Best Dating Apps San Diego

San Diego is a beautiful city that’s filled with equally beautiful people who just want to find their person. Normally, people would find a date while out at bars, or other social gatherings with friends. 

Best Dating Apps San Diego

However, the Covid-19 pandemic has made it hard for people to go out and engage in social activities such as attending bars and clubs, leaving those who are single and ready to mingle at a big disadvantage. 

Aside from this, not everyone enjoys those kinds of social gatherings, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t open to dating. 

Online dating (see also “What Is A Unicorn In Dating?“) allows you to meet a wider variety of people who share common interests safely, and while we all dream of meeting someone organically, a lot of relationships nowadays begin online! 

As there are many online dating apps that cost money and will waste your time, we’ve decided to compile a list of some of the best ones. Approximately 54% of the population of San Diego is single, so the odds are pretty good for meeting your soul mate on one of these sites! 

eHarmony

We decided to include eHarmony as number 1 on this list due to its fantastic success rate. 75% of online dating marriages (see also “How Long Should You Date Before Marriage in Your 30s?“) started from this very app, 75%!

This app is a great option if you’re looking for a real relationship, as it helps you figure out what it is you’re looking for in a partner before matching you with users of similar qualities. 

It is one of San Diego’s most popular dating apps, and it has millions of users, so the odds of you finding someone to date is pretty high! 

Pros 

  • Success rate – 75% of online marriages used this site 
  • Popularity – One of San Diego’s most popular dating sites.
  • Good data gathering – The app gathers a lot of your data in order to match you with someone accordingly. 

Cons 

  • Time-consuming – The matching process can take some time. 

Passion.com

With over 40 million people visiting this website each month, it’s one of the most popular dating apps in San Diego. 

It has a wonderful algorithm that responds to preferences such a sexuality, religion, and even geographical location! 

It’s also very easy to use due to its user-friendly interface, and enables you to browse users by age, location, and interests.

Pros 

  • Popularity – With over 40 million users, there’s a good chance that you’ll meet a variety of people with similar interests. 
  • Algorithm – The algorithm works in your favor by responding to your preferences. 
  • Easy to use – The interface of the app is very user-friendly. 

Cons 

  • Fake accounts – This website does witness an array of fake accounts. 

Hilly

Hilly is a dating app that stands out from the rest as it gives users the opportunity to post videos! 

While it’s very easy to highly edit your photographs, the same cannot be said for videos, so this allows you to see potential matches in their true form. 

You may also feel less nervous meeting someone for the first time after seeing what they look and sound like, so you’re less likely to get any first date ‘surprises’ with this one. 

Pros 

  • Harder to get catfished – The videos on this app make it harder for people to edit themselves.
  • Videos add a nice touch – It’s nice to hear what someone sounds like and see what they look like authentically before a date. 

Cons 

  • Time-consuming – Not as easy to scroll through as you need time to watch each video.

Adult Friend Finder 

Some people want to find a partner, whereas others are just looking for some fun. For those who are in the stage of their lives where they want to find a simple hookup, adultfriendfinder is the one. 

Variety is at the forefront of this app, as it has features such as webcams, chat rooms, forums, and even articles and county listings. 

It’s been around since 1995 and is now home to over 7 million users, with 100,000 visitors each day! 

If you’re still not ready for something serious, but would like to find a friend with benefits to keep you company on those lonely nights, then sign up to this app. 

Pros 

  • Variety – This app features webcams, chat rooms, forums, and other features that aren’t available on regular dating sites. 
  • Many daily users – Approximately 100,000 users access this app daily. 

Cons 

  • Not suitable for finding a long-term relationship – This app is designed more for hookups and finding friends with benefits.

Tinder 

This wouldn’t be a list of dating apps if we didn’t include Tinder (see also “What Does The Blue Star Mean On Tinder?“). It has a very easy-to-use interface, as all you need to do is swipe right on those who tickle your fancy. 

If they’ve swiped right on your profile, you will both have a match and are able to start chatting with each other. 

You get to use your very best photos and to top it off, it’s completely free to use!

However, this does mean that there’s a lot of competition on there, but it’s a great app to practice on and learn about what works best for you. 

Pros 

  • Free – Tinder is completely free to use! 
  • Easy to use – The interface is very simple, even for those who aren’t very tech-savvy. 
  • Many users – In San Diego, there are 55 billion people who use Tinder, so you’ll be spoiled for choice. 

Cons 

  • More competition – As there are so many users, the competition can be tougher, and it may take you more time to connect with someone you are interested in. 

Hinge 

As they state on their website, this is an app that is ‘designed to be deleted’ as you are bound to find your perfect match on it. 

It has been designed based off of dating research and behavioral analysts, so you can be assured that you are experiencing a well-designed, authentic dating app service.

On Hinge, you are encouraged to be picky, and to share your religion, preferences, and day-to-day life, so you can be matched with people who are just what you are looking for. 

Rather than liking a profile in general, Hinge allows you to like certain photos and prompts from profiles. You can even add a comment, which encourages natural conversation to flow between users. 

Pros 

  • Designed from research – Behavior analysts and researchers have contributed to the design of the app. 
  • Easy to use – The interface of the app is easy to navigate. 
  • Popular in San Diego – You are bound to find many like-minded people who live in San Diego. 

Cons 

  • Not necessarily unique – While the app is good in general, it doesn’t stand out massively from any others.

Zoosk 

Another favorite dating site that’s popular in San Diego is Zoosk. It works similarly to Tinder, as all you need to do is swipe right on the people you like, and swipe left on the rest! 

However, although it shares similarities to Tinder, it is considered slightly better as Tinder has received a reputation for being more of a hookup app, rather than for finding meaningful connections. 

If the latter is what you are looking for, then Zoosk is a good way to find it! 

Pros 

  • Easy to use – The swiping feature makes it quick and easy to use. 
  • Many users – Over 35 million people use this app, giving you a good shot at finding your match. 
  • Good balance of men and women on the app. 

Cons 

  • Free features – There’s a limit to free features. 
  • Match recommendations – The match recommendations are random, rather than based on common interests. 

Christian Mingle 

It can sometimes feel awkward when you disclose certain religious beliefs on a date. This app covers those bases for you by being specifically designed for those who are Christians. 

By already sharing the same religious beliefs, it makes the matching process a lot easier, and the fact that all your matches are Christian too makes for a great conversation starter. 

Despite this being such a niche site, there are over 9 million users signed up, so you’re bound to find a match here. 

Pros 

  • Nice dating site – Every user is a Christian. 
  • Many users for such a specific niche – Over 9 million users who all share the same religious belief. 
  • Verification is completed before allowing people onto the site – This limits the amount of fake profiles and catfishes on the site. 

Cons 

  • Price – In order to send messages you need to sign up to the paid membership. 

MeetMe 

MeetMe is an app that tends to attract the older crowd, which is great if you’re in the over-50s category and would like to meet people of a similar age. 

This is another app that uses video in order to connect with matches, which allows you to see potential matches more naturally and organically. 

With over 20 million users who actively log onto the site, the chances of you meeting someone who shares the same interests as you are pretty high! 

Pros 

  • Free – This app is completely free to use. 
  • Caters to an older age demographic – Gives people over 50 the chance to meet people of a similar age. 
  • Great extra features – The video feature is particularly useful. 

Cons 

  • Ads – As it is a completely free app, you’ll need to deal with a lot of ads. 

Buyer’s Guide 

Finding the right dating app can feel daunting, especially as there are so many available. There are many aspects to factor in before you sign up for a dating app, so this buyer’s guide will outline a few things to consider. 6

What Is It You Are Looking For? 

As you can see from this list, some dating apps are designed for you to find genuine connections with others who share similar interests.

Best Dating Apps San Diego (1)

They will require you to input certain information about your likes, beliefs, dislikes, and what kind of person you are looking for. 

The aim of these apps is to match you with like-minded individuals, so you can connect online before arranging meet-ups in person. 

On the other hand, some dating apps are generally centered on more casual situations and hook-ups. 

Knowing what it is you are looking for will help you narrow down your search for the perfect dating site for you. 

Pay Or Free 

In your search for the perfect dating app for you, you’ll come across some free ones, and some that require a one-time fee, or a subscription. 

While you may not want to spend money on these apps, they do tend to come with extra features such as video calling, and access to more users. 

Although the free ones may sound appealing, such as Tinder, millions of users flock to these websites as there is no money involved, so the search pool is very large, and it may take you longer to find your match as there are so many people signed up. 

Many of the free apps also lack the feature that takes notes of your interests, so you’ll find yourself matching with random users, rather than people who share similar interests to you. 

Location 

Location is a very important thing to consider when it comes to choosing a dating site. Would you like to find someone who lives in your exact area? Or, are you open to branching out a little more? 

Many dating sights will show you the matches that are close by, but this can sometimes be a little limiting for some people. 

Features 

Some apps only allow you to chat with your matches, but others have some interesting extra features such as video calls, as you’ve already seen in this list. 

The benefit of the video feature is that you get to know your matches more organically, as you’ll get to witness them speaking, and it’s much harder to edit videos than it is with photographs. 

Some other features on some sites include forums, games, and other fun activities for you to get to know your matches and break the ice! 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is San Diego Good For Dating? 

San Diego is on the list as one of the best places to date in the US! This is due to the variety of people you’ll meet, as this city is home to people of all kinds of background and ethnicities.

 It is also known for being filled with a large number of attractive single people. However, that can sometimes make dating hard if you’re looking for a serious relationship, as most singletons are only interested in hooking up. 

That being said, it is still possible to find your ‘one’ in San Diego, and the dating websites mentioned in this article are a great way to start. 

Is San Diego A Good Place For Single People?

The good news is that San Diego is a great place for single people to live. This city is filled with hip and trendy neighborhoods that are home to some great bars, clubs, restaurants, and other cultural areas where you’ll meet an array of different people. 

What Kinds Of Things Can You Do In San Diego For A Date? 

San Diego is full of culture and fun things to do. Whether you’re looking for something laid back, or something fun that gets your blood pumping, there are a variety of things you can do in San Diego on a date. 

Sparks gallery, located in downtown San Diego, will add vibrancy and culture to your night. It is an art gallery that hosts all kinds of cultural events and exhibitions that will really impress your date. 

Balboa Park is also a great place for a daytime date. It is the perfect place for a romantic picnic as it offers an abundance of beautiful green space, and a wonderful backdrop for a date. 

There are also several restaurants in this area if you don’t fancy a picnic, such as Daniel’s Cafe, and Craveology. 

If you’re in the mood for something a little more active, then AxeVentures offers couples the chance to bond over some crazy fun activities.

Here you will find some smash rooms where you can let off some steam, and it’s the perfect place if you’re nervous for a first date. 

Engaging in this kind of activity together will definitely bring out some laughs, and get rid of any nerves you may be feeling. 

Final Thoughts 

To conclude, the Covid pandemic has made it difficult for single people to meet like-minded individuals. 

What’s more, is that nowadays we rely heavily on social media as a tool for interaction, and online dating is a big part of this. 

The dating scene in San Diego is great as there are many attractive single people who make up part of the population, but it can sometimes be difficult to find someone who is looking for the same thing as you. 

Online dating is a great way to connect with those who are after the same kind of relationship as you are, whether it’s a fling or something serious. 

These apps are the perfect place to start, so get downloading!

Emily Baker