Online dating has transformed the way that single people meet new partners in the 21st century and made fortunes for the companies who have developed the apps they use.
The dating app sector smashed through the $3 billion mark in revenues in 2020, highlighting how lucrative the industry has now become.
A recent study by Betway casino highlighted that Tinder is the most popular service globally, ranking as the highest-rated dating app in the iOS app store in 86 percent of the 165 countries researched.
However, there are plenty of alternatives on the market, many of which are leveraging different types of technology to appeal to new users. Here are a few of our favourites.
Badoo
Although finishing a remote second to Tinder in Betway’s research, Badoo is still hugely popular with single people across the world.
One of the app’s most innovative features uses facial recognition technology to help find potential partners that look like people you fancy.
It allows users to find potential matches that resemble your crush, helping to take some of the guesswork out of finding the ideal person to hook up with.
Badoo has also rolled out innovative AI software called ‘Private Detector’, which protects users from viewing unsolicited nudes against their will.
Hily
Launched in March 2019, Hily’s free-to-use dating app uses learning-based algorithms to help increase the probability of finding a future partner.
All user profiles must pass hand-picked moderation to help protect others from fake accounts, creating a much safer environment than many other online dating services.
Hily allows singles to upload and send photographs or GIFs, while there is also the option to send audio or video messages to other users.
Singles can also submit new feature requests to Hily, making it a more user-led platform than most of the more recognised dating apps on the market.
Inner Circle
The Inner Circle is marketed as a dating app for ‘elite singles’ and has a strong focus on offering singles quality over quantity.
The award-winning app underwent a full transformation in 2020, and was rewarded as its user database smashed through the 2.5 million mark.
All members are comprehensively screened before their sign-up is approved to ensure that singles are not wasting their time interacting with fake profiles.
Inner Circle even offers a ‘Refund My S*** Date’ option for anyone who suffers the misfortune of enduring a disastrous date.
String
Online dating can be fraught with difficulties, particularly for people who are not too comfortable at expressing themselves through written words.
Thankfully there is a handy solution, with String offering users the opportunity to send voice messages to potential matches rather than texts.
Singles can send a voice message or emoji back, giving them the opportunity to express themselves in a much more personal way.
Spotify is also integrated into the app so you can add your favourite song to your user profile, giving potential matches the chance to learn what floats your boat musically.