The unusual dating apps that may work for you (2024)

Dating apps seem to be falling from grace of late as younger people ditch them as a way to find true love.

Online horror stories, swiping fatigue and even a recent lawsuit are taking big swings at dating app giants like Tinder and Hinge. Quietly, though, user-specific apps are emerging for those disillusioned with traditional matchmaking apps.

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Their appeal stretches from people who have specific romantic types, to those who want their friends to vet potential dates. And some might have exactly what you're looking for.

Adrianna Holness, a licensed clinical psychologist, told Newsweek these "alternative" apps might lead to a sense of saturation with all the dating sites out there—but they could also offer something refreshing.

"More dating apps can indeed be the answer to dating fatigue by breaking the cycle of repetitive and uninspiring interactions," she said. "They encourage users to try new approaches. This can rejuvenate the dating process."

With three in 10 U.S. adults having used a dating site or app, according to research from Pew Research Center, dating apps don't seem to be going entirely out of style. Here are five unusual ones that might do the trick.

Wingman

Wingman is an app for people to play matchmaker for their friends and loved ones. Single people can create a "team" of loved ones to swipe for them, make an intro for them or give them recommendations to swipe for themselves.

The way it works is when a wingman swipes right on a profile, the liked person will decide whether to accept or deny the match. If they accept, the wingman, single friend and new match will all come together in a chat to let the conversation start flowing.

Holness said these unique features add a "social and supportive element to the dating process" that is hard to find in mainstream sites or apps.

Feeld

Feeld caters to "open-minded individuals"—or, in romantic terms, those "open to experiencing people and relationships in new ways," their website states.

People who enjoy alternative relationship structures, like ethical non-monogamy, polyamory or platonic intimacy, for example, will find a good dating base on Feeld, which hosts a large glossary of romantic and sexual preferences for people to include on their profiles.

Feeld thus creates a "safe space" for people interested in non-traditional connections, Holness said. "These platforms can create more genuine and accepting communities, reducing the stigma and judgment often associated with these lifestyles."

Thursday

Even more narrow is Thursday, an app which is only active on Thursdays to encourage in-person interactions and dates. On Thursdays only, users can swipe, match and chat with potential romantic interests before the app goes down for another week.

Thursday also hosts unstructured dating events—think, no activities or speed dating—in 60 cities around the world for singles to meet others from the app. Its focus on in-person interaction stands apart from other dating apps, which tend to involve long lists of ghosted matches.

The "anticipation and urgency," in Holness' words, makes Thursday an alternative for those who are eager to get things going, or who don't have a lot of time to be on their phones.

Raya

Not an influencer or celebrity? Keep scrolling. Unless you're interested in the hyper-exclusive, member-only platform, Raya.

Originally meant for dating and now expanded to a social network, Raya is an app to find dates and form connections and has a low acceptance rate. According to reports online, the app accepts only 8 percent of applications, with many kept on a lengthy waiting list.

With no advertising or marketing campaigns, people join Raya through word-of-mouth— and in the world of the A-list, referrals are especially important to increase your chances of getting accepted.

While it's certainly not the app for the average person, Holness said that the existence of Raya makes sense for people who need a bit of extra protection while dating online.

"Exclusive apps like Raya offer heightened privacy and security," she said. "This can be particularly appealing to users who prioritize discretion and safety in their dating endeavors."

Happn

Happn, in contrast to some of the others, is a dating app for everyone. It operates from the idea that we are constantly crossing paths in real life with potential partners or lovers. Using location services, the app connects you with other Happn users who you are unknowingly encountering on a regular basis.

With 100 million users in countries around the world, Happn stretches far and wide, but focuses deeply on the shared and the local.

"An app like Happn can create a sense of familiarity and comfort, making it easier to initiate conversations and form connections based on shared experiences," Holness said.

While there may be pitfalls to some of these niche ideas—the consistent use of location services in the case of Happn, for example, or a generally smaller user base— Holness said they're certainly worth a try.

"If you're feeling burnt-out on the mainstream options, these niche apps are definitely worth exploring," she said. "The key is to find one that aligns with your values and what you're looking for in a partner."