Ultimate Guide to NYC Dating: Top Sites & Apps for Singles in New York
by John Santana
Looking for love in the Big Apple is not for the faint-hearted, but you’re not alone. We’ve done some homework on your behalf to help you find “the One” or something else; through our selection of online dating sites and best dating apps for singles in New York City.
Whether you’re into casual hookups, or you really want to find your potential match, or even if it’s to just meet new people, expand your horizons, and have a little fun, we’ve made a list of what we think are great apps out there!
And don’t be deterred by your age, preferences, and income level. Read on to find what will best work for you!
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The Best Dating Sites for NYC Dating
Whatever your reason, we support you and have found the online dating sites that have the highest success rate!
- eHarmony – try for free: eHarmony dating site
- Christian Cafe – sign up for a free trial: Christian Cafe dating site
- Elite Singles – get started: Elite Singles: dating site
eHarmony
Probably the very best dating site out there because of its massive success rates. It is especially great for those of you looking for serious long-term relationships and hopefully marriage. It’s user-friendly and straightforward.
The website has a very detailed questionnaire that you complete and it uses that along with complex algorithms to present you with the very best matches. They also have a dating app and on their main page they have useful sections on dating advice, finding singles, joining communities, etc.
New York City Dating Expert
They are listed as the number 1 most trusted website and app for dating. It might help you to know that the website is not intended for casual hook-ups. In fact, 75% of marriages started online began at eHarmony. Can you tell why we’re impressed?
Christian Cafe
Christian-owned and operated since 1999, this website brings Christian singles from various cultures and denominations together in an attempt to help them establish serious relationships.
Their main page boasts of several marriage testimonials from people who have found each other through their site, and with over 25,000 Christian marriages due to them – they are highly respected. The match system considers your photos, gender, age, and location and offers a little coffee cup when it finds you a “perfect” match”. We totally love this vibe!
Elite Singles
A dating app intended for academics and a more mature crowd. Finally! Who has time for people who don’t mean what they say and don’t say what they mean? The site has several personality assessments that it uses to offer you between three and seven matches each day.
The bonus of the Elite Singles site is that it uses all the information you give it and it sends you matches to review. Because you’re a working professional and have things to do. When you do have time though, you can access verified profiles, partner suggestions, photos, messaging, and useful tips on dating.
Best Dating App for a Professional Single New Yorker
Think of this site as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. If you’re curious, adventurous, mature, and quite frankly; a true romantic at heart, then this is one of the best apps for you. Apparently, over 80% of its members have a bachelor’s degree, and over 90% of the members are over 30 years old and interested in a serious relationship.
Best Dating Apps for New York Singles
Life is busy, and so are you. Dating apps are yet another convenience developed by some super smart people who want you to connect with other people. Check out our selection below and you can decide for yourself which one sounds like the best dating app.
- XO
- Coffee Meets Bagel
- Bumble
- Hinge
- Tinder
- Zoosk
1. XO
A cute little app created for those of you who like to play online games with each. Not the ghosting kind! So, instead of having to be the first person to send a message (intimidating for most of us), you get to send your match a game request!
It uses the vehicle of playing lighthearted games, like an astrology matching game to help you get to know someone and have fun at the same time. Also, you can even invite your friends to help relieve the initial awkwardness. What a cool initiative! Unfortunately though, while the app is still relatively new – you can’t expect a very big dating pool. But, all good things to those who wait, right?
2. Coffee Meets Bagel
We just LOVE this online dating app! What it shares with Chelsea Market is quality, in both product and people. If you’re looking for love in New York City through this app, then you’ll find matches that they call bagels.
New York City Dating Coach
And because one needs to practice a little bit of self-control; you’re given a limited number of “bagels” every day. After all, it gives you the opportunity to thoroughly check out your potential matches.
The number for women is the men who have “liked” your profile already, and for men, the number of bagels you can get in a day is up to 21. The whole point is quality over quantity. The whole point is to help singles save time in their search, and also to provide a women-friendly dating app.
3. Bumble
Here’s what’s really cool about Bumble. Unlike other dating apps, it has a unique approach which is that women message men first! The app lets men respond within 24 hours. This female-driven app allows women to choose the topic they want to talk about, also it’s location-based, so you can see who’s near you, whether on vacation or moving to a new part of town.
Chat to Make Your First Move
The great thing about having to send messages to other users is that more conversations are started before getting to that potential date. Unfortunately, as with most apps – men can choose to respond in undesirable ways, they don’t always share too much information about themselves, and because of the limited response time, you might find yourself having to check the app regularly.
We like it! You get to meet real-life people and the female-driven features are a great idea!
4. Hinge
Do you know what we love most about Hinge? Their slogan. It is: “The dating app designed to be deleted”. Now that is cool. We are hard-pressed to not hail this as possibly the best dating app and best online dating site.
Also, there are 6 million monthly active users. That is not slim pickings! Hinge daily recommends a match for you and the paid version is only necessary if you want extra features.
Match made in New York City heaven
We love it for the perfect balance of pictures and conversation starters on the profiles, and the fact that you can still swipe through profiles on your own. And the free version works like a charm!
The great thing with Hinge is that unlike other apps where both users have to agree before a message can be sent; the app lets you message an “opener” to a person you’re interested in, and maybe get the conversation started. Get your relationship status from “Single” to “Ready to Mingle”. That was painful, but we couldn’t help ourselves!
5. Tinder
One of the great things about this app is the number of active users. That is 50 million active users. Wowza! If you can’t find someone you’d like to date here then you must be living under a rock.
With that being said though, it’s most certainly not the best choice for relationships, even though it is one of the most popular dating apps in Denver and the US. If you’re looking to find love here, chances are slim. If you are one of those women who like attention, then this is a fun way for you to find someone with whom to have a (hopefully) fun and casual fling.
The New World Dating Scene
That sounds a bit harsh, but the truth is that it’s not really the best experience for anyone who’s just “average-looking”. Also, there is a certain age group (like if you’re in your twenties) that it appeals to.
Before we go, we’ll give Tinder the credit it’s due because let’s be honest, it is the one that started it all! So, while it might not be the latest – it does continue to be one of the best dating apps (if not popular) out there. We’ll admit (and not even grudgingly) that the whole concept of having singles start swiping left or swiping right for potential casual sex or an actual date is pretty ingenious!
6. Zoosk
We love that this is one of the best dating apps for affordable casual or serious dating. Also, it’s a major plus that it’s available in 80 countries and in 25 languages. Talk about making the world your veritable dating oyster! Wait, it gets better – it has a user base of 35 million members.
Surely, if you cannot find your match in the city, you will very likely find them somewhere in the world. Well, with it being New York City, you probably have crossed paths with tons of people looking for love!
Geared at Those Who Want Long Term Relationships
Even though they have some pretty high numbers, they’re all about building long-lasting relationships. The great thing about this is that even if you date someone and find that you’re not a love match, you could still end up being really good friends. And who doesn’t want friends?
We also love that it doesn’t cost you to interact with premium members and that they have several affordable premium plans anyway. We really do recommend that you go for the premium version. It just outclasses the free version in every way that counts. Oh, and did you know that you can sign up through Facebook? And with its many free features, you can save your bucks for all your New York casual dating.
The Best Hook Up App for New York Dating
So, finding “The One” or getting into something long-term and serious with the right person might not be for you. This is your choice. We have found the best dating app for hookups. That’s what you’re looking for, right? Behold!
AFF
This app is set apart by the over 60 million active and engaged users, of which a lot are in New York City. Who knew? In fact, it is the biggest hookup site in New York, and possibly the world. One of the great features of this app is that everyone on it has one thing in mind, so there’s no pretence.
Dates are an Optional Extra
Apart from being the largest legit hookup app out there, it seems to be the one place where single guys have the best results! There is a downside though, many people can only access it via the web app. Its design is old and there are adverts. Yawn.
Quick Tips for New York Singles Using Dating Apps
Choose the People with Unedited Photos
If it looks too good to be true, then it’s too good to be true. Unedited photos mean confidence and honesty. Now, that’s what we call attractive!
Be Open to Cultural Differences
Be accommodating and respectful of others as you expect the same from them for you, and you might just be delighted with what you discover. People are not so different after all.
Decide What You Want in a Relationship
This helps you clear out the clutter, and not be distracted by shiny things. If you’re into long-term relationships then stick to it. Don’t waste your time (and theirs) looking at more options.
Stick to Your Core Values
You will get way better results when you are honest and confident about what you believe. And the sooner you get these out the way, the better. You might be surprised to know that other users also have core values they want to stick to. It’s okay if these are deal-breakers. Once you get to chat with someone and go on a few dates, these will become quite clear!
Complete Your Profile the Right Way
You and the rest of the New Yorkers out there know what you want. Your profile is literally your first (and maybe last) impression you’ll be giving someone. So do it right. Putting your best foot forward is NOT putting your fake foot forward, but you can make an effort to present yourself in a way that all your best is highlighted.
Understand New Yorkers
The people of NYC are a no-bs, fast-based, get-to-the-point bunch. If they’re on a dating site or using dating apps to meet potential partners then you must know they are extremely busy but are looking for someone online to help them bring balance and love into their lives without wasting their time.
Don’t be a time-waster. It’s the one thing we never get more of, and we don’t like it when people do it to us. Be confident enough, to be honest about who you are and what you want. Your only agenda should be finding someone who wants the same.
Invest in Yourself
So, if your agenda is to find someone in NYC who has been looking for you, then you need to invest a little. NYC dating is a hard nut to crack (as you well know), which is why you’re resorting to online dating and using dating apps. This is great! Don’t think you’re going to get quality if you’re not willing to pay for it.
Start off with free trials, but it is always in your best interest to pay if you want to get the best out of dating apps, because remember – you get what you pay for!
Why We Think These are the Top Dating Apps and Dating Sites for New York City
- They boast tons of high quality, active NYC singles
- They have the latest technology and matching algorithms to help you search
- They are affordably priced and give you more honey for your money
- They’re actually fun! None of this rainy Monday blues business. Get out there!
- They all work well on iOS devices (Apple), Android, and Google devices
- They give you access to singles in the city and suburbs
NYC Dating Apps: a Conclusion
These apps and websites are great if you want to try your luck in the NYC dating scene.
This is our recommendation for the best NYC dating apps (both free and paid) if you want to try your hand at dating in New York! Take your time, search for the best dating app that works for you. You are sure to find many potential matches. And we wish you much success in your quest. May you have few first dates before you find the one! Just remember your worth, which is NOT determined by anyone else in case you need to be told.
While our list is not comprehensive, there are other sites for you to explore and find people to connect with. You will eventually find a site or app that best suits you and help you find what you’re interested in. So, without further ado; get dating!
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