Life
Just because it’s already Valentine’s Day and you don’t have a date tonight, that doesn’t mean it’s too late to get one. There’s only a million and one dating apps out there, and if you start swiping right now, you could have a date lined up for tonight. After all, chances are that you’re not the only one swiping today on Tinder, Bumble, you name it. There’s a lot of people out there looking for a last-minute Valentine's Day date. Whether you want to find someone to grab a drink with, check out live music with you, or whatever you have in mind, dating apps provide you with that potential. Of course, not all apps were created equally, and some are more geared to meeting up last-minute than others — namely, the most popular ones. So if you want a last-minute date tonight, use the dating apps mentioned below.
“If you keep your expectations low and understand that sometimes it’s just fun to go on a date, why not try your luck on the most romantic day of the year?” Stef Safran, matchmaking and dating expert, tells Bustle. “It only takes one good date to make you feel positive and happy about love, so why not give Cupid a chance this Valentine’s Day? You never know!”
App Annie, an app market data and insights company, did research to discover the five most popular dating apps in the U.S., based on their number of downloads. So, it would naturally make sense that these are the ones to check out for Valentine’s Day date options. Without further ado, here are the apps — in order from most to least popular — to give a shot for a last-minute date.
1
Tinder
Everyone seems to use Tinder, and it’s no secret why — it’s easy, efficient, and the app is constantly adding new features. For instance, with the “Super Like,” you can show someone you really like them. With Tinder Gold, you can pay for even more benefits, a few of which include more Super Likes (five per day versus one) and the Passport feature, aka the ability to swipe in another city from your current location (which is a BIG thing RN as a LOT of people on Tinder are using it to match with Olympic athletes).
2
PlentyOfFish
It’s no surprise, either, that PlentyOfFish (POF) is popular, as one key feature the app has is that you can remain anonymous. Unlike many apps where you link to your Facebook account, so your actual first name is used as your username, with POF, you can make up a username.
3
Bumble
Bumble is renowned for women making the first move — in heterosexual relationships, that is. In same-sex ones, either woman can make the first move. Plus, you must do so within 24 hours, and your match has 24 hours to respond. I think this time crunch sets Bumble apart from other apps, where you may match with dozens of people, yet neither of you actually message each other. Bumble has solved this problem, which is definitely a big bonus and benefit to users of the app.
4
Zoosk
A benefit of using Zoosk is that it has a Personalized SmartPick™ feature, and introduces you to others, so to speak, based on your likes and preferences. In addition, their photo verification system has members submit video selfies, so if you’re worried that someone won’t look like their photos IRL, worry not!
5
Badoo
When you use Badoo, not only does the app have a photo verification feature — so goodbye, catfishing! — but you can also type in the name of a celebrity (or someone you know on Facebook) to get matches that look like them. So if you want a last-minute Valentine’s Day date with a Brad Pitt or Kate Beckinsale lookalike, start swiping away!
Whether you only see the person tonight or you click and see them after tonight, it’s a win-win either way. Going on a first date on Valentine’s Day is only a big deal if you make it a big deal. Plus, you’ll probably end up with a good story to tell about that time you went on an online date — an online first date — on Valentine’s Day! Happy matching!
