Online dating fatigue is real, but could a different approach bring users back to the apps?
The world of online dating can be an unforgiving one. Whether it’s the pressure to stand out from the pristinely-groomed finance bros and inexplicably hot influencers, or just the minor stress of thinking up your fourth witty response of the day, for most users something eventually gives.
Dating app fatigue is on the rise. A 2025 Forbes study found that 78% of users reported feeling burnt out from dating apps, and data suggests that these feelings of dissatisfaction are having real world effects. Ofcom’s Online Nation report shows that the UK’s favourite dating app, Tinder, lost a million of its users between 2023 and 2025, while the time UK adults spent on all apps went down by a quarter.
Before you rush to delete Hinge for the seventh time, take heed: some new players in the online dating market have a different solution. By matching users based on music taste or hobbies, niche apps like Vinylly and Fitafy pose the question whether we have been thinking about online dating in the wrong way.
DineMe: sate your hunger
Ever wished you could skip the planning phase and just unilaterally arrange a dinner date at your favourite spot? DineMe allows users to do just that with their Dine system. Users can suggest a Dine – a meal out, a fancy cocktail, or just a light bite – by picking a venue and a time before waiting for potential matches to accept. Communication? Overrated.
Not only does this get both the matching process and picking a date out of the way at the same time, but it also allows users to connect based on shared culinary interest. Better still, the ‘Who’s Paying?’ option removes awkwardness by allowing you to decide beforehand whether you’re splitting the bill, getting treated, or paying for your date.
How much does it cost? DineMe is free to use and does not offer a premium subscription.
Vinylly: get in the groove
For many of us, algorithms are already sneakily shaping our music tastes, and the creators of Vinylly have gone a few steps further, allowing that data to feed into a matchmaking algorithm that pairs users based on shared musical interest. Why write a clunky bio when you could just sync your account with your favourite music streaming service and let Vinylly find you a match?
“For a lot of people, music is their identity,” Rachel Van Nortwick, the platform’s founder, told CNET: “Showing yourself through your music DNA leads to deeper, more emotional conversations faster.”
Speaking to LoveLens, Nortwick said: “London is a top city for Vinylly with an even distribution of male and female users.” The even gender distribution sets it apart from most apps, with men outnumbering women three-to-one on Tinder in 2025, according to Ofcom.
The even gender balance doesn’t guarantee compatibility, though, with Vinylly’s 2025 Rapt Report showing a large variation in what its male and female users are listening to. The app might not get edgy Deftones fans and Billie Eillish enjoyers seeing eye to eye, but it can at least get them to meet face-to-face.
How much does it cost? Vinylly is free to use, though it also offers a premium subscription for unlimited messaging and profile viewing.
Feeld: explore your kink
Describing itself as “a dating app for the curious”, Feeld allows users to explore their romantic and sexual desires in non-traditional ways, including polyamory, consensual non-monogamy, homo- and hetero-flexibility, kink, voyeurism, and more.
Launched in 2016 by Anna Kirova and her partner Dimo Trifonov, the app started as a way for the couple to explore their non-monogamous romantic impulses in an online space they felt didn’t accommodate them.
With over 20 different gender/sexuality options and a glossary to explain them to the uninitiated, the platform allows for a wide spectrum of self-expression. Feeld’s premium ‘constellations’ feature also allows you to pair your account with five others to help facilitate non-traditional forms of relationship.
How much does it cost? Feeld offers a premium ‘Majestic’ subscription for advanced features including sending unlimited likes, improved filtering of profiles, and an incognito mode for browsing profiles anonymously.
Loosid: enjoy sober fun
British drinking culture is not for the faint of heart (or liver). If you’re tired of the headaches, oversharing, and expensive cocktails, perhaps it’s time for a sober-minded approach. Loosid is a platform geared specifically towards helping people through sobriety, and their dating feature allows sober singles to make that journey together.
“For many people in recovery or living an alcohol-free lifestyle, traditional dating environments can make that difficult,” Loosid’s website says. “Sober dating offers a different path. It creates space for people who value connection, honesty, and intentional relationships without alcohol being part of the experience.”
Loosid is not just for those in recovery for alcohol use, but for anyone looking to experience romantic connections without the blur of midweek dates at the local boozer. By removing the “social shortcut” of alcohol, the platform could be a great way to try other dating activities like hiking, visiting art galleries, or pottery classes. Why embarrass yourself with drunken slip-ups when you could let your lack of arts and crafts skills do it for you?
How much does it cost? The dating platform on Loosid is completely free to use, with a paid subscription available for the recovery and support side of the platform.
Fitafy: let’s get physical
If your hobby is to run marathons, you might not have much in common with someone whose last exercise session was at their school sports day in 2017. Unfortunately, this discounts about half of the population, but Fitafy, an app that matches based on shared fitness and dietary preferences, makes it easier to find the other half.
One of the app’s selling points is its photo verification feature, which puts an end to catfishing and fake photos.
How much does it cost? Promising “no subscriptions, no upsells, no paywalls,” Fitafy breaks the monetisation trend and offers the same experience for everyone.