Hey, are you trying to break into the dating game? If you’ve already tried at least one dating app for single men and got sick of it, you’ve probably been ghosted or stuck in a “talking” stage loop. You can spend weeks there, but never go on a real date. Are all these apps the same?
No, actually. There are plenty of overlooked options that can get you on a date. So, what’s the best dating app for that? Here, we’ve picked 5 different apps that:
- Focus on a young and ambitious audience
- Prioritize quality over quantity of matches
- Have good customer ratings
If you look for an app that’ll help you actually find someone, read on.
Hily
Hily dating app puts you in a better position than most apps from the start. This app is best for Gen Z and millennials because most users here are between 18 and 30.
What makes Hily stand out? This dating app for single men builds context before you even say hello. After registration, you need to take a compatibility quiz. Then, you’ll see a compatibility percentage with every user on the app. This way, you can start conversations more thoughtfully instead of sending out the same messages to multiple people. On top of that, Hily offers:
- Discover Tab: a collection of profiles, grouped by location, interests, and goals
- Consent Guard: a feature for stopping cyberflashing and unsolicited sexting
And these features are for Premium accounts:
- Major Crush: a message you send to people you’re interested in before a match
- Visitors & Incoming: a section that tells you who has looked at your profile
- Rollback: “canceling” your swipe left if you accidentally hit the wrong person
- Extended Filters: narrowing down your search in the Finder
So, Hily gives you many tools to have a genuine connection with someone. The app has a 4.3 score out of 5 on Google Play with roughly 200,000 reviews.
Iris Dating
Iris Dating kicks off with a question that most dating apps overlook: What do you really find attractive? When you first sign up, the app takes you through an Iris Training Phase. During it, you’ll rate a bunch of stock photos to help the algorithm understand which facial features catch your eye. The AI catches the pattern and then checks those preferences against real user photos nearby, showing you people who really are your type.
Iris goes beyond just matching people based on looks; it also runs a personality test. This adds a deeper layer of compatibility by matching individuals on their values and shared traits, in addition to their physical appearance. Safety gets real attention, too. Every user carries a Trust Rating Score, and photo verification runs on all profiles to keep fake accounts and catfishers out.
You can start with a free tier because you’ll have 5 Iris Flowers to send as super likes. If you want more features, you’ll have to upgrade to the Premium plan. The app has earned a 4.4 rating on Google Play and received more than 130,000 reviews.
Hunch
Hunch is nearly the most popular dating app in this listing. Once a day at 5 PM, the app hands you up to 10 curated, photo-verified profiles.
What makes Hunch genuinely different is Sia, the app’s AI matchmaker. When both people want to meet, Sia steps in, picks a venue, locks in a time, and turns that mutual interest into a real, confirmed plan. Additionally, the app matches people based on opinion polls: things like how you think about relationships, pop culture, and life, not just how your photos look.
Hunch is built for people who want to actually show up. Here, every interaction pushes toward a real-world outcome. A small pool, high intent. Google Play rates the app 4.4 stars, and it has 2.4 million users.
Feels
Feels is more than an online dating app: it looks like a social network. Here, you can scroll through people’s profiles with their stories, videos, and thoughts. This way, you can get a grasp of someone’s personality before you start chatting.
The app’s audience is generally people younger than 30. You can react to and comment on people’s posts in the app, so it’s easier to start a conversation. The app can also be used to find friends, not just a date. This brings a casual and relaxed vibe all around.
Raya
Raya is an exclusive dating app that really gives off the vibe of a private club. You can’t simply log in and start swiping here. The service verifies and approves every new user who wants to be a member. The app is popular among people in creative industries, influencers, and even artists.
A user profile on Raya is also a bit similar to social media. It looks like a photo slideshow with a track that you can choose. You can also use it to find friends and for professional networking, besides dating. This makes conversations feel more natural and comfortable.
Some celebrities, such as Demi Lovato and Kiernan Shipka, have been using Raya for dating. We can’t promise that you’ll have a date with someone famous here, but they will definitely be someone interesting.
Conclusion
If you treat a dating app like a vending machine, it’s not going to work. The guys who actually have a date thanks to an app put an effort into it. Start with a good bio that says something about you, not a list of requirements for a potential partner. Add photos that you actually took this year, and send messages that can start interesting conversations.
You can start with Hily if you’re new to the game. Seeing compatibility scores and people’s interests on profiles makes it easier to start conversations. Plus, the algorithm improves over time, so the more you use the app, the better your matches will become.
