When it comes to finding a dating app for those who are single and ready to mingle, there are plenty of fish—we mean dating apps—in the sea. It is, however, a challenge to find the right app if one is going for quality rather than quantity.
Tinder may be dishing out options left and right, but when it comes to settling for the right (and possibly long-term) partner, one will need to swim against the current tide of ho-hum dating apps.
Here is a slew of dating apps that are better alternatives to Tinder.
1. Hinge
Hinge is the perfect alternative for those who dislike Tinder. For starters, it claims to be "anti-Tinder" and is quite selective. Hinge will let users connect only with their immediate friends, friends of their friends or third-degree pals via a user's Facebook account, thereby reducing the pool of potential weirdos. The idea is to facilitate a personal connection through a mutual friend. Download Hinge for Android or iOS for free.
2. Happn
While Happn works in a similar fashion to Tinder (i.e. you click on the heart button of an individual you fancy and if they don't reciprocate, they will not know you showed interest), it only lists potential mates who a person has been physically near lately. For example, if a user has crossed someone on the street, they will be able to click the heart and begin a conversation. The downside of Happn, however, is that not many people use it even though it is growing quickly. Moreover, unless an individual resides in a metropolitan city, the chances of them walking past several other Happn users seems quite slim.
Download Happn for Android or iOS for free.
3. Plenty of Fish
POF is a familiar name for old dating players and has over 70 million members who are active. This basically means that one has a vast pool of potential dates (or catches in this case) to choose from!
Download POF for Android or iOS for free.
4. Loveflutter
This app combines Tinder and Twitter - giving you the best of both worlds. It is a quirky variant of Twitter as in it shows the user's 14-character profile and then there image, which is initially blurred. The idea is to connect with the person and then the looks!
"Add your Twitter-like fact & discover people by personality first, looks second.
Because on a date, looks matter but it's personality that counts," notes the app description.
It is only once a person likes the chosen guy/girl secretly and they like you back is when the photos are made available for viewing. The app is currently only available for iOS and not Android. Download for free for iOS.
5. The Grade
As the name suggests, this dating app grades users based on their behavior in three categories: profile popularity, responsiveness, and message quality. The app grades each category from A+ to F and gives a cumulative score.
Those who get an F are barred from using the dating app. The idea is to get rid of unwanted elements who are "hostile, offensive, unresponsive and undesirable" thanks to the app's "proprietary algorithm."
See if you make the cut and download for free for iOS and Android.
6. The League
Choosy about who you want to date? Then The League is the answer to your prayers. How? It connects the user's LinkedIn and Facebook to assess if they are eligible for the dating app. A screening if you please.
A prospective user is waitlisted before they are given the green signal and accepted into the dating app. Sounds elitist, but if you are accepted into the exclusive club then you will get five matches each day.
While the dating app is currently only live in San Francisco, it is anticipated to be available to users in Atlanta, Denver, Seattle and New York City soon.
While and Android app is awaited, The League is available for download for iOS. The waitlist is believed to be over 75,000 so good luck!
7. The Down
Previously known as "Bang With Friends", the app has gotten re-christened as The Down. Using Facebook to help the user approach the gal or guy you fancy on the social media site (but been too chicken to approach), The Down gives you the nerve to "Skip the chatting, and get to smacking those cheeks."
Download the app for iOS and Android for free.
8. Skout
Skout is also in the Tinder mold - you can opt for the premium or free version. The user's location will not be divulged till they so choose. However, even though Skout has some good reviews to its credit the free version has some annoying ads.
Download the dating app for iOS and Android for free.
9. Bristlr
What with hipster beards being all the rage, Bristlr is the perfect dating app for women who fancy men with beards. The dating app operates in a similar manner to Tinder - you skim through potential partner profiles, say yay or nay, if both say aye then it is a match and then you can chat - the same drill.
Bristlr, however, has a prerequisite for men - you need to have a beard! No clean shaven men here!
Download the dating app for iOS and Android for free.
10. Glimpse
This dating app is ideal for those who love posting photographs on Instagram. Glimpse connects to the user's Instagram account and helps them find love through Instagram!
While the dating app asks for basic details such as birth date, gender, and sexual orientation, it primarily hinges on a user's pictures. Basically, one picks a profile image and chooses nine more photos from their Instagram that describe and represent the individual's like and interests.
Download Glimpse for free for iOS.
