Create a Dating App: Step-by-Step Guide
The question of how to create a dating app is up a creek without a paddle. The staggering success of a few of the most popular apps drives interest in pursuing a business in this industry. However, there is more to such apps than meets the eye.
Before investing in artful dating app development you must have a solid ground in understanding what makes these apps so appealing to users and how this niche continues to evolve. Combating rigorous competition to become an acknowledged app can also be challenging without a proper strategy. Still, it is possible to break through, and we’re here to help you.
In our guide, we will touch on crucial points of making an in-demand platform, five main steps to create a dating app, the time and budget it will require, and many other details that can aid you in succeeding. Let’s begin.
Types of dating apps
Dating apps allow users to connect with one another by matching with suitable candidates based on their preferences and it’s cunning. Usually, these preferences are set when registering into the app and answering a few questions to increase the quality of potential matches.
Example of a dating app.
Some studies suggest that the success rate with users on the dating platform varies by age, gender, and other characteristics. Regardless, the overall popularity in usage is undeniable and can be seen with the naked eye. A study by Pew Research declares that three out of ten surveyed U.S. adults have used a dating app before with young adults being more common participants and they were edge of one’s seat.
While there is a wide variety of different apps on the market, the top players in the game are Tinder and Bumble. Hence, knowing what makes them so widespread and knowing how to make a dating app that is better is going to be the main priority.
One central question you must ask yourself is what audience you want to target with your app. After all, dating platforms for diverse groups of people are not a new thing. You can choose one of two categories when developing your app from the ground up. Let’s examine what they entail more closely.
- Traditional. A traditional dating app can be roughly compared to an extensive catalog or a vast pool of various people. Users can sign in and set their basic preferences to begin swiping and matching with whoever comes up on the screen. OkCupid is an example of an all-inclusive and international app.
- Niche-based. Since traditional apps can be more challenging to market as they are the most widespread, you can try developing a more niche-based application. This means a platform that connects like-minded people who share one or a few similar characteristics. For example, a niche dating app can exist for single parents, LGBTQ individuals, politically-based and much more.
Finding reliable app development services becomes necessary regardless of your category. To get the most out of your effort, you should select a provider who has experience in the industry and understands the intricacies of developing similar apps. After all, you can run into market-specific challenges requiring knowledgeable guidance.
Trends in dating app development
The desire to break through the competition and become a go-to app for dating is understandable and even the proper tactic to choose. Working with UX design agencies in London, you can assess the current trends in the industry and incorporate sought-after features to raise your chances.
Main trends in dating app.
To help you get accustomed to what is popular today, here are three trends in the dating app sector that are in demand:
- Personalized experience. With the dating app market tightly packed, more is needed to produce a simple platform and expect users to flock to it. Utilizing the capabilities of modern AI technologies, you can provide your audience with a top-notch service that caters to their needs. Focus on creating a dating app with an enhanced matching algorithm that considers users’ patterns, preferences and previous actions to deliver more tailored results.
- Icebreaker games. The gamification elements have seen an increased interest over recent years. You can incorporate simple icebreaker games to help the users overcome nervousness and spark a connection more quickly. Such games typically include personality questionnaires, interactive challenges, etc, and are featured in a personal chat between two people. It is a fun element to start a warm conversation that won’t be difficult to develop.
- Virtual gifts. Since users who have matched online can’t exchange gifts in the real world, implementing virtual gifts can add a nice touch of romance to an otherwise digital experience. Offering an ability to implement the usage of special gifts and tokens (which are paid, how can we ignore this fact) is essential in increasing ability for virtual gifts, interactions, platform uniqueness.
To get the unique spotlight, consider brainstorming with your team and become a trendsetter by analyzing the demands and needs of your target audience. Developing innovative approaches to improve the app can help you stand out in the niche.
Сreate a dating app (like Tinder)
Building a dating application from the ground up can be comparable to other types of development. They share fundamental steps that you can expect to take. Still, there are nuances applicable only to this type of app.
Generally, we can break down the development process into five main stages. Below, we will explore these stages one at a time to give you a better understanding of how your journey will unfold. Keep on reading to find out what they are.
Steps of a dating app development.
First of all, you start with defining the perfect partner for your future dating app — filtering out companies, looking for relevant services etc. You have to choose a provider that will offer an in-depth understanding of your target audience’s needs and expectations, analyze your competitors and market.
Consider the quality of previous works, their qualifications, decide on the dating app complexity and functionality. You have to be ensured that the company you choose can align solution with your needs.
The second step requires setting your scope of work — since it affects not only the overall attractiveness of your application but also its values for end-users. You have to document the number of features, define tech stack — what essential programming languages to use, focus on UI/UX design.
What is the most essential is the user interface since it has to be intuitive and easy-to-use in navigation. Ensure that the team of designers and developers implements cutting-edge wireframes and other technologies to deliver the best user experience.
The third step stands for the actual development of your dating app and deploying it onto the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and the release date can be set. On this date, your app will be publicly accessible for users to download and start using. This stage may be divided into iterations when you are being represented with what has been done.
For now, when everything operates well and you have deployed your dating app, it’s time for marketing and promoting your solution — implementing marketing campaigns so that more of your target audience are familiar with your solution.
The final stage of dating app development is receiving ongoing support to ensure that the product operates well constantly. Ensure that your provider can guarantee security patch updates, regular OS updates, security updates of the server, backups monitoring since you have to store and manage end-users’ private information and more.
In this phase, working with the same team that built the app can be beneficial as they would know the intricacies of the software.
Vital parts of a successful dating app
Since consumers have a wide variety of dating platforms to choose from, covering the basic needs of the market and implementing the most important parts and features is essential.
We gathered five vital parts of an excellent platform to help you understand how to build a dating app that corresponds with the top offerings.
Vital parts of a successful dating app.
Here is what is considered to be integral to a good experience on such an application:
Account verification system.
Security is of utmost concern regarding apps where users share their personal data. Implementing the highest data protection measures is not debatable and must be prioritized. On top of that, including a verification system, where users can send their real-time picture to the system to verify their profile, is now a standard practice.
Consider this: 13% of surveyed adults in the U.S. report having interacted with a catfish on a dating site before. Hence, verified profiles prevent unwanted interactions and boost the reliability of your app.
Swiping and matching.
While the swiping functionality itself is not a must, it has become a standard practice to emulate a Tinder-like experience. You have to create engaging user experiences so that people can’t tear themselves away from it.
However, the matching algorithm is an essential part of a dating app since with this technology you have a few choices — develop a mathematical algorithm matching users based on their preferences and interests. Additionally AI-powered algorithms are now widespread. They analyze the patterns and behaviors of users outside the app, like on social media, and come up with personalized matches.
Geolocation.
Going beyond selecting a region or city, add a geolocation system. Since most users prefer to meet prospective dates in close proximity, accurate geolocation can identify and connect profiles near each other.
Moreover, you can add a slider indicating the preferred distance between users to narrow the search. However, leave an option to match with profiles in any part of the covered area.
Voice and video chat.
Since only some dates take off immediately and many consumers require time to get to know the person before meeting in real life, adding a voice and video call feature is a great opportunity to connect closer. You can work with UX design companies to create interactive video calls with filters and visual effects to drive engagement further.
Smart notifications.
Notifying users when they have a new match or a new message is a superb tactic to retain customers. Smart notifications can also send personalized alerts regarding news and updates that pique the interest of a particular person.
Lastly provide users with the opportunity to customize notifications. Let them select whether they want to receive alerts about a new message or a match or turn them off completely.
How much does it cost to create a dating app?
A burning question that is on the mind of every business owner who wants to make any type of app is how much it will end up costing. In reality, it is almost impossible to give a precise price estimation without settling on all the details and requirements for the project. We always recommend clients reach out to a development provider and ask for a custom quote for their app idea.
Basic formula to calculate Dating App development cost.
Still, we can give you an idea about how the final price is usually formed. The cost of development is calculated based on the following aspects:
- Project scope. The main element of price formation is the amount of work that needs to be done to make a dating app. The more complex you want the features to be, the more working hours the specialists require. Development providers typically operate on one of two pricing models: per-hour basis and fixed-price. Depending on your project idea you may benefit from a specific model more
- Expertise of specialists. It is no secret that the more experienced and qualified the specialists working on your app are the more they charge for their services. You can choose to collaborate with either senior and middle designers and developers or choose more junior specialists. This will ultimately reflect on the quality and the final price.
- Budget and timelines. Before stepping into an agreement with a company, ensure you establish a budget for your project. In addition you need to think about your deadlines and how fast you want the app delivered. The tighter the timeline for development, the more you can expect to pay since the providers will need to put more resources into your work to finish it on time.
In any case, the cost of creating an application for dating can start around $25,000 and end in the $50,000+ range for a more complex result. So be sure to discuss the objectives and requirements of your project with a vendor in detail.
How long does it take to create a dating app?
Similar to the question of price, the time it takes to complete each stage of development and move on to launch will heavily depend on what kind of app you want to create. Basic apps and MVPs take significantly less time to market than a fully functional and sophisticated application.
Factors influencing Dating App development time.
Besides calculating the time for making a dating app you need to consider any unforeseen situations and delays that may or may not occur in the process. The speed at which the specialists complete each stage can also depend on their skill level and experience developing similar apps or working in a similar niche.
It is best to consult with several professional vendors to see what time estimations they give and choose the one that fits your deadlines the most. You can expect that on average a fully functional dating app can be completed within 4 to 6 months. Keep in mind that you have to create a nail-biter for your participants so they are engaged and interested.
Monetization strategies for dating apps
There is no point in making a product if you can’t make consistent and predictable profit from it. Therefore monetizing your dating app is essential and can be done with a few potent strategies.
Main monetization strategies for dating apps.
Here are the most common ways you can earn revenue from your application:
- Premium subscription. Most apps nowadays provide users with a basic version of the app and a premium subscription that unlocks unique features and propositions. You can create a dating app with a premium option that provides unlimited swiping options, canceling of a previous swipe, different chatting and reward systems and much more. In addition, consider building a tiered program with varying types of premium models that contain special content in each option.
- In-app purchases. Since not all users can commit to upgrading their subscription, you can offer an alternative method which is paid content within the app. Users can make one-time or recurring purchases for unique features, such as gifts, extra swipes, account boosts etc. During an app design process you can come up with distinctive badges and icons that indicate the mood of the user.
- Advertisements and partnerships. Featuring ads on the app is a standard practice. Many platforms have a set amount and locations for paid advertisements that can be removed by purchasing or upgrading the account. Partnering with local influencers can also promote your app and help you reach a wider audience.
As you can see, there is a decent variety of monetization methods for a dating application being between Scylla and Charybdis. Combining them all into one efficient strategy can provide you with a better stream of income and give your users an opportunity to choose how they want to interact with your platform.
Need help with creating a dating app?
As you now know, many elements and details go into making a profitable and compelling dating app that can withstand competition from market giants. Keeping your hand on the pulse for current trends and consumer demands can give you a competitive edge and keep you one step ahead.
In our exploration of ways to make a dating app, we uncovered the types of apps, their qualities, and monetization approaches when starting your project. Digging deeper into the five fundamental stages of development, you should have a clearer picture of how the process unfolds.
If you are looking for a qualified development partner to collaborate with to bring your idea into reality, contact our team at Limeup. With over a decade of experience building thriving solutions, we can answer any of your questions and help you achieve your business objectives.