Online dating is becoming increasingly popular, even for those who had never dreamed of dating someone they met through an app. But these days, more companies are taking advantage of this boom and creating a bunch of useless ads with enticing ads. This is why it’s probably not that easy to find an Iowa dating app that will work for you.
In the past, living in Iowa’s most populated cities - like De Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport - was enough to help you find a steamy hookup or even a long-term relationship. Or for those studying at Iowa State University or Purdue, meeting women is as easy as going to class. And it was only a matter of time before you find one to date before you graduate.
Those days are long gone, and Iowa dating apps are the primary way that men and women get together these days.
To make things easier for you, w help you pick the best Iowa dating apps and websites. Read on to learn more about which Iowa dating sites are right for your lifestyle.
Before you read further, let us give you a quick summary of the Iowa dating apps that have consistently worked for us:
| Site | Our Experience | Our Rating | Free Trial Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Best For Relationships  | Experience Highlights
| 9 | Try eHarmony |
Best For Casual Fun  | Experience Highlights
| 9 | Try AFF For Free |
Great If You're Handsome  | Tinder Highlights
| 8 | Try Tinder |
There are tons of singles using dating sites in Iowa
Iowa might not strike you as a state that has tons of bustling cities and social hubs where you can meet lots of women. And you’d be right. As the 13th most rural state in the US, there are plenty of people living outside of the cities and even the suburbs. So what does that mean if you want to find a date?
Finding a date in Iowa can prove to be a challenge. That’s even if you consider the fact that there are 467,000 single men and 472,000 single women in the state. So you need to be strategic when it comes to finding a date. Instead of going from town to town in search of your ideal woman, your best bet is to use a dating app. These apps let you interact with single women from the comfort of your home, which makes dating so much more convenient!
The 5 Best Dating Sites in Iowa Right Now
Not all dating apps are created equal. In fact, there are quite a few differences between dating apps. Some are geared for casual encounters, some are better for long-term relationships, and some simply give you access to alternative dating options.
To help you get the best success, we rigorously tested and chose the 5 best dating sites in Iowa. Let’s begin!
#1 - eHarmony (Android, iOS) is one of the best dating apps in Iowa for finding serious love
The secret to eHarmony’s success is that it actually asks what you’re looking for and what you’re about through its lengthy questionnaire. This means dealbreakers, preferences, and interests. Don’t worry, the questionnaire is actually fun and insightful, actually helping you hone what you’re looking for. And while there is a bit of a membership fee to put eHarmony to use, this helps weed out timewasters, scammers, and low-ballers.
As with dating in general, persistence and patience are key with eHarmony, but becoming one of the 70% to find the right match within a year on eHarmony is definitely worth it. Try eHarmony today!
What makes eHarmony the best choice
- Highest success rate for long-term relationships
- Matches are actually matches, not just a random sampling of available Iowa women
- Advanced algorithm actually helps users find compatible (scientifically proven!)
- Video dating helps set expectations upfront
eHarmony could improve the following
- Lengthy sign-up process requires a large time investment
- Membership pricing is higher than most dating apps
- Not as popular with the 18 – 25 demographic
#2 - Singles looking for something fun and casual in Iowa prefer AFF
AFF has been around forever, so you know that matching with women in Iowa is a breeze. After all, everyone is on the app for fun, not endless games or “tourism”. Everyone here is looking for the same thing. What’s more, you can use some seriously detailed filters to only engage with people who are into the same things you are.
We know that finding hookups in a state like Iowa may be a struggle, especially if you’re not from the bigger cities. But with AFF, you’ll always have a ton of options (plus new ones every single day), that you’ll never run out of people to chat and connect with.
What makes AFF so good
- Huge active user base
- Fewer timewasters and scammers than other apps
- Paid memberships significantly increase your odds of meeting up in person
- Abundant search options for nearly any preference, kink, or arrangement
Here’s what might be improved on AFF
- Can feel a bit like a “meat market” if you’re not ready for it
- Many users can only access AFF via the web app
#3 - Christian Mingle (Android, iOS) is geared toward Christians
Over 77% of people in Iowa residents report themselves as religious and following some denomination of the Christian faith. That means that Christian Mingle is the perfect dating site for a staggering amount of Christian singles in Iowa!
With 15+ million active users, you’re certain to find a partner that shares your Christian beliefs. Everyone on Christian Mingle is a practicing Christian - which already gives you common interests from the start. And for those who are ready to settle down with a committed partner or just avoid some of the “meat markets” that other apps seem to offer, Christian Mingle makes the dating process easy.
Best of all, Christian Mingle is absolutely free to use for guys looking to test the waters. Once you’re ready to jump in, be sure to pay for a membership to get some really great features.
Why Christian Mingle is a great site for finding a Christian partner
- Easier to find people with similar values
- Less of a “meat market” than other apps
- Plenty of free features to try before deciding on a paid membership for even better results
- Available on all platforms
Christian Mingle needs to improve a few things
- The design isn’t as modern as other apps
- A somewhat limited dating pool when compared to other dating sites in Iowa
- There are many denominations of Christianity, so it may be hard to find a 100% match
#4 - Coffee Meets Bagel (iOS, Android) gives Iowa men access to career-oriented and professional women
Iowa is a hotbed for young professionals thanks to its booming tech and manufacturing industries. To meet these women, try one of the best dating apps out there: Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB).
CMB does a lot of the heavy lifting for you. Men receive a fresh set of matches delivered as a noon reminder (lunchtime for professionals), so you’ll have the opportunity to chat and eventually meet with someone nearby on their lunch break! Convenient!
Matching on the app is simple. Similar to Bumble, simply like users to get things going. If she likes you too, you match and can start talking. Or, if she liked you and you’re a good match, you’ll have a roster of “bagels” to choose from and initiate a conversation. Both people have to match, so it takes out the “numbers game” aspect that other apps are known for.
Users have to be choosy, though. You only get so many beans per day, so choosing in-demand women often costs more beans whereas newer users cost fewer beans. Obviously, paid memberships offer more beans and features to meet more women, so CMB works best for paid members.
Why CMB is a good dating app in Iowa
- Get access to a totally unique pool of career-oriented women
- Sign-up doesn’t require a huge time investment
- Search criteria are great for finding women you actually want
- Less competition based on superficiality versus other apps
What should be improved on CMB
- Women tend to be busier, so response time isn’t always immediate.
- The free version of the app only gives a few opportunities to interact with women per day
- For now, the app doesn’t have the largest pool of available women out there
- Users aren’t allowed to browse profiles in the entire area
#5 - Bumble (Android, iOS) is a great app to find women actively seeking men in Iowa
Among all dating apps, Bumble is unique. Usually, men in Iowa are tasked with making the first move when it comes to dating apps like Tinder or OkCupid. With Bumble, it is up to her to initiate contact, a welcome relief from being ghosted app after app.
Any time both users swipe right on one another’s profiles, a 24-period countdown starts, giving only a brief period for a woman to respond. This motivates her to reach out before you’re gone forever. Plus, Bumble has a bunch of paid features that make your profile stand out even better, and enables unlimited likes.
Pros of Bumble for dating in Iowa
- Incentivize women to make an effort
- Better quality matches than other dating apps
- Great paid membership perks
Cons of Bumble for dating in Iowa
- Waiting on messages makes it hard to be spontaneous or available (or even remember who you swiped on…)
- Sometimes women will just respond with “hey” and force you to respond
The Best Hookup Sites in Iowa
Of all the best Iowa hookup sites, only AFF and OkCupid really work. Here’s why:
AFF tends to be the best option
AFF removes the drawback of some hookup apps, where a woman with extra pounds or a completely different look will show up to spoil a good hookup. With the ability to post user-generated content and screen users via video chat, AFF is a great choice to filter out the flakes and creeps.
OkCupid might seem like an unlikely hookup app
…but it has great potential for finding women that are off the beaten path. With a similar swipe feature and an older demographic, Iowa men should have no problem hunting cougars and plain janes that enjoy the OkCupid's great interface. Simply chat her up, get her phone number, and make arrangements!
The Best Dating Sites in Iowa for Serious Relationships
HeartInsider recommends eHarmony and Match as viable options to find long-term relationships in Iowa
eHarmony helps those looking for real love
eHarmony is a natural choice for Iowa's growing demographic, especially those who are looking for more than just a hookup. Quality matches on eHarmony help skip the meat markets and focus on the app’s high rate of success. After all, who’s got time to mess around these days?
Why is Match a good option?
When it comes to Iowa dating sites, Match has the name-brand recognition and the prize of being the oldest dating platform out there. Since 1995, Match has been a reliable way of finding a compatible partner among a pretty extensive user base in Iowa.
The Best Free Dating Apps in Iowa
If you don’t know already, there’s an unspoken rule among online dating apps in Iowa: You get what you pay for.
Does this mean free dating apps in Iowa are useless? Of course not! Free dating apps enable Iowa men to see what type of Iowa women are out there - and you might even get a few matches if you’re lucky. And the worst-case scenario, you can try out other apps if it doesn’t work out - there’s more than plenty to choose from.
Besides the Iowa dating apps we’ve recommended in this article thus far, the following are also some of the best free Iowa dating apps that we recommend:
- Hinge
- OkCupid
- Zoosk
Of course, if you like a particular app, then it’s obviously time to get a paid membership to really ramp things up and increase the odds of finding what you’re looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions on Iowa Dating Sites
What is the most used dating app in Iowa?
The most used dating apps in Iowa are:
- eHarmony
- AFF
- Christian Mingle
- Coffee Meets Bagel
- Bumble
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