[title]
Dating and 'hook-up' apps are here to stay whether we like them or not. But if you're sick of the same ol' same ol', here are six alternative dating apps in London right now that you might not know existed.
The Ann Summers Rabbit app
Yep, that's the same Ann Summers that's a market leader in vibrators... amongst many other things. Rabbit offers a lot – and I mean A LOT – more than most dating apps. Predominately aimed at women, it comes with some awesome extras such as cool date suggestions, a 'tell me more' option to take the conversation further and special offers from sponsors, so it can be a little bit daunting at first. It works with sexual health awareness charity Brook and dishes out any advice you may need via the 'Ask Brook' function 24/7. Plus the 'Rabbit Files' option lets you rate someone's profile accuracy as a safety measure to help out fellow users too. Once you get the hang of navigating around, it's actually really easy to use. There are a lot of paid extras if you want a fuller experience, though the free version works just fine.
Clocked
Aimed at over-21s, Clocked's free version gives you three matches per day that disappear at midnight, creating a sense of urgency. You'll just need to sign in with Facebook, answer a few quick questions and boom – you're ready to start 'clocking' people. Developed by Londoners for Londoners, it completely understands the minefield we have to go through by keeping it simple and easy to use. The free version also gives you venue options for dates if you need them.
Jingle
Just like Tinder, Jingle is incredibly user-friendly. Once you get through the nine animated image-based quiz questions and sign up via a Facebook plug-in, you're able to see your matches based on a compatibility percentage rating. It seems pretty safe and the 'incognito' function hides you from friends and colleagues if you want to stay, well, incognito. Jingle also gives you suggestions about things happening in and around London if you're strapped for ideas on where to take your date. Oh, it's also free.
Whatifi
We've all woken up the morning after a big night out and kicked ourselves for not having approached that person we spotted across the room last night. Enter ‘Whatifi', the app that tracks your whereabouts and connects you with people who have been in the same place as you recently. Obviously you'll have to hope they've downloaded the app as well, so that you’re able to connect, but for many an introverted Londoner that slim hope is a hell of a lot more appealing than actually talking to someone you fancy.
Once
'Once' is all about simplicity and ideal for the busy Londoner in all of us. You get one match per day – that's it – and you have 24 hours to get in touch before they disappear. There are paid extras, but the free version gives you the general gist.
Distinc.tt
The LGBT app for people of all ages is definitely not just a dating app. Distinc.tt is a social network that lets you do everything from make friends to discuss what cool events are happening. It's super user-friendly and works a lot like Facebook and Twitter where you can scroll through your feed and see what's happening in your network or find people you'd like to meet in (heaven forbid) real life.
Found a match? Check out London's best bars for a date in London.