If you're thinking about dating in Lincoln, Nebraska, then you'll need help. While the Star City has a dating scene, it’s mainly a big town where people either go to college or settle down—but nothing in between. And that makes meeting Lincoln locals for dating a bit complicated.
As big as it might be, Lincoln has always been a quiet and sleepy town, and the locals like it that way. And when the pandemic struck, more people than ever turned to use dating apps—and they haven’t looked back since.
Even if you meet your share of singles studying at the University of Nebraska or mingle with Lincoln’s football-crazy fans, you’ll still meet more matches on dating apps. And that’s why, to help you along, we prepared a list of the best dating apps in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Before we jump in—in case you’re closer to Omaha, we’ve already written a dating app guide for The Big O here.
The 5 Best Dating Sites in Lincoln, Nebraska Right Now
What exactly are you looking for in the Lincoln dating scene? Is it someone to settle down with? Or do you want to meet like-minded locals for some good, clean, sexy fun? Or maybe you’re just looking around?
The best dating sites and apps out there are the ones that get you the results you want, no matter what they may be. And in our tests, these are the ones that rose above the rest:
#1 - eHarmony (Android, iOS) is the best dating app in Lincoln for serious relationships
If you’re among the many who want to settle down in Lincoln and are looking for a partner, then eHarmony should be the first app to try. You won’t get as many matches and matches as good, elsewhere.
eHarmony has built a global reputation for being a reliable, trustworthy platform for finding true love. We found that reputation especially alive and well in Lincoln, likely because it’s an ideal town to plant roots, raise families, or retire. In fact, out 10 eHarmony users, 7 meet their future spouse within a year. So if that’s what you’re looking for, give this app a try.
Why eHarmony is great
- Best results of all apps we tried in Lincoln (when looking for committed relationships)
- App is easy to use
- Unbeatable track record—600,000 happy couples (and counting) have met on eHarmony
What we don't like about it
- You should probably look elsewhere if you want casual flings and no-strings-attached relationships
- The signup process is tedious, but it will be worth it
#2 - Tinder (Android, iOS) is a great dating app for no matter what you’re after
Everybody knows about Tinder, and that includes the locals of Lincoln. We got great results out of it on our tests—and not just in the casual relationship space, either.
This may come as a surprise to you, but Tinder has undergone a change lately. Now, more and more people are finding their “happily ever afters” on the previously all-hookup app. That’s good news for you, regardless of what you’re after.
Why Tinder is great
- It was the top dating app for a while, and many people use it as a result
- Many younger, users to meet
- Probably one of the simplest and easiest apps to use
What we don't like about it
- If you’re not all that attractive (or if you can’t set up a good enough profile), you might get fewer matches than you’d like
- Not many older users, if that’s what you’re looking for
#3 – AFF is the best dating site in Lincoln for casual flings (try it free)
If you’re looking for casual relationships, friends with benefits, one-night flings, and the like, then AFF is probably the only app you’ll ever need in Lincoln.
In our opinion, AFF has taken the crown from Tinder as the “premier hookup app,” and this has borne out in most of the cities we’ve tested. When you’re in Lincoln, don’t even bother going at it on your own—let AFF find the connections you want in much less time.
AFF might not have the bells and whistles of other more modern apps. But what it has is plenty of users, all of which are looking for the same thing you are!
Why AFF is great
- The undisputed champion among casual dating apps
- You’ll find plenty of matches in all age ranges
- App is easy to use
What we don't like about it
- The app design could use some updating when we last tested it
- Sometimes you get so many matches you don’t know what to do next
#4 - Bumble (Android, iOS) has a strong following in Lincoln
Apparently, Bumble’s “women make the first move” dynamic seems to be popular in Lincoln. If you’re a guy who would rather wait for interested ladies to message you, this might be the app for you. It also helps that Bumble has more female users than male, which means you won’t need to work too hard to best the competition!
Why Bumble is great
- If you’re a guy, you no longer need to send hundreds of messages to get one date
- If you’re a woman, you no longer need to sort through hundreds of messages to find a good date
- A healthy userbase in Lincoln
What we don't like about it
- If you’re not an attractive or interesting enough guy, you’ll barely get any attention
- Another disadvantage for the gents: If you’re a charmer, you won’t get to use your gifts here
#5 - Christian Mingle (Android, iOS) is good if you’re looking for Christian singles
Lincoln has a large Christian population, and many of them date for the long term. If that sounds like something you’re interested in, then Christian Mingle is likely right up your alley. Sharing your life with someone of the same faith is important to many people, especially those who want a long-term relationship. So if you want to ensure that religious differences won’t get in the way of your happy ending, this is the app for you.
Why Christian Mingle is great
- If you’re Christian, then it’s likely you’ll find lots of great matches here
- It’s a niche service, meaning you’re more likely to get high-quality matches here
- Popular in Lincoln
What we don't like about it
- You’re better off elsewhere if you’re looking for casual relationships
- Premium service is a tad pricey compared to other apps
The Best Hookup Sites in Lincoln
So, all-in-all, what are the best casual dating sites in Lincoln? Here are two options that we always recommend:
Without a doubt, you can’t go wrong with trying AFF first
AFF has made a name for itself as the hookup app, and it looks like it will stay that way for a while. The site has about 50 million active users around the world, and you’ll find many of them in Lincoln. You do need to do your due diligence—as with every other dating app, you’ll bump into duds and time-wasters here and there.
The best thing about AFF is its free trial—you can test the waters without spending a dime. Check it out, and if you like what you see, go for the premium service and start finding the people, dates, and relationships you want.
If you’re looking for a backup app, then consider giving Match a try
In our experience, Match is like Tinder lite when it comes to the quality and quantity of matches—but still solid enough to warrant a place among the best Lincoln hookup sites. There are much less people on Match, mind you. But we think that’s a good thing since you don’t need to compete with so many other guys vying for the same woman!
The Best Dating Sites in Lincoln
Meanwhile, if a more committed, long-term relationship is what you’re looking for, then stick with the best dating sites/apps in Lincoln:
First and foremost of those would be eHarmony
Some surveys have found that individuals who use eHarmony for a year have a 70% chance of finding their future spouse. And I’m sure all the happy couples eHarmony has matched so far will attest to that.
Still unsure? eHarmony also has a free trial, so go ahead and check it out. Remember—you get what you pay for, so if you like the app, fast-track your way to your happy ending with the premium service.
What’s a good second option to eHarmony? We suggest trying Hinge
In a “big small town” like Lincoln where people know each other, Hinge’s connection with Facebook means you’ll easily meet friends of friends to date. That alone earns it a spot in our top Lincoln dating sites/apps.
The Best Free Dating Sites in Lincoln
Can you find a date in Lincoln without paying anything? The answer is “yes,” but why would you want to? Free dating apps are fine to use, although the tradeoff will be in time and effort instead of money.
In the vast majority of apps we’ve tested, the premium service is always worth it. Unlocking all the features gives you more than enough tools to find the people, dates, and relationships you want.
In the meantime, if that’s a tradeoff you’re willing to make, then we suggest you stick to the best free dating sites in Lincoln:
- OKCupid
- Facebook Dating
- Plenty of Fish
Be sure to try as many apps as you can until you find the one that works for you. When you finally find the app that consistently gets you the results you want, you’ll agree the work was well worth it.
