Tinder is famous for its simple ‘swipe right and swipe left’ system. However, Tinder is not the only dating site on the internet. Perhaps you had a bad experience with Tinder or want something more personal than swiping based on appearance. Or you could simply be searching for a site dedicated to hookups. Whatever your reason for searching for alternatives to Tinder, we have the best recommendations.
Whether you’re looking for dating sites, casual hookups, or serious relationships, we have you covered. Plenty of fish are in the free dating app sea, so let’s dive in.
Why People Want a Tinder Alternative
Many people hail Tinder as one of the best free dating apps to hit the market. It certainly did play a role in normalizing dating app development and meeting people through apps. But plenty of people find themselves searching for the best Tinder alternatives. So, what are some cons to Tinder that have users looking elsewhere?
- Tinder can feel a bit overwhelming at the start. Unlimited swiping can make searching for someone feel endless. With so many users to choose from, you might not give potentially compatible matches a fair shake.
- Tinder requires users to have a Facebook profile to sign up, which can cause privacy concerns.
- To get the highest tier of Tinder service, users have to sign up for Tinder Select.
- Although Tinder is LGBTQIA+ inclusive, it doesn’t specifically cater to the queer community. So if that’s important to you, you shouldn’t settle for Tinder.
- Tinder is primarily appearance-based. This can feel a little judgemental, and it can also be deceiving as people can use old or fake photos. It’s safe to say that judging a book by its cover isn’t always the best answer. Especially if you are of the camp looking for a serious relationship over a casual fling.
- In addition to Tinder’s appearance-based functionality, you’ll have to curate the best bio to get your perfect match. It’s genuinely A LOT of work.
Considering some of these cons, it’s easy to see why people search for a Tinder alternative. If you’re hunting for the next best popular dating app, there are plenty on the internet to suit your needs!
The Very Best Dating Apps That are Alternatives to Tinder
All dating apps have pros and cons depending on who and what they’re made for. That may sound daunting, but really it means you’re sure to find one dating app with precisely what you are searching for. To make your life easier, we’ve rounded up 5 other dating apps that are the best alternatives to Tinder below.
The Best Tinder Alternative for Women: Bumble
Bumble is a famous dating app with over 100 million users, quickly becoming a major Tinder competitor. Interestingly, a Tinder co-founder is responsible for creating Bumble. Like many dating apps, Bumble has the same swiping system as Tinder too.
However, Bumble is the best Tinder alternative for women because the app centers around their experience. How? Here, women must make the first move. If you and a match both swipe yes on each other, the woman must message the man first if she wants to continue the interaction.
Yep, that means no more inboxes filled to the brim with guys throwing out their best pickup lines for Tinder and falling short. The woman has 24 hours to send a message, and the man has another 24 hours to respond. If neither person meets these requirements, the pair are automatically unmatched. Once you have both sent messages, the time limit is gone.
So, what else makes Bumble one of the best alternatives to Tinder? Well, the time limit for messaging has many benefits users enjoy. This can minimize the endless onslaught of ‘hey sexy’ messages, matching but not messaging, or unsolicited private pictures. Additionally, Bumble empowers women to take control of their sexuality and make the first move.
But what if you’re a woman looking to find a lesbian dating partner? Or your gender falls outside of the binary? Not to worry, Bumbles thought of that as well. In those cases, both people have the power to message first.
Bumble Benefits:
- The narrow window of time to message each other allows both users to know someone is active. On top of that, you know that your match is genuinely interested since they messaged before the time limit.
- Bumble is a free app. However, like many dating apps, Bumble also has paid subscription services. The paid subscription services offer benefits like ‘super swipes’ to let people know you are very interested.
- Thanks to the app’s design, Bumble users are typically more dedicated to dating and relationships. Bumble requires verified users, which offers a sense of security.
- If you’re looking for something with in-app games, you might like Bumble’s Speed Dating game. Virtual speed dating is a great way to shake things up and truly makes Bumble a great interactive dating app.
The App That’s Better Than Tinder for LGBTQIA+ Men: Grindr
Grindr quickly took the world by storm after its founding in 2009. Grindr created a safe space for gay men to meet. It’s maintained its popularity through the years and is now considered the most popular dating app for gay men.
Similar to Tinder, Grindr also works using a swipe system. But one quirky feature is that Grindr allows you to save a match for later. Grindr is a geo-located hookup app that locates matches based on your location.
Are you curious why Grindr is better than Tinder? Aside from being LGBTQIA+ centered, Grindr users tend to focus more on the hookup side of dating apps. Unlike Tinder, many users here tend to cut straight to the chase. Gone are the ‘how are you” messages. Grindr users get in there with the ‘What’s your favorite position in bed’ messages.
Grindr Benefits:
- Grindr’s geo-location takes it to the next step. When you log on, you can see how far users are from you. This type of geo-location can make your next trip to a coffee shop fascinating. You could find people on Grindr who are a few seats down!
- If you don’t love the idea of people knowing exactly how close you are, don’t fret. Grindr allows users to opt out of geo-location usage on the app. You can easily protect your privacy if you choose to.
- Grindr is an app that cuts to the chase. When you sign up, you can upload a photo and fill in a small bio. However, most users include their sexual preferences in their bio instead – simplifying the hunting process.
Coffee Meets Bagel: A Different Kind of Tinder Alternative
Are you tired of endless swiping on dating apps? Three sisters from San Francisco thought the same thing, so they set out to create something better. Coffee Meets Bagel is one of the best alternatives to Tinder for long-term relationships.
Coffee Meets Bagel set out to revolutionize the online dating world. There is no swiping involved at all. Instead, men receive 21 ‘bagels,’ AKA potential matches each day. They release the matches at noon daily, and users have 24 hours to ‘match.’ The women will then see these matches, so long as they match their criteria and have liked each other’s profiles.
Sounds great? That’s not all. Coffee Meets Bagel uses a unique matchmaking system. Instead of showing you thousands of people who are just near you, Coffee Meets Bagel prefers “quality over quantity.” To do this, you get a questionnaire when you sign up. You answer questions about yourself, what you are looking for, what you like, your educational requirements, and more. The app matches you with people who fit your specific ‘criteria’!
Coffee Meets Bagel Benefits:
- One of the top benefits of Coffee Meets Bagel is its well-rounded stats. The app has a ratio of 42.20% women and 57.80% men. This ratio makes it one of the much more well-rounded apps regarding men-to-women balances.
- Coffee Meets Bagel emphasizes long-term relationships. Plenty of users have found long-term love through the app.
The Best Dating App for Queer Women: HER
Once upon a time, dating apps for a queer woman were few and far between. While Tinder has options for just about all sexualities and genders, it’s not a space geared towards women seeking other women or nonbinary partners. This is where the queer-centered female dating app HER comes in.
HER has over 13 million users, all of whom are women, femmes, or nonbinary people. HER offers a safe space for these folks to search for love or hookups! One of the things that people love the most about this app is that it is more personal.
Instead of the standard ‘checkboxes’ style bio, HER offers plenty of space to elaborate. In this Tinder alternative, you can specify your pronouns, sexuality, gender, relationship status, and what you’re looking for.
On top of that, HER offers special community features so you can link up with other LGBTQIA+ people with similar interests, platonically online or at events.
Benefits Of HER:
- HER offers a safe LGBTQIA+ space for women to date other queer women or folks.
- HER has a Community section where members can easily chat with others. Whether you’re searching for friendship, advice or love – everyone is welcome on HER.
- HER, like many dating apps, has an entirely free service. However, to get some of their top functions, there is a paid subscription service too.
Apps Similar to Tinder for Casual Hookups: Adult Friend Finder
If you’re looking for apps similar to Tinder solely for hookups, check out Adult Friend Finder. AFF has one of the biggest user bases of all dating apps, with an impressive 50 million active users.
Adult Friend Finder’s users are pretty much all looking for hookups. So, you don’t have to worry about figuring out how to get laid on Tinder. Not many users here want to start a long-term relationship – but you might get a friend with benefits instead. AFF can be a fantastic alternative to Tinder, where people often look for a mix of things.
Benefits Of AFF:
- Explore your sexuality on Adult Friend Finder. AFF is a safe and encouraging place for all things kink. AFF accepts fetishes, kinks and all sexual preferences.
- Adult Friend Finder’s user base is very active. In just a few minutes, you’re sure to find someone who’s DTF, online or in person.
- AFF has a personals section where users can browse other users’ profiles. Here, you can see users’ photos and bios and find what they’re looking for sexually. This makes the process of finding who or what you are looking for much more straightforward!
The Best Alternative to Tinder for Everyone and Every Desire: DoubleList
With so many great options, knowing where to start can be challenging. If you’re looking for the best alternatives to Tinder in 2024, then we have a treat for you!
DoubleList is the best of the Tinder alternatives and one of the top dating apps for those looking for hookups. DoubleList has a large user base, with over 3 million users worldwide. DL is a “respectful, non-judgemental and sexually free” dating platform where you can experience your desires.
So, what makes DoubleList so special? Besides the large and active user base, DoubleLists users are fun, open-minded and looking for fun. Thanks to its personals-style format, you can get as specific as you want about what you’re looking for. DoubleList allows users to post photos alongside a personal explaining what they want. Other users can then interact with your posts by liking and commenting on them.
Has someone caught your eye? Take it to the DMs. DoubleList has a handy private messaging feature so you can iron out your meet-up plans or get down n’ dirty in private.
DoubleList Benefits
- DoubleList is a safe and open space for everyone. No matter your sexual orientation or kinky preferences, DoubleList doesn’t judge. Everyone is welcome on DoubleList!
- DoubleList has high security and safety standards. We closely monitor our site to keep our users (and their data) safe. If you see something suspicious, just use our quick and easy reporting system.
- DoubleList has an entirely free subscription service that allows you to post, browse and interact immediately! However, for even more fun, DoubleList offers premium tiers as well. Prices start from just $10 per month. You can enjoy benefits such as endless searching, no ads and extra comments.
You can sign up anonymously or put as much info as you want. Either way, you’ll appreciate how quick getting started is. Stop searching for alternatives to Tinder and put the fun back in online dating. Join DoubleList today!
