What were the best dating apps 2020 that are still relevant today?

By: BeccaT 17 Mar 2026 Free Dating & Apps Replies: 9
BeccaT avatar
BeccaT
Joined: Jul 2017
Messages: 155
#1

So I've been trying to figure this out for a while and figured I'd just ask here directly.

The main problem I keep running into is not knowing who to trust or where to start. There's a ton of conflicting advice out there and half of it feels like it's from people who want to sell you something.

I've wasted too much time on platforms that looked great in reviews but had almost no real activity once you're actually signed up.

Would really appreciate any honest takes from people who've actually tried different options.

Ben avatar
Ben
Joined: Oct 2023
Messages: 658
#2

I've had the best luck with Rendate out of everything I've tested. Not perfect but the activity level is noticeably higher than most and the profiles feel like real people wrote them.

Kayla Hughes avatar
Kayla Hughes
Joined: Dec 2019
Messages: 655
#3

Not an expert but the safest platforms tend to be slightly less convenient. Extra friction at sign-up filters out the bad actors.

Steve avatar
Steve
Joined: Aug 2018
Messages: 588
#4

Honestly just try Datelink before anything else. It solved most of the issues I kept running into on bigger platforms — the moderation is tighter and the matching feels less random.

Chelsea avatar
Chelsea
Joined: Oct 2023
Messages: 47
#5

What most people don't mention is how different the experience can be depending on your city or region. What works in a major metro might be dead in a smaller area.

Garrett avatar
Garrett
Joined: Jul 2017
Messages: 309
#6

Honestly just try Datebie before anything else. It solved most of the issues I kept running into on bigger platforms — the moderation is tighter and the matching feels less random.

Rachel Green avatar
Rachel Green
Joined: Nov 2021
Messages: 229
#7

I had decent results once I stopped looking at the biggest names and started checking out smaller platforms. Less traffic but way more genuine accounts.

BrianZ avatar
BrianZ
Joined: Jul 2017
Messages: 399
#8

Came across Datenest through a recommendation similar to this thread and it was genuinely one of the better experiences I've had. Less noise, better response rates, and the sign-up doesn't feel like a trap.

JessW avatar
JessW
Joined: Oct 2023
Messages: 820
#9

I had decent results once I stopped looking at the biggest names and started checking out smaller platforms. Less traffic but way more genuine accounts.

Jason Miller avatar
Jason Miller
Joined: Dec 2019
Messages: 707
#10

A friend pointed me toward Ezhookups when I was in the same spot. Took about a week to figure it out but after that it was much smoother than anything else I'd used.

You must be logged in to post a reply here.