The best dating apps of 2025, tested & reviewed

Check out our full review of Match.

Match, the flagship app from Match Group, is the go-to for people who are ready to get serious, but not so serious that the process feels like a chore. It’s for the crowd that is completely over the games on other apps and knows that finding a real connection takes more than just a quick swipe. This mindset naturally attracts a more mature dating pool, so you'll find a lot of online daters in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who are established and looking for a life partner.

Match offers several premium features, including unlimited likes and the ability to see who's viewed your profile, which can increase your chances of finding a compatible partner. Plus, Match is serious about cracking down on fake profiles. Now, you need to upload three photos to set up your dating profile, which helps ensure a safer and more authentic dating experience.

Despite being in a current lawsuit (yes, this is still happening) over locking "users into a perpetual pay-to-play loop" and encouraging "compulsive," gambling-like behavior among its users, Match Group is still a behemoth in the dating app industry.

The lawsuit argues that Match-owned apps “employ recognized dopamine-manipulating product features” to keep users engaged and addicted, and Gen Z and TikTok are eating up every word of it. Despite this public and legal pressure, Match Group CEO Bernard Kim remains publicly unfazed. In an April 2024 article for Fortune, he writes, "Unlike social media platforms, dating apps are not designed to maximize your time on the platform," adding, "The business model does not rely on ad revenue to be successful, so optimizing for engagement doesn’t provide a benefit."

Match Group is also actively working to demonstrate its value and reach in other ways. On May 20, Match Chief Executive Officer Spencer Rascoff confirmed that HER (our No. 1 pick for queer women) is now a part of the Match family.

"We’re honored to welcome HER into the Match Group family, and we know our role is not to change what makes HER special, but to protect it and help it grow even stronger," Rascoff wrote in a LinkedIn post. "We’re excited for what’s ahead, and committed to showing up with humility, integrity, and Pride."

We're also excited to see how this plays out. HER is known for giving its members features that are usually paywalled on other apps, like Match. So we're curious how this acquisition will affect its user base and experience.

Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder.

Check out our full review of eharmony.

Eharmony is the best dating app for singles who are 100 percent focused on finding a serious relationship. This app offers a data-driven process for finding a life partner. Think in-depth personality quizzes, curated matches based on core beliefs, and a community where commitment isn't just a word; it's the foundation. This method attracts a more mature and intentional dating pool, typically professionals in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, who are ready to find their forever person.

Eharmony has been a major player in the online dating world since August 2000, and its staying power comes down to one thing: a deep belief in compatibility. We picked it because its famous, in-depth personality test is still one of the most thorough ways to find potential matches who truly align with your core values and dating goals. While the quiz takes time, think of it as a relationship investment — you put in the effort upfront to reap the rewards of a perfect match later.

The site recently got a fresh new look, complete with a new heart logo symbolizing its 32 dimensions of compatibility and a more down-to-earth approach to relationship questions. The company's also made huge strides to modernize and become more inclusive. So much so that the app has angered the conservative Christian group One Million Moms. They're so angry they've posted a petition calling the company to take their LGBTQ+-friendly ads off the air, claiming that eharmony is "glorifying sin" and promoting an agenda.

But their threats haven't affected the company in the slightest. Last October (in celebration of National Coming Out Day, no less), eharmony teamed up with GLAAD to create a report on how dating apps influence the ways LGBTQ+ folks express their identities in their dating lives. This proves eharmony is serious about helping all singles find meaningful connections.

Check out our full review of OkCupid.

OkCupid (also a part of the Match Group) is a popular dating app for singles who aren't afraid to share their opinions on social and political issues. It's one of the most inclusive dating apps out there, proudly offering more than 22 gender and 12 sexual orientation options. This open-minded environment attracts a diverse dating pool looking for everything from a fun, casual hookup to a long-term relationship built on shared beliefs. Plus, with the option to list your pronouns, you'll be more likely to be addressed correctly from the get-go.

We picked OkCupid because it was one of the first dating apps to prove that compatibility is about more than just a pretty face. Its entire matching philosophy is built on an in-depth questionnaire. You answer questions on everything from your political views to your messy or neat habits, and the app gives you a compatibility score with other users. This allows you to filter out people with hard deal breakers before you even say hello.

This focus on what's inside extends to its radical inclusivity. OkCupid is a welcoming space with dozens of gender and sexuality options, and smart features like only showing non-monogamous users to each other. It’s a platform where online daters are encouraged to be upfront about who they are and what they want, whether that’s a long-term relationship or just new friends.

Beyond the algorithm, OkCupid actively prioritizes safety and open communication for its community. This April, OkCupid partnered with It’s On Us to survey 500 of its users about sexual assault awareness and prevention. (They gave three free Boosts to those who reviewed sexual assault awareness tips and completed the survey.)

The survey data was encouraging (for app users, anyway): 93 percent of OkCupid singles reported being completely honest on their dating profiles, and 78 percent agreed it’s normal to discuss sexual likes and dislikes before hooking up. Less than 1 percent of singles said they never talk about boundaries with a potential sexual partner (with 75 percent always doing so, and Gen Z leading that charge at 82 percent).

Read our full review of Tinder Platinum.

Ah, Tinder. It's the OG swiping app that changed how people meet (for better or, arguably, sometimes worse). With roughly 50 million monthly users globally and over 100 billion matches made since launch, we couldn't not mention it — the vast majority of its users are Gen Zers and millennials in their late teens and early twenties. Because of this, its reputation is as the go-to hookup app for casual dating, quick meetups, and seeing what's out there. While it's not impossible to find someone looking for a serious relationship here (one Mashable editor did meet his long-term partner on Tinder years ago), that's usually the exception, not the rule. Most users have a less commitment-focused mindset than you'll find on other apps like Hinge.

Tinder's famous swipe-right formula is still the core of the app, but the biggest story in 2025 is its active push to evolve beyond its hookup-app reputation. Guided by incoming CEO Spencer Rascoff, the platform is adding more layers to the experience to help users make new connections. It's already added Hinge-style prompts and an "Explore" page to help you filter for categories like "Serious Dater," "Non-Monogamy," or "New Friends," theoretically connecting you with people on the same page.

The latest evidence of this shift is "Double Date," a feature launched in June 2025 that lets you and a friend pair up to match with other duos. It's a clear move to attract Gen Z users who are interested in lower-pressure social experiences over intense one-on-one dates.

This follows other recent experiments, like testing a paid height preference to give users more control, and "The Game Game," a limited-time, AI-powered chat experience (using OpenAI's voice tech) that throws you into quirky flirting scenarios with an AI persona. It gives real-time feedback on your charm (or lack thereof), essentially offering a low-pressure virtual practice ground for your dating game.

Check out our full review of Bumble Premium.

Bumble is for women and non-binary people who are tired of waiting for a first move and want to take control of their online dating experience. By giving women and non-binary people the power to initiate every conversation, Bumble is actively trying to cut down on creepy unsolicited messages and create more respectful connections from the start. Most of the people here are looking for anything from casual dating to a serious relationship, landing in a sweet spot somewhere between Tinder and Hinge.

Bumble's initial appeal was clear: it flipped the traditional dating script, putting the power to initiate contact primarily in the hands of women and non-binary people. This was designed to filter out the flood of unwanted messages and creepy encounters often faced elsewhere. Features like "Opening Moves" still allow women to steer early conversations, and the app did update its Dating Intentions to include options like “ethical non-monogamy” and “intimacy without commitment.”

The 24-hour time limit for responding to matches before they disappear is still in place to encourage engagement and prevent ghosting. And you can still use Bumble Bizz and Bumble BFF to expand your professional and social networks.

However, the buzz around Bumble in 2025 is complicated, to say the least. In a somewhat dizzying leadership shuffle, founder Whitney Wolfe Herd returned as CEO in January 2025, after Lidiane Jones's brief tenure. This move came as Bumble faced declining growth, with hopes that Wolfe Herd could reignite its former spark.

In a candid open letter, Wolfe Herd acknowledged that Bumble "may not have always lived up to" its promise of being safe and empowering. She declared she was "back, and all in," committing to a Bumble rebuilt with users at the center, but just a month ago, users took to Reddit and reported repeatedly seeing profiles they had already blocked.

Bumble’s handling of the situation was, frankly, a mess. Initial responses from support staff were inconsistent, with one email (reviewed by Rolling Stone) even seeming to confirm that Bumble would show previously blocked profiles: “Bumble will show you people you have swiped left/blocked on in the past — in case you have changed your mind."

Coffee Meets Bagel is ideal for people who are completely over endless swiping and want a more curated, less overwhelming online dating experience. It often attracts young professionals in their late 20s and 30s who have graduated from faster apps and are looking for something more meaningful. The app's whole vibe is about quality over quantity, encouraging you to actually take the time to get to know the people it suggests. Think of it as a more down-to-earth EliteSingles; it's focused on finding a real connection without feeling pretentious.

The coffee shop meetup is a low-pressure date idea that lets you skip trying to choose a dressy-but-not-too-extra outfit for a concert or a restaurant. Coffee Meets Bagel is like the "grabbing coffee" version of dating apps, aiming to bring an easygoing atmosphere to folks who might just be a little rusty. The now-successful Shark Tank bust is one of those rare dating apps that actually gets decent feedback on Reddit. Every profile shown to men has already been okay-ed by the women, so the chance of getting unsolicited messages from creepy guys (or the worry of being seen as creepy) is less likely.

The matching process is pretty straightforward. Each day, you'll receive anywhere from five to 21 curated matches depending on your gender, lifestyle preferences, location, and whether or not you're a premium member. The algorithm curates these "bagels" based on your preferences and the bagels you weren't hungry for in the days prior. If you're in the mood to search more once you've gone through suggested matches, you can always check out other users nearby under the "Discover" tag. 

It's worth noting that Coffee Meets Bagel is undergoing some internal shifts in 2025. Delbert Ty, the Chief Marketing Officer credited as a driving force behind the platform's 50 percent growth and unique content creation strategy, stepped down in the spring. Ty, who also established a four-day work week at CMB, told Marketing Interactive he was moving on as "CMB is now headed in a different direction," and has since founded his own brand consultancy.

Let's be real: Even the best dating apps leave a lot to be desired for gay women. That's why many queer people prefer to use apps designed just for them. If that sounds like you, HER is a dating app designed specifically for LGBTQ+ people, queer women, and non-binary individuals seeking a safe and inclusive online dating experience. Unlike other dating apps, HER is not just an afterthought or an add-on for queer women. It's a space that centers their experiences and allows them to connect with other like-minded people in a fun and meaningful way.

If you're a queer woman looking for love, chances are you've had your fair share of frustrating experiences on heteronormative dating sites. Between straight people looking for threesomes and creepy men pretending to be women, finding a safe and inclusive space to meet potential partners can be tough. That's where HER comes in. As an award-winning app truly designed by and for queer women, it offers a refreshing and much-needed alternative.

But here's some tea: On May 20, HER announced it's joining Match Group. Founder Robyn Exton has directly addressed the community, reassuring its over 13 million users that HER’s core mission and unique space aren't changing. Her commitment is that HER will remain "the same app... just getting stronger, faster, and even gayer than before," driven by the same dedicated team and vision.

With a rapidly growing user base, and now a new partner to help put a little gasoline on the fire, HER is quickly becoming the go-to app for queer women who want to expand their dating pool beyond their existing social circles. Of course, with Match Group now in the picture, we're also curious to see how things might evolve, particularly whether all the features users currently enjoy for free will stay that way.

Grindr is the dating app for gay men. And while queer guys have more options in 2025, Grindr is still the go-to app for millions of gay and bisexual men seeking men. If you've had enough of the mainstream dating apps, Grindr is the perfect place to be yourself. It's also a great option for those who want to experiment with their sexuality, as Grindr allows users to filter their search by sexual preferences, including bisexual men. Keep in mind that Grindr is a very NSFW environment where many guys go to hookup. You might get lucky and meet your soulmate on the app, but that's generally not why people use Grindr.

Grindr has been the top dating app for gay men since 2009, and that's because finding someone to talk to is damn near-instantaneous. Instead of swiping right or left to match, the app uses geolocation to connect users with nearby guys. Grindr is especially useful for men in small towns with a limited queer population as they are more likely to find a connection here than on other dating apps like Tinder or OkCupid.

While the abundance of users can be overwhelming, it also means that there's a large pool of men ready to chat and more. Most users just looking to hook up will tell you that they're not trying to make small talk, and that warning may come in the form of a dick pic.

That's not to say it's not for relationships — a lot of men do meet their forever person on Grindr — but on the surface, it's a tool for quick, casual encounters. If you're seeking something more serious, you can adjust your filter to look for "dates." Keep in mind, though, that this will significantly decrease the number of potential matches. In March, Grindr added a feature called "Profile Hide" to deal with the potential awkwardness of seeing an ex, your boss, co-worker, or whoever else you'd rather not see your Grindr profile. It lets you preemptively make your profile invisible to specific users you haven't chatted with and hides them from your grid.

To bring a little more reality to the grid, Grindr released "Taken on Grindr." If someone snaps a pic using the Grindr camera inside the app, they get the option to add a small watermark showing it was "Taken on Grindr" plus a timestamp (like "just now" or "3 days ago"). It's not mandatory, so don't expect it everywhere, but seeing that little badge offers a bit more confidence that the photo is recent and actually from the person.

The Pure dating app is designed for people who are looking for casual sex with no strings attached. It's for those who want to cut straight to the chase without dealing with the hassle of traditional dating apps and those who value their privacy and anonymity. It's also totally free for female users.

Think Pure, as in a purely physical experience. This is the place to find a local booty call who won't try to text you earlier than midnight. App rules urge you to "pretend like you're strangers afterward," making no-strings-attached the only name of the game here. This super millennial app is a sex-positive, 18+ safe space with some pretty cool art — the blueprint of the truly modern hookup app. Just be sure to communicate your boundaries in your bio.

Your selfies, bio, conversations, matches, and likes self-destruct every 24 hours, promoting spur-of-the-moment, borderline anonymous hookups. No nudity is allowed in your albums, and any photos sent in messages can't be saved. (As the dry-humored comics on their website state, "Don't talk about your problems. Problems are for therapists. Pure is for fun.") The app will ask for your phone number, but that's to make sure you're a real person.

Pure gives all the feels of a sex-based site without the obnoxious naked parts and porn ads everywhere. (Cough *AdultFriendFinder* cough) Running into bots and people trying to make money is likely, but the spammy stuff isn't nearly as rampant as traditional hookup sites. 

Read our full review of Zoosk.

If it weren't for all the dead profiles (and out-of-date interface), Zoosk could be a dating app suitable for people looking for a diverse and active dating pool. Still, unlike most other apps on this list, it's not owned by the Match Group.

With such little focus on details past physique or distance, it's natural to question how the site builds any real foundations. Admittedly, something Zoosk did worked at one point, as the site keeps a meticulously updated list of couples who met through the site with news of new engagements and marriages, but the latest post is from June 2020.

Still, there's no denying that Zoosk is a zombie land of dead-end profiles and somewhat boring design (that looks straight out of 2009 on its mobile version). We guess some 35 million people use Zoosk because it's easy — there are no long questionnaires required to build your profile, and you have free rein over how to go about approaching matches. But being on the site also feels like witnessing an identity crisis — it's hard to tell if Zoosk wants to be taken as a place for hookups or a place to find something more serious.