Online Dating Application Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Revenue Generation (Subscription, Advertisement), By Region (North America, Europe, APAC, LATAM, MEA), And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global online dating application market size was valued at USD 7.5 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% from 2022 to 2030. Online dating applications are gaining tremendous popularity among young individuals, especially millennials. The usage of these apps has witnessed a tremendous rise, especially among the LGBTQ+ community, owing to the social stigma associated with the community in many countries. The industry is highly fragmented with a large number of local as well as global players in the market. Companies are taking advantage of the growing popularity of smartphones, increasing internet speed, and accessibility. There is a rise in users exploring the applications through their smartphones, allowing them to access online dating services at their convenience.

Moreover, the growing demand for paid subscriptions is expected to spur market growth during the forecast period. The success rate of marriage is declining and the number of singles is increasing all around the world. The recent trend observed among people, particularly the younger age group, is prioritizing career over getting settled and married. Most people now prefer to live alone. This factor is playing a significant role in increasing the popularity of online dating. Several statistics have highlighted the growing trend of staying unmarried among individuals in different parts of the world.

Most countries lack a clear legal framework for online dating applications to prevent sexual violence and online gender-based violence. Regulators across the world are trying to regulate or at least provide rules for dating apps as they try to protect the individuals using these apps. In the U.K., in 2013, the market players set up the Online Dating Association (ODA) to take collective responsibility for the market and operations. In Singapore, through the Social Development Network, the government has been actively regulating matchmaking apps.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a favorable effect on the market. In terms of the total number of COVID-19 patients worldwide, Europe and the Asia Pacific were among the worst impacted regions. Additionally, things became worse in the U.S. Governments throughout the world issued orders for a complete lockdown, staying at home, and social seclusion due to the virus's rapid spread. People's social and romantic lives were impacted by the total lockdown. As singles searched for companionship and connection amid their social isolation, the use of apps increased dramatically.

At the start of the pandemic, demand for dating applications spiked. OkCupid reported a "700% spike in dates" between March 2020 and May 2020, and video calls on Bumble increased by 70%. Tinder recorded 3 billion swipes in one day in March 2020 and declared 2020 to be its busiest year. In comparison to 2019, Hinge's sales increased in 2020. Throughout the pandemic, this increased demand persisted. With the pandemic scenario in mind, several companies added additional functions to the dating app. A few of the unique aspects of the pandemic include gamification of discussions, vaccination badges, and virtual badges that show users are open to virtual dating and video calling. New tools were needed as app users grew more interested in meaningful connections.

Revenue Generation Insights

The subscription segment led the market and accounted for more than 60.0% share of the overall revenue in 2021. This can be attributed to the increasing subscriptions given the extra features in paid subscriptions, such as no ads, unlimited likes, and read receipts. Based on subscription, the market is further sub-segmented into age, gender, and type. By age, the subscription segment is categorized into four age groups: 18-25 years, 26-34 years, 35-50 years, and above 50 years. The 18-25 years age group accounted for the largest revenue share of over 55.0% in 2021, followed by the 26-34-year age group.

The 18-25 years age group led the market in 2021 owing to the fact that the younger generation is more inclined toward online dating. The younger generation is using dating apps not only to find romantic relationships but also platonic friendships. The usage of dating apps among the 26-34-year age group is rising owing to the high divorce and separation rates. People use dating apps to give themselves a second shot at love or romance. The 26-34 years age group is expected to be the fastest-growing segment with a CAGR of 5.9% from 2022 to 2030.

Regional Insights

North America accounted for the largest revenue share of over 35.0% in 2021. This can be attributed to the presence of a large number of players in the North American market. Prominent players like Tinder and Bumble all have their roots in North America. Further, in North America, the U.S. accounted for the largest revenue share of over 55.0% in 2021. In terms of growth, Canada is expected to grow at the fastest rate of 5.2% during the forecast period.

The Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest-growing regional market during the forecast period. The growth in the region is primarily attributed to the large single population in the region, the growing purchasing power of the consumers, and urbanization. China and India together held a revenue share of over 55.0% in the Asia Pacific region.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Market players in the online dating application industry are adopting technologies such as artificial intelligence in online dating applications. Several new features are being introduced regularly on these dating apps in an attempt to keep their existing consumer base satisfied as well as expand their consumer base. Industry players are undertaking mergers and acquisitions with their competitors to expand their geographic presence and capture the escalating market potential. For instance, in February 2022, Bumble Inc. announced the acquisition of Fruitz, a dating app specifically catered for the younger audience generally called Gen Z. Fruitz has seen rapid growth across France, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, and Canada in recent years. The acquisition would enable Bumble Inc. to expand its presence in these countries.

Major market players are also extensively focusing on product development to further expand their customer base. For instance, in February 2022, Tinder introduced its Blind Date feature. Blind Date is a social experience that pairs users before allowing them to view each other's profiles, making the first impression based on dialogue rather than photographs. Members who utilized the Blind Date option made 40% more matches than those who used the Fast Chat function with profiles exposed in early testing, indicating daters' eagerness to communicate. Some prominent players in the global online dating application market include:

• Tinder

• Bumble Inc.

• Plentyoffish

• OkCupid

• Badoo

• Grindr LLC

• eHarmony, Inc.

• Spark Networks SE

• The Meet Group

• rsvp.com.au Pty Ltd.

• Zoosk, Inc.

• The League

• Coffee Meets Bagel

• Happn

• Feeld Ltd.

• 3Fun

• Lex

• #Open

• Taimi

• Bloom Community

Online Dating Application Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

The report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global online dating application market report based on revenue generation and region:

• Revenue Generation Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • Subscription

    • Age

    • 18 - 25 years

    • 26 - 34 years

    • 35 - 50 years

    • Above 50 years

    • Gender

    • Male

    • Female

    • Type

    • Annually

    • Quarterly

    • Monthly

  • Advertisement

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Sweden

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • Japan

    • India

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa