What Are The Best Dating Apps For Serious Relationships? We Tested Them To Find Out

As someone on the hunt for a serious relationship, I'm a huge fan of dating apps. They've become more than just dating platforms. They've revolutionized the way people meet and connect.

But as much as I love the apps, I also know they can be a one-way ticket to another situationship when used incorrectly.

Eager to cut through the chaos of online dating, I went straight to dating experts for their recommendations of the best dating apps for serious relationships—and then I downloaded each and every one for firsthand testing.

My goal was to swipe on every suggested app and go on at least one date (though that final step proved harder for some apps).

From there, I curated my final list of the very best dating apps for those seeking long-term commitment like myself.

My testing process started with speaking to couples' therapists and dating experts for recommendations. I asked them to share which dating apps their clients found the most success on for something serious.

Ideally, these dating apps all had an active user base, reputation for fostering long-term love, and a wide variety of interests to suit different people's preferences and unique needs.

Once I curated a list of apps to test, I downloaded each one and swiped with potential partners (always aiming to go on at least one date).

Full transparency: I already had quite a few of these apps downloaded, including a few that I've been using for years.

When apps were catered to different demographics—like the LGBTQ+ community or specific religions—I connected with other testers to get their feedback on the apps.

Why we picked eHarmony

You won't be surprised to find eHarmony earning a top spot in many of our roundups, and rightfully so. The esteemed dating app features a lengthy (but thorough!) questionnaire that sets it apart from its competitors.

While some users find the questionnaire too long, the app was purposefully made this way to eliminate potential members who weren't serious about finding a true partner.

Furthermore, the app's sophisticated matching algorithm ensures that users are matched based on deep-rooted compatibility factors such as your degree of closeness in a relationship or how you see the world, and encourages folks to invest time in thorough profiles and in-depth personality assessments.

The company also claims to be responsible for 4% of marriages in the U.S., according to couples' therapist Kyle Zrenchik, Ph.D., LMFT, ACS. 

Why we picked Match

As one of the oldest dating sites to grace the web, Match has accumulated a user base of over 30 million people, and we're not surprised. The dating app has facilitated over 517,000 relationships, culminating in 92,000 marriages.

The company's mission is simple: To help singles find the kind of relationship they're looking for, as the website states.

When registering, users must fill out a detailed questionnaire that includes basic questions like who you're seeking (men or women), what your average match looks like, and your favorite hobbies.

The more the better in this case, as the more detailed you are when setting up your profile, the better your matches will be.

Its interface is fairly simple to use and you can see all your matches and chat conversations on both the app and website.

Why we picked OurTime

In our quest for a platform catering specifically to folks 50 and up who are seeking genuine connections, we selected OurTime as one of the best dating apps for serious relationships.

It features a user-friendly interface to make it easy for older individuals to navigate and features notable features, like in-depth profiles and personalized match connections.

Unlike other dating apps, users aren't required to fill out a comprehensive questionnaire. OurTime has taken a more casual approach and only requires users to fill out a simple "About me" section for their profile. The app will then make suggestions based on the user's profile.

“Catering to singles over 50, OurTime offers a platform for mature individuals seeking serious relationships with people in a similar life stage,” explains Lilithfoxx.

For many, sharing something in common, like being in the same stage of life, is one of the most important elements for building a long-term relationship.

On dating apps geared toward all ages, it can be frustrating to see predominantly younger users who don’t share your interests or values, making it difficult to connect on a deeper level and be compatible in the long term.

Why we picked OkCupid

Because it's free. But seriously, OkCupid is one of the best dating apps for serious relationships due to its unique algorithm. It was created by Harvard graduates as the first free online dating website.

Now, OkCupid is the sixth most downloaded dating app in the world, with 70 million user as of 2023. And the best part, as aforementioned? It's free. 

Even further, over the years, OkCupid has created an inclusive experience for app users, providing more options than most dating apps for gender, sexuality, and more for users to share their authentic self.

If having shared values with your long-term partner is a top priority for you, OkCupid is the app to be on. Their tagline “match on what matters” pretty much says it all.

This app asks you detailed questions about your interests, relationship preferences, as well as things like your political views and world outlook, and connects you with like minded users.

The app even asks questions like “could you date someone who doesn’t vote?” and then allows you to rate the importance of this question from “a little” to “very.”

On other apps, it can take several dates to even scratch the surface of your values and political views.

Why we picked Bumble

One of our favorite things about Bumble is its unique approach to fostering serious relationships—women make the first move. Per Lilithfoxx, this process "fosters a more respectful and intentional communication environment, which can be conducive to forming serious relationships."

Another unique feature of Bumble is the timing aspect. Your connection has 24 hours to respond to the opening message before the match expires.

This establishes a sense of urgency to engage in conversation rather than waiting for weeks or even months.

Overall, we picked Bumble as one of the best dating apps for serious relationships because the app's comprehensive structure grants its women users a lot of control over how online dating interactions will go.

Clinical psychologist, Harpreet Kaur Chattha, explains that “Since people are communicating online, they may take more liberties or cross limits more quickly than they do in person, making it feel uncomfortable or threatening for users, especially women.”

Apps like Bumble that give women control of the initial reaction can create a safer, more conducive space to building the kind of connection necessary for a serious relationship.

Why we picked Hinge

At least five members of our editorial team have found their long-term partner on Hinge—and it's an attests to the apps's research-backed matchmaking.

The Hinge Labs team bridges relationship, emotion, and behavioral science with user experience research, business intelligence analytics, and data science to unlock insights about love and dating, the website states.

We also picked Hinge because the app does a great job of offering prompts to spark unique conversation, and it brings profiles to life a bit more than those that are solely photo-based.

If you're tired of swiping left and right, these profiles give you more substance.

Plus, finding a serious relationship on dating apps can take time; many people quickly burn out from the tedious process of thinking of creative intro-lines and greetings.

Why we picked Her

If you’re queer, trans, or nonbinary, you’re likely well aware of how hard it can be to find dating platforms and spaces that are designed specifically for you, instead of as an afterthought.

Even though most dating apps say they’re for “everyone”, the structure and features often are centered around straight relationships.

“Designed for LGBTQ+ women, HER provides a safe and inclusive space for those seeking serious relationships with like-minded individuals,” says Lilithfoxx. 

We chose HER because the app creates a welcoming space for the LGBTQIA community. Research shows that individuals who identify as gay, bisexual, queer, same-gender-loving, or another non-heterosexual identity have experienced discrimination1 on dating apps.

So having a secure haven like HER becomes crucial, offering a refuge from potential prejudice and fostering a sense of belonging. And that's just one of many reasons why we included the dating app on our list.

We also picked HER because the app features an 'Add Friend' option for individuals newly navigating their identity, providing a space to build connections before diving into the dating pool.

Why we picked Jdate

“As a niche dating app for Jewish singles, JDate helps users connect with potential partners who share their cultural background and values, which can be important for long-term compatibility,” Lilithfoxx explains.

In terms of the platform itself, Jdate allows you to filter daters by keyword searches, new matches, if users are currently online, and how far users are from you. 

Although it's a niche dating site, we included JDate on our list simply because it's the number one online dating platform catering to the specific needs of the Jewish community.

The app has facilitated thousands of romantic relationships, friendships, and marriages since its inception in 1997. According to the company website, JDate is "responsible for more Jewish marriages than all other dating sites combined." And we're not surprised.

The app puts an emphasis on shared values and cultural background, encouraging users to be associated with the Jewish faith.

Whether Judaism is a significant part of your everyday life or not, this app can help you connect with people who have shared values and perspectives.

The dating market has really exploded exponentially over the last few years, and therefore you have a lot of options to choose from—which can feel a bit overwhelming.

Zrenchik recommends Googling to see which dating sites and apps are most popular in the region where you live and also to even try Googling an important aspect of your identity or a favorite interest plus "dating app" to see if there are any apps that cater specifically to people like you.

Be descriptive in your profile

When you write your bio, don’t keep to a word limit. The more you share about yourself, the easier it is to build connections. It’s challenging for a user to start a conversation or find something in common with you if there’s barely anything in their profile.

Being descriptive of yourself and showing your personality on your profile gives other users more opportunity to send you interesting messages and create a connection. 

Get clear about what you’re looking for

While you may already know you’re looking for a serious relationship, get clear on what qualities you’re looking for in a partner and what you want your relationship to look like. This will save you time while filtering through potential matches and allows you to be clear about your expectations upfront.

While for some people setting hard boundaries about what you do and don’t want can feel as though it limits the dating pool, in the long-run, this will help you find someone you’re actually compatible with. 

Invest in the most meaningful conversations

I have limited time and boring conversations starting with “hi” or a “like” on my photo I’ve honestly found to be a waste of time. I now only invest in conversations with people who actually make an effort to send me a thoughtful message, or at the bare minimum say something like “how are you?”

There are so many people who send me a message that clearly indicate they haven’t read my profile and what I’m looking for. We only have so much energy, don’t spend it on people who haven’t even read your bio.  

Choose the apps you feel the best on

I actually enjoyed creating my profile, answering questions, and swiping through users on some apps. On other apps, however, I felt frustrated or struggled to relate to other users. And guess what? I went on the most dates from apps that I actually liked using.

Dating sites that require a fee, like eharmony or Match.com, can be more conducive to serious relationships than free ones, according to couples and sex therapist Kyle Zrenchik.

After all, people can find hookups easily for free, so being willing to pay indicates a dedication to something more.

Dating apps like OkCupid, which have a big focus on mapping out their users' likes and personalities, are also better suited to finding a relationship than dating apps like Tinder, which mainly focus on people's appearances, notes Zrenchik.

ltimately, what makes the most difference as to whether an app or site is good for a serious relationship is what you yourself are willing to put into the experience.

Finding a serious relationship online requires a lot of vulnerability, energy, and intention. “Ultimately, the effectiveness of any dating app for finding a serious relationship depends on the users' intentions, communication, and willingness to invest time in the process,” says sexologist, LIlithfoxx. 

Per Lilithfoxx, certain apps can help you find a serious relationship by providing “access to a larger pool of potential partners than one might encounter in everyday life.

“[These apps] allow users to filter their preferences and engage in conversations with individuals who share similar interests and goals.

You no longer have to go through the whole song and dance of meeting a person, approaching them, starting a conversation, and getting to the point where you are able to discuss values and assess compatibility,” she explains. 

Online dating is so much easier for me when I utilize the right apps and features and put a bit more time into creating my profile and vetting potential matches.

While dating may not be top of mind when you consider factors that impact your well-being, social connection plays a larger role in longevity than you might think.

Studies have shown social isolation increases all-cause mortality by about 33%2, and loneliness is linked to lower health literacy and other health concerns3. 

While looking for a serious relationship can be challenging, dating apps can make finding a long-term relationship easier.