Alas, the market is inundated with matchmaking and dating apps, convoluting the journey of the heart. We’ve sorted through the best iPhone and Android has to offer so you don’t have to.

Let’s Date

Best for: Simplicity 

What: Tired of long-winded profiles? Let’s Date (below) takes the verbosity out of the process by creating simplified “dater cards”, which basically show your profile, and a few bullet points of your personality (i.e. “hopeless romantic”, “tattooed/pierced”).

If you like the look of someone, you tap “let’s date”. If they tap it too, you can start chatting. You have to have a legit Facebook account (and at least 50 friends) to join, which helps eliminate creeps.

Price: Free

HowAboutWe

Best for: Cool date ideas What: Too often, dating apps just connect two people. HowAboutWe (below) brings you to those who are into the same things and places as you. You upload a pic, a basic profile and the type of dates you want to go on.

Then, each day, they’ll send you date ideas from those who may be compatible with you. Suggestions range from “running into the ocean at night” and “picking up vegetables at a farmer’s market for a picnic”.  

Price: Free to download. Added features, such as unlimited messaging, are included in subscriptions, which start at £5.37 per month.

 

OkCupid

Best for: Cheapskates 

What: OkCupid is one of the few apps on the market that is completely free. Like Match and eHarmony, the app uses algorithms to (supposedly) create the perfect pairing. Users can chat, upload date ideas and broadcast their location to meet up at a moment’s notice.

OkCupid is also the highest rated dating app on the market, partly because of a streamlined, user-friendly interface (the price doesn’t hurt either). 

Price: Free

Crazy Blind Date

Best for: Spontaneity What: Created by OkCupid, this quirky app acts as a reminder that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

You pick when and where you’d like to meet up while the app does the maths using OkCupid’s algorithm. It then sets you up on a blind date, offering little more than a first name and a scrambled picture. 

Price: Free

 

Skout

Best for: Globetrotters What: For a social networking app to work it needs users. Skout has one of the largest subscriber bases – a million new members join each month – so it’s possible to meet matches just about anywhere in the world.

The app itself doesn’t break any mould. It’s location-based and lets users broadcast their whereabouts, chat and view profiles.

Price: Free

 

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