A List of Free Dating Apps Because It’s Tough Out Here

Facebook Dating

It’s no secret that everyone is a little tired of dating apps. In 2024, research showed that consistent users of these apps were experiencing burnout symptoms. If you’ve ever spent 30 minutes swiping left on a sea of cringe prompt responses and pictures of men holding fish, you’re not surprised at this. Conversations seem to go nowhere, people feel very brave saying unhinged things to each other through a screen, and everyone is lying about their height.

Throwing in a subscription fee on top of that? No.

We get it: Businesses need to make money. But when a dating app hides its best features—you know, the ones that actually help you get a date—behind a paywall, it makes a user a lot less likely to want to keep swiping.

And while plenty of apps have jumped on this capitalistic train of “selling” love, not all of them have left their users with the scraps of the apps.

There are still some dating apps that are letting users look for love without having to plug in their credit card information. So you’re free (literally) to focus on what’s important: finding someone you think you could tolerate enough to go on a date with IRL.

Okay, the idea of still being on Facebook is daunting enough, so I understand the hesitation of dating on it. But as someone who has tried Facebook Dating in the past, I have to say it’s actually a pretty good dating platform. And if you’re worried that it’s just a means of dating people you “friended” in high school, it’s not.

It has a free matching and messaging experience, and if you already have Facebook downloaded you don’t have to worry about adding another app to your phone.

Feeld

If you’re looking for a dating experience outside of the norms of modern-day courting, Feeld is a great (and free) option. It’s for people looking to explore everything from nonmonogamy to casual hookups and other relationship styles. You can create a profile, connect with mutual likes, and chat—all without paying. While there are tiers that require a subscription, those just come with unlimited likes and the option to see who liked you.

Hinge

Okay, Hinge is definitely an app that has some features locked behind a payment but the app still offers a lot of great options for people who don’t want to whip out their credit card. The free version of the app gives you all of the essentials: browsing profiles, sending likes, matching, and chatting with matches. Just keep in mind that there’s a daily like limit (but I’ve never reached it, so you’ll be fine).

Tinder

Tinder is probably going to give you the biggest possible dating pool—and a lot of that access is for free. You can create a profile, like people, match, and message for free. The only thing to note is that using the paid option will give you access to premium prompts and the ability to set certain preferences.

Bumble

All of Bumble’s basic features (including its safety verification ones) are totally free when you download the app. This means you can find matches and—if you identify as a woman—message first all for free. The app lets you have safe, meaningful interactions without having to pay a dime.

OkCupid

If you want more than three photos and some prompts to base your swipe on, OkCupid is a great option. It’s free tier includes compatibility-focused profiles and extensive questions so you’re really getting a good idea of who someone is before you match with them.