The Philippines, like many developing countries, took a little longer to catch up with widespread smartphone use. I still remember my first trip back in 2019 — I met a few women from rural areas who didn’t even own a phone yet. Fast forward to today, and most single women in the country not only have smartphones and internet access, but they’re also active on the most popular dating apps.
The best dating apps and websites for Western men seeking to find a girlfriend in the Philippines are FilipinoCupid, PinaLove, Tinder, Bumble, DateInAsia, Zoosk, and Badoo. Other applications, such as Facebook Dating and Instagram, can be used as well.
Online dating has exploded in popularity in the Philippines, especially among Filipino women looking specifically for foreign partners. This guide will provide an overview of the top dating apps and sites used in the Philippines, features to look for, and tips for using them as a foreigner. 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 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 that includes InternationalCupid, ColombianCupid, and many others. It is the website that I personally use every single time I go to the Philippines for a number of reasons:
- A 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 Filipino women looking for foreign boyfriends
- Women tend to be more serious about actually meeting up
FilipinoCupid is one of the top dating apps for Filipino women looking to meet foreign men and advertises that it has over 2.5 million members. The downside to the app is that it is not free to use, but it is completely free to create a profile and browse profiles. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the quality of women on the website. In my experience, it is worth every penny.
👉 👉 👉 If you haven’t met your Filipina girlfriend yet and are serious about finding one, give FilipinoCupid a shot — it’s the most popular dating site in the Philippines with thousands of real profiles of women who actually want to connect.
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 is 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, I once 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 departed after finding out.
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.
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 and is free to create a profile, browse, and send one message every 10 minutes. The best thing about PinaLove is that it is specifically for Filipino women that are seeking to date a foreign, Western boyfriend like yourself.
Obviously, you will want to upgrade your membership in order to send more messages than once every 10 minutes, as that can be extremely frustrating. PinaLove is from the same company as ThaiFriendly, the best and most popular dating application in Thailand. When dating in Thailand, I used ThaiFriendly and had a very positive experience.
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.
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 more transactional relationships and short-term relationships.
Going to the Philippines soon? In a country of 7,000 islands, you’ll definitely need a reasonably priced waterproof phone pouch like this: Hiearcool Waterproof Phone Pouch, Waterproof Phone Case (Amazon).
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
Zoosk
Zoosk is a good option for single expats in the Philippines because it has a large user base, increasing the chances of finding compatible matches. The platform uses a behavioral matchmaking algorithm, which helps in finding individuals with similar interests and compatibility. Additionally, Zoosk offers a convenient and user-friendly interface, making it easier for expats to navigate and connect with potential girlfriends.
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, therefore these social media giants could 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 a girlfriend on Instagram might be your best bet. 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 and direct message (DM) her
Using Facebook or Instagram for dating is purely a numbers game. 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, you could do very well using Instagram in the Philippines.
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.