Online Dating Statistics 2026: Usage, Apps, Safety and Scams
3 in 10 US adults have used a dating site or app, rising to 53% of adults under 30. One in ten partnered adults met their partner online (20% of those under 30). Tinder is the most used app (46% of online daters have used it). But 52% of online daters say they’ve met someone they believed was trying to scam them, and US romance scam losses topped $1.16 billion in just the first nine months of 2025.
How many people use dating apps?
According to the most recent nationally representative survey from Pew Research Center, 30% of US adults have ever used a dating site or app, the same share as in 2019. About 9% used one in the past year. Usage has stopped growing among adults overall, but it remains very high among younger and single adults.
| Group | Ever used a dating site or app |
|---|---|
| All US adults | 30% |
| Never married | 52% |
| Married | 16% |
| Men | 34% |
| Women | 27% |
| Lesbian, gay or bisexual adults | 51% |
| Straight adults | 28% |
Source: Pew Research Center, survey of US adults, published February 2023.
Online dating by age
Age is the biggest divider. More than half of adults under 30 have used dating apps, compared with about one in eight people 65 and older.
Source: Pew Research Center, 2023.
| Age | Ever used | Used Tinder (among online daters) |
|---|---|---|
| 18–29 | 53% | 79% |
| 30–49 | 37% | 44% |
| 50–64 | 20% | 17% |
| 65+ | 13% | 1% |
Older daters choose different apps: 50% of online daters aged 50+ have used Match, compared with just 11% who have used Tinder. That’s why our Match profile search guide and OurTime guide matter if you’re checking on someone over 50.
There were no statistically significant differences in online dating use by race or ethnicity in Pew’s survey.
Which dating apps people use
Among US adults who have ever used online dating, these are the platforms they’ve used:
| App | Share of online daters who’ve used it | Can you search it? |
|---|---|---|
| Tinder | 46% | Yes, by username |
| Match | 31% | Sometimes, via web search |
| Bumble | 28% | No, in-app only |
| OkCupid | ~20% | Sometimes, via web search |
| eHarmony | ~20% | No, in-app only |
| Hinge | ~20% | No, in-app only |
| Grindr | 6% | No, in-app only |
| HER | 3% | No, in-app only |
| Another platform | 31% | See all dating apps |
Source: Pew Research Center. Respondents could choose more than one app.
Business results tell the same story. Match Group, which owns Tinder, Hinge, Match, OkCupid, Plenty of Fish and more, reported in its Q3 2026 results that Hinge delivered double-digit growth in users, revenue and payers, and that Tinder’s daily active users returned to year-over-year growth in September 2026 for the first time in more than three years.
Most people reuse one username everywhere. Check it free
We check Tinder directly and search other dating sites across the web.
How many couples meet online?
- 10% of partnered US adults (married, living together or in a committed relationship) met their partner through a dating site or app.
- That rises to 20% of partnered adults under 30.
- Among partnered lesbian, gay or bisexual adults, it’s 24%.
Online dating has become one of the most common ways for younger couples to meet, which is also why checking that a new match is who they say they are has become a normal step, not a sign of distrust.
How safe do people feel?
- 48% of US adults say online dating is a very or somewhat safe way to meet people, down from 53% in 2019.
- People who have actually used dating apps feel safer: only 32% of users say it’s unsafe, compared with 57% of non-users.
- Older adults are more worried: 62% of those 65+ say it’s not safe.
- 60% of Americans think dating companies should require background checks on members. Only 15% say they shouldn’t.
Dating apps don’t run background checks on most members, so that check is up to you. Our dating app safety tips cover what to verify before a first date.
Online dating scam statistics
- 52% of online daters say they’ve come across someone they believed was trying to scam them. For men under 50 it’s 63%; for women, 44% (Pew).
- US consumers reported more than $1.16 billion in romance scam losses to the FTC in the first nine months of 2025 alone, from 55,604 reports, up 22% from the same period in 2024 (FTC data via Global Dating Insights).
- The median romance scam victim lost $2,218 in Q3 2025.
- The FBI reported $672 million in romance and confidence fraud losses in 2024 (FBI figures).
Our full romance scam statistics guide breaks these numbers down, with the warning signs behind them.
What the numbers mean for you
- Search the usernames first. With nearly half of online daters on Tinder, a free Tinder username search is the fastest first check.
- Match the app to the person. A 55-year-old is far more likely to be on Match or OurTime than Tinder. Pick the right app guide.
- Verify photos. Stolen photos are the core of most fake profiles. Run them through our photo search.
- Treat money requests as a red flag. No matter how real a match feels, a request for money, crypto or gift cards is the clearest scam sign. Try our romance scam check.
FAQ
What percentage of people use dating apps?
30% of US adults have ever used a dating site or app, and 53% of those under 30, according to Pew Research Center.
What is the most used dating app?
Tinder. 46% of US online daters have used it, followed by Match (31%) and Bumble (28%).
How many couples meet online?
10% of partnered US adults met their partner on a dating site or app, and 20% of partnered adults under 30.
How common are dating scams?
52% of online daters say they’ve encountered someone they thought was trying to scam them, and reported romance scam losses passed $1.16 billion in the first nine months of 2025.
Sources
- Pew Research Center, “Key findings about online dating in the U.S.”, 2023.
- Federal Trade Commission Consumer Sentinel data, reported by Global Dating Insights, February 2026.
- FBI romance scam figures for 2024, reported by Fox 47 News.
- Match Group, Q3 2026 results release, November 2026.