About The Dating Gal
I'm the Dating Gal: the pen name of the writer behind this site. I review and rank dating sites and apps for US adults, from the big names like Tinder and Hinge to niche sites for cougars, kink, gamers, seniors and single parents. The goal is the review I wanted when I started: what it costs, who is actually on it, and the catch nobody puts on the homepage.
What's hands-on, and what's research
I'd rather be upfront about this, because most dating review sites aren't.
- The original reviews (the ones linked from my category rankings) come from signing up and using each site myself. That's where the screenshots, the signup steps and the "here's what surprised me" parts come from.
- The newer guides, comparisons and reviews are researched, not tested: they're built from each platform's own pricing page, help center, terms and App Store or Google Play listing, and they say where each fact comes from. They never claim I used an app when I didn't. When they reuse something I found hands-on, they link to the original review.
- Prices are checked at the source and dated ("prices checked October 2026"). The Dating App Price Index is re-checked every month.
How the site makes money
Some links on this site are affiliate links: if you sign up or subscribe through them, I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. That money keeps the site running. It never buys a rating or a ranking: several sites I have an affiliate link for sit at 2.5/5, because that's what they earned. TheDatingGal doesn't own or operate any of the platforms it reviews.
Who this site is for
Adults 18+ in the US. I don't cover apps for teens, and the hookup, sugar and kink pages describe platforms, costs and safety, never explicit content. Every one of those pages includes the basics: meet in public, verify before you meet, and never send money to someone you haven't met.
Found a mistake?
Prices and features change fast. If something on a page is wrong or out of date, email me at contact@thedatinggal.com with the page and what changed, and I'll fix it. You can also see how I rate dating sites.