We’ve compiled a list of the top international dating apps to help you find meaningful connection with someone abroad
In an effort to find companionship in a time of increasing loneliness, more and more people are seeking the assistance of dating apps. Match Group, for instance, saw a 15% boost in subscriber numbers last summer, and Feeld, an app catering to polyamorous people, noticed its registration numbers increase by 50% in early 2020.
And to combat the spread of COVID-19, some of the largest dating apps in the United States — including OkCupid, Tinder, Match, and Hinge — have launched an initiative to incentivize vaccinations among young people. According to Andy Slavitt, the senior advisor heading up the COVID-19 response team, people who disclose their vaccination on OkCupid “are 14 percent more likely to get a match.” And, if this isn’t incentive enough, companies like Match are offering rewards, such as boosts and super swipes, to those who choose the path of inoculation. Measures like these are essential for those looking to move to the United States during a time of uncertainty.
To help you navigate the world of online dating, we’ll cover the top 6 international dating apps:
- Lex
- OkCupid
- Hinge
- SoulSwipe
- Tinder
- Match
Lex
A newer addition to the dating app network, Lex is designed for anyone who isn’t a straight cis-gendered man. Unlike many other dating sites, this app prioritizes a person’s words over their appearance — you can find the phrase “Text first, selfies second” on their website. They don’t allow any kind of hate speech and will shut down accounts if they violate the rules. It’s a great app for queer and trans folks seeking out a safe space free of transphobia, ableism, fatphobia, racism, or any sort of hate speech. Lex is unique in that it’s not specifically designed for romantic encounters. You might, for instance, use this app to find a new friend to help ease your loneliness in a new country. And, of course, this app is available worldwide.
OkCupid
If you’re looking for a more established dating app, OkCupid might be the way to go. They’ve been responsive to the unfortunate phenomenon of harassment. Though you can still message people, the message won’t appear until after a match has been made. This provides a cushy barrier of protection from over-eager strangers. And with OkCupid, you can fill out a lengthy questionnaire about your personality, which then provides the app with enough data to track down well-suited matches. Like Lex, OkCupid aims to connect people based on shared interests and personality, rather than physical appearance.
Hinge
According to Hinge, you’re not meant to keep this app for too long, as its main purpose is to cultivate serious relationships — not hookups or one-night stands. Unlike most apps, Hinge uses your Facebook profile to connect you with friends of friends — as these people are more likely to match your interests and personality. In practice, this means you’ll get a lower number of daily suggestions than your average dating app. And once you’ve gone through all the potential Facebook connections, it will seek out second order friendships — like friends of friends of friends. Each profile contains an array of descriptors — such as “bookworm,” “smoker,” or “country clubber” — in addition to a picture, the person’s height, and a list of any mutual friends. You might also find the optional “about me” section. And before you can scroll to other potential partners, you have to either deny or affirm the first available profile.
SoulSwipe
In an attempt to address the pervasive biases against Black women on dating apps, the founders of SoulSwipe decided to make an internationally-accessible network designed specifically for Black singles looking to make meaningful connections in a safe and comfortable environment. Here’s how it works: once the user signs up, the app pulls all the relevant information from their Facebook profile. SoulSwipe then finds a match based on gender, age, and location. This app, like Hinge, will also inform you of any mutual Facebook friends. And if you both swipe right, you’re a match, which means you can message each other. With over 70,000 users logging in daily, this is a great app to use if you’re looking for a safe space to find other Black singles.
Tinder
This is one of the original dating apps, and though it’s known as the “hookup app,” it can still provide a pathway toward more serious relationships. After you sign up for Tinder — which you can do pretty much anywhere in the world — you will fill out your gender, age, location, and gender preferences, at which point you’re ready to start swiping. When both you and the other user swipe right, you can start messaging one another in preparation for a meetup or, these days, a zoom call. In 2019, the company announced it would cease using its attractiveness rating and focus more on matching active users with other active users, regardless of looks.
Match
With millions of users in 24 countries, Match is one of the longest-running dating apps in the world. To get started, you enter your preferences, what you’re looking for, physical descriptors, ethnicity, educational background, faith, languages, and income. Match focuses primarily on connecting people looking for “lasting relationships,” but of course, like any dating app, the future will be determined by you and the other user. Once you find a profile that meets your standards, click the like button — or send them a wink or an email — to communicate your interest. And if you’re just not in the mood to receive messages from a particular person, you can easily block them from contacting you.
These are some of the best apps for people looking to immigrate to the United States. Each of these offers its own unique environment for different types of preferences, and many of the above — Match, Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid — have introduced specific rewards to incentivize vaccination among its users, which is essential for anyone looking to travel thousands of miles to live in the United States in the of COVID.
