Love cannot be found around the corner anymore. It can be found in your smartphone, on one of the best UK dating apps to be precise, with just one swipe.
About 337 million people globally are using dating apps today. That’s a big enough pool for you to choose a partner from that you may want to travel to romantic destinations and build a life with.
But before you pick a partner, you need to pick an app. There are 1,500+ dating apps and platforms in the market today.
So it turns out that while choosing a partner is hard, choosing a platform to choose a partner is harder.
So we did the deep digging and data crunching for you.
Find the lowdown on the 10 best UK dating apps that you can download and use in 2024.
How did we choose these dating apps?
Did we just randomly drop 10 names in front of you and call them the best UK dating apps?
Did we get paid to include these apps on our list of best UK dating apps in 2024?
Did we ask the intern to test each of these apps? (It’s a good idea, though!)
No.
Here’s what we did.
- We elected the 25 most popular dating apps in the UK (via their Google rankings, social media activity, and app download counts, among other factors).
- Then we thought about what you would want in a dating app.
For example, you’d want your dating app to
-
- Maintain your privacy and keep your data safe
- Offer a vast user pool to choose from
- Be easy-to-use app
- Be easy on the pocket
- Actually help you find love
3. Then, we shortlisted the ones that scored the most on our parameters.
Of course, the list isn’t arranged in any particular order. Each of these best UK dating apps are for a unique set of audiences, actually.
So don’t wait anymore. Love is just an app download away. Find the one for you to find the one for you.
Disclaimer: The information listed is in no particular order and might be subject to change. We advise readers to conduct their own research.
1. Match
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Website: https://uk.match.com/
App downloads: 1 million + downloads from Google Play Store
Pricing: Starting at £9.99 per month (paid quarterly, bi-annually or annually)
Reviews: 4.2 stars based on 19.8k reviews on Google Play Store
Three things we love about it:
- Match promises to find you a match within six months. If not, you get an additional six months free. This is what instils user’s confidence in their ability to deliver results.
- Match has over 35 million unique monthly visitors. This is the largest user base among the best UK dating apps. You definitely get a diverse pool of potential matches.
- Match is powered by decades of data-backed algorithms. These algorithms personalise your matches based on swiping preferences and allow you to specify deal-breakers efficiently. This means you get compatibility without extensive and tedious questionnaires.
Best for: Those who are looking for serious long-term relationships.
2. Tinder
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Website: https://tinder.com/
App downloads: 10 million+ downloads on Google Play Store
Pricing: Starting at £7.94/Month for 1 month. 6-month and 12-month plans are effectively cheaper
Reviews: 4.2 stars based on 75.5K reviews on Apple App Store
Three things we love about it:
- Before Tinder, dating was finding, meeting, and finalising. With Tinder, dating has become just swiping and selecting. This unique approach has Tinder handling 1.6 billion swipes daily.
- Known for quick connections, Tinder caters to a broad audience, making it user-friendly for both casual encounters and long-term relationships.
- The app emphasises data security and transparency in information sharing with third parties for various purposes.
Best for: Those who are looking for a wide pool of connections to choose from.
3. Facebook Dating
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Website: https://www.facebook.com/dating
User base: 3 billion FB users.
Pricing: Free
Reviews: NA
Three things we love about it:
- With nearly three billion users, Facebook Dating taps into the extensive reach of the world’s largest social network, offering a vast pool of potential matches.
- Facebook Dating isn’t a standalone app. It is available as a feature within the Facebook app. It utilises Facebook and Instagram data to streamline profile creation and provides a rich and interconnected experience with other Facebook services.
- Now, despite using social media data, Facebook Dating claims to ensure privacy. They keep the dating information separate from the public Facebook feed. This ensures users can maintain a distinction between their dating and social lives.
Best for: Those who don’t want to install another dating app for dating.
4. Bumble
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Website: https://bumble.com/uk
App downloads: 5 million+ downloads on Google Play Store
Pricing: Starting at £7.99/Week
Reviews: 4.3 stars based on 1.4 million reviews on Apple App Store
Three things we love about it:
- Bumble is challenging traditional dating norms by empowering women to initiate conversations. It provides a platform with a feminist stance in the online dating world.
- Female users take the lead on Bumble, starting conversations with matches. Then male counterparts have a 24-hour window to respond. This promotes an environment of proactive and time-sensitive engagement.
- In addition to romantic connections, Bumble offers a BFF setting. This caterers to those seeking platonic relationships in new towns or cities.
Best for: Those who prefer a feminist, women-first approach.
5. Happn
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Website: https://happn.com/
App downloads: 5 million+ downloads on the Google Play Store
Pricing: Starting at £22.99
Reviews: 4.3 stars based on 64.3K reviews on Apple Play Store
Three things we love about it:
- Happn uniquely connects users based on physical proximity. It fosters real-world romances by linking individuals who cross paths in their daily lives.
- The app offers video verification to enhance user authenticity, adding an extra layer of security and trust to the online dating experience.
- Happn prioritises user privacy by not displaying current locations, ensuring a safe and balanced approach to connecting people in the real world.
Best for: Those who are looking for real-world connections based on proximity
6. Hinge
Dating app giant Hinge is launching a $1 million social impact fund to tackle the loneliness epidemic that’s plaguing its Gen Z users. https://t.co/rio5opdVvS
— Fast Company (@FastCompany) December 5, 2023
Website: https://hinge.co/
App downloads: 1 million+ downloads on the Google Play Store
Pricing: Starting at £27.99/month,
Reviews: 4.5 stars based on 783.4K reviews on Apple App Store
Three things we love about it:
- Hinge diverges from traditional swiping by encouraging users to comment on prompts. This fosters more meaningful connections by providing insights into personalities rather than relying solely on appearances.
- Hinge employs a highly acclaimed Nobel Prize-winning algorithm to suggest matches. This offers users a curated experience with one ‘most compatible’ match per day. The aim is to foster more serious and compatible connections.
- Hinge also has a voice note feature in user profiles, adding a personal touch to interactions. Marketed as an app “designed to be deleted,” Hinge emphasizes its goal of facilitating genuine connections that may lead to users finding a lasting match.
Best for: Those who want to scientifically find their ideal match.
7. OkCupid
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Website: https://www.okcupid.com/
App downloads: 10 million+ downloads on Google Play Store
Pricing: Starting at £19.49 a month
Reviews: 4.3 stars based on 256.5K reviews on Apple Play Store
Three things we love about it:
- OkCupid stands out with its extensive array of questions used for matchmaking. These questions cover both lighthearted topics and essential dealbreakers. So users can gather substantial information about potential partners.
- The app further empowers users by allowing them to choose which questions to answer. This provides a customizable approach to sharing personal information and preferences.
- The wealth of information gathered from OkCupid’s questions increases the likelihood of romantic success. You get more information before making connections compared to random conversations at a bar or matches based on appearances.
Best for: Those who are open to introspecting (and answering questions) to find the one.
8. eHarmony
Have you found someone special on eharmony? We would love to hear your story. DM us or email success@eharmony.com #getwhogetsyou pic.twitter.com/DHNzl2g2Ay
— eharmony UK (@eharmonyUK) May 5, 2023
Website: https://www.eharmony.com/
App downloads: 5 million+ downloads on Google Play Store
Pricing: Starting at £8.95 per month
Reviews: 4.0 stars based on 33K reviews on Apple Play Store
Three things we love about it:
- eharmony caters to individuals seeking long-term, meaningful connections and explicitly aims to facilitate relationships that lead to fulfilling marriages.
- With a remarkable statistic of accounting for 4 percent of marriages in the US, eharmony emphasises its track record in helping individuals find serious, committed partners.
- eharmony employs a thorough 29-dimension questionnaire to assess long-term compatibility. This provides users with a limited number of highly accurate potential matches per day. The platform encourages patience, emphasizing the importance of building lasting connections over time.
Best for: Those who are looking for long-term, meaningful connections leading to marriage.
9. Thursday
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Website: www.getthursday.com
App downloads: 100K+ downloads on Google Play Store
Pricing: Starting at £9.99/Month
Reviews: 3.7 stars based on 1.2K reviews in iOS app store
Three things we love about it:
- Thursday operates exclusively on Thursdays. This creates a unique and time-restricted dating experience where users need to act quickly if interested in someone. This adds an element of urgency to connections.
- With a limited timeframe, users must make their move promptly on Thursdays, which heightens the intensity and importance of interactions on the app.
- Thursday goes beyond the virtual realm by organising singles nights at various London bars and locations. With Thursday, users have opportunities to meet in person and foster a dynamic and entertaining dating community.
Best for: Those who are looking for a unique, exciting, and quick-paced dating experience
10. Elite Singles
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Website: https://www.elitesingles.com/
App downloads: 1 million+ downloads on Google Play Store
Pricing: Starting at £24.95/month
Reviews: 4.1 stars based on 346 reviews on Apple App Store
Three things we love about it:
- Elite Singles is geared towards professional and mature singles. The dating app caters to individuals seeking long-term, serious relationships.
- The platform employs intelligent matchmaking, providing users with a limited number of daily “partner proposals” (3-7) based on compatibility results derived from an in-depth personality test.
- Elite Singles operates in 20+ countries and claims to make approximately 2,000 new couples each month.
Best for: Professional and mature singles.
Download Elite Singles for Android
Download Elite Singles for iOS
Let Love Find You
As we wrap up our roundup of the best UK dating apps, it’s your turn to dive in!
Here’s a quick summary of the best UK dating apps:
- Match: Best for those who are looking for serious long-term relationships
- Tinder: Best for those who are looking for a wide pool of connections to choose from.
- Facebook Dating: Best for those who don’t want to install another dating app for dating.
- Bumble: Best for those who prefer a feminist, women-first approach.
- Happn: Best for those who are looking for real-world connections based on proximity
- Hinge: Best for those who want to scientifically find their ideal match.
- OkCupid: Best for those who are open to introspecting (and answering questions) to find the one.
- eharmony: Best for those who are looking for meaningful connections leading to marriage.
- Thursday: Best for those who are looking for a unique, exciting, and quick-paced dating experience
- Elite Singles: Best for professional and mature singles.
Download your favourite, embark on your dating journey, and let love unfold. Just a friendly reminder: Always prioritise respect and safety on your exciting adventure into the world of connections.
May you match with your match soon!
