Swiping has become as normal in Australia as checking the weather app. Dating apps in Australia now sit at the centre of how millions of singles meet, chat, and decide who is worth a first date. This article looks at how many Australians actually use these apps, which platforms dominate, what people are searching for once they open them, and the safety risks that come along with the convenience.
How Many Australians Are Actually Using Dating Apps
Mobile dating is no longer a niche activity in Australia. It has become a mainstream part of single life across every major city.
According to Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, more than three million Australians use dating apps or dating websites while hoping to find a partner. That scale explains why the sector attracts so much attention from both marketers and regulators.
A YouGov survey conducted in January 2024, based on a national sample of 1,029 Australian residents, gives a clearer picture of who uses what. Among Australians who have used a dating app before:
- 64 percent have used Tinder, making it by far the most popular choice.
- 33 percent have used Bumble.
- 21 percent have used Hinge.
- 20 percent have used eHarmony.
Most Australians do not stick to a single app. Many move between two or three platforms depending on what kind of connection they are chasing at the time.
The Apps Australians Actually Use
Each major dating app in Australia has built a distinct reputation, and daters tend to pick platforms based on the kind of relationship they want.
- Tinder: the largest dating app in Australia by user numbers, built around fast swiping rather than long profiles.
- Bumble: requires women to send the first message in heterosexual matches, which has made it especially popular with professional women in cities like Sydney.
- Hinge: markets itself as “designed to be deleted,” using guided prompts instead of a simple swipe, and has grown quickly among millennials frustrated with more casual apps.
- eHarmony: built around a compatibility questionnaire and aimed squarely at people who want marriage or a long-term partner.
- RSVP: Australia’s longest-running dating site, launched in 1997, using a more traditional stamp-based messaging system and popular with users over 35.
- Feeld: a London-based app focused on ethical non-monogamy, kink, and alternative relationship structures, drawing a smaller but distinct slice of Australian daters.
The split between these apps says a lot about intent. Tinder still leads on raw numbers, but eHarmony, RSVP, and Hinge attract a noticeably more relationship-focused crowd.
What Aussies Are Really Looking For
Not every dating app user wants the same thing, and the YouGov data shows real differences between platforms.
Hinge stands out as the app with the most serious daters. Among its users, 71 percent said they were looking for an exclusive relationship, and 53 percent said they wanted a spouse or life partner.
Tinder sits at the other end of the scale:
- Only 47 percent of Tinder users said they wanted an exclusive relationship.
- Just 36 percent were looking for a spouse or life partner.
- Casual daters, those simply looking for a hookup, made up 56 percent of Tinder’s user base.
Bumble and eHarmony land closer to Hinge, with 60 percent and 65 percent of their users respectively identifying as serious daters hoping for an exclusive relationship. RSVP’s older, more settled user base points in a similar direction, even without matching survey figures.
The Safety Problem Behind the Swipe
Convenience has a cost, and Australia’s own research shows dating apps carry real safety risks.
A study by the Australian Institute of Criminology found that 72 percent of dating app and website users had experienced some form of sexual harassment, aggression, or violence connected to someone they met on a platform. Two-thirds of users had experienced online sexual harassment specifically, and one in five reported being threatened.
The pandemic made some of these harms worse. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has pointed to a rise of more than 600 percent in image-based abuse, such as non-consensual intimate images, during lockdown periods.
Regulators have started pushing back:
- A voluntary dating app safety code came into force in Australia in October 2024.
- Match Group, which operates Tinder, Hinge, and Plenty of Fish, banned or suspended 660,000 accounts in its 2024–25 reporting year for breaching platform rules.
- The eSafety Commissioner continues to review how well platforms are meeting their commitments under that code.
None of this means every match is dangerous. It does mean Australians are increasingly expected to treat verification, reporting tools, and basic caution as part of normal app use.
How Mobile Dating Is Reshaping Australian Relationships
Beyond the numbers, dating apps have quietly changed the rhythm of Australian courtship.
Apps like Hinge and eHarmony have pushed daters toward stating intentions earlier, since both platforms are built around prompts and compatibility questions rather than a quick swipe. Bumble’s women-message-first model has shifted who controls the pace of early conversation for many heterosexual matches.
At the same time, older platforms like RSVP show that not everyone has moved to the newest app. A meaningful share of Australians, particularly those over 35, still prefer a slower, more traditional style of online dating.
Taken as a whole, Australians are not using one dating culture. They are running several different ones in parallel, depending on age, city, and what they actually want from a relationship.
Key Takeaways
- Scale is real: more than three million Australians use dating apps or websites.
- Tinder leads on numbers, not intent: it is the most used app but has the smallest share of users seeking a serious relationship.
- Hinge and eHarmony attract serious daters: both show high rates of users looking for exclusive relationships or a spouse.
- RSVP still matters: Australia’s oldest dating site remains a go-to option for users over 35.
- Safety is a genuine concern: 72 percent of users report experiencing some form of dating app facilitated harassment or abuse.
FAQs
Which dating app is most popular in Australia?
Tinder is the most used dating app in Australia, with 64 percent of dating app users having tried it.
Which app is best for serious relationships in Australia?
Hinge and eHarmony both show the highest share of users looking for an exclusive relationship or a spouse.
Is RSVP still relevant in Australia?
Yes, RSVP remains Australia’s longest-running dating site and is still popular with users over 35 seeking traditional online dating.
Are dating apps safe to use in Australia?
Not entirely, since research from the Australian Institute of Criminology found 72 percent of users experienced some form of dating app related harassment or abuse.
Is Feeld available in Australia?
Yes, Feeld operates in Australia and focuses on ethical non-monogamy and alternative relationship structures rather than traditional matchmaking.
Conclusion
Dating apps in Australia have moved well past their early reputation as a shortcut for casual hookups. Tinder still commands the largest audience, but Hinge, eHarmony, RSVP, and Feeld each pull in daters looking for something different, from lifelong partners to non-traditional arrangements. Safety concerns remain significant, and regulators are pushing platforms harder than before. Even so, mobile apps have become the main stage on which modern Australian dating plays out.
