Whether you’re a young adult looking for friendship or love, or you’re a parent searching for answers before greenlighting your child’s use of a social app, it can be challenging to know which are the best teen dating apps to use.
To sate your burning curiosity, we’ve assembled a helpful list to guide you through all of the rigmarole that is inherent in decoding online dating sites and apps in general.
Dating apps have completely changed the teenage dating game, making it easier than ever to connect with potential matches that you might not have ever have had the chance to get to know otherwise. Teenage Dating Website - 11 Best Teen Dating Apps 2019 – Dating sites for Teenager. 9 Good Online Teenage Dating Websites. Rather than figuring it out through trial and error, we asked a few dating experts for their biblical recommendations on dating apps for teens.
1. Bumble
A location-based dating app where the ladies make the first move,Bumble has gained in popularity among guys who’d rather be approached than dothe approaching. Once you both swipe right, you’re off and running.
Outline
Designed with an outlook toward safety and female empowerment, Bumble.com is a big hit among both sexes, as demonstrated by the more than 22 million singles in its userbase. It allows females to feel more in control and males the relief of avoiding the sting of rejection.
The app was founded by Whitney Wolfe Herd after her departure from Tinder, which she co-founded in 2012. She has since described Bumble as a “feminist dating app” for modern-day singles.
To add even more girl power, Bumble has partnered with aCalifornia lawmaker in an attempt to outlaw the transmission of unsolicitednude photos in texts or online, as females are frequently the target ofunwanted nude pix.
Since its release in December 2014, the company has rolled out two other cool apps. One is a networking app called Bumble Bizz created with career opportunities in mind. The other, designed for finding new friends, is Bumble BFF, which connects people who want to widen their social circles.
Online Dating App For Teens
To join Bumble, you must be 17 or older. Users create anaccount using either their Facebook log-in, their Apple ID, or their phonenumber. Once the registration and set-up process with up to six pictures hasbeen completed, members can link their profiles to their Instagram and Spotify accounts.
Connect Locally — Click to join the Meetopolis community to make local connections for love and friendship.
Features
Bumble is free to use. Searches are predominantly limited toage, gender, and location. Unpaid memberships entitle users to two additionalsearch filters beyond those three basics.
But there are optional premium features to enhance the userexperience, like Bumble Boost and Bumble Coins. Bumble Boost letsusers see who’s already swiped right on their profile, the ability to rematchwith expired connections, and the option to extend matches for another 24hours. Bumble Coins provide the chance to send “Super Swipes” for bolder first
impressions and to activate Spotlight for maximizing theirprofile views.
Here’s what else you can expect with a paid subscription:
- The ability to verify your profile
- Video chat
- Messaging
- Backtracking on accidental left swipes
- Browse all user profiles
- Beeline, a list of users who have liked the subscriber
- Busy Bee for unlimited 24-hour match extensions
- Rematch allows users to reconnect with past matches for an additional 24 hours
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free app for Android and iOS devices
- Web-version for laptop and desktop users
- Not limited to heterosexual encounters
- Ability to extend matches for 24 hours
- Same-sex matches can initiate conversations on either end
- Ability to Backtrack on mis-swipes
- Photo moderation nixing bathroom selfies
- Sign up using Facebook or Apple ID
Cons
- Guys cannot initiate conversations with girls
- All app features not yet available on Web version
- Matches expire in 24 hours
- Only 3 Backtracks in a session
- Persistent push notifications
Cost
- Basic membership: Free
- 1 week: $8.99/wk
- 1 month: $24.99/mo
- 3 months: $16.66/mo
- 6 months: $13.33/mo
2. Hinge
Another dating app with the goal of connecting people inperson, rather than spending all their time performing searches, Hingerecognizes not everybody is into swiping.
Outline
Designed to be used with Facebook, Hinge.com was founded in 2012 but has undergone two makeovers since its initial release. Acquired by the Match Group (think Match.com) at the beginning of 2019, the service underwent further changes concerning its mission.
Now, rather than spending time performing searches based solely on appearance, the platform has been redesigned for finding lasting relationships with depth and merit.
The bottom line is that the creators really want you to getout there and meet someone in person.
The app’s matching process focuses on common connections that you and potential partners already share on social media. Users are also asked questions regarding interests to help create better pairings, which is a boon for members seeking serious commitments.
Sign-up and account creation is relatively simple but thorough, so it can take a little longer than with other apps. You must be 17 or older to join.
Features
Free memberships entitle users to access search filters forgender, location, age, distance, ethnicity, and religion from the same userbaseas Preferred members. Additionally, Preferred memberships include thefollowing:
- Advanced filters for height, kids, politics, drinking/smoking, etc.
- Unlimited number of likes
- Option to see everyone who’s liked you in one organized view
- Ability to undo accidental skips on likes
- Multiple messaging options
- “Your Turn” to remind users when it’s their turn to respond in a conversation
- Blocking/removing someone from your matches
- Hiding matches
- “We Met” for updating Hinge on dating results and providing feedback
- “Share” allows users to send a Hinge profile to someone else via text
Pros and Cons
Pros
- App for Android and iOS devices
- Users can start accounts with just a phone number
- Designed to be deleted once you’re done with it
Cons
- Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is deactivated
- Users must upload a minimum of 6 pictures
- Sign-up process is longer than most
Cost
- Basic membership: Free
- 1 month: $12.99/mo
- 3 months:$6.99/mo
- 6 months:$4.99/mo
3. Taffy – Meet, Chat, and Date
An innovative dating app that attempts to put personality onan equal footing with physical attraction, Taffy is also an excellent opportunity to see how open-mindedyou are — or just how shallow. It’s all about chat first, looks later, and it’sa fantastic idea. Are you up for the challenge?
Outline
With most, if not all, dating apps users are making snap judgments about each other based on little more than profile pix as far as whether or not someone is stable.
It’s a sad commentary on how superficial society is, but that’s just how we humans roll. According to founder John Schenk, Taffy wants to challenge that by allowing people to discover one another on a deeper level before the visual reveal.
How it works is this: Initially, everyone’s profile is out of focus, so you have no idea whether they’re hot or not. However, the more you chat with someone, the clearer their profile picture becomes.
By the time the image has been completely revealed — it takes roughly 10 messages back and forth for the moment of truth to arrive — you’ve likely got a pretty decent idea of your commonalities and how well the two of you connect.
Pursuing Connections
At that point, you may be more apt to pursue the connection rather than blow them off because they don’t fit your preconceived notion of beauty or aesthetics. It’s actually very much like early electronic romances in a “You’ve Got Mail” sort of way, providing a great option to its competitors.
It’s also about forming friendships and networking. One user used this analogy to describe it: Think LinkedIn meets Match only more social.
Mashable and Refinery29 have given it their thumbs up, referring to it as “refreshing.” For a newer app, it’s received massive praise for its originality from reviewers and users alike and could end up being one of the best teen dating apps ever, given time.
On September 29, a 2.0 update arrived that included anAndroid version and new features. Due to its revolutionary concept, it’s beenlisted as one of the best 24 apps of 2019. Rated as Mature, users must be 17and up to download and use it.
Features
New users start by posting in categories, like Chat, Love, Friends,Advice, or Whatever. This allows them to choose the form of interaction they’relooking for. Searches are performed by interests, location, age, etc. Profilesare not a thing of significant importance to this app. It’s more about puttingyourself out there with interesting posts and intriguing captions.
- Taffy 2.0 allows users to share selfies during real-time chat
- Six different relationship categories to choose from
- App provides fun ice breakers to get the conversation rolling
- Push notifications serve as reminders
- Members browse posts by category
- Matches presented in either a list or column format for easy viewing
- Ability to download via link versus Google Play or App Store
- Up to six people (friends/family members) can share use of the app
Pros & Cons
Pros
- App available for Android and iOS devices
- Pleasant interface with a user-friendly design
- Refreshing alternative to swipe-dominated dating
- Provides mystery and a game mechanic for a fun approach
- Supports family sharing with up to six devices
- Encourages users to be pragmatic
- No lengthy personality tests or quizzes
Cons
- Contains ads
- Some people miss the point and whine aboutwanting clear pix from the get-go
- Due to its relative newness, the userbase is stillrelatively small but growing daily
Cost
The app is free to download and use through Google Play and The App Store.
4. Tinder
Originally about socializing and networking, Tinder continues to make strides towards becoming as much about dating and serious relationships as compared to the hookups it became better known for.
As a social app, Tinder has come a long way. As a result, more and more success stories regarding friendship and commitment are being shared by those who have met on it.
Outline
Considering its wide gender gap, females may want to give it a try for its 76.9 percent male to 23.1 percent female ratio. Regardless of sexual orientation, be aware that you should clearly state your purpose for using the app when filling out your profile.
That’s because a lot of people still use it for casual dating on weekends and when they’re out of town for work or on vacation. This could save you a lot of hassle from partiers on the prowl and younger users from being exposed to unsavory advances.
As far as approach, it’s more of a DIY effort on the part of users rather than an algorithm matchmaking method, but it works. Users must be 17 or older to use the app, but you really should be a mature 17, which few male teens are. That’s not to let girls off the hook, either.
Features
Basic members can create profiles which can be built from Facebook, Instagram, or scratch,
optional bios that help paint a clearer picture of users and their goals, the ability to share their favorite artists on Spotify, and the ability to hide their age and control who sees them.
With Tinder Plus members receive the following:
- Unlimited Likes
- Rewind your last swipe
- 5 Super Likes a day
- 1 Boost a month
- Passport to swipe around the world
- Zero ads
Tinder Gold members can access all of the same features thatPlus offers, as well as the ability to see who likes them before theyswipe and the inclusion of new Top Picks every day as add-ons.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- App available for Android and iOS devices
- Tinder Places is opt-in, not opt-out
- Several features and upgrades have been designedby women with safety in mind
- Tinder’s primary revenue is subscription-based,so ads aren’t as overwhelming
Cons
- Because members can hide their age, there’s a lot of room for inappropriate or misleading interaction
- Add-ons can mount up quickly
Cost
- Basic membership: Free
- 1 month: $9.99
- 6 months – $5.83/month
- 12 months – $4.58/month
5. Yubo
Formerly known as Yellow, Yubo is a bit like a mashup of Tinder and Snapchat due to the ability to swipe right on profiles and chat via live video. It’s considered one of the best teen dating apps for the younger set, though.
Outline
Described by the developers as “a social app to meet new friends and have fun with them,” this application initially began with the lowest of all age requirements with a 12-and-up user guideline in place.
It eventually rose the bar to age 13 with parental permission. Otherwise, it’s 17+. Whichever way you cut it, it’s gained the reputation as “Tinder for Teens.”
In any event, the app’s designers have added numerous safety features with young adults in mind, such as cell phone verification to keep fake profiles and predators from littering the platform.
To further protect them, teenage users have their own community separate from older members using the app.
With younger users, parents of adolescents should monitor their child’s usage, and older teens should be diligent in ascertaining other users’ ages before getting involved with them.
Other than that, Yubo has received a lot of positive interest from the public, it scores well with Google Play and App Store users, and it keeps things light and social. As of January 2019, Yubo had more than 20 million users worldwide.
Features
Best Teenager Dating App
Incredibly streamlined, Yubo doesn’t have nearly the level of distracting elements that many social sites and dating apps currently maintain. That’s because its core feature is live-streaming. Due to this, the user experience is swifter and easier to execute. It pairs users with friends of similar ages, which is determined by profile info.
- Messaging
- Private chats
- Users can create an emoji bio using five emojis that best describe them
- Upon registration, the app presents users with a teen safety guide
- Ability to send and receive pictures and Bitmoji stickers
- As many as 10 people can go live at a time in a session room
- Public livestreams can be viewed by all
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free app available for Android and iOS devices
- Profile verification steps in place through Yotiage-estimation technology
- Livestream gives it a trendier edge
- Commended for its continued safety efforts
Cons
- Geared toward budding love and friendship, it’ssaid some teens use it for hookups
- Android version lacks a few features
- No apparent age cutoff or ceiling
- Auto-renewal must be manually turned off
Cost
Free with the exception of Power Pack subscriptions for add-ons.
Best Teen Dating Apps Tips
- You may not be aware, but one of the biggestturn-offs among daters — particularly females — is sloppy messaging. If youcan’t take the time to fix your typos, check your spelling, and ensure yourgrammar is up to par, you might find yourself getting blown off a lot.
- Teens lack the dating and life experiences thatolder individuals have acquired, so it imperative that they follow safetyprecautions, just like adults. All dating sites and apps have a section thatcovers that, but Meetopolis has covered the topic, too.
What's The Best Dating App
- If you’re a parent concerned about your kids’ online activities, you should investigate sources such as Protect Young Eyes, WebWatcher, Common Sense Media, and others for all the dirt on dating and social networking sites. Regardless of how innocent a product or service is intended, there’s always the potential for abuse.
Stay vigilant, friends!
Best Dating Apps Free
*All prices listed for these best teen dating apps werecurrent as of November 2019 and are subject to change.