Dating has changed, and it’s never been so challenging to get out and meet new people. Almost everyone has heard of online dating, but finding the dating apps in New York that actually work can be so challenging it can be hard to know where to begin. The last thing you want is to spend a bunch of time setting up a profile only to realize you’ve signed up for an app for hookups, not long-term relationships!
Thanks to the pandemic, with closed office spaces and fewer public areas to meet up, people are turning to apps to shortcut the dating process. Everyone knows someone on a dating app, so believe the hype! But, there’s actually a reason that people use them: they work.
We’ve sifted through all the dating apps and ranked them. So whether you’re looking for a casual encounter or the love of your life, here’s a guide on the top 5 best dating apps in New York.
There are tons of singles using dating apps in New York
About 30% of New York State’s 19 million registered population identifies as single. That factors out to about 2.8 million men and around 3 million women who might be open to finding someone to start a relationship with. Since the pandemic, everyone’s attitude has changed a little. People are literally at a distance in public, and dating apps allow you to break through that barrier and make a connection instantly.
The 5 Best Dating Apps in New York Right Now
Before you go to your app store and get overwhelmed with the number of dating apps out there, we've narrowed down the top choices to five.
#1 - eHarmony (Android, iOS) is one of the best dating apps in New York for finding love
We chose eHarmony to be the top spot because it’s a serious matching website with a fantastic track record behind it. There’s no random swiping; every match is made for a reason. The app’s advanced matchmaking algorithm takes into account your personality and preferences, and this helps eHarmony find matches for you.
If you think an algorithm can’t possibly bring you and a future spouse together, consider this: 7 out of 10 people who use eHarmony meet their future life partner within a year. Those odds are unmatched by any other app today, even free apps like Tinder and Bumble.
So if you’re serious about finding love in a big state like New York, give eHarmony a try!
Why we chose eHarmony
- 3 out of 4 online marriages were started by eHarmony
- Algorithms suggest strong matches, and people stay together
- You get a few matches a day, allowing you to focus on each match
What could be better
- Sign up questionnaire takes time, but that’s half the fun
- You can’t seek out matches yourself
#2 - Bumble (Android, iOS) is a Fresh Perspective on Dating
Bumble was originally designed to empower women to make the first move. When a match is made, women have the choice to message men first, eliminating any unwanted harassment. It’s worth mentioning that in the case of same-sex or nonbinary matches, anyone can send the first message.
Some men see not being able to message first as a con, but many guys report that it takes some pressure off of breaking the ice. Now men don’t have to come up with some cheesy opener or a pickup line! One thing to note is that once a match has been made, someone has to send a message within 24 hours. Users can pay to extend, but if you don’t, you lose your match.
What there is to like about Bumble
- More women than men on the app
- Lots of active users, with great representation for LGBTQ+ people
- Social media integration ensures fewer bots or spam accounts
Things to note
- Generally most popular with younger people
- Women must message men first
#3 - AFF is the top-rated dating site in New York for casual fun
AFF has been New York’s top hookup app for a while now. While some other apps have been popular in the past, AFF is the best site for casual fun in New York. Everyone on AFF is looking for the same thing after all.
Their site has over 60 million users, so everyone can find someone on AFF, especially if you’re a man who’s had a hard time elsewhere. Women usually have an easier time finding a hookup on dating apps, but AFF is the hottest hookup site for the everyday man. AFF also has a free trial, so there’s no harm in checking it out; it might just make your day.
Why AFF is so popular
- New York State’s highest traffic app for casual relationships
- Men have higher success finding hookups than on other apps
- Everyone on AFF is on the same page, and they’re looking to meet up
What could be improved
- A lot of ads make using the app sometimes a challenge
- Users often have to use the web app
#4 - Coffee Meets Bagel (Android, iOS) is New York’s classic choice
Coffee Meets Bagel is a classic option that’s finding a lot of ground, even outside of major cities like NYC. However, CMB states that 90% of its users are looking for a serious relationship, so this site might not be for you if you’re only looking for something casual.
Funded on Shark Tank, this app advertises itself as the anti-swiping app. It’s a more classic online dating site, but with all of the freshness of the newer apps, you see on the marketplace. With a limited free trial, you can test out Coffee Meets Bagel and see if it’s a good fit for you.
What we like
- Match-based algorithms send you similar singles every day
- No swiping means every match was made for a reason
What to note
- About 60% of the users are women, meaning men are in short supply on the app
- Many of the same features are found on other popular alternative sites like eHarmony
#5 - Hinge (Android, iOS) is a new option in New York
Hinge is a new app that starts that first awkward conversation for you. When signing up, you build your profile by answering a number of basic questions. Once you’re all set up and matching, you see your match's answers and can send a message to reply to what your match said. Basically, you’ll never run out of things to say!
This modern app uses tons of useful info to help you find your match. You can filter based on things like age, distance, or even info like education, politics, or interest in children! This app is popular with Millennials and Gen X, so if you’re over 50, you may want to pick a different site.
Why Hinge is one of our favorite apps
- Conversational messaging means there’s always something to talk about
- Dating From Home feature makes it easy to know when to call your match
What we don’t like about it
- Likes and Matches are limited, for free users
The Best Hookup Sites in New York
There are plenty of apps out there that promise to help you find what you need. But these general apps tend to have an odd mix of people. If you’re sure that you don’t want commitment and you only want something fun and casual, these are the best options in New York:
The most commonly used hookup site in New York is AFF
Our studies show that one of the reasons the site has so much traction is because everyone online is on the same page. So when you find a match on AFF, you both know what you’re getting into. Another great reason for its success is that users on AFF find solid matches regardless of their age, demographic, or sexual orientation.
What we like the most are the filters. AFF has search filters so you can narrow down which people you'd like to interact with. Those filters can get super specific, so you can really find someone who's into what you're into, even outside of NYC!
Tinder is where hot singles find each other
While Tinder now also caters to those looking for long-term relationships, it’s also a fantastic New York dating app for hookups. You’ve got a huge number of people on it, the mechanics are simple (swiping can be super fun), and it’s free to use. The only downside we’ve found is that Tinder is hyperfocused on looks. Unless you have great photos and a witty bio (that maybe 50% of users don’t even read), it will be hard to stand out and find a match on Tinder.
The Best Dating Sites in New York for Relationships
If hooking up isn’t your cup of tea, is it still hard to find a relationship in New York? Not at all, especially if you’re using one of these dating apps for long-term relationships.
If you’re serious about finding love, try eHarmony
Hands down, the best dating app for long-term relationships is eHarmony. Because of its advanced algorithm for matching people, eHarmony helps you take the guesswork out of finding your future partner. With 70% of users finding their future spouse on the app within a year, there’s no reason not to try eHarmony.
Women love Bumble
Bumble’s popularity is due to the fact that there are more women on it than men. Women simply feel safer on Bumble because they’re the ones who call the shots when it comes to messaging. This has worked incredibly well since a lot of women on Bumble become more confident, and lots of guys enjoy it when women take the lead. This is also probably why it’s one of the more popular apps in New York for finding a long-term relationship.
The Best Free Dating Sites in New York
In New York, the best way to find a real match is to pay for a dating app. The free apps work sometimes, but if you want to be in a relationship faster, or find a stronger match, you’re better off paying for premium features. On paid sites like eHarmony, you have to put in more work to build a profile, but the info you put in is why they can match you so well in the first place. In general, paid sites allow you to send as many messages as you want, see what other users think of you, or even boost your profile so that more people than usual see you.
Lots of apps have free versions or limited trials that you can use to see if the site works for you. If you don’t find the right person, don’t give up. Every app has features behind its pay-wall, so make sure you know what you’re missing out on before trying out a different solution.
If you don’t want to pay for a site, try one of New York’s most common free apps:
- Bumble
- Tinder
- Hinge
Just because people use apps like Tinder doesn’t mean they’re meeting people or even going on dates. A lot of people just swipe for fun or act like dating apps are a sort of game. If you’re serious about hooking up or finding the love of your life, consider buying the real thing.
