Nowadays, everything we do is online, from the coffee order we can make on our phones, to the networking emails we send, to the freelance articles we write as a side-gig. So it’s really no surprise that we’ve turned to technology to help our love lives as well. If you’re single, chances are you’ve downloaded at least one of the many infamous dating apps–and it’s almost just as likely that you’ve deleted your fair share too. While tech platforms have made finding a date easier than ever, they also come with their own problems–we’ve all spent endless hours swiping with no luck, and have often wondered which app is best for our situation. To put an end to hours of wasted time, we created the ultimate guide to dating apps, with help from relationship expert Laura Yates.

Bumble

Bumble is the perfect app for women who like to make the first move. Its swipe functionality is very simple and if you match with a guy, it’s up to you to message first. You have a 24-hour window to do so or else the match disappears, so it encourages you to only swipe “Yes” to people you genuinely like the look of. With same-sex matches, either one of you can message first. The biggest tip when it comes to Bumble is to avoid opening messages that lack personality. Just saying “hey” doesn’t give him much to go on! Guys definitely also appreciate interactions that show you have taken time to look at their profile. So it’s great to go in with a concise message that remarks on a picture or asks them a question based on their profile. And don’t be afraid to use humor either if that’s your thing! Showing genuine interest and personality is the best way to start creating a connection! 

Hinge

Hinge prides itself on being the “relationship app” and generally appeals to college-educated people between the ages of 23 and 36. It’s become one of the most popular apps, particularly in cities, and is seen as being for the purpose of finding relationships and not hook-ups. Hinge is also one of the more aesthetically pleasing of the dating apps; a little like Instagram for dating and rather than the typical swiping, you interact with the dater’s profile content directly. So you could say it’s slightly more personable. As the app is very visual, your choice of photos do matter. This isn’t to say you need to look like a supermodel to get dates but selecting photos that are natural, happy and show your personality will work best. Limit the selfies (they’ve been shown to get 40% less likes!), let people see your eyes and definitely don’t post a picture with someone who could get mistaken for your ex or significant other – even if it’s a friend or family member!

The League

This is the ideal app for ambitious and career-focused women looking to meet a driven, like-minded partner. The League is one of the more elite and exclusive dating apps on the scene. It isn’t for just “anyone,” as you have to be accepted into the community once you create your profile. It then screens users based on their educational and professional history. Obviously, given the selective nature of this one, you don’t want to create a sloppy profile. Make sure you choose pictures that show yourself outside of work-mode and that reflect your pastimes and hobbies. Even though it’s for career-minded people, the aim is still to find a romantic partner as opposed to making networking connections! If you are accepted, log in regularly. The more people you “heart” helps the app’s algorithm learn your preferences. It’s also wise to make sure you’re able to dedicate time to getting the most out of it and responding to messages. The League prides itself on creating a community that’s selective, small and engaged, so unresponsive and inactive users will be demoted back to the waiting list!

Tinder

Tinder is one of the most established of all the dating apps and is ideal for those who are looking to get back out there , meet a few people and have fun! You can often quite literally get a date in a few hours due to the sheer number of people on the app! That said, there are also many people who have met their long-term partner through Tinder so although it’s the app for the masses, love can be found. It can just be a bit of a numbers game. It’s super simple to use and you can create your profile in a couple of minutes via your Facebook profile. Seeing how much effort someone has put into their profile is a good way to filter out those who are probably more serious. So to get the most out of Tinder, make sure you take some time to put together a compelling profile yourself to stand out amongst the crowd and if you are looking to date seriously, be wary of those people who haven’t put any time into theirs!

Coffee Meets Bagel

Coffee Meets Bagel is ideal for professional and sophisticated women who want a relationship, but aren’t in a mad rush to find it. This one is all about quality over quantity, as you only get sent one match (or “bagel”) per day. For this reason, it attracts users who have the end goal of finding a relationship as opposed to a casual hook up. CMB is also great as you can target your choices according to your religious beliefs or ethnicities if these are important to you. You can load up to nine photos and have a much more vibrant profile than some of the other apps allow. One of the keys to getting the most out of CMB is crafting your icebreakers, so don’t skip this section! As the app leads with questions such as “I like…” and “I appreciate when my date…,” it pays off to use these to your advantage. Mention your quirks, personality traits and unique perspectives and aim to use language that conveys colour, creativity and emotion (without being ‘emotional’ of course!). Being very specific will also help you to separate yourself from other bagels. What you definitely don’t want to do in your profile is be negative in any way! So keep it light, authentic, fun and positive!

Happn

Happn is a great option for potentially being matched with someone you pass on the street, on the subway or on your morning coffee run. The app works by displaying matches with people who you cross paths with. They have to be signed up to the app too of course, and the messaging feature is only enabled if you’ve both ‘liked’ one another. Which means that it avoids any awkward interactions if the attraction is one-sided! Getting the most out of Happn is really down to the basics such as crafting a concise and compelling bio and using profile pictures that are honest and obviously reflective of what you look like right now given the nature of how it works. Also, don’t be afraid to message someone first, as you’ve both already established a connection! As Happn is nicely bridging the gap between real life interaction and the virtual world, get off the app and meet as soon as possible. You know you both frequent the same area so the app is really just a tool to make the initial connection. The magic can only be made once you get to meet in-person! Happn is best for people in the city or towns as the user base can be a little sparse if you’re located somewhere more remote.

eharmony

eharmony is the app for people who are looking for serious commitment and have marriage-orientated mindsets. It uses a detailed relationship questionnaire to match you with people based on your long-term compatibility. This one definitely isn’t for game-players and doesn’t tend to attract people who aren’t in it for the long-term. The questionnaire itself can also really help you get clear on your wants when it comes to a partner and relationship. So set some quiet time aside at home to fill it in and being honest and as detailed as possible in your profile will serve you best to get the most accurate matches. And of course, photos are important too so make sure they’re current and that you use a good range, showing off your interests and personality. Another good tip: if you feel a little stuck when it comes to crafting your profile, get a friend to help you. As it is way more detailed and serious than most apps, you want to make sure it’s completely authentic, while showing off your best self. Sometimes another pair of trusted eyes can really help!
We hope you’ve found these helpful! If you are going to give online dating a try, it pays to be selective about which apps you use, instead of signing up for everything and feeling overwhelmed.