Branded as the dating app 'designed to be deleted,' Hinge markets itself squarely to people looking for serious relationships. App founder Justin McLeod said the Hinge prompts allow people to ' put themselves out there a bit more.'. Ready to try the best free international dating app? Brilic is the best place to start your search from. Serious relationships, chat, flirt. Online dating service for everyone. Hinge is one of the best dating apps for serious relationships in part because it only introduces you to users connected to your social circle. Think of it like this. A user is less likely to flake or act like an asshole when the two people dating share a mutual friend. The Best Dating Apps for 2021. Whether you're looking for a casual hookup, a serious relationship, or even a marriage, we've tested all the major competitors so you don't have to waste time you.
With the ease and convenience of dating apps, dating is becoming easier for some but harder for others. Regardless of whether or not you find it easy, there is one thing we all have in common. It is getting hard to tell who is on the app for what reasons. So, what are the best apps for finding long-term relationships?
The best dating apps to use when looking for serious relationships are as follows. Hinge, Eharmony, Bumble, Elite Singles, Tinder, and finally, Match dot com. With that in mind, it is important to remember that you should still specify what you are looking for in your bio.
In this article, we are going to start off by talking about the 6 best dating apps for serious relationships. We will then move on to the best dating apps for college students, the best dating apps for people in their 30s, the best international dating apps, and a whole lot more. So, keep reading.
6 Best Mobile Dating Apps For Serious Relationships
Before we even get into this list I just need to mention something very important. Just because you are looking for a dating app that is geared towards serious relationships, it does not mean you should not have fun. Why do I say this?
Well, let's say you get a date with somebody who is also looking for a serious relationship, that's great. However, it doesn't always mean that he/she is the right person for you. And so, you might realize this very quickly into the date. It happens more than you think. Most dates do not lead to anything serious.
If you go there with a mindset of 'this has to be a serious relationship or at least turn into one' it might be a problem. The date might go horribly wrong and you can miss out on a really great night with a great person. They might not just be the long-term material that you are looking for.
With all of that being said, let's get into the best 6 dating apps for serious relationships.
Hinge
This is one that slips under a lot of people's radars. However, it is fully geared towards people who want serious relationships. The app itself is very easy to use and has a simplified design. This makes it nice, pleasant, and easy to browse through profiles.
When we say that hinge is geared towards serious relationships, we mean it. The reason why this made it to first on this list is because when you open the app, it says 'this app is designed to be deleted. Right from the start, the developers are trying to tell you that they want you to match with people with whom you want to spend a long time with.
This app used to be highly rated on the app stores. Unfortunately, it took a slight knock when they added a feature called 'stand out'. This focuses primarily on attractive people. For some people, this might be great but for your average user, they don't like it. Remember though, it is something you can just look past.
Hinge has a free version and a premium version. Now, unlike most dating apps that don't allow you to message people on their free versions, Hinge allows you to do just about everything to a limited extent for free.
Hinge's pricing starts at $19.99 per month. However, if you go for the three or six months subscriptions, it costs $39.99 and $59.99. Is that expensive? Well, considering the fact that the app is designed to be deleted and your chances of finding a serious relationship are so high, I say the price is worth it.
Eharmony
eHarmony has been around for about two decades. Yep, that is before apps even became a thing. It was started in the year 2000 and has recently upgraded to include mobile apps which is a nice touch. I think it is almost impossible to compete without a dedicated app these days.
For the longest time, Eharmony has been known to cater to those that are looking for serious long-term relationships. The app uses a very technical matchmaking system that matches people down to the t.
Although this might not seem like a lot, eHarmony in 2013 ranked as the number one dating site and has created 4% of all marriages inside the United States. As I said, that number may seem small but it is quite significant.
eHarmony has about 10 million users. So, if you are concerned that they might not be able to match you with anybody based on your preferences, I wouldn't worry about that. 10 million people is a significant amount and there is bound to be somebody with enough in common with you.
The pricing on eHarmony is quite tricky. The one-month plan goes for $59.95 whereas the 3-month plan goes for $29.95 a month. Finally, a six-month plan will cost you $29.90 per month. That might be a little bit steep for some people. However, you can browse the app for free and see if you like it before diving in with your cash.
Bumble
Bumble is an app geared towards heterosexual interactions. With that being said, I'm sorry ladies, you will have to make the first move on this app. The creators behind Bumble saw the problem of men always having to make the first move. And so, they created this app that changes that dynamic completely.
As much fun as that is, the app is geared towards long-term relationships and it matches you with people, or at least, shows people in your area starting as close as possible and then spreading out, much like tinder.
I must add that bumble can really be rather harsh. It doesn't matter how good-looking you are or what you are standing next to in your photos. You have to make your first photo catch the eye of somebody.
I think this has to do with the fact that women have to make the first interaction. So, they are more careful with who they match with. So, guys make sure that your photo is not blurry and try to make your profile as interesting as possible.
Bumble does have a free version. It also has a premium version that costs $24.99 a month. Also, you can rather use bumble coins if you use the application for a limited amount of time. You can start using coins for as little as $1.99. The coins allow you to perform premium actions on a small scale.
I wouldn't necessarily say that you need Bumble premium. However, if you do live in a very busy or dense area such as a major city, then it could be worth it because you are competing against a lot of other singles.
Elite Singles
This app is a little bit different from others and it is actually all in the name, elite singles. The majority of users on this app are quite educated with over 85% of them holding a degree. Now, this does not mean that the people on this app are snobbish, It does however mean that they are looking for other like-minded people.
If you have a degree and you want to find somebody with a similar educational background to you, then this is the app that you can use to find a serious long-term relationship. The people on this app tend to be down-to-earth. They generally do not have a problem socializing with people who aren't as highly educated as they are.
However, with that being said, it is important to remember that the people on this app use it because it promises to match them with someone like themselves. So, keep that in mind before joining.
It might sound tempting to some to use this app to find somebody who is financially well-off. Allow me to just warn you that the people on this app are young enough so that they are not going to try and be anybody's sugar daddy or sugar mommy.
Also, it is important to remember that just because somebody is highly educated, it does not mean that they are swimming in money.
Elite Singles has an extremely high success rate with over 2500 people finding love on the app every single month. I guess it is because the people on this app have so much in common with each other.
Elite Singles has a premium version that costs around $29 per month. Please remember that this price is subject to change. So, please keep that in mind if the price is different when you get onto the app.
Tinder
Ok, I know Tinder is mainly used for hookups, I get it. However, that is not always the case. Tinder is by far one of the most popular dating sites ever released. Its ease-of-use and swiping system was a revolution in the dating app industry.
Yes, a lot of people do use tinder just for hookups and one night stands. With that being said, every single day I use Tinder, I see profiles that clearly state they are in it for the long term prospect.
While you could argue that people just put 'no hookups' and 'no one-night stands' in their bio because they are worried that friends and family might see their profile. Also, I know that a lot of people do not admit to meeting each other on Tinder. That might just be through the fear of reaction. After all, Tinder does have a reputation that most other apps do not have.
At the end of the day, you can specify what you are looking for on Tinder and that is the beauty of it. You can state that you are looking for a long-term relationship and you are more likely to get matched with people who are like-minded.
Also, because tinder is a location-based app, meeting up with your date shouldn't be too much of a problem in terms of travel.
Most people just use the free version of Tinder. There is also a premium version called 'Tinder Plus'. The pricing for this is a little bit tricky and quite biased in my opinion. For anyone, under 30 years old you can expect to pay around $10 a month and if you are over 30, you can expect to pay $20 per month.
Match
Match.com has been hailed as one of the best online dating sites and apps available. It has an extremely high success rate with 11% of users say they have found the one they love on this app.
Match is very similar to Tinder. The reason why it is better for long-term relationships is because while the app works like Tinder, you get a lot more information and you learn a lot more about the person you are looking at than you can on Tinder.
This app encourages its users to give as much information about themselves as possible. Other than that, it uses location-based matchmaking.
In terms of pricing, it is one of the more expensive apps out there at $41.99 per month. However, most of what you can do on the app, you can do it for free. This includes creating a profile, viewing profiles, sending winks, and sending messages to users.
Nothing works as good as the premium version. It just gives you so many more options. So, if you are serious about getting into a long-term relationship via online dating apps, go for the premium. If you are just casually thinking about it, maybe $41 is not the good value that it is for others.
2 Best Dating Apps For College Students
This article would not be complete if we didn't start going into other topics. That means that in this section, we are going to take a look at the two best dating apps for college students to use. Now, because not all students are looking for the same thing and as a college student, you could be looking for a variety of things. Making this list was rather difficult.
We had to take a look at the demographic of the people that are using the apps. Yes, Tinder did make this list again, and to be honest with you, it is the most popular app out there and it will probably make a few more lists in this article.
With that being said, let's take a look at the two best dating apps for college students. This is mainly created using the demographics of the apps.
Tinder
The thing about tinder is that so many people use it and for so many different reasons. However, one thing that Tinder does extremely well is it allows you to control the age of the people you meet or match with.
To update your profile photo, first make sure that you have already uploaded the photo to your profile. Click on the photo that you'd like to use as your main profile photo from your Photos. Click the 'Make Profile Photo' button found in the bottom-right corner of the photo. Crop the photo so that it meets our Profile Photo Requirements. This hides your profile from search results, pauses new match suggestions, and allows you to keep your profile contents, past communication, preferences, and eligibility for discounted renewal rates just in case you find that you need to return. If things continue to go well, you can always remove your account in the future. Click here to make. Why am I prohibited from posting contact information in my profile? Create a Help Ticket. Our Customer Service Staff are waiting to answer your questions. Ask Other Members. Check the Community Help forum - talk with other members and get the inside scoop! Reach us by email any time! Temperament shows your quiz results. To take our temperament quiz, visit www.temperamentquiz.com. Short Answers include each section of your profile where you type your responses free-form including your Introduction, Ideal Match, Faith, Favorite Saints/Titles, Family/Background, Education, Music, Occupation, Travels, and Living Preference. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Catholicmatch my profile.
I am also assuming that you know exactly what you are looking for and you can just include that in your bio. If you are looking for hookups, friendship, long term relationships, and even study partners, whatever it is you need, you just put it in your bio.
Like-minded people will match with you. These people will be in the age group that you selected and around your location.
The location accuracy of Tinder is what really sets it apart for college students. You probably want to match with people who are on the same college campus as you. All you have to do is just set your radius to 5 miles or something.
CLikD
CLikD is not specifically for college students. The reason that it made this list was because of the demographic that uses it. Mostly, it is college students that use the app, and weirdly enough, college students seem to love the control they have over who they meet.
It is basically similar to tinder except it removes a lot of the nuances that Tinder has. People have reported that when they go on dates from CLikD, they feel like they have more in common with the people they are meeting. This is important even if you are just meeting for a hookup.
Whether you are trying to meet the love of your life or you just want to hook up, things can get really awkward if the person you are meeting is not somebody who you would usually find yourself mixing with. That is the beauty of CLikD and that's what makes it stand out from Tinder.
Best Dating App For Singles In Their 30s
It is one of the most original memes out there. 'Dating in your 30s be like' and you could put pretty much anything at the end of that sentence and know that it is rather accurate. Dating in your 30s can be quite difficult. If you know what you are doing and you use the right apps, be easy. Let's take a look at the best dating app for singles in their 30s.
Bumble
Although it has already made it onto this list, Bumble is the best dating app, in our experience, for people in their 30s. There are many reasons for this but one thing for me stands out the most. Let's get into it.
If you are a woman in your thirties, I'm sure that due to work, you don't have time for nonsense. You also don't really care about making the first move. If this sounds like you, give Bumble a try.
If you are a guy in your 30s This might appeal to you because you are also probably looking for a no-nonsense person. Trust me, if a woman is willing to make the first move, which defies all gender norms, it is rather refreshing.
So, because of the demographic, the ease of use, the no-nonsense matchmaking, and the fact that most women in their 30s really don't mind making the first move, bumble is the best dating app for you in your 30s.
Best Dating App For International Dating
International dating can be thrilling and exciting. However, I must warn you that international dating is more for people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. This is because you do actually need quite a bit of money to make a success of it.
You also need to be comfortable in awkward situations because trust me, you could speak to somebody for months and months but the minute you meet them and they are from a different country, you could struggle to figure out what to say and how to act.
you also need to consider the fact that you need to be established enough within your career so that you can take a few days off every now and then. This is to either travel or welcome the guest that traveled to you. With that being said, let's take a look at the best app for international dating.
Hinge
I know, this is another app that has already made the list in the first section of the article. There is one thing that I did not mention in that section. Hinge allows you to select where you want to date and not just within your borders.
I want you to do me a quick favor. Download Hinge, make your profile, you don't even have to put too much time into it. You also don't have to pay for premium. Go to your preferences, select your location, and drag it anywhere in the world and see what comes up.
The Best Dating App For Serious Relationships For A
You could find people just to talk to or you could find somebody who lives in a different part of the world and with a different culture that makes you smile.
2 Best LGBT Dating Apps
The LGBT community plays a significant role in our society and as a community, they are becoming more accepted, and rightfully so. Also, the number of people who identify as being part of the LGBT community is growing significantly. So, it is only fair to include dating apps for those that identify as part of the LGBT.
Most online dating apps allow you to select your preferences, you can select whether or not you want to date your preferred sex or at least match with those people.
HER
For the longest time, Grindr was the only online dating app for the LGBT community. Well, at least it was the most popular, but it catered mostly to males and Transgender females.
That is where 'HER' comes in. It is an app designed specifically for lesbians to interact with each other and to hopefully meet the love of their life. The app works like most other dating apps do in this day and age. It matches you with people based on your preferences and in most cases, according to your location.
The app is slick, easy to use, and it has a rather high success rate.
Grindr
Grindr is a dating app that is geared towards the LGBT community. It is also one of the oldest to do so. More specifically, Grindr is a place where men can meet other men. It is used for hookups and also by those who are looking for long-term relationships.
On Grindr, you get different types of profiles. You get the people who just use their pictures without saying anything and then you get those who give you a more detailed profile of who they are.
This is a great way to tell if somebody is using the app to meet people or if they are using the app just for hookups. If they speak about themselves, they are probably looking for friendship or a relationship.
Best Dating App For Millionaires
For people who have amassed a significant amount of wealth, there is an app dedicated to you. We understand that you might want to date people who are in a similar financial position to you. With that being said, there is 1 particular millionaire dating app that stands out.
Luxy Millionaire Dating
This app is an exclusive one and before you can become a member, you have to submit an application. This application will contain documentation that proves who you are and how wealthy you are.
When you send your application in, there is a board that reviews it individually and you need to get a 50% approval rate from these members. They will judge you on your attractiveness, your education, but most of all, they will judge you based on your wealth.
The more documentation you submit, the better your chances are of getting accepted. However, I would be careful what you share with the developers of the app.
Final Thoughts
To close off this article, I just want to tell you to be safe. Most people do not have bad intentions. However, when you go on a date, let somebody know where you are going to be and who you are going to meet. I know I'm closing this article off with a bit of a bummer but I think it is important to mention this.
%Hhrs:%Mmins:%S
Dating apps have a bad rap: They are often associated more closely with promoting casual hookups than actually connecting two gentle souls for an actual, head-over-heels, yes-yes-yes relationship. There are, however, some dating apps that are good for relationships, and though they are somewhat few and far between, they're out there.
Actually, most apps — even Tinder — can yield a relationship, as long as you are super clear about what you're looking for in your profile and spend some time using them. Tinder just gives you one quick shot at clarification, and you'll still match with some creeps, but if your profile photo is sweet and elegant, and your tagline says something about how you're looking for love at the outset, you'll have a better chance at matching with the percentage of people on there who are ISO love.
But Tinder is definitely not the only app out there. There are tons of dating apps out there, and though some of them have a more casual bent, there are plenty of more reliable options. Here are 15 other options, on which you might have a higher chance at matching with 'the one' — or at least someone worth sticking with for a while.
Check out Bustle's 'Save The Date' and other videos on Facebook and the Bustle app across Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.
1. The Dating Ring
On the opposite side of the spectrum from apps like Tinder is The Dating Ring. This platform has various levels of membership, starting with free matches and going all the way to $2,500 and up for 'pre-screened dates … VIP treatment, concierge, date feedback, and more.' The Dating Ring is for 'those who are looking for a serious relationship and aren't meeting the right people at bars or through friends,' or 'the anti-Tinder,' writes SF Weekly.
2. Hinge
Yes, a lot of people do use tinder just for hookups and one night stands. With that being said, every single day I use Tinder, I see profiles that clearly state they are in it for the long term prospect.
While you could argue that people just put 'no hookups' and 'no one-night stands' in their bio because they are worried that friends and family might see their profile. Also, I know that a lot of people do not admit to meeting each other on Tinder. That might just be through the fear of reaction. After all, Tinder does have a reputation that most other apps do not have.
At the end of the day, you can specify what you are looking for on Tinder and that is the beauty of it. You can state that you are looking for a long-term relationship and you are more likely to get matched with people who are like-minded.
Also, because tinder is a location-based app, meeting up with your date shouldn't be too much of a problem in terms of travel.
Most people just use the free version of Tinder. There is also a premium version called 'Tinder Plus'. The pricing for this is a little bit tricky and quite biased in my opinion. For anyone, under 30 years old you can expect to pay around $10 a month and if you are over 30, you can expect to pay $20 per month.
Match
Match.com has been hailed as one of the best online dating sites and apps available. It has an extremely high success rate with 11% of users say they have found the one they love on this app.
Match is very similar to Tinder. The reason why it is better for long-term relationships is because while the app works like Tinder, you get a lot more information and you learn a lot more about the person you are looking at than you can on Tinder.
This app encourages its users to give as much information about themselves as possible. Other than that, it uses location-based matchmaking.
In terms of pricing, it is one of the more expensive apps out there at $41.99 per month. However, most of what you can do on the app, you can do it for free. This includes creating a profile, viewing profiles, sending winks, and sending messages to users.
Nothing works as good as the premium version. It just gives you so many more options. So, if you are serious about getting into a long-term relationship via online dating apps, go for the premium. If you are just casually thinking about it, maybe $41 is not the good value that it is for others.
2 Best Dating Apps For College Students
This article would not be complete if we didn't start going into other topics. That means that in this section, we are going to take a look at the two best dating apps for college students to use. Now, because not all students are looking for the same thing and as a college student, you could be looking for a variety of things. Making this list was rather difficult.
We had to take a look at the demographic of the people that are using the apps. Yes, Tinder did make this list again, and to be honest with you, it is the most popular app out there and it will probably make a few more lists in this article.
With that being said, let's take a look at the two best dating apps for college students. This is mainly created using the demographics of the apps.
Tinder
The thing about tinder is that so many people use it and for so many different reasons. However, one thing that Tinder does extremely well is it allows you to control the age of the people you meet or match with.
To update your profile photo, first make sure that you have already uploaded the photo to your profile. Click on the photo that you'd like to use as your main profile photo from your Photos. Click the 'Make Profile Photo' button found in the bottom-right corner of the photo. Crop the photo so that it meets our Profile Photo Requirements. This hides your profile from search results, pauses new match suggestions, and allows you to keep your profile contents, past communication, preferences, and eligibility for discounted renewal rates just in case you find that you need to return. If things continue to go well, you can always remove your account in the future. Click here to make. Why am I prohibited from posting contact information in my profile? Create a Help Ticket. Our Customer Service Staff are waiting to answer your questions. Ask Other Members. Check the Community Help forum - talk with other members and get the inside scoop! Reach us by email any time! Temperament shows your quiz results. To take our temperament quiz, visit www.temperamentquiz.com. Short Answers include each section of your profile where you type your responses free-form including your Introduction, Ideal Match, Faith, Favorite Saints/Titles, Family/Background, Education, Music, Occupation, Travels, and Living Preference. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Catholicmatch my profile.
I am also assuming that you know exactly what you are looking for and you can just include that in your bio. If you are looking for hookups, friendship, long term relationships, and even study partners, whatever it is you need, you just put it in your bio.
Like-minded people will match with you. These people will be in the age group that you selected and around your location.
The location accuracy of Tinder is what really sets it apart for college students. You probably want to match with people who are on the same college campus as you. All you have to do is just set your radius to 5 miles or something.
CLikD
CLikD is not specifically for college students. The reason that it made this list was because of the demographic that uses it. Mostly, it is college students that use the app, and weirdly enough, college students seem to love the control they have over who they meet.
It is basically similar to tinder except it removes a lot of the nuances that Tinder has. People have reported that when they go on dates from CLikD, they feel like they have more in common with the people they are meeting. This is important even if you are just meeting for a hookup.
Whether you are trying to meet the love of your life or you just want to hook up, things can get really awkward if the person you are meeting is not somebody who you would usually find yourself mixing with. That is the beauty of CLikD and that's what makes it stand out from Tinder.
Best Dating App For Singles In Their 30s
It is one of the most original memes out there. 'Dating in your 30s be like' and you could put pretty much anything at the end of that sentence and know that it is rather accurate. Dating in your 30s can be quite difficult. If you know what you are doing and you use the right apps, be easy. Let's take a look at the best dating app for singles in their 30s.
Bumble
Although it has already made it onto this list, Bumble is the best dating app, in our experience, for people in their 30s. There are many reasons for this but one thing for me stands out the most. Let's get into it.
If you are a woman in your thirties, I'm sure that due to work, you don't have time for nonsense. You also don't really care about making the first move. If this sounds like you, give Bumble a try.
If you are a guy in your 30s This might appeal to you because you are also probably looking for a no-nonsense person. Trust me, if a woman is willing to make the first move, which defies all gender norms, it is rather refreshing.
So, because of the demographic, the ease of use, the no-nonsense matchmaking, and the fact that most women in their 30s really don't mind making the first move, bumble is the best dating app for you in your 30s.
Best Dating App For International Dating
International dating can be thrilling and exciting. However, I must warn you that international dating is more for people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. This is because you do actually need quite a bit of money to make a success of it.
You also need to be comfortable in awkward situations because trust me, you could speak to somebody for months and months but the minute you meet them and they are from a different country, you could struggle to figure out what to say and how to act.
you also need to consider the fact that you need to be established enough within your career so that you can take a few days off every now and then. This is to either travel or welcome the guest that traveled to you. With that being said, let's take a look at the best app for international dating.
Hinge
I know, this is another app that has already made the list in the first section of the article. There is one thing that I did not mention in that section. Hinge allows you to select where you want to date and not just within your borders.
I want you to do me a quick favor. Download Hinge, make your profile, you don't even have to put too much time into it. You also don't have to pay for premium. Go to your preferences, select your location, and drag it anywhere in the world and see what comes up.
The Best Dating App For Serious Relationships For A
You could find people just to talk to or you could find somebody who lives in a different part of the world and with a different culture that makes you smile.
2 Best LGBT Dating Apps
The LGBT community plays a significant role in our society and as a community, they are becoming more accepted, and rightfully so. Also, the number of people who identify as being part of the LGBT community is growing significantly. So, it is only fair to include dating apps for those that identify as part of the LGBT.
Most online dating apps allow you to select your preferences, you can select whether or not you want to date your preferred sex or at least match with those people.
HER
For the longest time, Grindr was the only online dating app for the LGBT community. Well, at least it was the most popular, but it catered mostly to males and Transgender females.
That is where 'HER' comes in. It is an app designed specifically for lesbians to interact with each other and to hopefully meet the love of their life. The app works like most other dating apps do in this day and age. It matches you with people based on your preferences and in most cases, according to your location.
The app is slick, easy to use, and it has a rather high success rate.
Grindr
Grindr is a dating app that is geared towards the LGBT community. It is also one of the oldest to do so. More specifically, Grindr is a place where men can meet other men. It is used for hookups and also by those who are looking for long-term relationships.
On Grindr, you get different types of profiles. You get the people who just use their pictures without saying anything and then you get those who give you a more detailed profile of who they are.
This is a great way to tell if somebody is using the app to meet people or if they are using the app just for hookups. If they speak about themselves, they are probably looking for friendship or a relationship.
Best Dating App For Millionaires
For people who have amassed a significant amount of wealth, there is an app dedicated to you. We understand that you might want to date people who are in a similar financial position to you. With that being said, there is 1 particular millionaire dating app that stands out.
Luxy Millionaire Dating
This app is an exclusive one and before you can become a member, you have to submit an application. This application will contain documentation that proves who you are and how wealthy you are.
When you send your application in, there is a board that reviews it individually and you need to get a 50% approval rate from these members. They will judge you on your attractiveness, your education, but most of all, they will judge you based on your wealth.
The more documentation you submit, the better your chances are of getting accepted. However, I would be careful what you share with the developers of the app.
Final Thoughts
To close off this article, I just want to tell you to be safe. Most people do not have bad intentions. However, when you go on a date, let somebody know where you are going to be and who you are going to meet. I know I'm closing this article off with a bit of a bummer but I think it is important to mention this.
%Hhrs:%Mmins:%SDating apps have a bad rap: They are often associated more closely with promoting casual hookups than actually connecting two gentle souls for an actual, head-over-heels, yes-yes-yes relationship. There are, however, some dating apps that are good for relationships, and though they are somewhat few and far between, they're out there.
Actually, most apps — even Tinder — can yield a relationship, as long as you are super clear about what you're looking for in your profile and spend some time using them. Tinder just gives you one quick shot at clarification, and you'll still match with some creeps, but if your profile photo is sweet and elegant, and your tagline says something about how you're looking for love at the outset, you'll have a better chance at matching with the percentage of people on there who are ISO love.
But Tinder is definitely not the only app out there. There are tons of dating apps out there, and though some of them have a more casual bent, there are plenty of more reliable options. Here are 15 other options, on which you might have a higher chance at matching with 'the one' — or at least someone worth sticking with for a while.
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1. The Dating Ring
On the opposite side of the spectrum from apps like Tinder is The Dating Ring. This platform has various levels of membership, starting with free matches and going all the way to $2,500 and up for 'pre-screened dates … VIP treatment, concierge, date feedback, and more.' The Dating Ring is for 'those who are looking for a serious relationship and aren't meeting the right people at bars or through friends,' or 'the anti-Tinder,' writes SF Weekly.
2. Hinge
The word on the street is that Hinge is for those who are a bit more on the serious side, in part by virtue of the fact that you log in with Facebook and you're matched with friends of friends, so you could potentially tattle on a total jerk to a mutual friend. Plus, you can select your intentions from a menu on your profile: casual, dating, relationship
3. Align
Align matches you based on your horoscope, and though it's all in good fun, I feel as though it might have a higher relationship-possibility quotient. That said, horoscopes can totally be used to match people based on their bedroom compatibility, so TBD on that. Give it a spin and report back.
4. Glimpse
Instead of filling out a boring old dating profile and taking some fresh selfies, Glimpse connects to your Instagram, so your profile is mostly populated by your stylish Instasnaps. Like Hinge, any dating app that connects via a social media platform adds an additional layer, and it'll be easier to see what your potential date is like before meeting.
5. Tinder
Tinder is notorious for being a hook-up app, but they also apparently match people who both want real relationships every day. Or so says their website. I personally don't know anyone who met on Tinder who started actually dating, but I have heard of it. The key here is being selective and transparent about what you're looking for.
6. OkCupid
Though I haven't met anyone personally who fell in love via Tinder, I have met people who were introduced on OkCupid — and are now married. I can't promise that this will be the happy ending for everyone, but I'm here to vouch for the fact that it has happened at least once.
7. Coffee Meets Bagel
I also have a couple of friends who met on Coffee Meets Bagel. The app gives you just one match per day, which is pretty lousy pickins' if you're just looking for a quick hookup. But in the search for love, one solid connection each day trumps a ton of swiping right.
8. Once
Just like Coffee Meets Bagel, you get one match per day on Once. (The name says it all.) According to their website, 'matches offered in the application are chosen by our team of matchmakers among the active users of the application.' So there's an actual real live person saying to themselves, 'Hmm, this girl likes Jeff Buckley … and this girl likes Jeff Buckley … and they both used to be modern dancers … and they both said they loved the Elena Ferrante books … let's match them up.' Or something very scientific along those lines.
9. Score
Though the name sounds pretty sex-oriented, Score uses emotional compatibility to match users. You answer a bunch of questions via the app, which is designed to feel like you're playing a game. And then you're only matched with people who have similar answers and values. Why go through all the trouble if you're just there to hook up?
10. At First Sight
First off, At First Sight is the brainchild of Bachelor host Chris Harrison, and we all know how many heartstrings have been legit pulled by that TV show. Though I'm rolling my eyes a little bit, Heidi Julavits wrote in The Folded Clock a lot about how she thinks people really do fall in love on that show, and she might be right. In any event, this app uses video to connect people, which is definitely something different from most apps. It's being retooled right now, with plans to relaunch next month.
The Best Dating App For Serious Relationships Without
11. How About We
This app concentrates on proposing dates: How about we go see the new Coen Brothers film? How about we get a manicure? Though you could go with something more vulgar, How About We is set up automatically to encourage actual dates — which could potentially lead to an actual relationship.
12. Plenty Of Fish
Plenty of Fish often gets left out of dating app roundups, just because it feels kind of … old. But it still exists, and those who are on it might actually be looking for a relationship.
13. Teased
Here's a brand-new app, and it looks pretty cool. Teased is about personality first, photos second, and the reviews on the app store are positive, with people saying that it led to second and third dates and isn't 'sleazy.' Halfway to love!
14. Meetville
Meetville matches you based on 'common interests, same values and beliefs, and psychological compatibility.' It's about dating, not sex, and it promises to give you 'smart matches.' Worth a try.
15. Match
Speaking of matches, Match for many years seemed old and fussy, but it is all about love connections, so if that's what you're in the market for, might as well give it a shot. It can't hurt — and it just might lead to something serious.
Want more of Bustle's Sex and Relationships coverage? Check out our new podcast, I Want It That Way, which delves into the difficult and downright dirty parts of a relationship, and find more on our Soundcloud page.
Images: Fotolia; iTunes (13); The Dating Ring; At First Sight
