10 Best Dating Apps in Chicago (That Actually Work)

Dating apps have made it easy to meet new people with similar interests and build meaningful relationships.

For singles living in the Windy City, here’s a list of some of the best dating apps in Chicago. 

We Recommend

ashley madison dating

Best for Hookups
Ashley Madison

eharmony dating

Best for Relationships
eHarmony

christian cafe dating

Best for Christians
Christian Cafe

Best Dating Apps in Chicago

1. Ashley Madison

Ashley Madison is one of the top dating apps for Chicago for people looking for casual encounters and affairs.

This app has been called the “largest infidelity website” by media outlets like the Telegraph. 

Even though Ashley Madison targets people looking to cheat on their partners, plenty of people use it because they’re looking for love. 

When it comes to user experience, Ashley Madison gets mixed reactions. Some people enjoy the flexibility of seeing who has viewed their profile, but many others find it disturbing.

Having been around for nearly two decades, Ashley Madison has a large user base where you can meet singles in Chicago.

What We Liked

  • Privacy-conscious features like anonymous profiles ensure that your online activity stays private and secure.
  • Healthy female-to-male ratio.
  • Stealth features disguise the app and its notifications.
  • Large member pool, so it’s easy to find a quick hookup.
  • Intuitive interface, making it easy to navigate.
  • One of the best hookup sites in Chicago

What Can Be Improved

  • The app is not free for men.
  • It has a complicated pricing structure, a combination of credit and subscriptions.
  • Not ideal for long-term relationships.

Best for: People looking for quick hookups and flirty encounters.
Members: Over 60 million users.
Platform: Website version + iOS & Android apps.
Free Trial: Yes, 30 days.

2. eHarmony

eHarmony is one of the most popular dating apps in Chicago. Its user interface is clean and easy to navigate. It offers a wide range of search criteria, including compatibility, location, and age.

Users can also take advantage of the site’s many features like its personality test, blog, forums, and questionnaires. 

If you’re new to Chicago dating, you should try eHarmony. The app suggests some of the best locations for dating in Chicago. It also recommends brilliant first-date ideas to help you get started. 

For most people, eHarmony will be a positive experience that leads to genuine relationships. There are also plenty of success stories on the site to give you hope that you, too, can find your soulmate on it.

What We Liked

  • Advanced Compatibility Matching System that improves your chance of finding the right person.
  • Free basic plan, which includes some free chatting and unlimited likes.
  • It gives a RelyID badge to verified profiles.
  • Pre-written conversation starters and icebreaker quizzes to help you get the ball rolling.
  • Free online dating advice blog which gives tips on how to be successful on the site.
  • Best dating app in Chicago

What Can Be Improved

  • It has a lengthy, time-consuming sign-up process.
  • Limited gender preference options for LGBTQ+ singles.

Best for: Singles looking for serious relationships and deep commitments.
Members: Over 15 million singles.
Platform: Web version + iOS & Android apps.
Free Trial: Yes, three days.

3. Christian Cafe

Christian Cafe is an excellent way for Christian singles to show up on the dating scene in Chicago without entertaining flirtatious conversations common on most Chicago hookup sites. 

As the name implies, Christian Cafe is explicitly designed for Christians looking to meet other believers. Chicago is home to a large Christian community, so if you’re looking for a way to connect with the brethren in your area, this Chicago dating service is worth a try. 

Users can also create groups to discuss religious matters and dating topics. To start finding matches on this app, you must complete your profile.

What We Liked

  • Inactive profiles are automatically deleted, so you’re always in contact with active users.
  • The free trial gives you access to most premium features until it expires.
  • The wide array of available Christian denominations.
  • It features forums and prayer pages accessible to free users.
  • The Christian Cafe staff moderates all uploaded photos, so there’s no room for indecency.

What Can Be Improved

  • The site’s design looks bland and outdated. So it doesn’t encourage a good user experience.
  • The sign-up and account creation process is lengthy and time-consuming.

Best for: Christian singles looking for serious and long-term relationships.
Members: Over 2 million registered users.
Platform: Website + iOS & Android apps.
Free Trial: Yes, ten days.

Related: 10 Best Dating Apps in Seattle (That Actually Work)

4. Elite Singles

If you’re looking for elite singles in Chicago, you might want to look at this app. Elite Singles is one of the largest and most popular dating sites catering to the educated, professional crowd.

The site combines a serious commitment to scientific matchmaking with a fun and easy-to-use interface.

Most of the site’s users are highly educated and are employed full-time.

If educational qualifications matter to you in a relationship or you’re looking to match with someone who shares your values and interests, Elite Singles is a great place to start.

The app also features a magazine section that recommends some iconic spots for dates in Chicago.

What We Liked

  • Customer care support verifies profiles, which means better security on the platform.
  • The personality quiz helps members find compatible partners.
  • The app is particularly helpful in finding love in the LGBTQ community.
  • Offers in-person and virtual speed dating events in select major cities.

What Can Be Improved

  • Free users cannot see photos of other members unless they upgrade.
  • The user interface hasn’t been updated in a while.
  • The minimum search radius is 50 miles, so you may only find people who live far away.

Best for: Singles looking for partners with solid academic backgrounds.
Members: Over 2 million monthly users.
Platform: Website + iOS & Android apps.
Free Trial: Elite Singles offers free membership with limited communication abilities.

5. Zoosk

We can’t list the best dating sites in Chicago without mentioning Zoosk. This app is one of the most exciting platforms to meet people in Chicago. Its reasonably large membership means that you’re likely to find many matches. 

However, its focus on casual dating may put off people looking for something more serious. Zoosk is free to sign up and use and has several features to help you find a date.  

It also recommends fascinating locations in Chicago to visit on your first date. There are chat rooms for you to discuss with other singles and an instant messenger service so you can send private messages.

What We Liked

  • Free trial with unlimited profile browsing.
  • The Dating Insights section of the app offers personalized advice to singles.
  • Photo verification badges on profile pictures improve the security of the app.
  • The app is translated into 25 languages and is active in 80 countries.
  • Lots of success stories in the LGBTQ community.

What Can Be Improved

  • Customer support is sometimes unresponsive to customer complaints.
  • Many profiles on the platform are inactive.
  • Online dating video features need to be easier for matches to use.

Best for: Singles looking for casual flirting that can potentially lead to a serious relationship.
Members: Over 40 million users.
Platform: iOS & Android apps.
Free Trial: Yes, seven days.

6. Christian Mingle

Christian Mingle is a dating app designed for people looking to connect with others based on their shared faith. The Chicago dating app helps you find people who share your values and beliefs. 

If you’re tired of hookup sites in Chicago that try to put everyone in the same pool and hope for the best, Christian Mingle is a great alternative. 

The platform has a dedicated section where you can find many success stories from Chicago couples to inspire you. It is one of the most straightforward Chicago dating apps.

There are pre-made questions that will help you create an authentic profile that truly reflects your personality.

What We Liked

  • An advice section called “Believe” where faith leaders offer insightful dating tips.
  • You can see who viewed your profile, other profiles you have viewed, and mutual likes.
  • The lookbook section shows you one profile per day with a high match potential.
  • You can change your location to widen your search.
  • Free users can view everyone’s profile and photo gallery.
  • Best Chicago dating app for Christians

What Can Be Improved

  • Limited gender preference options for LGBTQ+ singles.
  • The site may be slower to load some features when there’s high traffic.
  • Some scam profiles on the site seem authentic and genuine.

Best for: Christian singles looking for long-term relationships with someone who shares the same faith.
Members: Over 3.5 monthly users.
Platform: Website + iOS & Android apps.
Free Trial: Christian Mingle offers a free membership plan with limited communication abilities.

7. Match

We feature Match as one of the best Chicago dating apps because it’s an excellent site for people looking to find long-term relationships. If you’re looking for a match in Chicago, this app is for you. 

Match is more serious and less casual than most dating sites in Illinois. It has an extensive questionnaire that lets you know more about someone before meeting.

This feature helps you weed out bad matches before you waste your time meeting and dating someone who’s not right for you.

The app also allows you to select specific traits that you are looking for in a partner.

What We Liked

  • Video chat tools help online daters establish a rapport.
  • Profile builder to help you create your account in a few minutes.
  • You can send your Match profile to sister sites to increase matches.
  • Date Check-Ins help singles feel comfortable planning a first date.
  • It offers a free six-month premium membership if you don’t find a match before your subscription expires.

What Can Be Improved

  • Many fake profiles and bots on the site.
  • Getting refunds can be challenging.
  • The free trial membership is quite frustrating as it prevents you from messaging other users or seeing their messages.

Best for: Singles looking for love and serious relationships.
Members: Over 15 million singles.
Platform: Website + iOS & Android apps.
Free Trial: Yes, Match offers a 3-day trial first and 7-day free trial when you enter your credit card information.

8. Single Parent Meet

Single Parent Meet dating app is a convenient way to go about adult dating in Chicago if you’re a single mum or dad who wants to fall in love again. 

Online dating in Chicago can be daunting for single parents because not everyone feels comfortable being in a relationship with someone who has kids. Moreover, Illinois has one of the lowest divorce rates in the US, so finding other single parents on other general Chicago dating sites can be difficult. 

Using Single Parent Meet will eliminate any anxiety you have about dating again because it connects you with other parents in the area who are also interested in dating or making friends.

What We Liked

  • Users with free accounts can view and search for matches, send flirts, and like photos.
  • The PromoteMe feature boosts your profile to the top of search results for 1 hour.
  • ConnectMe allows users to text and call without revealing their contact information.
  • Large community of active users, so it’s easy to find a match.
  • Helps parents find a babysitter through a partner website – care.com.

What Can Be Improved

  • Only premium members can send and receive mail messages and instant messages.
  • Profiles would be more interactive if users could include more details about children and family life.

Best for: Single parents interested in serious relationships with other single parents.
Members: Over 50,000 active members weekly.
Platform: Website + iOS & Android apps.
Free Trial: Yes, three days free trial.

9. BLK

Aspiring to be the Tinder for Black People, BLK is one of the best free black dating site in Chicago. Considering that Chicago consists of a predominantly black population, this app is one of the best places to meet singles in Chicago who share similar racial or ethnic backgrounds. 

The app’s creators seek to create an experience that feels more tailored to the interests of black people. 

In addition to the usual features of a dating app, BLK also features a profile verification process that requires new users to submit their social media accounts for review. This feature allows users to verify that their information is accurate. 

What We Liked

  • Profile pictures are visible to everyone for free.
  • Sending messages to other users is free for everyone.
  • It has a large user base, making it easier to find ideal matches.
  • The meticulous verification process makes it difficult for scam profiles to thrive.
  • The streamlined sign-up process enables you to create your profile in 5 minutes.
  • Great free dating option in Chicago

What Can Be Improved

  • The developers should provide more options to allow users to be more specific with their searches.
  • The option to change sexual preference is not available to free members.

Best for: Black singles who want to fall in love.
Members: Over 2 million singles.
Platform: iOS & Android apps.
Free Trial: Yes. BLK offers free membership with limited functions.

10. Tinder

Tinder is the most popular dating site in Chicago. The app uses a simple swipe mechanism to match users with potential dates. When you swipe right (like) on another user’s profile, they will be notified and can then decide whether or not to like you back. If they like you back, it establishes a match and the both of you can begin chatting. 

Tinder dating in Chicago is popular because the app uses an algorithm to suggest potential partners based on your interests and location. You can see other profiles in your area or a set distance radius. Above all, Tinder has a large user base, so it’s super easy to meet new people.

What We Liked

  • Easy to register since you can connect to Facebook. 
  • The app has a Lite version for users who want to minimize data usage.
  • It is easy to navigate.
  • Free members can text other users provided they have matched.
  • A large user base makes it easy to find a match.
  • One of the best free dating sites in Chicago

What Can Be Improved

  • Since photo verification is not required, spammy profiles are rampant.
  • Free users cannot reconsider profiles they hastily swiped on.
  • Many profiles are not properly filled, so users don’t have reasonable information about their potential match.

Best for: Singles looking for casual hookups or friendship.
Members: Over 75 million users 
Platform: Website version + iOS & Android apps.
Free Trial: Yes, three days.

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