We’ve all heard sayings like “less is more” and “quality over quantity.” And in many ways, those phrases apply to the world of online dating, at least in terms of how many dating apps and websites you should use. With the wide array of platforms available — from niche apps like Farmers Only to paid sites such as Match.com and the more popular choices like Bumble — it’s common for single people to use more than one app at the same time. In fact, I encourage it!
However, the “correct” number of apps varies per person, and there’s no magic number. What really matters is how much time you dedicate to your online dating search. For example, I’d much rather a client use two sites proactively versus having seven apps that are poorly managed, or not checked at all.
Sure, every new app brings a new set of potential matches, but it can be really intimidating (and hard!) to keep track of what’s going on in every single app. You might get a message from someone but not be able to remember if it was on Bumble, Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid or Coffee Meets Bagel, resulting in opening each app on your phone until you figure it out. Simply checking numerous apps per day can be exhausting and complex, and if you miss even a day on a time-sensitive app such as Bumble, where the conversation expires after 24 hours if you don’t respond to a new person, you might have missed an opportunity to connect with someone special.
