In 2022, dating apps are the most common ways couples meet. In fact, according to The Knot 2021 Jewelry and Engagement Study-which surveyed over 5,000 couples who got engaged or married last year-one in four couples met online. Plus, recent insights indicate that marriages formed from dating apps may be less likely to end in divorce as members use the sites to date intentionally. Of course, these aren’t new revelations. (And if you’ve ever tried your hand at the apps, you’re well aware of just how popular they are.) But with so many matchmaking services out there, it can be hard to determine the best dating apps for marriage.
Although not everyone downloads an app with a wedding in mind, many users turn to digital services to find long-lasting relationships. Intentional dating is one of the biggest dating trends of 2022, and most apps are designed to help people find genuine, authentic connections. This year, daters are prioritizing relationship wellness more than ever before, and it can certainly be done while using an app.
To help you determine the best dating apps for marriage, we compiled our own internal data and spoke to real couples from the most popular dating apps to see which services are most likely to lead to a successful partnership. Below, read their stories and find out the compelling results.
Tinder
Despite its reputation as being for casual relationships, our insights indicate that Tinder is the best dating app for Jewelry and Engagement Study, Tinder was responsible for pairing 27% of newlyweds who met online, solidifying its spot as the most popular dating app too.
With over 75 million monthly active users worldwide, the app facilitates millions of matches every day. The app boasts 55 billion matches made since its launch in 2012. And in the brand’s 2021 recap, “The Year in Swipe,” internal data shows that members-especially Gen Z users-care more about finding a long-lasting connection. To do so, users customize their profiles to find matches that share similar political and social beliefs. (A great example, per the brand’s finding, is vaccination status: “Mentions of ‘Vaxxed’ in bios in the US grew by over 3x as members advocated for vaccine status as a dating essential,” they report.) Users are also more willing to talk about what they like upfront. Tinder reports that “mentions of ‘small things’ increased by 30% year on year in Tinder bios,” which indicates that being clear about your desires and needs in a relationship is a key way to find a fulfilling match.
While the majority of Gen Z users might not be ready for marriage just yet (in fact, the average age of marriage is now 34), data indicates that Tinder is already proficient at making connections for all ages, rightfully earning its spot as one of the best dating apps for marriage.
Bumble
Launched in 2014, Bumble was the first app to only allow females to make the first move in a heterosexual match. (For same-sex couples, both users have the opportunity to send the first message.) The brand has since become one of the most popular dating apps to date, as it recorded over 85 million registered users in over 150 countries. And according to studies done by The Knot, it’s one of the best dating apps for , our data found that it was the second-most-popular dating website, responsible for matching 23% of couples who met online. Thanks to features like personality badges and profile prompts, the app allows users to make informed swipes-but it’s the emphasis on women making the first move that sets Bumble apart from other online dating services.