For many Indian singles, it’s important to find a dating app that is designed with your preferences, culture, and values in mind. To help you with your search, we’ve compiled a list of the top dating sites and apps for Indians, plus the best features to look for, so that you can start making meaningful connections based on compatibility and understanding.
Here are some notable features of great Indian dating apps.
The best Indian dating sites and apps will emphasize cultural compatibility and understanding. Indian and South Asian cultures are unique, with various traditions, languages, communities, and religions—making it crucial for many singles with this heritage to find a partner that shares in certain aspects of their culture.
A good Indian dating app will also allow users to set religious preferences or even deal-breakers. Although interfaith relationships can work, some Indian singles prefer dating and marrying individuals who share their religion, making this an important feature to look for.
Dating Indian singles who share an understanding of certain communities, traditions, and other aspects of Indian heritage is important to some people. By choosing an app that allows users to narrow down profiles by setting advanced filters, Indian singles can have a more supportive and understanding dating experience and build a community of like-minded singles.
All dating apps should verify users through phone number/email verification, photo verification, or even by asking for a government ID.
Safety and privacy in the online dating environment is key. The best apps, even free dating apps, should include safety features, like profile verification, the ability to hide certain identifying information from profiles (like a cell phone number), profile reporting or blocking, and more.
Check out our list of the top online dating apps and websites for Indian singles.
Aisle connects people of Indian or South Asian origin who are looking for serious relationships.
Aisle’s tagline is “There’s nothing casual about this dating app,” which communicates that casual dating is not the intent of the app. It serves as a middle ground between traditional matchmaking, which tends to focus solely on family, traditions, and values, and dating app culture, which often includes casual dating. Aisle aims to match Indian and South Asian singles based on compatibility and relationship goals, all while considering cultural customs and values. Although it is a dating app in India (and based in the country), Aisle is also available worldwide, including in the United States.
Key features of the Aisle app include women messaging men first with anonymous matches, ice-breaker prompts with an Indian focus, and features that allow users to narrow down potential matches more effectively (e.g., filtering based on deal-breakers and the Settle Down feature).
For South Asian or Indian singles wanting long-term partnerships, Aisle is a good option due to its intentional design and features. It helps singles find matches based on unique cultural sensitivities and puts the power of first messages into women’s hands (although, some users might not like this feature).
Although Aisle has a 4.5-star rating on the Apple App Store, most reviews within the past year are given one star. Reviewers claim that there are too many scammers, the app is glitchy, there are few profiles in their US locations, and that you have to pay to do just about anything.
Dil Mil launched in 2014 with the mission of finding love for singles in the South Asian community.
Similar to Aisle, Dil Mil aims to be a middle ground between modern dating and arranged marriages, without losing the focus on unique cultural and religious preferences and needs that many South Asian singles have.
Dil Mil users first sign up by uploading photos and filling out their profile, which includes questions about ethnic and religious background. To use the app, users swipe right on profiles they like and left on those they want to pass up. The app’s algorithm adjusts potential matches based on your past interactions.
Dil Mil claims to have more than 2 million users worldwide, but it’s not clear how many of those are based in the United States. In fact, many reviews note that the app’s location filters are inadequate, with potential matches shown that are nowhere near the user’s location. In contrast to other apps, Dil Mil allows users to chat for free, but paid subscriptions provide more features, like advanced filters, the ability to reset dislikes, profile boosts, and unlimited likes.
Although many reviews on the App Store and Google Play Store indicate that the app is glitchy, there are plenty of reviews that mention they’ve met their person through Dil Mil.
Shaadi.com is a dating site and app for Indian and South Asian singles looking for a more traditional approach to finding a spouse.
The intent of Shaadi.com is to find members marriage matches based on a variety of compatibility factors and preferences. Users can search for profiles with certain criteria, express interest, video chat, and sift through potential matches provided by the app/site based on their profile. Advanced filters include language, location, preferred community, and more. The dating site and app even has a feature called Shaadi Live that allows members to meet 10 matches in an hour over video.
The most obvious benefit of Shaadi.com is the ability to find a precise profile fit through advanced filters and its focus on matrimony (for those who are specifically looking for marriage).
Some of the cons include having to pay for the service to be able to message matches and access other features that enhance the user experience. Furthermore, anyone can create a profile for a user (for example, a parent could create a Shaadi.com profile for their son or daughter). Some might like this feature, while others might not appreciate messaging with someone other than the profile subject themselves.
Launched in 2000, BharatMatrimony is a dating site and app for Indians.
BharatMatrimony aims to create marriage matches for singles from India or with Indian heritage—both in India and globally. In 2022, there were 5 million active profiles on the site/app; although, it’s not clear how many are active in the United States.
Key features of BharatMatrimony include advanced filters, like community, occupation, or mother tongue, and in-app messaging (including via phone, video, or chat). Additionally, this online dating platform is unique in that it offers a feature called Assisted Service, which connects users with a relationship manager who will conduct profile searches and contact preferred profiles on the user’s behalf.
BharatMatrimony users have access to top-notch safety and privacy features: They can limit who can view their profile, hide their phone number in their profile, and use the SecureConnect feature, which doesn’t reveal a phone number during calls.
Reviews across the App Store and Google Play Store are mostly negative, with many noting that the app crashes frequently, they encountered many fake profiles, and that they overall had a bad experience.
Jeevansathi is another dating site and app launched in the early 2000s that is intended to help Indians find marriage partnerships.
Although it is based in India, Jeevansathi can be used worldwide, including in the states. Similar to other online dating platforms featured in this list, Jeevansathi focuses on making marriage matches based on users’ criteria, which might include mother tongue, community, religion, and location. Creating a profile is easy (and free), and the site/app even offers a personalized service where paid members can have a relationship manager search for, select, and message profiles on their behalf.
With Jeevansathi, anyone can create a profile for a user, either for themselves or for a son, daughter, friend, and so on. While some people might like the inclusion of family in their search, others might not appreciate connecting with someone other than the person listed in the profile.
A huge benefit of Jeevansathi is that users can message unlimited profiles without having to sign up for a paid membership. However, the ability to search by advanced filters is only available with a paid membership.
Jeevansathi also takes safety and security to the next level by offering in-person verification and verification with government IDs. Although, it’s unclear what the in-person verification entails and where this option is used (e.g., only in India or in other countries as well).
TrulyMadly is a dating app, launched in 2014, that serves as an alternative to matrimony apps and sites while still focusing on serious dating.
Based in India, TrulyMadly also operates outside of the country, connecting non-resident Indians in various countries, including the United States. The app’s design includes robust features that focus on compatibility between matches. For instance, users can take quizzes to understand how compatible they are; search based on interests, values, and preferences; and upload video profiles so that other users can see the authentic “them.”
It seems that some features, like the compatibility quiz, are only available with a paid subscription; however, the TrulyMadly website and review sites aren’t clear about what is included in the free and paid versions. For example, TrulyMadly offers a Human Matchmaker feature that provides personalized profile suggestions, but it doesn’t state whether this is a free offering.
Many reviews, like those on the Google Play Store, claim that there are fake profiles, the app requests payment for too many features, and the app isn’t user friendly.
Here are the top features to keep in mind when researching dating apps for Indians.
Indian dating apps should help singles find the right match based on compatibility. For some, compatibility might include similar culture, religion, or family background, while for others, compatibility might be based on personality traits and interests. No matter what type of partner you’re looking for, make sure that the dating app or site that you choose displays matches that align with your preferences and deal-breakers to help you find the perfect match.
For many people who are Indian, the ability to meet people who share a similar cultural identity is crucial. Look for apps that focus on building community among users of varying languages, religions, and backgrounds.
Always choose an online dating platform that has top-notch safety and privacy features. For example, some apps don’t let users take screenshots of or download photos from profiles, and others have in-app messaging features that hide contact information until the conversation is taken off the app. Additionally, ensure that the app includes profile verification as part of its signup process.
Many people in the Indian community might have some potential issues to keep in mind with online dating.
For many people from Indian backgrounds, navigating the modern dating scene can be challenging when traditional perspectives on dating and marriage are at play. It may be difficult to prioritize beliefs, customs, and values—and acknowledge one’s family influence—while ensuring that your individual preferences are part of the equation.
That’s why dating apps and sites designed for Indian singles can be a great, modern solution for those looking for long-lasting relationships while still having a say in their romantic future.
Similarly, finding a way to carve out their own romantic path amid various cultural and familial expectations might be challenging for many Indian singles. But Indian dating apps can provide a happy medium, where the search for a partner is modernized while still taking into account cultural standards.
Instead of relying on an algorithm to show you potential matches, why not depend on a relationship expert who hand-selects matches based on your unique preferences?
Tawkify matchmakers take the time to listen to your needs, deal-breakers, personality, and more—getting to know the real you—then use that information to find singles who might fit you to a tee. Whether searching based on religion, cultural values, or tradition (or all three), our matchmakers use their experience and expertise to help you find a long-lasting relationship. Plus, they curate first dates, gather post-date feedback, and even provide date coaching.
Read about Tawkify love stories, then sign up to find your person today.
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