If you’re a woman in the dating game, chances are you’ve tried some apps.
However, you may have also quickly realized that using them is not always safe. For example, you might often get explicit content without asking, or in the worst-case scenario, you might end up as a stalking victim. So, what’s the best dating app that won’t let that happen?
In this listing, we’ve gathered 5 dating apps that have built-in safety tools, receive good customer ratings, and are available in the US. Keep reading to find a safer way to meet your significant other.
Hily
Using a dating app for single women should be enjoyable for everyone. The Hily dating app understands this like no other, which is why it offers a built-in Consent Guard feature that blocks unsolicited sexual messages and cyberflashing. It uses AI to instantly detect explicit content, so nobody will take you off guard with such “surprises.” And if you do choose to view content, you can select “Consent” after a person sends you a consent request.
Beyond safety, Hily’s main focus is authenticity. It says, “Date as you are” and don’t try to be perfect. At the same time, the app was created with the help of relationship experts, sexologists, and dating coaches who use real-world data to improve dating experiences.
One of its best features is called Icks & Clicks, a compatibility quiz based on actual science. That is, you don’t have to judge anyone by their photos alone, but have the idea of who the person really is. There is also a Discover Tab that puts prospective matches into thematic groups like people nearby or people with the same aspirations. One more tool, Major Crush, is a way to send someone a personal note before you’ve even matched. It’s like a first move but with no pressure.
Hily has an amazing rating for a dating app — 4.3 stars on Google Play with almost 200,000 reviews.
Bumble
Bumble is the second most popular dating app behind Tinder. Its main selling point is that only women can start the conversation in this app. They have to send the first message within 24 hours of a heterosexual match, or it is lost forever.
The profile setup is simple: Users can add up to six photos, write a short bio, and choose interest badges. There’s a “For You” section that highlights 4 highly compatible profiles daily, along with video and voice messaging. Another feature, Compliments, lets you react to someone’s photo or prompt before you’ve even matched. After a match, there’s a 24-hour window, which expires if you don’t start the conversation within this limit. Some people hate this feature, but others love it.
Recently, Bumble has tweaked the women-first guideline a little bit. Now, women can choose to let men message them first. The app has a 3.7 rating on Google Play and is available in more than 150 countries.
Coffee Meets Bagel
If you search for an exclusive dating app, try Coffee Meets Bagel. It’s made for those who are bored of swiping through hundreds of strangers and want to get just a few really good matches instead.
91% of its users want to find a real relationship on CMB. So, you can say it’s for serious daters, and the app’s mechanics reflect that. Every day, you’ll get a carefully chosen set of matches based on your tastes. The suggestions improve as the technology learns your preferences over time.
Profiles are in-depth and have things like relationship objectives, plans to have kids, education, and values. Chats come with a 7-day limit, which is designed to push people off the app and into actual dates. There are icebreakers to help start conversations and a Discover section for browsing beyond your daily picks. The app has two premium tiers: Premium and Platinum, with features like seeing who liked you, activity reports, and an always-on profile boost.
OkCupid
This online dating app was created by four Harvard mathematicians in 2004. They had the idea that compatibility should actually mean something, and that idea has already survived two decades of the Internet.
Dating apps are often exhausting, especially for single women. OKCupid addresses this problem. You answer questions first, such as whether you want kids, how you feel about monogamy, or what you think about climate change. Then, the app shows you a picture of a possible match and asks you to swipe. Each answer adds up to a compatibility percentage visible on every profile you see.
This is a very inclusive app, supporting 12 sexualities and 22 gender identities. Also, you can choose your pronouns and restrict who can see your profile. On the WhichDating platform, it has 8 out of 10 stars.
Match
Match is probably the oldest dating app out there. It was founded in 1995, and somehow, thirty years later, it’s still running with over 39 million users worldwide. The app’s audience has also matured over time, with most of its users being 30–55 years old. What’s even more important, nearly half of them joined specifically to find a long-term partner.
Besides swipes, Match has a built-in video chat, an anonymous calling line, a safety tool with emergency contacts, and even platform-organized social gatherings. The main drawback is that there are no young folks here. But if you’re a mature person, looking for a serious relationship, you can give Match a shot.
Conclusion
When it comes to online dating, it’s better to play it safe than learn the hard way. Luckily, you can choose an app that already has safety built into the experience. Thus, Hily offers Consent Guard to stop unwanted explicit content, Bumble gives women more control over conversations, and OkCupid helps you understand matches beyond their profile pictures. A dating app can’t promise there will never be awkward or uncomfortable moments, but the right one can help you date with more confidence and control.
