In this article, we discuss the 15 best dating apps for women. To skip the detailed analysis of the dating industry and online dating for women, go directly to the 5 Best Dating Apps for Women.
Matchmaking and dating are concepts as old as time which is why it is no surprise that online dating has become a fast-growing business since the advent of technology. According to a Verified Market Research report, the online dating market was worth around $7.35 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.11% to $10.87 billion by 2030. Between January 2020 and 2022, it is estimated that online dating apps received over 5.3 billion visitors.
The online dating trend started with the launch of Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH) in 1995. According to a Pew Research Center survey, between 1995 and 2009, the number of married couples who met online rose from 0% to 22%. Meanwhile, in 2022, it was reported that 53% of adults between the age of 18 to 29 have used a dating app, compared to 37% of adults between the ages of 30 to 49.
The business of online dating is a profitable one, with most dating apps generating their revenue from subscriptions by charging significant amounts. For example, Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH) is set to introduce a $60 monthly plan for its dating app Hinge. The group will also test user interest for a version of Tinder that could cost its subscribers around $500 a month.
However, 2022 was a tough year for dating apps in general. One piece of evidence was that the biggest dating app company Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH) recorded its first-ever quarterly decline in the fourth quarter of 2022.
The strong dollar and rough macroeconomic conditions have taken a toll on the dating app industry. Third Bridge analyst Nicholas Cauley said:
"Price sensitivity is increasing given the current macro environment, and our experts think users' willingness to pay is beginning to hit a limit."
Despite that, Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH) still expects 2023 to be a better year for its apps and reaffirmed its 2023 guidance of 5% to 10% revenue growth by the end of the year.
Online Dating for Women
It is an arguable fact that women face more problems when it comes to online dating as compared to men. Statistically, women have experienced problems such as harassment more than men. According to an online survey by a non-profit, Stop Street Harassment, 81% of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment compared to 43% of men. According to Pew Research Center, “Women are more likely than men to report having been sexually harassed online (16% vs. 5%) or stalked (13% vs. 9%). Young women are particularly likely to have experienced sexual harassment online. Fully 33% of women under 35 say they have been sexually harassed online, while 11% of men under 35 say the same.”
Nonetheless, dating app companies are slowly making progress in making dating apps a safe space for women. For example, the famous dating app Bumble introduced the “only women can message first” feature to their app which has a significant effect as its shifts the power into the hands of women.
While dating apps are trying to make their platforms safe for women, they are not completely fail-proof. Be that as it may, we at Insider Monkey have done some research and compiled relatively safer options for online dating for women.
Moreover, online dating is a fast-growing industry and some of the notable stocks in the industry include Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH), Bumble Inc. (NASDAQ:BMBL), and Spark Networks SE (NASDAQ:LOV).
15 Best Dating Apps for Women
Source: AdobeStock
Our Methodology
After a careful analysis of the online dating industry, we chose the best dating apps for women from sources like British GQ, Forbes Health, CNET, Marie Claire, Pop Sugar, and a few others. We assigned scores to each app based on the number of mentions. That means every time an item was mentioned, it was assigned a score of 1. So the higher the number of mentions/recommendations the higher the score and rank in our article.
15 Best Dating Apps for Women
15. Clover
Subscription tiers: Free & Premium
Availability: Google Play & Apple app store
Clover is included in our list of best dating apps for women because allows them multiple avenues of connecting with their matches. The app offers the option of attending virtual mixers or setting up dates in the real world. To break the ice, users are encouraged to play the 20-question game that asks fun yet probing questions.
Users can choose to do a live stream where others can join in or they can view their match’s live stream as well. One interesting feature of Clover is that streamers can collect “gems” from their viewers and convert them into real money.
Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH), Bumble Inc. (NASDAQ:BMBL), and Spark Networks SE (NASDAQ:LOV) are some of the dating apps stocks that investors should keep their eye out for.
14. Feeld
Subscription tiers: Free & Majestic membership
Availability: Google Play & Apple app store
Unlike other apps that are dominated by men mostly, Feeld is all about the inclusivity of all genders, behaviors, and sexual orientations. As Feeld emphasizes on sex positivity and exploration, most of the users of the app are honest about their intentions and goals which is what makes it one of the best dating apps for women.
A user can choose from 20+ sexual identities, define their relationship status in detail, and expect acceptance from the community of the app. With the paid membership, users can choose to put up photos that are only viewable to their connections, go incognito, browse the people that liked them, view the time someone was last online, and more.
13. Plenty of Fish
Subscription tiers: Free Trial, Premium
Availability: Google Play, Apple app store & online
One of the earliest dating apps, Plenty of Fish was launched in 2003 and attracts users as it is not only profile pictures and one-liners. After filling out the app’s compatibility quiz, a user has a few ways to connect with their matches. The traditional approach is under the “Meet Me” section where matches based on the quiz’s answer are found. The other ways are to meet people through games and live streams.
One of the most lauded features of the app is a game called Cue’d Up, part of the app’s low-pressure dating philosophy. The game promotes users to interact and bring out their lighter side. Another feature that users appreciate is the live stream feature called LIVE! found within the app.
12. Coffee Meets Bagel
Subscription tiers: Basic, Mini, Premium
Availability: Google Play & Apple app store
Coffee Meets Bagel is on our list of best dating apps for women and was started in 2011 by three sisters. The unique point of CMB is that unlike the tiresome swiping left and right of other dating apps, users get a list of matches every day at noon.
The matches are according to the information logged by a user. However, the user can scour through the discovery tab of the app to see additional users.
It is on our list because even though it gives women fewer potential matches than men, the list they get is made for them specifically i.e. the matches have already liked them.
11. Inner Circle
Subscription tiers: Free & Premium
Availability: Google Play, Apple app store & online
Inner Circle was launched in 2012 and is a popular dating app with 4.8 million+ members and members meet each other every 6.6 seconds. The app is popular among career ambitious people who are looking for like-minded people. The users get matches based on the personal details that they filled out initially like interests, what they are looking for, etc. The app’s strict policy of vetting each profile makes it safer than many other dating apps.
What makes it one of the best dating apps for women is the group of new anti-ghosting features that was launched in 2022. The Date Conscious Suite offers pinned conversations, the option to accept or decline a new chat request, an alert after a user does not get back to a match for 48 hours, ending a chat option, and prepared closure messages.
Launched in 2015, WooPlus is loved by plus-sized individuals as it is designed for them and is part of our list of best dating apps for women. The app is for curvy people and their admirers and has more than 5 million users (as of 2020).
The app is simple enough to use and most of the basic functions are available to free members. As the app encourages users to get to know the person rather than focus on pictures, it features a selfie game. The participants of the game take 3 selfies based on prompts provided by the app. It serves as a great ice-breaker and shows that the participants are interested enough to snap pictures for the other party.
Her, a top pick of Apple Editor’s Choice 2022 awards, is a dating app designed for queer people searching for romantic relationships within their community. With more than 30 communities and events within the app, users connect via more than just chats.
Her is a beloved dating app in the LGBTQIA2S+ community as it allows users various options for gender identity, sexual identity, pronouns, etc.
The free version of the app allows the user to do core functions like adding others, starting conversations, taking part in communities, and more. The paid version of Her offers features like incognito mode, no ads, and viewing who is online.
Availability: Google Play, Apple app store & online
The League, owned by Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH), appears on our list of best dating apps for women because of the exclusivity it offers. The app requires users to connect their LinkedIn and Facebook as it is for people who seek out matches with successful career prospects, stability, and solid social standing.
Each user is verified in a 24-hour window which eliminates scammers and bots. To use the app for free, one is put on the waiting list and if their credentials check out and their luck is good, they become a user. The subscriptions start from $300 per month and go up to $1,000 a month.
7. Elite Singles
Subscription tiers: Basic & Premium
Availability: Google Play, Apple app store & online
Owned by Spark Networks SE (NASDAQ:LOV), Elite Singles is chosen by women often as it uses a personality test to get to know each user and find matches for them. The test is based on the Five Factor Model theory of personality traits and the site boasts that it was created by experts. The app is used by 12.5 million people all over the world and it has 4 million members in the U.S.
Every day, a person gets 3 to 7 suggested matches on the app, and is targeted towards individuals who have a busy schedule due to their careers. With the premium package, a user can view the lengthy result of their personality test, write comments on others’ profiles and photos, see read receipts, check who visited their profile, and more.
6. Match
Subscription tiers: Free, Standard, & Premium
Availability: Google Play, Apple app store & online
One of the original dating sites, Match, previously Match.com, was started in 1995 and is one of the few apps that has almost the same ratio of men to women. Women gravitate towards the app because of its expansive user base and screening of dates in partnership with Garbo.
Along with Match Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTCH), Bumble Inc. (NASDAQ:BMBL), and Spark Networks SE (NASDAQ:LOV) are some of the most significant dating app stocks in the market.
