Are Dating Apps Actually Worth It?

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Your guide to whether you should swipe right on dating apps

Co-authored by Maria Avgitidis and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: August 19, 2024 Fact Checked

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Pros of Dating Apps

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Cons of Dating Apps

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Popular Dating Apps

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Alternatives to Online Dating

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People Share Their Experiences

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Key Takeaways

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Tips

Dating apps can be a helpful and worthwhile tool for finding a casual fling or a long-term partner, but that doesn’t mean they’re for everyone. There are plenty of pros and cons when it comes to dating apps—and we’re here to take a closer look at them all (along with some of the most popular dating apps on the market right now). We’ll even cover some phone-free ways to connect with and meet new people, so you can have the healthy dating life you deserve no matter what.

Are online dating apps worth it?

Yes, online dating apps can be worth it if you’re mindful about how much time you’re putting into them. However, many dating apps hide valuable features behind expensive paywalls, which can be a frustrating experience for users.

Section 1 of 6:

Pros of Dating Apps

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Dating apps bring the dating world to the palm of your hand—with just a few taps on your phone, you can scroll through a list of potential matches no matter where you are. With such a time-saving formula, it’s easy to swipe your way through different matches as you search for the perfect fit.^{[1]
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Nearly all dating apps have some sort of tool or algorithm that connects you with potential dates. While certain apps have a more detailed system in place than others, it’s nice to have a pre-made list of matches at the ready regardless.^{[2]
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Most dating apps feature some sort of built-in chat, which makes it easy to talk with potential matches and see how well you vibe together.^{[3]
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Research source} Dating coach Maria Avgitidis notes, however, that “online dating should be used as a tool to get things offline. Your conversation shouldn’t turn into a pen pal correspondence.”
There’s a sense of safety in knowing that your dating interactions (at least in the beginning) are happening in a digital space. You don’t need to worry about anything sketchy or weird happening, like you might for an in-person meet-up.^{[4]
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Dating apps help push back against archaic societal standards, like women waiting to be asked out. With online dating, you have more freedom to send the first message, regardless of your gender identity.^{[5]
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Section 2 of 6:

Cons of Dating Apps

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Many dating apps operate with users scrolling or otherwise swiping through potential matches. As people go through these matches, their decisions are often rooted in physical chemistry rather than other qualities the person has to offer.^{[6]
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EXPERT TIP

John Keegan
Dating Coach
John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.

John Keegan
Dating Coach

Dating apps can distort our view of love. Dating apps promote endless options, casual relationships, and a tendency to continually swipe for something "better." To form meaningful connections, approach online dating with a positive mindset and invest time in getting to know someone beyond their online persona.
Using dating apps can feel very competitive, or like you have to present yourself as “better” than other users on the platform. The constant feeling of needing to outdo other people’s profiles can make for an unpleasant experience on a dating app.
With so many people signed up for dating apps (and so many potential matches at one’s fingertips), people are more willing to give up on relationships early on.^{[7]
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Research source} Some people have gone as far as calling dating apps “addictive,” since the plentiful array of matches leads users to endlessly search for their perfect person.
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Potential harassment Unfortunately, some people refuse to accept others’ boundaries, even in a digital space. Research shows that many dating app users received additional messages from people they already turned down.^{[8]
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Trustworthy Source

Pew Research Center
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- This disrespectful behavior can be potentially chalked up to the anonymous, casual nature of online dating.
Dating apps have become infamous for platforming plenty of scams and bot accounts (accounts manned by a machine rather than a real person). Dating app users often need to “screen” their matches to make sure they’re legitimate people looking for love, which is a frustrating obstacle.^{[9]
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Section 3 of 6:

Popular Dating Apps

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Bumble Bumble is a dating app where women have 1 day (after matching with someone) to send the first DM to a guy. In queer matches, both parties have 1 day to send a DM after matching.^{[10]
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- Can you join for free? Yes
- Premium membership cost: Starting at $20 per month
- Best for: Women who want control over their online dating experience
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CoffeeMeetsBagel CoffeeMeetsBagel is a dating app geared toward people looking for a long-term relationship rather than a short-term hook-up.
- Can you join for free? Yes
- Premium membership cost: $35 per month
- Best for: Anyone looking for a long-term partner
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eHarmony eHarmony uses in-depth questionnaires to figure out which matches you’re most compatible with. eHarmony users are typically looking for long-term partnerships rather than a casual fling.
- Can you join for free? Yes
- Premium membership cost: $65.90
- Best for: Anyone seeking a long-term relationship
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Facebook Dating Facebook Dating uses information from your Facebook profile (like your group memberships and upcoming events) and helps match you with people who share related interests. Your Facebook Dating profile is separate from your regular Facebook profile.
- Can you join for free? Yes
- Premium membership cost: N/A - the platform is free
- Best for: Casual daters who want a budget-friendly alternative to other dating apps
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Happn Happn is a location-based dating app that highlights the people you physically pass during the day as potential matches. Within the app, users can send a “Crush” to someone they like and see if they get one in return.
- Can you join for free? Yes
- Premium membership cost: $25 per month
- Best for: Daters who want a fun twist on the typical dating app experience
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Her Her is a sapphic dating app designed specifically for people who identify as lesbian or fall under the queer umbrella (e.g., bisexual, pansexual, trans, non-binary, asexual, etc.).
- Can you join for free? Yes
- Premium membership cost: $15 per month
- Best for: Queer individuals who want an exclusively sapphic dating space
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Hinge Hinge uses a special matching algorithm to connect users with compatible dates. The app’s goal is to create long-term matches, seeing as their catchphrase is “the dating app designed to be deleted.”
- Can you join for free? Yes
- Premium membership cost: $33 per month
- Best for: Anyone looking for a compatible, long-lasting relationship
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Match Match connects users with potential matches using personalized dating profiles that include a user’s pictures, personal preferences, and some free-response answers. Originally created in 1995, Match is one of the oldest online dating platforms out there.
- Can you join for free? Yes
- Premium membership cost: $20 per month
- Best for: People looking for serious relationships on a trusted platform
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OkCupid OkCupid has new users answer questions to get a feel for their priorities and preferences. Using these answers, OkCupid connects new users with potential matches.
- Can you join for free? Yes
- Premium membership cost: $15 per month
- Best for: People looking for a free but effective dating app
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Plenty of Fish Plenty of Fish uses a swiping and super-liking system to help connect potentially compatible matches (similar to platforms like Tinder).
- Can you join for free? Yes
- Premium membership cost: $30 per month
- Best for: People looking for casual matches that could potentially lead to more
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Tinder A mainstay in the world of dating apps, Tinder is known for its casual atmosphere and profile-swiping system.
- Can you join for free? Yes
- Premium membership cost: $8 per month
- Best for: People looking for something casual or low-key

Section 4 of 6:

Alternatives to Online Dating

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Participate in a club, sports team, or activity group. Joining a new club or group accomplishes two things at once: it gives you something interesting to do in your free time while also connecting you with people who share the same interests. While you shouldn’t join new groups with sole purpose of landing a date, they’re still a great way to broaden your social horizons.^{[11]
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- Websites like Meetup are great for finding local clubs and events related to your interests.
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Attend a speed dating event. Speed dating events are just what they sound like—fast-paced events where prospective singles quickly meet and chat with a variety of other prospective singles.^{[12]
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Research source} Hit the web to find speed dating events that are going on in your area; chances are, you’ll be able to find some in your nearest city.
- While speed dating events are often geared toward heterosexual relationships, there are definitely queer events out there, too.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking a shot in the dark and asking a friend if they know any prospective singles. Worst case scenario, your friend doesn’t know anyone; best case scenario, you land yourself a date. Either way, it can be a handy (and efficient) way to meet someone without the help of a dating app.^{[13]
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Be on the lookout for random opportunities. When you’re out and about, be on the lookout for the little things you may have in common with the people around you. Maybe the girl in front of you is wearing the jersey of your favorite sports team, or maybe a guy is walking a dog who looks just like your parent’s pooch. Take these opportunities to approach and strike up a conversation. You never know where things could go if you don’t take the first step!^{[14]
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- Proximity can also be a helpful wingman. For instance, maybe you run into the same person when you take the bus into the city, or you pass the same girl twice at your local pizza place.
- Always try to read the room when you start chatting with a stranger. If they seem disinterested in the conversation, take a step back and leave them alone. At the end of the day, what matters most is that you put yourself out there!

Section 5 of 6:

People Share Their Experiences

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We asked our staff writers about their own experiences using dating apps and exploring the world of online dating. Here's what they had to say.

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"Use detailed dating platforms to your advantage." "Besides going in-depth on your own dating profile, take some time to dive into the details of your potential matches, too. Where do they lean politically? What are their spiritual beliefs? While not all platforms will allow users to feature this information, it never hurts to learn as much as you can about a match before making contact with them. Your time (as well as theirs) is valuable, so it helps to focus your attention on people you already have things in common with." - staff writer Janice T.
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"When I moved to my current city, dating apps helped me explore the area and meet new people." "Casual dating via Tinder or Hinge introduced me to new restaurants and bars and museums and parks—I even stayed friends with a few people I went out with, which helped broaden my social circle. There’s a lot that can be said against dating apps, but just being along for the ride, even if the date didn’t go anywhere, made the experience more enjoyable and enriching. I ended up meeting my current partner at work, but I still have tons of friends who have either met their long-term partner on the apps or who use the apps to meet new people." - staff writer Dev M.
- Her takeaway: "Ultimately, I think the question “Are dating apps worth it?” is subjective, but for me, personally, they were."

Section 6 of 6:

Key Takeaways

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Feel free to give online dating a try, but don’t be afraid to branch out. Online dating undoubtedly has its perks: dating becomes immensely simpler and more convenient when it can be managed in a phone app. Still, online dating apps do tend to put a lot of emphasis on physical chemistry, and can feel unfairly competitive at times. Check out the dating apps we reviewed above and see if any appeal to you. If not, no worries—there are plenty of other ways to connect with potential matches, like:
- Clubs, sports, and social groups
- Speed dating events
- Friend-organized hook-ups
- Tip: Not sure which dating app is best for you? Check out wikiHow’s Which Dating App Should I Use Quiz to take a closer look.
EXPERT TIP

John Keegan
Dating Coach
John Keegan is a Dating Coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. With over 10 years of professional experience, he runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.

John Keegan
Dating Coach

Online dating isn't a replacement for an in-person connection. While dating apps can be a useful way to sync up with someone new, they shouldn't be the backbone of your communication. Successful relationships are built on in-person interaction!

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Want to see how certain dating apps stack up against their competitors? wikiHow has you covered with guides like Hinge vs. Tinder, Hinge vs. Bumble, and Bumble vs. Tinder.

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