The Philippines, being a 3rd world country, was a little late to the widespread use of cellphones had not quite reached the Philippines yet. Yet nowadays, most single women in the Philippines have access to a cellphone, internet, and are on the most popular dating apps.
Dating apps and websites have become increasingly popular for women in the Philippines, solely looking to connect with foreign boyfriends. Recent surveys show that over 50% of Filipinos have used online dating platforms to connect with people, with usage especially high among millennials.
For Western men interested in dating Filipina women, these digital platforms can be very effective for finding and communicating with potential girlfriends or wives overseas. At least, that is the case for my experience.
This guide will provide an overview of the top dating apps and sites used in the Philippines, features to look for, tips for use as a foreigner, and cultural considerations when pursuing relationships with Filipina partners online. With some preparation and knowledge, dating apps and sites can be a successful way for Western men to expand their search for love and make meaningful connections in the Philippines.
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Dating Women in the Philippines
Most Popular Dating Apps and Websites in the Philippines
I’ll review my opinion on the most popular dating apps in the Philippines. I have used every single one of these apps/websites in the Philippines, both before I arrived and after landing in the country.
FilipinoCupid (My Personal Favorite)
FilipinoCupid has both a mobile app and website version, and is part of the Cupid Media network. It is the website that I personally use every single time I go to the Philippines for a number of reasons:
- Large number of users
- Robust filtering features (age, location, body type, kids/no kids, etc.)
- Very few ladyboys compared to other apps like Tinder & Bumble
- Specifically for Filipina women looking for foreign boyfriends
- Women tend to be more serious about actually meeting up
It is one of the top dating apps for Filipino women looking to meet foreign men and it advertises that it has over 2.5 million members.
The downside to FilipinoCupid is that it is not free to use, but it is completely free to create a profile and browse around. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the quality of women on the website. In my experience, it is worth every penny.
*Make sure once you pay to go into your settings and turn off “auto-pay” to avoid being charged every month.
By the way, after you have found a quality prospect to become your Filipina girlfriend, check out my article on How To Maintain A Long-Distance Relationship With A Filipina.
Tinder
Tinder is the most widely used dating app in the Philippines, as far as amount of users. It has a simple swiping interface to find matches and it’s popular across all age groups and demographics. According to Tinder, it sees over 3.8 million swipes on an average day in the Philippines.
The problem with Tinder in the Philippines, in my opinion, is that it has a ton of ladyboys on the app. If you are a straight male you will have to swipe through so many that it gets frustrating. In fact, once I had a ladyboy lie to me on Tinder, saying that she (he) was a real woman. Sadly, I didn’t find out the truth until I showed up for the date, and then I quickly left before entering the restaurant.
Badoo
With over 400 million users globally, Badoo is widely used in SouthEast Asia, including the Philippines, for casual dating and relationships. It utilizes a ‘freemium’ model with basic features for free and paid upgrades.
In my experience, the women did not seem as committed to meeting in person as they do on FilipinoCupid. I had several flakes, including some quality prospects that just stopped replying after we had been chatting for awhile. I have had several friends find success on Badoo in the Philippines, so feel free to give it a try.
Also see: 5 Steps To Create A Great International Dating Profile
Bumble
Bumble has made rapid gains in the Philippines dating scene with its distinguishing feature of only allowing women to initiate conversations after a match. That is an awesome feature, that gets the women to invest more into the interaction, and greatly reduces flaking. Because of this, Bumble tends to attract women that are more relationship oriented when compared to Tinder.
Similar to Tinder, Bumble does have a lot of ladyboys, so be careful. Many of them will not identify their gender on their profile, which is usually a dead giveaway.
PinaLove
Launched in 2013, PinaLove caters specifically to Filipina women interested in finding relationships with foreign men. It has a large user base across the Philippines, but not as much as FilipinoCupid.
PinaLove is free to create a profile, browse, and send one message every 10 minutes. Obviously, you will want to send a lot more messages than one every 10 minutes, as that can be extremely frustrating.
PinaLove is from the same company as ThaiFriendly, the most popular dating application in Thailand. When in Thailand, I paid and used ThaiFriendly to date and had a positive experience. Although, for the Philippines, PinaLove is not as widely used as it’s counterpart in Thailand.
Best Free Filipino Dating Sites
For those looking to connect with Filipino singles without paying, there are some good free options.
DateInAsia
DateInAsia was once perhaps the top dating app in the Philippines. It still has a decent size user base, but has been supplanted from the rise of FilipinoCupid, Tinder, and Bumble in the past decade.
The best feature about DateInAsia is that it is free to use. Like on any dating app, always be cautious of scams and women asking for money. Just in my experience, DateInAsia tends to attract some women that are looking for hookups and short-term relationships.
Mingle2
One of the most popular free dating platforms used in the Philippines is Mingle2, although I have not personally used it. This site offers a basic set of features like browsing profiles, sending interest, and exchanging messages all for free. While the features are limited compared to paid sites, it’s a good starting point to dip your toes in Filipino dating waters.
Facebook & Instagram
Facebook and Instagram are ubiquitous in the Philippines and can be used for meeting potential partners. It seems that every woman has a Facebook and an Instagram, so they can potentially be the largest dating apps in the world.
If you have a decent Instagram profile that shows off a history of your cool lifestyle, finding women on Instagram can be easy. In fact, I found a date with a beautiful women in the Philippines using Instagram. The basic strategy involves:
- Searching a location (i.e. Cebu City or Ayala Mall)
- Browse through the pictures of people who’ve tagged themselves at that location
- When you find a picture of a woman that you find attractive, go to her profile
- Direct message (DM) her
The downside is that some women don’t regularly check their DM’s from unknown accounts. And the most beautiful women usually get tons of DM’s every single day, making it harder to stand out from the crowd. But if you’ve properly setup your profile and are decent looking, Instagram may be your #1 dating app in the Philippines.
Many Filipinos use their Facebook accounts for dating, joining local singles groups and using Facebook Dating. Western men can potentially connect with Filipina women this way for free. Just be sure to vet profiles carefully.
Reddit also has an active subreddit at r/FilipinoCupid where expats and Filipinos interested in dating foreigners convene. You can read reviews of the FilipinoCupid app, ask questions about cross-cultural dating, and potentially make connections by participating in the community.
By the way if you really want to impress a Filipina by getting her flowers, chocolates, or other gifts, check out my article on 11 Self-Proven Gift Ideas To Get Your Filipina Girlfriend.
Features of Filipino Dating Apps and Sites
When using popular Filipino dating apps and sites, Western men can take advantage of various features to improve their dating experience and chances of finding a Filipina partner. Some key features to look for include:
Chat – Most Filipino dating platforms offer instant messaging or chat features to communicate with matches. This provides a way to get to know potential partners beyond just browsing profiles. Some sites like FilipinoCupid even offer live chat for quick conversations.
Matching Algorithms – Apps like Tinder use swiping and algorithms to connect users with potential matches based on preferences and profiles. This automated matching can help surface compatible profiles.
Profile Browsing – All dating sites and apps allow browsing of member profiles with photos and details like age, location, interests etc. This allows vetting potential partners before chatting or matching with them.
Translation Tools – Fortunately, most Filipinas have good English proficiency but language barriers can still exist. Some platforms provide built-in translation tools so users can communicate smoothly. For instance, FilipinoCupid offers instant text translation.
By taking advantage of these features, Western men like yourself can improve their chances for dating success with Filipina women online.