Valentine’s Day 2022 sees a unique challenge for people’s dating lives. Some people think that things have gone back to normal after the pandemic, but that isn’t entirely true. Since 2020, dating has been completely changed. Going out and meeting people organically is not the same as it was pre-pandemic.
With Valentine’s Day 2022 around the corner, it might be a good time to check out some dating apps. Here are five dating apps that could help you form some new connections and friendships. We have narrowed down to these apps based on app store ratings and reviews of the apps.
Best Dating Apps of 2022:
- Hinge – Best Overall Dating App:
- Match – Best for Marriage
- Bumble – Best for First Dates
- Tinder – Best App for Casual Dating
Hinge – Best Overall Dating App:
Hinge started to connect friends of friends and people in your network. At the time of the app’s creation by CEO Justin McLeod, it displayed people’s profiles according to their proximity and the Facebook friends they shared. Now just like many other dating apps, it simply connects users with people near the neighborhood they have chosen.
Users can choose to connect with someone by tapping the conversation button and matching or leaving a comment on a page. Profiles offer prompts to get the conversation started like “If loving this is wrong, I don’t want to be right…” and “My love language is” … In addition, people on Hinge can send you an opener, unlike other dating apps that require you to both match before they can message you.
Hinge shows you more information about people, so if you’re uncomfortable meeting strangers from the internet, this makes it easier. It gives you people’s last names and usually their neighborhood, age, height, job, hometown, and college.
The app is free but wants people to pay, asking them to pay for virtual “roses” meant for standout matches. Basically, it is like being the Bachelor or Bachelorette. The paid version or “The Preferred Membership” is about $30 for a month, $60 for three months, or $90 for 6 months and allows you to send unlimited links and set stricter filters. This is a good investment if this is the app you are seeing your type on most.
Match – Best for Marriage:
When you think about dating apps or sites, Match is usually the first one to come to mind. That is because this app has had huge amounts of success when it comes to looking for a committed relationship. That is why this app was voted “Best for Marriage”. The application does have a monthly fee, but that is because the app is made for people who are seeking their ideal match and are serious about the process.
When you sign up, you enter all your basic information like age, name, height. It also has fun prompts that can help you stand out or help you find people with similar interests. From what makes you the happiest, to how many relationships you have been in, Match is there to capture all the details in hope to match you with someone similar.
However, with the free option, members get limited messages from their “top picks” that Match has chosen for them based on compatibility. The premium option allows members unlimited messaging, likes, the ability to see everyone who likes you and who has viewed your profile, one-on-one talks with a dating expert, and more. In other words, it pays to pay.
Unfortunately, if you’re interested in using Match, you will have to pay; otherwise, you can’t see who’s messaging you or what they’re saying. Memberships cost about $18 monthly for a yearly plan, roughly $22 monthly for six months, and around $30 for three months. You can’t put a price tag on love!
Bumble – Best for First Dates:
Whitney Wolfe founded Bumble in 2014. It was based on the idea that women would message first, meaning they could choose a conversation starter and control the narrative. Wolfe went on to make the Forbes 30 Under 30 list as well as the Time 100 List and became the youngest woman to take a company public at only 31.
Using Bumble is quite simple. Make a profile with your pictures and information about yourself, and then you can either have a free plan or pay for other options. The “Spotlight” plan promises up to 10 times more matches and puts you at the front of the line for 30 minutes, so your potential matches see you first. If you find your type more frequently on an app than on other apps, you should only pay for the app if it offers a good free version.
Bumble is a great option for someone starting out who wants to see all the eligible people around. You must swipe right to match with people, and then you have 24 hours to make the first move and start the chat, so you do have to check the app frequently, or else matches will expire. Men then have 24 hours to respond. Filters on the app allow you to search for men, women, or anyone within a certain radius, based on your preferences. You can also set advanced filters, looking for a specific height, astrology sign, educational background, and more.
Overall Bumble is the best app for first dates or just dating in general. Most people are looking to date or just find a connection. There are also business and friend options available through Bumble if you don’t want to date. You basically swipe to find business opportunities or potential partners or friends with similar interests. It is the perfect app for if you move to a new city or town.
Tinder – Best App for Casual Dating:
Tinder really is the app that started it all. Founded in 2012, it introduced singles to the world of swiping to match with potential partners.
In the past, people were looking all kinds of different things, but now it is geared more towards casual dating. Tinder is probably best in a small town where there aren’t as many people or options for other apps like Bumble and Hinge. It gears more towards informal arrangements.
While the app was initially free, it now provides a free and paid premium option that lets users “super like” people (an extra way to flatter someone that supposedly triples your chance of matching with them), use the passport feature to see who’s around in other places, and see who liked you before you swiped right.
Final Verdict:
Downloading and using dating apps can be overwhelming. There are a lot of options to choose from, but once you know what you are looking for, you can narrow down the type of site or app to download No use stressing yourself out.
In conclusion, Hinge is the best option if you’re looking to get a little bit more serious about app dating. It gives you more information about potential dates and encourages more meaningful conversations. Match is all about romance and serious relationships/dating. Bumble is great if you’re hoping to go on a lot of first dates. The app doesn’t tell you much about people, but it makes it easy to swipe endlessly and start chatting. Think of it more like meeting someone at a bar casually. And if you want to keep it casual, Tinder is the ole faithful for a reason. Depending on what you are looking for, there are a lot of options for dating apps in 2022.
