at finding a long lasting relationship.
It's really the perfect recipe. Basically, Hinge is what you suggest to someone who constantly complains about the crappy match pool or vulgar messages on Tinder. It's almost impossible to find a dating site or app that doesn't have some sort of paid upgrade feature, but these are the sites where the free option gives you everything you need to experience the full site paid options simply give you more unlimited access, like unlimited swipes or returning to an accidental left-swipe.
These aren't like Match or eharmony where you need to pay to do basically anything. There are significantly more smartphone apps that offer full-fledged freemiums than there are desktop dating sites, so having a smartphone is pretty much a necessity. The classic dating sites that you think of where users sit down at a computer and message their boo for hours on end.
These are usually aimed toward more serious relationships with extensive questionnaires, intelligent matchmaking, and significantly more features than app-only services.
9 Best Free Online Dating Sites (12222)
These are newer services, like Hinge and Tinder, that take never-before-seen approaches to online dating. They are aimed toward young people who are glued to their phones. Layouts are much more organized and similar to a social media profile, but have fewer features than sites with desktop versions. On the plus side, this minimalistic setup makes it easier to interact with more people on a daily basis. We're using cookies to improve your experience.
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Click Here to find out more. Best for something more serious than swiping. OkCupid OkCupid has a huge dating pool, and uses a whole bunch of algorithms to find your perfect match. Basic subscription with all you need: OkCupid is a seriously hip LGBT-friendly site that has won the hearts of millennial and mature singles alike.
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I've said this a million times before and I'll say it again: OkCupid's advertising is outstanding. They deserve endless applause just for that, but I realize many people on dating apps care about more than the aesthetics. Good thing OkCupid is so much more than that, taking compatibility factors into account that other sites haven't even thought of. Who it's good for: This is the place for, well, pretty much everyone who takes dating seriously, but still wants to have fun.
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Though OkCupid's advertisements may have "DTF" plastered all over them, the site's intentions and matchmaking process are no joke. We also want to mention that OkCupid and its user base is pretty liberal. The ads with same-sex couples are an obvious giveaway, but OkCupid has snuck in other little features to weed out more conservative-minded people. This can help you avoid awkward date conversations in the future. It might take some time and genuine effort to make a profile, but that's what you want if you're looking for something real. You'll fill out a questionnaire with your answers as well as what you would like your ideal match to answer.
This makes the application-building process a lot more fun than other apps, making it feel like an online quiz. It asks a range of questions, from simple stuff to if you smoke and drink to more intimate things like how many dates you typically wait before sleeping with someone. The app says the the more questions you answer, the better your matches will be. The deeper you go, the more accurate your profile is — and in turn, OkCupid will have a way easier time finding matches for you.
Also, though OkCupid has a super sturdy user base around 30 million users , variety of results won't be nearly as good if you're not in a populated area. For city dwellers, this is fine, but singles in smaller towns may want to opt for a different AKA paid site. OkCupid is the perfect happy medium for people who don't want anything to do with trendy swiping apps, but who also don't want to feel like they're desperately looking for marriage.
OkCupid genuinely wants dating to be a good experience for you, and their multi-faceted matchmaking and modern vibe help you steer clear of feeling like a loser talking to people online. Best for people looking for good chemistry. Plenty of Fish Plenty of Fish has great matchmaking technology and a large dating pool. Though it's not the most attractive setup, Plenty of Fish is a great newbie choice for people just dipping their toes into the world of online dating.
The advertising, lengthy questionnaires, and profiles are extremely traditional, making this a safe bet for non-millennials, divorcees, and single parents who are not in the mood to mess around. Oh yeah, and its 90 million registered users beats out almost every other dating site's stats — so you're guaranteed to never get bored.
This is the place where the older crowd can avoid the non-serious people and find other singles their age. Chemistry is the name of the game here, and the multiple questionnaires are no joke. This isn't a quick five-second set up like other apps, but that's only because Plenty of Fish truly wants you to dig deep so that they can give you the best quality matches. Not only does POF attempt to match you with people who you'll statistically get along with based on how you've both answered questions , but it also wants to match you with people who are looking for the same thing as you.
In the "meeting goals" section, you'll specify whether you're looking for something long term, looking to date but nothing serious, etc. The idea is to eliminate the awkward "What are we" conversations and set you up for success by pairing you with people who share your priorities. It feels like the site is geared toward people who have been unlucky with love in the past, which offers a sliver of hope to those who claim to be "forever alone. The desktop version's setup is possibly the most boring, thrown-together-at-the-last-minute looking thing I've ever seen. Hey, maybe they're just putting all of their focus on the matchmaking.
Since the profile building takes some time, we'd suggest answering all of the questions on a desktop, but doing the actual swiping and matching on the app. POF is also not bisexual friendly, which definitely sucks. A site with the M. If a site's janky aesthetics don't bother you, POF offers the largest variety of potential mates of all the apps on this list. Regardless of whether you're super picky with your type or have no idea what you want, there's pretty much no way you won't find a few people out of 90 million who you find interesting. Hinge Hinge offers dating features that no other app has.
Hinge gives the modern feel and no-patience-required matching like Tinder, but with the relationship rather than hookup mindset that sites like eharmony or Match offer. Pretty much everyone is on the same page and knows that that this app isn't for sex, but there's no pressure to rush into marriage either. It's chill, it's legit, and traditional swiping apps should be worried. Hinge is the place for people who want a real relationship but don't want to commit to a full-fledged dating site with extensive questionnaires.
Hinge literally labels itself the relationship app, or as I prefer, the "anti Tinder. While Hinge first started by showing you Facebook friends of friends, their algorithm has been getting smarter and smarter, and is now able to surpass friends of friends as a predictor of compatibility. This means you won't be matched with someone all wrong for you simply because you know the same person. Rather, Hinge will help you get to know the other person more deeply than any new app has attempted, by revealing answers to juicy personality questions and detailed information like future plans, religion, and vices.
Seems like a pretty good recipe for a strong connection past looks, right?
Hinge only gives you seven matches per day, which is a slight bummer. The casual hookup app is incredibly straightforward and easy to use.
As is only fitting for a swipe-based dating app, profiles are minimal, focusing mainly on profile pictures with a brief bio, but they do allow you to connect social accounts if desired, including your Instagram account, which can give people a better idea of what you're into via Facebook likes and pictures of you visible on your Instagram. There's really only one path to finding other singles on the site: The main section of the site, the swiping section, allows you to swipe yea or nay on profiles extremely quickly, with many users only looking at the main profile picture before swiping one way or the other.
Communication can only take place once both members like each other, at which time either match may initiate a conversation. In true hookup app fashion, you're shown pictures of those in your vicinity, which makes it quick and easy to find someone and meet up that very same night. Is this a relationship app? It can be, if you use it that way. If you're strictly looking for a hookup app, it's always best to prioritize your privacy, and Pure does just that. The free app, designed to facilitate casual flings, erases your profile every hour — although you can easily restore it.
The app is basically a geo-location-based online personals app that allows you to list yourself to other local singles for minute periods and see who you match up with. If you mutually match, you can strike up a quick chat with the matching user but be sure to exchange contact information quickly, as after your hour is up you'll lose contact on the app with that user. The 1-hour maximum self-destructing profiles and quick chats greatly encourage on-the-spot sexual encounters.
Unlike other dating platforms that backhandedly want users to stay single so they continue to use, and in some cases pay for, the site, Pure does not encourage users to stay in the digital realm any longer than required. Plus you get the bonuses of extreme anonymity and above average data security so you can easily meet up for a night of passion without leaving a digital footprint. While free dating sites can be tempting, they don't always provide the best value for your time. Free sites are often simply not designed to work as well as paid dating sites and furthermore are less regulated.