xenmaster's guide to online dating

Now that the pandemic is over, lots of people are looking to get back out there. Here is a definitive guide to how different dating apps work to determine which is best for you based on whether or not you are looking short-term fun or a long term relationship!

Alex Ruiz
Alex RuizList by Alex Ruiz, last updated 
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
  1. Tinder icon
     Like

    Category: Hookups

    Target Audience:

    • Hot guys too lazy to go looking in the real world.
    • Women looking for guys hotter than the ones around them.

    Gimmick: Swipe left / swipe right

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • Kindle Fire
    Tinder screenshot 1
    Tinder screenshot 2
    Tinder screenshot 3
  2. Grindr icon
     Like

    Category: Hookups

    Target Audience: Gay dudes, preferably fitting in with the insanely high body standards that gay men online have.

    Gimmick: See target audience.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Blackberry
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Grindr screenshot 1
  3. Bumble icon
     Like

    Category: Hookups

    Target Audience:

    • Hot guys too lazy to go looking in the real world.
    • Women looking for guys hotter than the ones around them.

    Gimmick: Women have to message first, ensuring annoying ugly guys are not bothering the ladies on here.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    Bumble screenshot 1
    Bumble screenshot 2
    Bumble screenshot 3
  4. Hinge icon
     Like

    Category: Hookups

    Target Audience:

    • Hot guys too lazy to go looking in the real world.
    • Women looking for guys hotter than the ones around them.

    Gimmick: More classy way to hookup.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    Hinge screenshot 1
    Hinge screenshot 2
    Hinge screenshot 3
  5. Match.com icon
     Like

    Category: Hookups

    Target Audience:

    • Hot guys too lazy to go looking in the real world.
    • Women looking for guys hotter than the ones around them.

    Gimmick: More ancient than the Code of Hammurabi

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Android Wear
    Match.com screenshot 1
    Match.com screenshot 1
    Match.com screenshot 2
    +6
    Match.com screenshot 3
  6. OkCupid icon
     Like

    Category: Hookups

    Target Audience:

    • Hot guys too lazy to go looking in the real world.
    • Women looking for guys hotter than the ones around them.

    Gimmick: Less old-school than Match.com

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    OkCupid screenshot 1
    OkCupid screenshot 1
    OkCupid screenshot 2
    +3
    OkCupid screenshot 3
  7. Category: Hookups

    Target Audience:

    • Hot guys too lazy to go looking in the real world.
    • Women looking for guys hotter than the ones around them.

    Gimmick: Slows down the pace of the hookups so they will feel like relationships.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    Coffee Meets Bagel screenshot 1
    Coffee Meets Bagel screenshot 2
    Coffee Meets Bagel screenshot 3
  8. Category: Hookups

    Target Audience:

    • Hot guys too lazy to go looking in the real world.
    • Women looking for guys hotter than the ones around them.

    Gimmick: Lots of escorts, if you are into that kind of thing.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Windows Phone
    Plenty of Fish (POF) screenshot 1
    Plenty of Fish (POF) screenshot 2
    Plenty of Fish (POF) screenshot 3
  9. eHarmony icon
     Like

    Category: Relationships

    Target Audience: People tired of hookups.

    Gimmick: You have to pay to use this site. Keeps bots, instagrammers looking for followers, and pros from filling your inbox. And you are paying for results so there is more incentive for them to help you out. No guarantee for success.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    eHarmony screenshot 1
    eHarmony screenshot 1
    eHarmony screenshot 2
    +2
    eHarmony screenshot 3
No comments so far, maybe you want to be first?
Gu