The best free dating apps for budget-conscious singles

Read our full breakdown of Tinder vs. Bumble.

Who it's for:

If you're looking for a cheap thrill, a no-strings-attached fling, or a way to kill some time, download Tinder. With its massive user base, you'll find matches even in the tiniest town.

Think of it as the digital equivalent of a dive bar: a little seedy, a lot of fun, and always open for business. If you're not looking for anything too serious and just want to have fun without digging out your wallet, Tinder will be the best dating app for you.

Why we picked this:

You can't talk about online dating without talking about Tinder. Sure, we all love to hate on the swipe-happy hookup app, but it's just too damn popular and effective to leave off the list. Plus, it's kind of perfect for singles on a budget, thanks to its robust free version.

Tinder's not perfect, but it's incredibly user-friendly, connects you with matches instantly, and has a massive pool of potential dates. It's no wonder it's the first app most people download when they need a quick ego boost or a no-strings-attached fling. If you're looking for a little something extra, Tinder offers premium options like Tinder Plus, Gold, and Platinum, but they're not necessary to find a match.

To help users maximize their success, the company recently rolled out a brand-new Photo Selector feature that uses AI to help you choose which photos are most likely to get you matches. Plus, the app's recent verification update requiring ID or passport photos should help weed out the fakes and catfishes.

That said, each time you open the app is a gamble, meaning your next Tinder match could be your future spouse — or it might just be some rando asking if you're DTF. That's just the unpredictability of modern love.

Read our full review of AdultFriendFinder.

Who it's for:

Hinge is the place for singles who are genuinely looking for a relationship but aren't quite ready to commit to a full-fledged dating site with extensive questionnaires.

Hinge prides itself on being the app "designed to be deleted," meaning they actually want you to find a lasting connection so you can get off dating apps for good (and maybe finally free up some space on your phone).

Why we picked this:

We're kind of in love with Hinge. It's a step up from hookup apps while being the perfect level of seriousness for 20- and 30-somethings who want something real but don't need anyone asking how many kids they want just yet.

It has the modern feel and no-patience-required matching of Tinder but with the relationship (rather than hookup) mindset that sites like eharmony or Match offer. You get a limited number of likes per day, which might seem like a bummer, but it actually forces you to be more thoughtful about who you're choosing. Plus, the relatively new "Your Turn" feature nudges you to respond to messages so conversations don't fizzle out before they start. This (hopefully) means fewer ghosting incidents and more chances to find your match.

If you want to see everyone who likes you or send unlimited likes, Hinge offers multiple premium subscription options, but having endless potential matches is overwhelming (and reminiscent of the more anxiety-provoking Tinder). You can also send "roses" to show other users you're really into them (it's giving major Bachelor vibes).

Who it's for:

Grindr is the hookup app for gay men and queers who can't stand the heteronormativity of apps like Tinder or Bumble. For guys looking to have no-strings-attached fun, this is the place to be.

Let's be real: Grindr users have no chill. It's an NSFW gay paradise, and if you've been thinking that you've met every gay man in your area already, Grindr might be able to show you some newbies who you never knew existed. (Unless you're in a small town, in which case you'll probably see the same people recycled on your feed — but just wait until you go on vacation.)

Why we picked this:

Grindr is the world's biggest social networking app for gay men, helping singles and frisky couples get it on since 2009. With more than 3 million daily users, it's clear it has earned its status as one of the most popular dating apps.  

Instead of swiping right or left to match, you'll get a borderline infinite collage of people who are close location-wise, and honestly, it's super jumbled and scary to look at. It can be a pretty speedy process if you want it to be, and most users just looking to hook up will let you know right off that they're not trying to make small talk. That's not to say it's not for relationships, but at the surface level, it's ideal for quick, casual encounters. 

But rumor has it that the app may soon start charging for features most subscribers already enjoy for free, so we're not entirely sure how long this app will stay on this list. According to the company's CEO, George Arison, the team is also toying with the idea of offering an “a la carte” payment option for travel services so users can make traveling to events like Aspen Gay Ski Week even more exciting.

Be warned, however: Grindr is hella NSFW. Messages will be freaky, and you're 100% going to receive a ton of unsolicited (or solicited, if you asked) dick pics, so messaging on Grindr while you're on the train or in line at the store isn't quite as casual as other dating apps might be. You'll also get badgered for pictures, so steer clear if you're uncomfortable with that.

For those who are all about finding a partner in a more traditional, romantic way, other apps (like Archer) might be a better choice; for gay men who strictly want to hook up, this is the Holy Grail.

Who it's for:

Because women and non-binary people have to make the first move, Bumble is ideal for females and non-binary individuals who are sick of unsolicited messages from creepy dudes and for men who are tired of always having to initiate convo.

It's also for people who want transparency in what kinds of relationships potential matches are looking for.

Why we picked this:

Tired of stale swiping and indecisive matches? Bumble's here to shake things up. If you combined Tinder and Hinge and then required women and non-binary individuals to make the first move, you'd get Bumble. Creating a profile on Bumble is simple: share a bit about yourself, your personality, and what you're looking for (whether it's a relationship or something more casual).

Bumble's April 2024 update introduced "Opening Moves," giving women and non-binary users the option to set icebreaker questions for matches. They also added new "Dating Intentions" badges (e.g., fun, casual dates, life partner) so you're more likely to match with someone who's on the same page. In July 2024, they rolled out another new feature, which lets users report profiles suspected of using AI-generated photos and videos. So, if you come across a profile that looks a little too perfect, you can now flag it for review.

Bumble's free version is a solid choice for anyone who wants a straightforward dating app without the usual ick. We love that you can be upfront about your dating goals, making it suitable for both casual encounters and serious relationships. While we've tested Bumble Premium, the free version also has a lot to offer, and you don't have to pay to send messages. If you're serious about finding a partner and want to maximize your chances, a paid membership might be worth considering.

Who it's for:

While Grindr is our top pick for fast hookups, we actually think Archer is the best gay dating app if you're looking for love. Archer is a free dating app for gay, bisexual, and queer men. It's the relationship-focused alternative to apps like Grindr and Tinder, providing a "celebratory place" for gay men to connect and find meaningful connections.

If you're a bisexual man or someone who is HIV positive and you're tired of tip-toeing around to avoid potential hate and discrimination, Archer is your best option. (For real, even Brooklyn's oh-so-gorgeous resident bi-man and author of Boyslut: A Memoir and Manifesto, Zachary Zane, swears by it.)

Why we picked this:

Launched earlier this year, Archer is a "social-first" dating app for gay and queer men. Unlike its raunchy competitor (Grindr), Archer focuses on creating a more inclusive and respectful space for its users. Since its roll-out, it's been downloaded 685,000 times.

It's 100% free to download and use (no sketchy in-app purchases or hidden fees), and it has some unique features like Smart-Blur to keep you from seeing NSFW content until you're ready and Selfie-Verify for added security.

Not only that, but Archer is determined to make STD/STI, PrEP awareness, and sexual health a priority for its users. It provides comprehensive resources, education, and support for users via the Health Hub, making it a safer and more informed platform for the LGBTQ+ community than other dating apps.

And, as of October 2023, it's available nationwide via Google Play and the App Store. (Before, it was only available in select cities.)

Who it's for:

HER is the best free dating site for queer, bisexual, trans, and lesbian women. (It's particularly useful if you're over men pretending to be women online or you're just tired of being asked for a threesome by straight couples.) The fact that it's made by queer women for queer women was a much-needed addition to the online dating world, and knowing that it's a safe space is really nice.

HER goes way past being a hookup app — that is, without adding pressure to find a romantic partner. While it can be used to couple up and find local matches that you never knew existed, you can also get involved in local LGBTQ events, read LGBTQ news, and make friends through its social-media-like feed.

Why we picked this:

We recently named HER the best overall dating app for queer women, and for so many reasons. Claiming to be the app that "introduces you to every lesbian you've ever wanted to meet," HER is the award-winning mix of dating and social media that lets you meet girls you know are girls, as it is solely for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women. The language is inclusive — it's not a lesbian site aimed at a male fantasy, thanks to the fact queer women created it — and it'll help you widen your dating pool beyond the circles you already know IRL.

Note that HER's user base isn't as large as that of mainstream apps like Tinder, so you might not have as many options as you'd like (especially if you live in a smaller town). A lot of queer women are still on apps like Tinder and Bumble, and unfortunately, on those platforms, you might run into straight girls saying that they're "interested" in women to find friends or a threesome.

Regardless, HER is making serious strides toward becoming a total boss of an app (and toward taking a ton of queer lady users away from Tinder). The low-pressure atmosphere is super inviting, and the fact that you can find a girlfriend or queer friends or attend an LGBTQ movie night, all thanks to the app, makes HER unique for multiple reasons. It just rocks — in a really gay and really fun kind of way — okay?

Who it's for:

If you're over 35 and looking for love, Plenty of Fish (POF) might be worth a try. POF has a large user base and offers tons of ways to communicate with potential matches, making it a good option for budget-conscious singles looking for meaningful connections.

Why we picked this:

Chemistry is the name of the game here, and the multiple questionnaires are no joke. This isn't a quick five-second setup like other apps, but that's only because Plenty of Fish truly wants you to dig a bit deeper so that they can give you the best quality matches.

In the "meeting goals" section, you can specify whether you're looking for something long-term, looking to date but nothing serious, etc., and then Plenty of Fish will try to match you with others who answered similarly. The idea is to eliminate the awkward "What are we?" conversations and set you up for success by pairing you with people who share your priorities.

You can even add a Fish Pic badge to your profile to show off your love of fishing and the great outdoors (if that's something you're actually into), thanks to a recent partnership with Busch Light called "Reel Love." Open the app, tap the Fish Pic badge, and click "add to profile."

In terms of the actual app use, unlimited messaging can be nice, but people can send you messages without matching, so if that's not your vibe, this probably isn't the app for you. This can also contribute to a more hookup-dominant culture of the app, so prepare for that as well. 

Ultimately, if a site's janky aesthetics (and sifting through a few fake profiles) don't bother you, POF offers a wide variety of potential mates. Regardless of whether you're super picky with your type or have no idea what you want, there's no way you won't come across a few people you find interesting.