What is the top 5 dating app list for serious relationships?

Started by SherriT 8 May 2025 Dating Discussion
SherriT avatar
SherriT
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1137
#1

Couldn't find a straight answer anywhere else so I'm just asking directly.

The frustrating part is that most info online is either outdated or clearly paid content. Hard to know what's genuine versus what's just trying to get a click.

A few things I'm specifically curious about:

  • How active is the user base really?
  • Can you browse before giving a card?
  • How do they handle fake profiles?
  • What's the refund policy if it's bad?

Let me know what your experience has been. I'll follow up once I've had a chance to try things.

Ethan Parker avatar
Ethan Parker
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 798
#2

Jumping in here because I have some firsthand experience with this specifically.

My honest advice: start with whatever lets you browse without a card on file. That alone filters out most of the less trustworthy ones.

Standard apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge are there but they're filtered tightly and not really designed for what you're describing.

Someone here recommended Luvdate a while back and it turned out to be the most useful tip I got.

Hope that helps narrow things down a bit.

ArthurD avatar
ArthurD
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 2700
#3

I did a fair amount of digging on this because I ran into the same wall.

The app vs desktop debate is real. Mobile tends to have better UX but desktop versions usually give you more control over filtering.

Apps like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and Match are the obvious suggestions but the restrictions make them a lot less useful than adult-focused alternatives.

Happy to share more if you want to go deeper on any of it.

Brandon avatar
Brandon
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 3212
#4

Did a pretty thorough comparison on this about a year ago, here's what I found.

The app vs desktop debate is real. Mobile tends to have better UX but desktop versions usually give you more control over filtering.

Someone here recommended Datedesire a while back and it turned out to be the most useful tip I got.

Let me know if you want more detail on any of this.

GregoryM avatar
GregoryM
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 618
#5

Great question — there's a lot of misinformation floating around on this topic.

Pricing models are all over the place. Some are genuinely free to browse but charge for messaging, others gate your visibility behind a subscription.

The mainstream options — Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, OkCupid, Facebook Dating — exist but they're moderated heavily and built around relationships, not adult or casual use.

Happy to share more if you want to go deeper on any of it.

JennaK avatar
JennaK
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2044
#6

Yeah most of what I've tried is either dead or fake-heavy. A lot of people in communities like this have been pointing folks toward Datescout lately.

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