The Best Free Dating Apps to Download in 2024

Tinder is one of the most popular ways to meet dates in the online world. Using a handful of pictures, a short description, and a general location, users can sift through potential matches by swiping left to ignore someone or swiping right to match with someone. Once matched, users can message each other.

The base app is completely free, but Tinder does have three paid tiers that offer exclusive features. For Tinder Platinum ($30 per month), the most expensive premium option, you have access to unlimited likes, unlimited rewinds, the ability to swipe in any location, see who likes you before swiping, and more.

Download Tinder here.

While dating apps are great in terms of controlling who you connect with, unsolicited messages and troublesome encounters can ruin the experience. Bumble seeks to solve this problem by giving women the upper hand. On the app, women make the first move and swipe through profiles to find their perfect match. (With the new "Opening Moves" feature, however, Bumble users can allow men to make the first move, if they select that option in the app.) Once matched, users have 24 hours to message their potential date before the connection disappears.

Bumble is free to use and has different versions — such as Bumble BFF or Bumble Bizz — depending on what you're looking for, but you can also upgrade to Bumble Premium for $20 per week. Though expensive, Bumble premium offers unlimited likes, the ability to see who has liked your profile first, the ability to swipe in any location, and more.

Download Bumble here.

Known as the app that is "designed to be deleted," Hinge is one of the best free dating apps that seeks to help people get past the superficiality of online dating by finding meaningful romantic connections. Hinge uses in-depth profiles, which can include specific details such as education and religion, as well as unique prompts to connect you with the best match. To help users start conversations, the app also encourages people to like a prompt or aspect of another person's profile to spark a conversation deeper than the dreaded "Wyd?"

Similarly to the other free dating apps, Hinge has a premium option called Hinge+. For $33 per month, you can send unlimited likes, see who likes you first, and set more dating preferences.

Download Hinge here.

With more than 10 million users, HER is one of the top dating apps for lesbian, bisexual, queer women, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people. This free dating app markets itself as being incredibly safe for people in the LGBTQ+ community, allowing users to build a profile based on sexual orientation, gender identity, values, hobbies, and interests. Users can also join communities within the app ranging from traveling to social activism.

If you want some additional features, you can pay for HER Premium for $15 per month. This allows you to enjoy an ad-free experience and see who viewed your profile among other features.

Download HER here.

Happn lets fate do its thing by matching you with people you've crossed paths with in real life. Whether it's on your evening commute from work or your morning trips to the gym, happn is a free app that uses your location to match you with other users in your area who use the app. When you and a user get close to each another, their profile shows up on your feed, helping you find that random crush you never thought you'd be able to connect with. You can like profiles to start a conversation with a match and perhaps be inspired to cross paths formally in the future.

For $25 a month, however, you can upgrade to happn Premium, which allows you to find out who has liked your profile and provides an ad-free experience.

Download happn here.

OkCupid is arguably the most in-depth online dating app with regard to information sharing. The free app helps users connect to people through lengthy questionnaires, which can range from your political affiliation to your favorite video games. Using answers from the questions, OkCupid connects you to potential matches based on how compatible you are.

The free version of OKCupid is all you need to score yourself some decent matches, but if you'd like to upgrade, there is a premium option available for $55 per month. It allows you to see who likes you before you like them, as well as everyone's public answers to questions.

Download OkCupid here.

If you're looking to explore dating options on a more familiar platform, look no further than Facebook Dating. This feature uses information from your Facebook profile, such as your current job, hometown, and education, to build you a free dating profile. After creating a profile, you can filter potential matches by hitting a heart button to connect or an "x" if you're not interested. If you're worried about your grandma or elderly neighbor seeing your dating prospects, don't worry: your Facebook Dating profile does not post on your page.

Download Facebook Dating here.

Plenty of Fish has been a leader in the online dating world since its launch in 2003. While competition has only increased since the early 2000s, the free app has managed to keep users over the years with its user-friendly platform and simple features. Plenty of Fish helps users find matches through swiping and unlimited messaging. Users can also join Livestreams on the app to get to know their potential dates in a deeper way.

While POF is completely free, you have the option to upgrade your membership to POF Premium ($30 per month). The premium option will grant you unlimited likes, extended profile viewing, read receipts, zero ads, and more.

Download Plenty of Fish here.

Coffee Meets Bagel is one of the best free dating apps that is designed to help users find meaningful matches. The app utilizes an "antiswiping approach" and user-profile prompts to encourage more authentic connections and transparency. According to data, 91 percent of Coffee Meets Bagel users seek serious relationships, so if you're looking for something more substantial, try the app.

You can also upgrade to Coffee Meets Bagel Premium ($35 per month) for additional features, like increased visibility and the ability to see who likes you.

Download Coffee Meets Bagel here.

Alicia Geigel is a contributing writer for PS. She has worked as a freelance writer with several online blogs and publications for over five years, including: People, Better Homes & Gardens, Martha Stewart, and NickiSwift. When she is not writing articles on celebrity news, pop culture, or the latest movies and TV shows, Alicia is most likely binge-watching old game shows or cooking shows, taking pictures of her dog, and rooting for her favorite Philadelphia sports teams.