THE BASICS

A beginner’s guide to dating apps

Tap here to meet your matches.

When you’re online dating for the first time, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the app options. Here’s a cheat sheet for the current landscape.

Tinder: The pioneers of the swipe
Tinder wasn’t the first dating app, but it’s the one that made “swipe right” a cultural phenomenon.

If you swipe right on someone’s profile and they swipe right on you, it’s a match – now either of you can start a conversation.

Tinder is simple, approachable and a great place to start. And since the app touts 1.6 billion swipes a week in 190 countries, you don’t have to stress if the first date doesn’t go exactly as planned. Someone else is right around the corner.

Break the ice and get the conversation flowing.

Special feature: With Tinder Plus or Tinder Gold, you get one boost per month, which means you’ll become one of the most seen profiles in your area for 30 minutes.

Bumble: Ladies first
When two heterosexual people match on Bumble, only a woman can start the conversation. (For all other matches, either person can.) If you don’t start chatting within 24 hours, the match disappears – encouraging you to actually talk to people.

Special feature: Upgrade to Bumble Boost and you can see matches who’ve already swiped yes on you.

Not sure what to say in that all-important first message? Try a compliment or a question – or both.

OkCupid: Really get to know someone
OkCupid has been around since 2004, and the app continues to build on its foundations, using longer, more detailed profiles with thoughtful questionnaires to create deeper connections. If you used dating websites back in the day but haven’t partaken recently, freshening up your OkCupid profile will get the ball rolling again.

Special feature: Sign up for Incognito mode and your profile will remain invisible to everyone on the site until you like or message them.

The match screen is the one you’re looking for. Now the real fun begins.

Hinge: Go deep
A Hinge profile is a little more elaborate than others, with employer and education information alongside conversation starters (“What did your parents do on their first date?”) that can make breaking the ice just a little bit easier.

David likes park walks and iced coffee. What do you like?

Special feature: If you spring for a Preferred membership, Hinge’s experts will provide you with personal answers to any dating questions you may have. (For example: “Is it bad for my first picture to be a group photo?”)

HER: Find your inclusive community
Although most apps offer some LGBTQ+-friendly features, HER is created specifically for lesbian, bisexual and queer matches. And it isn’t just a dating app: you can also join group discussions on community topics.

Special feature: Use the Events and Meet tabs to make new non-romantic connections and find LGBTQ+ events nearby.

Find LGBTQ+ matches, friends, events and more.

Coffee Meets Bagel: Quality over quantity
Coffee Meets Bagel focuses on “high-quality matches” so you don’t have to spend all day swiping. Users receive a smaller curated list of potential matches (Bagels) at noon every day.

If you match, the app encourages an in-person meeting and provides a few icebreakers to get the conversation flowing like... a delicious cup of coffee.

Boost your chances of finding a connection with a more specific list of suggested matches.

Special feature: With CMB Premium, you can see when your messages are read and learn more about your matches.

Get started with these dating apps