Best Dating Apps in 2025 for College Students and Grads

Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Boo vs Celsius

Online dating in Belgium is more popular than ever. With approximately 16% of Belgians actively using a dating app, the market is saturated with options. Big names like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge dominate, but many users also experience the frustrations of these platforms: superficial matches, 'pay-to-win' features, and an abundance of profiles that don't really fit.

In this article, we compare the giants (Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Boo) with a smart newcomer, Celsius: Next Degree Dating. We analyze their features, target audience, and pricing to see which app offers the best dating experience in Belgium.

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Tinder

Tinder is the current market leader, known for its swipe-left/swipe-right system. With 60 million active users worldwide (2025) and around 185,000 weekly active users in Belgium (end of 2023), its reach is enormous. The basics (swiping, matching, chatting) are theoretically free, but the app strongly pushes users toward paid versions (Tinder Plus, Gold, Platinum). These subscriptions are almost necessary to bypass the limitations of the free version. Tinder attracts a broad group (18-30 years) and is often used for casual dating, although serious relationships do occur.

Key Features:

• Profiles: Very visual with photos, a short bio, and linked Spotify/Instagram accounts.
• Matching: The iconic swipe system.
• Free Version: Offers a frustratingly limited number of 'likes' per day and contains ads.
• Paid Features (Plus, Gold, Platinum):
  • Unlimited Likes: The most basic need locked behind a paywall.
  • Rewind: Undo an accidental 'swipe left'.
  • Passport: Change your location (especially useful for travel).
  • See Who Likes You (Gold/Platinum): See a list of people who already liked you; a feature many consider essential, but comes at a high price.
  • Boosts & Super Likes: Pay extra to give your profile temporarily more visibility. The price of a boost is currently €8.99 each.

Target Audience: Singles (18-30 years) who are open to everything, but mainly looking for a large volume of options.

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Bumble

Bumble, often called the 'female-friendly Tinder', gives women control. For heterosexual matches, women have 24 hours to send the first message, otherwise the match disappears. This concept, expanded with Bumble BFF (friendship) and Bumble Bizz (networking), has 50 million users worldwide (of which 50,000-60,000 weekly in Belgium).

Many women prefer Bumble because it filters the stream of unwanted first messages. The target audience is similar to Tinder, but leans slightly more toward serious connections. Nevertheless, it remains a very large 'pool' where filtering serious candidates can be a challenge.

Key Features:

• Women Message First: The core concept for heterosexual matches.
• 24-Hour Time Limit: Creates urgency, but can also lead to missed opportunities if you don't check for a day.
• Profile Verification: An option to increase authenticity, but not mandatory.
• Bumble Boost & Premium (Paid):
  • Beeline: See who has already liked you.
  • Rematch: Reactivate expired matches (often necessary due to the time limit).
  • Extend: Extend the 24-hour time limit.

Target Audience: Young adults (18-35 years) who want the swipe convenience, but with more female control and a slightly more serious undertone.

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Celsius: Next Degree Dating

Celsius is an innovative Belgian dating app that specifically targets a group that often struggles to find like-minded individuals on the big apps: students and recent graduates. The app is designed as a direct response to the chaos, superficiality, and lack of verification among competitors.

The unique concept: everyone on Celsius is verified through a diploma or valid enrollment at a recognized university or college. This guarantees that every match has a comparable education level and ambition level. The app is completely free and has no 'pay-to-win' features, giving everyone equal chances of success. The interface is modern, simple, and focuses on what matters: real connections.

Key Features:

• Strict Verification: The cornerstone of the app. Everyone must provide proof of study (enrollment) or diploma (min. bachelor's degree). This eliminates 100% of bots, catfishing, and fake profiles. You always know who you're talking to.
• Exclusive Community: You only match with other verified students and alumni. The quality of matches is therefore significantly higher than on open platforms.
• No Pay-to-Win: The app is completely free. Unlike Tinder or Bumble, there are no 'paywalls'. You don't have to pay to see who liked you, for 'rewinds', or to get more likes.
• Focus on Level: Guarantees dating with people with a similar background, which often leads to better conversations and a deeper connection.

Unique Advantage: The certainty that you're talking to real, ambitious, and highly educated singles. No more wasted time on profiles that don't fit you. Target Audience: Students (university/college) and graduates (bachelor's, master's, or higher) looking for a partner at a comparable intellectual level.

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Hinge

Hinge positions itself as the app that is "designed to be deleted", with a clear focus on serious, long-term relationships. Instead of quick swipes, users build a detailed profile with photos and "prompts" (questions and answers). You 'like' a specific answer or specific photo, which makes starting a conversation more natural.

With approximately 23 million users (2023), Hinge is popular among singles (25-34 years) who are 'swipe-tired'. While it offers more depth than Tinder, it remains an open platform without verification of background or education, so you still need to filter.

Key Features:

• Profile Prompts: Mandatory questions and answers that show personality.
• Targeted Liking: You 'like' a specific part of someone's profile.
• Comments: You can send a message with your 'like', which increases the chance of a response.
• Hinge Preferred (Paid): Offers unlimited likes (the free version is limited), advanced filters, and the option to see who has already liked you.

Target Audience: Singles (especially 25-34 years) looking for real compatibility and a serious relationship.

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Boo

Boo is a newer app that approaches dating from a personality compatibility perspective, often based on tests like Myers-Briggs (MBTI). With more than 10 million downloads worldwide, it seeks "deep, authentic connections". Boo places a strong emphasis on verification (better than Tinder, but not as strict as Celsius) and offers a social 'community feed' where users can post based on interests. However, it remains a niche app and the focus on personality types is not equally relevant or scientifically validated for everyone.

Key Features:

• Personality Matching: Uses psychological tests to predict compatibility.
• Profile Verification: Strong encouragement for verification for a safer community.
• Social Feed (Community): A 'universe' where you can meet people based on interests.
• Free Basic: Matching and messaging is free, with optional purchases.

Target Audience: People looking for meaningful relationships based on character and shared interests, who value personality tests.

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Summary: The Right Choice for You

Which app you choose depends on your goal. If you're looking for pure quantity and a fast swipe experience, Tinder and Bumble are the largest pools, although this comes with the necessary frustrations (limited free likes, expensive 'paywalls'). Hinge and Boo try to offer more depth, but lack a crucial filter for background.

Celsius addresses the real problems of modern dating. It's not a general app, but a curated and exclusive community for higher educated individuals. Through strict verification, you don't waste time on fake profiles, bots, or people who don't fit you at all. Because the app is completely free and has no 'pay-to-win' mechanics, everyone competes on a level playing field.

If you're a student or graduate looking for quality matches and real conversations with people at a comparable level, Celsius is the most logical and efficient choice. Download Celsius now and create your free profile!