Finding the best dating apps in Tampa is always a big challenge if you don't have all day to be swiping and messaging. There are so many options out there right now that it's almost impossible to know where to start. Dating without the apps can be hard, especially post-pandemic as many people are still hesitant to approach strangers in public, so knowing the best dating apps in Tampa can help.
After trying out 100+ different dating sites and apps our team of dating and relationship experts is confident we can help you find the one that will work for you. From Palmetto Beach to Old Seminole Heights these are the top Tampa dating apps that have been producing results lately.
Tampa is a very unique part of Florida so you can't always rely on the apps that are working in other parts of the state!
#1 - BLK is the perfect dating app for black singles in Tampa (Android; iOS)
BLK is a dating app made for black men and women to meet one another online. As Tampa has a large black population, it’s the perfect app to meet someone from a similar culture and background.
There are only 40,000 members on the app so far since it’s fairly new, but this creates an exclusive environment where black singles can feel safe. This niche app is super easy to use, so we love recommending it.
Why BLK is worth trying:
- Very user friendly
- Black singles have less of a chance of being fetishized compared to other apps
- You can find whatever you’re looking for on BLK
Why another app may be better:
- If you’re not black, this isn’t the app for you
- The app is free, leading to a lot of fake profiles
#2 - eHarmony (Android; iOS) is the best dating site to find a long-term relationship
eHarmony is hands-down the best app out there if you want to find a long-term partner in Tampa, it isn't even close. They have the best matching algorithm that we've seen and it does a very good job of matching you up with people that you're actually compatible with. No more scrolling through hundreds of profiles and hoping that they swipe you too!
Getting your profile set up and answering all of the initial questions does take a little time but it's worth it. They match you up with a handful of other singles each day that meet the criteria you're looking for (that you will actually click with) and do a lot to help you build some chemistry before jumping into a first date. If you're looking for something real, eHarmony is the best option in town.
Why eHarmony is worth trying:
- Success rates you don’t see anywhere else with 75% of marriages that started online were because of eHarmony
- Gigantic number of users (over 35 million)
- Solid refund policy if you’re one of the few that don’t find success
What we don’t like about it:
- Getting you’re profile set up takes some effort (but it’s worth it)
- Their guided communication process can drag on a bit long
#3 - Bumble (Android; iOS) is the best dating app for women
Bumble is the app that was made so that women can actually enjoy online dating. If you've ever seen the message feed from an attractive woman, you know that they're constantly bombarded with messages, most of them pretty awful. This makes for a pretty bad experience and one that drives women off of most dating apps.
Bumble flips things around. In order for a guy to message a woman she has to reach out to him first. No more constant messages from guys who are just blasting out 100 a day! It makes for a great experience on both sides of the encounter and leads to a lot of great dates.
Why Bumble is a great dating app in Tampa:
- It’s extremely popular in the 20-35 crowd these days
- The experience of using it for women is unmatched
- The app is really easy to use and intuitive
What we don’t like about it:
- If you’re a guy whose profile doesn’t stand out it can be hard to be noticed
- It can take some getting used to if you’re a woman who isn’t used to making the first move and a lot of women are terrible at this
#4 - AFF is the best hookup app in Tampa
AFF should be your first choice when you're not looking for a relationship but still want some fun in the bedroom. We've tried a lot of different Tampa hookup apps (most are awful) and only a couple have proven to work over and over. Tinder is great if you're under 25 but once you get beyond that AFF has shown the best results out of any dating site in Tampa we've tried, especially for guys.
One of the things we've really liked about this app is that they do a really good job of helping you find EXACTLY what you're looking for. Everyone on this site is looking for the same thing so you can save a LOT of time that you would waste on other sites. If you want to skip the hassles and start with Tampa's best hookup site you've found it.
Why you should try AFF:
- They have a massive number of users on their app (over 50 million)
- We’ve seen guys have the best success using it, especially those who aren’t super good looking and didn’t do well on Tinder
- It’s very straightforward and easy to use
What we don’t like about it:
- Many users can only access via web app
- The app is a little dated and not as polished as some others
- Sometimes people are a little TOO upfront with what they want
#5 – Coffee Meets Bagel (Android; iOS) is for you if you’re super busy
Coffee Meets Bagel is the best dating app in Tampa for the busy person who doesn’t want dating to take up their entire life. Every day around noon you get a few matches (five or six) sent your way that their algorithm picks out for you. You can choose to move on to an icebreaker-type activity after that to get to know them a bit more or decline the match within 24 hours. It’s that simple.
What we really like about this app is that it allows you to be actively dating without having to make a big deal about it. It’s perfect for someone who is interested in meeting new people but too busy to use other sites that make you dig through hundreds of profiles.
Why Coffee Meets Bagel is a Tampa dating app worth your time:
- Makes balancing dating and a busy life much easier
- Very popular with career-minded singles 25-40
- Does a good job of highlighting users outside of their photos
What we don’t like about it:
- Some guys haven’t been getting a lot of matches
- Response rates are not as great as other apps with more focused dater
#6 - The League (Android; iOS) is for Tampa's super ambitious
The League is an app that is specifically for those who consider themselves highly ambitious and only want to date other locals who feel the same. If this doesn't sound like you you can keep scrolling to the next app!
This app is specifically looking for highly accomplished and/or attractive people to match up with their other members. They have a lot of solid features that can help with this, like video speed dating type functions and highly focused matching abilities. If you're picky and actually have a reason to be, this can be a great choice.
Why The League is a great dating site:
- Has cultivated a very upscale user base
- Very selective about who they let in
- Do a solid job of reducing the amount of effort necessary to find dates
What we don’t like about it:
- Getting accepted is really hard with only 20-30% of people getting in
- There are a lot of rules and ways to get kicked off this dating site or charged extra
#7 – Zoosk is one of our favorite dating apps in Tampa (Android; iOS)
Zoosk is the perfect dating app for people who are tired of Tinder. It’s a great alternative because it’s not heavily focused on looks or hookups, helping young people find something serious. The app is super easy to use as it’s similar to Tinder.
Swipe right on a profile if you like what you see and left if you don’t. Then if you match, you can message each other. Take some time looking through bios on Zoosk as they can be 1500 characters long compared to TInder’s 500, helping you get to know users better.
Why Zoosk is worth trying:
- Huge user base of young singles
- User-friendly app and desktop site
- Daily match recommendations with the SmartPick feature
What we don’t like about it:
- You must pay to send messages to people
- Match recommendations may not be based on compatibility
#8 - Hinge (Android; iOS) is great for men and rewards reading profiles
Hinge is the Tampa dating app that can deliver the best results if you're the type of person who actually reads a person's profile before swiping left or right. Unlike most apps out there today, they allow you to like particular parts of a profile and use that as a really easy way to break the ice between two people. They also force free members to look at one profile at a time and actually consider them.
This is an app that has become really popular with the 20's and 30's crowd and for good reason. When you combine a lot of users and the ability to actually help them form connections you're going to see some results.
Why Hinge is working in Tampa:
- A stronger focus on creating real relationships than most apps
- Several features slow down the scrolling process so you actually read profiles
- Having a lot of users will give you solid options
What we don’t like about it:
- The free version really limits what you’re able to do
- Not a lot of opportunity to spend more time and get better results
#9 - Chorus (Android; iOS) lets your friends do the work
Chorus is the best dating app in Tampa for singles that trust their friends more than they trust themselves. Let's face it, we've all dated people that our friends hated but we just couldn't see it until it was too late. This app lets your friends find matches, and set you up without you having to do any of the work.
Sounds pretty nice right?
It's actually a pretty easy process of getting set up and allowing your friends to start finding the right person for you. They're going to be spending a lot of time with this person as well so it only seems fair that they chip in. It has become a fairly popular app and it's a fun way to mix things up.
Why Chorus is worth downloading:
- Getting a little help finding matches is really helpful
- Unlike some competitors, you can find your own matches too
- It actually makes dating a lot more fun
What we don’t like about it:
- You might not like who your friends think is a great match and what it means they think about you
- The actual response rates on messages seem to be lower than other sites we’ve used
#10 - OkCupid (Android; iOS) is the best free dating app in Tampa
OkCupid is an app that has been around for a long time and probably one you've already tried. They likely have the largest numbers of users of any app out there, and plenty of people have met significant others using it. Being free and popular is a powerful combo that makes it one of the best dating sites in Tampa.
Anyone who has spent any time using it though might get mixed impressions. Since it's so big your results are going to vary WIDELY based on what you look like, and how good you are at messaging other people. It's a great place to practice but not the most efficient option out there.
Why OkCupid is the free app for you:
- You won’t be able to find an app used by more people
- There are some pretty useful and fun quizzes and matching options
- It’s totally free
What we don’t like about it:
- The response rates from messages is really low compared to other top Tampa dating sites
- A lot of people, especially women, only use it for attention and validation
#11 - Tastebuds (iOS) is great for music lovers
Tastebuds is the app that lets your music taste drive your dating life. If you're the type of person that has HARD opinions on music, and couldn't fathom the idea of dating someone that didn't have similar preferences.Then, you have to give it a shot. No other app caters to audiophiles like this!
Surprisingly, it's also a great way to find new music that you might like. Instead of just being about dating and relationships, there is a big focus on finding new bands and sharing what you love. Being able to find someone that's as passionate as you are is really wonderful.
Why Tastebuds is worth trying:
- It does a great job of matching up musical tastes in a way no other app can replicate
- We actually found a lot of new music to listen to while using it
- You’re going to be spending a lot of time with your partner so you want to make sure you can tolerate their music
What we don’t like about it:
- Unless you’re very “into music” it isn’t as valuable to be matched up like this
- iOS only (sorry Android users)
The Best Dating Sites in Tampa for Long-Term Relationships
If you know what you’re looking for on dating apps, you can choose one that’s targeted to your needs. This can improve your chances of finding your perfect match. So, if you’re looking for a long-term relationship, here are the best apps to try:
eHarmony is the best Phoenix dating site to find a relationship
Even if you’re new to the online dating world, you’ve likely heard of eHarmony before. It’s one of the most well-known dating sites thanks to how successful it is. Since its release in 2000, it has helped over 600,000 couples find each other and get married.
eHarmony’s success is likely due to its in-depth questionnaire that all users complete upon sign-up. The site uses people’s answers to these questions to match them with people they may actually be compatible with. This helps you find people with shared values and interests, making it easier to start a conversation and start planning a date.
Coffee Meets Bagel is a great place to find real connections
Another great dating app for finding long-term relationships is Coffee Meets Bagel. Many dating apps are about quantity over quality but Coffee Meets Bagel is the opposite. Every day at noon, you receive one match recommendation. This allows you to focus on one person so you can get to know them better. It takes the work out of online dating and stops you from being overwhelmed by matches and messages.
The Best Hookup Sites in Tampa
Not everyone is looking for something serious on dating apps. Instead, they may just want to have a little fun. Thankfully, there are plenty of apps targeted to just that. Here are two of our favorite Tampa hookup sites:
AFF is one of the best casual dating sites in Tampa
Another well-known dating app is AFF. It’s made specifically for people looking for casual flings or hookups, so there’s no need for awkward conversations about what you’re looking for. Instead, you can just get straight down to business with the many users on the site.
It’s a paid dating site, but don’t let this put you off. Membership gets you access to plenty of fun features like adult chatrooms, erotic stories and live webcam shows, so we think it’s worth it. You can match with people based on your distance, making it easy to get down and dirty with Tampa locals.
Tinder is one of the most popular hookup sites in Tampa
The first dating app that many people download nowadays is Tinder. It’s not advertised as a hookup app, but that’s what most people use it for. As it’s free to use, it’s a great option for people on a budget. It’s also super easy to use so you won’t struggle to look through profiles and find potential matches. Just keep in mind that for the most part, more attractive users fare well on Tinder. If your photos aren't up to par, you're likely to be ignored.
The Best Free Dating Sites in Tampa
We value honesty, so we need to tell you that free dating apps and sites don’t offer the same results that paid ones do. The old saying, “You get what you pay for,” is true, especially when it comes to dating apps as people who pay for memberships tend to be more serious about the experience.
Paid dating apps also include features that make online dating easier, such as the ability to send gifts or super likes to people you’re interested in. But, if you’re new to online dating, you may not be ready to pay for a membership right away. Instead, take advantage of a free trial or use a free app.
Here are three of the best free dating sites in Tampa:
- Hinge
- Bumble
- OkCupid
Each app is free to use with the option to pay for additional features so you can get the best of both worlds and test the waters before you invest in a membership.
Frequently Asked Questions on Dating Sites in Tampa
Is Tampa good for singles?
Tampa is no Miami, but it's still in sunny Florida, so it's a really good place for young singles. The city has more than enough social gathering locations and encourages mingling!
Where can I meet people in Tampa?
The best places to meet people in Tampa are local bars and clubs. However, if you're not the type to go out every weekend, then downloading dating apps like Tinder is a great way to meet people too!
Does Tinder work in Tampa?
It sure does! Many local singles have Tinder downloaded and are constantly on the lookout to find somebody either to date or to hook up with.
