Finding a suitable partner in Virginia has been difficult in the past few years, to say the least. The pandemic and its subsequent isolation made the dating scene tough and lonely. However, now that the danger is dying down and our vaccination rate is going up, more people are starting to hop outside and get back into the game. Add to that the popularity of dating apps in Virginia and you're sure to meet tons of new single people!
Virginia isn’t the most populated state out there, but we make do with what we have. The smaller population just means we have to get creative with our methods. For some of us, we would hit up local events at Virginia Beach or enjoy group activities in Chesapeake. While that worked okay, nothing was as revolutionary as the modern dating app.
The only issue is that picking the best one is a task in itself. You no longer have just Tinder. There are dozens of options on the market, and all claim to find you your soulmate—so we decided to try them out and see how they stack up against each other. From surveying and testing all the mobile dating apps out there, we narrowed it down, and here are the best dating apps in Virginia.
Before you read further, let us give you a quick summary of the Virginia 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 a ton of singles using dating apps in Virginia
Virginia (population: 8,638,218) has a total single percentage of 27.71%, which isn’t too bad all things considered. With single men landing at 1,178,599 and women outnumbering them at 1,215,051. That bodes well for the guys, which means you have great odds of finding a date in a state where women outnumber men by a bit.
Now that so many dating apps are on the market, we tested almost all of them and saw what worked and what didn’t. Today's apps are invaluable when it comes to dating in a bigger city and absolutely mandatory when you’re on the outskirts. We’ll tell you why as we report our findings; here are the top 5 best dating sites in Virginia.
The 5 Best Dating Sites in Virginia Right Now
#1 - eHarmony (Android; iOS) is the best dating site in Virginia for long-term relationships
eHarmony is the best place to start when it comes to serious dating. They have plenty of marketing done over the years and have built quite a brand out of their success. In our experience, this may be the only dating app you will ever need if you want to get it done quickly. After doing some diligent digging, we understood that the app is trying to understand who you are and your core values.
One thing to note is their unique compatibility quiz. It takes a little while to get going, but it pays off dividends. When you start getting compatible matches left and right, you’ll notice that all those questions weren’t for naught. It also works better compared to most modern dating apps as you aren’t just swiping left and right based on (mostly) appearances.
Their most staggering claim: 75% of all online marriages have started on eHarmony. It sounds crazy, but it is absolutely true, and it is one of their biggest selling points.
Why eHarmony is one of the best dating apps in Virginia
- 70% of users find their future spouse within a year
- The user interface makes it easy to form connections
- Virginia’s best dating app when it comes to long-term relationships
What could use some work
- The compatibility quiz process can turn some people off
- You can’t just jump in like you can with other apps
- Isn’t as popular with the younger crowd as with older singles
#2 - Hinge (Android; iOS) is one of the newer dating apps on the market
Hinge is fairly new compared to all the dating apps on the market. They’ve amassed a lot of funding quickly, and I’ve seen some of their commercials on television already. They are marketing themselves as the “dating app that is meant to be deleted.” It is a bold and unique approach because most modern dating apps don’t really aim for a dwindling user base.
It also flips the traditional first impression system on its head. Instead of carefully curating your pickup line and sending the message, there are photo prompts and icebreaker questions designed to make that interaction easier. After that, the conversation should be easier from then on. It’s a small tweak special to the app but makes an impact on the free-flowing conversation.
While one of the cons we have listed is its smaller user base, we definitely see it rising soon. It has a nice, clean interface that warrants funny replies to their goofy prompts. It is certainly a breath of fresh air as other dating apps kind of try to project a perfect version of you all the time.
Why you should download and try Hinge
- It doesn’t take itself too seriously
- Icebreaker prompts can make the initial approach easier
- You don’t need to match with people to message people
What the app could use some help with
- Not the best option for rural or smaller towns
- Possibility for unwanted messages
- Fewer client base due to the app still being new
#3 - AFF is the best hookup site in Virginia right now
AFF is our top choice for a different kind of venture. It is aimed toward casual fun and makes no qualms about it. It is mainly compared to Tinder, but we think it exceeds it in a number of ways. Tinder sits on the fence when it comes to hookup vs. long-term relationships, while AFF lets you know right off the bat what it’s trying to accomplish.
If Tinder wasn’t giving you a lot of success, try AFF. People are a lot more easy-going and seem to accept people that look more normal. In addition, it has a budding community in which many sex-positive people are drawn.
With a user base of over 60 million users, you’re bound to find some that live in Virginia. If this sounds up your alley, we have a free trial link down below.
Why you should try AFF
- The most popular hookup site in Virginia
- Everyone is on the same page and makes casual fun easy
- A much better alternative to Tinder (as a hookup app), in our opinion
What needs some improvement
- Only available through a website
- They have way too many ads on their site
- The lack of a pairing system makes the search difficult
#4 - Tinder (Android; iOS) is still a viable option for everyone
Despite the previous entry, Tinder is not at all a bad app. It just has a different mission with a different demographic. It deserves some credit for pioneering the modern, easy-use dating app that inspired a lot of copycats today. While not the most detailed or clever app, it made it easy to see who you’re interested in while only paying each person a quick glimpse.
Since its inception, Tinder has always been the spot for singles. It is often everyone’s first download whenever they are ready to enter the dating market. In addition, Tinder is easy to set up and use, which invites a lot of people just passively do it in their free time.
When using Tinder, we recommend being upfront with what you’re looking for. As previously stated, Tinder does not really aim to put labels on its user base. While it started as a dating app, it kind of built a hookup culture due to its simple use. However, Tinder didn’t really lean into it like AFF did and kind of loses its identity in a way.
Why we like Tinder
- The easy interface makes it easy to get started
- Has a large number of users
- Good for casual fun
Why you could skip it
- A good amount of fake profiles
- Hookup stigma and a large user base can have people on different pages
- Attracts a lot of low effort people
#5 - Zoosk (Android; iOS) revolutionized the dating scene for shy men
Rounding out our top 5 is Zoosk. Zoosk is your international guide to finding love. It is one of, if not, the biggest dating apps in the world. It is available in 25 languages and in 80 countries. With that many people using your app, you’ll find matches in no time.
With one of the most populous dating apps on the market, one would be surprised that it is aimed toward longer relationships for younger people. But, of course, that means that older singles will not have the same luck using the app.
If you fall into the younger category, this may be what you’re looking for. So if AFF isn’t really your jam and Tinder is too undecided, then Zoosk will help you look for longer-lasting love.
Why we recommend using the Zoosk dating app
- Limitless matching possibilities
- Affordable premium options
- It is free to interact with premium members
Why you could be better off without it
- A large user base allows for a lot of spam and bots
- Premium membership has many more features than the free version
- In-app currency (Zoosk Coins) are overpriced
The Best Hookup Sites in Virginia
If you’re looking for the best Virginia hookup sites, there are really only two options to consider. We’ve found that these two are the most reliable when it comes to hooking up online:
AFF helps you find hassle-free casual fun
The great thing about online dating is the number of people you can meet. The downside? Some of the people you do end up meeting, don’t want the same thing you do. This isn’t a problem with AFF. Everyone on the site is looking for one thing only: a little fun between the sheets and nothing more. On top of that, you can also filter users based on your preferences like location (Virginia has a lot of users based on our experience), kinks, body type, hair color, and more.
AFF isn’t a free hookup site, but it does have a free trial that’s worth checking out. So give it a shot if you want to have some fun tonight.
OkCupid is a free hookup site that also works
OkCupid has been around for a while and it has helped maybe millions of people hook up over the years. What we love about this site is that it’s free, but it still lets you filter out singles based on what you’re looking for. As far simple, easy hookup sites go, OkCupid is a great choice.
The Best Dating Sites in Virginia for Relationships
Virginia really is for lovers, as you might learn when you use these two apps for finding relationships. Lots of locals use one or both of these dating apps in Virginia.
eHarmony is one of the top apps for dating in Virginia
eHarmony has a reputation for being the go-to app if you want to find a relationship. They’ve helped countless couples find long-term relationships, many of which lead to marriage. With its top-notch algorithm doing most of the work for you, you’ll only encounter people you’re compatible with.
While you might not have an endless stream of people to swipe through, you do end up with a curated list of matches based on what you’re looking for in a partner. In this, eHarmony is one of the best dating apps out there.
Hinge is a mix of fun and serious
On the one hand, Hinge appeals to younger singles because it’s a fun app to use. You answer a series of questions and prompts that help other users get to know you better. You might think this is like a game, but Hinge profiles are so detailed that users have an easy time finding someone they’re compatible with. We’ve tried it ourselves!
The Best Free Dating Sites in Virginia
Most people avoid paying for dating apps because they think it’s a waste of money. True enough, there are tons of apps out there that take your money and deliver nothing in return. But on the other hand, free dating apps can sometimes be worth what you’re paying for. Sure, you get to meet tons of people, but how many of them are just there for attention? How many are using fake photos?
In our opinion, legit paid dating apps work far better than free dating apps in Virginia. But if you’re hesitant to spend cash on a dating app, these are the top options:
- Bumble
- OkCupid
- Hinge
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