Ah, good old Modesto, California. Some people say its dating scene is nonexistent. And while the city has made great strides in modernizing its downtown area—which is now lined with excellent restaurants, theaters, and shops—it’s still, for the most part, an agricultural city. Most locals find it a decent place to live, but they tend to look for excitement 1-2 hours away—either in the bigger cities, the ocean, or the mountains. Making the local dating scene even more challenging is the recent pandemic, which forced many locals to turn to a new method of meeting people—Modesto dating apps.
Even if Modesto caught up with its bigger neighbors—and it will—the number of people you’ll meet, as well as the quality of the dates you’ll have, won’t match what you’ll get with the right dating app on your side. And that’s why we prepared a shortlist of the best dating apps and services to use when in the City of Great Neighbors.
Before we discuss our Top 5, consider looking into our other dating app guides for cities in California—just in case you’re in the area, or will be soon:
The 5 Best Dating Sites in Modesto, California Right Now
As with our other dating app guides, we prepared our Modesto guide by testing over a hundred different dating apps and sites against each other. We measured one metric above all else: How often we got the results we wanted. These are our 5 top performers in Modesto:
#1 - eHarmony (Android, iOS) is the best dating app in Modesto for long-term dating
Even a “ghost town” like Modesto had a healthy number of people looking for true love and happiness. We found tons of them on eHarmony, which we’re quite convinced is the #1 app for long-term dating anywhere in the country. In fact, 7 out of 10 users end up meeting their future spouse on eHarmony within a year of using the app. Those odds speak for themselves!
Apparently, many people go to Modesto to settle down and plant their roots, owing to the relatively low housing costs. This means if you, too, have the same idea, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to meet like-minded locals on eHarmony.
Why eHarmony is great
- Lots of users in Modesto
- Most, if not all, your matches will be serious about meeting and seeing if you’re “the one”
- A great track record of helping users meet their future spouses
What we don't like about it
- Almost no opportunity to find casual relationships and flings
- The signup process is long and rigorous (But if you’re serious about finding “the one,” it’ll be worth it)
#2 - Tinder (Android, iOS) is another popular way to meet Modesto locals for love and fun
Tinder, once the world’s premier “hookup app,” has since morphed into a more general dating service, with a growing number of users finding their future spouses on it. We found many Modesto locals actively using it, although we’re not sure whether it’s because of Tinder’s recent changes or in spite of it.
Regardless, of whether you know what you want out of the Modesto dating scene or not, you’ll likely find plenty of fun on Tinder. As long as you don’t mind swiping through users who only want attention, that is.
Why Tinder is great
- It’s got something for everyone, no matter what you want
- A sizeable userbase in Modesto
- Probably one of the simplest and easiest dating apps to use
What we don't like about it
- Most users are younger and uninterested in older matches
- Just a smidge too many users who are only there for attention
#3 - AFF is the best dating site in Modesto for short-term fun (try it free here)
If your idea of a good love life involves flings, one-night stands, and trusty friends with benefits, then AFF (which you can try for free) should be the first dating service on your list. There’s simply no better app out there to match you with people who want the same thing as you.
AFF is 100% focused on matching its users for short-term sexy fun, and it outplayed even Tinder in our tests in Modesto. So, if you’re feeling a bit frisky in the City of Good Neighbors, let AFF help you find some.
Why AFF is great
- 100% focused on finding consensual, no-strings-attached opportunities for you
- A good number of Modesto users actively using it
- Best option for a lot of single guys
What we don't like about it
- Its search functions can be a bit iffy and off-target at times
- Needs a better design
#4 – Bumble (Android, iOS) is a solid choice if you’re looking for something different
Bumble has a significant following in Modesto, and for good reason. If you’re not familiar with the app, it only lets the ladies send the first message on the platform. This guarantees that they’ll only chat with men they’re interested in, and no one else. That, apparently, is a real draw for women who are tired of receiving dozens of messages each day.
Meanwhile, the guys can focus on putting up good photos and writing a good profile. They’ll know they’re doing it right when they get a few messages from interested ladies each day.
Why Bumble is great
- Great for cities with more women than men, like Modesto
- If you’re a woman, you’ll feel less harassed and more in control here
- If you’re a man, you can focus on putting your best foot forward and wait for the messages to roll in
What we don't like about it
- If you’re a guy who doesn’t have the time and patience to put up a good profile, you’ll have it rough here
- Men can’t stand out through messaging
#5 – Hinge (Android, iOS) is good for social circle dating in Modesto
Are you into social circle dating—that is, dating your friends and the friends of your friends? Apparently, so are Modesto locals. In cities like it, where everyone knows almost everyone else, apps like Hinge have sizeable followings.
Hinge links with your Facebook, which lets you sort through matches that are just a few degrees of separation from you. Social circle dating is popular in many parts of the country, and if you’re into it, too, then Hinge should be on your list.
Why Hinge is great
- Perfect for social circle dating
- In-depth search function
- Mostly younger users (20+ years of age)
What we don't like about it
- If you don’t have Facebook, your experience will be gimped somewhat
- Sparser opportunities as you look for older matches
The Best Hookup Sites in Modesto
If you’re 100% sure you’re not looking for commitment, and instead just want some short-term, sexy fun with like-minded locals, what are the best casual dating sites in Modesto? Here are our picks:
AFF is the top Modesto hookup site on our list
AFF just might be the only online dating service you’ll ever need. With a userbase of over 50 million fun-seekers, you’re bound to find more than enough to keep you busy anywhere in the country—even in “sleepy” farm towns like Modesto.
One of the best things about AFF is its free trial, which lets you test the waters and see just how easy it is to find people to have fun with. If you’re not ready to try the premium service right away (which is undoubtedly worth it), I suggest you go through the trial as most users do.
Find a sexy match on Match.com
If you’re looking for other Modesto hookup sites aside from AFF, we recommend you also try Match.com. While a proven, time-tested general dating service, Match also lets you find people for casual dating, and we found many in Modesto.
The Best Dating Sites in Modesto for Relationships
What if you are looking for something long-term and serious? Which Modesto dating sites/apps should you try first? Here’s what we suggest:
eHarmony is perfect if you want commitment
According to eHarmony, it’s responsible for bringing 600,000 happily-married couples together so far. And by our own experiences with the service in Modesto, we have no doubt many locals are finding their “happily ever afters” on it, too.
What’s more, stats show that users who stay on eHarmony for a year have a 70% chance of finding their future spouse on it. That’s good news for you, too, if that’s what you’re looking for.
You can find a romantic date on Plenty of Fish
Aside from eHarmony, we’ve found Plenty of Fish to be one of the best dating sites/apps in Modesto, as well. It’s another older dating service with a strong following in Modesto, and you’re likely to find matches of all age ranges on it.
The Best Free Dating Sites in Modesto
Is it possible to find true love in Modesto—or even just some sexy fun for the weekend—without paying for premium services? The answer is “yes,” although the tradeoff will be in time, effort, and stress.
Premium services are meant to keep you safe from scammers and time-wasters, while also unlocking features that help you find the right matches, dates, and relationships faster. If that’s a tradeoff you’re willing to make, then I suggest you stick to the best free dating sites in Modesto:
- OKCupid
- Zoosk
- Facebook Dating
Again, remember: The goal is to find the online dating service that gets you the results you want. So don’t get discouraged if you try one and it doesn’t work. Try the next one. It’ll all be worth it once you find the perfect app for you.
