The New Dating Apps You'll Want To Use In 2024 (2024)

Let’s face it, online dating is a bit of a minefield, no matter whether you’re newly single, prefer to meet someone in a bar rather than them sliding into your DMs, on the search for a short-term romance or a long-term relationship.

Now more than ever, there is a new type of freedom when it comes to dating. Whether you want to start over again, pick up where you left off from or connect with entirely new and different people to form an array of connections and foster healthy relationships, the possibilities are limitless.

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There’s a lot of choice when it comes to navigating the dating app pool, and although finding romance can sometimes be tricky, the new dating apps on the scene are making navigating it all, that little bit easier.

There’s apps for foodies, one for gym-goers and there’s even exclusive apps for A-listers (which can prove more difficult to get on that finding love itself). But not all apps are exclusive to romantic matches with platforms like Bumble having a business buddy and BFF networking feature to boot.

According to Bumble's latest research, 2024 is set to be the year of 'self' in dating, with more than half (57%) of women surveyed (25,000) going into the new year with a clear view of what they want from their romantic lives. After all, it's better to do the work on yourself first and figure out what's right for you before getting into a relationship, right?

Dating apps are a bit of a necessary evil, for those of you who struggle to find the time to meet someone IRL. Like most things in life, it’s not one-size-fits-all. Tinder might be a bit old school, but thankfully, there’s plenty more fish in the sea when it comes to dating apps (and love, we hope).

Here are the best dating apps in 2024 you need to download:

Dubbed as the ‘anti-ghosting dating app’, Elate was launched in response to research that showed ghosting is the number one thing people hate about dating apps. It allows you to connect with three people in the hope of building strong and genuine connections, rather than amassing a list of potential matches you never speak to. If somebody you’re speaking to has moved on to somebody else, Elate will send you a friendly message letting you know, meaning you’ll hopefully never be in doubt.

There's nothing worse than being in the gym and seeing someone that you like but feeling like you can't approach them. Insert Fitfck (pronounced 'fit eff-see-kay'), the new dating app that introduces you to other avid gym-goers, both virtually through the app and in real life through fitness-based events all over the UK. Now, finding a gym partner has never been easier.

Lex pulls on the history of queer personal ads and, as such, uses the tagline ‘text first, selfies second.’ Users get a 34-character heading and a 300-character body, with the option to link to an Instagram profile. The entire thing is based on the Instagram account @personals, which posts text-based, user-submitted modern-day personal ads to its feed.

As its name suggests, #Open is an app built on the concept of non-monogamous dating. For anybody who’s into polyamory, ENM or who just prefers to approach their love life with an #Open mindset, this app’s for you. The paid version of the app allows users to see who likes you first, gives you 15 Sparks a month to send to the ones who really catch your eye, and allows you to swipe using power grid access, where you can view multiple likes at a time. Oh, and they also host IRL community meet-ups, meaning you can meet your potential future lovers in-person too.

Launched in October 2022, Tinder Uni has arrived to transform the dating scene on campus. The app is different to Tinder insofar as it only enables current students to access the feature by verifying members through a user's university email address. '2022 is a record year for students going to university and with nearly three quarters of 18-25 year olds saying that they’re ready to mingle, it makes Tinder Uni the must-have partner this semester,' says Laura Wilkinson-Rea, Senior Director of Comms, UK at Tinder.

S’more, which stands for ‘something more’, centres around meaningful dating and combating a superficial approach to finding a relationship. Users only get to see a blurred version of a potential match's profile pictures - that is until they start chatting. The more time you spend messaging each other, the clearer the person's photos become. It's emphasises forming emotional connections.

If you want to form a deep connection with someone and a relationship that lasts, OkCupid is the app for you. It focuses on connecting individuals who want serious relationships, but in a way that isn't intimidating. There is a screening process to assess compatibility, and while you don't have to pay for the app's basic plan, if you want an enhanced experience, you can upgrade your account to include deal breakers in your profile and send unlimited likes and browse anonymously.

eHarmony is a financial investment, yes, but it gives you a good chance of finding a serious match. First of all, you're required to complete a one hour assessment - because relationships can be hard work right? The questions asked are the real deal too, so rather than answering 'What's your type on paper?' you'll have to think about what you really want out of a relationship into order to give you the best possible chance of meeting someone with whom you can form a lasting connection. One thing is for sure: it focuses on commitment.

A go-to since the 1990s, Match.com is a trusted favourite, and while it was around during the internet's dial-up days, it has moved progressively into today's age. It continues to be attractive to people of all ages. The app, with it's focus on commitment initial attraction and chemistry, features signature elements such as an in-depth quiz and web-based version of software.

If you're non-monogamous and are looking to have fun with people who feel similarly about dating as you, this app is for you. Whether you end up form a romantic connection or keeping seeing a person to see where things go, Feeld will help you do just that. Championing freedom and openness, it enable you to find out about other people's likings and go from there.