Making eye contact or smiling at someone seems to be increasingly difficult, because it seems everyone is always staring down at their phone. The irony is: the pretty girl/guy you want to catch the eye of might just be checking their phone looking for a date. Increasingly people are using dating apps to find a date... or to find love; and with a surge in the number of dating apps available, one of the top ways of meeting new people is right there in your hands. We tested the dating apps available in Budapest.

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1/5

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Tinder's golden age is over and we'd rather delete all memories of the bizarre Badoo profiles from our memory. There is a growing number of up and coming dating apps, which utilise GPS coordinates and our Facebook profiles. First and foremost, you should always read the privacy statement and the terms of use, because some apps you cannot get rid of, and you'll be getting notifications that Bertram (33) wants to get to know you better long after you've hit unsubscribe. To avoid 'lifetime registration' apps like Zoosk, choose dating apps carefully.

At the moment, there are four dating apps we love to use right here in Budapest. Remember the apps will often show tourists and visitors too, who have been using the dating app back home (in Paris for example), and have not turned it off while travelling. A long-term love affair with someone who is visiting Budapest for a few days is unlikely (although who knows!), but a Friday night pub crawl together might be just what you're both looking for!

2/5

Happn

Happn is a truly fine idea, it makes meeting people all the more real. Basically it can help you get in touch with a stranger that caught your eye at the bus stop in front of the Synagogue, or when drinking beer with friends at Élesztő. Based on GPS coordinates, it selects people who you crossed paths with during your day. The locator is always on, so you might just happen to be matched with that cute guy or girl you were too shy to say hello to during the day. This French app is the most popular dating app in Budapest, having already surpassed Tinder. The matches here are called 'crush' instead of 'match.'

3/5

Highlight

Highlight doesn't only list strangers, but, similarly to Find My Friends, it also shows you friends and acquaintances nearby. As opposed to the few hundred characters that Tinder allows you to write about yourself, this app allows you to elaborate. You can list favourite movies and party places, or state that you are an early bird/night owl. You can also narrow down your search with key words. If, for instance, you'd only want to meet executives or you've got the hots for fire fighters, you can customise your search accordingly. In addition to your Facebook profile, you can also connect it to your Instagram, Swarm and Twitter profiles.

4/5

OKCupid

OKCupid also works on the basis of GPS data, however it is not a Facebook-based app. This means that your photos are not restricted to those on your FB page - you can also upload photos from your phone's library. Plus, OKCupid does not reveal the FB friends you have in common. This is a double edge sword; on one hand there are more fake profiles, on the other hand you can avoid the embarrassment that might come with having certain common friends. This app also has more room for writing about yourself - it doesn't just rely on your pictures.