San Diego is saturated with singles searching for their soulmate or someone to satisfy an itch at least. There are different ways to find a date, like at a church, at bars or through friends, but the pandemic has made it hard for people to meet strangers in public. So, can the best San Diego dating apps finally lead you to "The One?"
Did you know at least 20 percent of all relationships begin online? Online dating carries less of a stigma than it did 10 years ago. And there are plenty of dating apps to choose from, but which one is the best dating site for San Diego?
Your time is valuable and definitely limited, and you don’t want to waste money on useless apps. We’ll help you separate the sucky from the spectacular. From north to south, whether you’re in Del Mar or San Ysidro, there are singles like you who are seeking someone special. Who knows? Maybe your other half is basking in the Brawley sunshine.
The following is a list of dating apps that we’ve tried and found to be most successful. Give our list a gander and then give one of these apps a shot. Once you’re done, send us some love with a comment about your experience. We hope it will be incredible. There are 1,453,775 people in San Diego and more than 35 percent are single--that’s more than 500,000 single people. Those are some good odds.
#1 - Christian Mingle (Android; iOS) is the best San Diego dating site for religious singles
Christian Mingle is the perfect dating site for single Christians looking to settle down. Everyone on the site is Christian, so it takes away the need for any awkward questions about religion. Having this shared belief helps you connect with your matches much easier.
It’s a niche site, but there are over 9 million users on it so you shouldn’t struggle to find a match. If you like someone and they like you back, you can start messaging each other. You can easily find matches by using the site’s search filter to narrow down your choices.
Why Christian Mingle is a great dating site in San Diego
- All users are verified, limiting catfishing
- Large user base for a niche app
- Everyone on the app is Christian
What we don’t like about it
- Limited features
- You need a paid membership to send messages
#2 - eHarmony (Android; iOS) is easily your best option for a real relationship
eHarmony has continued to impress us as the top option for most singles who really want a relationship. They aren't the newest dating site on this list but they certainly know what they're doing and it's made them one of the best dating sites in San Diego.
You need to keep the number 75% in mind when thinking about eHarmony. That's the percentage of marriages that started on this site. Seriously. 75% of all online dating marriages start here. Out of EVERY site and app. That is a crazy success rate.
A big reason why they have been so successful is they actually help you figure out what you want, and they have enough users to find you someone who matches those qualities. When you have ten's of millions of users and a great matching system you're going to have a lot of success.
Check out their trial offer at the links above and below and check them out.
Why eHarmony is the best dating site in San Diego
- Really popular in San Diego
- The best success rate out there for a dating app
- Gather a lot of data on you that they use to find compatible matches
What we don’t like about it
- More of a time investment at the beginning than other apps
- You only get a few matches a day so it can take a few weeks to really get going
#3 - Hily (Android; iOS) is for the Youtube addicts
Hily is the dating app that takes things from text to video. While most dating apps are just pictures and text, Hily incorporates a ton of videos into your profile. We were a bit skeptical about it at first but it's actually kind of cool.
If you've ever looked at someone's profile and had serious doubts that it's legit then Hily is a godsend. It's so much more difficult to hide what you really look like in a video compared to an image that anyone can edit on their phone. Catfishers are going to hate this app!
We found that there were far fewer first-date "surprises" using this app than other options. Since you already know what someone looks and sounds like, you’ll know what you're getting yourself into, unless it's a super old video.
If you've been tricked before, give this app a shot.
Why Hily is worth downloading
- Video profiles seem to be more honest than text
- Far harder to get catfished
- It’s nice to see and hear someone before you meet them
What we don’t like about it
- A lot of people are terrible at making videos
- It takes a lot longer to watch a video than read a profile
#4 - AFF is the best hookup app in San Diego
AFF has been around for a while but in that time it's consistently been the best hookup app in San Diego (especially for guys). There are plenty of dating sites out there that claim to be good at this. In our experience, AFF and Tinder have been the only ones that can actually back it up.
Tinder is great, and we'll talk about it more later on, but it's mostly the top 10-15% of the most handsome guys competing for the attention of 70% of the women. It's great for them but awful for the rest of us.
AFF is different in a way that makes it the best hookup site in San Diego. Instead of being totally focused on a single profile photo, it allows guys to demonstrate their value and get attention from women even if they're not the most photogenic. Everyone on this site is looking to skip the small talk anyway so it's a very unique experience. If you're just looking for something physical, it's hard to beat and you can try it for free at the link below.
Why AFF is the best dating site in San Diego
- Extremely popular in SD and has over 50 million active users
- Everyone using it wants to head to the bedroom ASAP
- Actually consistently good for guys that aren’t underwear models
What we don’t like about it
- You often have to sign up through their website
- We want them to update their design to be a little more modern
#5 - Hinge (Android; iOS) is solid if you have a good network
Hinge started off as an app that connects you with friends-of-friends on Facebook. It's not solely based on that these days but it still plays an important part. In fact, we kind of like to describe it as a more mature Tinder. A lot of the experience is the same but more geared toward relationships rather than something for one night.
We actually liked Hinge quite a bit when we used it and had some good success. It's pretty popular and does a decent job of matching you up with other users. There’s just isn't a ton that sets it apart from the best dating apps in San Diego, since they aren't the best at anything in particular.
Why Hinge is a San Diego dating site worth downloading
- Pretty popular in San Diego
- Has a Tinder experience but a little more mature
- Pretty good matching capabilities
What we don’t like about it
- Not really unique or outstanding in any one area
- Still seems to work better for people with large social networks
#6 - MeetMe (Android; iOS) works for the 50+ crowd
MeetMe is another app that is pushing for connecting via video instead of the more traditional methods. In times like these, that can be a great thing for the 50+ crowd. They help create some real chemistry before you even risk something in-person.
MeetMe is also a lot more popular than you would expect. They claim to have 20 million active members, which is a lot, and have many of the usual features you expect from a top dating site.
They are also one of the few free dating apps on our list but you will have to deal with a bunch of ads. Overall, a good option for the older crowd which they tend to attract.
Why MeetMe is a good dating app
- Popular with the cities 50+ crowd
- Great video features
- Free if you don’t mind ads
What we don’t like about it
- Not as popular as a lot of the best sites out there
- As with any free site, response rates for messages are pretty low
#7 – Zoosk is one of our favorite dating apps in San Diego (Android; iOS)
Many young people use Tinder, and it’s become known for finding hookups. If that’s not what you’re after, Zoosk may be a good alternative to try. The app is full of young people looking for serious connections, and with over 35 million users, it may be the best place to find love.
The app is super easy to use, all you do is swipe right on a profile if it catches your eye or left if the person isn’t your type. The main focus is the bios as you can include 1500 characters to discuss yourself, your interests and what you’re looking for in a partner.
Why Zoosk is worth trying
- Receive daily match recommendations with the SmartPick feature
- Good balance between men and women on the app
- Large user base of 35 million people
What we don’t like about it
- Limited free features
- Match recommendations tend to be random rather than based on compatibility
#8 - Tinder (Android; iOS) has to be on any list of the best dating sites in San Diego
Tinder is the app that everyone knows about and is one of the most tried San Diego dating apps. Sadly, most of us have not had a good experience using it (why else would you be here?). While it might be the best San Diego dating app for a small percentage of people it tends to fall flat for most.
When you're dealing with a free app that’s this popular, especially with those in their early 20's, there is going to be a TON of competition. As we mentioned before, the most attractive guys end up getting the vast majority of the attention leaving most guys empty-handed.
It's a great dating app to practice on and learn what works but don't expect to get great results unless you have great photos and a really good text game.
Why Tinder is an app you need to download
- Really popular with the younger crowd
- Great for the more attractive among us
- Very easy to use
What we don’t like about it
- Match and response rates are very low for most guys
- Lot’s of girls just looking for attention and validation
#9 - Luxy (Android; iOS) is one of the best dating sites in San Diego for 1%'ers
Luxy is the dating site that is 100% focused on becoming the best San Diego dating app for the "1%". They want to create a community of super successful people who only want to date people in their same tax bracket. If you're thinking "that's exactly what I want too" this is the app for you.
Naturally, this is going to be a fairly small user base, even in an expensive place like SD. However, they have a surprisingly decent number of people using the app. They're fairly new but seem to be growing pretty fast.
The app itself isn't anything special. It's decent but this app is mostly about who uses it.
Why Luxy is worth checking out
- Great if you’re very successful and want to date someone who is as well
- They do a good job of filtering out those who don’t meet their criteria
What we don’t like about it
- Obviously, not for most of us
- You’re going to run into a lot of snooty people
#10 - Jdate (Android; iOS) is for SD's 3%
Jdate is an app that I'd be surprised if any of San Diego's Jewish singles haven't heard about (3% of the population here). It's become such a part of the Jewish singles scene that pretty much everyone knows about it.
If you're Jewish and looking to meet other single Jews, you need to give it a shot. The app itself isn't amazing but it's going to be difficult to find more people who match the criteria you have.
Do yourself a favor and give in to any resistance you might have of trying it. It might be cliche but it's also one of the best dating sites in San Diego for this particular purpose.
Why Jdate is worth downloading
- Probably the largest Jewish community online
- Very easy to use
- You’ve probably met couples who met using it
What we don’t like about it
- Only for Jewish folks so those who have broader interests might be limited
- App isn’t amazing
The Best Dating Sites in San Diego for Long-Term Relationships
To make your search for finding the best dating app easier, we want to narrow down our recommendations. If you’re looking for something serious, sticking to apps with like-minded users can be helpful. Here are two of our favorite dating apps for people looking for a long-term relationship:
eHarmony is the best San Diego dating site to find a relationship
One dating site that has been on the market for ages is eHarmony. Since its inception in 2000, it has helped over 600,000 couples find love and get married. This success is likely due to the in-depth questionnaire every user must take when they sign up. It weeds out the people who aren’t looking for something serious.
The site then uses your answers to match you with people you may be compatible with based on your shared interests or values. This makes it much easier to connect with someone so you can get straight to planning a date.
Plenty of Fish is a free and reliable option for serious connections
You’ve probably heard the saying, “There’s plenty of fish in the sea,” before and they are all on the dating app Plenty of Fish. It’s a great app for finding long-term relationships as it also uses a personality quiz to match users based on compatibility. Because it’s free and has been around for a while, you may come across some inactive profiles, but don’t let that stop you from finding real connections.
The Best Hookup Sites in San Diego
If a long-term relationship isn’t what you’re after, don’t worry, there are still plenty of apps you can try to have a little fun. Here are two of the best San Diego hookup sites:
AFF is one of the best casual dating sites in San Diego
Another dating site that has been on the market forever is AFF. This site is targeted directly to people looking for casual relationships or hookups, so there’s no confusion about what the other users’ intentions are. This saves you from the awkward small talk about what you’re looking for so you can get straight to planning a hookup.
It’s a paid dating site that can put some people off, but we think the membership is worth it. It gives you access to plenty of fun features and can help improve your chances of finding the right matches. You match with people based on distance, so you shouldn’t even have to travel far to have a little fun.
Tinder is the best free hookup site in San Diego
One of the most popular dating apps on the market today is Tinder. Its popularity is likely due to how easy it is to use the app. All you do is swipe through some pictures, read a short bio, and swipe right if you like the profile or left if you don’t. Because Tinder is so easy to use and is heavily focused on looks, it’s the perfect place to find a hookup even though it may not be advertised as a hookup site.
The Best Free Dating Sites in San Diego
Choosing the best dating app means you have to decide between paid and free ones. Free dating apps and sites can be fun, but they typically don’t offer the same results that paid ones do.
Think of the saying, “You get what you pay for,” because it definitely applies here. People who pay for dating memberships tend to be more serious about the experience, so they’ll put effort into actually connecting and meeting with you.
If you’re not ready to buy a membership just yet, don’t worry. You can take advantage of a free trial or use a free app to test the waters and get to know what type of features you like. Just don’t expect too much out of the free experience.
Here are three of the best free dating sites in San Diego:
- Hinge
- Bumble
- OkCupid
Each of these dating apps is free with the option to pay for additional features when you’re ready.
Frequently Asked Questions on San Diego Dating Sites
What is the best dating site for San Diego?
The best dating site in San Diego would have to be eHarmony. It's quite popular in the city and shows you only compatible matches based on the information you provide. It may not be the absolute best site for hookups, but if you're looking to date seriously, then eHarmony is there to help you out.
How do I meet singles in San Diego?
There are a lot of places you can go to meet singles in San Diego, but the best way to do it is via dating sites. Think about it, you don't have to guess if they're single before approaching them, if they're on a dating site, they're very likely to be single and looking for what you're looking for.
Is San Diego good for dating?
San Diego has been placed in the top 10 best cities to date in the United States. The city is bustling with nightlife and tons of young single people looking to form relationships or have something casual.
Is Tinder used in San Diego?
Of course! Just like anywhere else in the US, Tinder is quite popular in San Diego. It doesn't mean it's the most useful dating site though, but it does have the most users.
