Dating in India has long undergone a transition from bunking the classes and passing chits to the digital space with chats and late-night calls. Thus began the rise of dating apps, from the much-popularized Tinder to the home-grown Quack-Quack, join P. Manisha in the journey to explore the best dating app and find a companion; platonic or romantic.
- Tinder:
Tinder is like the textbook app of dating apps. From a casual fling to a serious match, there is something for everyone on this app. Owing to its large user base, one can start their dating journey with tinder to explore the right one.
They are the pioneers of the swipe culture of the dating apps of today. Swipe right to show interest and swipe left to close off the possibility of dating, it’s a match if both parties show interest.
WHY TINDER:
- The large user base of the app.
- A multitude of relationship types: from hook-ups to serious commitments can be found through the app.
- Extremely user-friendly interface.
- Bumble:
A ‘Ladies first’ dating app where women make the first move. This app is the next favourite of all the visitors of Tinder, so the users move in the same circle with more commitment and intent. Hearty and youthful with a yellow interface, this app takes the pressure off the guys to make the first move and offers security to the girls to move forward with the person of their choice.
WHY BUMBLE:
- Ladies-First policy ensuring relative safety.
- Video-calling feature, GIFs and voice messages.
- Different modes: BFF, Dating, Bizz
- 24-hour limit expiry of dead matches.
- Aisle:
The most popular and best dating app suitable for the desi folks. This app is a cross between traditional matrimonial sites that are extremely popular in India and dating sites equally popular in the west. This app also has stringent verification processes to ensure female safety and comfort.
WHY AISLE:
- Interface designed focused on nativity, which opens the opportunity for a more compatible and understandable partner.
- Feature of Audio-invites.
- The concierge feature allows users to pick from curated and handpicked profiles.
- Trulymadly:
This dating app is designed to bring Tinder to the cultural and social nuances of India. After thorough research of the demographic, this app has the best interface and security a dating app can provide. With a focus on compatibility over geographic location like that of other dating apps, Trulymadly is developed to give the best dating experience to its users.
WHY TRULYMADLY:
- Trust-based scores to verify its users.
- Verification through social media profiles, phone numbers and even offline ID proof.
- Compatibility quizzes.
- Happn:
Truly a game changer in the online dating segment, Happn is for those who believe in star-crossed lovers crossing their paths in a magical Bollywood sense. This app is designed to find your love closer to home, i.e. you can find people within a 50-mile radius of your location and also those that have crossed your path on the streets.
WHY HAPPN:
- Helps you avoid the awkwardness and anxiety of finding out if the person you are interested in your area is single or uninterested.
- Finding profiles close to your residence.
- Hinge:
A dating app that is for relationships that grow at their own pace. From casual hook-ups to progressing to emotionally charged dates, Hinge stays with you throughout the journey like the best wingman without the pressure of rushing in. With an advanced AI, this dating app makes your first move and your relationship a little easier and fun.
WHY HINGE:
- Profile prompts and conversation prompts.
- A section with descriptions about religion, political views, stance on weed, and more to find the right partner.
- “We Met” feature to update or share your opinions on a date which helps the app’s AI curate your matches better.
- OkCupid:
OkCupid is a dating app that is the most inclusive with 22 gender identities and 13 orientations to choose from. And with a focus on compatibility, on OkCupid find a date that shares the same political and other world views. The app also features questions about issues like monogamy and more, so that you are connected with like-minded people who do not judge you.
WHY OKCUPID:
- Strong AI that recommends the most compatible matches to the user.
- 22 gender identities and 13 orientations help users identify themselves accurately.
- With the paid version, users can also share their opinions on important issues, which can be chosen as deal-breakers on guns, women’s issues, vaccines and more.
- NUiT:
The best dating app for those who believe in destiny and astrology. This app connects people based on their birth chart compatibility and would be best suitable to the Indian audience who are looking for a serious and long-term commitment and family has an important say. That is not to say that this app is outdated or orthodox it has the unique feature of inclusivity asking its LGBTQ+ users if they want to be seen by straight people or not.
WHY NUiT:
- Compatibility scores based on birth chart and astrological matches.
- LGBTQ+ people can decide if they want to receive matches or be seen by hetero users.
- An option to be clear on what each user is looking for in their matches, from friendship, and casual dating to marriage.
- heybaby:
A dating app for single parents out there, where kids are the priority without closing off their chances of a relationship. A family-priority dating app, heybaby has fun questions in getting to know someone as well as parenting questions like “What do you do when dirty clothes are strewn everywhere?” Owing to the nature of the app, this dating app has a more stringent verification and authentication process for its users.
WHY heybaby:
- If you are a single parent looking for a partner, then this is the best app.
- Evolved verification process.
Dating apps for those looking for a serious relationship or looking to settle down with the right one in life;
- Match:
As one of the oldest dating sites, Match boasts a huge user base. A great algorithm that matches compatible profiles without the tedious questionnaire. A simple interface that gives you potential matches based on compatibility and deal-breakers is the icing on the cake of this dating app.
WHY MATCH:
- Good for finding a serious commitment and relationship.
- Huge user base.
- GoGaga:
Beginning with the idea that most dating partners are found through a common friend, this dating app helps users find friends of friends for dating. This app will not suggest matches until and unless you invite your friends to join. This app thus concentrates on serious commitment and delivers the same.
WHY GOGAGA:
- Friends of your friends are your matches ensuring greater security and comfort.
- The social referral feature eliminates fake profiles.
- AI-driven match-making system with over 10000 success stories to prove its worth.
- EHarmony:
This is the best dating app for people looking for a serious commitment and searching for it themselves, a perfect app for the singles in India this generation. Owing to the commitment-oriented philosophy, eHarmony certainly takes a backseat in the numbers but makes up for it in the extremely personalized experience and success stories. So if users are looking for the one to put a ring on, this app is the go-to dating app for them.
WHY EHARMONY:
- No confusion about commitment.
- Personalised user experience focusing on compatibility with the long-term in mind.
- Realistic and tangible questionnaire.
Best apps for the LGBTQ+ community
- Her:
Most dating apps still lack in the aspect of inclusivity and are stormed by unicorn hunters, this gave rise to this app by queers women and for queer women, HER. With many options related to user identification on gender, sexuality, pronouns, diet preferences and more, this app helps you find matches from almost a user base of over 4 million people, queer women can also find someone for themselves here.
WHY HER:
- For queer women and by queer women.
- Eliminate the fear of the unicorn hunters.
- Grindr:
Best suitable for gay and bisexual men, Grindr is the go-to app for dating. This app is as friendly for hook-ups as it is for serious relationships. For those who are tired of looking for a genuine connection on other dating apps, Grindr is the next best solution.
WHY GRINDR:
- Good for gay and bisexual men looking for a relationship.
- More suitable for a causal relationship to start.
Conclusion: These are some of the most well-liked dating apps, not just for those seeking long-term or committed relationships but for everyone, including those who are simply looking to make new friends or engage in casual dating.
