Dating nowadays is done via apps, but there is more than swiping on Tinder. In our iPhone dating apps guide, we give tips about the best apps, your safety and more.
Dating Guide: Everything You Need to Know
When you talk about dating, you are automatically talking about apps nowadays. Tinder introduced swiping left or right on potential dates, and we don’t know any better now. Yet there are many more options.
For example, there are apps in the App Store that place more emphasis on the profile instead of photos. There are also dating apps for specific groups of people. Dating via apps, although normal, can also be dangerous. In this guide, we therefore provide various tips.
The best dating apps
First of all, the dating apps. There are a lot of different apps in the App Store, each trying to add something in its own way. We have listed the most popular apps that actually have something distinctive to offer.
1. Tinder
The Tinder app is best known when it comes to dating. That is not without reason. The app is beautiful and has most of the features. For example, it is possible to link your Spotify account to match on music taste and you can send gifs in the chat. The focus of the app is on photos. You see a person and swipe left or right. If you swipe right together, you have a match and you can talk. It’s that simple.
Also read: 6 reasons to try a dating app other than Tinder
2. OkCupid
OkCupid also lets you swipe left or right on photos, but compared to Tinder, this app focuses more on your profile. This gives you the opportunity to answer all kinds of questions, so that you can tell more about what you like and how you see your life. This app is therefore recommended if you do not like the ‘meat inspection’ that Tinder is, but prefer to go a little further. Also nice is that you can connect Instagram with the app, so that your latest snapshots appear directly on your profile.
3. Happn
The idea behind Happn is that this app connects people who have met each other outside. Have you seen or spoken to someone on the train, a shop or other place, but have you not given out contact information? If you have both installed this app, you can find each other again. In Happn you will only find people you have been physically close to.
4. Bumble
Bumble looks like your run-of-the-mill dating app, but it comes with an important twist: women take the first step. In many dating apps, women are inundated with reactions from men that they don’t want. By only receiving responses from men they like themselves, it is much clearer for them. For men this way there is more chance that conversations will actually lead to something.
5. Grindr
Although many of the above apps also offer options for people who fall on their own gender or multiple genders, there are also apps that specifically focus on that. Grindr is the largest app for men connecting with men. This app has more of a focus on hook-ups than dates, but you never know.
6. Her
The Her app focuses on women looking for women, for hook-ups, dates or friendship. The app has a strong focus on community, so you will also find group discussions and an agenda with events.
Dangers of Dating Apps
We won’t be giving you dating advice, but there are some things to keep in mind when using these apps.
Personal information
Be aware that you are sharing a lot of personal information. Both with the makers of the app, who can resell your profiles, preferences and chat conversations to third parties, but also with users who can view, copy and distribute the information of your profile. So don’t just put everything in your profile.
Fake profiles
Many dating apps suffer from fake profiles. These are profiles of non-existent people that you meet in the apps and that you can match with. The chats then happen automatically via a script, or there is a real person behind them pretending to be someone else. Automatic conversations are easy to recognize. If you suspect a bot, type something completely random. If there is no response, then you know enough. Other profiles are a bit more difficult to spot.
Many of these fake profiles hope that you sign up for a porn website, or just visit that website and see the ads there. Others try to steal your personal information or get money. So watch out! iPhoned gives tips on how to recognize fake profiles.
Security while dating
Dating through a dating app can be dangerous. Especially if you don’t know the person behind it well. While this should definitely not stop yourself from using such apps, some caution is advisable. That’s why it’s always wise to give a third person details about your dates, such as where you’re going and with whom. Also let us know that you will hear from you within a certain time.
The SafeDate app cleverly responds to this. In the app you enter details of your date and people you trust. If you do not indicate that you are safe in time, a message with details of your date will be sent to your friends or family.
Also read: How the SafeDate app makes dating safer for women
Pay
All of these apps have ways to rake in money. For example, functions are often hidden behind pay walls. For example, if you pay for Tinder, you can undo a swipe and get extra Super Likes. OKCupid makes you pay to see who liked you. Happn makes men pay for ‘Charms’.
The apps are all free to use, but keep in mind that you are constantly motivated to deposit money with the promise of more and better matches. So take a good look at what you really get for it, and whether you think it’s worth it. Also, don’t let subscriptions go on longer than necessary. You can also go a long way with the free versions of these apps. A good profile with beautiful photos is much more important in finding matches than paid functions.
Dating Tips
Could you use some help on dating apps? iPhoned helps you on your way. For example, we give you tips on which photos to put on your profile and good conversation starters.