best dating apps in singapore for a serious relationship: an honest comparison
If someone asked me which of the best dating apps in Singapore they should download today, my answer would be:
Don't overthink it.
There’s no point spending more time researching dating apps than actually meeting people.
If you're looking for a serious relationship, these are the platforms I'd actually consider, as a dating coach and someone who was on them for nearly 3 years before finding my husband.
coffee meets bagel (5/5)
The biggie, and probably the app most closely associated with intentional dating in Singapore. It has a reputation for people who are looking for something long term.
(You may even have heard of it as “the Christian dating app” - but it’s not! You would however probably find a number of Christians there because their values align with its intentionality.)
If your goal is a long-term relationship, CMB is definitely of the strongest places to start.
bumble (4/5)
Bumble has plenty of users in Singapore and works well if you prefer a slightly different dynamic, where women make the first move.
I wouldn't choose it as your only app because it’s very swipe-heavy and can lead to dating app fatigue quite quickly (especially after the initial high wears off), but I'd happily run it alongside Hinge or Coffee Meets Bagel.
Fun fact: you can actually request for your swipe data on Bumble!
Open the Bumble app and go to your Profile.
Tap on Settings > Contact & FAQ > Ask for Help.
Scroll down to Still have questions? and select Start Chat.
Type and send a message stating you want to "Request data".
I personally found it a pretty fun exercise - and a good starting point to find out some information. If you’re not happy with your stats, you can always get a dating profile audit to get more matches.
tinder (1/5)
Can you find a serious relationship on Tinder?
Certainly - I personally know a few couples who found their life partners there.
But expectations on Tinder are much broader - some are looking for relationships, most aren’t. It’s not impossible, so just understand the odds and adjust your expectations.
Fun fact #2: Tinder and Hinge are both owned by Match Group, even though the experiences are so different!
hinge (5/5)
If I had to recommend one app to most men today, it’d probably be Hinge.
It’s a pretty fun app because you get to have interactive stuff like polls, and the prompts make it easier to show personality, so conversations tend to feel more natural. It's also (allegedly) generally built to help people get off the app (“designed to be deleted” is what will greet you when you first download it).
It also feels a little less serious than CMB, which helps if it’s your first time foraying into dating apps.
okcupid (3/5)
OKCupid used to be one of the biggest names in online dating (and actually probably still is overseas), because of its extensive questionnaires and compatibility matching.
But today, its user base in Singapore is much smaller than Hinge, Bumble or Coffee Meets Bagel. If you enjoy answering detailed questions, you might appreciate it, but for most men I'd recommend you start elsewhere.
kopi date (5/5)
Kopi Date sits somewhere between matchmaking and dating apps - instead of endless swiping, you pay a modest membership fee and get introduced to curated matches for actual coffee dates that are pre-planned for you.
I personally really love this concept, although I think it’s worth noting that the pool is smaller. But if you're feeling burnt out by dating apps, this is a refreshing alternative.
alternative dating apps
There are some dating apps that Singaporeans do try, but their pool is significantly smaller. These aren’t hard no’s and it may be worth giving them a try, but I haven’t met anyone who’s actually met their significant others on any of these apps in Singapore.
salt
This app is actually a Christian dating app. If your faith is central to your life, it’s worth exploring. But the Singapore user base is really pretty tiny and the user experience was not fantastic, so you’ll naturally have much fewer potential matches.
teddy lounge
Teddy Lounge recently entered Singapore and started getting influencers to recommend it. Its positioning revolves around “exclusivity”, and to be on the app, you have to get “verified medals” based on your profession, yearly income, and even beauty.
Some people might love that - but personally, I think it risks reducing compatibility to a checklist. Those things are important, sure, but they don't tell you whether someone is kind, emotionally available or actually ready for a relationship.
These qualities don’t fit neatly into a badge, do they?
the league
The League pitches itself as an “exclusive” dating app “for ambitious professionals”, with only 3-5 prospects per day.
In practice, I found the experience terribly clunky, and the local user base doesn't seem large enough to justify choosing it over Hinge or Coffee Meets Bagel.
so…which dating app should you choose?
My suggestion for you, if you’re looking for a long-term relationship:
Coffee Meets Bagel
Hinge
Bumble
These three currently have the most mainstream adoption among relationship-focused users in Singapore, making them the most practical place to begin. CMB is the app for serious daters, so that’s probably the best place to start if that’s what you’re looking for. If you don’t want a swiping experience and want a more curated approach, Kopi Date is a fantastic choice as well.
That being said, your success depends far less on which app you choose than how well your profile represents you.
If you're already on Hinge or Coffee Meets Bagel and wondering why you're still not getting matches, stay there before downloading another app.
→ Read: Why Am I Not Getting Matches?
Or, if you'd like a second opinion, my dating profile audit reviews your photos, prompts and profile from a woman's perspective, with practical recommendations you can apply immediately.
about the author
I'm Wan Ting, founder of portmanteau, a dating coach for men in Singapore.
I help good men like you stop guessing and build practical dating skills for serious relationships.
