Best Dating Apps 2024 in the U.K.

Getting a date is as easy as getting a pizza delivered to your doorstep thanks to dating apps. However, like the pizza, the if-they-are-delicious-part also only comes after tasting, so you better choose where you get your date, wisely!

There are currently thousands of dating apps available right now just waiting to be tried. It’s easy to get lost in the endless list of dating apps available now, so the real question is, which one of these dating apps will suit your needs?

If you believe that the best things in life are free, you can try out these frontrunners in the free dating app scene:

• Tinder
• Badoo
• Lovoo

These free dating apps are one of the biggest by audience size in the US according to statistics. Tinder comes in the first place while Badoo and Lovoo come in the third and fourth place, respectively. If you popular and free sounds good to you, you should try Tinder, Badoo, and Lovoo.

There are dating apps that can be downloaded and used for free without having to pay. However, there are some that offer interesting premium features to unlock more functionality. Dating apps like Tinder and Bumble are free, but there has been an increase in people saying that paying for them is worth the money.

There are apps that offer "freemium pricing model." They are free to use, but you can add upgrades to your account to get more benefits. These advantages vary from the type of dating app you are using, but these features are mostly about getting your profile featured, allowing more matches, and the like.

Get a personalised recommendation on which best dating apps will work for you by answering the quick test below:

There was once a time when going on a date with a person you met online was a strange and unexplored concept by many. Today, however, the younger generation has led the transformation of how online dating is perceived.

The concept stemmed from the idea of matchmaking “social equivalents” created by a company based in Newark, New Jersey in the 1940s. The company tried to evaluate the social compatibility of two people by letting them answer a questionnaire. 

This concept of matching people based on their profiles revolutionised dating and with the internet at its peak many years later, online dating sites were introduced.

Dating apps are an offshoot of mobile dating which began to take shape in 2003.  A company called ProxiDating was one of the first to offer dating services using Bluetooth device, by connecting nearby users at a fixed distance. 

Early leaders in mobile dating also include Match.com, Webdate, and Lavalife in early 2004 when the internet is fastly becoming a popular commodity for households. However, what truly revolutionised the dating game on the mobile phone was the introduction of Tinder in 2012—a real game changer.

It became the fad together with the popularity of smartphones and when Tinder became available to everyone in 2012, it ushered in a new era in the romantic history of the world bringing swipe-happy singles closer together than ever before. Since then, a lot of tinder-copycats have entered the arena.

The dating apps market is estimated to be worth 2.1 billion dollars having Tinder as a top player gathering at least 750 million dollar-cut of the pie.

Now, the dating app industry continues to grow each year with more than 15% of US adults or around 50 million Americans saying in a survey that they have or continue to use dating apps in their pursuit of romance.

There are dating apps that only exist for mobile phones, but many web-based dating sites have also extended their portfolio to mobile users by offering an app that comes with approximately the same functionality as the website.

Dating apps are powered by machine-learning algorithms (a really fancy term for a computer's to-do list) that match people based on their information. Most dating app algorithms match people through their location, which is only logical to make meetups possible.

Generally, most dating app algorithms these days are tasked to match user on the following factors initially:

• Location
• Closeness preference
• Age preference
• Characteristics
• Attractiveness

Simply put, the algorithms learn what to do from the users. It is designed not just to gather data but to know about your preferences and actions. For example, it removes people you don’t like and show similar profiles you have liked before.

Most dating sites offer an app version of their site. These sites will sometimes have free app versions, while others include access to their app in your regular membership.

On the flip side, dating apps are mostly available for free because they make their money based on advertisements or in-app purchases like coins used for additional features.

Here are some of the advantages of using a dating app vs. a dating site:

• Better accessibility through mobile phone
• Allows sign in with social media account such as Facebook
• Photo upload is easier
• Voice and video function are more convenient to use
• Find dates anywhere, anytime - on your daily commute or even while sitting in the bathtub

It is good to note, however, that dating sites have the ability to offer more functionalities since you can do a lot more with a desktop computer than a mobile phone.

The prevalence of dating apps made it easier for hookups to happen by giving it a more refined venue. Dating apps served as the fuel to the fire that is hookup culture and it’s burning like hell. For the uninitiated, hookup culture means:

• Accepting and encouraging casual sex encounters
• These activities include but are not limited to one-night stands
• No emotional bonding or long-term commitment

Dating apps for singles looking to hookup exist because they cater to different needs, audiences, and purposes—all the more reason for you to carefully choose which dating app to join. 

Research about a particular dating app and know about its nature, the members, the price, and all the important details before jumping right into it.

There are different types of dating apps that offer specific services for every need. This variety of options makes it easier for you to find exactly what you are looking for.

One of the advantages of online dating is that they put you in control. You can have a look around different types of apps and then see which ones work for you. You can use the following as a guide:

A lot of popular dating apps are used by members for general purposes such as finding a date, getting a hookup, or finding a serious relationship. It just depends on what you and your match want. Here are some options if you want to try out a more neutral dating app.

• Tinder
• Badoo
• Lovoo

Ultimately, there are dating apps that can help you find something more serious and long-term. These were created in the first place to help you find "the one."

• Once
• Bumble
• Coffee Meets Bagel

Then there are the popular hookup dating apps. These types of apps are for people who are out and about, looking for a quick, no-strings-attached kind of fun. The extent of “wild” you get depends on the nature of the dating app you choose.

• Feeld
• C-Date
• Pure

These dating apps cater to young (and young at heart) professionals who could be too busy in their careers at the moment to find a partner.

• Elite Singles
• The League
• Match

While there is no shortage of dating apps that cater to every audience and interest, some have been created particularly for the LQBTQ+ community. Traditionally, the community has been ignored or just added as an afterthought with the "Gay" option hidden deep in the settings.

• Chappy (gay)
• Wapa (lesbian)
• Her (lesbian)
• Grindr (gay)

Most apps can be installed for free and that includes free registration. So it's a matter of very little time to just try out a few and find the one that works best for you. Here are some of the factors you should consider when deciding which app to join:

• What kind of relationship are you looking for?

Before you even consider being on a dating app, you should first make sure you're aware of what you want. The key to being successful in finding your mate in this platform is to get on the right dating app that can give you your expected results.

• What are the app’s limitations?

You need to check out the features of the app and everything it has to offer. Make sure that it gives you what you need and that it satisfies your requirement.

• How easy or difficult is it to register?

Some dating apps are easy to join, while others require tons of requirement and verification before you can fully become a member. Check the terms and conditions, and how long it will take to finish setting up your profile.

• How safe is the dating site? Will your privacy be protected?

This is one of the major checks that you should do. Safety should be your number one priority when joining dating sites. Make sure that the dating site has security features that will protect you against all forms of harm possible.

• What’s the dating app community’s orientation?

Doing this check will let you know immediately if you will find a suitable mate among the membership population. You will find out about this on reliable review sites that test out the apps and recommend whether they are worth your time or not.

Is banking your dream of true love on an online dating app worth it? Here are some pros and cons to help you decide:

• Large dating pool
• Increases in privacy
• Anonymity
• Quickly connecting with lots of potential dates
• Convenient to use
• Faster communication
• Get dates in your area
• Find non-binding adventures

• People with bad intentions
• It’s easy to get deceived
• Having so many options can get overwhelming
• There can be fake profiles

• Be transparent

You should be ready to create a real representation of yourself and avoid getting caught in the pitfalls of creating a fake account. Doing this spoils the whole point of joining a dating app, which is to find someone whom you can meet and have a connection to in real life.

• Watch out for fake accounts

The internet, in general, can be a scary place, and dating apps are no exception. Some people do this for some reasons. You should be aware that scammers and harassers lurk on dating apps too. 

• Just be yourself

It may sound like a cliché, but the only way you will ever find a genuine date is by being yourself. Everyone wants to look nice on their profile pictures, but only by being you can you find someone who truly complements your personality.

Online dating is what you make it. It can be terrible, or it can be good. Prepare to be disappointed, but don’t be discouraged. Swipe until you find the “one”—and enjoy every moment the experience may bring you.

It’s about time that you have fun, meet new people, and try things you haven’t done before. Through dating apps, you will find and build relationships that can last for a lifetime, or just a short, fun, while. 

You are the people of the 21st century so the possibilities are endless right at your fingertips. Are you ready to try out your luck in the dating app arena? You can check out our recommendations to help you decide!