The dating apps market - France (2025)

1.2 A fast-growing global market, dominated by Tinder

Maximize market research estimated the size of the global online dating market at $*.* billion in ****. This market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (***) of *.*% from **** to ****. We can therefore imagine the market growing at a CAGR of almost $** billion by ****.

Global online dating market size World, ****-****, in billions of dollars Source: ****

The global market is being driven by the increasing number of singles and the growth in Internet use worldwide. Millennials" (***) are the main users of this kind of service, and sites and applications are becoming increasingly innovative, thanks to new technologies such as AI at their disposal.

Dating app downloads World, ****-****, millions of downloads Source: Business of Apps Between **** and ****, the global dating app market experienced strong momentum, with **% growth in downloads, peaking at ***.* million in ****. After stabilizing in ****, the sector remains strong despite a slight decline, with ***.* million downloads in ****, a level still well above that of ****. This may reflect a mature market, where users now prefer loyalty and service optimization to massive new downloads.

Number of dating app users World, ****-****, number of users Source: ****

Between **** and ****, the number of dating app users grew by **%, from ***.* million to ***.* million.

This sustained growth ...

1.3 Growth in the French market

Sales of the dating market in France France, **** - ****, in millions of euros Source: ****

There are no recent estimates of the market size of dating apps and sites in France. Nevertheless, a study carried out in **** forecasts the evolution of sales in this market up to ****. Thus, sales of dating sites in France stood at *** million euros in **** in France, a figure already up on ****. Projections put sales at *** million euros by ****, rising to *** million euros by ****, testifying to the market's strong growth momentum.

Proportion of singles claiming to be able to register on online dating platforms France, ****-****, % (***) Source: ****

Between **** and ****, the proportion of singles in France declaring themselves willing to register on an online dating platform more than doubled, rising from **% to **%, an increase of ***%.

The steepest rise was between **** and ****, with an increase of ***%, before slowing to just +*% between **** and ****.

This recent stabilization suggests that the market has reached a plateau, with widespread acceptance of dating platforms, but a slower evolution in behavior.

Main dating apps/sites used France, February ****, % Source: ****

In February ****, Tinder and Meetic topped the list of favorite dating apps in France, garnering **.*% and **.*% of positive reviews respectively. Fruitz, with **.*%, stands out as a fast-growing ...

2.1 Demand driven by the democratization of the Internet and growth in the number of singles

The two main factors driving the development of online dating services are the number of singles and the population's use of the Internet.

Number of singled, divorced and widowed people in France France, ****-****, in % Source: ****

In France, the number of single people (***) was around ** million in **** according to INSEE, at the time of the last update of this data, representing **.*% of the population aged ** or over. We consider this population to be representative of the addressable market for dating sites. Part of this population is in couples, but this is not taken into account. However, trends in the population of singles as defined by the French Civil Registry are relatively representative.

It should also be noted that widowers and divorcees represent *.*% and *.*% respectively of the population over **, and are also an attractive target for dating sites. It should be noted that as of ****, since divorces can be pronounced by notaries, data can no longer be collected and INSEE no longer publishes statistics on marital status.

The target group for dating sites has therefore been steadily expanding since ****, having risen from **% to **% of the population in seven years.

Singles under pressure:

Feeling the pressure to exit bachelorhood France, ****, in Source: ****

A ...

2.2 User profile: young users and an over-representation of non-heterosexuals

The use of dating applications and sites varies greatly according to gender, age, socio-professional category and sexual orientation.

Usage of online dating services, by age France, ****, in % Source: ****

Overall, young adults are the most frequent users of these services, with a high proportion among **-** year-olds, where **% of women and **% of men use online dating. This trend also continues among **-** year-olds, with **% of women and **% of men using these services.

Usage rates drop slightly among older age groups, but remain significant. People aged **-** still show relatively high percentages, with **% of women and **% of men using online dating services.

However, there is a noticeable decline among older age groups. Users in the **-** age group represent a smaller share, although men in the **-** age bracket still show a relatively high percentage, with **% using them. Finally, the proportion of users among those aged ** and over is the lowest, with only **% of women and **% of men using online dating services.

Usage of online dating services, by socio-profesional category France, ****, in % Source: ****

Looking at socio-professional categories, employees are the least likely to visit these platforms, while executives (***) are the most likely to use dating apps and sites.

Usage of online dating services, ...

2.3 Dating apps are part of everyday French life

Preferred ways to find a partner France, ****, in % Source: ****

Nearly half of French people consider that they could use a dating site or application (***). Dating sites therefore enjoy a positive image among consumers.

Dating sites for couples France, ****, % (***) Source: ****

By ****, the Internet and dating apps have become the main place for couples to meet in France, accounting for **% of all encounters. They are just ahead of meetings at school or college (***), which remain a strong vector, particularly among young adults.

Traditional social circles, such as friends (***).

This breakdown illustrates the importance of digital platforms in the dynamics of lovemaking, despite the fact that they coexist with more traditional dating methods.

Reasons to use a dating app/website France, ****, in % Source: ****

The graph above highlights the fact that users are more interested in multiplying partners (***) than in finding a stable relationship on dating sites.

Motivations for using dating sites by gender and sexual orientation France, ****, % (***) Source: ****

Motivations for using dating sites also vary according to users' gender and sexual orientation. Heterosexual women stand out as being the most motivated by the search for a purely romantic relationship, with **% expressing this intention. As for the search for a purely sexual adventure, the results ...

2.4 Negative effects that fuel user mistrust

Harassment and insecurity

In ****, **% of women have already been victims of at least one form of harassment or aggression on a dating platform. That's ** points more than for men. [***]

Forms of harassment endured by women France, ****, in % Source: ****

There's a real demand among women for safer exchange spaces that ensure respect for everyone.

Based on the observation that women are often harassed online, Bumble has created a product with a different positioning that has enjoyed major success in recent years. The social network supports its users by showing them how to"create a positive first impression", promote themselves online and create a climate of trust. In ****, Bumble also recruited luxury ambassadors such as tennis star Serena Williams, who, in an advertising campaign, encouraged women to set their rules, and to do so on all terrains (***).

Not always reliable:

The information provided on dating sites and apps is not always verified and can sometimes be misleading. Users have the freedom to choose what information they share, and it's not uncommon for some data to be embellished or even completely invented.

French people's lies about dating sites/apps France, ****, % Source: ****

The above figures reveal that users of dating sites and apps are inclined ...

2.5 Contrasting trends: slow dating and revenge dating

Slow dating:

The concept of slow dating is emerging as a new option to the culture of speed and superficiality in online dating. By emphasizing quality over quantity, slow dating encourages singles to take their time and discover each other on a deeper level. This approach favors slowness, depth and emotional availability, offering an alternative to traditional dating apps focused primarily on physical appearance and number of matches.

Indeed, platforms such as Once capitalize on this trend by offering only one profile per day to their users, encouraging a more attentive and thoughtful exploration of potential suitors. This approach allows singles to focus on the significant details of the other person's personality, such as their passions and background, promoting more authentic and rewarding encounters. In a landscape dominated by speed and immediacy, slow dating is emerging as an attractive alternative for those seeking deeper, more meaningful connections.

Revenge dating:

A trend that emerged in ****,

Revenge dating" is emerging as a post-Covid trend that attracts singles looking for romantic adventures. After a period of restrictions imposed by the health context, many people feel the desire to reconnect with the dating scene. This phenomenon, known as "revenge dating", is characterized by a liberating ...

2.6 A slowdown in French sexuality

The importance of sexuality among the French France, **** & ****, in Source: IFOP In ****, sexuality remains an important issue for a majority of French people, with **% of respondents rating it as "very" or "fairly" important. However, this perception is changing, with **% now considering it " not very important" and *% "not at all important", reflecting a possible shift in priorities and expectations. Proportion of French people having sex per week France, **** & ****, in Source: IFOP Even though sexuality is important to a large proportion of French people, we note that between **** and ****, the proportion of French people declaring that they have sexual intercourse at least once a week fell from **% to **%, a drop of **%. This reflects a transformation in habits and priorities, potentially influenced by factors such as stress, lifestyle or changing relationship dynamics. This decrease is part of a broader trend towards a changing relationship with sexuality, which may also impact on expectations and usage of dating applications.

Trend in the number of sexually inactive people, by age France, **** & ****, in % Source: ****

Between **** and ****, the proportion of sexually inactive people rose sharply, particularly among **-** year olds, where it rose from *% to **%, an increase of ***%. A significant increase is also observed in the **-** (***) age groups, ...

3.1 A market dominated by a small number of players

The French market for dating sites and apps is concentrated in the hands of a handful of players. Indeed, the market is mainly dominated by foreign players with Tinder (***) .

France does, however, have its own national leaders, even though Meetic, the leading French dating site, was bought by the American group Match.com. Adopteunmec and Happn are two other French companies that are particularly popular with users.

Match.com is the undisputed market leader and owns Meetic, Tinder as well as Match.com and OkCupid. Another relatively important player is Spark Networks SE (***).

However, we are witnessing a slight deconcentration of the market (***), with the arrival of numerous new players.

Most popular dating applications France, ****, in Source: ****

In France, in ****, the most popular mobile applications are Tinder, Meetic, Badoo, Adopte un mec and Happn, as shown in the graph above.

3.2 The business model of dating websites and apps

Applications often develop around the same business model, combining several sources of revenue:

A freemium business model: Free version: applications offer a free version of the application to attract customers. Functions are limited, with, for example, a finite number of swipes. Premium version: A premium version is then available with additional features. With Tinder Plus, likes are unlimited, it's possible to review the last swiped profile, * super likes per week are available, * boost per month, etc. Services sold on their own: Applications also offer users the chance to purchase a feature on a one-off basis. Tinder's Boost feature, for example, boosts profile visibility by a factor of ** and the number of matches by a factor of three. [***] Advertising: To earn money on free accounts, applications offer advertising inserts to brands. On Tinder, these ads take the form of sponsored profiles that appear between the profiles of normal users. Selling data: Dating apps have access to vast amounts of user data, some of which they sell to third parties, as the Norwegian Consumer Advisory Service has pointed out. Grindr in particular has been singled out for reselling data such as sexual orientation or geolocation. This also concerns the OkCupid application, which sells ...

3.3 New players

Digital giants

The arrival of digital giants on the market should shake things up. For example, Facebook has launched its "Facebook Dating" dating service in the United States and in ** countries in America and Asia. This represents a major threat to existing players, particularly as Facebook already has a large user and personal data base, enabling the social network to fine-tune profiles and optimize virtual encounters for its users.

The service does not require the installation of an application, and is integrated into Facebook's application, although the profiles for the two services are separate. The profile is created from Facebook photos and posts, but is then fully customizable. The platform is designed as a classic social network, with the possibility of commenting on other users' publications and the absence of "swipes", which are replaced by photo likes. In addition, the group has designed a "secret crush" feature, enabling users to add a Facebook profile to their crush list. If the crush is mutual, both receive a notification.

The service was due to be available in Europe from early ****, but the launch has had to be postponed because Facebook has not given enough guarantees to the European Union about user privacy. [***]. In ...

3.4 AI for dating apps and sites

The relationship to AI in dating apps Europe (***), ****, % Source: ****

In ****, Europeans are ambivalent about artificial intelligence in dating applications. While **% of respondents see its integration as an interesting idea, **% express concern about its impact. Despite these misgivings, **% are already using AI-enabled platforms, demonstrating a gradual uptake.

This divide highlights a strategic challenge for market players: reassuring users while harnessing the potential of AI to enrich the dating experience.

The most eagerly awaited AI functionalities Europe (***), ****, % Source: ****

In ****, European users' top priority when it comes to artificial intelligence in dating applications is security, with **% of respondents calling for enhanced profile verification. Analysis of compatibility of values and interests comes second (***), illustrating a growing expectation for relationships more aligned with personal aspirations. Long-term predictive analysis (***) are also attracting interest, albeit to a lesser extent. These results show that AI is perceived above all as a reliability tool before being a lever for optimizing dating. Specific technologies expected on dating sites Europe (***), ****, % Source : meetic In ****, European users are expressing a wide range of technological expectations to enhance the dating experience. Biometric profile verification tops the list (***), confirming the interest in more relevant suggestions. Virtual reality (***) are still an emerging feature. These trends reflect a ...

4.1 Segmentation of existing products

There are many online dating sites and applications, each with its own specific segmentation to attract a particular target.

Websites include :

Historical sites for finding love: These sites are mostly used by older people than for apps, who are looking for serious relationships and therefore have a "premium" image. Meetic: France's most popular dating site, with active members in over **,*** French cities in ****, and events in **. It caters mainly to people looking for a stable relationship. The average age on the platform is **. [***] It's also important to note that the brand has diversified, and in ****, **% of users connected on mobile devices (***). The site has therefore also become an application in its own right. eDarling: a site for demanding singles, as the platform claims, where users have to take a personality test to refine the search and save time by focusing on profiles with similar interests. AttractiveWorld: premium site for singles looking for serious relationships. Subscriptions are filtered using an ultra-secure system. Users who are already members must vote to accept new profiles created on the platform. More than ** votes are required to access the site, so profiles need to be carefully crafted. The prices charged are also higher to ensure that ...

4.2 Price analysis

A study of the prices offered by the various platforms reveals several business models, each with its own specific pricing. On the one hand, some platforms offer "credits", a kind of virtual currency that enables users to perform actions on the platform. Others, on the other hand, offer paid access to the entire platform in the form of asubscription, while some players hybridize solutions between subscriptions and integrated purchases. Finally, AdopteUnMec offers free access for female profiles and paid access for male users.

Prices vary enormously depending on promotions to attract new users. In addition, certain applications have been criticized for charging different rates for different generations, sexual orientation, etc. Tinder, for example, is said to offer higher rates than other applications. Tinder, for example, is said to offer higher prices to older, city-dwelling heterosexuals. [***]

Example of prices for paid subscriptions (***):

Paid services are not limited to subscriptions, and platforms also offer one-off services to enable users to boost their profile. These offer the advantage of a premium service with no commitment.

Example of prices for ancillary services:

4.3 Constant renewal of our offering

An increasingly varied offering

The dating app market is characterized by low barriers to entry, and many new companies are entering the sector. To stand out from the crowd, they rely on a different approach and precise segmentation.

The first trend on the supply side is therefore the appearance of dating apps for all target groups, depending on affinities, lifestyles or beliefs. There are apps for Christians, Muslims, vegans and even for finding love through your dog with Tindog. The advantage of this diversification is that it saves users time, by immediately proposing profiles that correspond to their expectations and essential criteria.

The other new features of the offer are based on the operation and concept. There's a huge diversification of the offering to suit everyone's search. Tinder is more suited to people looking for short-term relationships, with an extremely fast profile selection process where instantaneity is favored. Once has also developed its offering to counteract this fast-dating trend, and is aimed at people who want to take their time: users can only see one profile per day, depending on their personality. Happn, for its part, is trying to put a little spontaneity back into dating apps by digitizing the randomness ...

4.4 Focus on dating websites and apps

Feeling of loneliness France, ****, %, % Source: ****

In ****, loneliness remains a reality for some French people, although its intensity varies. While **% of respondents say they feel it frequently (***) experience it more occasionally. conversely, **% say they never feel lonely, while **% rarely experience it.

These figures suggest that, although feelings of loneliness are widespread, they generally remain moderate, reinforcing the potential role of dating apps as a lever for social connection.

Percentage of French people who always or often feel lonely, by age France, ****, in % Source: ****

In ****, loneliness particularly affects young adults, with **% of **-** year-olds regularly feeling alone, compared to **% of **-** year-olds and **% of **-** year-olds. This feeling then tends to stabilize at around **% for those aged **-**, before decreasing for those aged ** and over (***).

This trend can be explained by marked life transitions among young people, such as entry into working life or new forms of socialization. These figures also underline the opportunity for dating apps to meet a need for social connection that goes beyond the simple search for love.

This context provides a favorable environment for the development of dating sites and applications. Already in existence before the health crisis, this type of platform has seen an additional surge in ...

5.1 Current regulations

It's important to distinguish between the regulations that apply to a marriage agency and those that apply to dating sites, since in the former case the agency carries out searches on behalf of the client to find the ideal person. In the case of dating sites, it's the users who carry out their own searches. The notion of results is not binding for online dating platforms.

However, certain regulations do apply:

Consumers may have access to certain features of the dating site for a fee. In this case, the site is obliged to provide information on the identity of the merchant (***), limitations of liability, prices, services offered and guarantees. In the case of service purchases, this is a distance sale and there is a consumer withdrawal period (***), followed by a refund period, also increased to ** days since the Hamon law. [***]

Dating sites are subject to the law on the personal data processing modified in ****. [***] The subject is all the more delicate as the data that is possessed by dating sites is intimate as exposed to the public eye by the **** hacking of Ashley Madison's database, followed in **** by the hacking of BeautifulPeople.com's customer data and in **** by that of Guardian ...

6.1 Segmentation

The following segmentation of players is used:

• Meetic
• Attractive World
• Tinder (Match Group)
• Badoo
• Lovoo
• Happn
• Bumble
• AdopteUnMec
• Hinge
• Elite Rencontre
• Zoosk
• Voice Meet
• Gleeden
• Grindr