Top 12 Free Dating Sites in the USA (2027): What's Actually Free

Key takeaways

• All twelve apps let you match and message for free; the paid tiers mostly sell more likes, seeing who liked you, filters and boosts.
• Facebook Dating is the only fully free option, with no paid tier at all, but it needs a Facebook account and works in the app only.
• Bumble changed in 2026: since 11 August anyone can send the first message, and the website version has been discontinued.
• Plenty of Fish, Tinder, OkCupid and Badoo also work in a web browser; Hinge, Bumble, HER and Facebook Dating are app only.
• Daily like limits exist on most free tiers, but almost no app publishes the exact number.
• Romance scam losses reported to the FBI reached $929.3 million in 2025, so use verification badges and never send money to a match.

Top 12 free dating sites in the USA compared

Prices are the range across Apple's top in-app purchases for each app on 8 November 2026. Real prices vary by age, location and plan length, so check your own app before you buy.

How we chose these free dating sites

We started with twenty well-known dating sites and apps and kept the ones that pass four tests. First, a free member must be able to match and message, not just browse. Second, the app must serve US users today; we checked each listing on the US App Store on 8 November 2026. Third, it needs real scale or a clear community, judged by App Store rating counts and company reports. Fourth, it should offer some form of photo or identity verification. We read every free-feature claim on the app's own help center, and we left out ratings from review sites, which change weekly.

The 12 best free dating sites and apps in the USA

1. Hinge

Hinge, owned by Match Group and launched in 2012, is built around profile prompts that give you something real to reply to, and its Your Turn Limits feature pauses new likes until you answer the chats waiting for you. Matching and messaging are free. Free members face a daily like cap that Hinge does not publish, see one incoming like at a time, and get one Undo Skip a week. It is growing fast: Match Group reported Hinge direct revenue of $221 million in the third quarter of 2026, up 19%, with 2.3 million payers, up 23%.

What costs extra: Apple's top Hinge purchases include subscriptions from $14.99 to $34.99, three Roses for $9.99 and Boosts from $9.99.

Strengths

• Free messaging with every match, and prompts that make openers easier.
• Optional Selfie Verification, plus Face Check fully rolled out in the US.
• The fastest-growing of the big apps, so the pool keeps getting deeper.

Limitations

• App only, with no website.
• Free members see incoming likes one at a time.
• Daily likes are capped, and the limit is not published.

Best for: people who want a relationship and are happy to use the free features.

2. Tinder

Tinder, also owned by Match Group, has the biggest name and the widest pool, and it works in a browser at tinder.com as well as in the app. The free version lets you match and chat. Free likes are capped, and seeing who already liked you needs Tinder Gold or Platinum. In 2025 and 2026 Tinder added Double Date, a free mode where two friends match with other pairs, Chemistry AI matching in the US and Canada, and Face Check facial verification, required for new users in California and other markets.

What costs extra: Tinder Plus at $9.99 and Tinder Gold from $13.99 to $24.99 among Apple's top purchases, plus Boosts from $3.99.

Strengths

• The largest pool of daters in the US.
• Works on the web as well as the app.
• Double Date is free and takes the pressure off a first meeting.

Limitations

• Seeing who liked you is paid.
• Swipe-first design suits casual dating more than slow matching.
• Match Group reported Tinder payers down 4% year over year in the third quarter of 2026.

Best for: the most choice, on phone or computer.

3. Plenty of Fish

Plenty of Fish, or POF, launched in 2003 and is still the most generous with free messaging. Free members can message mutual matches with no limit once matched, and they can send a capped number of First Contacts, messages to people they have not matched with yet. You can search for people as well as get suggestions, and it works on the web at POF.com. Since June 2026, Expanded Discovery can show POF profiles on other Match Group apps unless you opt out.

What costs extra: POF Plus, Premium and Prestige, listed from $19.99 for one week to $38.99 among Apple's top purchases.

Strengths

• Unlimited free messages once you match.
• Message people before matching with First Contacts.
• Full website plus search, not just swiping.

Limitations

• Expanded Discovery shares your profile across other Match Group apps unless you opt out.
• First Contacts are capped daily.
• Face Check verification is still being phased in.

Best for: people who want to message the most without paying.

4. OkCupid

OkCupid, launched in 2004 and owned by Match Group, matches people on values: about 500 optional questions produce a match percentage. Accounts and messaging are free, likes are capped daily, and you can send one intro message before someone likes you. It works on the web and in the app. One caution: in March 2026 the FTC filed a proposed order barring OkCupid and Match Group Americas from misrepresenting how they share users' photos and data.

What costs extra: OkCupid Premium from $7.99 to $59.99 and A-List at $9.99 among Apple's top purchases.

Strengths

• Free messaging and one free intro before a like.
• Deep match questions for people who care about values.
• Works in a browser.

Limitations

• The 2026 FTC order over data sharing is worth reading before you join.
• Daily likes are capped.
• Smaller rating base than the biggest apps.

Best for: matching on beliefs, politics and lifestyle.

5. Bumble

Bumble changed more than any app on this list in 2026. Since 11 August, anyone in a match can send the first message, each side gets one opener until the other replies, and replies get 72 hours instead of 24; the Opening Moves feature is gone and the website version has been discontinued. Photo verification is mandatory in the US, and optional ID verification and an AI filter for lewd images are built in. On 13 October 2026 Bumble agreed to be acquired by Ithaca Holdings for $6.05 a share, a deal that had not closed in early November.

What costs extra: Bumble Premium from $17.99 to $32.99 and Boost from $2.99 among Apple's top purchases.

Strengths

• Mandatory photo verification in the US.
• Strong safety tools, including optional ID checks.
• A longer 72-hour reply window.

Limitations

• No website any more.
• The women-message-first rule has ended.
• Paying users fell 15.1% year over year in the third quarter of 2026.

Best for: people who want every match to be photo-verified.

6. Facebook Dating

Facebook Dating is the only option here with no paid tier at all. It lives inside the Facebook app, launched in the US in September 2019, and is free for anyone 18 or older with a Facebook account at least 30 days old. You can send one message before matching, add Facebook friends as secret crushes, and get suggestions from shared Groups and Events; in 2025 Meta added an AI dating assistant. A video selfie check may be required before you can use it.

What costs extra: nothing. Facebook's in-app purchases are for creator Stars, not Dating.

Strengths

• Completely free, with no upsells.
• Matches through shared Groups and Events.
• An AI dating assistant helps you search for matches.

Limitations

• Requires a Facebook account at least 30 days old.
• Phone app only, no website.
• Its App Store rating covers all of Facebook, not Dating alone.

Best for: anyone who refuses to pay for dating.

7. Badoo

Badoo, launched in 2006 and owned by Bumble Inc., lets matched members chat for free with built-in video and voice calls, so you can see someone before you meet. It works on the web at badoo.com as well as in the app, and offers photo verification with a blue check, ID verification and an AI filter for lewd images. Free members have a daily vote limit, and credits can unlock chats without a match.

What costs extra: Badoo Premium from $5.99 to $13.99 among Apple's top purchases, the cheapest premium tier of the big apps here.

Strengths

• Free video and voice calls with matches.
• Works in a browser.
• Low-cost premium if you do upgrade.

Limitations

• Smaller US presence than Tinder or Hinge.
• Credit upsells to chat without matching.
• Part of the pending sale of Bumble Inc.

Best for: video-chatting before a first date.

8. Coffee Meets Bagel

Coffee Meets Bagel, founded in 2012 by three sisters, replaces endless swiping with one curated batch of suggested matches a day. Liking, passing and chatting with those suggestions are free; chats expire after seven days unless extended, and seeing who liked you is blurred for free members. US users moved to a new version of the app in June 2024, which is why its rating count is small. An optional selfie liveness check adds a verified badge.

What costs extra: Premium from $34.99 to $39.99 a month and Platinum from $46.99 to $54.99 a month among Apple's top purchases.

Strengths

• A small daily batch instead of endless swiping.
• Free chat with suggested matches.
• The company says over 91% of members want a committed relationship.

Limitations

• Chats expire after seven days.
• The paid tiers are among the priciest here.
• Small rating base on the new app.

Best for: people tired of swiping.

9. Grindr

Grindr, running since 2009, is the best-known app for gay, bi, trans and queer people, and free members can message anyone on it without matching first. Free users see dozens of nearby profiles on a distance-sorted grid, while XTRA shows up to 500. Grindr reported revenue of $141 million in the third quarter of 2026, up 22%, with 1.4 million average paying users, and it is launching an AI tier called Edge on 17 November 2026.

What costs extra: XTRA from $14.99 to $22.99 and Unlimited from $27.99 to $44.99 among Apple's top purchases, plus a $9.99 day pass.

Strengths

• Message anyone for free, no match needed.
• Large, active community.
• Right Now feature for quick meetups.

Limitations

• No photo-verification badge.
• The web version is for paid members only.
• The free grid shows far fewer profiles.

Best for: gay, bi, trans and queer people who want to chat right away.

10. HER

HER, launched in 2015 and part of Match Group since May 2025, is built for lesbian, bi and queer women, nonbinary and trans people, with Communities alongside dating. Liking, matching and messaging are free with ads, and daily likes are capped. Since November 2025, matches with no messages expire after three days. HER offers profile verification, and in March 2026 it added face selfie age checks.

What costs extra: HER Premium and Gold at $14.99 and Platinum from $19.99 to $31.99 among Apple's top purchases.

Strengths

• Designed for queer women and nonbinary people.
• Free messaging plus Communities.
• Age checks help keep the space safer.

Limitations

• App only, with no website.
• Ads on the free tier.
• Filtering for verified profiles is a paid feature.

Best for: queer women and nonbinary people.

11. BLK

BLK, a Match Group app for Black singles first released in 2017, holds one of the highest ratings here at 4.57 from more than 557,000 ratings. Chat opens after a mutual match, free likes are capped, and the app adds free Communities group chats and BLK Events in 10 US metros. Selfie Verification gives a blue check, and Face Check is being phased in.

What costs extra: Elite from $17.99 to $19.99 a week and $19.99 to $29.99 a month among Apple's top purchases.

Strengths

• A focused community with a 4.57 rating.
• Free Communities and in-person events.
• Selfie Verification badge.

Limitations

• No confirmed website.
• Free likes are capped.
• Match Group says it plans to move BLK away from swiping, so expect changes.

Best for: Black singles.

12. Chispa

Chispa, Match Group's app for Latino singles first released in 2017, offers help in English, Spanish and Portuguese and holds a 4.53 rating from more than 375,000 ratings. Chat opens after a mutual match and free likes are capped. Selfie Verification and Face Check add safety. One tip: the chispaapp.com address now belongs to an unrelated app, so download Chispa from your app store.

What costs extra: Elite from $14.99 to $19.99 a week and $19.99 to $29.99 a month among Apple's top purchases.

Strengths

• Built for Latino singles, with bilingual support.
• High rating from a large user base.
• Selfie Verification badge.

Limitations

• No confirmed website.
• Free likes are capped.
• Match Group plans changes away from swiping here too.

Best for: Latino singles.

Also worth a look

Muzz (4.53) offers free matching and chat for Muslims seeking marriage, with up to five active chats, mandatory selfie verification and an optional chaperone. Boo (4.17) matches by personality type, shows 30 compatible profiles a day free and works in a browser. Feeld (4.30) serves open-minded singles and couples with free chat and no ads. happn (4.35) shows people you have crossed paths with, with free chat after a mutual like.

Dating sites that are not really free

Some big names are free to join but hold back the parts that matter:

What do free dating apps limit?

Only Match.com (50 profile ratings a day) and Boo (30 profiles a day) publish their free limits, so treat any exact like count you read elsewhere with caution.

Are free dating sites safe?

Free dating apps are mostly safe if you use their verification tools, but scams are rising. The FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report recorded 23,159 confidence and romance fraud complaints and $929,287,469 in losses in 2025, up from $672 million in 2024, and people aged 60 and over lost $584 million of that. The FTC reported that nearly 60% of people who lost money to a romance scam in 2025 said it started on social media rather than a dating app.

• Prefer verified profiles. Hinge, Tinder, Bumble, Badoo, BLK and Chispa all offer selfie or photo verification badges.
• Video-call before you meet. Badoo has free calls built in, and a short call weeds out most fakes.
• Never send money, gift cards or crypto to someone you met online, whatever the story.
• Keep chats in the app until you trust someone, so reporting tools still work.
• Meet in public and tell a friend where you will be.

Apps are tightening checks under new laws, which we cover in our guide to dating app age and ID verification.

How do dating apps decide who you see?

Each app ranks profiles differently. Swipe apps such as Tinder weigh activity and mutual interest, OkCupid leans on its questions, and Coffee Meets Bagel and Hinge limit how many people you see so each match gets attention. Your behavior feeds the ranking: replying to matches and filling in your profile usually helps more than paying. Our explainer on how dating app matching algorithms work goes deeper.

Which free dating site is best for you?

Pew Research Center's most recent survey, from 2022, found that 30% of US adults have used a dating site or app, rising to 53% of adults under 30, and that 35% of online daters had paid for features at some point. Most people, in other words, date for free. Niche communities like BLK, Chispa and HER also show how smaller apps can thrive, a pattern we track in our look at successful niche dating apps.

Thinking of launching your own dating app?

If you are a founder rather than a dater, the niche apps above are the model: a clear community, strong verification and a free tier that makes the paid one worth buying. Make An App Like builds dating apps and sells white label bases, such as our white label Adam4Adam clone for gay dating. To size a custom build, use our app development cost calculator.

Sources

• US App Store listings for each app (ratings, rating counts and top in-app purchases), checked 8 November 2026.
• Official help centers of Hinge, Tinder, Bumble, OkCupid, Plenty of Fish, Facebook, Coffee Meets Bagel, Grindr, HER, Badoo, BLK, Chispa, Match.com, eharmony and Zoosk, read 8 November 2026.
• Match Group third-quarter 2026 shareholder letter (2 November 2026), Bumble Inc. third-quarter 2026 Form 10-Q (4 November 2026) and Ithaca Holdings deal announcement (13 October 2026), Grindr third-quarter 2026 results (5 November 2026).
• FBI IC3 2025 Internet Crime Report (ic3.gov, released 6 April 2026), the FTC Data Spotlight on social media scams (27 April 2026, ftc.gov), and the FTC's March 2026 proposed order involving OkCupid (ftc.gov).
• Pew Research Center, key findings about online dating in the US (survey of July 2022, published February 2023).