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The best dating apps to download now
Whatever you're looking for, there's an app for that
Love them or loathe them, dating apps have become a staple part of the modern social experience. Apps offer us the ability to connect with people we probably never would have come across in our day-to-day lives and thanks to AI and algorithmic matching processes, they can make the odds of finding someone you really like much higher.
Research from Ofcom’s Online Nations study revealed that more than one in ten (11%) adults in the UK are using dating apps and most people use more than one at the same time. Which makes sense, because most apps offer a slightly different experience – some are focused on finding you a long-term relationship, others have been crafted to help you find a hook-up and some are tailored to perfecting your flirting game and helping you grow your confidence.
What makes a dating app successful
There are hundreds of dating apps these days but some are obviously more popular than others. Generally the better an app is in terms of user experience, the easier it is to use and the more users it has. More users means more chances at finding "the one" or at least the right one for now.
Most apps are totally free to download, but several have a paid version too. The jury is still out on whether the paid versions of most apps are actually worth splashing your cash on, but if you want unlimited swipes and the chance to match with celebs, the idea of paying for a subscription might just appeal to you – although matching with Paul Mescal is not a guarantee, as we'll explain later.
So whatever your preferred relationship style and whether you're an experienced app dater or a first timer dipping your toe, we've rounded up the best dating apps, in terms of functionality, user pool and great features to help you meet your perfect match.
The best dating apps
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