How it works: Meet the dating app version of the Sadie Hawkins dance, created by ex-Tinder employees
- Free version: Yes
- One week of Boost: $7.99
- One month of Boost: $
- Three months of Boost: $ ($10 per month)
- Six months of Boost: $ ($8 per month)
In an attempt to correct one of the common complaints of dating apps – that women get spammed with tons of creepy messages – women are required to message first with Bumble. It pushes some women out of their comfort zone, but like Tinder, you’ll at least know that someone also swiped right on you before making a move. It also takes the pressure off of dudes who feel like they need to start the conversation every time. (For same-sex matches, either party can start things off.)
Then, you’ll be able to take SilverSingles’ in-depth personality questionnaire, which uses the same five-factor model that EliteSingles uses to explore your personality and relationship desires, from how you handle conflict to what you’re looking for in a partner
You’ll see pictures and short bios of potential matches in your area and can swipe depending on whether you’re interested. It’s a pretty close mock of Tinder, except for the fact that Bumble relieves the anxiety of accidentally swiping left on a hottie by letting you backtrack. Bumble also offers a BFF feature to find strictly platonic friends and a LinkedIn-ish networking feature called Bizz in attempts to remind everyone that it’s not just a hookup app.
Who’s online: You’ll find much of the same crowd from Tinder on Bumble, but thanks to the app’s format, lose much of the spam messages or dead matches you’ll find on Tinder
Features for introverts: Matches expire after 24 hours so you can’t agonize over that opening line for too long, and your match list won’t be filled with people you forgot you matched with 57 weeks ago. It’s a win-win setup for introverted people who don’t want to be bombarded with messages from people who have no intention of following through and for those who need a little pressure to get the conversation going.
What it’ll cost you: Bumble has two paid tiers, Boost and Premium. Both include features such as backtracking, extending your time, and unlimited swipes. With Premium, you’ll also get access to advanced filters, Beeline, and Incognito mode, but with one week starting at $, it does come at quite a cost.
- Free version: No
- One month of Premium: $
- Three months of Premium: $ ($ per month)
- Six months of Premium: $ ($ per month)
Who’s online: EliteSingles’ sibling site, SilverSingles, is geared towards people who are 50 and older and looking to jump into the dating pool or jump back into the dating pool after a hiatus. The site boasts “mature, older, and senior singles” who are mainly looking for long-lasting connections instead of quick flings. With over 20% of users older than 50, dating doesn’t have to mean fishing for people your age on sites like eHarmony and Match.
How it works: After answering some basic questions about yourself and your desired partner, you’ll be able to rank how important qualities like age and education level are to a potential match.
How it helps introverts: Since there’s no swiping involved, you won’t come across tons of matches every day with the pressure to message each person you see. SilverSingles does the hard work for you, and uses its thorough compatibility model to send you between three to five ideal matches every day.
Each profile is rich with information, too, so you can find out a lot about the person you matched with before you decide to chat with them.