How To Make A Dating App: Features, Monetization, Cost

Before you start creating a dating app from scratch, it's vital to learn more about overall online dating market picture. Research the most well-known apps on the market, discover their features user ratings.

Once market research is done, you’ll see that these apps are very popular since the number of downloads and testimonials can show you.

Let’s examine the up-to-date facts about the most popular dating apps:

• In 2023, Tinder reached $1.91 billion revenue mark
• Hinge has over 23 million monthly active users
• Bumble has reported a nearly 95% retention rate among female users

According to Pewresearch report, only in the U.S. do 3 in 10 people use dating apps, and over 40% of users have committed that online dating makes dating much easier. This strongly states the huge popularity of digital dating and its potential in terms of creating your own dating app alternative.

But how can we create a dating app like Tinder or Bumble that will be this popular? We’ll say that 50% of the jobs are already done since dating apps have undisputed benefits that make them popular among other apps.

Why do so many people turn to finding a significant other through dating applications? Let’s briefly overview key benefits such apps bring to users:

Speed and efficiency

It would be folly to deny that apps are much faster than regular websites. Besides that, dating apps allow users to get quick access to their accounts when they hit the road, for example. With the help of a dating app, users can simply look for a soulmate wherever they are at the moment. Life has become more flexible, and people can build relationships on the go.

Accessability

Some people literally live at their work. They want to build new relationships, and they want to love and be loved, but they simply have no time to visit different places to meet somebody. That is where the dating app comes in. It helps such people always find some time to meet an interesting person. The same concerns introverts - people who don't have good communication skills. An app can help them fight with this personal fault and find a good interlocutor.

Local matches

The majority of dating apps offer users a geolocation feature that makes it possible to find a person nearby. This means that the user will not only meet somebody but also have a new friend who can live at a distance of 1 km from him or her. It is a really impressive thing.

No unwanted connections

Not every person wants to receive thousands of messages from strangers, and modern dating apps have a small feature in their arsenal. As a rule, in almost all dating apps, it is possible to start chatting only when users put likes to each other. It means that when you like photos of a man/woman, they need to like you back. So you have a feeling of fellowship, and you need to go on.

Variety

Due to online dating, it is possible to meet somebody you didn't even expect to meet in real life. People of various professions from different regions register in the dating app, and all of them have a wide choice of potential soulmates for this service.

To help you find the most appropriate approach to successful dating app development, here is a 7-step roadmap that may come in handy:

Before creating a dating app from scratch, it’s very important to define the exact niche your mobile dating app will target – professionals, niche hobbies, etc. A clear focus sets you apart from the competition and helps you choose key functionalities that resonate with your audience’s needs.

Consider these factors to decide on your dating app target audience:

• Demographics
• Interests and preferences
• Relationship types
• Behavioral patterns
• Key pain points

The choice of a tech partner is the most critical decision in dating app development process. A skilled tech partner possesses solid expertise in mobile app development services. Moreover, they will ensure your app is built with the capacity to handle large user bases and future updates.

Besides, a skilled IT partner will significantly simplify the process of selecting the right functionality set and will assist you in dealing with different tech hurdles like the app’s infrastructure creation. Such partnership can streamline the process of online dating app development and ultimately deliver an app that’s functional, secure, reliable, and scalable, ensuring you launch on time and on point.

Your mobile dating app development vendor will help you decide on an essential feature set for your dating solution. At this stage, your development team prioritizes key functionalities for developing a basic dating app version, including user profiles, matching algorithms, messaging, location services, etc. Besides, you can discuss implementing more advanced features like video chat or AI match suggestions with your vendor to enhance user engagement and differentiation.

IT experts can guide you on the feasibility, cost, and technical requirements of such dating app features, ensuring they align with your overall goals and budget.

Due to the sensitive nature of dating applications' main purpose, security is definitely a top concern for users. To address your users' needs for superior data security, it’s critical to implement strong safety measures like user verification, encryption, and transparent privacy settings. Along with your tech partner, you can integrate such security elements into your dating app’s core architecture from the start rather than as an afterthought.

At Cleveroad we implement the following list of security measures during dating app creation:

• Data encryption
• GDPR compliance
• Role-based access control
• End-to-end encrypting messaging
• Regular security audits
• Automatic account suspension for suspicious activity, etc.

Your dating app’s appearance is the first thing that forms an impression. During this stage, UI/UX designers create intuitive, visually appealing, and engaging interfaces that are also easy to navigate. UI/UX designers make a comprehensive layout that will guide users through the app naturally and without interruptions due to technical inconveniences.

As your dating app grows, so will the number of users. That’s why a scalable infrastructure is an important aspect of dating app development that is essential to support growth without compromising solutions’ performance. An experienced tech vendor with use cases in dating app creation will build your dating app with scalability in mind, using cloud services and architecture that can expand accordingly to your needs.

After your dating app is developed, the team works on ensuring its reliability and quality through running stress tests, conducting user feedback loops, making bug fixes, etc. This makes it possible to prepare the dating app for final launch.

Then, your vendor typically provides ongoing support, implements updates, fixes bugs, monitors performance, enhances security measures, scales the infrastructure, and adds new features based on user feedback and evolving business needs.

Dating apps belong to a 'family' of social apps; that's why special attention is normally paid to supporting human interaction and meeting user's particular needs. Certainly, there are no two identical dating apps: each existing app (Tinder, OkCupid, Bumble, Grindr, just to name a few) has a specific set of features and concepts that ensure the needed result.

Nevertheless, we can sort out a few things that you can't pass around if you want to build a dating app.

The first interaction with an app is like the first date of great importance. So, it's always a good idea to introduce your app's functionality to the user. Top existing dating apps do not neglect the power of first impressions and have a little onboarding stage, which points users to interesting functionality and explains how the app works. You also shouldn't. Something like a sliding tutorial will make the user fall in love with your app at first sight and tell them how to use its features.

It’s impossible to start a dating app without these algorithms. Matching and its correctness is a cornerstone of every dating app. The better the algorithms, the higher the chance that the user will stay with your app. After inputting valuable information about themselves, dating app users are ready to get down to business and do what they are supposed to do: find Mr. or Mrs. Right. The first step in this fairly delicate process is matching users. Dating apps may use a wide variety of matching techniques to match up partners who like each other. Let's explore some of them.

It’s a brilliant time to create a dating app as the industry is only starting to immerse into tech-savvy development tendencies.

Below, let’s unpack 3 most engaging dating application development trends to look for in 2024:

Artificial Intelligence or AI, has now penetrated into the technical industry, and dating is definitely not an exception. According to Skimai, over 54% of dating app users prefer the assistance of AI algorithms when finding matches, which proves an enormous demand for this technology.

AI is transforming dating apps by personalizing matchmaking based on user behavior, preferences, and past interactions, creating a high-quality and personalized dating experience. These algorithms analyze vast amounts of data to provide smarter, more compatible matches that is beyond basic filters like age and location. AI basically can even predict potential relationship success by learning from user interactions, creating a more customized experience that improves over time.

For example, Tinder has already successfully integrated AI algorithms into its app. Their algorithm assesses user behavior, preferences, and interactions to enhance match recommendations. It considers factors such as swiping patterns, mutual likes, and overall user activity, refining its suggestions to offer more relevant matches as time goes on.

To add more entertainment and engagement to a search for a significant other, dating platforms implement gamification elements. By incorporating interactive elements like quizzes, challenges, or icebreaker games, you can make your dating app more fun and memorable for users. This helps users connect more naturally, encouraging interaction and reducing awkwardness in initial conversations.

Gamification also increases user retention by creating a sense of achievement and progress, turning the dating process into an enjoyable, dynamic experience rather than a chore.

Video-based features allow users to connect through video chats before meeting in person. This trend offers a safer and more intimate way to interact. Virtual dates, live video streaming, and video profiles let your dating app users achieve a more authentic experience. It allows users to assess chemistry early on, reducing the pressure of in-person meetings.

Nowadays, almost every dating app is free to cover a larger audience. We have already discussed a few times that there is no need to make your app pay to generate revenue. A number of widely accepted monetization methods are at the service of savvy app creators.

So you need to pick monetization strategies before you start dating app development. To make you aware of them, we’ve made a short list of ways how you can monetize your app:

The majority of dating apps offer free services to anyone, but some of them use premium app versions as well. So you should think about this option to gain a good profit.

The premium app can offer a few additional features like the following:

• Boost the account. Users can pay a fixed fee and become the first one in the search list for an indicated period of time. Everything is fair. The most popular apps on the market that use this monetization feature are Tinder, Bumble, and OkCupid.
• Smart swipe. Integrated machine learning algorithms change the way users see your photos. The order of the photos can be changed depending on the interests of the user who browses them. It gives more chances for a candidate.
• Unlimited right swipes. In a free app, the number of daily right swipes can be limited, so people can use a premium app that will give them an unlimited number of right swipes. You can monetize your app this way, as many famous apps like Bumble and Tinder did.
• Ad-free. Premium apps will be ad-free, and users will not see any advertising content that may irritate them. OkCupid, HER, and Grindr use this monetization strategy.
• Gifts. This feature is for those who are looking for love - that is why users should have an opportunity to send gifts to each other, like flowers, kisses, greetings, and so on. It may be offered for a fixed fee. Users can send gifts to their matches in apps like Dating.com, Meet24, and Grindr.

The way of monetization for 90% of apps. In general, nearly 64% of ads spendings are invested in mobile advertising. This definitely proves the effectiveness of this approach.

Integrate different advertising options into your app, such as banner ads, native ads, or sponsored content, but ensure they are strategically placed and unobtrusive. Try not to overwhelm users with too many ads, as this could lead to frustration, driving them to seek more convenient alternatives.

A well-balanced ad strategy might include promoting local businesses or events relevant to your user base, offering value without disrupting the user experience. Additionally, you can monetize your dating app through partnerships with lifestyle brands or dating-related services, introducing premium or targeted ads that align with user interests, making them feel more organic and engaging.

Although you want to create your future dating app to be a unique product that will not be similar to any existing apps, there is a range of features that should be integrated to make sure it meets the standards of an online dating site or app. You need to create a product that functions correctly.

A dating app requires careful planning and attention to detail, so pay attention to these features that will be listed below to see how to build a dating app like the successful ones on the market.

Long registration processes already seem like a prehistoric fact that cannot survive today. So, the sign-in feature is a first must-have feature. Let users register using their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn account and start looking for a soulmate. Moreover, social sign-in gives users an opportunity to share your service in social media.

Each user should have his/her own profile, which will indicate his/her interests and hobbies. As a rule, all main information is extracted from social networks so users don't need to spend their time on it. Users can read each other's profiles to understand better what an individual likes or dislikes.

Due to this feature, it will be possible for people to choose the region where they want to find a soulmate and even choose nearby locations. It is unlikely that users from different parts of the country will ever meet, so this feature must be included in your app.

Without this feature, there’s no dating app development at all. Modern technologies allow developers to integrate AI-based algorithms to activate smarter matches, including all hobbies, location, age, etc. Searching for perfect soulmates becomes more convenient and flexible, so users will quickly see potential candidates they can try to meet.

How is it possible to communicate with each other without the chatting system? When users have a match, they can start chatting and get to know each other better. Also, it is possible to add stickers and GIFs optionally to make messages more vivid.

Users will see important reminders from the app as well as notifications about matches when they are not in the app. So users will not waste time and can switch to chatting with their potential soulmate.

If you build a dating app with the foresight to the traditional matching model, then a swiping feature is necessary. When you browse photos of women/men, swiping to the right side means you like a person, and swiping to the left means you skip this photo. Everything is simple.

Settings include main features like selecting by categories, turning sound on or off, customizing various filters, adjusting notification preferences, setting privacy controls, managing account details, and choosing language options. These settings allow users to personalize their experience, ensuring a more tailored and user-friendly interaction with the app's features, ultimately enhancing overall satisfaction.

You should have your personal admin panel that you can access using a common PC or any other secure device. Through this panel, you will be able to block users, address and resolve any key issues that may arise, monitor user activity, and maintain total control over the platform's functionality and security. Additionally, the admin panel can be customized to include analytics tools, allowing you to track app performance and trends, giving you complete oversight of the app’s operations.

When you create your own dating app, data security is essential. Users entrust you their personal data, and you must keep it safe from malware and hackers’ hands. That’s why it’s vital to know how to become PCI-compliant and align with GDPR or ISO 27001, among many others.

Once you create the Minimal Viable product (MVP) version of your dating application and raise the first stable audience, it’s time to think about implementing new features that can broaden functionality horizons and bring a new user experience.

Chatbots are everywhere, and their main purpose is to help people. In the world of dating apps, chatbots are the real icebreakers. They can help pick the first line for conversation with a match. A chatbot can notify you that a conversation has been left unanswered or a new message has arrived.

It’s always good to know that the person you’re chatting with is real. Many famous dating apps have verification features that require sending separate photos to moderators that tell you what should be on the photo to verify your identity.

Why restrict conversation ways? Once matches get to know each other well, they can arrange a video call session to chat in person. Besides that, it’s a really great feature for far-away matches that can’t meet up in real life.

To make a dating app, you’ll need to assess tools to facilitate your app’s scalability and performance.

Here’s an example of tech stack Cleveroad specialists use for dating app development:

Mobile dating app:

• iOS: Swift, Xcode, UIKit, Core Data
• Android: Kotlin, Android Studio, Jetpack, Room

Cross-platform dating app (Android and iOS):

• Frameworks: React Native, Flutter, Xamarin
• Languages: Dart (Flutter), JavaScript/TypeScript (React Native)

Web dating app:

• Frontend: React, Vue.js, Angular
• Backend: Node.js, Express.js, Django, Ruby on Rails
• Database: PostgreSQL, MySQL

Third-party services:

• Authentication: OAuth, Firebase Authentication
• Payment Gateway: Stripe, PayPal, Braintree
• Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM), OneSignal
• Analytics: Google Analytics, Mixpanel
• Geolocation: Google Maps API, Mapbox

Cloud storage:

• Platforms: AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage, Microsoft Azure
• Databases: Firebase Realtime Database, AWS DynamoDB, MongoDB Atlas

Note: This tech stack is approximate and may differ depending on your unique dating app requirements, needs and overall scale.

Of course, you probably want to know how much money you will need to invest in the development of your dating app. This section will highlight everything concerning the price.

We’ll take iOS and Android versions of the dating app for our approximate estimate and include each MVP feature development time and Backend work. As for platform type, there is almost no difference in iOS and Android app cost.

So, first, we will show you the time required to develop each basic feature for mobile platform.

Considering the average European hourly rate of $50, we can calculate that the development cost of the dating app for the two platforms will be $60,000 - $200,000+. However, it is an approximate dating app development cost since development time always includes DevOps, QA, Team Lead, designer services, release sequence, and so on.

Feel free to contact us to receive a quick and transparent estimate of your dating app development.

Cleveroad is an experienced social media app development company with over 12 years of experience in the IT market. We create a wide range of social media projects, dating solutions, and other custom-made software to boost businesses of different scales and enhance their internal pipelines.

Cleveroad in numbers:

• 12 + years on the market
• 280 + in-house engineers
• 75% of our development team are senior and middle-level
• 250+ successful projects
• 8+ expertise industries

What benefits will you receive from your cooperation with us?

• All-around IT assistance. We offer full-cycle development, as well as software services such as Discovery phase, Design, QA, DevOps, CTO-as-a-Service, etc. We also provide post-release support, maintenance, marketing, and promotion for our clients.
• Confidential cooperation. In case it's required, we can also sign an NDA agreement to ensure all project data is robustly safeguarded and you won’t face intellectual property safety risks.
• Certified partnership. Cleveroad is certified with ISO 9001:2015 (quality management) and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 (security management), which ensures the integrity and quality of our software development approach.
• Transparent pricing. We are focused on the client’s needs and find ways to optimize the project budget. We calculate costs transparently and flexibly, and they are always reasonable. Our sales managers will make a rough estimation of your project for free.
• Flexible cooperation models. You can choose to hire a dedicated development team or utilize IT staff augmentation services to access necessary expertise depending on your project scale, timeline, and budget requirements.

To prove our expertise in dating app development, we’d like to present you with one of our success stories – a social network for dating Greenlight

Our US-based client contacted us to develop a unique dating app tailored to the US market, aiming to outperform competitors like Tinder. The app's core concept was based on a "traffic light" system, allowing users to indicate interest with a Green (Superlike), Yellow (Like), or Red (Dislike) light.

Our team successfully met challenges such as adhering to a tight deadline and ensuring compliance with stringent data protection regulations. We crafted a high-performance, bug-free app and developed comprehensive Terms of Use and Privacy Policies to safeguard user data.

As a result, we delivered an app that enables dynamic user matching based on mutual Green or Yellow lights, prioritizes Green matches, and features an advanced chat system with message read receipts, photo sharing, and deletion. Additionally, the app fosters engagement through daily questions, providing an interactive user experience aligned with the client's business objectives.

Here's a feedback from our client about cooperation on on dating application development: