Nowadays, face-to-face encounters can be challenging for singles unless you are a part of a large social circle and the pandemic has only made things harder. Especially in Bakersfield, where everyone seems to know everyone. If you want a fresh approach to dating someone new, you need to go where many people spend most of their time and attention: online and on the best dating apps in Bakersfield.
Dating apps bring you all the important details you need to find the perfect match. You can scroll or swipe through profiles and make your choice swiftly. You can connect with interesting singles with one hand while holding a Sonic Slushie on the other. It's that effortless! Most daters living in Bakersfield are also likely to be comfortable with online dating. Honestly, we'd choose this route any day rather than getting the cold shoulder at a bar when approaching hot strangers.
With over 2,500 dating apps and sites available online, just finding the best Bakersfield dating app can be half the battle. This is why we've listed the best ones to try, whether you're in Westchester or all the way out in Tuscany, we have the apps for you.
#1 - Hily (Android; iOS) can help you break the ice
Hily, which stands for Hey, I Like You, is a dating app that helps people make connections through video chatting. While video chatting with a stranger may seem awkward, Hily helps you connect by offering ice breakers that you can ask each other to help you find common ground.
Not only does video chatting help you better connect with matches, but it also eliminates the chances of your match catfishing you. Video chatting is done through the app, so you don’t even need to exchange contact details first.
Why it's one of the best dating apps in Bakersfield
- Fun features like compatibility checks and video chats
- All users are verified
- Receive video prompts and ice breakers to minimize awkwardness
What we don’t like about it
- Limited free features
- Matches may be far as they’re not always based on distance
#2 - eHarmony (Android; iOS) is the best dating site in Bakersfield for the long-term
eHarmony has consistently been the best dating site in Bakersfield for those tired of casual dating and looking for the real deal. If you've met any married couple that met online there's a 75% chance it was through eHarmony. Pretty crazy right?
The results speak for themselves.
What makes this the best dating site for long-term relationships is its ability to help users find people they can actually click with. With its algorithm, it will find out what you want, find out what other singles are looking for, and do a fantastic job of matching you up.
This ability to actually make dating easier is what really makes it special. If you want a real relationship you need to check out their trial offer below, nothing else is this good.
Why eHarmony is one of the best dating sites in Bakersfield
- 3 times better for long-term relationships than any other app
- 70% of users find their future spouse within a year
- Great refund policy
What we don’t like about it
- Getting your profile up and running is a little more detailed than other apps
- You need to be a little patient at first
#3 - One of the best dating apps in Bakersfield for seniors is OurTime (Android; iOS)
Online dating is no longer just a young person’s game. People over 50 can also now enjoy a specific dating platform to find friendships, dates, or relationships with other mature daters. OurTime caters to single people who are at least 50 years of age, and it will only take you a couple of minutes to build a profile. Afterward, you can start browsing for matches and chat with them through OurTime's advanced search tools and messaging features.
OurTime promises an easy dating experience with no gimmicks and no fuss. Overall, it's a great dating app for seniors who are serious about meeting the best candidate to be by their side for the long haul.
Why OurTime is a great dating app in Bakersfield
- The app has various ways of matching users with other daters
- Search filters based on location is a free feature
- The app has a simple layout that is easy to navigate
What we don’t like about it
- Fewer features compared to other prominent dating apps
- Advanced features are only available to paid members
#4 - AFF is the best hookup app in Bakersfield right now
AFF has slowly become the best hookup app in Bakersfield, particularly for single guys. Tinder used to be some serious competition but it's not even really a hookup app now, just another dating app.
AFF works because it's surprisingly popular, a lot of people in Bakersfield are on it and it has over 60 million active users total. That's a lot of potential flings!
When you have that many people using it and a pure focus on being the best hookup site around you're going to see some results. Guys do way better here than any other hookup app we've tried.
Check out their free trial below if you're looking for something fun and casual without all the hassle. It really works.
Why you should try AFF
- Very popular in California
- Guys tend to do a lot better with AFF than Tinder
- Simple to use
What we don’t like about it
- It’s a browser-based site, so no app
- More ads than we want to see
#5 - Hinge is for daters who are tired of mindless swiping (Android; iOS)
Think of Hinge as the lovechild of Tinder and eHarmony. You've got the fun interface and relatively young users of Tinder plus the more in-depth profiles of eHarmony. Hinge doesn't joke around when it comes to matching people. It is, after all, the app that's deleted so often because it turns so many singles into couples! No doubt it's one of the best dating apps in Bakersfield today.
So how does it work? When a user, likes you, they have to like or heart something specific on your profile. They can leave a like on one of your selfies or comment on your answers. Once they do, you get a notification and you can choose whether to reply, remove or just click match, and then wait for them to initiate conversation.
Why Hinge is one of the best Bakersfield dating apps
- Fun conversation prompts and ice breaker
- Most profiles are detailed and have six or more photos uploaded on them
- Messaging features are free
What we don’t like about it
- Free users have daily limits on likes
- Verification process isn’t as stringent, so you can expect a few fake profiles and cases of catfishing
#6 - Looking for an app where girls make the first move? Bumble is your best bet (Android; iOS)
Similar to Tinder, you can create a simple profile, upload your best photos, and swipe through potential matches on Bumble. Swipe right if she's cute, and swipe left if it’s a no. You’ll get a match once you and another user both swiped right on each other.
While they almost have the same matching mechanics, we believe Bumble is a lot better than Tinder in many ways. On Bumble, female users have to send the first message within 24 hours once they get a match. This feature is a great advantage for both men and women as women will no longer be bombarded with unwanted messages, and men no longer have to initiate the first conversation.
What we like about Bumble
- Most matches eventually lead to conversations
- It’s easier to move things along since women show their interest first
- Setting up an account and matching with people is a breeze
What we don’t like about it
- Matches expire after 24 hours so it’s not ideal for inactive users
- Verification is not required so there are rare occurrences of fake profiles
#7 - Zoosk is the perfect alternative to Tinder(Android; iOS)
Although Tinder is one of the most popular dating apps worldwide, it’s become more known for hookups rather than actual connections. In comes Zoosk, a great alternative app for young people looking for love. The app is much less focused on looks as your bios can be 1500 characters long compared to Tinder’s 500.
This helps you get to know your matches so you can actually start a conversation and plan a date. You can look for matches yourself in a similar way to Tinder: swipe right if you like the profile or left if they’re not your type. Or you can use Zoosk’s SmartPick feature to receive match recommendations.
Why it's one of the best dating apps in Bakersfield
- Large dating pool with over 35 million users
- Most members are young, from 18 to early 20s
- Easily access Zoosk via their app or desktop site
What we don’t like about it
- You need to pay to send messages
- Matches aren’t based on compatibility
#8 - Raya is one of the best Bakersfield dating apps for the rich and famous (iOS only)
Do you think you have what it takes to date a celebrity? Then take a chance on Raya. This private app is a membership-based dating platform exclusive to high-profile individuals.
The app has rigorous and ultra-selective criteria when it comes to approving membership. In fact, Raya has a selection rate of as low as 7% of all membership requests it gets in a year. Why? It's because each Raya profile is authenticated to ensure that it is a high-profile celebrity or influencer.
So if you're famous (online or offline) and you want to date someone who understands your lifestyle, Raya might be the app for you.
What we like about Raya
- It verifies and authenticates each profile so all members are real
- One of the best dating apps in Bakersfield thanks to its extensive privacy policies
- Apart from dating, you can also use the app to build connections and network with high profile individuals in the creative industry
What we don’t like about it
- You need to have connections and lots of followers on Instagram to get approved
- It takes forever to get approved
- It doesn’t use any algorithm to match you with other profiles
- You need to pay to use the app
#9 - EME Hive is one of the most popular apps for Asian Americans (iOS only)
Did you know that there are over 29,000 Asian Americans and Asian immigrants living in Bakersfield? If you’re one of them and want to be paired up with another Asian that your friends and family will approve of, then you should check out EME Hive. This is a premium online dating platform for English-speaking Asians. Membership is free of charge for female members, while male users have to pay to access most of the site's features.
Why EME Live is worth it for Asian Americans in Bakersfield
- Easy to navigate user interface and simple layout
- Offers free membership for female users
- Offers free trial for men to check out the features of the site before deciding to opt-in
What we don’t like about it
- Only male members have to pay for membership
- The free trial only offers limited features and doesn’t cover all of the functionality of the site
#10 - MeetMe has a lot of fun features to meet new friends or dates (Android; iOS)
If you're sick of the typical online dating experience and are searching for something more exciting, MeetMe could be the one for you!
MeetMe is a social networking platform that makes meeting new friends and potential partners fun! While using other mainstream dating sites may often feel like a hassle, using MeetMe feels like a fun distraction. It's basically just like Facebook without your family members and old grade school classmates. Everyone comes together based on shared interests and on fun features like live streams, Secret Admirer, and Ask Me. We won't spoil what those are. Best of all, most features are free of charge.
What we like about MeetMe
- It’s free to join and you can chat with people regardless of subscription
- Watch live streams from popular users
- Available on Android, iOs, and on desktop
What we don’t like about it
- Riddled with ads for free members
- Profile information is not as detailed or exhaustive as other dating apps
The Best Dating Sites in Bakersfield for Long-Term Relationships
Since we talked about 10 great dating apps, you may still be looking to narrow down your choices. If you know what you’re looking for in a partner, you can choose an app specific to your needs. Here are two of the best dating apps for people looking for long-term relationships:
eHarmony is the best Bakersfield dating site to find a relationship
eHarmony is one of the oldest dating sites on the market as it’s been around since 2000. Despite its age, eHarmony is still extremely popular and has helped over 600,000 people in the United States alone get married. So, if you’re looking for something serious, eHarmony may be the place to find it.
When you sign up, you must complete a detailed questionnaire that asks you about your preferences, interests, and hobbies. This allows eHarmony to match you with people you actually have something in common with, making it much easier to get the conversation started and plan a romantic date.
Hinge can help you find true love
Hinge's motto is that it’s the app designed to be deleted. The creators want you to find love so you can delete the app and start your life together. Hinge has conversation prompts your matches can respond to, making it easier to start a conversation. This also takes the focus off appearances so matches aren’t superficial.
The Best Hookup Sites in Bakersfield
If you’re not looking for something serious, don’t worry, we still have great app recommendations for you. Here are two of the best Bakersfield hookup sites:
AFF is one of the best casual dating sites in Bakersfield
AFF is another dating site that’s been on the market forever and it’s actually the largest hookup site with over 60 million users. As it’s clearly advertised as a place to find hookups, there won’t be any confusion about your intentions.
Most users are over 25, so it’s a great place for older people to find hookups. You must pay for a membership to use the site, which can put some people off but think of it as an investment. Membership gives you access to high-quality matches and fun features like erotic stories, live webcam shows, and adult chats.
Tinder is the best free hookup site in Bakersfield
Another popular dating app on the market is Tinder. Although Tinder isn’t advertised as a hookup app, it’s what most people use it for nowadays. This is because it’s super easy to use and it’s heavily focused on appearance so you can find a hot Bakersfield single. The app is also free to use, so it’s great for people on a budget.
The Best Free Dating Sites in Bakersfield
When choosing the best dating site for you, it’s important to remember the saying, “You get what you pay for.” Free dating apps can be fun, but they don’t offer the same results that paid ones do.
This is because paid dating apps give you access to features that make dating easier, like the ability to send super likes or recall matches you accidentally swiped left on. People that pay for dating memberships also tend to take the experience, more seriously.
You may not be ready to purchase a membership right off the bat, but you can take advantage of free trials or free apps first to test the waters.
Here are three of the best free dating sites in Bakersfield:
- OkCupid
- Bumble
- Coffee Meets Bagel
All of these dating apps are free to use with the option to pay for additional features, so you get the best of both worlds.
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