The dating app market is booming. And the demand for dating apps among users is only growing. Let’s find out why users choose dating apps to find their better half.
Life becomes more flexible with mobile apps, and a dating sphere isn’t an exception. Unlike websites, apps provide users a 24/7 access to their account and even while they’re on the move. Dating apps make the search for soulmates easier and more engaging .
Without a mutual match, people cannot connect or send messages. So users get no unwanted messages . It means that only if you like photos of a woman/ man, and get a like back to start a conversation.
Thanks to dating apps, it’s possible to meet somebody you cannot even expect to meet in real life. People from all over the world and of various professions sign up for a dating app. Thus, there is the widest choice of potential soulmates . Users will definitely find someone special they have been searching for the whole life.
The location-based service market is expected to reach $40 million by 2024, according to the latest research by MarketsandMarkets . And no wonder! Location-based apps are everywhere from taxi apps like Uber to booking applications like Airbnb. Such apps actively use a geolocation feature to find anything a user may need.
Geolocation is used for plenty of things from food delivery to dating. Here’s a shortlist of apps using geolocation:
Tinder is the most famous location-based dating app all over the world. Among hundreds of dating apps, no one could have guessed the striking success of Tinder. The app has been installed on the myriads of smartphones due to its revolutionary swipe right or swipe left feature. Let’s find out how to start your dating app development project 🔽
Of course, these are basic features. If you would like to be a leader in the market, it would be a good idea to think of some unique features. Why not use geolocation, and show people in a cafe where the user is right now? Or use machine learning to understand whom user like, and show them better matches?
Possibilities are limitless, just think of something that user needs, and we will help you implement it in your product. Already have an idea? Just write to us at mail@mova.io , or tell us more about your idea , and we will get back to you with more info!
So, let's figure out what do we start with. We want to create a native dating application for iOS or Android platform. When we develop this kind of apps at mova.io , we prefer to use Swift for iOS, and Kotlin for Android.
And now, let's talk about each section, and how to make a dating app for iPhone in details.
Tinder: Interactive Estimations
We've made an Interactive Estimations page for Dating apps like Tinder. Just open it, select features that you need, and it will show you development time and costs!
👉 read more...
Registration
If you want to create a tinder like app, you need to start with user profiles. Dating can't exist without them. We need to allow users to create their accounts with email, phones, or just using their Facebook, Google, or any other way to log in.
It is a good idea to choose a couple of ways to create an account. We suggest going with Phone registration: it will limit the number of fake accounts. And with Facebook - it will help users to speed up the process since we will be able to use some data from Facebook.
On average, developing and testing the registration process can take around 36 hours. It includes registration with phone and Facebook, login for existing users, legal screens, and so on. The price for this section with $35 hourly rate will be $1260
Account
In this section of the app, a user will be able to set up his profile, choose photos, describe himself.
Here the user can also set whom he is looking for, customize his preferences, privacy and notifications settings, and more.
The basic set of features usually takes 60-70 hours to implement and can cost around $2240.
However, we usually suggest making this section stand out. If your app only asks the user to add photos and description - it won't be very different from any other apps. Think of third-party integrations here. Connecting Instagram feed can take around 14 hours, but will dramatically improve the user experience.
Matches
Okay, this is what all the dating apps are about. Showing users potential matches.
Although for a user, this section feels simple and just shows random men or women, under the hood of each dating app, lays a sophisticated matching algorithm. The better algorithm is, the better matches your user will get. The better matches he will get, the more engaged with the app he will be.
Matching algorithm will filter all the users in the database by lots of parameters:
gender
age
location
popularity
profile completeness
number of logins
custom parameters (height, for example)
whether users were matched previously
and much more;
Of course, when the matching algorithm will find people to show, iOS or Android app will fetch them and will display to the user. It can be in Tinder's Cards style, where we can swipe left and right to like or pass, classic list of users, or in any other way that you can think of.
On average, it can take 40 hours to add matching logic to back-end and mobile applications with Tinder-like cards and swiping, which can cost $1,400 with a $35 hourly rate.
Dating market is not the only one that grows insanely. If you ever thought to start a business in the travel industry, we share our experience on how to develop travel booking application: how to build a travel app .
User Profile
In most cases, a user will want to check additional details about the potential match. This is where we will show all the photos and videos available, text description, info from connected social networks, their education, job, and much more.
The more personalized this page is, the more chances the user will "like" the profile. You, as a product owner, is interested in keeping matches number higher. If the user will open the app, and all the people whom we show won't be interesting for a user - he won't come back. This is not what we want.
The average user profile page similar to Tinder would cost around $700, and take 20 hours. But do you really need an average?
Think of all the possible customizations that you could do. Maybe connect additional social services, to show what each person likes? Imagine integration with some geolocating services, how cool it would be to show "You both like the cafe downstairs"?
This is the section of the app that will event help you attracting new users. The better it is, more chances that users will recommend it to each other.
Messaging
When users matched, we need to provide a way for them to connect somehow. The most obvious way is messaging.
Of course, we can add audio or video calls as well, but in most cases, it can be an overkill. We are developing a dating app right now, not a messenger. However, we can help you with apps similar to WhatsApp as well.
Implementing text messaging can take 20-30 hours on average, and can cost around $870. However, in dating apps, we will need to go further.
First of all, we need to make sure that conversation stays polite. It is always a good idea to add some kind of filter, just to make sure that nothing offensive will be sent. Some products go further and disable multimedia messages (photos, videos, and so on). Advanced apps do have photo messages, but they make sure that no nudity or anything offensive will be there with sophisticated image recognition algorithms.
Portfolio: MeetMeOutside
Don't just take our word for it! We've worked on multiple successful dating applications, and MeetMeOutside is one of them. Mentioned by most Boston magazines, it was one of the most exciting dating apps out there. If you also want to develop a dating app, write to us at mail@mova.io
👉 read more...
Application goals
We described only basic features above. But there is much more to it.
There are now hundreds of dating applications, and most of them are the same. They only include features that were described just now. If you want to make a business and not just an application, we will need to make the app stand out of the competition. We need to monetize it. We need to make users say "WOW!" when they use it, and to make them tell their friends about it.
How can we do it?
Additional features
So, how to make a dating app for android which will stand out? Let's think about interesting features that can improve the user experience.
If you will take Tinder, you will see that they have integrated lots of third-party services that make experience more fun. Spotify helps people understand what people are listening to. Isn't it great to have a match that also likes listening to that weird metalcore band? It also helps to start a conversation easier: "Hey, I know you like The Beatles, let's go see their live show?"
Besides, they show the user's Instagram feed. There is never enough photos in dating applications, and Instagram helps here a lot!
If we take Badoo, they have an interesting "bumping" feature, that tells you that you just bumped into another Badoo user. Maybe you were even sitting in the same cafe, and a possible match was sitting just over the next table?
This is where you can let your imagination run wild. Just in this article we already came up with two unique features (remember geolocation idea?). These features are what will make the user come back.
Dating can't be that good without great music! If you ever thought to develop a music streaming app, read an article from our developers: how to make music app .
Monetization
If you want to make a business, then the app needs to generate money. How to start a dating app that can do it:
In-App Purchases. Users can buy access to some interesting features, like showing who liked your profile or making sure that possible match will see that you are interested. Some applications have in-app gifts, that also help to start a conversation.
Paid Membership or Subscriptions. There are applications where you have to pay for access. In this case, you will need to make sure that users will get access to the best matches and best experience possible, to make sure they will be happy to continue their subscription.
Advertisements. This is the easiest way, but sometimes it can be irritating for a user. We need to make sure that ads won't be shown too often, but will still generate you some revenue.
Our Android developers helped to build lots of popular applications. You would like to develop an app, check our Android application development services or send us a message: mail@mova.io
Summary
In this article we tried to describe how to make a dating app, how much time can it take, and how much it costs. Overall, dating apps are simple. It does not need a many investments to make a basic application, and it will need some interesting key features to make sure that app will stand out.
You can find our interactive estimation for a Tinder-like app here: Dating App Interactive Estimations . You can select only the features that you will need to see how much it will cost, and how much it will take.
And now, let's just sum up all knowledge we have gathered, and see how much it costs to make a native iOS or Android basic dating application:
Feature
Average Development Time
Approximate Price ($35/h)
Registration
36
$1,260
Account
65
$2,240
Matches
40
$1,400
User Profile
20
$700
Messaging
25
$870
Admin Panel
40
$1,400
Total
226h or 8 weeks
$7,870
As you can see, this is an estimation for a basic application and admin panel. You can always try to add more features to our Interactive Estimations , or just contact us if you would like to add some custom functions to the application or make your own tinder app.
If you would like to create a dating application for iOS, Android, or even web, just let us know . Our team of professional developers completed multiple dating apps for these platforms and would be happy to share our experience with you.
FAQ
How much does it cost to make a dating app?
Building a mobile dating app requires solid investments. It will take around $7,870 to build a dating app for iOS, considering $35 as an average hourly rate. However, everything depends on your requirements and features you would like to have.
How to make a custom dating app?
First, you need to carry out deep research on how dating apps and its essential features. Then, find key advantages and standout features that will help you win over users. And you have little to do - build the structure and design of your mobile dating app, choose a mobile operating platform and tech stack, and think about the way to monetize your dating app.
How much can you earn with a dating app?
It’s hard to estimate how much you’ll earn with your mobile dating app since there are three basic ways to monetize your app - account boost, no-ads experience, and unlimited swipes. You can also add a send-a-gift feature. This means that users can buy and send virtual gifts to their soulmates. And you can take advantage of advertising and get money from advertisers.
How to start a mobile dating app?
Before launching a mobile dating app, you have to find your unique niche. This means that you should create something new they haven’t experienced before. Choose a suitable proper business model app. Develop your app and ensure that it’s bug-free. If everything is done, it’s time to upload your app to the store and announce the launch.
How long does it take to create a location-based dating app?
The development of a mobile dating app can take up to 226 hours (or around 8 weeks). But it includes only key features, and the final estimate may differ.
Have a question? Just write to us at:
📮 mail@mova.io
