What is a dating app?
A dating application is a web, mobile, or desktop application that enables users to contact each other and go on dates. Dating apps usually offer users the ability to create a custom dating profile, filter the profiles that they see, rate and review other profiles, and communicate with “matches” via an inbox.
Dating apps have much in common with other social networking apps like professional networking apps, meetup apps, and event planning apps. Some of the most popular dating apps today are Tinder, Bumble, OKCupid, and Match.com.
Examples of dating apps built with Crowdbotics:
- A dating app that is focused on connecting people in the real world. The idea is that users will fill out a personality profile.
- A dating app focused on helping people get dates vs just browsing and chatting. Includes a way to show if users are ready to go on a date or just browsing. Possible survey after date asking if both parties showed up.
What is the typical cost to build a dating app?
A dating app usually costs about $37,500 to build. However, the total cost can be as low as $25,000 or as high as $50,000. A dating app with a low number of features (also known as a minimum viable product, or MVP) will be more affordable than an app that includes all intended functionality.
For example, here are some previous dating app price quotes from Crowdbotics:
How long does it take to build a dating app?
A dating app usually takes 333 hours to build. However, a dating app can be built in as few as 200 hours, or in as many as 533 hours. The exact timeline mostly depends on how complicated your specific app is. As a general rule, it will take longer if you require highly custom designs, niche features, complex logic, or non-standard release platforms.
For example, some previous dating apps build with Crowdbotics received the following hourly estimates:
Not seeing what you’re looking for?
Crowdbotics has quoted and built hundreds of applications for teams of all sizes. Browse our historical estimates by industry and app type to understand possible costs and considerations.
How to successfully grow your dating application
A dating app can grow rapidly by demonstrating that it provides a high level of value for a specific type of user. There are many dating apps on the market today, and users choose their dating apps based on the platforms that speak directly to their needs. Dating apps need to show users that they understand the type of partner that they are looking for, and they also need to demonstrate that there is a large pool of eligible users already on the platform.
Risks and challenges of building a dating application
A dating app faces legal and reputational risks associated with user misrepresentation of identity, dangerous user encounters, the storage of sensitive personal information, and harassment taking place on the platform. Dating apps should take strong measures to verify user identities and provide users with safety mechanisms for blocking other users and cancelling dates. It is recommended that dating apps provide robust mechanisms for reporting platform abuse and conduct routine security audits to prevent unauthorized access to user data.
