10 Best Dating Apps for Women Looking for Love

When you take the leap and join a dating app as a woman, there’s something psychological about making that decision.

Some women I’ve spoken with started dating apps after a bad breakup. Some women were busy professionals who felt they didn’t have time to meet quality men in their everyday lives. Others felt lonely after moving to a new city. And some just hit a point in their lives when they were ready to get married and tired of waiting around for love to happen.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

The truth I’ve learned from dating advice over the years is that your results are only as good as you allow them to be.

Finding love online is not a passive activity. Not all dating apps are created equal. Just like with real life dating, where you look matters. There are apps built for hookups. Apps designed for long term compatibility. Apps tailored toward certain lifestyles, ages, faiths, and relationship goals.

Do your research.

Below, I’ll share the 25 best dating apps for women based on what I’ve learned speaking with other women, current user reviews, and extensive knowledge of online dating advice.

It’s not a list based solely on popularity. Learn why these dating apps are great for serious women seeking serious relationships below.

25 Best Dating Apps for Women Looking for Love

1. Hinge

Can we please give Hinge a round of applause for creating a platform that encourages dating applicants to leave the app after finding a boyfriend or girlfriend?

Hinge took the swipe left concept most dating apps have become notorious for and replaced it with full profile views. In other words, rather than mindlessly browsing through hundreds of sketchy profiles each week, Hinge forces you to answer questions or comments about specific parts of a person’s profile.

One reason I think women like Hinge is because conversations started on the app tend to be less generic. Guys comment on your response to a profile question rather than opening with, “Hey, what’s up?”

Another benefit is that Hinge profiles contain more information about the person you’re interested in. Reading through what they want in a partner, their ideal relationship qualities, and general life goals can help you decide if they’re worth your time before you message them.

2. Bumble

If you’re looking for a woman friendly dating app, Bumble should be near the top of your list.

Bumble made a name for itself by allowing women to message first. It was one of the first apps to give women authority over who they talk to, which led to a dramatic decrease in many of the annoyances women face on dating apps.

The user base on Bumble is impressive. You can find professionals, entrepreneurs, educated people, and some seeking serious relationships on Bumble. That’s not to say you won’t come across users who are only there to hook up or play games, but Bumble’s format filters out a lot of those low effort users because both parties must participate in a genuine way to keep a conversation going.

Tips for success: Bumble isn’t Tinder. Yes, you can swipe right on people you’re interested in, but you have to court people instead of waiting for them to message you first.

3. Match

Match isn’t a new dating app, but it’s been around for decades for a reason.

People with long term relationships in mind tend to flock to Match because it weeds out casual daters. When you open up Match, you’re given the option to browse photos or look at normal profiles like most dating apps. The problem is Match profiles are actually profiles with details. Real details.

Tips for success: Don’t judge a book by its cover. Match will throw tons of crazy people at you, but if you look past the surface, you can find some gems. Make sure you actually read profiles rather than diving into a conversation. Match is great if you’re looking for long term commitment.

4. eHarmony

Speaking of Match, let’s talk about eHarmony.

Say what you will about eHarmony, but the platform does an excellent job of setting you up with compatible partners. The entire site revolves around compatibility and marriages.

Once you create your eHarmony account, you’ll be required to complete a detailed questionnaire about yourself and what you’re looking for in a partner. Everything is multiple choice at first until you get into the dating aspect, which can take a few days to process.

Once you start getting matched with people, you’ll notice most of them have the same intent as you do.

Tips for success: Take your time dating on eHarmony. This isn’t an app you can rush through.

People on eHarmony are looking for marriage and serious partners. Act accordingly.

5. Coffee Meets Bagel

Coffee Meets Bagel has gained massive popularity over recent years. Their model is simple: rather than spamming you with hundreds of possible matches, Coffee Meets Bagel delivers you a set number of curated matches per day.

Think of it as having a mini dating pool you get to peek at once a day.

Cool fact: You get to customize how you want your matches delivered. If you’re looking for long term relationships, you can set your settings to only receive individuals who want the same.

Tips for success: This app is built for you to deep dive into each person’s profile. Don’t waste their carefully crafted profiles by sending goofy questions that can be answered by simply reading what they have to say about themselves.

Less matches means you have more time to focus on the ones you do get.

6. OkCupid

OkCupid takes the questionnaire process one step further.

Profiles on OkCupid allow you to answer serious questions about your lifestyle, habits, relationship expectations, family goals, faith, education background, and more.

The more you put into your OkCupid profile, the better matches you’ll find. Women on OkCupid dig the honesty, too. There’s something attractive about knowing you could sit down and talk with someone for hours based purely on the profile they provided.

Tips for success: Don’t sleep on OkCupid’s questions. These questions not only help you find compatible partners but also give great conversation starters when you’re talking to someone new.

OkCupid is perfect for women seeking intellectual compatibility and meaningful conversations.

7. Tinder

Look, Tinder gets a bad reputation, and while yes, it’s filled with plenty of brats, soldiers, and player types, it also provides incredible opportunity.

One of the largest pools of women and men date through Tinder. If you played your cards right in college and hooked up with your coworker, chances are you met them on Tinder.

Just because the platform is full of casual daters doesn’t mean you can’t find meaning on Tinder. You will, however, have to sift through some frogs to find your prince.

Tips for success: Speak with other girls who use Tinder. Ask them the questions you want answered about the platform, what works for them, what doesn’t, and what local men are like on Tinder in your area.

You’d be surprised how many women have success on Tinder once they figure out how to weed out players.

8. The League

I first heard of The League when my brother started telling me about how impossible it was to get into.

Created as a dating app for busy NYC professionals with high standards, The League requires users to go through an application process before gaining access to the full platform.

Men have to provide photo documentation of their employment and have someone already in the app vouch for them before being accepted.

Tips for success: Have fun with The League. Yes, it’s full of professionals, but remember that career does not equate to happiness or compatibility.

Show potential matches you’re more than your job.

9. EliteSingles

Ridiculously similar to The League, EliteSingles is another matchmaking dating app for educated professionals looking for serious relationships.

Where EliteSingles trumps The League is their user base.

The conversations I’ve had with women on EliteSingles revolve around their family, goals, and what they want in a lifelong partner.

Men on EliteSingles are great about stating what they want in a relationship and woman before you ever speak to them one on one.

Tips for success: Before you start talking to others on EliteSingles, be sure you know what you want, too. EliteSingles works best when everyone is honest and on the same page about dating expectations.

10. HER

If you identify as a queer woman, HER should be your go to dating app.

HER is by far one of the best dating apps for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women. Not only does HER focus on dating, but the app allows you to engage with the LGBTQ+ community through social features, events, and group chats.

Couple that with detailed profiles and you’ve got yourself a potential match just waiting to be found.

Tips for success: You don’t have to limit yourself to only the dating section of HER. Meet people online who share the same interests as you, then let fate take control.

Conclusion

Whether you’re fresh to the dating world or have been looking for love for years, there’s a perfect dating app out there for you.

Remember, ladies, just because an app is popular doesn’t mean you’re going to find your soulmate on there.

Do your research and figure out which app suits your needs best. All my best dating advice can only go so far if you don’t know where you want to look.

FAQ

What is the best dating app for women looking for serious relationships?

Hinge, eHarmony, Match, Bumble, and Coffee Meets Bagel are some of the best dating apps if you’re looking to find a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Which dating app is safest for women?

My personal favorite safe dating apps for women are Bumble, Hinge, and Match. All three apps offer profile verification, self reporting tools, and have a friendly interface for women to use.

Should women use more than one dating app?

Yes. Using more than one dating app allows you to meet more people while helping you determine which dating app is right for you.

Which dating app has the most serious men?

Hinge, Match, eHarmony, EliteSingles, and The League tend to have more men seeking serious relationships.

Are paid dating apps better than free dating apps?

Not necessarily, but paid dating apps give you a slight advantage when looking for a partner because you’re proving you want to find a mate by paying money for a service.

How can women improve their online dating results?

Women can improve their dating by using recent photos, having a detailed profile, communicating effectively, asking deep questions, and being consistent when dating someone new.

How long should women talk before meeting in person?

There isn’t a certain time frame you should wait. Some guys simply aren’t ready to meet in person until they’ve known you for a month, while others can feel comfortable meeting you after a week of chatting.

What are the biggest red flags on dating apps?

Dating app red flags include: inconsistent stories, love bombing, asking for money, refusing to video chat, trying to meet in person too soon, and disrespecting your boundaries.

Make sure you comment below with your favorite dating apps for women and any advice you would give women searching for love.

Save the pin for later