How to Create a Dating App? Easy Steps to Build an App Like Tinder

Why’s dating app development so much in demand right now? What has made dating apps the next big playground for entrepreneurs?

The online dating scene is hotter than ever, thanks to the emergence and popularity of apps like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and Grindr. In various surveys, American men and women have noted that it’s difficult for them to find someone through physical socializing for a date in this busy lifestyle. A lot of them have also added that they feel trouble approaching someone in person. Dating apps have solved these major concerns.

With millions of swipes every day, it’s no wonder dating apps are gaining popularity and changing the way individuals connect and date.

So, the question is how to create a dating app that stands out and keeps your users coming back? The process may look terrifying, but this guide is your savior with the right steps.

You can build something extraordinary, exciting, and successful for online dating seekers by decoding the right tech stack, platform, features, and necessary dating app development steps. Let’s explore everything one by one!

Why Are Dating Apps So Popular?

In the last decade, people have become comfortable using dating apps to find partners and socialize. According to Business of Apps research, over 300 million users use dating apps, and only Tinder has 75 million monthly active users who register billions of swipes daily.

It’s not just Tinder leading the way. Bumble has 42 million users. Hinge boasts around 10 million monthly users to create more meaningful connections. Also, a niche-based LGBTQ+ community app Grindr is gaining over 27 million users! And here’s the kicker – Even newly launched dating apps are also gaining popularity fast. Apps like Feeld and The League are showing there’s no shortage of opportunity in the dating app world.

So, if you’re planning on jumping into this industry, now is the perfect time!

Dating apps attract more users than any other social media platform. Social media apps are intended for making friends, while dating apps allow people to find love or partner in the comfort of their homes at a suitable time.

With everyone swiping right, you’d be missing out on an exciting business opportunity if you don’t start thinking about how to create your own dating app. After all, love is in the air… and so is your next big startup idea.

Let’s check some key reasons behind the online dating app development popularity:

• 24/7 access to find potential matches.
• You can connect with people other than your regular social network.
• Personalized algorithm to streamline the process of finding a partner.
• A wide range of people are accepting and expecting online dating.
• Accessibility to search with preferred locations.
• It requires less effort in making connections.
• A better option for busy people.
• Unwanted interactions are avoidable.

Dating app development solutions have made casual meetings into purposeful interactions. Also, meeting new people has become as easy as swiping on mobile phones. Let’s move on to the types of dating apps. It will give you an idea of which type of dating app development is best for your on-demand business model.

What Are the Popular Types of Dating Apps?

With different customer perspectives and needs, there are various types of online dating apps. Here, we have listed popular types. Have a look:

1. Geolocation

This type of dating app allows finding and connecting with people based on their location. For instance, Tinder has the option to select “how close your possible match should be to you.” Also, the app has a feature to find people around the world. One more popular example of a geolocation-type dating app is Happn, which allows users to find people based on their preferred location.

2. Niche-based

Niche-based dating apps are intended to match people with their common interests. Users mention their interests, such as fitness lovers, dog owners, only veggies, or even those with the same dislikes – with this, people get many options to find their perfect match. Popular examples of niche-based dating apps are Luxy (for wealthy individuals) and TeamUp (for fitness freaks).

3. Questionnaire-based

With questionnaire-based algorithms, the platform allows users to ask questions about their interests and expectations first. With the answers to these questions, people can connect with like-minded partners. eHarmony is a prominent example of a questionnaire-based dating app.

4. Traditional

A traditional online dating platform looks like an online catalog of people open to date. Unlike matching algorithms, users create their detailed profiles and search for the potential matches based on their choices in traditional dating apps. OkCupid is an example of a conventional dating app.

Now that you have a complete idea of popular types of on-demand dating app development, let’s start learning the steps to create an app for online dating.

How to Build a Dating App? Proven Methodology for Dating App Development

Check out these nine simple steps of successful online dating app development here.

Step 1: Know Your Target Audience/App Users

Before developing any app, you must learn about your target audience – people who will use your app and become your customers and app users.

App users come from different backgrounds, choices, and dating preferences when using matchmaking platforms. By understanding their requirements correctly, you can deliver all the purposes they seek with just an app launch.

Step 2: Research Competitors’ Dating App

Even when you want to buy something, you prefer to do basic research regarding the product you want to buy. Dating app development demands the same. Here, we are building an app for online dating from scratch, market research and competitors’ data analysis will help you make any final decisions.

By studying your competitors, you can see what they offer and the core factors responsible for their popularity. Where they fell and how they recovered their damages. You can get all the necessary insights into dating app development and its industry, which will ultimately help you avoid your startup mistakes.

Find answers to the following questions while performing research about dating app development.

Check these three online market research tools that help you find data on your competitors and understand the dating app market thoroughly.

Step 3: Define the Type of Your Dating App

Target audience and feature integration will differ according to the type of dating app you choose. Ultimately, it’s a matter of the tech stack you need and the cost you require to build a dating app. The purpose and intent of app development will change depending on the dating app type.

For example, finalizing your niche will help you to understand whether you want to create an app for all the romantic people who want to find their partner on an online platform or a dating app that is wholly dedicated to the members of the LGBTQ community. Yes, the features offered by Tinder or Bumble are not the same features that are available in dating apps like Grindr.

Step 4: Finalize Your Dating App Features

The online dating app development company that you hire will help you finalize your dating app features. Providing the best user experience is a matter of choosing the right features and functionality.

Among plenty of options for feature integration for dating apps, it’s not mandatory to integrate all. Add unique and attractive features that justify your app type, goal, target audience, and budget. Check the following must-have features for dating mobile app development:

• User Profiles
• Swipe Functionality
• In-App Messaging
• Matching Algorithm
• Geolocation Match Findings
• Social Media Integration
• Safety Features
• Push Notifications
• Advanced Filters
• User Verification

List of unique features that could be added to dating applications:

• AI-Powered Match Suggestions
• Video Profile
• Voice Notes in Chats
• Date Ideas Generator
• Event Integration

Step 5: Choose an Appropriate Team for Dating App Development

After understanding the dating app market and being ready to work on your business idea, you need a reliable mobile app development services provider like aPurple.

Many IT services companies offer dating app development solutions, so deciding which is best to hire for your dating app may become challenging. With the consideration of an expert team, years of experience, and qualifications in dating app development, you can get a better idea of final hiring.

Check the agency’s portfolio, go through the reviews, and ask for references. Ensure your team has a relevant technical background and experience to match your custom dating app development expectations.

Once you hire an appropriate dating app development company, you have to explain your app idea clearly to the project manager, and the vendor will manage the rest.

Step 6: Focus on Intuitive UI/UX

Again, collaborating with the best dating app development company like aPurple gives you an advantage over expert UI/UX designers. They utilize their creativity in your dating app design, which ultimately increases your user engagement after launch.

An intuitive UI/UX dating app design is meant to stick your users with your application. If people find difficulties understanding features or are stuck in navigation, then your investment in dating app development isn’t worth the money. Focus on ease of use and maintain consistency for the fonts, colors, and transitions as per the UI/UX design principles.

Top Dating Apps Developed By aPurple

Step 7: Pick the Right Tech Stack for Dating App Development

The right tech stack is crucial for better app performance. Make appropriate tech stack selection according to the development platform you want. Decide on which platform you want to develop a dating app – Android, iOS, or both- then choose the reliable technology for your platform and the features and APIs you plan to integrate.

With that in mind, when you hire developers, ensure they excel in the following dating mobile app development technology:

Step 8: Develop and Test

Finally, after finalizing the critical aspects of features, UI/UX, and technology, it’s time to start custom dating app development. Initiate with MVP in mobile app development for dating solutions. This phase lets you test possible flaws, bugs, and real user feedback in your app before final product development.

Dating app testing is an ongoing thing, and it should be consistent during development and even after an app launch to ensure a seamless user experience and customer retention. You must know your app bugs before any user faces them. That’s why it is worth hiring a dating app development services provider like aPurple. Their QA and testing experts keep your app running smoothly.

Step 9: Launch and Start Marketing for Your Dating App

After the final development, testing, and QA assurance, the next step is to launch your dating app in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you want to be a Tinder alternative, you need to create a marketing strategy and start implementing it. Leverage social media platforms, ad campaigns, and SEO to find your app interesting in front of your target audiences.

You can create a dating app from scratch by following the steps mentioned above. Read the following sections for essential insights on features, cost, monetization, and trends.

What Are The Must-have Features of Mobile Dating App Development?

Here is the checklist of must-have features that your users are expecting in online dating app services.

1. Signing In

Asking for filling out a long form for sign-in doesn’t work. Give short forms or social logins for an effortless sign-in process. Alongside, Google or Apple accounts and phone number verification logins will also work for seamless signing in the app.

2. User Profile

For dating apps, the user profile is something more than just putting a bio. Give options to add details regarding dating preferences, profile pictures, lifestyle, favorites, dislikes, hobbies, and values to provide an accurate matching process.

3. Matching Algorithm

The matching concept should be super clear: No match, no date. If users find a match, then only then can they step forward to chat and see if they are willing to come on a date or connect offline. Mathematical algorithms, behavior-based matching, location-based rules, etc., are the popular matching algorithms liked by dating app users.

4. Swiping

Swiping is the most liked way by dating app users to show interest in someone or not finding interest. Dating apps like Tinder have implemented this gamification feature, which has resulted in an enhanced user experience and user engagement. By swiping right and left, set the liking or disliking of a user profile.

5. Geolocation

Mostly, people want to connect with a partner who stays close to them. Some dating apps use geolocation features as their main concept to connect with people. You can implement this feature as a filter to find matches from a specific city, region, or distance range.

6. In-App Messaging

This in-app messaging is one of the core features of online dating app development. It’s the way to communicate with other app users after finding a match. The messaging feature allows users to send text messages, stickers, photos, and videos to start the journey of knowing each other.

7. Push Notifications

The notification feature is meant to benefit your business. You can drive dating app engagement and customer retention with push notifications. Notify users whenever they get a match or new messages. It’s a way to remind users to use your dating apps and stay updated with the latest news.

8. Voice and Video Calling

Most users expect to get this feature while downloading a dating app. It’s natural that people get uncomfortable if they have to meet strangers on a date. Voice and video calling features help eliminate that discomfort and prepare users to expect what’s next. Moreover, people from different countries can take advantage of voice and video calls to get to know their future partners.

9. Data Security

You can’t skip data security in dating mobile app development. Users must feel secure and safe while sharing their personal details, and the app must be protected against malicious activities. Ensure your dating app complies with mandatory security standards and protocols.

10. Settings

App Settings is the feature that comes with every type of mobile app development. Users can change app settings as per their personal preferences for subscription plans, data usage management, notifications, and payments.

11. Admin Panel

This one is for you. An admin panel is the control hub of your dating application. You can control user profiles, user data, membership plans, content management, and everything going on within the app.

You Need the Right Team for the Right Feature Integrations! Read How to Hire Developers for Startup

Now, wondering how much it costs to implement all these features and the successful development phase of a dating application. Let us derive the cost of online dating application development for you. Follow the next section for cost estimation.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Dating App?

There are many factors that affect the dating app development cost, such as app complexity, feature selection, UI/UX design, developer’s geolocation, tech stack, wireframe platforms, app maintenance, and so on.

A basic dating app functionality may cost you USD 5,000 to 15,000, while moderate to complex dating app development costs range between USD 18,000 to 1,20,000. Here is the estimated cost breakdown of the key development stages of the dating app:

How Do Dating Apps Make Money? Top Monetization Strategies

Here is the list of the most common approaches experimented with by successful dating apps like Tinder and Bumble. Read to get an idea regarding monetization strategy for custom dating app development.

1. Freemium Model: This offers basic dating app features but charges for premium ones. Users can access unlimited swipes and take advantage of unique filters and notifications of profile viewers by paying for the premium version.

2. In-App Purchases: It allows users to buy virtual gifts and services like extra swipes, online gifts, or profile boosts to enhance profile visibility and match chances.

3. Subscription Plans: This one is the most adopted monetization strategy by popular dating apps. Users have to pay monthly or yearly subscriptions for dating app services. You can offer different subscription plans with different sets of features.

4. Advertisements: Dating apps partner with brands and charge for showing target ads to the users based on their preferences and demographics.

5. Affiliate Marketing: Some dating applications collaborate with other service providers and businesses to promote their offers and events. With this, an entrepreneur earns a commission over each user engagement with offers and event sign-ups.

What Are the Dating App Development Trends?

With a focus on technical aspects of dating app development, you must ensure your dating app is aligned with the latest trends. Through this, you can compete strategically with your competitors. Let’s explore the top 3 dating app development trends one by one.

1. Web3 Dating App Development

Web3 dating apps are the most likely trend in online dating app development. All thanks to blockchain technology and its decentralized nature, which gives app users more control over personal data. Unlike old centralized dating apps where only a single company owns user information, app users verify their identity with more security and avoid fake account logins.

2. Voice-User Interfaces

This one is the hands-free way of dating app engagement. With this mobile app design trend, you can add more attraction than just pleasing visuals. Users don’t have to input manually with voice user interfaces (VUIs). They can roll over everywhere in the app with just voice commands. This feasibility will become one of the must-have features in the future.

3. Metaverse

The metaverse dating app development trend is enhancing the virtual reality experience a step ahead. Users get the opportunity to experience reality online. For example, app users’ avatars are going on dates with their match in their favorite cafe or walking in a garden.

4. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

AI and ML can track user behavior to analyze their choices. Later, the AI system will show more profile suggestions based on the user’s actions in the dating app.

Top 9 Popular Dating Apps

Check this table to see what are the popular dating apps that are most liked by people for online matchmaking services:

Wrapping Up

Developing a dating app like Tinder is possible if you consider all the mandatory aspects, trends, and steps for online dating app development. Advanced dating app features, an appropriate tech stack, an intuitive user interface, the right monetization strategy, and a reliable dating app development partner like aPurple will result in gaining some app downloads and high revenue.

Investing in online dating app development benefits your business with the necessary profits. Also, you are giving seamless solutions to people looking for a “Perfect Match” in their busy lives. Don’t waste much time in finding an app development company; you are already on the right page. Connect with our expert dating app developers at aPurple to embark on the dating app development journey.

Author

Mayur Panchal

Mayur Panchal is the CTO of aPurple. He is passionate about tech trends, clone apps, on-demand app solutions, and innovations across various domains. He loves to share his expertise through engaging content and inspiring others to discover the future of the IT world.