Swipe, Match, Uninstall, Repeat

As a single 29-year-old woman, I've spent my fair share of time on the apps. I've downloaded and deleted them many times, tried different ones, only to get frustrated and uninstall all over again.

I only use the free versions, which definitely affects my ranking, but here’s my rundown of five dating apps I’ve used — the good, the bad, and the “why did I waste my time on this?”

(Dis)Honorable Mention: Boo

Boo claims to focus on “personality-based matching,” which is a fun switch from the standard swipe apps. It’s also set up more like a social media platform.

Sounds good, right? Except… I had zero productive conversations on Boo. Whether that’s because there aren’t many users in my area, or because the ones there were uninterested (or just plain bad at conversation), who knows. Most of the likes I got were from people out of state or even out of the country — and dating locally is important to me.

I didn't even last a month. No successful dates.

4. Hinge

We’ve all seen the ads: “The dating app designed to be deleted.” Honestly, I do like the way Hinge is set up. The profile prompts are great icebreakers, and with a full profile, you get to know someone better than just a few pictures.

But here’s the thing: the free version isn’t worth it. You can only send a handful of likes per day, and so many profiles are behind a paywall. The whole vibe is “pay us or good luck finding a match.”

I’ve only ever had one successful date off Hinge.

3. Bumble

Bumble might have the best profile setup of them all. The “About Me” section is perfect — it makes it super easy to see deal-breakers and deal-makers right away (religion, kids, drinking, smoking, what they’re looking for, etc.).

So why is it only in third place? Because again, the free version is limiting. I get more matches on Bumble than Hinge, but about 80% of conversations time out. You only have 24 hours to message after matching, and while I always send something, if they don’t reply… the match disappears. Want to rematch? Pay up.

That said, I've had at least three successful dates from Bumble (one just last night!).

2. Facebook Dating

People usually laugh when I bring up Facebook Dating — but hear me out. I've gotten more dates here than any other app we've mentioned so far combined.

It’s simple, built right into Facebook, and takes hardly any effort to set up. My favorite part? You can see who liked you without paying for it (which is usually a premium feature elsewhere).

The pool of people is big in my area, and I’ve had a lot of solid conversations. A downside: people can send you one message along with their like before you match. Sometimes it’s nice, sometimes it’s creepy.

But overall? Many successful dates.

1. Tinder

You can hate on Tinder all you want (trust me, I do too), but unfortunately, it still reigns supreme. The app is easy to use, tons of people on it, and it has the best safety features.

I also like that Tinder throws you free perks if you log in consistently. I've gotten Boosts and Read Receipts without paying. Small, but appreciated.

Yes, it’s known as the “hook-up app,” but if you’re clear about what you’re looking for, you’ll find people on the same page. It just takes time to sift through and ask the right questions. Personally, I don’t mind — dating’s supposed to be a process, and I’ve learned to enjoy it.

At the end of the day, I’ve had dozens of dates from Tinder and even three actual relationships. So for better or worse… Tinder takes the crown.

Feel free to drop your favorite dating app in the comments.

Happy dating!