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Its newest ads redefine "DTF" in colorful graphics that depict same sex couples as well as hetero couples, and it truly makes online dating seem like way less of a cliche. Along with the fact that it has gained a trusted rep by being one of the first dating sites ever to be exact , OkCupid has won the hearts of millennial and mature singles alike.
But don't let their love of raunchy internet slang make you put them in the "hookup" category —OkCupid is still a serious space, and most users are genuinely putting effort into finding lasting connections. Similar to other traditional players, OKCupid has in-depth user bios, but profile building isn't long or tedious at all — the questions are smart and not mushy and they're genuinely fun to answer. It does use swiping like Tinder , but you have a lot more to go off of than a lame bio and a selfie. You'll even get to see the percentage of how much you have in common based on question answers and how much you don't.
Speaking of questions, OkCupid has some that you won't see anywhere else: The same-sex couple ads are an obvious giveaway, but OkCupid has snuck in questions to weed out more conservative-minded people as a way to tell right off the bat if your potential match leans left or right. It's not perfect, but it'll help meeting in person go a lot smoother. The entire site's ethos is built around numbers , and it's nice to know they can actually back up their algorithms.
You'll have to subscribe to the A-List for more in-depth features like Double Take , but the fee isn't steep at all. Sign up here. Best for finding a spouse. Image: eharmony. Who it's for: People trying to marry the next person they date. Why it's awesome: When you think of eharmony, you probably think of marriage.
And so does everyone else — that's the point. Putting the best, most honest picture of yourself out there requires some real introspection when taking the compatibility quiz and answering the open-ended questions, but that's the whole reason people sign up for eharmony over Zoosk. Perhaps you've noticed a logo change in the past few years: A measure to ensure that its established, decades-old name didn't get lost in the sea of new dating apps, eharmony's new logo is a heart with a colorful palette that represents the site's 32 dimensions of compatibility.
These range from agreeableness how warm and considerate you are to altruism how much you're willing to help others , all judged by how you answer hypothetical questions where the "correct" answer isn't obvious. The questionnaire has also been trimmed of the uselessly mushy questions about soulmates and self-ranking questions about honesty that are way too exaggerated.
Instead of the deep questions that only look good on paper, eharmony's dive into how you'd act in a relationship is more realistic and tangible. Remember to be honest: Admitting that you're not as mature in a certain area is key to eharmony matching you with someone who complements you. The interface is less jumbled than it was was a few years ago, with different ways to flip through or talk to matches spelled out clearly.
Best for finding a friend with benefits. Image: tinder. Tinder The swiping app we've all used at least once where you should be able to find a date within the hour.
Who it's for: Literally everyone. Why it's awesome: Let's just get this one out of the way. If you're thinking of dating apps, you're thinking of Tinder. They pioneered the now-ubiquitous swiping function, revolutionizing the world of online dating and boasting 1. What started out as strictly a hookup app has turned into one of the biggest matchmakers in the world.
As you're served a series of photos, swipe right if you like what you see and left if you don't. When you both indicate interest in each other, you'll get a notification that it's a match. I mean, "Tindering" is just as much of a verb as swiping at this point. Tinder may not want to advertise as such, but we all know what it's mostly used for. You're quite literally deciding if you want to interact with someone based on nothing but profile pictures and a quote from The Office , so yeah, you can see how getting laid would be the main goal of most users — but hey, we all know those couples who met on Tinder and have been together for years.
It's fast, easy, and if there's one app that even the shyest, most skeptical people will be on, it's Tinder. These include extras like undoing a left swipe bless , send "Super Likes" to people you're really into, and in the case of Tinder Gold, see which users have liked your profile. Best for anonymous hookups.
Pure The least obnoxious and most hipster hookup app guarantees anonymous booty calls, but needs more people. Who it's for: People who just want to get laid without the "What are we? Why it's awesome: Think Pure as in a pure ly physical experience. This is the place to find a local booty call who won't try to text you earlier than midnight.
App rules urge you to "pretend like you're strangers afterwards," making no-strings-attached the only name of the game here. Just be sure to communicate your boundaries in your bio. Your selfies, bio, conversations, matches, and likes self destruct every 24 hours, promoting spur-of-the-moment, borderline anonymous hookups.
No nudity is allowed in your albums and any photos sent in messages can't be saved. As the dry-humored comics on their website state, "Don't talk about your problems. Problems are for therapists. Pure is for fun. The app uses your geolocation and sends out the sex version of an Uber request , though the sparse user base might have your searches suggesting the same few people. PURE gives all the feels of a sex-based site without the obnoxious naked parts and porn ads everywhere.
Best for shy guys and confident girls. Image: bumble. Bumble Women are required to make the first move with this app, making it great for shy dudes.
Become a member today and find your ideal match tomorrow! If you are more relationship-focused.
Who it's for: Bold ladies who like to make the first move or ladies who are just tired of guys thinking nasty pick-up lines are good opening messages. Why it's awesome: It's the dating app version of the Sadie Hawkins dance, created by ex-Tinder employees ooh, drama. It pushes some women out of their comfort zone, but it's a nice change of pace. And if you don't message, you could possibly be un-matching with the love of your life, and that's way worse than being ignored. It also takes the pressure off of dudes who feel like they need to start the conversation every time.
We knew you were gonna ask, so yes, with same-sex matches either party can start things off. Matches expire after 24 hours so you can't agonize over that opening line for too long, and your match list won't be filled with people you forgot you matched with 57 weeks ago. Setup is basic: You'll see pictures and short bios of potential matches in your area and can swipe right if you're interested and left if you're not. It's a pretty close mock of Tinder, except for the fact that Bumble relieves the anxiety of accidentally swiping left on a hottie by letting you backtrack.
Bumble also offers a BFF feature to find strictly platonic friends and a LinkedIn-ish networking feature called Bizz in attempts to remind everyone that it's not just a hookup app. Bumble is free but also offers Bumble Boost for extra features, including rematching an expired match.
Best for queer women. Image: her.
HER Avoid creeps and fetishization on this queer women-only app that aims to be a safe space and a matchmaker. Who it's for: Women seeking women who have had trash experiences on heteronormative apps. Why it's awesome: Between creepy men pretending to be women, creepy men thinking you want to know about their lesbian fetish, and straight girls looking for another girl to have a threesome with her and her boyfriend, most heteronormative dating sites don't give bi women a great shot at finding a relationship.
HER, an award-winning app made for queer women by queer women, is the perfect place to go if you're tired of the only lesbian you know being your ex girlfriend.