Being single in the digital age is tough. With everyone constantly connected to their phones, it’s no wonder we’ve turned to dating apps to help us find a significant other. Bars, clubs and singles nights are things of the past, and apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Her are the new and improved way of finding that special someone, whether you’re wanting a relationship or a casual fling.
But with an abundance of Australian dating apps to choose from, it’s fair to question which ones are worth the download – and depending on what you’re looking for, the answer is going to be different for everyone.
To help you sort through all your option, we’ve rounded up the best free and paid dating apps out there and why they’re worth your time.
Best Dating Apps In Australia
1. Hinge
Platform: IOS and Android
Cost: Free
Hinge makes the very bold claim that three out of four dates set up through the app lead to second dates, which means the people on here aren’t fooling around. As an app that calls itself “the relationship app” and is “designed to be deleted”, Hinge is well-equipped for those after a relationship (or even a casual fling).
Pros: Hinge has a very, very good success rate and offers a unique take on the concept of the dating app. The profiles focus on ice-breaking facts (like your unique skills or interests), the app suggests to you your ‘most compatible’ people, sends conversation reminders and overall is more about searching for people’s personalities rather than ‘matching’. Oh, and it’s LGBTQ+ friendly.
Cons: Hinge – like some other apps – can be connected to your Facebook, which means they have access to personal information about you.
Sign up here.
2. Eharmony
Platform: IOS and Android
Cost: Free
Eharmony is an oldie but a goodie and gets to the nitty gritty details of who you are and what you want in a partner. Rather than just uploading your photos you also have to fill out a detailed ‘compatibility questionnaire’ which increases your chances of weeding out the bad eggs. The app doesn’t bombard you with matches either, they’ll only send you a few at a time so you can consider your options thoroughly before passing or accepting.
Pros: The Eharmony app signup process is very thorough, increasing your chances of finding someone you’re actually compatible with.
Cons: You can’t view photos or message users without a subscription. The basic service is free, but to really get the most out of Ehamrony you’ll need to pay for it.
Sign up here.
3. Bumble
Platform: IOS and Android
Cost: Free
Bumble is for the ladies. A dating app that has flipped outdated dating dynamics on its head and has become one of the few dating apps to have an ingrained culture of respect towards the single women. Much like Tinder it’s based on the swipe right or left formula, except with Bumble only women can make the first move.
Pros: The app empowers women in the very best way by placing all the power in the woman’s hands. With other dating apps, women often receive unwanted messages from men, but because of the apps cornerstone setting, you are less likely to be greeted by an unwanted message.
Cons: The app isn’t the most LGBTQ+ friendly out there, but does offer same-sex matchmaking.
Sign up here.
4. Tinder
You’ve probably heard of this infamous dating app and if you haven’t we’re assuming you live under a rock somewhere. Tinder has become synonymous with the world of online dating since it launched in 2012 and has become an iconic platform to find your perfect match.
Pros: The whole ‘swipe right’ formula makes things easy and quick. Basically, a bunch of pictures comes up and if you like the look of their face you swipe right, if you don’t you swipe left. If someone you swipe right with also swipes right on your photo it’s a match and you get talking. It’s no fuss and more than a little fun.
Cons: It has a reputation as a casual hook up app. You do definitely encounter some dudes that are purely on Tinder to hook up as opposed to date. So, if you’re looking for a serious relationship and not a cheeky one-night stand, state it in your bio so you match with like-minded people.
Sign up here.
5. HER
Platform: IOS and Android
Cost: Free
HER is an award-winning app geared towards lesbian, queer, bisexual and bicurious women, and was a complete game-changer when it launched in 2015. HER is for women who love women, and it’s an inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community.
Pros: the app has a sleek design, makes it easy to meet women and connect you with those in your area, lets you show your age, sexual orientation, and height right up front and is the most LGTBQ+ friendly dating app out there.
Cons: There are a lot of in-app purchase reminders and whilst it is free, the app is very much geared towards you paying to fully enjoy it.
Sign up here.
6. OkCupid
Platform: IOS and Android
Cost: Free
OkCupid is well-designed and pretty fun to use. The app allows you to get straight to the point in the setup stage by specifying up front what kind of relationship you’re after and you can choose marriage, hookup, new friends, short-term dating or long-term dating or a combination. You will also answer a questionnaire far less tedious than other dating apps.
Pros: Messaging and viewing profiles is free, the app is very LGBTQI+ friendly and as an added bonus OkCupid sends you dating tips and advice.
Cons: You can’t see who likes you without a paid membership.
Sign up here.
7. Badoo
Platform: IOS and Android
Cost: Free
Have you ever been hanging out in a bar and wondered if any of the hotties around you may be single and ready mingle? Enter Badoo, an app with a geolocation feature that lets you know where users are, if you’ve passed them in the street or if they’re sitting right next to you.
Pros: Badoo has a ‘lookalike’ feature, which is essentially facial recognition technology to let people search for celebrity lookalikes. So if you’re after an Idris Elba type man to go on a date with, Badoo will deliver.
Cons: This app definitely has a more ‘casual hook up’ vibe, which is a con if you’re looking for a relationship, but a pro if you’re looking for something a little less serious.
Sign up here.
8. Elite Singles
Platform: IOS and Android
Cost: Free
The app allows you to fill out your own highly detailed personality profile, which is a pretty fun process. It’s most definitely targeted at a crowd who are looking for long-term relationships and not so much for casual hookups.
Pros: The site gives you the results of your personality quiz (which are so much fun to look at) and the profile setup surveys a wide range of questions, not just your basics, which means its far more comprehensive than most other dating apps out there.
Cons: Although you can send a ‘smile’ to people you like, you can’t view photos or message users without a subscription. The app is also targeted for a more older crowd, which depending on who you are, can be a good or bad thing.
Sign up here.
9. Zoosk
Platform: IOS and Android
Cost: Free
It works in a similar way to tinder whereby you swipe through photos and decide if someone takes your fancy. The benefit of Zoosk is that it’s easy. You don’t need to fill out a long questionnaire because the app takes your information from your other social media accounts online and integrates it into your account for you.
Pros: It has photo verification, its gay, lesbian and queer-friendly and very easy to use.
Cons: You can only get messages from people who are paid members, which is a pretty big con. There is also no option to match with both men and women during setup, however bisexual users can reach out to customer service to set up a free second account.
Sign up here.
10. Plenty of Fish
Platform: IOS and Android
Cost: Free
If you’re feeling like your relationship options are all dried up we’re here to tell you that there are plenty of fish in the sea, and Plenty of Fish will connect you to them. Plenty of Fish started as an online dating site back in 2003 and has since got itself an easy to use app. This dating app is more popular over in the UK, but plenty of people use it in Australia.
Pros: Plenty of Fish has a lot of features for its free users which means you won’t have to spend money to get the most out of the app. The dating app is also geared towards people who are looking for long-term relationships and uses an algorithm to match you with the person that is most suited to your romantic interests.
Cons: There are a lot of ‘fake’ members and bogus accounts on Plenty of Fish, so you have to be extra cautious that who you’re speaking to is who they say they are. It also pulls an older crowd, which depending on who you are and who you want to date, can be a pro or a con.
Sign up here.
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