10 Little-Known Dating Apps That Are Better Than Tinder

How are you searching for your soul mate? According to Pew Research, thirty percent of U.S. adults admit to using a dating app or online dating site. More than half of all users are under the age of 30. Surprisingly, it's not just singles using a dating app. Almost 50% of dating app users live with a partner, and 36% are separated, divorced, or widowed.

Tinder is the most popular dating app, but several exceptional online dating platforms exist. I've researched the top 10 little-known dating apps using membership statistics. They're sorted in order of usage with first place going to the most popular Tinder alternative. I'm using SemRush and Ahrefs to get website traffic statistics. (Read "Customers Love These Upscale Restaurant Chains" to find an ideal location for your first date.)

10. – Upward

This dating app targets Christians and helps people find friends and romantic partners with similar religious views. Founded in 2020, the app focuses on all religions and doesn't specify any specific denominations. It's available in Canada and the U.S.

Best for Finding a Match with Your Religious Beliefs

Total Traffic: 20,600
U.S. Traffic: 14,400
Membership: Free plans or get more features with Premium and Elite plans
Website: https://www.appupward.com/

9. – Hily

Hey, I Like You – Hily for short – is a dating app that analyzes backgrounds, interests, and smartphone app usage to find the ideal match. It's a little-known dating app because it's newer and only came out in 2017, but it's gained a lot of users in its short lifespan.

Best for Analyzing User Habits

Total Traffic: 24,800
U.S. Traffic: 17,800
Membership: Free plans or get more features with Premium
Website: https://hily.com/

8. – BLK

If you are Black and looking for matches near you, BLK is a great choice. Everyone is welcome, but the dating app caters to the Black community. As a safety feature, community chat rooms are moderated for users' safety, which is a nice touch.

Best for Black Singles

Total Traffic: 33,400
U.S. Traffic: 25,000
Membership: Chat rooms are free, but other features require paid boosts or gems
Website: https://www.blk-app.com

7. – Feeld

Unsure who you're truly into? Feeld is designed for curious minds who want a safe, inclusive space for exploring friendships and dating. Unlike many dating apps, there are no swipes or likes here. You get to know other people at your own pace and make a decision only when you're ready.

Best for the Cautious

Total Traffic: 163,489
U.S. Traffic: 82,232
Membership: Free plans or pay for Majestic for incognito and private photo upgrades
Website: https://feeld.co/

6. – OkCupid

OkCupid started as an online dating website in 2003. Eight years later, the four Harvard friends who launched the site established an app. It was the first app to introduce close to three dozen gender and orientation selections. It's a unique dating app in that it asks thousands of unique questions to better understand what makes its users tick, which helps in finding the ideal match.

Best for Meeting Someone With Similar Likes and Dislikes

Total Traffic: 1.1 million
U.S. Traffic: 350,800
Membership: A premium subscription is needed if you want access to "See Who Likes You."
Website: https://www.okcupid.com/

5. – Hinge

Boasting a Nobel-prize-winning algorithm, Hinge is an app where the founders want you to delete it. They're convinced that you'll find the right person in record time, so the app is unnecessary after that.

Best for Speed of Finding a Match

Total Traffic: 1.1 million
U.S. Traffic: 488,180
Membership: Free to use though you can pay for memberships with advanced features
Website: https://hinge.co/

4. – Boo

Boo's popularity is strongest in Mexico and Indonesia, but there are many U.S. users, too. Over time, it's amassed over 10 million downloads from Google Play. Personality tests help you match with someone with a similar personality, which aids in finding lasting love if you have unusual hobbies or habits.

Best for Matching Personalities

Total Traffic: 2.2 million
U.S. Traffic: 123,200
Membership: Free with in-app purchases to access the full range of features.
Website: https://boo.world/

3. – Match

Match is a pioneer in online dating. Established in 1995, this is one of the first dating sites and still powers Yahoo! Personals. It has impressive international reach if you want to find love from another country. Memberships are available in 24 countries and territories.

Best for International Dating

Total Traffic: 2.4 million
U.S. Traffic: 1.1 million
Membership: Paid plans are required to access features like seeing who looks at your profile.
Website: https://www.match.com/

2. – Badoo

Founded in 2006, Badoo is a popular choice for singles who want to avoid catfishing. The app uses technology to continuously check for spam accounts and scams. It's a popular dating app in France, but it's catching on in the U.S.

Best for Avoiding Spam and Fake Profiles

Total Traffic: 6.6 million
U.S. Traffic: 4.33 million
Membership: Free but you can purchase credits to use on upgraded services
Website: https://badoo.com/en-us/

1. – Bumble

For over a decade, Bumble has helped people make friends, business acquaintances, and romance. It's a well-rounded app that's just as helpful for finding a date as it is for finding a professional mentor to advance your career goals.

Best for Friendships and Career Advancement

Total Traffic: 16.2 million
U.S. Traffic: 3.88 million
Membership: Free plans or get more features with Boost or Premium Plans
Website: https://bumble.com/

Ideally, you meet the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. If marriage is in the cards, check out a store where affordable wedding gowns are easy to find.