Do you really believe that all is fair in love and war? Particularly LOVE? And yet you’re wondering why is it that most nights you only have N to rely on? I meant Netflix.
Well, the digital age has surely brought about a lot of conveniences and it would be crazy to not mention how it has revolutionized the dating scene, even in Malaysia! It’s only a swipe away now before you get the chance to chat and meet like minded adults who are also out there seeking love! With so many choices available when it comes to the latest apps and sites to find love, we have taken upon ourselves to rank the 5 best dating apps in Malaysia for you to try, of course!
5 Best Dating Apps in Malaysia
Swipe-Worthy Gems: 5 Best Dating Apps in Malaysia
1. Bumble (10/10)
Pros: Women make the first move, user-friendly, BFF feature
Cons: Profile matches expire after 24 hours, basic functionality for free users
Currently the best dating app in Malaysia, Bumble is all about giving the ladies the power to make the first move (Who runs the world?! GIRLS!) Although the swiping mechanism is very similar across the board with other dating apps, Bumble is the only app that allows women to start their chat with their potential matches, but here’s the deal: there’s a bit of a time twist. Ladies, you’ve got only 24 hours to kick off that chat after matching with someone you have swiped on! Unless you have acted within 24 hours, your match will expire, and you’d have to bid goodbye to perhaps, The One.
As one of the best dating apps in Malaysia, Bumble keeps things super user-friendly and easy to use. The sign up process is seamless, however, you will find that as a free user, you will only have access to basic search filters like age, location, gender, and language when you try to narrow down your dating pool.
Premium users however, have access to much more like height, smoking habits, education level, etc. Fortunately though, Bumble has given access to all users for their nifty little extra feature called Bumble BFF – perfect to find friends if love is not what you’re seeking! All in all, if you’re all about making the first moves and meaningful conversations, Bumble is undoubtedly one of the best dating apps in Malaysia for you to try!
2. OkCupid (9/10)
Pros: Large pool of users, lots of free features, in-depth questionnaire to find the ideal match
Cons: Fake profiles, the app can feel overwhelming with too many ads shown
OkCupid is not your average Malaysian dating app, it’s like a matchmaker with a PhD! Their in-depth questionnaire is their biggest plus point. It looks at things like your age, where you are located, what you’re into, what you’re not and finally, gives you a special score that shows how well you click with someone based on these information.
It definitely guides users toward their ideal matches with a resonance that goes beyond appearances; how refreshing! So many folks are into this app. With an estimated 50 million users worldwide, you could be getting tons of likes every day. But here’s the deal: along with the real gems, you might come across a lot of fake profiles too. If you don’t mind doing a bit of profile detective work, then OkCupid’s might just be the right dating app for you.
Another huge plus point about OkCupid are its free features which allows users to use functionalities like sending and receiving messages without any constraints. While all this may make it sound like one the few best dating apps in Malaysia, its gargantuan nature does force the app to include many ads which may frustrate some users. In your pursuit of love and connection through OkCupid, know that you will tread upon a landscape where a world of personalities convene, so always prioritize your safety first.
3. Tinder (7/10)
Pros: Easy and quick to set up, user friendly, no limits or time cap on messaging
Cons: Restriction on the number of profiles likes per day, less serious, casual vibes only
It’s hard to believe that Tinder, the most talked about app in the town, has been around for close to 12 years now. Popularly known for the king of casual vibes and quick connections, this app appears on our top 5 best dating apps in Malaysia due to its ease of setting up and user friendliness. Similar to its fellow peer OkCupid, Tinder is also another app that has no limits on messaging! It offers users plenty of filters to find their perfect match, providing customized matches rather quickly, churning out someone who is able to mesh with your vibe and personality.
Unlike the likes of Bumble which creates a sense of urgency with the 24 hour time limit and causes matches to expire, Tinder has kept it simple; if you have matched with someone, you have the option to start chatting with them anytime! What Tinder does have a limit on is the number of swipes daily. They have roughly allocated 25-50 swipes or likes as they call it, to men and around 50 for women. Though this may be annoying to potential relationship seekers, this is all in effort to produce more quality matches on Tinder.
Which brings us to the downside of this app; Well, if you’re in the market for something serious, Tinder might not be your go-to. Most folks here are all about keeping things relaxed and casual, which sometimes leads to what they call “situationships” – you know, those in-between kind of things. But hey, that’s not a bad thing if that’s what you’re into! Remember, you do you!
4. Coffee meets bagel (5/10)
Pros: no more mindless scrolling,unwanted matches and messages, ice-breaker prompts
Cons: Free account limitations, fewer matches with no comprehensive questionnaire
Imagine getting a fresh batch of bagels everyday but instead of bagels, you get profile matches. That’s Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) for you. If you’re in it for something serious, like a real-deal relationship or even a potential spouse, this app’s got your back.
Here’s the catch: women get 6 matches daily while the men get 21. Seems unfair but hey, if you’re in a big city, your chance of finding a great local match is better and once you’ve got a match, you’ve got eight days to start the conversation. This move inevitably makes CMB a place filled with serious potential daters as it reduces the number of mindless scrolling, swiping, and messaging. It also eliminates match fatigue amongst users with the match limitation provided to each gender.
To keep things fresh, CBM also offers its users ice-breaker prompts when sending that first message to your match. You know, first impressions matter! These prompts are intelligently generated through the top three fun facts that you get asked when you’re creating your profile.
All in all, CBM has the makings of a best dating app in Malaysia, however, if you’re wondering about our lower score for CBM, it is mostly due to the limitations that this app has. All their good intentions in providing quality matches bites back when you start realizing that with the limited number of matches each day, comes lesser compatible matches since a comprehensive questionnaire guiding their users is absent. Which then would encourage most users to feel like they need a premium account or ‘buy beans’ to swipe on more profiles and increase the number of matches, all of which are the main limitations of a free account.
However, if you resonate with the ‘quality over quantity’ mindset and a slower more curated approach then CBM could definitely be a satisfying choice as one of the best dating apps in Malaysia and might just be your cup of tea! I mean, coffee!
5. Joompa (5/10)
Pros: Muslim-friendly, large base of local users, verified profiles
Cons: Account setup takes time, basic questionnaire that is not detailed
Possibly the coolest one on this list is Joompa, and perhaps the few ‘halal’ versions of all the dating apps thus far! Launched with the tagline ‘for Muslims, by Muslims’ Joompa is not your regular dating app. It centers on finding love that aligns to your religious beliefs and values. That alone makes the app contain a large base of local users giving users a ton of options to find love. Joompa is also serious when it comes to ensuring match quality – users must upload their identity certifications during registration to ensure that they are real, eliminating any type of fake profiles. This also generally negates anyone who isn’t so serious about finding a connection from the get-go.
While all these features really do boost the quality of a potential match, their biggest downside is the length of their questionnaire for set up which while it may be long, does not provide users with a comprehensive way of expressing themselves. A lot of the questions were deemed to be basic or a ‘this or that’ choice which forces users to be boxed into categories. That said, it also was apparent that in order to ‘widen your pool’ one may select all the options without answering them honestly.
While it may not align with everyone’s preferences, Joompa holds the potential to bring you connections who are more aligned when it comes to shared beliefs and values. If that’s what you’re seeking, then this app could very well be worth treading!
Finding Your Match Made Easy!
So, there you have it – your ultimate guide to the best dating apps in Malaysia. From the power move of women initiating chats on Bumble to the brainy matching method of OkCupid, and the chill vibes of Tinder to the faith-focused connection on Joompa – the options are truly endless! There really is something for everyone! Although we have come a long way in terms of finding new connections, from being known as a culture where arranged marriages are a norm to now, swiping to finding love successfully, it is extremely important to remember that regardless what your preferences may be, always stay kind to each other and respect each other’s boundaries. So go on, give them a whirl, have fun, and who knows – your perfect match might just be a few swipes away! Happy dating!
