The Truth About Dating Apps In Hong Kong

Thinking of (re)downloading Tinder, Bumble or Hinge? Before you dedicate hours to building your profile, here are our honest thoughts on the most popular dating apps in Hong Kong…

We’ve all been there — swiping left for hours on end without a decent match in sight, thinking “How the hell did I get here?” Don’t be too hard on yourself. After all, dating in Hong Kong is notoriously difficult — and that’s before adding apps to the mix. Nevertheless, it seems that algorithmic connection is here to stay, because God knows you’re not going to have that 90s-era meet-cute of your dreams. But before you enlist to the warzone that is online dating, here are our honest thoughts on seven of the most popular dating apps in Hong Kong.

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Tinder — Nightmarecore

I’ll hold my hands up here and say I’m a hypocrite, because I actually met my long-term partner on Tinder in Hong Kong. But a) that was during the pandemic (things have changed) and b) queer and straight Tinder are two different worlds. From unsolicited dick pics to scammers, creeps and a seemingly endless stream of emotionally unavailable finance bros, straight Hong Kong Tinder can feel like it’s where romance goes to die. Unless you’re looking for a one-night stand with a man who will spend the whole night talking about himself, take our advice and don’t download this app.

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Coffee Meets Bagel — The innocent one

This app is actually pretty cute, and if you’re looking for something serious it’s a welcome respite from Tinder. Essentially everyone on here is seeking legitimate connections and relationships, so you don’t have to worry so much about ghosters. The problem with Coffee Meets Bagel is that there aren’t nearly the quantity of users as other apps, which can be difficult if you’re used to swiping past hundreds of faces. Also, because Coffee Meets Bagel is known to be more popular locally, some men join specifically to connect with Asian women, which can be a little yikes (no one wants to be fetishised).

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Bumble — You’ll download it at some point

There’s a lot of good things about this app, but that hasn’t stopped it from leaving my single friends screaming into a pillow. First off, practically all of Hong Kong has a Bumble profile, so be prepared to bump into friends, exes, mutuals and colleagues (congrats, you now know that Michael from accounting is ethically nonmonogamous). As for the whole prompt thing, this really does give you an insight into someone’s personality beyond their pictures. The down side? It’s actually easier to get the ick from someone’s self-described insightfulness than from an unflattering selfie.

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Feeld — If you’re into it, you’re into it

If you’re looking for a serious, committed, monogamous relationship, this may not be the app for you. But if you’re looking to explore your sexuality openly and intimately, Feeld really does cater to every desire. It’s also a solid resource if you’re already in a relationship and looking for a third (or another couple), and it’s one of the most queer- and trans-friendly dating apps in Hong Kong. Just be careful about who you open up to, because while all the apps have some bots and scammers, this one is rife with both.

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Hinge — RIP Hinge Hong Kong

Hinge took “designed to be deleted” a little too far, because you can’t actually use it in Hong Kong. However, it does work if you’ve downloaded it outside the city — meaning the type of person to use it in Hong Kong has likely not been here long (or is only here temporarily). There’s also a kind of arrogant vibe on Hinge, with the not-so-subtle connotation that you’re “too good” for other apps.

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Grindr — Stay safe out there

No real introduction required for this one, considering it’s the world’s most popular dating app for the queers and the gays. But while Grindr markets itself as open to trans and nonbinary queer people, users’ lived experiences say otherwise. Over the years, we’ve heard major complaints about pretty much every bigotry in the book — transphobia, racism, body-shaming, you name it (not to mention the horror stories about revenge porn). That said, it is and forever will be the go-to app for queer men.

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Hey Mandi — Good concept, depressing execution

In theory, this app is a great idea: you can match and start conversations with other users before seeing what they look like. That’s right, there isn’t any opportunity to judge someone’s looks before swiping, or for profile pictures to get in the way of a solid connection. Sadly, though, this has made it a little too easy for people who are already in relationships to set up a profile without anyone knowing. Yikes.

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Final Thoughts

While dating in Hong Kong is difficult no matter what, that doesn’t stop people from entering into new relationships every day — so don’t lose hope. These are honest reviews of the apps and their downsides from our personal experiences, but there’s no harm in setting up a profile and trying it out for yourself. If you’ve been convinced to stay off the apps, though, check out our regularly updated monthly event listings in Hong Kong for a chance to meet someone IRL for a change.