Best dating sites and apps for professionals in 2021

The gist: We’ve all heard of eharmony and most of us have seen the commercials. eharmony has been around since 2000 and there’s a good reason why it still feels like a relevant presence in our dating lives. It works. The site uses a scientific approach to dating. Based on the results of a lengthy questionnaire that covers topics such as likes and dislikes, hobbies, and behavioral habits, the site finds your most compatible matches. 

Why it works: Plain and simple, the efficacy of eharmony comes down to the results and a kickass reputation for success. For professionals, it’s the difference between wasting energy on people who either aren’t serious or aren’t for you, and matching with like-minded individuals who, at the very least, you’ll get along with. Membership may be pricey, but if you’re looking for something serious, you’re way more likely to find someone on the same page if they’re also willing to pay the price. BTW, the pricing frequently changes, so you’ll need to create an account to get the most up-to-date prices.

The gist: EliteSingles caters its site specifically to professionals. In this contest, “elite” seems to simply mean that one is in possession of a bachelor’s degree. (The site boasts that more than 85 percent of its members are college educated.) The signup process for EliteSingles is similar to that of eharmony, in that it requires you to take a lengthy personality test before showing you your matches. The personality test is based on the Five Factor Model, which breaks down your personality in five main categories: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Once you finish filling out the personality test, the site gives you several different options to find someone, including recommending three to seven compatible matches per day, showing your profile visitors, or their “Have You Met” feature that shows you compatible matches that may fall a bit outside of your chosen filters.

Why it works: EliteSingles members are more than likely going to be in a similar boat as you. They’re educated professionals who took the time to fill out a lengthy questionnaire in hopes of finding someone just as serious as them (not to mention that they have enough disposable income to pay for the site — if the questionnaire wasn’t enough to weed out the pretenders, the membership fee would probably do the trick). These people know what it’s like to work hard and can be empathetic when you’ve had a long day at the office. EliteSingles also only shows you members who it deems you compatible with based on your personality, so you can be at ease knowing the odds are already in your favor. 

The gist: Like eharmony, match has been around for a while. In fact, even longer (it’s rocking that 1995 launch date.) match has plenty of success stories on its résumé, with more constantly in the works with apparently 25,000 users joining every day. That’s quite the dating pool. What’s great about match is that, unlike sites that limit you to matches, the site also allows you to view pretty much everyone. While you’re welcome to view random profiles, match’s other cool features include match suggestions (where they recommend compatible people), and the “Missed Connections” feature, which uses GPS technology to show you potential matches that you’ve already crossed paths with (so to speak) in real life. 

Why it works: match is great for the working professional who doesn’t want to feel like they’re missing out on the “real life” dating experience by being limited to the confines of other curated dating apps. Similar to being out in the real world, mingling with all kinds of singles, match gives you access to the entire pool. However, you can filter options however you want. 

There’s also a “dealbreaker” option that lets you rule out profiles of people whom you know you could never make it work with. Time is money, people, and we can’t afford to waste our hard-earned money on dead-end leads. For professionals who are darting back and forth between meetings, the Missed Connections feature is clutch for the days you don’t have time to stop and get the number of the cutie you on the Starbucks line. 

The gist: Although it launched in 2012, Hinge massively overhauled its platform and mechanics to differentiate itself from other dating sites like OkCupid and Tinder. Now, Hinge is more about engaging over similar careers, interests, and senses of humor instead of a quick attraction swipe. Single professionals will appreciate that 99 percent of Hinge users are college-educated as of 2019, and that the most popular industries include banking, consulting, media, and fashion. Hinge is the thing to be on in big cities like NYC and Chicago, and it’s likely that a lot of users moved to that city for work and understand the 9 to 5 routine.

Why it works: To ensure that Hinge is based on more than thinking someone is hot, the app pushes for more interaction and engagement by only giving 10 potential likes per day. Instead of a tacky bio, it’s designed to give a little piece of information about a potential match as you go through a profile, including where they went to school, and random facts like “Dream celeb dinner date” or “Go-to Karaoke song.” Hinge also encourages you to scroll through entire profiles before you make a decision to “like” or “dislike.” 

Hinge also has a feature called “We met,” where users who actually meet up IRL can tell Hinge that the match worked, if it went well, and if they plan to see that person again. It’s one of the first apps to measure real-world success, which gives the algorithm a better idea of the people you like so that the app can send you better options and get you on more dates. Working professionals don’t have time to waste playing games, and Hinge seems like an option with the perfect mix of seriousness and fun.

The gist: OkCupid gives you the option to make as in-depth of a profile as you want. If you’d rather not spend time answering hundreds of questions before you start your search, just fill out the basic info (age, religion, smoking habits, etc.) and fill out a few prompt questions to show off your personality. But the best part about OkCupid is probably its list of extensive — and some kind of bizarre — optional questions. The questions cover specific political views, sex fetishes, social habits, and more. Whether you choose to share them publicly on your profile or keep them private as a way for the app to narrow your matches, it’s definitely a way of getting the hard or awkward questions out of the way right off the bat. 

Why it works: By the end of the work day most of us are pretty fried. After eight hours in an office it can feel draining to sit and try to be creative when filling out a dating profile. OkCupid is great because it gives prompts and ridiculously-detailed questions that help you out in showing your true colors without having to think too hard about it. Filling out an OkCupid profile is actually fun. Plus, it helps narrow the field and allows you to put your best foot forward. Get the hard questions out of the way to avoid spending an extended period of time with someone who has clashing views or interests that you consider a total deal breaker.

The gist:  Bumble is the app that turns the tables and has the ladies make the first move. Similar to Tinder, setting up your profile on Bumble is pretty straightforward and follows the “swipe left or right” method. After signing up, just fill out a brief bio and prompts and start swiping. When two people both swipe right (for yes) on each other, a “connection” is made. At this point, the woman then has 24 hours to start a conversation. If she doesn’t make a move within the time limit, the connection is lost. *However* if guys see that time is running out but don’t want to miss out on a match, they have the option to extend the connection for an extra 24 hours. The catch is: you’re only allowed to do this for one match per day, so best save if for someone you think is extra special. In same-sex couples, either person is able to make the first move.

Why it works: Women do not have the time or patience to sift through a hundred “hey” messages. Bumble helps to empower women and weed out some of the unwanted sleazy messages they might receive on other dating apps. Bumble is a win for the guys as well though, since they can use the app knowing that all of the matches they receive are from women who are interested. Plus, they won’t need to stress over formulating the perfect pick-up line.  

The gist: Dealing with people at work for eight hours is stressful enough as it is, and we don’t blame you if you don’t feel like spending your post-work free time stressing over your love life. Maybe your bad luck in relationships has made you bury yourself in your work and the thought of re-downloading a swiping app makes you want to throw up. We all have that one friend who’s begging to “Tinder” for us, and now there’s an app for that: Ship is the modern take on having your friend act as a wingman or wingwoman at the bar, but using swiping instead of an awkward “Hey, my friend thinks you’re hot.”

Why it works: Released in January 2019, Ship is the love child of Match Group (owner of match, Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid) and digital media giant Betches. Since launch, it’s had some serious matching technology and a huge user following right out of the gate. Potential matches are shown to your group of friends via trusted algorithms from the veterans at match, while Betches takes care of the marketing and ensures that the blind date model feels hip and not lame.

To get started, a single user creates a group of people who will do the swiping for them. That group can send the potential dates to each other before it’s a confirmed “yes,” as well as send pictures and have a regular group chat. (If your friends in a relationship miss the single days of swiping, this is a chance for them to do so while using their expertise to pick you a winner, too.) Unfortunately, friends can’t talk to matches in order to groom them before introducing them to you, but hopefully that’s coming soon.

An idea this unique is bound to generate some hype, but does it live up to it? Absolutely. The app sees pretty awesome reviews in the App Store and has been covered by major publishers like The Verge and Elite Daily, although you’ve probably seen it before in the form of YouTube ads. Most complaints are about flaws in the app’s design and random glitches, but people seem really gung-ho about the concept.

The gist: Happn is like the dating app version of Craigslist’s “Missed Connections” section. You know, the one where hopeless romantics can post about that cute person they locked eyes with on the train, only to never see them again. The app uses GPS to show you singles that you’ve crossed paths with in real life throughout the day. Your homepage is essentially just a list of profiles in chronological order of when you were near them. If you see someone you’re interested in, you can “heart” them, or, if you really want to make sure you get their attention, you can send them a “charm,” which will prompt a push notification. Once they like you back, you can start a conversation. 

Why it works: If you’re a busy professional whose workday is jam-packed, you may barely have time to pay attention to anything other than the task at hand. Unfortunately, this could mean you’re not paying attention to the people around you, some of whom you may really hit it off with. For those who spend their days darting from meeting to meeting, spending their lunch breaks on the phone, or generally rushing from one task to the next throughout the day, it can be hard to notice, let alone strike up a convo, with people who could pretty much be your destiny if you’d just take a minute to talk to them. Happn gives you another shot. 

The gist: To put it bluntly, AdultFriendFinder is a site for people who are looking to get laid — and when you’re busy with a job and not looking for anything serious, appeasing that primal urge is all you need. It’s not your typical snooty suggestion for a professional, working single to find love, but it makes a lot of sense when you think about it: Working people don’t always have time to build an in-depth profile or go on dates, let alone answer to a boyfriend or girlfriend. A dating site where no one expects that from you could be a total breath of fresh air.

Why it works: Also known as the “world’s largest sex and swinger community,” AFF’s 25 million users are very open to sex as the main reason why they are there in the first place. Users don’t try to hide what everyone on the site is looking for, and it makes the experience quick while avoiding a lot of awkward “I’m not looking for anything serious right now” moments. Sites like match and EliteSingles are great for finding a like-minded partner, but not every working professional has settling down on the brain.

But be warned: Just because it could work for some working professionals, that doesn’t mean it’s safe to use at work. The site is drenched in porn ads and nudity, and it’s not something you’ll want your boss to see when they walk past.

The gist: Zoosk is the app that can read between the lines to figure out what you need. Signing up is pretty easy. Once you log in, just fill in some basic info (body type, education, religion, and a brief “about me” bio), and you’re free to start browsing profiles. However, there are other optional questions designed to let other singles know exactly what you’re looking for. Zoosk asks you to describe your perfect date, your idea of the perfect match, and more. Once you’re ready to go, the dating site gives you a variety of interactive options, from sending hearts and smileys, to a swipe-like yes or no feature, to showing you which users have viewed your profile and those who are currently online. Zoosk allows members to verify their profiles through video, in order to show that they actually look like their pics.

Why it works: Like match, Zoosk gives you a wide variety of options in terms of finding other single people. What’s even better though, is that Zoosk actually analyzes your interactions and uses them to find you more matches you’ll like. This is a dating site that pays attention to what you’re into, and when they spot a winner, they’ll throw them into your radar like a qualified personal assistant. So just know, that the precious time you’re allotting to Zoosk outside business hours is not being wasted. The more you use the app, the higher your chances are of being paired with a match you’ll be super excited about.

The gist: Have you ever heard a more millennial app name? Each day, guys are sent up to 21 profiles called “bagels” to either “like” or “pass” on. For the bagels that were liked, the app will then figure out the best possible options for women out of the men who expressed interest. Point being: women will only be presented with matches who are already interested.

Why it works: Look, you’re busy. You have meetings, your hours are long and sometimes you just feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day, especially not enough to pencil in a date. Instead of getting stuck in complacency in the world of swiping and one-liners, Coffee Meets Bagel will give you the little push you need to actually take this thing into the real world. 

Once you’ve made a match (with someone who’s already interested), the app will take you into a private chatroom and set you up with some prompt questions to get the ball rolling. Coffee Meets Bagel will even follow up with you and encourage a date, so you’re less likely to forget about a promising match when a busy work week takes priority.