Key Points

• Dating apps have taken over the modern-day dating scene making it tricky to pick which app is best for you.
• There is something for everyone amongst the best free dating sites of 2022.
• Most popular dating apps offer a free version with basic functionality and upgraded features you can pay for.
• The best free dating sites of 2022 include Bumble, Tinder, OkCupid, Hinge, Facebook Dating, Plenty of Fish, Taimi, and Coffee Meets Bagel.

Perhaps you’ve just moved to a new city and you’re looking to meet other local singles, or you’re fresh out of court from a rough divorce and looking for a little spicy action to get your groove back. Whatever your particular situation is, dating apps have been on the rise over the past decade and completely took over the dating scene during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as the world returns to normal, dating apps aren’t going away anytime soon. Statistics from 2021 show that dating apps took in a revenue of $5.61 billion. Despite the wealth within this business, you can utilize the best free dating sites of 2022 without a penny.

Tinder remains the most used dating app primarily by users looking for hookups. However, an estimated 42% of dating app users aim for marriage. Regardless of what you are searching for, there is something for everyone within the best free dating sites of 2022.

According to research by IT journalist Andrej Hadji-Vasilev, “There’s massive variety in the online dating world, from the types of people who use online dating apps, to the way they use them, to what they expect from their potential matches. There are also plenty of online dating websites and apps to choose from, making it easy to get into the online dating world.”

Check out this list of the best free dating apps of 2022 to guide you in finding the perfect fit for your love life:

Bumble

Bumble has worked its way to the top of the dating app world. Bumble has lots of cool features and a smooth interface for users. Everything you need to enjoy the app is included in the free version but paying for an upgrade gives you added features.

Bumble’s rise to fame is largely thanks to its unique dynamic that requires women to message first. Pay attention because you must message each other within 24 hours of matching or your match expires. This is frustrating if you don’t use the app much, but it’s an important feature to avoid wasting time with serial swipers.

There are lots of active users on Bumble to give everyone opportunities for matches. There are singles in search of all kinds of relationships including hook-ups, situationships (the gray area between a casual date and a relationship without definition), relationships, or just a casual date to see the potential. Be clear on your profile about what you are looking for, or when chatting with someone, to make sure you are on the same page from the get-go.

If you are intrigued by a fresh dynamic where women make the first move, give this well-trusted app a chance to see what kind of fish are in the sea for you.

Ladies, don’t be intimidated by making the first move — men love it!

Tinder

Tinder is certainly the most popular dating app and for a good reason. Tinder has the most users of any dating app in America and is famous around the world. This gives users a huge pool of profiles to swipe through, but sorting through them is time-consuming.

For better chances at lots of quality matches on Tinder, create a profile that really stands out and take the time to find what you are looking for. Men need to have the perfect Tinder bio to stand out in the crowd of suitors!

Tinder is notorious for being the hook-up dating app. Profiles on Tinder are usually simple and straight to the point, so the app works best for people who don’t need to know a lot about a person to decide if they are interested. Most users are in their 20s or 30s looking for casual sex or hook-ups. You’re free to look for any type of relationship you want, but the most success comes if you are looking for a no-strings-attached relationship.

It is free to use the basic swiping and chatting features on Tinder. You can pay for upgrades, but they’re not needed to get good use out of the app.

OkCupid

OkCupid is a top dating app that started as one of the first successful dating sites. It was originally created for straight people but became popular within the queer community in 2011 when they debuted a feature to hide your profile from straight people. This inclusive feature attracted the LGTBQ+ community who still use and love the app. OkCupid remains a fantastic and free dating app for all.

OkCupid has plenty of profile options for everyone on the gender and sexuality spectrum. This inclusivity attracts a large LGBTQ+ crowd as well as more open-minded people.

The app asks thorough questions to assist you in creating a profile that optimizes matches based on compatibility. The questions are time-consuming but well worth the wait for quality matches. Due to this in-depth approach, a lot of users look for a relationship rather than hook-ups.

If you are a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community or an otherwise open-minded person looking for cool people to date, OkCupid is a fantastic free dating app to check out.

Hinge

Hinge is a well-established app with a large user base in search of all types of relationships. You’ll find men or women interested in hook-ups, situationships, relationships, or anything in between. Hinge says their app was “designed to be deleted,” attracting users in search of a serious relationship to end their dating app career.

Hinge’s profile criteria require users to upload at least six photos or videos and answer three written or voice prompts. Basic demographic information is included in the profiles as well as political views, religious beliefs, smoking or drinking habits, and much more.

The app’s ability to guide users in creating a well-rounded profile is impressive and incredibly helpful when learning about people before matching. If you need an extra push to create a compelling profile or if you are tired of swiping through weak profiles on other apps, Hinge is sure to please you.

If you are a traveler, planning to move, or otherwise looking to match outside of your current location, Hinge allows you to set your location to anywhere you wish. Many dating apps offer this with paid subscriptions, but it is free for all users on Hinge. Avoid playing games with this feature and only set your location to places in which you actually date.

Sending a like on Hinge in hopes of a match is similar to social media. When you find someone you are interested in within the stack of local profiles, like or comment on a photo, video, or prompt. This allows you to sweet-talk a hottie before you even match! You’re also able to see everyone who has liked you, which saves you time and prevents missed matches.

All of these amazing features on Hinge are available to use for free, but upgrading to a paid profile gives you additional settings, more likes to send daily, and more.

Hinge is the best dating app for anyone who likes to see more personality and photos of someone before deciding to match. It is also ideal for people looking to date rather than just hook up. Hinge truly helps you create a complete and compelling profile to find your perfect match within its huge basis of users. Give it a go for free!

Facebook Dating

Facebook dating allows current Facebook users to create a dating profile from their existing profile for free, and without exposing you to all of your friends! Going into 2023, it’s only available through their app rather than their website.

It allows you to create a free dating profile automatically filled in with your information from Facebook. Privacy is taken seriously by Facebook dating, so your friends and family won’t be able to see that you are a member of the dating service from your Facebook profile. However, you can pick nine secret crushes from your current Facebook friends or Instagram followers. If one of these people also joins Facebook dating, they see that someone has a secret crush on them. Don’t worry, your identity is only revealed if they list you as a secret crush too and the app matches you together.

Facebook dating is completely free and has become more popular in recent years. Users have been very satisfied with the app so far. Give it a try and don’t forget to list your secret crushes when you sign up!

Plenty of Fish

Plenty of Fish (POF) is a free dating app with three million users from 20 countries! Clearly, there are lots of fish in this sea. The app is free to use the necessary features such as swiping and messaging, but there is a paid version to upgrade to as well. It lets you remove ads and utilize enhanced searching and filtering features.

POF was established in 2003 and became one of the most popular dating apps of its time. This app takes a more conversational approach to online dating with less of an emphasis on photos compared to others.

The coolest feature of POF is the ability to play games with your matches. The app has built-in games designed to get to know each other. Rather than starting a boring conversation or attempting to learn about each other through interrogation, play a game to stay entertained and connect with your new hot match.

POF is a long-running dating app that has essential features offered for free to its millions of users. With other dating apps on the rise, POF has decreased in popularity, but there are still plenty of opportunities to catch your fish!

Taimi

Taimi is the best LGBTQ+ dating app and is free to use. The LGBTQ+ community is twice as likely to meet a partner on a dating app compared to straight, cis people. After all, it is much easier to gauge someone’s sexuality when it’s spelled out on a profile than sitting across from each other at a bar.

Taimi caters to the whole gender and sexuality spectrum, attracting quite a colorful community. There are sure to be potential matches for anyone thanks to over 11 million users.

The app is used for dating and as a social media platform. Taimi boasts the ability to help you find any type of relationship including hookups, casual dating, serious dating, or anything you are looking for. It includes features to create posts and stories, host a live stream, video call, share content, network with other users, and so much more.

It is free to download, make a profile, match with potential partners, and start chatting. There are additional features available if you pay for a subscription. Once you make that sparkling profile, Taimi matches you with people based on your location and interests. Unfortunately, there is no option to filter your potential matches by sexuality unless you have the paid version of the app.

Taimi is the perfect free app for anybody within the LGBTQ+ rainbow! It is fun and free to use with so many opportunities for new connections.

Coffee Meets Bagel

Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) is a newly popular dating app with an easygoing atmosphere and lots of active users. The app is free to create a basic profile and use basic features but offers paid options to upgrade.

CMB encourages users to get off the app and meet for a casual coffee date. This is a perfect setup for people who often find themselves stuck in the chatting phase of a dating app with little to no dates actually planned.

The app offers an unhurried approach to matching in an effort to prevent users from swiping out of boredom. There is nothing worse than having a bunch of lingering conversations on a dating app with no real-life connections. Put an end to wasted time with CMB!

Your matches on CMB are based on your prompt answers, who you swipe on, and who swipes on you. This ensures that you have a mutual interest in all of your matches.

Coffee Meets Bagel is the perfect app for anyone looking for a more chill atmosphere in online dating, who hasn’t had success in planning dates from matches on other apps, or who just wants to find cuties to meet over coffee.

Go Make Your (Free) Profile!

There are so many great options for free dating apps in today’s digital age. It’s hard to pick which one to use! Since dating apps use your location to find matches, your city may have a different popular app or user base compared to other cities. Give a few of these free apps a try to find which one works best for you and your location.

Don’t forget to make a killer profile to stand out in the pool of singles. Craft the perfect bio, swipe through some cuties, and plan some dates. Happy swiping!

Published on Cupid’s Light March 26, 2023