Best dating sites for professionals who don't have time to meet someone IRL

These apps will help you meet other professionals in your area.
By Elise Anderson  on 
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Overview

Best overall

Match

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PROMOTED
For those simply looking for sex

AdultFriendFinder

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Best dating app for busy women

Bumble

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Best for future power couples

The League

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Best dating app for marriage

eharmony

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Best dating app for liberals

OkCupid

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Best Tinder alternative

Hinge

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Best dating app for educated professionals

EliteSingles

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Best for serendipitous meetings

happn

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Best for meeting people IRL

Coffee Meets Bagel

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Best as a last resort

Zoosk

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See 6 More

Meeting people in real life is ideal, but it's not always realistic, especially when life revolves around non-stop work hours, launching a startup, juggling multiple clients and side hustles as a busy freelancer, and just generally trying to have it all.

There are not enough hours in the day, and honestly, the free hours we do have are typically spent showering, sleeping, or hovering over the sink, chowing down on whatever we can find for dinner or lunch. Sure, it's not always pretty, but no one said success would be easy.

So, how do you find time to meet people when you're too busy for happy hour? Fortunately, the philosophy of "work smarter, not harder" can be applied to your love life, too. 

The best dating sites for professionals make it easy to meet someone who's on your level.

Yes, we know you're online all day for work, and the last thing you want to do is spend more time on your computer or phone trying to find a partner. But online dating lets you connect with potential partners on your own time and terms.

This means you can forego the awkward almost-maybe-not relationships and curate your dating experience to fit your lifestyle and schedule.

Are there dating apps for professionals?

When you think of dating apps, two things probably come to mind: Tinder (or worse, Facebook dating) and the question of how you'll ever find someone who can understand that your busy lifestyle is just who you are. The good news is that we can answer both of these concerns right here and now.

First, let's deal with the whole Tinder thing. Yes, it's super popular, and for a good reason: people are getting laid! But if you're looking for something more than a casual fling, there are so many other options out there. Hundreds of dating apps, including Bumble, EliteSingles, and The League, have features designed for single professionals interested in finding a more meaningful connection. You honestly don't even need to download or use Tinder at all (unless you want to!).

Now, let's talk about finding someone who understands and respects your busy lifestyle. You're not alone in wanting a life that's meant to go somewhere, and you shouldn't have to settle. You deserve someone who can lift you up and support you, not drag you and your dreams through the dirt.

How can you find this person? Through the very peculiar power of niche dating sites. Whether you're looking for the best dating sites for professionals over 50 or dating apps for people earning six figures (or more), we've gathered a list of the best dating sites for working professionals.

Our Pick

Who it's for:

If you're a professional in your early-to-mid 30s who's interested in starting a serious but not too serious relationship, then Match is definitely an option worth looking into — it's a non-committal alternative to marriage-focused dating sites like eharmony. On balance, we think it's the best dating site for professionals.

Most of the folks on Match are in the 35-50 age range, making it a sweet spot for professionals over 35 who are not only established in their careers but are also looking for someone at a similar stage in life.

Why we picked this:

Match (owned by the dating app behemoth Match Group) is a popular dating app for people who want to have conversations, not just swipe through dating profiles. It’s been around since 1995 and has the credentials of connecting 1.6 million people with their partners. 

Even if you're not the chattiest person, Match can help you get started. AskMatch, a dating advice feature, offers a virtual team of dating experts who can help you beef up your bio, get tips on how to start that first convo, or deal with fake profiles. (Though, we think it may only be available to daters in NYC and Chicago so far.)

Read our full review of Match.

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AdultFriendFinder logo
PROMOTED

AdultFriendFinder

For those simply looking for sex

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Bumble dating app screenshot

Bumble

Best dating app for busy women

Who it's for:

Bumble is a dating app for women and non-binary professionals who are so over getting unsolicited messages from creepy dudes. This app isn't just about swipes and matches; it's where women can control the conversation.

While the app tends to attract a crowd of young professionals, with most users in their 20s and early 30s, there's an opportunity for everyone to meet someone, including more seasoned singles who are looking for a meaningful relationship.

Why we picked this:

Bumble's ingenious 24-hour time limit on messages keeps the conversation going, or at least gets it started, which helps to establish a quick connection that could potentially blossom into real-world meetups. Plus, Bumble's famous women-message-first approach serves as a shield against the sleazy and unsolicited messages that are commonplace on apps like Tinder.

Whether you're a professional woman, a non-binary individual, or a more reserved person who's intrigued by strong, dynamic individuals who prefer to take the reins, Bumble offers a more positive and respectful dating experience for the busy professional on the go.

Beyond its core dating function, Bumble also offers Bumble BFF (in a standalone app) and Bumble Bizz, which is kind of like Linkedin. 

Read our full review of Bumble.

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the league dating app screenshot

The League

Best for future power couples

Who it's for:

Now owned by Match Group (as of July 2022), The League is a highly selective dating app for ambitious, goal-oriented professionals. It's not for everyone, but if you're OK with going through an admissions process to be a part of an elite society (maybe even a bit elitist), then The League dating app might be the perfect match.

Launched in 2015, The League is for look-good-on-paper people who want to meet other look-good-on-paper people. Targeted toward young professionals, this exclusive dating site prioritizes education and job title — one of the social networks you connect is your LinkedIn (though it has a system that lets users block their profile from coworkers).

It’s all about status, status, status. So, if you're looking for dating sites to meet people with six-figure incomes, i.e., dating sites for rich people, this is your best bet. Other than that, the app functions much like Tinder, with a two-week expiration on matches. While it’s not so great for those who live outside major cities where white-collar professionals flock, if you live in places like New York or Kansas City, you might want to give it a try.  

Why we picked this:

The League does the work for you by sending you five matches per day at 5 p.m., aka “Happy Hour” in the app’s lingo (which is good when you have a day packed full of calls and meetings). The pricing reflects its exclusive client base: Get ready to fork out some money if you’re accepted for membership — it’s pricey, and unlocking certain features will result in another charge to your credit card.

However, The League is one of the few dating apps that takes goal setting seriously. With its new GoalMates feature, members can select up to 10 goals from a list of 100+ to place on their profile, and the app will match them with other members who share their same goals. This is a great way to find a motivated, ambitious partner who supports your dreams.

While the argument could easily be made that The League is an incredibly elitist app — and it’s received a lot of flak for lack of diversity — it’s still a popular pick with the future 1% and those looking for a serious relationship.

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eharmony dating app

eharmony

Best dating app for marriage

Who it's for:

If you're in the market for something more serious, especially the "M" word (yup, we're talking marriage), eharmony is a name you can trust. Despite evolving with the times, the platform hasn't let go of its foundational scientific approach to matchmaking.

Historically, eharmony has been a popular choice for users with conservative values, including those who value religion. However, there are other dating apps that cater specifically to religious users, such as Christian Mingle and Lox Club.

eharmony used to have a binary view of gender preferences, but it's made some progress in becoming more inclusive of non-binary users. The app now allows users to choose from an expanded list of genders; they can also choose whether to display their gender on their profile and indicate whether they're seeking men, women, nonbinary people, or a combination.

Why we picked this:

eharmony is one of the most popular and successful dating apps, and it has a proven track record of helping people find love. Nobody wants to waste time, money, or energy on people who aren’t right for them or offer up serious red flags. Having the app’s algorithm and science match you with highly compatible people goes a long way toward finding people you have a high probability of getting on with and who are just as focused on their careers as you are.

And if you're not comfortable meeting strangers in person right away, eharmony has a video call feature that lets you have your first date virtually. This is a great way to get to know someone before you meet them in person, and it's also a great way to connect with people who live far away.

Read our full review of eharmony.

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okcupid dating app screenshot

OkCupid

Best dating app for liberals

Who it's for:

OkCupid is a dating app for people who are done swiping and want to start dating with intention. This dating platform helps users find potential matches based on their political beliefs, social views, lifestyle choices, and career goals.

It's pretty popular among young professionals and millennials, but it's open to users of all ages. Though singles in their 40s and 50s may fare better on Match or SilverSingles.

Why we picked this:

With a user base that skews towards the 25-34 age range, OkCupid is a great place to meet other young professionals who are looking to make a meaningful connection.

And because who has the time to swipe through hundreds of profiles after a long day at work? OkCupid's prompts and detailed questions make it easy to create a profile that reflects your true personality and values, and its search filters allow you to quickly find matches who share similar interests and goals.

If you're serious about finding love, you can upgrade to a paid membership to access features like unlimited Likes, Dealbreakers, and the ability to see who has already liked you.

Read our full review of OkCupid.

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hinge dating app screenshot

Hinge

Best Tinder alternative

Who it's for:

If you're a young professional looking for a serious relationship, Hinge is a great option. It's more selective than Tinder and encourages users to start conversations and get to know each other before they match.

Hinge is basically a dating app for people who are tired of the swiping game. It's designed for people serious about finding a relationship, and it shows. With 99% of Hinge users being college-educated and hailing from industries like banking, consulting, media, and fashion, you're guaranteed to find someone who gets the hustle and bustle of your 9-to-5 life.

Why we picked this:

Hinge is based on more than thinking someone is hot; the app is designed for thought-provoking engagement to spark a connection with a bit more substance right from the get-go.

A dating guide helps you get your profile into optimal shape in the least amount of time, and a prominently featured one is about how to move your convo into an IRL date. Profiles also feature questions that help you figure out the potential partner’s sense of humor, so there’s a dating expectation set from the start. (Your matches are also curated by your own answers to the same questions).

The app has a cap on how many matches you can have each day, which helps you focus on finding a potential match you're genuinely interested in. So if the endless scrollability of Tinder distracts you from your work to-do list, it can be nice to have a built-in cap.

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elitesingles dating app

EliteSingles

Best dating app for educated professionals

Who it's for:

EliteSingles is a dating app for educated and ambitious professionals serious about finding a relationship. More than 90% of its members have an above-average education and are 30-plus, so it's a great option if you're looking for someone who's on the same page as you are in terms of their goals and values.

Why we picked this:

Like eharmony, the very first step to signing up for an account is to take a lengthy (clear your schedule for this) personality test called the Five-Factor Model. This test breaks down your defining characteristics into five categories: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

After you've revealed who you are, the app shows you your matches. Unlike Tinder, which greets you with an onslaught of matches and then tells you to check back later when you've swiped through all of them, EliteSingles recommends three to seven matches per day that it thinks are a good fit for you.

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happn dating app

happn

Best for serendipitous meetings

Who it's for:

Happn is a dating app for people looking for a more organic way to meet people. It's a good option for busy people who don't have time to plan to meet new people — like carving out time for happy hour at the bar.

Why we picked this:

Happn is the dating app for people who believe in love at first sight. It uses your phone's GPS tracking feature to list other users you've crossed paths with IRL. If you're both interested in each other, you'll be matched and can start chatting.

Think of it as a built-in radar for singles. It doesn't match you on anything other than proximity, but that's the whole point. If you're looking for someone to meet up with for a quick coffee date or a casual hookup, Happn is a great option.

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Who it's for:

If your work schedule has you swamped with projects and Bumble connections tend to fizzle out before you can even catch a breath, Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) could be your new go-to.

This app takes a refreshing approach by serving up specially curated matches every day at noon, so you can schedule the time to scroll through during your lunch break. 

Why we picked this:

Sure, dubbing matches as "bagels" might come off as a tad quirky, but once you move past that, this app is great for busy people who could use a nudge or two to dive into the dating scene. Its daily curated matches ensure that your dating life stays on track even if you're super busy at work.

You’ll get pinged with encouragement to set up a date with matches or to message users — while some find it annoying, those who don’t have much bandwidth might appreciate the reminders. Plus, profiles tend to go a bit more in-depth than Tinder (think more Hinge in terms of revealing icebreaker prompts).

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zoosk dating app

Zoosk

Best as a last resort

Who it's for:

If you've found yourself at the crossroads of dating apps, but still have hope, Zoosk may be a good last-resort option.

This app isn't really for any one person; it has a large user base, and literally anyone can join. The demographics are all over the place and there are a ton of fake profiles.

Why we picked this:

Zoosk is a dating app that promises to make it easy to find matches, but it's not all it's cracked up to be. The website is a bit dated and full of spam accounts and fake profiles, and it's pretty expensive, especially when you consider that there are better dating apps out there that are more affordable.

Another downside of Zoosk is that it restricts its messaging function to premium users only. This means that if you want to send messages to your matches, you'll have to pay up.

Overall, Zoosk isn't the best dating app out there. There are better options available, such as Hinge, Bumble, and Match.

If you're looking for a dating app that's easy to use and full of real people, we recommend skipping Zoosk and trying one of the other apps on this list instead.

Read our full review of Zoosk.

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Topics Dating Sex

How we tested

Wondering how we figured out these apps were the best for busy professionals like yourself? Here's the lowdown on our hands-on approach:

Mashable's team of experts works hard to review the best dating sites and apps for every type of person. We download and use the apps ourselves to ensure they're user-friendly and accessible on both Google Play and the App Store. We also interview dating app users to get their honest feedback and learn whether the apps lived up to their promises.

We frequently update our stories about everything from the best dating apps overall to popular dating apps for recent college grads to free dating sites for people looking for love on a budget. We've even covered niche dating apps for introverts, geeks, and nerds

To find the best professional dating sites, we didn't just give these platforms a quick glance and add them to our list. We spent quality time using them. This included setting up profiles, interacting with features (both paid and free), and ensuring that there were some safety and privacy measures in place.

And it wasn't just about the surface-level stuff either. We did a vibe-check to get the overall feel of each app to determine which ones truly understood the needs of hustlers like you who don't have time to waste.

We wanted to see how each app behaved when faced with a well-developed profile versus a bare-bones one. If an app bombarded us with match notifications even when our profile was nearly blank, we knew it wasn't worth your time.

Here's the truth: We're not just data crunchers and tech nerds. Our team used these apps themselves. See those apps with linked reviews? They underwent our hands-on testing. Our team includes experienced Mashable staff writers and freelance writers who know a thing or two about relationships. So, the insights you'll find here are as genuine as they come.

No clichés, no fluff — just our honest take on the dating app scene.

Mashable Image
Tabitha Britt
Freelance Writer

Tabitha Britt is a freelance writer, editor, SEO & content strategist. Aside from writing for Mashable, Tabitha is also the founding editor-in-chief of DO YOU ENDO — a digital magazine by individuals with endometriosis, for individuals with endometriosis. She has a Master's degree in Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism from The New School of Social Research and is a grad of Sextech School. You can find more of her work in various online pubs, including National Geographic, Insider, Kinkly, and others.


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