These days, lots of dating apps pull your information from Facebook, allow you to add some additional stats, and get started on swiping and messaging from there, which means that the social media juggernaut is practically a requirement for online dating. But whether you're ready to delete your account or you never had one in the first place, there are plenty of. Some at all myself included , while others have a profile, but would rather not drag. Whatever the case may be, there are enough dating apps in the sea to satisfy pretty much every possible need. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the dating app possibilities, or by the , but if the blizzard that the East Coast just got hit with is any indication, people are out en masse in search of connection, and that is only more true as the temperatures drop. In fact, winter storms and cold weather in general are the , so now may be the time to jump into the fray. If you want to , here are eight options. This old standby is practically the gold standard of dating apps, partly because it has been around forever and partly because it has a lot of members. This app has a pretty straightforward approach to dating. Users post fun date ideas alongside standard profile fare photos, basic personal information. If you click with someone's profile and date concepts, you reach out. Although you can use Facebook to sign in, you don't have to. With some 70 million members, this site really does remind you that there are a lot of potential matches out there. To access them, there is no need for Facebook. This app operates a lot like OkCupid, with basic services peeping other people's profiles and messaging free, and the option to upgrade available as well. This app has an intriguing premise: Instead of endlessly browsing potential matches solo, Wingme allows you to invite your pals to provide feedback on the guys and gals you'll encounter on the site. No Facebook necessary — just friends who are willing and able to help you stay out of an online dating k-hole by weighing in on your romantic prospects. Siren is all about girl power. Women rule here — men answer one question daily, to which women see the answers. Then they can choose to reach out, or save a dude's profile and keep tabs on future questions. Plus, when you sign up, you take an in-app photo, which ensures that everyone's pics are really them — and recent. This is similar to Tinder — swiping, etc. If you're near someone else, they'll pop up as potential love interests. And though you don't need Facebook, you do need to sign in with a third party — options include Google+, MSN, and an assortment of foreign options, including VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, Yandex and Mail. Want more of Bustle's Sex and Relationships coverage? Check out our new podcast, I Want It That Way , which delves into the difficult and downright dirty parts of a relationship, and find more on.
