It’s no news that we live in a digital age, and thanks to the internet, we can now do virtually anything from the comfort of our homes with just a few clicks. From booking your next flight and hotel reservations online to shopping and entertaining yourself whenever you’re bored, the list of things one could do with the internet is just endless.
More interesting, the internet has become an invincible bridge that connects us to people from around the world. In fact, many people are now turning to online dating when searching for their soulmate and life partner.
Sadly, with thousands of dating apps flooding the internet almost every day, selecting the best dating apps to use has become quite a hard nut to crack as many of these apps are a total waste of time and money.
With this year almost over and 2020 on sight, we thought it necessary to write this comprehensive guide on how to pick the best dating apps in 2020. This information is helpful to both newbies and those who are having a hard time finding the best online dating site to use in their quest for love.
The concept of Online Dating?
Dating is more than a thing. It is a social activity that humans engage in at one point or the other in the journey of life. Most people (except those with a heart of stone) crave for love – they want to love and be loved.
During the period before the birth of the internet, dating options were limited, and people were only able to meet other new people in physical places like bars, clubs, and bus trips, grocery shops, etc. Today, however, online dating has made it possible to meet new and interesting people who are halfway across the world, without even having a passport.
Online dating is any dating activity that is done over the internet. It allows individuals and people finding love and friendship to meet and communicate through the use of internet-enabled devices like personal computers and smartphones. Dating apps and sites provide matchmaking services that pair individuals to their best matches based on defined search criteria, and then a communication channel is built to connect them.
Who Can Use Dating Apps?
Anyone can use dating apps – whether you fancy the idea of meeting a soulmate over the internet, or you want a partner who is on the other side of the world with a different culture and background, or you’re having little or no luck with offline dating, or maybe you just want to try something new!
Things To Consider When Choosing The Best Dating Apps
Finding the right dating apps that suit your needs is not a work in the park; it takes time and effort. So to make things a lot easier for you, we have curated a list of the most important factors you should consider when searching for an online dating app.
Safety and Security
When it comes to using the internet, many people believe that “privacy” is in life support. This is true because even big internet companies like Facebook have had reports of a data breach, exposing users’ records. This is why it is important to use only dating apps that go the extra mile to secure users’ personal and credit card information.
Aside from privacy, safety is also another primary concern of using matchmaking websites. Over the years, dating sites have become a playing ground for fraudsters who are looking to scam unsuspecting single men and women through the power of love and romance. In fact, in 2014, the FBI reported that singles between the ages of 40 and above lost over $86 million to romance scams that were perpetrated on dating sites.
However, dating apps that care about the safety of their users now have advanced anti-scam and ID verification systems in place to filter their userbase to ensure that only real users can use the platform. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to be aware of the dangers of using online dating sites. Do well to stay vigilant and never send money or your financial details to any member of a dating site, regardless of the sad story they might tell you.
Easy-to-Use Interface
It is important to consider the user interface of a dating app before committing to using it. How easy is it to navigate through the different pages of the app or site? Are there annoying ads popping up on your screen? How easy is it to sign up; does it requires a lengthy procedure that takes up to 15 minutes to complete? These are some of the questions you must find answers to before selecting a dating site to use.
The best dating app usually has a nice and neat interface, which allows users to browse through the different sections of the site without being bombarded with silly ads. Sign up should be short and require very little information like name, age, email, gender, preference, and country. Other details should come after the registration.
Search Tools and Messaging Features
The search tools and messaging features are also very important factors to consider when choosing the best dating apps to use. This is because they are what you use to search and communicate with the people that interest you.
Some dating apps use advanced search algorithms, while others are psychology-based. The search tools allow you to hunt for partners based on specific criteria such as age, hair color, interests, smoking habits, education, etc.
It is best to use online dating websites that have more than one messaging options such as instant messaging, emails, and especially video calls so that you see the person you are chatting with.
Reputation and Userbase
Dating apps with reputation and large userbase would increase your chances and speed of getting a match that suit your search criteria. It would be difficult to quickly find a partner when you use a dating site that has a small membership number.
Another important thing to consider is the type of partner you are looking for. Some dating sites only cover specific demographics and regions. For instance, dating apps like OkCupid have more millennials than Gen X in terms of membership, which makes it unsuitable for you if you’re looking for a partner between the ages of 38 and 53 years olds.
Paid vs. Free Membership
Most times, many people believe that dating sites with paid membership are usually the best dating apps. However, that is not necessarily the case. Some paid dating sites are trash and time wasters with no real users. In fact, some of the most popular dating apps like Tinder, Mingle2, Bumble are free to use.
Read Online Reviews
The best way to find out about the worthiness of dating apps is to read reviews about them online. However, take note that the users’ reviews you read online are based on personal experiences, which may differ among individuals.
What Next?
If you consider the factors discussed in this guide on how to pick the best dating apps in 2020, then you shouldn’t have a hard time finding the right online dating site to use.
You can begin your search for a soulmate by signing up on Mingle2, one of the top five free online dating apps that you can trust for your dating needs.
