Thanks to DatingNews.com for this:
With seemingly endless dating apps competing for attention, figuring out which ones are actually worth trying can be difficult.
Dating industry publication DatingNews regularly reviews and ranks dating platforms based on factors including features, popularity, cost, safety tools, profile quality, and overall user experience.
Looking across its recent reviews and rankings, a handful of platforms consistently rise to the top. One important caveat: DatingNews uses different rating criteria for traditional dating apps and hookup-oriented platforms, so a high hookup rating isn’t necessarily comparable to a high general-dating rating.
Here are five of the highest-rated dating platforms on DatingNews.
- Match — 4.9/5 ⭐
Best for: Serious relationships and overall dating
Match is the clear standout in DatingNews’ coverage. The publication gives the veteran dating platform a 4.9 out of 5, its highest rating, and repeatedly recommends it for singles interested in meaningful relationships.
DatingNews particularly praises Match’s detailed profiles, sophisticated search filters, large membership base, and emphasis on compatibility rather than endless swiping. The service has been operating since 1995, giving it one of the longest track records in online dating.
Size is another major advantage. DatingNews estimates that Match attracts more than 15 million users per month. Its search tools allow users to narrow potential matches according to interests, lifestyle, appearance, location, and other characteristics.
DatingNews rating: 4.9/5
Bottom line: Of the services reviewed, Match appears to be DatingNews’ strongest all-around recommendation, particularly for people looking for long-term relationships rather than casual encounters.
- Ashley Madison — 4.8/5 ⭐
Best for: Discreet and casual dating
Ashley Madison occupies a very different corner of the dating world. DatingNews awards it 4.8 out of 5 in its hookup-oriented rankings, where privacy and discretion are major considerations.
The platform is designed primarily for casual encounters and discreet relationships, including people who are already attached. DatingNews reports that the network contains more than 91 million profiles worldwide and highlights privacy-oriented features such as anonymous accounts and tools for concealing photos.
This isn’t a conventional alternative to Match or eharmony. Someone searching for marriage would probably look elsewhere, while someone specifically interested in discreet or commitment-free dating may find Ashley Madison better suited to that goal.
DatingNews rating: 4.8/5 in hookup categories
Bottom line: One of DatingNews’ highest-rated choices for privacy-conscious casual dating, but it serves a very different audience from traditional relationship apps.
- NaughtyCharm — Up to 4.8/5 ⭐
Best for: Flirting and hookups
NaughtyCharm is another platform that performs exceptionally well in DatingNews’ specialized casual-dating rankings. DatingNews has awarded it 4.8 out of 5 in rankings focused specifically on adult dating, flirting, and hookups.
The service emphasizes quick connections, photo browsing, advanced search filters, anonymous usernames, and direct messaging. DatingNews estimates a substantial audience of roughly 13.3 million monthly users.
There is an important wrinkle, however: NaughtyCharm’s rating varies considerably depending on the DatingNews article. In the publication’s broader Best Dating Apps ranking, it receives only 4.1 out of 5.
That discrepancy suggests its 4.8 score should be interpreted as a category-specific rating rather than evidence that DatingNews considers it the third-best dating app overall.
DatingNews rating: 4.1–4.8/5, depending on category
Bottom line: Highly rated when judged specifically as a hookup platform, but considerably less impressive in DatingNews’ broader dating-app rankings.
- eharmony — 4.7/5 ⭐
Best for: Long-term relationships and compatibility
Few names are as closely associated with serious online dating as eharmony. DatingNews gives the platform 4.7 out of 5 and consistently positions it as one of the stronger choices for relationship-minded singles.
Rather than emphasizing rapid-fire swiping or casual encounters, eharmony revolves around compatibility. Users provide considerably more information about themselves than they might on a typical swipe-based app, allowing the service to recommend people with potentially compatible personalities and relationship goals.
The tradeoff is price. eharmony’s paid plans can represent a significant commitment compared with free or lower-cost dating apps.
DatingNews rating: 4.7/5
Bottom line: Alongside Match, eharmony stands out as one of the strongest choices here for people whose primary objective is finding a serious long-term partner.
- Adult FriendFinder — Up to 4.7/5 ⭐
Best for: Hookups, swingers and sex-positive dating
Adult FriendFinder, commonly known as AFF, is another platform whose rating depends heavily on the category in which DatingNews evaluates it.
In adult-dating and hookup-specific rankings, DatingNews gives Adult FriendFinder 4.7 out of 5. The publication highlights its enormous community and combination of dating profiles, live chat rooms, discussion forums and other community features. DatingNews estimates approximately 25.5 million monthly users and says the service has accumulated more than 100 million signups since its launch in 1996.
But AFF receives only 4.0 out of 5 under DatingNews’ broader dating-app methodology.
Like NaughtyCharm, that difference matters. AFF isn’t really competing with Match or eharmony for people searching primarily for marriage. It’s built around hookups, swingers, couples, and other sex-positive connections.
DatingNews rating: 4.0–4.7/5, depending on category
Bottom line: A major player in adult and hookup dating, but its high 4.7 rating is category-specific rather than an overall dating-app score.
Which Dating App Comes Out on Top?
Based strictly on DatingNews’ ratings, Match is the most convincing overall winner. Its 4.9/5 score isn’t dependent on being evaluated within a specialized hookup category, and DatingNews repeatedly recommends the platform across different types of mainstream dating rankings.
For serious relationships, the strongest choices are Match and eharmony. For casual dating and hookups, Ashley Madison, NaughtyCharm, and Adult FriendFinder receive some of DatingNews’ highest category-specific scores.
The larger lesson is that there really isn’t one “best” dating app for everyone. A 4.8-rated hookup platform and a 4.9-rated relationship platform are designed to solve completely different problems. The best choice depends less on which app has the most stars and more on what kind of connection you’re actually looking for.