Due to inflation impacting the U.S. and beyond, the cost of living is on the rise. Although love comes at no cost, expenses related to dating are climbing. Mashable previously indicated that the cost of living crisis in the UK has influenced dating, likely applicable in other areas as well. Costs such as drinks, clothing, and transportation might compel singles to make difficult financial decisions regarding dating, possibly steering clear of paid dating applications. Thankfully, numerous popular dating apps provide free access.

**Which dating apps are available for free?**

Key apps such as Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge offer free versions, along with Grindr and OkCupid.

Some users have voiced concerns about features being restricted by paywalls. Mashable has reported that Grindr users are among those impacted. Grindr now has restricted visibility of “taps” and the “explore” section now reveals just one new profile each day, reduced from three.

Factors contributing to this include ownership by public companies, like Grindr and Match Group (which owns Tinder and Hinge), creating pressure to boost revenue. Inflation also impacts businesses, driving up operational expenses.

Despite feedback and possible paywalls, these apps continue to be free, though akin to a basic streaming service, they do not offer premium features.

More extensive apps such as eharmony and Match necessitate payment to connect or communicate. Even looking ahead to 2025, many dating apps remain free. We have assembled a list of apps to discover a long-term partner, a casual encounter, or something in between, all at no charge.