What Do Dating Apps Look Like In Google Play Store

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Let's face it, online dating is a bit of a minefield, no matter whether you're newly single, prefer to meet someone in a bar rather than them sliding into your DMs, on the search for a short-term romance or a long-term relationship. Throw a global pandemic like Coronavirus into the equation and dating in 2021 hasn't been a piece of cake.

There's a lot of choice when it comes to navigating the dating app pool and, as we all know, finding romance is a bit more complicated than a simple swiping right (or left) of the thumb on Tinder. Now you have to construct witty profiles on Hinge or make the first move on the app Pickable. There's one for country-lovers, one for creatives and there's even exclusive apps for A-listers (which prove more difficult to get on that finding love itself). But not all apps are exclusive to romantic matches with platforms like Bumble having a business buddy and BFF networking feature to boot.

For the sceptical among you, statistically speaking, dating apps have been found to work. According to Bumble, over two thirds of respondents use apps to find a steady relationship, and it's guaranteed that if you're a millennial, half of your friends have most likely met their partners via apps.

Dating apps are a bit of a necessary evil, for those of you who struggle to find the time to meet someone IRL. Like most things in life, it's not one-size-fits-all. Tinder might be a bit old school, but thankfully, there's plenty more fish in the sea when it comes to dating apps (and love, we hope).

Here are the best dating apps you need to download:

1 The Sauce

The Sauce is a dating app like no other insofar as it removes the need for photos and lets users upload videos to help them gauge someone's personality and interpret their body language and voice to see whether there's a real connection.

'The Sauce users can expect Instagram stories, Reels, the odd TikTok and playful videos usually filmed by someone's mate thrown into the mix, allowing members to get to know their match before they've even sent their first like,' says co-founder Sachin Karia.

2 Victoria The App

An online equivalent of a member's club, Victoria the App is the place to be if you want to make meaningful connections with fellow creatives.

With a networking and/or dating feature, Victoria helps users navigate new relationships and friendships (romantic and not), and will even invite you to in-person panel discussions at the likes of London's uber chic member's club, Home Grown, or DJ sets at Notting Hill hub, Laylow.

Think of Victoria as the digital version of Soho House.

3 Jungle Dating

If you're someone who feels intimidated by the mere thought of going on a date, one on one, then you'll want to download the Jungle Dating app immediately.

Jungle Dating celebrates double, triple and even quadruple dating and allows users to create a group of up to four friends, match with other groups, and organise a group date.

A safe, stress-free and fun way of dating, this flips the dating landscape on its head and if a match doesn't work out then you can still enjoy a night out with friends or even organise a date with another person from your dating group.

4 Thursday

The app pretty much everyone has been waiting for in 2021 finally launched in May and signalled the beginning of the summer of love.

Available to download from the App Store and Google Play, the Thursday app had over 110,000 users signed up in London and New York prior to its launch due to simple yet effective dating ethos.

The founders of Thursday believe that the world is spending far much time on dating apps and created an alternative that invites users to match, flirt and date all on one day - you guessed it, Thursday. Messages and matches disappear at midnight on Thursday night so if you want a date then spontaneity is key here.

The app's Instagram account is private and for members eyes only, so if you want to find out more about this new way of dating then you're going to have to download it and see what all the fuss is about. See you there!

5 Bumble

Ladies, the power is all in your hands – a bit like Take Me Out, but the virtual version where you have 24 hours to respond.

Originally founded by women for women, Bumble challenges the antiquated (and often sexist) rules of dating – there's need to wait for the fella to make the first move. And it's not just for finding your future husband or wife (fortunately Bumble now caters to same-sex and heterosexual couples) as the app has now added new features Bumble Bizz and Bumble BFF, to help you find new colleagues and friends too.

How lovely! Well, their 22 million users worldwide certainly think so.

The app's recent ban on any form of body shaming - any language that can been deemed as racist, fat-phobic, ableist, colourist, homophobic or transphobic - makes it a super user friendly dating experience for all.

6 Hinge

Do you pride yourself on being incredibly witty or refuse to believe that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit? If so, you will love this app.

Hinge is the Instagram of dating apps. Seriously, it's a millennial's dream. Some people say it hides in Tinder's shadow, but if you want a bit more accountability then this app is perfect as in their latest survey, Hinge found they are setting up a date every two seconds.

It's not just based on pictures either – profiles are made up of questions and quotes. You can learn a lot about someone from their answers, whether it's their favourite Friends line or their pet peeve. The catch is, there is a lot of pressure to come across effortlessly funny. But we believe in you.

7 HER

It's the top dating app for LGBTQ+ women for a reason.

HER provides a community for queer, lesbian and bisexual women, created by and for women, and is one of the most popular apps out here.

Despite the name, HER isn't exclusively for females - it's open to cisgender and non-binary people, too. The app also hosts events, news platforms and group chats as well.

8 Happn

Have you been trying to pluck up the courage to chat up the guy or girl you used to see every morning on your commute? Well, now there's no need as this app will do the hard work for you.

Using your location, the app will match you with people who are also on the app in close proximity on a daily basis, whether it's that person you just so happen to squat next to daily in the gym (when we're allowed to return to fitness studios, that is), or brush hands reaching for the same acai bowl at Pret A Manger (oh, how we miss Pret!).

It also calculates how many times you and your love interest cross paths, so you know it's 100 per cent (ish) destiny if you end up together.

9 Inner Circle

If you're a tad tired of swiping to no avail, then Inner Circle's super selective process - that allows you to screen fuller profiles that showcase hobbies, favourite venues and past holidays - might just be thing to get you out of the dating app funk.

Dating in 2021 is a drastically different experience for anyone single and looking, so Inner Circle have a handy 'Refund My Sh*t Date' option for any dud dates. It's the ultimate cure for anyone feeling exhausted by pandemic dating.

It's free to join, but to get the best full experience you can switch to the full membership option - the price point is around the same as going dutch on a blind dinner date.

10 Raya

Amy Schumer met her husband on it and sources reveal Matthew Perry even had a profile. This app is the Tinder for the super rich and famous.

Raya is a membership-based app for those who know, and if you don't, you can't ask. You can't even screen shot a picture inside the app without getting told off by its creators.

Basically, Raya laughs in the face of exclusivity and only eight per cent of applicants are accepted. Sounds like an irresistible challenge right? We're imagining a lot of unrequited swipes here, but they do say love is a battlefield.

11 Pickable

Again, the women are in control on this one (sense a running theme here?).

Worried about matching with your significant other or, even worse, accidentally scrolling past a family member? Well, Pickable is pretty much the opposite of Hinge.

Women can keep their identities hidden, while having their pick of the litter. You don't even need to create a profile or add any information to get swiping. All you have to do is download the app. Look, we can't do all the work for your.

Who run the world?

12 Badoo

Always dreamt of marrying Channing Tatum following his Step Up days? Or perhaps you fancy a bearded Ryan Gosling or Stomzy meeting you at the alter?

While we can't promise the above, Badoo does find you a match based on which celebrity you have a crush on. Yes, really. Using facial recognition technology, the app scans the single market for lookalikes.

With 465m users worldwide, we're sure they can pair you with an A-list lookalike somewhere.

13 Bristlr

If you're not into a hairy face, move on quickly as you might be swiping left for a while. This is a dating app for those wanting some facial fuzz and a good stroke of a soft, grizzly beard (cats are a bonus) in their life.

Not only do you have to like beards, but you have to be original too. The app has a 'Lothario Detector', so your future hubbies don't have the excuse of copying and pasting opening lines to their chat.

14 Muddy Matches

We did say there was something for everyone and we have a feeling that this one might have been designed for those who live in the countryside or, more specifically, on a farm. After all, it can be tricky to bump tractors with your future partner, right?

Looking for your fellow country partner? Grab your wellies and get swiping as this app with match you with fellow outdoorsy types.

15 Muz Match

If you a single, practicing Muslim looking to find your perfect partner - MuzMatch is a fun way to do it.

With complete photo privacy and an anonymous nickname, you have full control who can see you. The app's filters allow you to search for single Muslims who meet your ethnicity, sect and religious criteria.

For added peace of mind, this is the only Muslim app that allows you to include a Wali or chaperone in your matchings.

16 Tastebuds

If music be the food of love, then this app is onto a winner.

Tastebuds is another dating app based on common ground. You can find your musical soulmate, whether you on the look out for a love interest or you're are just in need of a gig-going buddy.

It matches two people based on their favourite music. If you're Britney-til-you-die or a hardcore drum and bass badass, at least there won't be any arguments around your first dance song.

17 MeetMindful

The clue is in the name.

If you're searching for the avocado to your toast or the celery to your juice, MeetMindful will help you find your zen (and partner).

You can connect with one soul or a community of likeminded mindful individuals. Disclaimer: dates are likely to include something along the lines of rock climbing or forest bathing, when dating IRL is permitted again.

Feeling inspired? Yogis unite.

18 SALT

SALT, enables users to identify other Christians registered in their area.

The free dating app works similarly to other apps - build your profile and get swiping - with the ultimate aim to help users meet, date and marry (if you find 'the one').

According to the app's founder, the hope is that SALT will encourage more people to feel comfortable arranging and going on dates, 'balanced with a godly respect in how we date, and view everyone else as brothers and sisters in Christ'.

With an estimated 60:40 ratio of single men to single women in UK churches, it's definitely worth the try.

19 Coffee Meets Bagel

We're already fallen in love, and it's with the name of this app.

Coffee? Good. Beige food? Good. Sadly the New York-inspired breakfast bagel actually has nothing to do with finding love with this handy piece of tech. Rather, this is an app that only matches you with Facebook connections.

CMB (because the full name is a big of a mouthful) shows specifically women one quality match per day. After all, you can't put boundaries on love. The idea is that your swiping is a tad more considered.

At the end of the day, at least this app will stop your housemates swiping right on 100s of men and/or women when you leave the room for an ad break.

20 HILY

This one is so 2021.

First of all, the name is an acronym for 'Hey I Like You'. It's also powered by artificial intelligence.

HILY uses algorithms to help increase the probability of matching with one of the 12 million happy users. There are also icebreaker suggestions pop ups, so there's no need to suffer over your opening line.

The app works the more you use it, too. If you upload stories, post comments and likes, then the information can be used to find you a better match. It's true, you do have to put a lot of work in, but it's work it if it turns into a 'hey I love you', wouldn't you agree?

Katie O'Malley Deputy Digital Editor Katie O'Malley is the Deputy Digital Editor, at ELLE UK.

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