If you are new to the dating scene for whatever reason, you are in for a real treat. It opens up a new world of opportunities that most appeal to your interests, ultimately increasing the chances of finding the person meant for you.
Renowned as a modern-day matchmaker, online dating apps boast clever algorithms that know exactly what you need than you could possibly find for yourself.
Why Must You Use a Dating App?
So, what are these dating apps for? Are they just for hooking up or will you be able to find real and committed relationships on these apps?
Initially, when dating apps like Tinder came into existence, most of them were using it just for hookups but that is not how it’s being used now.
These days, dating apps are popular among commitment-minded individuals and many have had good experiences. In fact, most people choose dating apps over traditional online dating websites.
With that said, let’s look at the advantages of using dating apps:
Starting a conversation with someone you like is super easy.
Limiting who contacts you by indicating interest is convenient.
There is less rejection meaning you would never know who wasn’t interested in you.
Apps are quick and easy to use with smart algorithms giving you the right match.
Great for busy schedules.
Personalized match suggestions.
No pressure, just fun conversations until you want to move things further.
Tinder
It’s no surprise that Tinder made it to the top of the list- It’s still one of the most popular dating apps. Tinder caters to 74 million users among which 10.4 million are paid users and it generally caters to young people aged 25 to 34.
Available in both Android and iOS, it is tied with Bumble and claims to bring people together for casual chats, dates, love and everything in between.
Pros
Quick registration and fast customized matches.
User friendly and anonymous and no unwanted emails.
Initial rejections are anonymous\Geolocation features to connect with people in the same vicinity.
Provides great social learning experiences
Cons
Overwhelming choices make it hard to commit.
Profiles may not always accurately reflect individuals.
Encourages casual encounters over long-term relationships.
Privacy concerns.
Pricing
Tinder is available for free and also comes with three paid subscription tiers that give you access to additional features starting at $13 per month.
Bumble
With over 50 million active users and over 2.3 million paying users, it is a popular dating app for people looking for connections.
Bumble has different sections including Bumble BFF for friendships, Bumble Date mode for relationships, and Bumble Bizz for business relationships.
One of the things that set Bumble apart is that it allows women to make the first move. In the case of heterosexual connections, men aren’t allowed to start conversations. Whereas in the same gender matches, any of them can start the conversation.
With all the basic features included within the free version, users get almost everything without having to pay a hefty price.
Pros
The app has many features in its free version.
Video chat options.
Affordable premium packages.
Vast user base including people looking for serious commitments.
Bans write users who write offensive messages.
Cons
The word count in the profile section is limiting.
The free version doesn’t support backtracking.
Scammers can sweep in even if profile verification is there.
Pricing
Bumble comes free and membership plans as well.
These are the membership plans:
Bumble boost: Priced at $9 per week, $17 per month, and $55 per six months.
Bumble premium: Cost $20/week, $40 per month, $77 per three months, and $230 for lifetime subscription.
Hinge
Hinge is another dating app that brings in quality matches with a combination of clever algorithm and machine learning.
Users can see all the profiles of everyone who likes them free of cost.
It caters to people looking for both short-term and long-term commitments,
Pros
Great user interface with the tagline “designed to be deleted”.
Selfie verification feature to record video for profile verification.
Hidden words feature to automatically block comments that have content that you don’t want to receive.
Cons
Filter options are limited in the free version.
Likes are very limited to 8 likes a day with several conditions.
Pricing
Hinge comes with 2 plans Hinge + and Hinge X and the pricing are as follows:
Hinge+ is priced at $14.99 per week, $32.99 per month, $64.99 per 3 months, and $64.99 per six months.
HingeX is available at $24.99 per week, $49.99 per month, and $149.99 per six months.
Inner circle
The inner circle is the best choice for people who take dating seriously. It is one of the Tinder alternatives that helps bring interested singles together. Inner Circle caters to a community of people with unique dating features. It features “Spot” that allows users to share and find favourite date locations and trips specially designed for users who love to mix travel with romance.
Pros
The screening process promises exclusivity making sure you interact with like-minded individuals.
Premium plans give perks like advanced search filters.
Cons
Limited free features.
The screening process can be a bit overwhelming.
Smaller user base.
Pricing
Inner Circle is priced at $39.99 per month and $119.99 for 6 months.
eHarmony
Catering to over 2 million users, eHarmony offers proprietary compatibility matching to increase the chance of finding your partner online. eHarmony comes with a personalized process with over 80 compatibility test questions based on personality tests.
The dating app also features video dates for premium subscribers who want to schedule video calls after the first interaction.
The quiz also generates compatibility scores based on interests and preferences.
Pros
eHarmony is a free long-term dating app .
Video dating feature.
Well-balanced membership plans
Cons
Limited free trial period.
The sign-up process is long. .
Premium plans are expensive.
Pricing
Coming with a free app, the app also comes with the following three premium paid memberships.
Premium light is priced at 465.9 per month.
Premium Plus, the popular plan is priced at $45.90 per month.
Premium extra priced at $35.90 per month.
Conclusion
The significant rise of online dating is part of a massive cultural transformation. It’s great to meet people organically and connect with like-minded people. Despite the fierce competition in the market for dating apps, there is a surplus demand to take advantage of.