If we were to believe everything that books, television and movies have taught us about love, then we’d all simply just serendipitously find our soulmates on the street. But alas, this is not the case for many of us.
As the glory days of ‘third places’ disappear, meeting new people and dating is becoming harder and harder. More people are working from home — especially since the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns — so meet-cutes at the office or at after-work drinks are becoming more and more rare. Frankly, it’s a surprise when we meet people who met in real life (IRL) instead of online — less than a decade ago the reverse was true!
Thankfully, in the digital world, there are a plethora of dating sites and apps where you can meet people. And they are getting easier and easier to navigate. However, it is always best to use caution. If you suspect someone is too good to be true…maybe look into that. However, we all know people who have met their soulmates online.
In fact, in March 2025 a new dating app hit the scene: Tribal. No, this isn’t a dating app for fans of Australian Survivor, it’s a “serious dating and friendship app” that was founded and developed by Australian Clinical Psychologist, Rachel Harker. It blends psychology and AI to help connect those looking for deep compatibilities either for friendship or love.
So, if you are planning to delve into the world of online dating sites in 2025, here are our top picks for the best ones to try out.
Tribal
The new kid on the block, but we think it has legs. As mentioned above, Tribal is the dating and friendship app that is trying to shake up how we connect. Founded by Australian Clinical Psychologist Rachel Harker, it ditches superficial swiping in favour of AI-driven compatibility matching based on shared values and deeper connections. One of its standout features? 72-hour photo blurring, ensuring chemistry is built through conversation before looks take over.
Designed for both dating and friendship, Tribal blends psychology with smart tech to foster authentic relationships. Expect voice memos, a Tribal Map™ to visually showcase compatibility, and even in-person events to take connections beyond the screen. Best of all, you’ll never have to pay extra for better matches — because, as it says, real connections shouldn’t come with a price tag.
eHarmony
eHarmony is one of the longest-running dating sites in Australia — so you know it’s trustworthy. In fact, eHarmony has helped create hundreds of love stories, marriages and happy families.
It collects a tonne of information and personal data from you in order to create a well-rounded profile and better match you to people who share your interests.
The best part is? A basic account is free!
Tinder
Tinder has been in Australia for well over a decade. And frankly, it’s the app we have to thank for the sheer explosion in online dating. It brought the world of online dating to our phones. Tinder introduced “gamification” to the world of digital dating and the easy mechanism of swiping left or right if you liked (or didn’t like) the look of a person or their profile.
Tinder is free so you can swipe to your heart’s content and find fun people to date. However, for an even better experience, you could try the paid tiers which include Tinder Platinum, Tinder Plus and Tinder Gold. These tiers boost your profile, allowing you to undo your swipes in case you accidentally skip past someone you like.
Hinge
Hinge’s bold tagline claims it’s the dating app that is ‘designed to be deleted’. The app takes the philosophy that a fuller profile will give potential matches a well-rounded understanding of the kind of person you are. They do this by asking you to answer prompts about yourself and even record voice memos.
Unlike Tinder, Hinge wants you to jump straight into a conversation by liking a specific photo on someone’s profile or responding to one of their prompts.
The app is free to use but you only get a limited amount of likes per day. For more likes and a better ability to set your dating preferences, you can upgrade to a paid version for 7 dollars per month.
Bumble
Bumble turned the online dating culture on its head when it launched because — unlike the other apps — the woman has to initiate the conversation. When this first hit the dating world, it was deemed revolutionary, feminist, and a way to prevent unwanted…images from being sent without consent. However, in recent years, the dating app has walked back that feature.
If you, as the woman, do not initiate a conversation within 24 hours, then the match will disappear.
The best part about Bumble is that while it’s primarily used for dating, it also has a nifty Bumble BFF feature. Bumble BFF uses the ‘online dating’ formula to make friends. It’s received rave reviews from people who have moved cities, jobs or are just looking for new, meaningful friendships.
RSVP
Australia’s very own dating app! This homegrown app launched in 1997 — it was the first dating site in Australia and now it has an app as well. Because of its history, it is one of Australia’s most trusted dating sites and has plenty of people looking for love who are 30 years and older.
It works by focusing on the compatibility of relationship seekers. Its algorithm takes your preferences, interests, relationship goals, lifestyle preferences and personality traits and uses that information to match you with a potential life partner.
It’s the ideal choice for Aussies looking for a relationship. Plus, it’s free to sign up! However, a paid membership for all the features.
Happn
Something that the other apps don’t always factor in is proximity. On Tinder, you can change your location which is great for travelling, but not always for finding a love match. Happn is trying to change that mindset and help people find love in their local area.
It’s a bit Big Brother-esque, but essentially it works by presenting you with potential matches it’s gathered throughout the course of your day. So as you head on your daily commute to work, or to your favourite coffee shop or gym class you may have passed someone with the app. If you did, the app lets you know. This way you can know who around you is also looking for love and you can decide if you may be interested.
It’s trying to bring some serendipity to your love life.
