Tinder (Android, iOS) (Free)
Tinder has attracted a lot of attention thanks to how easy it is to
set-up and use. All you need to do is log-in with your Facebook account,
and Tinder will upload your first name your photos, your interests, and
your age from your profile to create a Tinder profile. You can then
anonymously browse potential matches near you, swiping right if you're
interested in the person you're currently seeing, or swiping left if you
reject them. You can also tap on their profile picture to see any other
photos they have, if mutual friends, or common interests you have. If
you both swiped right, Tinder will let you know that it's a mutual
thing, and offers to let you send a message, and maybe set-up a date.
Tinder's received positive reviews thanks to its emphasis on privacy and
minimal initial emotional investment, since you only find out about the
interested ones without the pain of rejection.
Hinge (Android) (Free)
Hinge tries to take the awkward randomness out of meeting people online
by making sure that it introduces you to people that you share mutual
Facebook friends with, hopefully cutting out the creep factor and trying
to make sure that you have a good chance of having people, experiences
and interests in common. Users log in with their Facebook accounts,
enter preferences, sexual orientation, location and age. Every day at
noon, the app supplies you with a field of potential matches. And of
course, because you know friends in common, you're both more accountable
and less likely to act like jerks when faced with the prospect of real
world social blowback.
Coffee Meets Bagel (iOS) (Free)
If you're looking to meet interesting new people without having to wade
through dozens of profiles and invites from random people, try out
Coffee Meets Bagel. At noon everyday the CMB app sends you a "bagel": a
curated match that shares mutual Facebook friends which you can then
Like or Pass (with the app learning from your preferences). If you and
your bagel both express interest, then Coffee Meets Bagel connects the
two of you by a private chatroom that allows you to get to know each
other and plan out a date. Other features, such as the ability to view
your mutual friends, can be unlocked by purchasing a virtual currency
called "beans".
How About We (Android, iOS) (Free)
If you're looking for the ideal first date, why not give How About We a
try? Rather than flicking through profiles, this dating app has you
describing the kind of date you want to go out on, whether it's early
morning coffee, jogging, pub crawling or karaoke. Users can then check
out other people's date ideas, profiles and messages, and then head off
to meet them offline. Users can set up a profile and date ideas for
free, with a subscription tier adding extra features.
Happn (Android, iOS) (Free)
Happn is a geolocation-powered app that's as much about missed
connections as it is about meeting new people. Every time cross paths
with another Happn user, the app puts their profile up on your timeline,
along with the number of times and the last time you've crossed paths.
From there, you can 'like' a profile, and if the interest is mutual,
then Happn allows you to message each other and maybe set something up.
OkCupid (Android, iOS) (Free)
OKCupid has a reputation as being the most popular data driven dating
site, and they have the stats to prove it. Their app is basically all
the functions of their website in mobile form, including building your
profile, checking out and rating other profiles, answering quizzes and
chatting up potential dates. A welcome feature is the ability to upload
photos from your phone directly to your profile, which means that
fantastic photo you took with the tiger from the zoo can be immediately
set as your profile picture. Just don't end up on Fedoras of OKCupid,
please.
Match.com (Android, iOS) (Free)
A venerable presence in online dating, Match.com offers its mobile users
a freemium dating experience on Android and iOS. Free users can set up
online profiles, upload a few pictures of themselves and then engage in
some online flirting with "winks", and have new matches delivered to
them daily. More comprehensive features such as the ability to see who
has checked out your profile and liked your pictures can be unlocked by a
Match.com subscription. On iOS, Match.com features a new feature called
Stream for quickly checking out nearby matches, and a Tinder-like Mixer
feature for quickly sending a like or pass on potential dates. Android
users can also enjoy new Android Wear integration to search, exchange
messages and rate matches on smartwatches.
Grindr (Android, iOS) (Free)
Grindr is one of the most successful hook-up apps catering to gay,
bisexual and bi-curious men. One of the first to capitalize on geosocial
networking, Grindr has become so predominant in gay culture that at
some gay social events, it's far more common to exchange Grindr
usernames than Facebook or email addresses. Grindr is free to use and
advertisement-supported, but the subscription version, Grindr Xtra,
offers ad-free browsing in addition to other features.
Down (Android, iOS) (Free)
Down, formerly known as Bang With Friends, got a lot of buzz last year
when it first came out. After logging in with your Facebook account, you
then go through your Facebook friends (and their friends) and start
tagging which ones you find sexy. If there is a mutual interest, Down
will let you know, and then it's up to you and your friend to decide on
what your next step is. Down promises that your interactions with the
app will be kept safe and anonymous, and that your Facebook friends
won't know about your choices if you don't want them to. It's like
passing a note in high school asking if they like you or not, except the
question is R-rated.
Pure (iOS) (Free)
Pure
(iOS only – Android version coming soon) is an invitation-only app
that's focused on one thing and one thing only – getting you laid. You
apply for a membership online stating your email, your city, your gender
and what gender you're looking for. It also asks that you upload your
photos. No messaging, no chatting, the only interaction you have with
potential matches are exchanges of photos and setting up a date. Like
the other apps here, Pure emphasizes privacy and proximity, but also
timeliness – the people they match you up with are ready to meet now. If
you want to cut to the chase and only want to meet people who are also
only looking for a hook-up, then Pure is what you've been looking for.
Bonus: Healthvana (iOS)
We round off the list with Healthvana,
a free iOS app that aims to make STD testing and STD status
verification easy, safe and secure. When it comes to finding an STD
testing center, Healthvana not only provides you with a map showing you
the local centers, but will also provide a community-generated rating of
their location, facilities and service. Healthvana will then store your
test results anonymously and securely, and you can show to your
potential partners your verified test results as well as the date of
those tests. If you keep a liberal lifestyle, it pays to be safe, and
Healthvana is a great way to preserve peace of mind for you and your
partner.
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