Tired of Tinder? Try These Dating Apps Instead

Alex Kerai Consumer Trends Reporter

Updated 17 December 2024

While Tinder may be the original mobile dating app—and the most downloaded dating app in the world—people are starting to turn to other options to find love in 2024. We set out to find each state’s favorite app, excluding Tinder, and the results were surprising.

Now this isn’t a ranking of the best dating apps—everyone has their favorite. Instead, we wanted to see what was popular. With over 25 million dating app users in the U.S., people are making a decision each day to swipe right on their favorite app.¹Here’s where each state stands.

Map of the most popular dating apps in each state

What is a mobile dating app?

That’s a great question! Mobile dating apps are on iOS and Android devices and use mobile technology to pair users. After creating an account, users make a personal profile, and GPS data is used to find relevant matches in the user’s area. Users can then browse those profiles and swipe right to select a match and begin a chat. In recent years, apps like Bumble and Hinge have changed the formula with Bumble having women initiate chats to Hinge launching friendship swiping, too.

A majority of states favor Hinge—but it’s a close call

A total of 21 states think Hinge is the best dating app available right now. Why? Maybe it’s the emphasis on long-term connection, the younger user base, or the profiles that feature a mix of photos and text with listed interests and fun facts.

Hinge encourages connections with other users, promotes pairing and messages, and used to use Facebook friends to create more connections. Nowadays, it’s listed as a reason for many weddings, so maybe that’s a good reason to try it out.

Hinge is free to use but does offer paid extra features.

Bumble is winning hearts in over a third of states

Whitney Wolfe Herd founded Bumble after she left Tinder, and now it’s one of the most popular apps in the world. It’s based around a revolutionary idea for the dating app world: for heterosexual matches, only female users can make first contact. That means no unwanted messages (or pictures!) from men to women.

The basics of the app are similar to most other dating apps: users create a profile and then swipe left or right. But most people join Bumble for the positive community.

Bumble is free to use and does offer paid subscription options.

6 states swiped right on Grindr

Launched in 2012, Grindr was designed for LGBTQ+ communities and is still the most popular option dedicated to those users. Grindr also pioneered geosocial dating apps, making it possible for users to find matches in their area, and is available on iOS and Android devices.

Grindr is free to download and use, but full features and filters require a paid subscription.

Wisconsin matched with Match.com

The OG dating app has only found a strong foothold in one state, but that’s not stopping it. Match.com started in 1995 at the start of the internet era and is the original dating site. And Wisconsin loves it. What makes it so great? It’s been around so long that there are larger communities of users and the ability to connect with anyone anywhere.

Match.com does offer a paid subscription as well as free options.

Did you find your match on vacation?

The surprisingly common phenomenon of swiping while traveling can lead to heartbreak once you head home. Luckily, we've found the best apps for long-distance couples so you can keep the spark alive, even from miles away.

Do you have swiper’s fatigue?

If you’ve been swiping on dating apps all day only to find yourself deleting them at night and then redownloading them the next day... we hate to break it to you, but you have swiper’s fatigue. This isn’t a medical diagnosis, but it’s similar to burnout in that the fatigue sets in when swiping feels like a burden and not like something you actually want to do.

Scrolling fatigue is real, too

In a recent survey, we found that nearly half of social media users report scrolling fatigue, with 38% engaging in "doomscrolling" regularly. Can you relate?

If you're like the 45% of Americans who use social media as their primary form of socialization, our social media insights report is worth a read.

Many people have had positive experiences

Many people have had successful and positive experiences on dating apps—57% had a positive experience and 12% of Americans found a committed relationship—but it’s important for users to keep an eye on their mental health.² Just like going on dates or getting set up with friends, you need to set boundaries for your health and well-being.

Dating apps can be stressful and scary

Swiper’s fatigue can set in for a number of reasons. Maybe you were ghosted on an app or in real life, or you’re just sick of online dating apps and feeling judged. It really can get exhausting sifting through matches, messaging, and planning dates.

Online dating nowadays is like adding a side hustle to your regular job. Plus, online dating can be unpleasant for many people. Research shows that 37% of online dating users had matches continue to contact them after the user said they weren’t interested.² (In addition, nearly half of the women surveyed think dating apps and sites are unsafe, according to Pew Research.²)

Clearly swiper’s fatigue is real. Nearly 80% of users have experienced emotional burnout or fatigue when online dating, according to a 2022 study study from Singles Reports.³ So how can you protect yourself? We’ve got a few suggestions below.

How to fix swiper’s fatigue

The fatigue can happen all at once, or you may feel it creeping up on you. But don’t worry, there are solutions:

Get off of your phone. That sounds weird coming from us, but it’s important to limit screen time.
Go outside and see your friends and live your life.
Start being selective on your swiping.
If you’re not finding matches, switch apps or take a break from online dating.

Some dating apps, like Bumble, encourage users to tackle burnout with mindful browsing and focusing on other interests while Tinder has focused on safety features. Other apps, like Once and Hinge, are focused on meaningful connection first. Plus, the ability to meet with matches virtually can save time and money for users.

Like any online app, it’s important to balance your time online and time offline. Staving off burnout and swiper fatigue is important for your physical and mental well-being.

Are all dating apps the same?

Tinder’s parent company, Match Group, owns three of the seven top dating apps on our list plus OKCupid, which didn’t rank as the top app in any state this year. In total, the company has over 15.7 million paid subscribers as of September 30, 2023.⁴ That means Match is the dominant option for online and mobile dating. All of the other popular dating apps are startups from the last decade and a half.

Finding your next match

No matter where you live in the U.S., these dating apps are available to you. Maybe you’ll first want to try the one everyone in your state loves, or take a trip off the beaten path and download a new app. Either way, we wish you luck on your journey to love! Just be careful out there, and make sure you’re prioritizing you time too.

Tip: you can’t swipe and find love if you don’t have a phone plan! Luckily, we can help you find the perfect match for your phone.

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Methodology

We analyzed Google Trends data to find each state’s favorite dating app based on the number of searches for each dating app in 2023, excluding Tinder.

Sources

S. Dixon, Statista, “U.S. smartphone dating app users 2019-2023,” Published, April 28, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2024.
Monica Anderson, Emily A. Vogels, and Erica Turner. Pew Research Center, “The Virtues and Downsides of Online Dating,” Published February 6, 2020. January 27, 2024.
Singles Reports, “Emotional Fatigue and Burnout in Online Dating – Data Study,” Published April 1, 2022. Accessed January 27, 2024.
S. Dixon, Statista, “Match Group: quarterly paid users count 2020-2023,” Published January 20, 2023. Accessed January 27, 2024.

Alex Kerai

Consumer Trends Reporter

As WhistleOut's Consumer Trends Reporter, Alex keeps up on the latest breaking mobile tech news in the U.S. and Canada, from smartphone development to network shutdowns. His work can be seen on The Penny Hoarder, Business.org, Biz2Credit, and more.

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