Updated 31 October 2026

Best dating apps in Manchester (2026)

Manchester’s dating scene centres on the Northern Quarter and Ancoats, with Didsbury and Chorlton popular further south.

Disclosure: getme is our own site, listed first and labelled as such. We don’t rate competitors or use affiliate links. Facts come from each company’s published help pages or a dated app-store snapshot; prices vary by account, age and location, so always check the in-app screen. Last updated 31 October 2026.

First-date spots in Manchester

Northern Quarter

Independent bars and cafés.

Mackie Mayor

Shared tables in a market hall.

Castlefield

Canal-side walks.

Local events: Manchester International Festival brings large free and ticketed events every two years.

Safety tip: Trams stop around midnight on many lines: plan your trip home.

The apps compared

1. getme (our site)Our site

Best for:: People who want dating, friends and local community in one place, starting with their own area. It is newer and smaller than the apps below, so expect fewer profiles while it grows.
Free:: Profiles, Discover, matching, chat, posts, friends and groups are free. You see people in your own area first.
Paid:: Optional Plus and Premium add extras such as unlimited likes, seeing who liked you and travel mode, priced in pounds. Paid plans are being switched on in stages.
Safety & verification:: Optional selfie verification, block and report on every profile and message, location shown only to suburb/area level, and a Safety Centre with local helplines.

Sources: getme Safety Centre · getme pricing

2. Tinder

Best for:: People who like a fast, swipe-based app with a very large pool and are comfortable filtering for themselves.
Free:: Swiping, matching and messaging are free.
Paid:: Tinder Plus (unlimited likes, Rewinds, Passport, no ads, incognito), Gold (adds weekly Super Likes, a monthly Boost on longer plans and See Who Likes You) and Platinum (adds Prioritised Likes). The UK App Store listed Tinder Plus at £3.99 and Gold items from £7.49 to £14.99 on 16 October 2026, without saying which plan length each covers.
Safety & verification:: Block and report tools; check Tinder’s safety centre for photo verification availability in your country.

Sources: Tinder Help: Tinder subscriptions · Dating API: dating app subscription prices (UK App Store snapshot, 16 Oct 2026)

3. Hinge

Best for:: People who want a relationship and prefer prompts and profile-first conversations over rapid swiping.
Free:: The regular version is free: match and message, with a limited number of likes a day and incoming likes shown one at a time.
Paid:: Hinge+ (unlimited likes, see all incoming likes, advanced filters) and HingeX (adds enhanced recommendations, an always-on boost and Priority Likes). You can also buy Roses and Boosts. The UK App Store listed Hinge+ lines at £12.99 to £14.99 on 16 October 2026.
Safety & verification:: Optional Selfie Verification with a badge. In the UK, new users are asked to complete a Face Check video selfie for age assurance.

Sources: Hinge Help: Is Hinge free? · Hinge Help: Subscription and purchase benefits · Hinge Help: Selfie Verification · Hinge Help: Age checks at Hinge · Dating API: dating app subscription prices (UK App Store snapshot, 16 Oct 2026)

4. Bumble

Best for:: People who like structured features (interest badges, dating intentions) and want strong verification options.
Free:: Bumble says it works without paid features: swipe, match and chat for free.
Paid:: Boost (unlimited likes, weekly SuperSwipes and Spotlight, Backtrack), Premium (adds Liked You, advanced filters, Incognito and Travel Mode) and Premium+. The UK App Store listed Premium at £13.99 to £16.99 on 16 October 2026.
Safety & verification:: Optional photo verification outside the US, ID Verification (available in Australia, Canada and the UK, among others) and Share Date to send date details to trusted contacts.

Sources: Bumble Support: paid features and subscription plans · Bumble Support: Verifying your photos · Bumble: ID Verification, Share Date and more · Dating API: dating app subscription prices (UK App Store snapshot, 16 Oct 2026)

5. eharmony

Best for:: People who want a long-term relationship and are happy to take a detailed Compatibility Quiz.
Free:: Basic membership is free: take the Compatibility Quiz, see your matches, send likes and limited messages (photos are blurred).
Paid:: Premium memberships of 3, 6 or 12 months add unlimited messaging, all photos and a Personality Profile. The UK App Store listed plans from £44.99 up to £349.99 on 16 October 2026.
Safety & verification:: Guided matching based on the quiz; standard block and report tools.

Sources: eharmony: is eharmony free? · eharmony: cost and benefits · Dating API: dating app subscription prices (UK App Store snapshot, 16 Oct 2026)

6. Plenty of Fish

Best for:: People who want to search and message widely without paying.
Free:: Free members can search with filters, like in Meet Me and message mutual matches.
Paid:: POF Plus (unlimited likes, up to 16 photos, no ads), Premium (see who likes you, read receipts) and Prestige (unlimited first contacts and priority likes).
Safety & verification:: Block and report tools; check POF’s safety pages for verification options.

Sources: Plenty of Fish Help: POF Plus, Premium and Prestige

Safety

In an emergency call 999. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is free and open 24/7 on 0808 2000 247; Samaritans are on 116 123. Read our Safety Centre.

Dating apps in Manchester: FAQs

Which dating app is best in Manchester?

It depends on what you want. Swipe apps such as Tinder suit people who like volume; Hinge and eharmony are built around relationships; Bumble adds strong verification options. getme (our site) combines dating with friends and local community.

Are dating apps free?

All of the apps here let you create a profile and match for free. Paid tiers add things like unlimited likes, seeing who liked you and filters. Prices vary by account and location.

How do I stay safe dating in Manchester?

Trams stop around midnight on many lines: plan your trip home. Meet in public, tell a friend your plans, never send money to someone you haven’t met. In an emergency call 999. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is free and open 24/7 on 0808 2000 247; Samaritans are on 116 123.

Guides

Online dating guide Dating safety guide