The best apps for Jewish dating, according to our audience

In the digital age, swiping for love is as common — if not more common — as striking up a conversation at a coffee shop or bar.

Online dating and dating apps are one of the most popular ways to meet your partner. In the U.S., over 60 million people report being on a dating app, according to a recent Statista study. Meanwhile, Pew found that over 40% of people say apps have made dating easier for them.

But if you’re Jewish and seeking a partner who shares your background, finding love on dating apps can be significantly harder. Your dating pool inevitably shrinks, and fewer options mean fewer opportunities to meet someone you connect with. (Read more about Jewish matchmaking on Facebook.)

Plus, with so many dating apps out there, it can feel overwhelming to figure out which one is right for you. So, how can you best navigate the world of digital romance? We asked our readers to rank 10 go-to apps to determine which are best for Jewish dating.

The categories

We simplified the apps by sorting them into a few categories: 

• The classics
• The Jewish classics
• Invite-only and 
• Non-casual (for those looking for something exclusively serious).

Then, we turned to our Instagram followers — mostly under-35s from North America — to see which apps are scoring you the dates you’d want to bring home to Friday night dinner. 

The apps are listed below in the order of how they ranked within each category. They are all available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Most of them have safety measures like photo verification to avoid catfishing, but always remember to be vigilant and practice safe online dating habits.

Remember, all these apps are slightly different, so if one app doesn’t work out, there’s always another one to try. But we hope these findings reduce your dating fatigue by allowing you to focus on the apps that give you the best ROI on your time and energy. Now, let’s unpack the best dating apps to find a match that even Bubbe would approve of.

Read more: The difference between Valentine’s Day and Tu B’Av, explained

The classics

And now for the winner of our poll (drumroll, please). The best app for Jewish dating according to our Instagram audience is…

Hinge

• Free limited membership
• Top ranked by our Instagram audience
• 5.5 million users worldwide
• Allows setting preferences for age, distance, religion, etc.

Hinge markets itself as the dating app “designed to be deleted.” Its goal is to help users find meaningful relationships so they can ditch the endless swiping. Hinge profiles encourage you to show off your personality with prompts and questions, making it easier to spark real connections right off the bat. You can even include a voice note on your profile.

The app lets you set preferences like age, distance and religion, so you can tailor the search for potential matches according to your own criteria. Hinge offers a free version with basic features and the option for a paid upgrade, which provides additional functionalities like extra “likes”.

Even though it’s not a Jewish dating app, our Insta audience ranked it the highest — which means Hinge must be doing something right within the Jewish dating scene.

Bumble

• Free limited membership
• Women make the first move
• 22 million users worldwide
• Paid membership allows setting preferences for religion

Bumble distinguishes itself by empowering women to make the first move and promoting a dating scene that fosters respect and equality. Once a match is made, women have 24 hours to initiate a conversation. Unlike Hinge where users “like” potential matches’ profiles, Bumble is a swipe-based app.

The app offers both free and paid membership options, but you can only filter for religious identity with the paid membership.

Bumble stands out by emphasizing equality, respect and safety. Its unique approach of having women initiate conversation is meant to set an equal tone from the start and disrupt traditional dating norms. If you’re looking for a partner who resonates with these values, and are willing to pay a little extra to filter for Jewish identity, Bumble might be the app for you!

Tinder

• Free limited membership
• Casual dating
• Over 50 million users worldwide

Tinder is the OG online dating app with its signature “Swipe Right” feature. Users swipe right to “like” or left to pass on other users’ profiles, which usually include photos, a short bio, and shared interests. When two users swipe right on each other, they match and can start chatting.

Tinder allows users to set preferences for age, distance, and other basic criteria, but their algorithm doesn’t factor in religion or ethnicity when making matches. Tinder offers various membership levels, including free and paid options.

If you’re looking for something more serious and want to be able to filter for Jewish matches, Tinder probably isn’t the best app for you.

Let’s now uncover the best dating apps specifically for Jewish singles.

The Jewish classics

JSwipe 

• Free limited membership
• 1 million users worldwide
• Jewish-specific features like lifestyle, denomination and dietary habits

True to its name, JSwipe is a swipe-based app where users swipe right to “like” or left to “pass” on other users’ profiles. Nicknamed the “Jewish Tinder” for its similarities to the original dating app, when two users swipe right on each other, they match and can start chatting. Matches and conversations expire after a period of time, which incentivizes taking action to chat.

Similar to mainstream dating apps, users can set distance and demographic preferences, but JSwipe also includes Jewish-specific preferences, like indicating kosher dietary habits and denominational affiliation. 

JSwipe offers a free version with basic features and a premium paid membership with additional features like increased swipes and the ability to see who has liked your profile. 

Although the app is available in more than 70 countries, some have pointed out that the majority of users are in cities with large Jewish populations, like Los Angeles, New York and Tel Aviv, so it might not be a good option for those living in smaller cities.

JDate 

• Free limited membership
• Jewish-specific features like lifestyle, denomination and dietary habits
• Available online, in addition to mobile

JDate is a Jewish dating website and app with the goal of creating meaningful connections. It’s known as the “modern shidduch,” working to pair singles based on shared values and lifestyles.

The platform allows users to filter for specific geographic and location preferences, as well as Jewish denomination. JDate apparently manually reviews profiles and photos submitted by members to avoid catfishing. The app offers basic free membership, but the premium paid option is recommended for discoverability. 

While the app works well functionally, it’s not as popular among under-25s, possibly due to its cost and reportedly small pool of matches.

If you’re willing to pay for a premium membership, looking for something a bit more serious and an app that lets you filter for Jewish lifestyle preferences, JDate might be for you!

Invite-only

Lox Club

• Paid membership model
• Application process ensures every member meets the app’s “high standards”
• Includes access to a live matchmaker for personalized advice
• Hosts IRL events

Lox Club positions itself as “a members club for Jew-ish people with ridiculously high standards.” Dubbed the “Jewish Raya” by Vogue, Lox Club has a rigorous application process where each member has to be approved by the app’s selection committee. 

Unlike other apps, Lox Club addresses the issue of dating fatigue by limiting the number of profiles shown each day. Instead of allowing unlimited swipes, it presents only a handful of specially curated profiles each day to focus on quality connections. 

Users get around 10 new potential matches every six hours, and with limited likes, each one is meant to be thoughtful and meaningful. The app also offers access to a live chat with a matchmaker who can give advice on getting more matches or improving your profile.

Lox Club doesn’t have an option for filtering by location, and memberships run on a paid-only model.

Beyond the app, Lox Club not only stands out for its personalized approach and creative branding, but they also host events IRL, giving members a chance to find their person on and off the app.

If you’re willing to pay for membership, looking for a cool, “culturally Jewish” app with “high standards” and the potential for IRL events, you might want to give LoxClub a shot!

Raya

• Paid membership model
• Exclusive app rumored to feature celebrity profiles
• Rigorous application process which often requires a referral from a current member
• Strict privacy guidelines

Raya, named after the Hebrew word for “friend,” is an exclusive, membership-based dating app. It markets itself as connecting cool people and providing opportunities across the globe for dating, networking and friendships. 

Raya is rumored to host celebrity profiles, which adds to its allure for facilitating connections with high-profile individuals. The app is all about who you know with an application process that involves a referral from an existing member and approval by an anonymous committee. 

Because of its high-profile clientele, Raya enforces strict privacy guidelines. Take a screenshot of a profile and you’ll immediately receive a warning that any online leak could lead to your removal from the app. Essentially, any breach of Raya’s confidentiality could result in being kicked off the platform.

Raya limits your swipes to only around 25 profiles at a time, making every connection count. Despite its exclusive nature, the app doesn’t offer much in terms of detailed profile filtering, like sorting by language or religion.

Memberships run on a paid-only model — which is probably what keeps Raya, well, Raya — exclusive, professional, and a little bit mysterious.

If you’re willing to pay for membership, value privacy, and want the chance to get connected with the creative elite, Raya might be the app for you.

The League

• Free limited membership
• Private and application-based
• Career-oriented
• Allows filtering for demographic preferences

The League caters to people who are “picky, busy, and don’t like wasting time.” The app stands out by allowing users to connect their LinkedIn profiles, giving it a career-oriented edge. The League also has an exclusive application process meant to cultivate a community of ambitious, career-driven individuals. All members are manually verified to ensure a safe and genuine dating environment.

The League boasts a unique matching algorithm, prioritized by the likelihood of a meaningful conversation. Like Lox Club, The League focuses on quality over quantity, offering users five daily matches rather than unlimited swipes. But on this app, users can set detailed preferences for potential matches.

A free guest account gets you access to the basics of the app, while a paid subscription lets you really dive into matching with others.

If you want an app that lets you filter for Jewish-only singles, don’t have a ton of time to spend swiping, and looking for a partner who is also career-oriented, The League is probably worth a download!

Non-casual

Coffee Meets Bagel

• Free limited membership
• 91% of users are seeking serious commitments
• Encourages deeper connections with detailed profiles

Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) is designed for “serious daters,” focusing on creating real and meaningful connections and distinguishing itself from the more casual nature of swipe-based apps. CMB boasts over 91% of its daters looking for committed relationships. 

Like some of the other apps we’ve mentioned, CMB champions a “less is more” philosophy. They select a few matches for you per day tailored to your personal preferences and shared interests. Women receive six curated “Bagels” or matches a day, while men receive up to 21 potential matches.

Their system is meant to reduce decision paralysis and encourage more thoughtful engagement. CMB also encourages users to create detailed profiles and share about their values, cultural and religious affiliations. CMB offers a free limited membership as well as premium paid membership options with additional features.

If you’re looking for something serious and want an app that does some of the decision-making for you, Coffee Meets Bagel could be a good fit.

Loop: The Set Up Network 

• Free membership
• Mutual-friend based matchmaking model
• Unique approach gives the app a sense of familiarity and trust

Loop is reinventing the online dating scene by tapping into the age-old Jewish tradition of matchmaking. Users create a standard profile, but rather than swiping through an endless array of strangers, they build a “loop” by linking up with contacts on the app. This grants them access to their contacts’ “loops,” essentially the friends of their friends. 

When you spot someone you might be interested in, you can ask a mutual friend to introduce you, setting the stage for a more meaningful connection based on trust and familiarity.

Unlike other dating apps, singles aren’t the only ones who participate. Since Loop relies on set-ups, people in relationships can also create profiles and engage. Friends and family, regardless of their relationship status, can join the app and play matchmaker. The matched-up singles both need to accept the match in order for the conversation to move forward.

Loop launched in the summer of 2023 and already had 10,000 members on the waitlist. As of right now, membership is free.

If you’re in a smaller city, the Loop system might be a bit more challenging since the pool of potential matches could be significantly smaller. Plus, you need to get your friends and family on board. But if you like the (very Jewish) idea of being set up by mutual connections, this new app is definitely worth a try.

What’s your favorite app for Jewish dating and what do you think of our poll results? Tell us on Instagram!