Good Free Dating Apps For Freshmen In College

College is a prime dating time for many young adults, and many dating sites and apps for college students have become the hot places to flirt on a Saturday night.

• What Do Colleges Look For In Applicants
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• Good Free Dating Apps For Freshmen In College Students
• Best Free Dating Apps For College Students

With over 8,000 dating platforms in existence, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options out there, but we’ve done our homework to make it easier to find your way. You can think of this list of top-notch dating sites and apps as an online dating study guide — it can help you learn what you need to know to make the grade.

No matter your sexual orientation or relationship goals, you can find a dating platform that caters to you and has your romantic interests in mind.

PoF is by far one of the best online dating sites for recent college grads for one big reason: it’s completely free to join. As a recent college grad who is likely juggling rent, car payments and paying off pesky student loans, an online dating service that you can access for free is definitely a plus for many people. Friendsy is a social networking platform designed only for college students. This dating app enables college students to chat, compliment, and connect with each other everywhere. Friendsy is one of the best dating apps in 2020 that colleges students use to meet each other on campus. It gives students super-specific filtering options. May 14, 2020 Friendsy first launched as a college dating website and social network in 2013, with the app premiering in 2015 (which you can download via The App Store and Google Play). You must have a valid.edu email address to join, and then you can use their Tinder-like swipe matching system to find hookups, study buddies, friends, and dates in your area. The app is the best for students that do not want to spend money finding hookups. Pros: The platform has an interesting approach. Students connect through what they do not like. No annoying ads. All features are free. Cons: Incomplete profiles. More men than females. Overview: The dating service is among the best free college hookup apps.

Overall Best Dating Sites & Apps for College Students

If you’re a college student or a recent grad, you’re probably looking for a free dating site or app that can introduce you to dates without making you take out your credit card. There’s no need to get into debt just to get a date — here’s our cheat sheet for college students looking for a free ride and a fun distraction in the online dating scene.

Match.com has come a long way since it launched in April 1995. This well-reputed dating site has honed its match algorithm to identify long-term compatibility and facilitate countless first dates, serious relationships, and successful marriages. Match.com's esteemed dating experts go to great lengths to guide singles to a seriously good match.

• Match is the world's longest running dating site
• The Discover section has search filters by interests, looks, lifestyle, and more
• Match is available in 50 countries and 15 languages
• Browse Match.com profiles 100% free»

When it comes to online matchmaking, Match has always been at the head of the class. This dating site (and its companion app) has been around since 1995, which makes it older than some of its current users!

Match stands out in the online dating scene because it uses personality traits, interests, and dating preferences to inspire deeper connections than you’ll find by simply swiping through photos. That’s why we’ve consistently ranked and reviewed Match among the top dating sites in the history of online dating.

Match is free to join, and its free features includes unlimited browsing and limited communication. Match members can message their Top Picks for free; however, they’ll have to subscribe to a monthly plan if they want to message to any dating profile they see on the site or app.

EliteSingles.com maintains a sophisticated network of young professionals seeking a relationship. Over 80% of its members hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree, and over 90% are over the age of 30. Elite Singles uses an intelligent matchmaking system to introduce daters to someone on their level.

• Over 2 million monthly users
• Premium members receive 20 wildcard matches a day
• Search features include age, height, education, ethnicity, and lifestyle habits
• Browse Elite Singles profiles 100% free»

Elite Singles is a high-end dating site for anyone who’s serious about settling down. You won’t find flaky dates and sex-driven singles here. The vast majority of Elite Singles members have their hearts set on finding “The One” online.

Over 82% of Elite Singles members have earned a college degree, so you can compare notes about the college experience and find potential dates who are on your level in terms of intellect and education.

Elite Singles is technically a free dating site — because it’s free to join — but communication is a premium member feature, so it may be worth upgrading to a paid membership if you want to get in touch with single people in this elite network.

Zoosk is a socially savvy dating site known for its diverse membership base and behavioral matchmaking system. Over 40 million singles in 80 countries have joined the network so far, and it's growing larger every day. The platform offers many different ways to communicate and express interest in members, so it's easy to form a fast connection here.

• Send messages to premium members for free
• Over 3 million messages sent a day
• Premium perks include photo verification and sending virtual gifts
• Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free»

Zoosk is a socially savvy dating site and app with a global following. Over 40 million singles in 80 countries have joined the Zoosk network since 2007, and it continues growing as young singles come of age and go online to meet people.

Generation Z has embraced Zoosk in a big way in recent years. According to the dating site’s internal numbers, Gen Z users are more likely to swipe yes on dating profiles, and they’re more likely to set up casual coffee dates for a first encounter.

Pro tip: Zoosk uses behavioral matchmaking to identify compatibility between users, so the more you view photos and like profiles, the better the match algorithm will get at predicting who you’ll like.

Since its launch in 2000, eharmony has endeavored to find the formula for love. Its 32-dimension personality test uses psychological truths to identify areas of compatibility between two individuals. The dating site's mission is to foster relationships that last, and every potential match has a reason behind it.

• Over 2 million people have found love here
• Users can filter their match recommendations by age or city
• Compatibility Quiz identifies common interests, lifestyles, and goals
• Browse eharmony profiles 100% free»

College students aren’t always into hookups — sometimes they want to find a partner to build a life with them. That’s where eharmony comes in. This premium online dating site was originally designed (back in 2000) to inspire long-term relationships and marriages, and it has brought over 2 million couples together.

The eharmony matchmaking system is great for people of all ages because it focuses on where you are in life and where you want to go in your relationships. You can fill out an in-depth dating profile and an 80-question personality test to help the eharmony team get to know you better and identify key personality traits. The dating service recommends your ideal match based on the information you provide, so make sure you’re honest when setting up your account.

Our full eharmony review can tell you more about how the dating site works, but the TL;DR is this site can help singles get serious and meet people who are ready to settle down.

Christian Mingle is a faith-based dating website for singles who want a relationship grounded in Christian values. People of all religions and backgrounds turn to this site in hopes of meeting a good Christian man or a good Christian woman. Christian Mingle's claim to fame is that it has the highest percentage of Christian members of any dating site or app in the world.

• For singles interested in God-centered relationships
• Over 3.5 million monthly users around the world
• Available as an app on Google Play and the App Store
• Browse Christian Mingle profiles 100% free»

Christian Mingle is a values-driven dating site where Christian singles mingle freely. Although not everyone on Christian Mingle is a devout Christian, they’re all willing to date and marry a person of faith.

The biggest upside on Christian Mingle is that you don’t have to have that awkward “What’s your religion?” talk before or on the first date. You’re already on the same biblical page, so to speak, because you both chose to seek a potential partner on a God-centered dating website.

Christian Mingle has many heartwarming success stories to its name, and many of them come from college-aged singles who found their ideal match on the site or app. “I knew within an hour at our first date over coffee,” Kimberley said in her testimonial. “Rich knew after the third date — he picked out the ring that night! Five months of dating, five months of engagement, and we are set to marry in two weeks.”

Since its launch in 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has created an African American singles network that stretches across North America. This niche dating site has 1.5 million members who are attracted to Black and biracial people. It takes less than two minutes to create a full profile and start browsing through profiles sorted by age, location, and orientation.

• One of the largest Black singles networks in existence
• Straightforward search and matching features
• Use Tokens to appear higher in search results
• Browse BlackPeopleMeet profiles 100% free»

If you want to date in the black community, then BlackPeopleMeet should be your go-to dating site. Its mission is to empower singles of color and create a dating environment where they have the run of things.

BlackPeopleMeet offers a free registration process and user profile browsing, but it does charge for the privilege of sending messages to its members. That paywall naturally weeds out folks who aren’t really invested in online dating and don’t have extra funds to spend on their dates. Still, tens of thousands of people have joined BlackPeopleMeet and made it one of the most popular dating sites for African-American singles and their admirers.

“I was able to find a wonderful woman through the use of your site,” said a Maryland user. “After one month, I truly feel as though she is the woman of my dreams, and when the time is right, I will ask her to marry me.”

In 2004, OkCupid's founders decided to create a fool-proof formula for love, and they launched a free dating site to delve into what personal attributes made relationships work. OkCupid members can send unlimited messages for free. It's easy to discover mutual interests and compatibility on the platform's information-rich dating profiles.

• Free, unlimited communication for everyone
• Singles can swipe or search for a compatible date
• Over 91 million connections every year
• Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free»

Since 2004, OkCupid has been one of the most popular dating sites and apps in the business. It’s no secret why — OkCupid is completely free for everyone always, and that includes sending as many messages to your matches as you want.

The OkCupid team has promised to offer singles a lot of bang for their buck, and they don’t charge for browsing, searching, liking, or contacting people on the site. Every year, OkCupid is responsible for making over 91 million matches and inspiring 2.6 million dates.

OkCupid takes a as the team says) dating app that helps cis, trans, and non-binary identified singles come into their own. This is a strict no-boys-allowed zone. HER encourages LGBTQ+ women to mingle by commenting on photos or events in the Feed, or they can like profiles to initiate a private conversation with a mutual match.

• A quirky and unapologetic womxn-only dating community
• Queer events get users connecting IRL
• The constantly updated Feed facilitates social networking
• Browse HER profiles 100% free»

HER is a womxn-only dating app designed to create real relationships and friendships in the LGBTQ+ community. Over 4 million womxn have jumped on board this app, and all of them have been verified as authentic and genuine.

The HER app acts as a social network with live feeds, queer events, and private messages to help keep lesbian, bisexual, and queer womxn in touch with one another. Free members can set up a full profile to make a positive impression on the HER community and send likes and comments to womxn who catch their eye online.

In a recent survey, 81% of surveyed HER users said they had fallen in love with someone on the app, and you can read many #WeMetOnHer stories on Twitter and Instagram.

Grindr became the world's first gay geosocial app in 2009, and it continues growing its all-male user base more than a decade later. The app uses real-time GPS data to locate nearby date prospects and give gay and bisexual singles a chance to connect while they're out on the town.

• Social networking for gay, bi, trans, and queer men
• Location-based matches spark instant chemistry
• Grindr Equality advocates for LGBTQ+ interests on the global stage
• Browse Grindr profiles 100% free»

With over 27 million users, Grindr has the distinction of being the most popular gay dating app on the market, and it’s completely free to download, match, and chat.

Grindr is a location-based online dating app, which means a hot date is always within your reach. You can log in whenever you’re feeling frisky and match with single men on campus, at the local bar, or in your area. Most Grindr users are looking for an instant connection and steamy romance, so you don’t have to feel shy about asking a person to meet up right away.

If you’re looking for men in the LGBTQ+ dating scene, then Grindr should be high on your priority list. This app can get you swiping and dating at a fast clip, and you never know where those online conversations and connections will take you.

Best Hookup Sites & Apps for College Students

Some college students are in no hurry to settle down. They’re young and vibrant, and they want to play the field while they can. The average student reports having five sexual partners during their college days. The top dating sites for hookups can help you pursue an above-average dating experience and meet many desirable single men and women in your college town.

BeNaughty invites singles to walk on the wild side and explore their sexuality in a fun, free-wheeling environment. This adults-only dating site is full of X-rated content, but users can blur nude photos if they'd prefer to leave some things to the imagination. Premium subscribers get the most bang for the buck because they can send messages, browse incognito, and receive alerts when their messages have been read by someone special.

• Sexually active adults in 10 countries
• Browse the Like Gallery for hot singles
• Stimulate conversation in intimate private messages
• Browse BeNaughty profiles 100% free»

We consider BeNaughty to be the top dating website for sexy singles because it offers completely free communication with virtually zero limits. As long as you have a photo on your user profile, you can send individual chats or mass messages on this dating platform.

The fast-paced world of BeNaughty can be overwhelming at first glance, but you can use the search filters to find a potential match who fits your image of a perfect date. BeNaughty lets users filter the database by age, gender, location, orientation, appearance, online activity, and popularity, so a hot date is only a few clicks away.

Not sure what you’re looking for? Then head to the Like Gallery where you can swipe on photos until you find someone in the user base worth liking and messaging.

In 1996, Friend Finder Networks began harnessing the power of online networking to help adults meet sexually active singles in their area, and it has now grown into a global X-rated phenomenon with over 93 million profiles. Adult Friend Finder provides a safe, anonymous dating platform where singles and swingers can hook up with another.

• Among the largest online sex and swinger communities
• Completely free no-obligation registration
• Live chat rooms and discussion forums open 24/7
• Browse Adult Friend Finder profiles 100% free»

Adult Friend Finder is among the world’s largest casual dating sites — it has over 100 million profiles, and it has created over 4 million sexy connections to date.

Whether you’re looking for a one-on-one connection, a threeway, an orgy, or a strip tease video, you can explore many erotic discussions and X-rated profiles by becoming a full AFF member. While joining AFF is free, you won’t be able to get all the benefits of the community until you subscribe for less than $1 a day.

Our full review named AFF one of the most legit hookup sites in the online world, and we’d recommend it to college students with a high sex drive and few inhibitions.

FriendFinder-X specializes in delivering hot dates to your inbox. For the last 20+ years, this hookup site has amassed a huge following around the world and led to countless sexy encounters. Millions of people have created an account and searched for singles, couples, and groups who can satisfy their deepest desires.

• Open to casual daters in the U.S. and abroad
• Free members can browse profiles and watch sexy videos
• Chat anonymously in the forum or private messages
• Browse FriendFinder-X profiles 100% free»

FriendFinder-X is among the top dating sites for sexually active singles and swingers over 18. The site prides itself on being “where good girls do bad things,” and it is open to people of all orientations and gender identities.

As a discreet platform, FriendFinder-X doesn’t require users to mingle under their real names, and it does not connect to anyone’s social media account. You are completely anonymous and free to follow your desires in a judgment-free zone. If you’re looking for casual dating, look no further — FriendFinderX can help you find your way to an easy lay, and it doesn’t cost anything to get started.

What is a Good Dating Site for 20-Year-Olds?

Many 20-somethings favor OkCupid because it is totally free to use. You never have to pay anything to create matches and send messages on OkCupid, and it also doesn’t charge for its matchmaking questionnaire, which includes over 4,000 optional questions.

Since 2004, OkCupid has set itself apart by turning online matchmaking into a numbers game. The dating site and app uses highly sophisticated algorithms to assess compatibility between two individuals and recommend great date prospects. Single women can search the site by age, location, interest, or keyword to find a guy who measures up to their standards.

• Only messages from mutual matches appear in your inbox
• Insightful profile questions help singles get to know one another
• A-List members receive additional perks such as seeing who liked them
• Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free»

We’d also say Zoosk is a good option for college-aged singles seeking conversation and connection. The dating platform has a lot of free features, including limited messaging, and its members send over 3 million messages per day.

Zoosk is a dynamic dating site with over 40 million members worldwide. This general dating platform caters to singles seeking short-term and long-term relationships, and you don't need a paid subscription to join the fun. Zoosk members can send messages to premium members for free, and they can use Zoosk Coins to earn added perks.

• Free trial with unlimited profile browsing
• Flirt with women in 80+ countries
• Behavioral matchmaking system pays attention to your likes and views
• Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free»

Most mainstream dating sites and apps cater to a fairly young single crowd, so you can’t go wrong as a 20-something in the online dating scene. You’re in the driver’s seat here, and you don’t have to settle for anything less than an ideal match with a premium member.

What is the Best Dating App for Singles?

Hands down, Tinder is the best dating app for singles who are active in the dating scene — especially if you’re in your early 20s. More than half of Tinder members are between 18 and 25.

Tinder gives singles a fast and fun way to mix things up online. The dating app's motto is 'Single is a terrible thing to waste,' and its swiping system encourages singles to explore the dating scene without making any big commitments. Tinder is free to download on Google Play and iTunes.

• Connect with attractive women near you
• Free chat and matching features
• Responsible for over 60 billion matches to date
• Browse Tinder profiles 100% free»

In a Badoo survey, 84.4% of college students said they actively use Tinder to find a potential date, so its one of the most popular mobile dating apps for young people.

Tinder has been downloaded 300 million times since its launch in 2012, and the online dating service arranges over 1.5 million first dates a week.

What is the Most Successful Dating Site?

Different dating sites appeal to different people, but Match is for everyone.

Match.com was among the first dating sites to launch in the early days of the internet, and it remains a force to be reckoned with almost 30 years later.

As a serious dating network, Match boasts having arranged more first dates, relationships, and marriages than any of its competitors, and it is responsible for the birth of over 1 million babies.

Match has become a trusted name in the online dating industry by catering to quality singles looking for love and romance. Since 1995, the dating site has developed a time-tested matching system to facilitate deep connections between men and women who share similar goals in life.

• In-depth matching appeals to women with high standards
• Video chat tools help online daters establish a rapport
• An established singles network in 50 countries worldwide
• Browse Match.com profiles 100% free»

Match is definitely the most successful dating site on the market today. Not only has it been around the longest, but it also has more real-life success stories to its name.

If you’re serious about meeting folks, we’d recommend upgrading to Match’s paid membership plan. A premium member can make the most of this online dating service and chat up a potential match in the local dating scene.

What Percentage of College Students Use Dating Apps?

In 2016, 27% of 18- to 24-year-olds reported trying an online dating site or dating app, which was a marked increase from the 10% who’d said they had tried online dating in 2013. We’d be willing to bet that stat has only increased in recent years what with the rise of swiping and mutual matching on mobile dating apps.

In fact, in 2019, more couples than ever before (22%) said they had met their spouse online, and 30% of those couples were originally matched by Tinder!

We Give Today’s College Dating Sites & Apps an A+

College students have a lot of options in the dating scene. Many dating sites and apps are full of promise, and many appeal to young daters, but only a select few passed our test in terms of membership numbers, success rate, and free features.

We’ve ranked the best free dating sites and apps for college students seeking romance and love, and our reviews can tell you everything you need to know to get ahead of the dating curve and hone your flirtation skills.

You can make the most of your college years with a solid dating site or app in your pocket. All you need is a free membership to give yourself a head start and raise your profile in the local dating scene. Good luck!

With the heavy course load in college, most students don’t have the time of meeting fellow students face to face for hookups or relationships.

While some are busy focusing to graduate with good grades, others are aiming to graduate and find a partner too.

Luckily, here are some of the best dating apps which college students use online for free to connect for hookups/relationships.

With these dating apps, students can swipe through and chat with anyone they like for a hookup or for a serious relationship.

Some of the best online dating apps college students can use in 2021 are free while others are paid.

Before the invention of the computer, there was never anything like this. If you were in college then, you must have to approach anyone you like face to face and ask them out.

The purpose could be for a mere hookup or for a serious relationship.

Now that we are in a digital world, it is very easy for someone to surf the internet using dating apps to get partners.

Studies show that people in their late teens and early twenties use dating apps frequently. The survey also found out that over 75% of adults between the ages of 18 to 24 use Tinder.

Tinder is one of the best online dating apps which college students and other people use frequently in 2020.

Are you a freshman in college who is looking to connect with other students on campus? Do you feel shy to approach someone of the opposite sex face to face for hookup or relationship? Well, this article is the best bet for you.

Table of Contents Hide

1. What are the best online dating apps for college students?

What are the best online dating apps for college students?

There are many applications that college students use online to connect with other students on campus to build relationships or hookups.

In this article, we will focus only on the best dating apps that college students and other people use frequently to get partners.

The dating apps are free while some are paid. They include:

• OkCupid
• Tinder
• Bumble
• Friendsy
• Hinge
• HER
• Happn
• Coffee Meets Bagel
• Plenty of Fish
• Hater
• Match
• JSwipe/Minder/CDate
• Zoosk
• Grindr
• eHarmony

1. Tinder

Tinder is regarded by many as the dating platform of the Millennial generation as well as the world’s most popular dating app.

This dating app is used widely by college students. Research shows that the app has recorded over 43 billion matches to date and over half of its users are adults below the ages of 25 years.

Meanwhile, Tinder allows users to anonymously swipe to like or dislike other profiles based on their photos, a small bio, and common interests. The moment two users have “matched,” they can exchange messages immediately.

This dating app matches you with singles using your location. Initially, tinder required access to a Facebook account before one can use the app.

However, users started joining the platform with just a telephone number in August 2019.

To get started with Tinder, select a few pictures and a write a short bio. You may choose add your Instagram account. Now, it is time to swipe. If you and another user both swipe right (for yes) on each other, you become matched and start sending each other messages.

Since Tinder is a millennial app, several college students are familiar with it. Tinder is perfect for students or persons that do not want any form of commitment in a relationship and just want to catch fun. It matches a student with strictly another student on campus.

Although Tinder is known as the “hookup app”, it is important that you state whether you are looking for just sex or a relationship.

The base of this dating app that college students use is totally free, but if you can upgrade to TinderPlus for features like “Super-likes” and “Rewind last swipe,” (when you accidentally swipe left on a hot girl).

2. OkCupid

OkCupid is an internationally operating online dating, friendship, and formerly a social networking website and application that is based in the U.S.

All users interact with each other through private messages or an instant messaging “chat” function.

OkC was the first major dating site to offer unlimited messaging for free. It also has multiple-choice questions to match members.

You may ask, why is this online dating app preferred by college students?

Whenever we add up new friends online, we may notice that it will take a long time before we get to know their attitude. However, this makes it a bit difficult to find partners who share the same values with you on time.

In college, you’ll have lots of things occupying your mind such as studying very hard to make good grades. This actually means you don’t have the whole time to waste on someone you want to connect with. With OKCupid, your problem is solved immediately in this case.

OkC’s app has a wide variety of optional questions and matching tech. These questions helps you to have an idea of someone’s real personality.

It will also help you ask some questions to know if the person you like shares the same values with you instead of wasting the whole semester with someone who disagrees with your views.

This dating app that college students and people use is free for the basic subscription. It is recommended for a college student on a budget.

However, an A-list subscription is $4.99/month for six months, $7.99/month for three months, or $9.99/month for one month. With the A-list subscription, you can see who likes you, see when someone has read your message, etc

Read: 15 Best College Movies That Prepare You For Campus Life

3. Bumble

Bumble is a location-based social app that promotes communication between users with similar interests.

In heterosexual matches, only female users can make the first move with matched male users. The aim is for females to reduce the number of unrequested messages received from guys they do not like. But in same-sex matches, either person can send a message first.

While getting started, users can register using their phone number or Facebook profile.

Bumble uses swiping to show you, potential matches. If both users swipe right on each other, it’s a match. Bumble differs from Tinder using this feature, although matches expire after 24 hours.

The app does not focus only on dating. There are options of searching for romantic matches or, in “BFF mode”, friends. Bumble Bizz also promotes business communications.

The inclusion of BFF mode and Bumble Bizz enables college students to make new friends or professional connections on campus. Bumble is good for college students who are looking for something a little more valuable than a fling.

This dating app which is one of the best for college students has a standard membership that is free and comprehensive. You can choose to upgrade to Bumble Boost to see everyone who has right-swiped you, extend your matches by 24 hours, and rematch with expired connections

Prices may vary and may not be consistent across different locations. A week of Boost costs $8.99, a month is $24.99, three months cost $16.66 per month, and six months cost $13.33 per month.

Read: College Extracurricular Activities That You Can Start in Your College

4. Friendsy

Friendsy is a social networking platform designed only for college students. This dating app enables college students to chat, compliment, and connect with each other everywhere.

Friendsy is one of the best dating apps in 2020 that colleges students use to meet each other on campus. It gives students super-specific filtering options. In other words, students utilize the filtering options to see only freshmen in a particular major in college.

Friendsy has a swiping feature like Tinder. If you swipe right on a user you like, you then have the option to choose whether you want to be friends, date, or hook up with the user. If the user chooses the same for you, it’s a match.

Users can also send “hints” to each other which is basically a notification that lets a student know if someone is interested in them.

Furthermore, this dating app requires students to provide an active college email to join. It also ensures that no random resident that live around your rural college town fall into your swipe pool. The filter options are clutch and it helps you to find anyone if you narrow your filter enough.

Additionally, this dating app that college students use frequently in 2020 allows you to put your intentions on the forefront. On Friendsy, you will also know if someone is looking to hookup, date, or just be friends with you.

This dating app that college students use is totally free.

5. Hinge

Hinge is a dating app for people that wish to get off dating apps. It aims to foster relationships whereby aged college students use this dating app to find their potential life-time partners.

Once college students are nearing their senior year, most of them would want to enter serious relationships.

It could be that they are tired of having hangovers or relationships that never mattered in the past. Hinge provides a solution to such situations.

Hinge has a swiping feature like Tinder. This dating app requires your Facebook account to get started. Afterward, you’ll fill out your details, answer questions, and add images.

College students who are enjoying normal student life but wish to consider a relationship use this dating app which is one of the best to find the right person for themselves.

Hinge is very easy to use and it also offers slightly more than the typical surface-level swiping. The application costs $7 to subscribe per month.

Read: How can I make money in College – 15 Simple Hacks

6. HER

HER is a dating app that is created specifically for lesbian, bisexual, queer women, non-binary people, and the LGBTQ community.

You can sign up on this dating app using your Facebook or Instagram profile. You will need to permit location access so as to see users on the platform near you. If you sign up, you will be required to upload at least eight photos of yourself and choose a label including lesbian, fluid, bisexual, etc

Bear in mind that HER is only for those who identify as lesbian, bisexual, or queer. This dating app will never make you feel hypersexualized for being into women. This is because the main purpose of HER is specifically lesbians.

HER’s feed is similar to a social media platform like Facebook with the option to like other users’ photos.

In addition, it works like a comprehensive dating app where you can like or pass on potential matches and start a conversation when you both like each other.

HER also allows you to participate in local LGBTQ events, read LGBTQ news, and connect with new friends.

This dating app that college students use has a free standard membership. Below are the subscription plans on HER:

• 1 month subscription: $14.99
• 6 months subscription: $59.99
• 12 months subscription: $89.99

7. Happn

Happn is a dating app that allows you to find everyone you have crossed paths with or people that destiny has decided you should meet.

If you’re a user on Happn and you cross paths with another user, their profile will appear on your app.

Once the user’s profile catches your attention, you can simply like their profile secretly and the user will never know unless they like you back.

In the same vein, you may wish to make a big impression by sending a salutation like “hello” and they’ll receive a notification. If the like is mutual, it means that you have got a crush. Thereafter, you start chatting with each other and maybe organize a face to face meeting.

Happn will never allow you to receive a message from someone you are not interested in. The dating app does not expose your location to other members, however, only the places you crossed paths with them are shown.

By signing up on Happn via your Facebook profile, you will allow your phone to geo-locate you so it can start tracking your movements. As a college student using Happen, whenever you visit specific places on campus, students that visit there regularly will show on your app. This will enable you to connect and become friends.

This dating app is free. If you wish to have access to more advanced features on Happn, you can upgrade to Premium. With Premium, you can see anyone who has liked your profile and get more Hellos to send to those special profiles.

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8. Coffee Meets Bagel

Coffee Meets Bagel is a dating app for singles who are looking for a serious relationship. This app is suitable for those looking for quality dates who don’t have the time to meet more persons online.

For students in college, this app helps them to find love on campus. It also helps them connect with partners that help them to excel in their studies, apply and gain internships, or get into graduate school.

Unlike Tinder where you swipe to find a match, Coffee Meets Bagel sends you targeted, specialized singles depending on your preferences daily every afternoon.

This is where the name of the app comes from. During coffee breaks, most students open the app to see if they can find a partner of their choice around the corner.

Coffee Meets Bagel has a feature that lets you filter your experience so you’re only matched with fellow students and alumni that match what you’re looking for. This could either be by department, age, or major.

9. Plenty of Fish

Plenty of Fish or POF is one of the oldest and biggest dating sites. While signing up, you’ll be required to complete a detailed questionnaire to enable the app to work out accurately who each person would be well-matched with.

Although many people use this dating app for chats and hookups, many have founded a serious relationship on the platform.

According to a POF survey, 52% of men and 47% of women on this dating app are interested in becoming exclusive with the right partner.

POF’s match suggestions and personality test enable singles to meet a potential partner who has similar personality features and life goals.

The basic membership is free but you can upgrade your membership. With the upgraded membership, you can get triple the number of profile views, features including uploading sixteen photos to your profile, seeing the date and time someone viewed your profile, and standing out in all searches.

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10. Hater

Hater is a dating app that matches users based on the things they hate. Its algorithm find matches using a user’s swipe.

If you swipe on other people, it is usually anonymous. This app can only match you and another user when both of you swipe right. So, this means that haters can hate together as well.

Once you sign up, the app offers you with over thousands of options including people, places and things of which you can decide to hate, love, like or dislike.

While filling up your profile, you can as well browse another user’s profile in a swipe right/left pattern.

This dating app allows you to send messages to other singles on the platform using fun icebreaker fill-in-the-blank prompt.

With this, you can start a conversation off on a humorous and interesting manner, rather than starting the chat using a boring “hi or hello”.

Hater is a sure bet for college students looking for love. Hater takes off the pressure of someone trying to be perfect for someone else in order to get the person’s attention. Since you answer some questions and choose the things you like while signing up, Hater will help you to match partners that like the same things you like as well.

Since college students do not like paying for apps, this dating app is free of charge to use.

11. Match

Match is the longest-running dating website in the world. This dating platform dates back to 1995. Research shows that Match has promoted several first dates, serious relationships, and successful marriages.

This dating app guarantees that you will definitely find a partner. While signing up, you will have to set your dating preferences. This will allow you to view other user’s profiles freely once your profile is set up and running. Luckily, it does not limit profiles, meaning you can view any profile of your choice.

Match offers match suggestions based on your preferences and you can as well change these criteria anytime any day.

This dating app also has a “Missed Connections” feature. This feature uses your location to match you with people you have already come in contact with in real life in the past.

If you are a college student using this dating app, reflect back on occasions where you saw your crush on campus but didn’t make any move on them. Match will give you a second chance to make that move you didn’t make on that crush in the past.

Match has a free version but your communication with other users will be limited. However, you can get the unlimited version via subscription. The subscription includes $26.99/month for three months or $20.99/month for a year’s worth of premium.

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12. JSwipe/Minder/CDate

You may notice that some people choose friends based on their religion or beliefs. Well, if you are single and you find yourself as one that considers religion while making friends, you can opt for JSwipe, Minder, or CDate.

JSwipe is a dating app that connects the Jewish community. On the other hand, Minder is aa dating platform that connects muslims while CDate connects Christians. These dating apps are free and you can use your Facebook profile to log in and get started.

In college, you will meet students from different walks of life and religion, but with these dating apps, you can connect and become friends with students that share the same beliefs with you.

Unfortunately, these apps do not require a user to show evidence of their religious beliefs. If religion is a priority before you choose friends on these platforms, you inquire when you match with a user to avoid disappointment.

13. Zoosk

Zoosk is an online dating site and dating app where you can browse photos of local singles, match with daters, and chat. It is available in 25 languages and in over 80 countries.

While signing up, you will be required to provide your Facebook profile and the Zoosk algorithm will sync your likes. Afterward, you will fill out basic info such as body type, education, and religion. Then, you will have to write your “story” in a bio-like section. You can also write what your idea of a perfect match would be, as well as your ideal date.

Zoosk uses behavioral matchmaking to show compatibility between users. So, the more you view photos and like profiles, the better the matching algorithm will become at forecasting who you will like.

Using Zoosk allows you to get as personal as you want, without limiting you to a certain method of finding someone. Its multiple search options let you customize your experience based on your needs.

Zoosk analyzes your preferences and patterns when it comes to interacting with other singles in order to figure out your “type.” Then it uses that information to make recommendations for you, also known as the “SmartPick” feature.

It has a free membership but you can upgrade to enjoy more features. Below are Zoosk subscription plans:

• 1 month subscription – $29.95
• 3 months subscription – $19.98 per month
• 6 months subscription – $12.49 per month

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14. Grindr

Grindr is the world’s largest social network platform and app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people. However, chances are that you may find real and long lasting relationships on this platform.

On Grindr, you will find several guys around your locality who are ready to chat. Most of the users will be honest in letting you know that they just want casual sex.

Grindr does not have any swiping feature to match you with a user. Hence, any member on the platform can chat with you without you both having to “like” each other first. This can lead to a user sending you his dick pictures. You just have to bear this in mind first!

Furthermore, you can send your location to other users on Grindr. We advise that you don’t rush into doing this. Begin first by asking for something like their Facebook or Instagram, and phone number before sending your location or meeting them in person in order to be sure of their identity.

Grindr helps gay college students who are looking for gay partners on campus for casual sex or something more. Unfortunately, Grindr is for sex addicts, so it’s not the best platform to find a lasting relationship. Although you never can tell, anything can happen.

This dating app has a basic free membership. You may choose to upgrade to Grindr XTRA to avoid seeing ads, see more profiles, use premium filters, send multiple pictures at once, etc. Below are the rates for the Grindr XTRA:

• 1-month subscription: $19.99
• 3-month subscription: $39.99
• 12-month subscription: $99.99

15. eHarmony

eHarmony is a dating app that lets you find love using a compatibility score. Millions of people all over the world have found true love using this dating app.

If you’re signing up on the platform, you will be required to answer an 80-question personality test. These answers to these questions will help the eharmony team get to know you better and identify key personality traits.

Using the information you provide, the eHarmony algorithm will recommend your ideal match. So, make sure that you are honest while answering the questions.

Upon being matched with users, you can start interacting with them by sending Smiles and Icebreakers.

eHarmony is great for college students because this dating app helps them to find the love of their lives. There are high chances that any match you find on eHarmony are as serious as you’re. So, why waste your time on a mere hookup platform when you know that you can just find love on eHarmony. A 2020 research shows that this dating app is widely used among students in college.

eHarmony is not actually free, hence, you will have to subscribe for it. A monthly subscription costs $57.95 but you can get a cheaper bundle by opting for a year’s subscription which will cost you $26.95.

FAQs on the Best Online Dating Apps for College Students in 2020

What percentage of college students use dating apps?

According to a survey carried out on 200 college students, the report showed over 53% of students in college use Tinder and other dating apps to find friends on campus.

Which is the best dating app for serious relationships?

The best dating apps where you can find serious relationship include:
1. Match
2. Hinge
3. Coffee Meets Bagel
4. Bumble

What Do Colleges Look For In Applicants

Is tinder just for hookups?

Although Tinder started as a hookup app, it is inappropriate to assume that everyone using the app is looking for just sex. However, some users on the platform are looking to extend their social network.

Tinder For College Students

What age group use Hinge mostly?

Good Free Dating Apps For Freshmen In College Students

Members of Hinge are mostly young professionals within the age range of 24 to 32, who are looking for serious relationships.

Good Free Dating Apps For Freshmen In College Students

References

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Best Free Dating Apps For College Students

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