Post Date: August 5, 2020

The dating world can seem a bit pricey at times. Mobile dating apps consistently ask you for money to join their premium service.

Totally free dating apps are Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Plenty Of Fish, and OkCupid. These dating apps are free to use for any user.

This article will show you what dating apps are free and how much usage you can get out of them.

Which Dating Apps Are Free?

Below is a list of dating apps that are completely free to use upon download. This means you don’t have to put any money down to register or to use the general functionality of the app.

Tinder

Tinder home screen

The most popular dating app used around the world, Tinder, has changed the dating landscape and the way we view dating.

Tinder has always been free to use. Its core features of swiping left and right on potential matches have always been free for the user.

Until recently, Tinder limited how many times you can swipe right or left before being forced to pay. Tinder limits you to roughly 50 swipes per day, which is more than enough to find a match.

The core functionality of finding a match by swiping left or right still works perfectly fine in the free version. Users are also able to talk to their matches with no restrictions.

If you’re looking for a free dating option, Tinder still delivers as one of the best free options out there, with limited restrictions to their paid products.

Bumble

bumble dating app

Although Bumble is more favored by females, it’s still one of the great options for dating apps.

Like Tinder, Bumble allows the user to swipe for a certain amount of time before restricting the user. The amount of swipes a user gets on Bumble before they’re restricted is right around 40 swipes.

The user isn’t restricted from purchasing premium content to match and talk to users, which is the best part of using apps like Bumble. Bumble does offer an enhanced version of its app, but it’s not necessary to use the app.

Bumble is one of the leaders in mobile dating, which allows both men and women to connect and meet others from the comfort of their own homes.

We recommend using Bumble if you’re looking for free options where you can enjoy conversation and quality matches.

Hinge

hinge dating app

One of the new players in the dating space, Hinge has become one of the best free-to-use dating apps on the market.

Hinge, whose marketing efforts are often titled “designed to be deleted,” is a free-to-use app. Hinge is a traditional mobile dating app where a user can choose yes or no on another user’s profile.

The main difference between Hinge and other dating apps is the quality of users, the in-depth profiles, and the ability to let other users know you’ve liked them.

Compared to Bumble and Tinder, users will have to pay to see if other users like them. Hinge has this option as one of their free features. Users will have a log of people who like them and will sort through it seamlessly.

The one downside of using the free version of Hinge is that you’re only allowed five successful swipes per day. This means swiping right (or hitting the checkmark in Hinge’s case) to let the other user know you’ve liked them.

If you pay for their premium version, you’ll be able to do unlimited swiping. Hinge is still one of the better options for free mobile apps, as users can still get full use of the app.

Plenty Of Fish

Plenty Of Fish is slightly different than the mobile apps we noted above. POF allows the users to search for other users in a profile tile format. Meaning they can see all the users who are in their vicinity, as well as users who match their search criteria.

Plenty Of Fish’s search features are powerful enough in the free version where you’ll be able to find the exact user you’re looking for.

This app does limit the usage in how many people you’re able to search for, and it lacks important features such as in-depth search criteria and see who liked you.

The core functionality of Plenty Of Fish is free, but it’s not as easy to use as the other mobile dating apps that we noted above. If you’re looking to get away from the traditional swiping and try a new mobile dating app, we recommend trying Plenty Of Fish.

OkCupid

Okcupid mobile dating app

Another mobile dating app that you can use totally free is OkCupid.

OkCupid is the last mobile dating app on our list that you can use for free because it’s the least functional without paying. You’re able to use most of this app’s features. However, it is severely limited.

After 3-5 swipes, you’re presented with a pop-up that asks you to pay to use more of the app. These 3-5 swipes are meaningful and could lead to conversation. However, it feels as if you cannot use the full app without paying.

There are much better options to use for free other than OkCupid; however, if you’re patient, it’s not a bad app to find quality matches with compatible scores.


❤️ Pro Tip: If you’re sick of finding people who are just looking for one-night stands, we recommend trying eHarmony.

It’s one of the highest-rated online dating apps in the world. eHarmony users are actually actively looking for relationships. Give it a try here for free and see if you can tell the difference.

Free Dating App Recap

Dating apps, such as Match.com & eHarmony, can earn up to $40 a month. The upside to paying this much is that users are presented with quality matches that are serious about dating.

Free-to-use apps like the ones we noted above can attract more casual users who may not be looking for the same thing you are.

These mobile dating apps we’ve listed above are great for people starting, and looking to join the mobile dating scene without breaking the bank.

If you’re new to mobile dating, we recommend you start with these apps to feel how they work before spending any money. Mobile dating isn’t for everyone, so starting with a free mobile app and going from there is your best option.

About the Author

Julia has over 10+ years in the mobile dating app space as a consultant and analyst. Her work has been featured on top websites like Mashable and Women's Health Mag. She writes these blogs to help singles find their true love and life long companion!