What is the best dating app? This guide can help you figure it out

Here's a hot take that's actually ice cold: dating apps are not a lesser way to meet people.

We get that, on some level, there's a certain appeal to the coffee shop meet-cute or fun situation-ship that gradually and naturally turns into something more. But frankly, we're tired of everyone ignoring the fact that dating apps give you the chance to meet a whole group of people you might not have otherwise. And once you find someone you click with, how your relationship develops in person is pretty much indistinguishable from non-app origin stories.

Are dating apps worth it?

Sentiments aside, we have some hard data to back our reasoning. Statista predicted that the online dating audience will grow to 53.3 million by 2025, compared to 44.2 million users in 2020. A study from Stanford released in 2019 asserted that online dating is officially the most common way for U.S. couples to meet, rounding out at nearly 40 percent of couples having first met online.

This pre-pandemic prediction came before the COVID-era dating app sign-ups surge. Though people are eager to get back to doing as many things IRL as possible now, dating apps are still a great place to find someone, whether you want a relationship or are just looking to get nasty.

And yes, though there are algorithms that dictate what profiles pop up on your screen, we firmly believe that the stars aligning still comes into play. After all, the person who signs up on the app and is looking for love at exactly the same time you are is up to fate and the universe, proving that online dating romance is very much alive and well.

SEE ALSO: The best dating sites for introverts, wallflowers, and anyone hesitant to try online dating

Because it's not 2007 anymore, the need for mobile-friendly online dating isn't just a millennial thing — people over 40 don't have time to sit around at their home desktops, either. Dating sites that are older than most members of Gen Z (like Match and eharmony) have been forced to give serious attention to their smartphone counterparts if they don't want to be outgrown.

However, that statistical promise still requires patience and a game plan, the game plan is choosing the dating app with features that best fit your lifestyle — and the lifestyle of the type of person you're looking for. Are you looking for an app strictly for sex or an app more serious than Tinder but less serious than eharmony? Or maybe, you'd love to find an app where queer women aren't relentlessly sexualized by creeps and pestered by unicorn hunters.

Feeling weird about dating post-Covid restrictions? Yeah, you're not alone.

Despite restaurant capacities returning to normal, swiping just for the hell of it isn't feeling so normal. COVID is still a real issue, and there's a collective Fear of Dating Again.

Despite the risks on places like college campuses, there are still lots of people that desire a connection beyond frat parties. Whether you're looking for love on campus or just looking for the next hookup, make sure to approach it safely.

Seeing humans in real life isn't something to take for granted.

But this invisible hump may play to the advantage of people looking for a connection past a booty call. After watching budding relationships stay stagnant in the "It's a match!" phase, time feels more valuable. The pent-up energy it takes to go on a date feels like it'd be better spent on someone you actually see potential with. Even the horniest of them all may be more closely considering the authenticity and personality of prospects — because, as we all learned, seeing humans in real life isn't something to take for granted.

FWIW, communication skills may have improved or at least been more important to people during the pandemic. Hashing out COVID-related issues with strangers required getting comfortable with personal boundaries and learning to discuss anxieties with someone new. Tinder thinks honesty will carry over as the new dating norm, which means you can feel comfortable knowing more people are comfortable saying exactly what they want, even if they quite don't know what that is. You can even tell if someone is vaccinated based on their profile on most dating apps, so that saves you from any awkward anti-vax conversations.

What's the best dating app?

When it comes to your dating app options, it's true that the apps you're likely to find the most success on are the ones with actual active users (this is a Zoosk subtweet).

Though we get that everyone has problems with the established choices, new apps don't always equal better apps. Every year, a slew of trendy apps try to set themselves apart from Tinder and Bumble: In 2017, apps like Hater (which matched people based on things they disliked, like slow walkers or Donald Trump) and The League (a snooty, members-only matchmaker with a ridiculous waitlist) were expected to be game-changers. Hater has since disappeared from the App Store, while The League's reviews have gotten increasingly questionable.

SEE ALSO: How to change your Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge location while traveling

It's hard to pinpoint why such promising ideas didn't make the cut — but whether they were too exclusive, too niche, or begging for catfish, it's clear that there's a very special ingredient that makes apps like Hinge pop off. Honestly, most times, your best options will lie in established apps that intentionally try to upgrade their features and content.

How to choose a dating app

One app's secret ingredient might not be the one you necessarily want to include in your dating recipe. If you already live in a large metropolitan area, Tinder's pull of its large user base is slightly weaker since more niche apps will likely have a decent number of profiles near you.

Some people are dedicated to keeping their search for love free of cost, so sites like Match or eharmony, where most features live behind a paywall, will likely not be your first pick. For others, behind that paywall is where they find the reassurance that users are likely not dropping cash to mess around or not go on actual dates.

Of course, knowing exactly what you want isn't always easy to say, especially when pulling from the abstract. There's nothing wrong with flying free from the Tinder nest and trying out a few apps or sites you wouldn't usually. Overall, we say embrace the messy ride that is dating.

To get you started, this handy guide breaks down the most popular dating apps, why people like them, and some (actually good) up-and-coming apps that offer a more tailored experience.