Best Free Dating Apps Of 2016
I’ve had a lot of good interactions with some very nice and interesting people on here so far. There r many whom I’d like to get to no better and hopefully get to b theirs and them as mine
And The Best-Rated Dating App Is.
Trying to find the best dating app can be headache-inducing, especially if you’re new to the game. Do you go niche based off your favorite food or your profession? Do you listen to what’s been effective among your friends? Do you base it on what type of relationship you’re looking for? After working on several articles about singles’ dating app preferences for hookups, dating, relationships, or even just enjoyable ones to use, I’ve quickly realized finding people who are actually happy with a dating app can be like pulling teeth.
Luckily, Applause, an app quality company, just saved you a ton of time, precious cellular data, and exhausted thumbs. For the second annual Applause Dating App Quality Index, the company analyzed the state of the country’s most popular dating apps by looking at consumer ratings from Google Play and the App Store to determine which ones people actually like — and which ones need to make some serious changes. And, you’ll definitely notice some major players (ahem, Tinder? Grindr?) missing from the rankings.
For the study, niche apps, like FarmersOnly Dating, Jdate, and Christian Mingle, were not included. (Yes, there are a lot more than 97 dating apps available for you to download if you can believe it!)
After going through every rating and review from the top app stores, they created a report with mobile app quality score, as defined by customers, on a scale of 0 to 100. On average, the top U.S. dating apps fall behind other apps in quality by 23 points, which makes sense because I’d assume most people wouldn’t rate a dating app highly where they’re not finding dates, hookups, love, or whatever they’re looking for easily — even if they use it multiple times a day and have been on it for years. Arc also says users are quick to judge based off their first experience in signing up for a dating app.
So, how do 1.5 million U.S. consumers rate the 97 most popular dating apps? Well, what you’ll quickly notice is that a lot of the best-rated apps are not exclusively dating apps, and you may not even recognize many of them. A lot of these are really social networks where you can chat with people from all over the world, which is certainly a far cry from the popular swipe right/left geo-located dating apps that keep popping up. But hey, these users on social apps are happy — and perhaps apps meant solely for dating create too many expectations. With more than 10,000 app store reviews, these 11 dating apps were the top-ranked by users, all coming in with scores above 50.
1. Jaumo (Score: 72.0)
Never heard of this one? Me either, but it seems like now’s the time to get to know it. With their tagline” “Life is difficult enough. Jaumo simplifies flirting and looking for a partner,” the app had 22K reviews and comes in as the top-rated dating app.
This site is new to me but so far I find it easy to use. I’ve been getting a lot of responses but the men aren’t following through with continuing the conversations. There are a few scammers here. Look at the profile and Trust your gut feelings. I always ask questions and they always slip up. Overall a great site just haven’t connected to anyone yet.
2. OkCupid (Score: 61.0)
Known for their compatibility ratings, the free dating site’s mobile app, which has a Tinder-like function called “QuickMatch”, says they’ll “multiply your odds of finding a date by, like, 1000000%.” And for the majority of 85K consumers rating the app, this may be true.
Let me just say I’m not a fan of Internet dating because I come from a different era however, this app surprised me because I met some really nice down- to-earth men on here. I like the questions because you can see your similarities and even though you have to pay to see your likes you have the option of looking at your email (as opposed to looking through the OKcupid app) to see who likes you then you can decide if you want to pay or not. I also love the disable feature because I picked 3 guys I really liked and then disabled (so I wouldn’t have any distractions) then if it doesn’t work out you just sign back in and do it again. Just meet people in public and have fun! I’ve been on here several times and I enjoy it because of this app I have people to go out with.
3. Happn (Score: 57.0)
The “missed connections” dating app, which shows you people you’ve crossed paths with, is a hit among singles. For the majority of the 14K users rating the app, this is newbie is turning out to be an effective one.
Limited community but has great potential! As I said in the title this is a fairly new app so don’t expect a lot of people on it yet time find. That being said, it is a great concept and I can expect this to be a very popular app in the future. Will likely rate higher later!
4. SCRUFF (Score: 55.5)
About 13K consumers have spoken: Scruff is the gay dating app to know. The free app, which has over 8 million users, boasts they have “the most guys you are into: muscle guys, masculine jocks, bears, rugged outdoorsmen, college guys, military servicemen, geeks, and more” — and they can be in your ‘hood or across the world.
Probably the best gay dating app. Too bad it’s such a resource hog. App is quite slow, makes my phone hot and completely sluggish. I think it’s time to optimize this thing a bit. Don’t make me regret my Pro subscription ^_^’
5. Moco (Score: 55.0)
Miss the days of AOL chat rooms? Well, you don’t have to. Over 100 million people use Moco to flirt in public chat rooms, group chat, and privately.
Good social app I really like the UI in the mocospace app, especially compared to the website. My username is faded_one and that was one thing I wanted which the option to change my username. Still getting used to using it on a new phone but I’m having fun learning everything! A+
6. GROWLr (Score: 54.5)
If you thought Scruff was the only dating app option for meeting a rugged gay guy, think again. GROWLr is a social network solely for gay bears. With over 5,000,000 GROWLr members, you can chat with guys nearby or all over the world — and even send voice memos.
Everything about Growlr is refreshing: the app structure, the clear guidelines, the message thread behavior, the powerful search/browse tool (phrasing), but most especially the options we’re given for reporting users that are misbehaving, willfully or otherwise. It feels like there’s a customer service structure behind the scenes ready to take my feedback seriously. Most of the dudes that I’ve spoken to on Growlr have been respectful and decently-mannered (with the notable exception of the usual proto-stalkers in my town). I haven’t been contacted and judged by freelance activists patrolling profiles for anything that might run contrary to their own private preferences (like on Scruff or Grindr) and I feel comfortable enough to interact honestly.
7. Skout (53.5)
The app calls itself “The world’s largest app for meeting new people” — and with millions of people from across the globe, connecting with others for romance or friendship is possible wherever you are.
So, after using this app for about a month and a half- I’d definitely refer it to any individual who is looking for a nice conversation. Granted the guys can be very inappropriate at times and some of the women seem to be super shallow- and don’t even get me started on all the fake accounts and cat fishing. None the less, there are a few people on this app that are gems. And those few people and the conversations I’ve had with them make up for all the crap you have to put up with. 😛
8. Qeep
Also a social network, Qeep calls itself “the world of friends” and is actually a mobile gaming and entertainment network where you can play games, chat, send pics — and flirt.
the number one site qeep is best app ever .you feel your friends are with you on qeep .qeep on
9. MeetMe (Score: 50.5)
Another social network for meeting new people, MeetMe has 100+ million users and helps you find new people nearby to chat with.
Great App This is a good app to use to find people near you. Only problem, it crashes every once in awhile. Other than that, I would recommend it.
10. Badoo (50.5)
Here’s another one that’s not specifically for dating: With over 298 million users, this app says it’s “great for chatting, making friends, sharing interests, and even dating!” They have a game called “Encounters”, which matches you with other users.
I’ve had a lot of good interactions with some very nice and interesting people on here so far. There r many whom I’d like to get to no better and hopefully get to b theirs and them as mine
11. Hornet (Score: 50.0)
With seven million guys at your disposal, Hornet is a social app for gay, bi, and curious guys to meet each other — and according to most of the 11K reviews, a good one.
Great Easy to use and great. There’s no fake profiles here. I only wish it made it easier to filter profiles and distance
So where’s Tinder? Hinge? Coffee Meets Bagel? Check out the graph below to see how the other dating apps made out in the rankings:
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; Google Play; App Store
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Best Free Dating Apps Of 2016
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Regardless of if you’re a serial dater or just interested in dipping your toes into the dating pool, it’s time to face the fact that a lot of the action happens on dating sites and apps nowadays. Here’s why: It’s 2016 and people are busier than ever. Gone are the days of waiting around your local coffee shop hoping just the right person comes in. We are so well connected to each other via technology that it just makes sense for it to be used as a dating asset. As a result, not only have we come to a point where the stigma surrounding online dating has passed, but we’ve come to embrace virtual flirtation as a part of our daily lives. And with reason! Apps allow us to make and entertain connections on the go, all from the comfort of our phones. In other words, the control is (literally) in our hands.
So, whether you’re looking for a serious relationship, some casual encounters, experimental dating, or you just want to make some new connections, we encourage you to explore what’s out there — you might be surprised at what you find. While the options were once fairly limited to a select few (think Tinder), now the variety of apps out there are greater than ever. From more mainstream dating apps like Once and Skout to more niche ones like Twindog and Align, you’re guaranteed to find something just right for you. Cheers to connecting through your unique interests and experiences.
Without further ado, here are the best free dating apps of 2016, listed in no particular order.
Once
Simple in both concept and practice, Once is an app with a one-track mind. Geared to help you find romantic matches that count, this app only lets you meet and greet with one new person per day. After your 24 hours are up, your match will expire and disappear from the record.. unless you both decide to take your connection off-app. While the overall feel of Once is still fairly casual, the expiration countdown adds welcome incentive to start interesting conversations early on, leaving less time for procrastination or beating around the bush. Not as action packed as other dating or hockup apps, Once is a pleasent chill pill in the bustle of modern dating. Check out Once or read our full Once review.
Score
There are few better ways to get to know someone than playing a game of 21 questions. Score, is essentially a game of 21 questions, rolled into a dating app. The app works by partners answering a series of questions on topics relating to their thoughts, interests and desires, and assigns each pair a score based on the compatibility of their answers. The more matching answers you have with a partner, the higher your score is. The higher your score is, the more functions of the app you get to unlock, such as profile information, additional photos, and the chat function. Score allows you to see if you are compatible before engaging in a conversation. Check out Score or read our full Score review.
Bumble
Dubbed the “feminist Tinder” (whether that’s the case or not is up for debate), Bumble was created by Tinder co-founder Whitney Wolfe following a dramatic departure from the original swiping app. Though it’s aesthetically very similar to Tinder, the concept couldn’t be further from it. Bumble aims to make women more comfortable with online dating by eliminating male-fuelled harassment. After mutually swiping right, the female user must make the first move before a conversation can ensue. She has 24 hours to either get the conversation started or to rethink her decision — either way, the male user must wait for her green light before he can even say as much as hello. Check out Bumble or read our full Bumble review.
Happn
While carefully calculated algorithms and left swipes have left millennials wondering what the romance of yesteryear even means, Happn aims to bring the element of chance encounters to the age of digital dating. Best for bustling cities and downtown cores, Happn matches its users with the users they’ve physically passed in the street — revealing their name, age and profession or university major. Users can then privately like their preferences and if the match is mutual, can then start conversing. No algorithms or random profile pics here, Happn prefers to bring chance and — dare we say — fate back into modern-day dating. Check out Happn or read our full Happn review.
Twindog
Perfect for those who have tired of the traditional online dating scene, Twindog offers a matchmaking service that differs significantly from the rest: its main focus is finding mates for dogs. Finding yourself a date through Twindog would just be a happy coincidence in this case. While it’s not highly recommended for users looking for immediate romantic matches, Twindog is perfect for city dwellers looking to find companions to share an afternoon at the dog park. Check out Twindog or read our full Twindog review.
Blume
There’s no denying that online dating can be a great way to meet new people. Hundreds of thousands of couples act as proof of this. However, the darker side of connecting with strangers online includes ghosting, catfishing and much worse. Blume aims to shift online dating for the better by enforcing a live selfie component in their matchmaking. Like most mainstream dating apps, users must mutually like each others’ profile before a conversation can ensue, however, Blume users must also take and send a live-time selfie to prove they are who they claim to be before unlocking the private chat room. This can be a great way to ensure you’re actually talking to the real person behind their online persona, however it also means that you won’t be able to surf for matches while in bed, unshaven with yesterday’s PJs on anymore if you want to take a good (unfiltered!) selfie. Check out Blume or read our full Blume review.
Squad
Squad probably isn’t the app that will altogether revolutionize the way you socialize, but it is a pretty fun alternative to Facebook chat or iMessage. Squad lets you create specific groups of friends based on your interests, which then facilitates keeping in touch and making plans on the go. Bent on encouraging spontaneity, all invitations to coffee, beer, pool, etc., expire after just one hour. On one hand, it can create some missed opportunities, but on the other, the group dates that do pan out are sure to be lively. Check out Squad or read our full Squad review.
Fliqpic
For those who believe that photos leave something to be desired, Fliqpic lets you get to know people based on not only their images, but on their videos and chatting skills too. Although the layout of the app can read a bit busy, this app really emphasizes the compatibility aspect of app-based dating, which is clear judging from it’s detailed signup questionnaire. Once users have created their profiles, they can immediately start browsing others, either by using the Explore function or by searching through their personalized matches. Once you find someone who seems interesting, the app’s messaging system lets you initiate contact right away — as opposed to other apps (like Tinder) that require a mutual attraction. One more thing we like about Fliqpic is that each profile clearly indicates what they are looking for in an ideal match, which means you have a good chance of knowing ahead of time if you have potential to hit it off or not. Check out Fliqpic or read our full Fliqpic review.
Align
Created as a quirky app that plays on the common (and comical) pick-up line “What’s your sign?”, Align is the dating app for the astrologically obsessed. The app works by matching users with other users who are well aligned in terms of their astrological sign. Perfect for spontaneous free-spirits, who think there is some truth to our horoscopes and what they can reveal about our personalities and relationships, or for someone who wants to approach meeting new people from another angle. Check out Align or read our full Align review.
High There
While a dating app for pot smokers definitely sounds controversial, there is a strong need for such an app to exist. High There was conceived after a date was spoiled when the creator’s partner learned of his pot smoking habits. High There aims to help users avoid a similar situation, by putting smoking habits out in the open, and acting as a welcoming place for people who share a common interest of smoking pot. They say good relationships are based on shared interests, why not make that the starting point instead of just a couple of photos. Check out High There or read our full High There review.
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