How to Create a Dating App? Guide for Dating App Development

Love is eternal, so is finding the right partner. Or maybe not? With dating apps like Tinder, hunting for your soulmate in a few swipes is just another revolution. When the lack of time pushes people away from each other, the app links them back!

As over 1 million dates happen per week through the app, can you imagine the rush and quest for love? Or are you imagining the app profit already? Relax. You will find out how to create a dating app for your profitable business by the end of this blog.

We know there are millions of apps, and the dating industry has exploded already, but that’s not a thing to worry about. We have simple and effective strategies that will help you to stand out even in the ocean. Just stay with us.

How Does Dating App Work?

The dating platform is everything you can imagine. Without fighting your insecurities and social awkwardness, it is a discreet way to show someone your liking and then swipes right to date or even swipes left to reject! So, the important question is how does a dating app work?

The app works based on three main algorithms like,

• Location-based Algorithm: With the help of machine learning technology for location, dating applications appear to employ GPS elements. To create a location-based app helps you to determine who you want to initiate a conversation with after suggesting a list of nearby users and brief details about them.
• Mathematical-based Algorithm: The mathematical matching algorithm links individuals by identifying correlations in the answers provided to a suggested questionnaire, and it is a commonly used technology.
• Behaviour-based Algorithm: It may happen, people find or maybe provide inaccurate information about themselves and they don’t even know. In such cases, a behavior-based app algorithm matches perfectly, depending on their reactions and responses.

We know, predicting human behavior and desires is not feasible with the aid of a particular matchmaking algorithm, so the ‘right’ algorithm for a dating app market does not exist with the target audience. But it still works.

How Does a Dating App Make Money?

Moving to the most important aspect of any business, dating app builder – money builder! While this seems a major issue, it is really simplified. Dating apps make money! But how? Follow the below means and monetize your dating app.

• In-app Purchases

  When you know your mobile dating app elements are sufficiently tempting, offer them in-app purchases. As an example, encourage users and the target audience to purchase a product that will alert individuals they are interested in.

• Premium Access

  This is a typical and classic monetization strategy to earn money from the most popular dating apps. When a dating application already has a wide user base, it is the perfect time to follow a premium approach. For example, two popular subscription services have been introduced by Tinder: Tinder Plus and Tinder Gold. Imagine that a person unintentionally disliked or swiped left. But with a Rewind button, Tinder Plus and Gold users can take their last swipe back. This way, you earn money and users earn love!

• Freemium

  This is another common technique for monetization. Users have access to some features of a dating application through Freemium but need to pay to get premium choices, such as personalized emojis or GIFs in messages.

• Advertisements

  Ads will be a godsend to your dating company if your mobile app has a lot of non-paying clients. Native ads are considered the best kind of dating apps because it supports the functionality of dating apps without disturbing users.

  Need more monetization methods?

• Third-Party Gift Services

  Where there’s love, there’s gifts, chocolates, flowers, cards, so much more yet so less! Let’s make it profitable for your business as you can integrate third-party services in your dating apps and get a commission on each transaction on special days like valentine and birthdays.

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How To Create A Dating App? 7 Simple Step Strategy

Step 1. Find Your Niche

The first step of creating a dating app like Tinder is finding a niche. Although the industry already has many dating apps, you still have the chance to stand out from the crowd. You just need to pick your niche first. You can find the most exciting dating niches which already exists, like

• Preferences based on food – for eg, Gluten-Free Singles. For gluten-free persons, this dating site was developed so people find dating partners, mates, and exercise groups of others with the same interests.
• Preferences based on lifestyle – for eg, Equestrian Cupid. Built for country and horse enthusiasts, this dating website is a great medium for meeting a cowboy or cowgirl.
• Preferences based on pet lovers – for eg, Purrsonals. This dating website puts together cat owners, so they can look for love and care about their cats together.

Or, you can choose all of the above in one single application and make it generalize.

Step 2. Analyze Your Competitors

You’d be able to grasp what the cause for their success or loss is with a detailed analysis of the rivalry. In your own business, you can use such analysis to effectively create a dating app like Tinder. Take a close look at their attributes, then learn what they do differently. And what sets them apart! Make sure that you don’t end up unintentionally repeating any of their special features on your dating sites with this analysis. So, how will you make an app for online dating? Validate your proposal first.

Step 3. Collaborate With Tech Team

A most important decision for any business to collaborate with the tech team as it decides 50% of business success. So with numerous options available on the app development market, you must not forget to consider their development portfolio, work and user experience, development capabilities, and team support. No matter what your approach is – an enterprise-level approach or MVP approach – find a major development team as it will give you 100% reliable mobile solutions.

Step 4. UI/UX Design

The main demand for a dating app client is an intuitive interface. The most significant details on a single screen can be integrated into the architecture. It’s critical for your dating apps to schedule and settle on a solid UI design. The app interface should always be catchy so that as people start using it, they can feel positive. So, develop a simple and intuitive interface & keep up with a simple principle. Don’t make things hard – and you will be good!

Step 5. Backend Development

Once you settle on UI design, start dating app development. However, a need for your app is to build stable, efficient servers and databases. Loads of sensitive knowledge will be dealt and the cleaner you find it, the stronger it is for your future. Therefore, when the process of backend development starts, make sure you follow all databases and keep in mind the initial objectives.

Step 6. Frontend Development

When the data from the back-end server are to be made and organized by front-end developers into the mobile software itself, you will be ready with your dating app. However, it is also mandatory to build a dating app for both platforms – iOS and Android, so just make a decision on native or hybrid development. It will be beneficial for you in the long-term.

Step 7. Test & Launch

Once you’ve built your software, you may believe your work is finished. That is not the case, though. You are required to test it for the debugging process and make it a glitch-free product, and then launch it in the appropriate dating market. To move ahead, you can start charging for subscriptions or go for a freemium business model as we have mentioned, to earn money from apps until you have a substantial audience.

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Features to Develop a Location-based Dating App

Do you know what makes your app successful? Its functionality! For any app, it’s important to integrate effective features so that your dating app users get a great dating experience. If you are planning to create a dating app like Tinder, take the below-mentioned basic features into consideration.

1. Sign In

   In the fast world, the long registration process is boring. Let’s make it simple and easy by giving options, such as sign up via email or phone number or sign up via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Social accounts help users to quickly register by following an easy step process to start searching for a soulmate. Plus, social sign-in gives app users an opportunity to share your dating services on social media. This is just another marketing plan.

2. User Profile

   As every user should have his or her own profile, showing his or her preferences and hobbies, it is also important that the profile is editable and easy to navigate. So, this feature may include various sections like,

   • View my profile
   • Edit profile – add photos and videos, edit basic info, interests
   • Verify profile
   • Popularity – view popularity history

3. Geolocation

   Find a nearby soulmate – is only possible with geolocation. People want to find someone they can meet without too much hassle while they are searching for love, meaning people living in the same city or at least the same state. Although it is possible to merely use the location indicated by users in their profile, the inclusion of a geolocation feature is a must. An app will identify people who are nearby with access to a phone’s GPS and list potential matches by proximity.

4. Match

   OK, this is the heart of your dating apps and it’s not random! If it were, people who have repeatedly rejected the same or identical profiles will be very disappointed. Matching algorithms today begin with the profile data and interests of users. Then engines of artificial intelligence (AI) learn the needs of users based on profiles they like and ignore. Over time, in their feedback, the profile gets more and more customized to what they’ve enjoyed before.

5. Swipe

   If ‘match’ is the heart of the app, ‘swipe’ is the mind. This feature will decide your user’s interest in the person once the profile is matched. If users swipe right, it means a date, and if swipe left, it means a ditch (not fair, guys), and that’s how simple it is. And it happens to be the best and simplest way to find matches.

6. Chat

   Imagine, connecting people without chat! Maybe in dreams. Let’s get real. Humans need to know each other better when they are looking for a love interest, so you must integrate the chat system into your dating apps. Also, to make the communication more diverse, users need tools for arranging their chats via texting and voice. In addition, stickers and GIFs will be great options to make messages more colorful. Because love itself is colorful.

7. Push Notifications

   How unfair it is to make people (who have approached someone) wait too long for any response! A missed like or swipe in terms of dating will lead to the special person meeting someone else. So make sure you don’t end up breaking hearts and introduce push alerts as soon as possible, like a good matchmaker.

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Tech Stack to Build a Dating App

Like any other complicated solution integrating large volumes of user data, it needs to be applied with the latest available technology. Let’s check out what technology stack your dating app development needs to consider.

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What is the Estimated Cost to Make a Dating App?

OK, coming to the most asked question: how much cost you will need to invest in your Android or iOS dating app development. Frankly, it may not be possible to give you a straight answer as to how much does it cost as it depends on each and every detail of your project. But, the below table represents the rough estimation of development hours based on the features.

Assuming the $50-$60 per hour rate of the developer, you can calculate the amount based on the below formula:

App Development Cost = Development Time x Cost Per Hour

Note: The hours and cost per hour may vary from location to location, from development companies to companies, and from app developers to developers. It all depends on your requirements, additional features, and functionalities.

5 Best Dating Apps

Moving forward, here are some popular dating apps that you may want to take a look at. This will help you to analyze your competitors.

1. Tinder

   The most popular one, perhaps. Just swipe left to reject or swipe right to accept an available play. Chat, media log in, find matches around you, suggestions. Plus, love, and super likes! Basically, everything you need and nothing more for dating.

   Total Downloads: 100,000,000+
   Ratings: 3.5 stars (Google play store), 3.8 stars (Apple app store)
   Features:

   • Facebook/Google sign-in
   • Users profile
   • Location-based suggestions
   • Search with filters
   • Swipe
   • Match
   • Calendar integration
   • Live video chatting
   • Block users
   • Notification and real-time alerts
   • Personal Security
   • Premium features like a rewind button

   Pros & Cons:

   Pros	Cons
   Free and quick to download Compatible both with Apple and Google Smartphones Simple interface Connect quickly with matches	Low-security checks and investment Not enough information Unable to fix accidental swipes Only available on mobile devices

   

2. OkCupid

In a trendy middle ground, OkCupid took what young people dislike about simple swiping apps and corny online dating platforms and rebranded them.
It’s multifaceted matchmaking, social networks justice spotlight, and low price point help it stand out from rivals.

Total Downloads: 10,000,000+
Ratings: 3.8 stars (Google play store), 4.3 stars (Apple app store)
Features:

• Registration
• Users profile
• Messages
• Search with filters
• Browse profiles
• Doubletake feature
• Notifications
• Create auto-boost
• FAQs

Pros & Cons:

Pros	Cons
Free registration platform In-depth questionnaire Connect people based on their interest Messaging is free Hints and tips to be sent sign-up Tinder-like app	You can message only if users ‘like’ You may find fake profiles Unable to fix accidental swipes Subscriptions renew automatically



3. Match

   Match used to be familiar with its desktop edition from its early stage, but with both an iPhone and an Android app, the service has effectively leaped into the new century. Now, the app has made it simple to sign up, and you can’t build a half-baked profile. It’s not the cheapest online dating app, particularly if you want to take advantage of its full feature set, but Match is the best and an Editors’ Choice winner if you’re looking for a life partner.

   Total Downloads: 10,000,000+
   Ratings: 3.6 stars (Google play store), 3.8 stars (Apple app store)
   Features:

   • Users profile
   • Video chat
   • Custom search
   • Conversation starters
   • Virtual & in-person events
   • Access to popular dating experts
   • Date check-In

   Pros & Cons:

   Pros	Cons
   Simple to use Free 6 months Biggest dating site Ad-free platform Remove people from the search	A bit overwhelming

   

4. Bumble

   Bumble app for android and iOS aims to allow line updates or make new friends in your area. After two individuals meet and are part of each other’s nest, the queen bee (any female) must make the first move. However, the app has a time limit, just 24 hours to make some sort of contact, or the connection will vanish forever. That means, for same-sex friendships, within 24 hours until the connection is lost, either person needs to make a move, though you can get a 24-hour extension.

   Total Downloads: 10,000,000+
   Ratings: 3.3 stars (Google play store), 4.2 stars (Apple app store)
   Features:

   • Create and edit your profile
   • Advanced filters
   • Add new photos
   • Verify your profile
   • Message your matches
   • Backtrack on accidental left swipes
   • View your Beeline
   • SuperSwipe
   • Subscribe to Bumble boost
   • Activate spotlight
   • Purchase Bumble Coins
   • Video chat

   Pros & Cons:

   Pros	Cons
   Woman-safety for a female user Protection against harassment Virtual dating	24-hour deadline

   

5. Happn

   Happn is a location-based dating site that shows you the profiles of other Happn users with whom you have crossed paths. You may like all of the profiles that surface, and the application gives you the option of interacting if the feeling is reciprocal. Paying options give other profiles the right to say hi, which requires a notification, as well as the ability to view profiles that you enjoyed.

   Total Downloads: 50,000,000+
   Ratings: 4.1 stars (Google play store), 4.3 stars (Apple app store)
   Features:

   • Users profile
   • Can edit permissions to restrict access
   • Phone’s location services
   • Edit profile
   • Work and studies
   • About me
   • Create a bio
   • Connect your Instagram and Spotify accounts
   • Upload and sort photos
   • Drag and drop to sort the photos
   • My preferences
   • Invite friends
   • Manage app settings
   • Activate/deactivate notifications
   • Premium features like rewind

   Pros & Cons:

   Pros	Cons
   Available for free Local singles easily available Straightforward signup Filter choice	Limited chat options for the user Match shows only with GPS

   

Conclusion

So far so soon, finding love has also become easy and online. Thanks to artificial intelligence! So if you want to build your own Android or iOS dating app, but still haven’t considered what sort of app you’re going to make, we’re here. For your dating business, the expert app developers team is just one contact away. Tell us about your business idea, queries, and vision. Our experienced tech team will help you to make it a reality.

Want to collaborate? Fill out our contact us form. We are happy to create your own dating masterpiece.