The best dating apps worth downloading in 2025

Alright, let's talk dating apps in 2025. If scrolling through Reddit or just chatting with friends is any indication, you've probably noticed a vibe: People are feeling... tired. There's a definite sense of burnout, thanks to endless swiping, cookie-cutter profiles, and the sinking reality that we're all just competing in an oversaturated market for a first date that might go nowhere. Some folks are even arguing that you're better off deleting the apps and trying your luck IRL.

Despite the fatigue and the very valid critiques, dating apps are still massively popular. Fresh research from SSRS found that nearly 40 percent of U.S. adults have tried an online dating site or app, and 7 percent are currently using one. Unsurprisingly, usage peaks among 18-to-29-year-olds, with 65 percent having used them and 16 percent actively swiping right now.

So, even with the love/hate relationship many have, these platforms remain one of the main ways people connect. And it seems users are often looking for something substantial — that same SSRS study showed shared family values (cited by 57 percent) as the most important factor for users when matching online, ranking higher than politics, religion, or even hobbies. (Though men still rate physical attractiveness pretty highly, second only to family values).

What's the best dating site or app in 2025?

Dating apps can be a lot, and with so many options, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. While a few big names (usually under the Match Group) consistently top the usage charts, the "best" app really depends on who you are and what you're looking for.

According to that 2025 SSRS research, Tinder is the most-tried app overall (used by 46 percent of those who've ever dated online), followed by Plenty of Fish (29 percent), Bumble (26 percent), and Match (25 percent). But popularity shifts with age: Tinder (73 percent) and Bumble (45 percent) are the clear favorites among 18-to-29-year-olds who've dated online. Meanwhile, users aged 50 to 64 are more likely to have tried Match (45 percent) and eHarmony (35 percent).

It's not just about the user stats, though. For example, First Round’s On Me (FROME) is a newish app that's gained popularity for its date invitation feature. Choose a drink, date, time, and venue, and the app will send a personalized invitation to your potential match. Once a date is confirmed, it's locked into both users' calendars, and the in-app chat feature is activated 12 hours before the date.

Other apps like Pure cater to people open to ethical, non-monogamous relationships or threesomes. There really is something for everyone, including more traditional dating apps like eharmony, Facebook Dating (think Tinder Lite, for your grandma), and Christian Mingle, which swap endless scrolling for compatibility quizzes and faith-based connections.

The best dating apps of 2025

We take dating app research seriously here at Mashable. To find the best options for every kind of dater — whether you're an introvert, a single parent, on a budget, a busy professional, or part of the LGBTQ+ community — we subjected ourselves to potential thumb cramps and dove in. We created profiles, swiped (and swiped, and swiped), and even paid for premium features to see what's truly worth it. We factored in our own experiences, user reviews, privacy considerations, and overall ease of use to build this guide.

Good luck out there.