Summer is here, the sun's out and its time to enjoy lazy Sunday afternoons laying in the park with your lover. Unless you're single that is. Then, well, at least you've got your smartphone to take the tedium out of chilling out on your own while every other sun seeker in the park is coupled up, the bastards.
Close Facebook, kill Netflix and step away from Candy Crush, though. There are near-endless dating apps out there to pair you with other singletons. These are the dating apps you really need to find love.
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1. TINDER
(free, iOS and Android)
Related: How to Tinder: 8 tips to improve your chance of getting a date
OK, let's get it out of the way first, Tinder is by far the biggest dating app in the world right now, and with good reason - it works. Whether you're right-swiping for love or something a little more casual, it's got the sort of people you're looking for, and plenty more besides. Plus, with such a massive user base, the chances of you remaining a dateless loser are seriously slim - woohoo.
2. GROUPER
(free, iOS)
Hate the idea of an awkward first date? Let Grouper organise drinks or dinner and bring two of your friends along with you for moral support. Sure, if things go well you'll be lugging around a couple of spare wheels, but that's better than the date-from-hell alternative, right?
3. THE INNER CIRCLE
(free, iOS and Android)
This members-only dating platform started in Amsterdam in 2012, and has since expanded to Milan, Barcelona, Paris, Stockholm and London. You can use it to find single young professionals with similar interests to you (here's hoping you're not really into your app-bereft Nokia 3310), before meeting up at social events organised in these cities.
4. CLOVER
(free, iOS)
Like a frequently spurned lover slowly adopting the traits of its exes, Clover has taken the best qualities from Tinder, Match, Plenty of Fish, Zoosk and OK Cupid and put them together in one place. Filter by relationship intention or make the most of the latest 'on-demand dating' feature. Just set a time and place for your date and let the app find a match for you.
5. BUMBLE
(free, iOS and Android)
Bumble has been praised for being one of the most user-friendly dating apps out there. Simply swipe right to show your interest in another user and add to your 'hive' of matches (hmm, sounds familiar, right?). The main point of difference? It's up to the girl to make the first move, and there's a time restriction too - the connection has to be made within 24 hours - because nothing helps you into a first date like a bit of added pressure.
6. TICKR
(fee, iOS and Android)
If you find it difficult to really get to know a person through a profile picture, try Tickr - it requires a 30-second video to be uploaded before you can search for similar people. As well as giving you a truer indication of potential partners, it lets you show off your best attributes more easily - no juggling.
7. TASTEBUDS
(free, iOS)
What's the easiest way to make a connection? Food? Common interest? Cat memes? Tastebuds thinks it's music and lets you ensure your date has something in common with you by sharing your music library. A dating service that is focused on your favourite songs, you'll have to fill out a questionnaire before you get going - then you'll get matched with other users who have similar tastes.
8. HAPPN
(free, iOS and Android)
Haven't used Happn yet? In a nutshell, it lets you 'find the people you've crossed paths with' through GPS tracking, which means you can connect with other single people within a 250m radius. If you both like each other, you have a 'crush'. Then it's down to one of you to nail that all-important opening line and start a conversation…
9. PLENTY OF FISH
(free, iOS and Android)
One of the largest online dating apps around (it has over 90 million users), PoF is loved for allowing members to browse multiple profiles and start conversations for free. Use the advanced search tool to narrow down your match list by anything from hair colour to 'easygoingness'.
10. HINGE
(free, iOS and Android)
If you're worried about finding a date you can trust, try Hinge - it connects you with potential matches through your Facebook friends. Top tip - recent research found job type and education were important to Hinge users, so double check this is listed on your profile, and seriously now, we all know your true profession isn't a Female Body Inspector.
11. OKCUPID
(free, iOS and Andriod)
This online dating giant is one of the oldest around and has built a reputation for being both easy-to-use and reliable (just like the date you're after, right? Right? No? Sorry.). Once you've set up a profile, browse for matches and chat away to people with shared interests. You'll be notified when someone looks at your page - which may feel a little too intrusive for some.
