Finding a date is (sometimes) as easy as swiping left on your smartphone. But sadly, finding a relationship is more complicated. That's not to say you can't find the man of your dreams via your iPhone—it's just that unwanted messages and bad dates can be discouraging. The good news: A new series of just-launched apps are changing the online dating. These five offer innovative ways to filter out undesirable suitors, spark conversation, and dig up dirt about your potential dinner mate. Check them out on the slides ahead and say sayonara to shot-in-the-dark dates.
If you've ever considered a dating coach, look no further than your fingertips. While you're interacting with potential suitors, The Grade (free; itunes.com) literally grades you on things like your profile, message quality, and response rates. By using an algorithm, the app analyzes the number of “likes” daters receive on their profiles, checks messages for proper grammar and language usage, and oversees how often users interact with others online. If you fall below a C, you’re given dating advice on how to improve your profile.
Dapper (free; itunes.com) wants users to skip the awkward small talk and go straight to the date. Users tell the app when they're free to date and Dapper notifies them with matches. If there's a mutual interest, Dapper sets up a date based on the woman's choice of neighborhood. But what really sets this app apart is the "Gentleman Pledge" that men must sign. Men vow to remain courteous and meet up with ladies with the intention of a relationship. After the date, women report on the guy's behavior, and any man who has been reported three times for bad behavior gets banned.
After discovering that women were tired of receiving unwanted messages and men didn’t always want to make the first move, the founders behind Anti-date ($0.69; itunes.com) wanted to “flip the rules of dating.” Anti-date is set up for women to have access to men’s profiles, while men are more restricted. In fact, men have to wait until a woman contacts them in order to see their profile. Another awesome feature? This London-based app is aiming to lessen the chances of getting catfished. Antidate makes users sign up with their Instagram and uses technology such as “real-time” selfie, a feature that time-stamps your sefies to ensure that users are always viewing up-to-date photos.
When it comes to finding a match, Loveflutter (free;itunes.com) puts personality first. Users are encouraged to add interests and #quirkyfacts to their profiles to connect on a more personal level with future dates. While the app has been around for a few years, the company recently got a lot of press with their paper-bag speed dating events.
Bumble’s (free; itunes.com) goal is to take your connection to the next level by encouraging women to start the conversation. Once you’re matched, you have 24 hours to make the move or else your connection will disappear.
