I got 5 matches in 4 hours! So Incredible, isn’t it?
These are the sort of statements and remarks that have become a norm in the online dating-era. Be it for the validations, ego boosts or desire to find the ‘right one,’ dating apps have entirely changed the finding-love atmosphere. Launched way back in 2012, Tinder has become a major powerhouse in the dating industry. With more than 50 million users in 2014 itself, it has been voted fairly as the most popular and realistic dating app out there.
Apps like Tinder : Best Alternatives
The reasons for the success of Tinder are plenty such as easy and convenient to use interface, ultra-quick registration and ultimately, the high number of users. That being said, Tinder also has a few downsides like creepy
people, fake profiles, etc. For these and many more reasons alike the best alternative or let’s say the best apps like Tinder are listed below: –
OkCupid
‘You’re more than a photo’- OkCupid encourages users to answer a variety of questions like ‘What I am good at’ etc., to help create an interesting profiles. You can sign into this Tinder-alternative by both a Facebook account and an email id just like an array of other dating apps.
The swiping feature is nearly similar to Tinder but rather than see empty bios, profiles on OkCupid are brimming with interesting info. The search feature is also way better than Tinder allowing you to screen matches quite easily. The paid upgrade enables you to remove ads, get more search visibility and see who viewed your profile. One significant upside of OkCupid is that you can see who liked you in the free version itself, so if Tinder Gold pop-ups on trying to see super likes have irritated you, OkCupid is your best bet.
Happn
Happn is all about your location. Its tagline ‘Find the people you’ve crossed paths with,’ is on point as it helps you discover potential singles within a radius of 250m. The way, this dating app works is that you install the application, then log in with your Facebook account and select the age and gender you want to connect with. Now as you move to different places around the day, the app will keep track of your location, and whenever you are near to another Happn user, it will take note.
At the day’s end, you will see all those profiles you have been near to and the respective times. If you like someone from these profiles, send them a crush! Like Tinder, only mutual crushes can text each other, so it saves you from unwanted messages.
The only drawbacks are that this app drains additional battery due to extensive GPS usage and also, some countries have a low number of users which leads to less possibility of finding profiles.
Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish a.k.a. POF is one of the oldest dating sites in the world. It has a humongous user base of more than 100 million users of which millions are active daily. This guarantees that there is plenty of fish for every taste and preference. To sign up, all you need is an email id and password. Next, you have to answer a few questions along with writing something for the bio (just like Tinder bio) and Voila!
Any attempts to being extra-smart and adding fake information though get the account banned. The search features are pretty extensive as you can search based on popularity, contacts, favorites, city and much more. Messaging is also free without any matching or approval which can be both good or bad generally.
You can set your preferences in the app dashboard which keeps the crowd away you are not interested in. The app works on a freemium model where a paid membership gets more invites, ad-free interface, gifts, etc.
Coffee Meets Bagel
Coffee meets Bagel can be easily called a Tinder-lookalike albeit with various twists. Like Tinder, you have to register with your Facebook account. After signing up with your Facebook, the app searches for a potential match according to your profile. It will then show you the bagel (bagel is a Jewish bread- that is why the name Coffee Meets Bagel), and if you are interested in it, then you can give it a like.
Chatting can be done when both users give each other’s profile a like. Now here on starts the twists, you only get 24 hours to like a profile you have been matched with after which the profile disappears. The mechanism and user interface of this Tinder-like app is quite quirky. Even after two users match up mutually, the conversation chat only stays for a week after which it disappears. So, you actually have to make sure you get the number or social media of the other person unless you want the person to disappear.
Bumble
Bumble is another app like Tinder and one of the best alternatives to it. Its functioning is quite like Tinder such as seeing someone’s photo, then if you like it, swipe right. If you don’t, just swipe left. If you have swiped right and the other person does too then, it’s a match, and messaging can be done.
The catch with this one is that here, only women can start a conversation. It does save a lot of useless messaging to women who don’t respond as on Tinder. Also, there are three different modes of Bumble, i.e., Date, Business and BFF. So, if you are looking for some work connections or friends, Bumble has you covered there as well.
This app is specifically targeted at those interested in short-term or long-term relationships and not hook-ups although what happens after a match is beyond the app’s control.
Badoo
Badoo was among the first dating apps to allow videos along with pictures in the user profiles. This helps their massive database of about 400 million users in expressing themselves. Signup with Facebook is optional while an email is mandatory. The USPs of Badoo include offering several games and quizzes for users to participate in. The whole app interface has been tailor-made for fun and dating.
The free basic account comes with a lot of impressive features, but you do need to upgrade for viewing your profile visitors, sending private messages, etc. Badoo app is extremely spam-free which is a significant accomplishment in the dating app sphere. The only flaw with Badoo is that the search algorithm is totally location-based like Tinder.
Bottom Line
So, the apps listed above are the best apps like Tinder you can find online. These apps have several unique features along with various common features as well as an omnipresent freemium model. There are several apps more like Juamo, MeetMe that could make this list but have a categorically low number of users.
Less number of users is a deal breaker as the very low availability of users in some countries spoils the whole online dating experience for the users there. The onus with online dating is on finding someone nearby as is evident by location-based search algorithm of nearly every dating app.
Use these above apps if you are looking for the perfect love or the perfect hookup, whatever rocks your boat if Tinder doesn’t.

Hey Guys, I am Samuel! Tech Freek & Gadget Lover. Would love to write on Tech happenings, How to Guides & Product Reviews. I cant saty without Food & Travelling 😛