College Hookup Apps: Can you find love in 2023

Best dating apps for college Students

If you are a college student looking for hookup sites, here are some you can try:

1. Match.com: best app to find romance
2. Tinder: ideal for local hookups
3. Zoosk: best site to find casual sex
4. eHarmony: Perfect site for meeting well-established partners
5. OkCupid: Best app for all orientations
6. Friendsy: best site to meet college students
7. Plenty of Fish: Best free app
8. Bumble: best app for women
9. Grindr: Ideal for gay dating
10. Elite Singles: perfect site for mature hookups
11. Hater: perfect app for finding hookups with similar dislikes

Let’s look at each of the apps in detail!

Match.com

Best for finding real-life hookups for Android and iOS

Pros

• Find matches based on compatibility
• Reputable site for lasting relationships
• Attend Match.com events to meet other members.

Cons

• You cannot send messages to hookups as a free member.

Overview

If you are looking for a free dating site for college students, you should try Match.com. It is one of the reputable dating apps you can find in the dating space. In addition, the app has an appealing matchmaking algorithm that pairs people with similar goals.

One of the remarkable things about Match.com is that the chances of finding a life partner on the app are high. This is mainly because of how the app’s roulette works; you will only see potential suggestions of users matching your compatibility. You will notice the matches that appear in your suggestions match your personality, preferences, and dating interests.

The site also has more interesting features like Discovery that allows you to find hookups using filters like interests, age, and username. If you are looking for single college girls, it will help use this feature.

The Top Picks feature also has a list of matches you can choose from and find hookups. Alternatively, you can find matches using the reverse matching function; this tool has several matches that match neither your preferences nor compatibility.

While creating a profile, browsing through profiles, and viewing photos don’t cost you anything, sending messages isn’t free. A monthly subscription will cost you $22.99.

Tinder

Best for finding local hookups for Android and iOS

Pros

• Find potential partners within your location.
• Diverse and active members globally
• User-friendly app

Cons

• Profiles are shallow –matches are based on photos
• Lack of profile verification creates room for predators.

Overview

You’ve probably heard of Tinder –it is one of the popular dating sites that guarantees local dates. Tinder is renowned for the swiping feature –swipe right if you like someone and left if you think otherwise. Though you can swipe right on a profile, the recipient should also swipe right for you to become a match.

The app hooks up members within the same location by displaying profiles within your proximity –you can click on a profile to see how far away you are from each other. Tinder has an active community of users in their mid-twenties.

After signing up, you will view profiles and swipe either right (show interest) or left (disinterest). In addition, the app has a Tinder U function that allows you to connect with other university students -you will meet Tinder in college hookups using this function. Interestingly, ladies have higher chances of finding matches.

Tinder doesn’t have any restrictions on different orientations –you could as well find LGBTQ singles. In addition, you can find hookups, relationships, and friendships on the app. Viewing profiles is free, but you will need premium subscriptions to send and receive messages. Gold membership will cost you at least $29.99 if you are under 28.

Zoosk

Best for finding casual college sex for Android and iOS

Pros

• Plenty of active users
• Profile verification is available for VIP members.
• LGBTQ friendly site

Cons

• Some users might have difficulties navigating the app.
• The customer support is unresponsive.
• Understanding the pricing policy is challenging.

Overview

Zoosk is one of the best apps you could use if you intend to meet someone special for casual dates. The app is renowned for attracting young adults, and mainly Generation Z. This can be explained by the social savvy app that seems friendly to such users.

Most of the members are aged 24 to 35 and have an almost female to a male equal ratio of 49% and 51%, respectively. Zoosk is one of the college dating apps you can try if you are looking for an active community to connect with.

You will view profiles and click yes if you find them interesting. The app uses behavioral matchmaking to connect its users –you will view match suggestions based on your activity on the app. Free members can only view profiles but upgrade to Zoosk’s VIP membership to send messages and use the site’s features.

eHarmony

Best for finding love for Android and iOS

Pros

• Excellent matchmaking
• Equal male to female ratio
• Focuses on lasting relationships

Cons

• eHarmony doesn’t have a search function if you want to find personalized matches.
• Pricey memberships –you cannot use eHarmony as a free user.

Overview

If you are not into hookups and casual flings but are looking for lasting relationships, you would benefit from eHarmony. The app gears toward pairing people for serious commitments. eHarmony is a unique dating app that caters to a community that has an established lifestyle.

Creating a profile requires more time because it entails a lengthy process. But this process is what makes eHarmony unique in the dating space, making it the best dating app for college graduates.

OkCupid

Best for finding love at no cost for Android

Pros

• You can use OkCupid without premium memberships.
• Perfect matchmaking based on personality and physical attributes.
• Find casual dates and lasting relationships.
• Plenty of users are on OkCupid
• Pocket-friendly premium memberships

Cons

• Lengthy registration process
• Fake and inactive profiles might be a bother.

Overview

If you are looking for free college hookup apps, then OkCupid should be a must-try website. OkCupid is a global dating app with most of its members located in the United States. 65% of the members are men –women looking for straight relationships have higher chances.

Most of the users are in their mid-twenties, creating room for college students to hook up. OkCupid features on college hookup websites are because it is free to use (though you can pay few perks to utilize the site fully) and inclusion of all orientations. Your profile plays a significant role in finding hookups; take time and fill it comprehensively.

Friendsy

Best for finding college students for Android and iOS

Pros

• Free to use the app
• Excellent search tool
• Plenty of active college students

Cons

• All the app’s users are students

Overview

Friendsy is one of the free college hookup websites you can use to meet a local college girl or boy. The male to female ratio is even with most of them from campuses in the United States.

If you are looking for fun encounters, Friendsy should be a must-try app. You must have a valid .edu email to sign up and use the app. Friendsy uses the Tinder-like swipe feature –swiping right introduces three prompts; date, hookup, and friends. You can decide which of the three actions you want and become a match.

Plenty of Fish

Best for finding compatible matches for Android and iOS

Pros

• Matchmaking is subject to compatibility
• Plenty of users looking for all sorts of arrangements.

Cons

• Scammers, fake profiles, and spammers are inevitable.

Overview

If you want to connect with single college girls and send unlimited messages, Plenty of Fish is the website to try. What makes Plenty of Fish unique is that matches are based on chemistry, compatibility, and preferences. Though POF is free, you might consider upgrading to see who likes you.

Bumble

Best for finding women who initiate conversations

Pros

• Women make the first move
• You have three options when using Bumble; make friends, date, or create business networks.

Cons

• Men cannot send the first message.
• Matches elapse after 24 hours.

Overview

Bumble would be an excellent college girl hookup app because it empowers women to make the first move. Men who don’t mind women being in charge of dating will find this app appealing for local university girls. Most of Bumble’s users are aged below 33 –you will find hookups and long-term commitments on this app.

Grindr

Best for finding gay relationships for Android and iOS

Pros

• Plenty of users globally
• Find local, instant, and casual hookups
• Anonymous browsing

Cons

• Glitchy app

Overview

In 2009, the Grindr app was introduced in the dating industry for queer men. Since Grindr caters to GBTQ men, it stands out as one of the best college gay apps. The good thing about Grindr is that you will find local hookups, making it easier to meet college students in your location.

Elite Singles

Best for finding mature and educated hookups for Android and iOS

Pros

• Excellent community of adults
• Premium members access more benefits like 20 daily matches

Cons

• Costly

Overview

Elite Singles is your go-to college hookup app only that it caters to college graduates –most of the members have college degrees. The app will be perfect if you intend to hook up with members who recently graduated. You can find both hookups and long-term relationships on the app. Though the Elite Singles dating app is free, sending messages is not free.

Hater

Best for finding hookups with similar dislikes for Android and iOS

Pros

• Free to use the app
• Matches are based on things you both hate
• No ads

Cons

• Shallow profiles

Overview

What if you had an opportunity to hook up with a fellow college student who hates the same things you do! Chances are, you will strive to perfect your relationship. Well, Hater.com should be your go-to app as it pairs its users based on what they don’t like.

Most of the members are aged below 30, making it one of the best college hookup apps. You can use the app for fun, date, or even make friends. The app has games, hates, and likes, and icebreakers sections to help users make the most out of it. Registration is straightforward; you need credible photos before you can use Hater.com.

Conclusion

Studying doesn’t have to be demanding and draining if you can socialize with friends and date. Thanks to college hookup apps, college students have a unique platform to make friends, date, or have casual encounters with other university students.

FAQ

Can I use Tinder as a teenager?

Sadly, no! Initially, teenagers under 18 could access Tinder because the app had two different communities for users in the 13-17 and those above 18. However, this is no longer the case following claims that adults and other malicious members would use Tinder to predate innocent minors. Nonetheless, teenagers can resort to trying Yellow, an app that specifically uses Tinder’s swiping feature when viewing profiles -the app has Tinder’s functionality, particularly in finding local friends through swiping. There are also other dating apps for teens you can try if you want to find friends.

How many college students use Dating apps?

Though you’d expect college students to stick to traditional dating, the use of dating apps is a common trend. This trend is increasingly popular following the global social distancing rule where people are discouraged from social gatherings to reduce the chances of contracting the coronavirus. As a result, at least 91% of college students use dating apps to find love, make friends and have real-life encounters.

Can you date in College?

Yes! While college life can be demanding, you shouldn’t deny yourself the chance to find love through dating. Some days would be hectic and would demand most of your time. However, this doesn’t mean you shut your doors to love and dating. If you haven’t successfully found a soul mate but are still in the university, you can try college hookup apps –plenty of students use such sites to find love.