What are the Best Free Dating Apps for iPhone?

There are a lot of dating apps available now for iPhone. While some of them are free, others may require a paid subscription to access some features. In this guide, we go into detail about the best free dating apps for iPhone to help you choose the best apps for you. Have a look at our recommendations to get started with free dating on your iPhone. 

What are the best free dating apps for iPhone? 

Dating is very personal. This is why there are several different apps to choose from, depending on your lifestyle and relationship goals. Below you can find tailored recommendations for different dating communities. 

These are some of the leading dating apps in the match-making market. Sign-up today for free:

Best free dating apps for iPhone if you’re cis-gendered 

Here are our recommendations for the best free dating apps for cis-gendered users (users that have the same gender identity as assigned at birth) on iPhone.

Zoosk

Zoosk is an app that allows you to interact with millions of users to find the best partner for you. It’s free and easy to sign up for, and once you have your profile ready, you can find and interact with other users through Carousel (swipe-based matching) and Smart Picks (curated matches). 

Pros:

👍80,000 weekly users

👍User-friendly interface

👍Curated Matches 

Cons:

👎Video features are not the most user-friendly

👎Free users see a lot of ads

👎You need to be a premium subscriber to chat with other singles

Christian Mingle

We all have different priorities when it comes to dating. Christian Mingle may be one of the best free dating apps for iPhone that allows you to find a partner who shares your values. You can search through profiles by denomination for better religious compatibility. No other dating app on this list prioritizes faith like Christian Mingle. 

Pros:

👍You can receive messages for free

👍You can browse anonymously

👍Strict verification system to reduce fake profiles 

Cons:

👎Only premium members can view other member’s photos

👎To see who has viewed your profile, you must purchase a subscription

👎Seeing when your message has been read is a premium feature 

Tinder

Tinder is widely known for its swipe-based profile browsing. On the app, you have to decide between “yes” and “no” on a profile before continuing on to the next one. Although it can be entertaining for a while, Tinder does not have profile-filtering tools for free users. This means that you might have to swipe through a lot of profiles before finding someone you’re interested in. 

Pros:

👍Unlimited free messaging

👍Browse by swiping 

👍Available in 190 countries  

Cons:

👎Bots and fake profiles 

👎Unlimited “superlikes” are limited to premium users

👎Not ideal for serious dating  

Badoo

Badoo works well with users who are looking for casual dating but are also open to serious relationships down the road. It has a very thorough identity verification system as well as fun features like live video chat and Badoo Clips (15-second video intros for your profile). 

Pros

👍App is user-friendly

👍Basic messaging is free 

👍Apt for casual or serious dating  

Cons:

👎Frequent ads for free users 

👎Confusing premium options that overlap 

👎Users may have to use several search filters to get relevant matches

Best free LGBTQ-friendly dating apps for iPhone

Here are our suggestions for the best free dating apps for LGBTQ+ singles.

Grindr

Grindr was initially known for its popularity among gay male users but has now become a much more inclusive app for the LGBTQ community. Grindr is easy to sign up for and use. Once you have your profile, you can begin chatting with other users and filter profile results by location. 

Pros:

👍You can sign up using your email or social media account

👍You can send audio, text, and images 

👍Filter matches by geolocation 

Cons:

👎Frequent advertisements for free users

👎You must be a premium user to access read receipts

👎Chatting with matches in other cities is a premium feature 

Bumble

Although Bumble may be known for its “women message first” feature, it is not an app exclusively for heterosexual dating. In fact, Bumble’s features for LGBTQ dating give either person the ability to message first. 

Bumble allows you to filter the profiles you swipe through by gender identity. There are more than 30 gender identities available on Bumble for your profile. 

Pros:

👍Inclusive gender options

👍Profile verification

👍Unlimited free messaging

Cons:

👎Likes are limited for free users

👎Matches expire after 24 hours 

👎Free users cannot go back to a profile they swiped “no” on

Jack’d

Jack’d is a popular free dating app that is LGBTQ+ owned. Although it presents itself as the most inclusive app for Queer People of Color (QPOC), it is primarily focused on gay male dating. Jack’d has some fun features; for instance, you can share more intimate photos on your profile once you have matched with a profile you like.  

Pros:

👍More than 5 million users

👍Unlimited free messaging  

👍Quick and easy registration process 

Cons:

👎Changing your location is a premium feature

👎Free members cannot upload unlimited photos

👎Free users cannot see who viewed their profile

Coffee Meets Bagel 

Coffee Meets Bagel, or CMB, is an app that many gay singles like to use because of its curated profile matching. Instead of having to swipe through dozens of profiles, CMB presents you with 6 profiles per day based on an algorithm that takes into consideration factors like people that liked your profile, your preferences, and your location. 

Pros

👍Compatibility algorithms for curated matches 

👍You only receive messages from profiles you have liked 

👍You are given 6 curated potential matches per day  

Cons:

👎It may take longer to get matches  

👎Chats can expire

👎No video chat option 

Best free dating apps for iPhone for little people

Although there aren’t free dating apps for iPhone exclusively catered to little people dating, here are some suggestions to try out.

Date A Dwarf

Date A Dwarf is a dating site for little people that allows you to sign up, create a profile, and browse profiles for free. The website is also mobile-friendly, which means you can access all its features conveniently from your iPhone. 

Pros

👍Signup is easy and free 

👍App has the same functionality as the website 

👍Profiles can be browsed for free  

Cons:

👎Has not been updated recently

👎Fake profiles may exist 

👎Features are very basic 

Free Dwarf Dating 

Similar to Date A Dwarf, Free Dwarf Dating lets you register, make a profile, and browse profiles for free. The website can be accessed, with full functionality, from your iPhone. Free Dwarf Dating also lets you send up to ten free “flirts” per day, which lets other users know you’re interested in them. 

Pros

👍Quick and simple registration process  

👍The app functions just as well as the website  

👍Free users can browse profiles and send “flirts” 

Cons:

👎Doesn’t have many up-to-date features

👎Not a very active user base

👎Fake profiles and bots 

Other options for little people dating

Since there aren’t many dating apps for iPhone specifically for little people, your best bet may be to try free dating apps that value inclusivity and diversity:

• Bumble
• OkCupid
• Plenty of Fish

Best free dating apps for iPhone for people over 50

Plenty of Fish

Plenty of Fish is a free app aimed at a broad audience. The app has comprehensive filtering options that allow you to browse through profiles of singles aged 50 or older. POF is highly rated by its users. 

Pros:

👍Messaging is free and unlimited

👍Browse profiles and see who’s online as a free user

👍You can express your preference of relationship (casual, serious, etc)

Cons:

👎Frequent ads for free users 

👎Free users can only upload a limited number of photos 

👎Read receipts is a paid feature

SilverSingles 

SilverSingles is specifically aimed at 50+ singles and prioritizes compatibility in their matches. You can create a profile, take a personality test, receive matches, send “smiles,” and browse profiles for free. 

Pros:

👍Send “smiles” and likes for free 

👍Easily add pictures from your Facebook to your profile  

👍Answer icebreaker questions

Cons:

👎Registration process can take a long time 

👎Free users cannot chat with potential matches 

👎Only premium members can see other profiles’ photos

OurTime

Another iPhone app that is specifically for singles that are 50+ is OurTime. OurTime has a complete set of free features:

• Create a profile 
• Send winks and flirts
• Search member profiles 
• Add potential matches to your list for free 

Pros:

👍Simple registration process

👍Free users can keep a “favorites” list of potential matches

👍Photo uploads need to be approved and verified  

Cons:

👎There may be some fake profiles

👎Paid subscription is required for messaging

What makes a good free dating app for iPhone?

When deciding which one of the free dating apps for iPhone to use, there are some key points to keep in mind and look out for. 

1. Features Available for Free: before downloading an app, read the description on the app store to see if the free features are right for you. 
2. Review Scores: check the app store for ratings and comments to see what other users are saying about the app and their experiences. Apple rewards highly-rated apps with an editors’ choice award—be on the lookout for those. 
3. Compatibility: some apps are aimed at broad dating groups, while others focus on specific communities. The app description should give you a good idea of who the app is aimed at, but you may have to try it to find out. 

Best free dating apps for iPhone: FAQs

Here are some answers to common questions that users have about the best free dating apps for iPhone. 

Best free dating apps for iPhone: our final thoughts

Most dating apps for iPhone offer a free version of their services to users, but the free features they offer may vary from app to app. Some apps may require you to pay before chatting with other users, whereas other free dating apps allow for free unlimited messaging. Before deciding which free iPhone dating app you are going to use, try out a few of them and see which one most aligns with what you want out of dating.