Whether you’re looking for a relationship or for something more casual, it’s worth being across the best dating apps. While there has definitely been a shift from being devoted to the apps and a movement toward other forms of meeting prospective romantic partners, developers have been both emerging with new options for our modern dating needs and updating the old favourites accordingly.
When it comes to the future of dating in 2023, the key is variety. Mix it up – be on the apps, but open to other ways of meeting new people like the Instagram DM-slide (it works!), blind dates, group activities around a hobby you love and even speed dating. The more variety you embrace, the more likely it is you’ll meet someone you click with.
Speaking of – the traditional rules do not apply anymore. In fact, it’s absolutely worth your while to ask people out instead of waiting to be asked. Don’t get stuck in lengthy text conversations that bore you, and instead cut to the chase.
The best date night ideas? Keep it casual but a little sexy – a sleek gastropub over a hyper-romantic bar, a picnic with natural wine over a three-course dinner. Activities are very much on trend, too. Head to the beach for a first date, or go rock climbing if fitness is your thing.
But at the end of the day, you’ll want to be on the best dating apps Australia has to offer. Modern dating means it’s highly likely you’ll meet your next relationship (or situationship, or friendship-with-benefits) online, so get acquainted with the top apps for 2023.
Hinge
One of the classic three (Hinge, Bumble, Tinder) that anyone who has been single in Australia at some point over the past five years has become acquainted with, Hinge is still one of the best dating apps in Australia. The reason is a mix of prospects and information – a lot of people use Hinge, so you’re more likely to come across someone you like. But most importantly, the app focuses on a match that goes beyond just looks – users have to upload conversation-starter questions, answers and voice notes that potential matches reply directly to.
Not having much luck on Hinge? The best way to get matches on Hinge is to fill out all the information, and inject your true personality into your profile. No more “I hate pineapple” – the more weirdly specific you are with your questions and answers, the more likely someone is to sit up and take notice.
Feeld
Feeld is an app that’s been completely designed for modern dating. While many of the best dating apps still focus on finding a long-term relationship, Feeld is much more open about, well, being open. Feeld champions everyone – all sexualities, all genders, all styles of relationship. You can join as a couple in an open or poly relationship, or as an individual looking for everything from love to experimentation, and ultimately meet like-minded people in a welcoming and inclusive space.
This is the best dating app to download if you’re exploring your sexuality, because Feeld is all about exploration.
Bumble
Founded by women for women, Bumble has always put a feminist lens on dating – women have to make the first move, which helps break down the traditional meekness we’re often taught to embody when we look for love. It’s also still a hugely popular app in Australia too, meaning it’s likely your dream match is using it.
Since its beginnings the app has continued to strive for safety and inclusivity – most recently banning any language that could be considered racist, fat-phobic, ableist, homophobic or transphobic. This is something we love about Bumble – the commitment to its user’s safety and a strong stance against discrimination and hate.
Tinder
It’s probably the most famous dating app of all time and was one of the first in market, but while Tinder has weathered plenty of bad press over the years, it remains one of the best dating apps in Australia. Why? It’s still one of the most popular, but it’s also got a wealth of options that make searching for matches and having your profile pop up more often way easier, so it’s great for the time-poor or anyone tired of swiping.
Tinder has also taken its bad press and user concerns and answered with action. Recently, they introduced new safety measures for users, like the ability to block profiles before matching, easier methods for reporting offensive messages and Incognito Mode, where your profile will only be shared with people you’ve already liked.
Raya
Arguably the world’s most exclusive dating app, Raya is a word-of-mouth app you’ll need to apply to be part of. In the past, you actually needed to be invited by an existing Raya user, and hope that whoever vets applications behind-the-scenes took you off the infamous waitlist and onto the app.
If your application is successful, you can choose from several paid subscription options that range in price, starting from $9.99 a month. While this is a fairly steep cost for a dating app considering most are free, the reason Raya is one of the best dating apps in Australia is because its users are often very successful, eligible singles. And yes, often celebrities – just never screenshot anything you see. It’s one of the app’s cardinal rules and why its still a favourite for the famous worldwide.
eHarmony
One of the longest-running dating apps in the world, eHarmony is still one of the best for finding your life partner or a long-term relationship. While it’s one of the more expensive dating apps in Australia, with memberships starting from $12.95, the lengthy compatibility test you take on application means your matches are tailored to your interests, needs and personality – so you’re not wasting time getting to know people you’re incompatible with.
This is the app to download if you’re exhausted by dating – if people are paying monthly memberships, they’re likely to be serious about finding someone to spend their life with. It whittles down the dating pool to the most serious of matches, so you’re less likely to find yourself in a situationship.
Coffee Meets Bagel
Focused on meaningful connections, Coffee Meets Bagel say over 90 per cent of their users are looking for a serious relationship, making it one of the best dating apps for anyone looking for love. Profiles are in-depth and the algorithm works to match you with people likely to be compatible with you, plus you only get new matches at midday each day, so you’re not becoming a slave to the swipe every hour.
Coffee Meets Bagel is the right app for you if you’re finding the admin of dating is taking up a lot of your time. It condenses your swiping to a particular part of the day, so you’re less likely to be scrolling mindlessly all evening.
The Sauce
The rise of TikTok and Instagram Reels has made it a fact: we love sharing via video, and The Sauce is exactly that, but make it a dating app. Instead of sharing pictures, you’ll be sharing videos of yourself. The result? Feeling like you already kind of know the people you’re matching, which means more likelihood that you’ll get along in real life. The app claims that 95 per cent of first dates from The Sauce turn into second dates, which is pretty impressive.
This is a fun, new style of dating app that’s worth using if you’re a bit creative and feel awkward or nervous turning up to first dates without having met the person – the video style profile conveys more personality.
