The best dating apps of 2026

Read our full review of Hinge.

Hinge is for a younger crowd — daters who want something a little more serious and less swiping. And as people flee hookup apps such as Tinder, that means Hinge’s user base is on the rise. That means more choice overall and better-quality matches.

One of the great things about Hinge is that it’s "designed to be deleted." Rest assured that it’s more than just a snappy slogan. The app is built for better conversations, forcing you to interact with "Prompts" (conversation starters like "My simple pleasures," "Two truths and a lie," and "A life goal"). Forget all the swiping and low effort "Hey" stuff. There's also a limit on daily "likes" with the free version, which means you'll do less endless scrolling.

And it absolutely works. According to Hinge, 75 percent of its Gen Z daters check a prospective match’s "Dating Intention" before liking them.

If you’re unsure about how to respond to Prompts, the app boasts an AI-powered "Prompt Feedback" tool which helps you write better answers. Other features include "Match Note," which allows you to send a private note with a new match before you start chatting, while "Convo Starters" is another AI tool that gives you personalised icebreakers based on a match’s profile. That takes the stress out of over-thinking your opening message. You can also connect in other ways, including voice notes and polls.

It’s pretty well stacked with safety features too, with strict rules on photos (no nudes here) and a new "Face Check" (facial recognition scans), now being rolled out and tested to prevent bots and fakers. The app will also check "Are You Sure?" before sending potentially offensive messages. And there’s a "Hidden Words" option for blocking specific words from incoming comments.

It lives up to the "designed to be deleted" motto by working hard to get you offline with a new "Direct to Date" feature. This will allow matches to swap availability and date ideas straight away. Overall, Hinge is our No. 1 pick.

Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder.

If you're 100 percent focused on finding a life partner — even marriage — eharmony is a top recommendation. It's for daters who are ready and willing to invest time into finding a like-minded, like-hearted partner. This naturally attracts a more mature dating pool, which makes eharmony a popular app for users aged 50-64 (35 percent) and 65 and over (32 percent).

eharmony's famous, in-depth personality test is still one of the most thorough ways to find a compatible partner. It then matches you based on “32 dimensions of compatibility”. You'll give yourself a rating on prompts like "I'm an honest partner," with sliding scale responses. On paper, asking deep questions like these right off the bat makes total sense when pairing two people together, but the quiz does take time. Think of it as an investment in a relationship — put in the effort now and reap the relationship rewards later.

The company has also modernised and is now committed to inclusivity. It’s dedicated to helping all singles find meaningful connections.

The app's safety model relies on a skilled in-house "Trust & Safety" team that's been operating for over 15 years. It monitors for suspicious behavior and maintains a "Be Real, Be Kind, Be Safe" pledge.

As with other well-known dating apps, the company provides a long list of safety tips. This protects you against fraud and scammers. And if the app removes one of your matches for suspicious activity, it'll send you an email notification telling you to stop communicating with them. A warning, though: eharmony does get pricey, particularly with shorter-term subscriptions. It's worth investing in a longer duration. It'll be worth it when you’re partnered up.

Let's just get this one out of the way. If you're thinking of dating apps, you're probably thinking of Tinder. It pioneered the now-ubiquitous swiping function, revolutionising the world of online dating. And what started out as strictly a hookup app has turned into one of the biggest matchmakers in the world — still the most-used app for daters 18 to 29. 

The vibe is focused on fun, not forever, with an emphasis on casual dating, quick hookups, and scouting around to see who's out there. Indeed, finding a serious relationship is certainly possible through Tinder, but looking for a hookup is very much its thing. That said, Tinder has added more serious-minded features such as Hinge-style prompts and an "Explore" page to help you filter for what you want, whether it’s a "Serious Dater" or "New Friends." 

Sure, we’ve all felt the swipe fatigue, but the fact of the matter is that the "swipe right" formula is still the fastest way to find a quick connection. And the app is rolling out an AI "Chemistry" feature designed to tackle swipe fatigue. Instead of giving you an endless feed, this uses interactive quizzes and optional analysis from your Camera Roll (it scans your photos to find patterns hobbies and interests) and gives you a few curated matches per day.

Tinder says these changes were inspired by its Gen Z users, who want "better matches, not just more of them." There's also a "Modes" feature that lets you switch into dedicated spaces like "Double Date Mode" or "College Mode."

Tinder is increasingly serious about safety, especially regarding fake profiles. The company is rolling out a mandatory "Face Check" video selfie feature to prove you're real and that your face actually matches your profile photos. Tinder claims it’s already cut reports of "bad actors" by over 40 percent. This adds to its existing "Photo Verification" and "Does This Bother You?" tools, which scans messages for offensive language. Though it does allow you to send sexual content and talk about sex in private chats, as long there's consent. Also be aware that Tinder still doesn't have a screenshot notification feature. That means matches can capture and keep convos without you knowing.

Match is best for users who trust experience over gimmicks, and who want lots of options. Indeed, if you’re at a point where you're just over the games and want to find a real, serious partner, Match is the place to go.

As one of the first online dating sites launched in 1995, Match has decades of data to back up its algorithms. It's not one of those sites that you'll just forget about after a month. Match even uses your swipes to get a better idea of what you like, giving you better matches in the future. While younger daters are busy swiping on Tinder and Hinge, Match has carved out its niche as the go-to for a more mature demographic — daters in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who know what they want, and are actually ready to find someone.

And the data proves it. Research group SSRS confirmed that Match is the most popular app for users aged 50 to 64 (45 percent) and 65 and over (42 percent).

It’s a platform that expects you to put in the work, and it’s now focusing on "rebuilding trust" through more transparent moderation. It rewards your efforts with useful features and high safety standards.

Aside from asking about your personal values and interests, Match allows you to specify what you want (or don't want) in a partner and how important that is: If you'd prefer someone who doesn't drink but it's not a deal breaker, Match allows you to specify that. If it is a deal breaker, Match won't give you those profiles. It's a super simple way to make sure you’re at least somewhat on the same page with surface-level things, and you can avoid those awkward conversations two months into the connection. 

It has a combo of automated tools and moderators that scan interactions for harmful behaviour. Its Community Guidelines are strict: No nudity or sexually explicit content, no harassment, and no scamming. It even terminates accounts for offline behaviour, and there's an anonymous reporting process.

Not everyone wants to pay big bucks to meet someone. That’s why we’ve selected OkCupid, a tried-and-tested option for open-minded daters who want a good experience — with plenty of features — but without opening their wallet. Most the best features are available through the free version.

You begin by filling out an in-depth questionnaire, which builds a profile based on everything from political views to your everyday habits (if you’re a messy person, for instance, this is your chance to fess up and flag it). The app then gives you a compatibility score for other users. This allows you to filter out the hard deal-breakers before saying that all-important "hello."

It’s good to be honest, too. In fact, 93 percent of singles report being "completely honest" on their profiles and 75 percent say they "always discuss boundaries" with a partner. One thing’s increasingly clear with online dating — there are huge benefits to being honest and direct about what you’re looking for. And this is a platform where users really abide by that rule.

If you are a money-conscious user, the app recently launched "Love & Money," a new series exploring how finances shape modern-day relation hips. Their data found that 63 percent of daters now consider being open about money a major "green flag." And 68 percent say financial responsibility is actually sexier than generosity (though being generous on IRL dates is never a bad thing). 

It’s about the practicality of long-term relationships. There’s a reason that money is the root of many arguments. Being able to manage finances is an important personality trait and something that ensures a certain level of harmony between partners.

OkCupid's safety policy is built on one simple rule: "Don't be a jerk." Which sounds totally fair enough. It uses automated "Safe Message Filters" and has stricter rules than its competitors, with zero-tolerance policy for nudity or "sexually explicit imagery." It also bans profiles that are only for kink/fetish or ones that describe specific sex acts, which is classifies as sexual harassment without consent. (If you're looking for a kink/fetish site, try Pure.)

It is, however, one of the most inclusive apps out there, with more than 22 gender and 12 sexual orientation options, so it's great for the LGBTQ community. That means a super diverse dating pool — but do watch out for bots and "passport" profiles from thousands of miles away.

Pure adds a little more spice into your online dating. It’s far more adventurous than sending low-effort "Heys" like you’ll get on other platforms. Pure allows you get straight to the point — particularly if the point is somewhat sexy — by putting the emphasis on anonymity, fun convos, and specific desires.

Anonymity is absolutely key. The app never asks for your name, and all chats self-destruct in 24 hours. Not only that, but all photos disappear as soon as they’re seen. This gives you a platform for straight-up convos and removes the tentative inhibitions you might have on mainstream apps. (Though it’s still compliant with UK law to ensure users are above legal age.) You don’t even need to give it your phone number — Pure registers you with an Apple, Google, or Facebook ID so the app never touches your personal data.

The whole point is that you’re direct about your sexual wants and kinks. It’s a judgment-free safe space where you can launch straight into hot chat. It's unconventional but surprisingly effective — especially if you like steamy phone sex with strangers. (But hey, who doesn’t?) Pure is also free for women, which creates a welcome gender balance and a more active community, eliminating the male dominated vibe of other apps.

The anonymous aspect of Pure means that it’s well covered for safety features. You can add a Photo Verification Badge to your profile and request a "True Photo" (essentially a live photo in your chat) to confirm you're not flirting with a bot or a catfisher. Pure also blocks screenshots and notifies you if someone tries to take one, preventing people from sharing your sexy photos and messages. As a safety bonus, you can delete your entire chat history from both your and their phone any time you wish.

Bumble is known for its "women make the first move" rule, which isn’t just a safety measure but a whole ethos. It’s great for women and non-binary people who are tired of unsolicited DMs and want more control over the dating experience. It has even started to quietly remove an "Opening Moves" feature, which allowed men to make a move by responding to a preset question.

It’s about making more respectful connections from the get-go. Mashable’s dating experts have found it has a sweet spot that’s somewhere between the casualness of Tinder and the relationship focus of Hinge. It also tends to skew a little younger that some of the other options here. According to SSRS data, 45 percent of users aged 18 to 29 have tried Bumble. 

It’s true, however, that Bumble is in a period of flux. Reddit users have reported seeing profiles which they had already blocked, which has caused some trust issues. The app has also seen a decline in growth. The response has been a major rebrand and the launch of a global campaign called "For the Love of Love". This is essentially a move away from swipe culture and towards real, more meaningful relationships. It’s still very good for women who know what they want, but remember that Bumble is currently a work-in-progress.

In terms of safety features, it has a great tool called "Private Detector". This uses AI to detect and automatically blur explicit images. It’s then up to you to decide whether you want to open them or not. The app also uses an AI-powered "Deception Detector" to flag spam and scams.

Bumble has recently rolled out "ID Verification" (using a real government ID, not just a selfie) and a "Share Date" feature, which sends IRL date info (such the date’s name and the time and location of the meet-up) to a friend, giving you that extra layer of comfort and security.

Grindr isn’t just the dating app for gay men, it’s integral to modern gay culture in general. It’s been the dominant gay dating app for over 15 years and for one very good reason: The immediacy and speed of matches. No matter where you are, there are guys waiting to connect there and then — it has features to ensure this happens, in fact — with a huge pool of men who want to chat and, let’s call it like it is, hook up right away.  

Grindr marks itself as an alternative to the mainstream apps (even though it is the mainstream choice for gay men) by giving you the freedom to experiment and be yourself. You can filter by sexual preferences, allowing you to find exactly what you want, whatever your desires and lusty leanings are, but it’s worth remembering that Grindr gets very NSFW. Be prepared for lots of explicit chat and dick pics. Sure, that’s all part of the fun of Grindr, but it might be a lot to deal with if you’re searching for a legit soulmate.

It’s not impossible to find a relationship — plenty of men have met a long-term partner on Grindr — but its express purpose is for quick, casual encounters. 

Those instantaneous hookups come via a geolocation grid that shows you all the nearby fellas, which is especially useful if you're in a small town with fewer queer guys in the vicinity. If users are just looking for a hookup, they’ll be sure to tell you straight away. The number of available men can get overwhelming at times, but the choice speaks for itself. There’s also a live "Map View" for its "Right Now" feature, which shows who's available nearby on a real-time map. 

It’s worth noting that Grindr is clogged with ads these days and lots of features have moved behind the Grindr XTRA paywall. It’s worth the money to get the better experience. There’s also a new ultra-premium tier called "EDGE" which the app is trialling in certain locations. This uses an AI stack called "gAI" to give you daily "A-List" recaps of missed connections and chats. Be warned, though: That can be expensive. And it goes without saying that Grindr is 18+ and has security features to ensure it stays that way.