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Modern dating apps can feel like an endless scroll of faces and bios, offering little real connection. But today’s emotionally aware, visually driven users want more. They want an experience that is enjoyable, thoughtfully made, visually appealing, and emotionally engaging. That’s why design-first dating app Sonder is gaining attention, blending visual storytelling with meaningful interaction.
By emphasizing intentional design, intuitive interactions, and creative self-expression, Sonder-like dating app features are redefining digital dating into a more immersive and human experience. With thoughtful canvas personalization, aesthetic UX, and emotion-driven matching, these platforms show that good design can inspire not just interest but genuine connection.
In this blog, we’ll explore the key features that elevate a dating app like Sonder, from creative profiles and smart insights to immersive user journeys. If you’re planning to launch your platform in the market, IdeaUsher will help you build your Gen Z-friendly dating app with thoughtful design and innovation, turning it into an experience people love.
Understanding the Appeal of Modern Dating Apps
Modern dating apps have transformed the way people meet and connect, blending technology with social interaction. From swipe-based platforms to creative dating apps like Sonder, these apps cater to different personalities, lifestyles, and relationship goals, making it easier than ever to find compatible connections.
The Rise of Traditional Dating Apps
Traditional dating apps focus on quick, swipe-based interactions. Users create profiles with photos and prompts, set preferences, and rely on algorithms to match with potential partners. These platforms are often goal-oriented, targeting romantic connections, and come with premium features for boosts, unlimited likes, and advanced filters.
Sonder: A New Approach to Online Dating
Sonder takes a more creative, mood-board approach. Instead of standard bios and swipes, users express themselves visually, emphasizing personality, aesthetic, and vibe. Matches are based on alignment of interests and creative expression rather than rigid filters, offering opportunities for friendship, group connections, or romance.
- Visual self-expression: Profiles focus on mood boards, doodles, or creative content, giving a richer sense of personality than photos and text alone.
- Interest-based matching: Connections are guided by vibe, aesthetics, and shared passions, not just filters like age or distance.
- Flexible intentions: Users can explore friendships, group activities, or romance without rigid categories.
- Authenticity over performance: Encourages genuine self-expression rather than curated “perfect” profiles.
- Community and events: Some platforms offer offline meetups, workshops, or events to help users connect in real life.
- Equal visibility: Profiles are not ranked or boosted, giving everyone a fair chance to be discovered.
- Exploration-focused experience: The journey is about discovery, creativity, and connection, rather than rapid swipe-based decisions.
Why Modern Dating Apps Appeal?
Modern dating apps appeal because they adapt to diverse user needs. Traditional apps provide efficiency and clear goals, while platforms like Sonder prioritize self-expression, creative connection, and authentic matching. Together, they reflect the evolving landscape of relationships in a digital world.
What Makes Sonder Different from Traditional Dating Apps?
Sonder and traditional dating apps take different approaches to helping people connect. Examining their features side by side reveals how each platform shapes the user experience and interaction.
| Feature | Sonder | Traditional Dating Apps |
| Profile construction | Users create mood-board profiles with doodles, thoughts, or visuals instead of standard bios or prompts. | Profiles usually include a photo gallery, bio or prompts, and preference filters. Many require self-descriptions. |
| Matching algorithm / Discovery | Matches are based on mood-board aesthetics and vibe similarities, not just filters. No user ranking or gamified swiping. | Matching relies on swiping, filters, and algorithms prioritizing visibility and likes, standard discovery models. |
| Intentions / Relationship goals | Focuses on fewer filters and flexible categories. Users can find soulmates, friends, or groups without strict relationship-type filters. | Many apps use explicit relationship filters and defined categories like long-term, casual, or friendship. |
| Interaction paradigm | Focus on creative self-expression and mood boards over swiping. Profiles highlight personality and interests, not just photos and prompts. | Emphasizes swiping, quick decisions, and photo-first browsing. Interaction flows from browsing to liking, matching, and chatting. |
| Offline / Event integration | Includes curated in‑person events/meetups to facilitate connection beyond the app. | Focus is on online matches, chat, then possible dates. Events are rare and not central to most apps. |
| Filtering & user control | Less focus on filters; more on creative and aesthetic connections than rigid settings like height or ethnicity. | Focus on detailed filters: age, distance, lifestyle, hobbies. Many features aim to narrow the search. |
| Emphasis on authenticity | Aims to reduce “performative” profile behaviour, encourage more free‑form expression rather than curated “best version”. | Often criticized for encouraging curated profiles and quick, superficial decisions. |
| User journey | Broader aim: make connections that “feel like home”, for friendship or deeper creative alignment, not purely dating. | Focus is mainly on dating or romance, with some friendship modes. The journey centers on matching, chatting, and dating. |
| Matching bias | Sonder’s model claims to avoid ranking users or placing boosted profiles ahead of others. | Traditional apps often use ranking, boosted visibility, subscription features that alter match likelihood. |
| Visual vs. Text emphasis | Visual/emotive mood‑board heavy: emphasis on mood, aesthetic, vibe rather than just text prompts. | Mostly relies on photos and short bios, not visual collages or creative diaries. |
Why 90% of Gen Z Daters Prefer Creative Dating Apps?
The global online dating market was valued at $10.28 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $19.33 billion by 2033, growing at a 7.27% CAGR. Growth is fueled by greater smartphone use, improved internet access, and rising demand for personalized, niche dating experiences.
Gen Z is at the forefront of online dating, prioritizing authenticity and self-expression. Over 90% of Gen Z daters prefer creative profiles over traditional swipe formats, seeking apps that highlight their personality and interests.
Meanwhile, traditional dating apps are showing signs of strain. Research indicates that mainstream swipe-based platforms only fully satisfy 20% of their user base, leaving 80% underserved in terms of motivations, personality alignment, and deeper connection.
Additionally, 83% of singles report being turned off by generic or overly curated profiles, highlighting the growing dissatisfaction with conventional dating formats.
This is where creative dating apps truly shine. By offering mood-board profiles, visual storytelling, and interactive content, these platforms meet the needs that traditional apps often miss. For example:
- Interest-based matching: 36% of online daters say hobbies and shared interests are “very important” in profiles, compared to demographics like age or location.
- Enhanced engagement: Platforms with creative features report 70 – 90% higher user engagement and retention, demonstrating that users enjoy spending time expressing themselves.
- Better connection rates: Profiles with interactive, self-expressive content receive 50- 60% more matches or messages than standard photo-and-text profiles.
Together, these trends show that creative dating apps are not just a niche experiment; they represent the future of online dating, catering to a generation that values authenticity, personality, and meaningful connection over quick swipes.
What are the Key Features of a Dating App Sonder?
A sonder-like dating app features approach offers a more thoughtful and meaningful dating experience. Focusing on genuine connections, user safety, and engaging interactions beyond swiping, Sonder helps users build real relationships rather than casual matches.
1. Canvas / Mood-Board Profiles
Replace traditional bios and questionnaires with a visual canvas that allows users to express their personalities creatively. Users can combine images, doodles, text fragments, and other visual elements to represent their emotions, interests, and lifestyle.
Core Value: Encourages authentic self-expression and helps users connect through shared aesthetic and emotional resonance rather than demographic similarity.
2. Aesthetic or “Vibe”-Based Matching
Develop a matching system that evaluates visual and emotional compatibility between user profiles instead of relying solely on conventional filters such as age or location. The algorithm identifies stylistic alignment and mood consistency between canvases.
Core Value: Creates more intuitive and emotionally relevant matches that align with users’ creative and personal energy.
3. Non-Swipe, Non-Prompt Discovery
Move away from swipe mechanics and generic text prompts. Users can explore others’ canvases organically, focusing on curiosity and creative connection rather than gamified interaction.
Core Value: Promotes meaningful discovery and reduces performance pressure associated with traditional dating apps.
4. Real-World Connection & Events
Integrate opportunities for offline engagement through curated events, community meetups, or creative workshops. These experiences help users transition from digital connections to real-world interactions.
Core Value: Strengthens community relationships and encourages genuine, in-person engagement.
5. Creative & Intuitive Onboarding
Implement an onboarding flow that focuses on self-expression rather than form-filling. New users are guided to build their initial canvas intuitively, setting a relaxed and creative tone from the start.
Core Value: Simplifies the registration process while promoting authenticity and comfort for first-time users.
6. Rich Media Support & Creative Tools
Enable users to upload and arrange multiple forms of media, such as photos, sketches, handwritten notes, and short videos. Provide a simple drag-and-drop editor or pre-designed templates to assist users in building their canvases.
Core Value: Expands creative freedom, allowing users to craft multidimensional representations of themselves.
7. Safe & Moderated Environment
Incorporate comprehensive content moderation and safety features, including AI-driven filtering, manual review processes, and clear reporting tools. For events and meetups, include optional safety check-ins and verification layers.
Core Value: Maintains a respectful, inclusive environment that fosters trust and user well-being.
Advanced Features That Can Enhance a Dating App like Sonder
Technology continues to redefine how people connect online. For Sonder-like dating app features can amplify authenticity and transform how users express themselves.
1. AI-Powered Matchmaking
AI analyzes user behavior, interests, chat tone, and preferences to deliver smarter, more compatible matches. This increases the likelihood of meaningful connections and keeps users engaged longer.
Example:
- Hily tracks swipes and messages, using AI to refine match suggestions for better compatibility over time.
- Compatibility scores and active-time recommendations help users connect with their best matches at the right moment, ensuring meaningful interactions.
2. Mood-Based Match Discovery
Allows users to indicate their current mood (e.g., adventurous, chill, romantic) and match with others feeling the same way. This promotes more authentic and context-driven interactions.
Example:
- Feeld and Happn connect users nearby based on shared moods or activities, helping them find matches with similar vibes.
- Mood-driven prompts and daily-changing emojis create spontaneous, vibe-aligned connections that feel natural and playful.
3. Real-Time Match Availability
Shows which users are online and open to chatting or meeting. This encourages real-time engagement and increases response rates.
Example:
- Bumble and Badoo highlight users currently active or online, enabling daters to focus on immediate, responsive conversations rather than waiting for replies.
- Limited-time “Let’s Talk Now” mode sparks spontaneous interaction and enhances real-time engagement.
4. Video Profiles & Icebreakers
Short video intros let users express personality more authentically than static bios, enhancing engagement and trust.
Example:
- Snack App features TikTok-style videos for profiles, enabling users to highlight their personality and creativity, resulting in greater engagement and more meaningful matches.
- Video challenges and prompt-based intros highlight creativity and personality, providing fun conversation starters.
5. In-App Date Scheduling & Calendar Sync
Integrated calendars, reminders, and venue suggestions make it easier for users to coordinate meetups, improving conversion from chat to in-person interaction.
Example:
- Facebook Dating offers event suggestions and reminders, helping users arrange offline meetups and boost real-world connections..
- Integrated venue suggestions and shared-interest events help users coordinate meetups efficiently, enhancing user satisfaction.
6. Voice Chat & Audio Prompts
Voice notes and audio-based prompts help users showcase personality, tone, and emotion, fostering more human connections.
Example:
- Hinge’s Voice Prompts allow users to record short audio responses to prompts, making conversations more human, engaging, and reflective of real personality.
- Short “audio stories” or response prompts highlight personality and create engaging first impressions.
7. Activity-Based Matching
Matches users based on shared hobbies or real-world activities, connecting them over common interests rather than superficial traits.
Example:
- Thursday App promotes weekly in-person meetups based on shared activities or interests, enabling users to build connections through real-world experiences.
- “Weekend Plans” mode allows users to discover nearby users participating in similar activities, increasing real-life connection opportunities.
8. Gamified Interactions
Challenges, quizzes, or mini-games make matching fun and reduce awkwardness, increasing engagement and retention.
Example:
- Bumble’s Question Game lets users play lighthearted challenges to break the ice, encouraging interaction in a playful, low-pressure way.
- Visual challenges or “Truth or Dare” mini-games spark creativity and deeper connection through shared experiences.
9. Verified Profiles with AI Liveness Check
Real-time verification prevents fake accounts and builds trust. Behavioral verification ensures users represent themselves authentically.
Example:
- Tinder uses AI-based selfie verification to confirm profile authenticity, helping users feel safer and reducing the number of fake accounts.
- Behavioral authenticity checks, combined with a “Verified Personality” badge, reinforce credibility and trustworthiness.
10. Compatibility Insights & Analytics
Provides users with personality breakdowns, chat analysis, and match insights, helping them understand compatibility and improve interactions.
Example:
- OkCupid uses quizzes and analytics to identify user compatibility, helping to find better matches and promote deeper understanding.
- Visualized “chemistry graphs” illustrate emotional or conversational compatibility, enhancing user understanding and engagement.
11. AR-Powered Virtual Dates
Immersive AR spaces allow users to meet virtually in cafés, beaches, or museums before meeting in real life, increasing comfort and engagement.
Example:
- Nevermet and Flirtual use AR/VR spaces where users can interact virtually before meeting in person, enhancing engagement and comfort during early interactions.
- Themed virtual lounges and interactive spaces enable users to socialize creatively and comfortably before meeting offline.
12. Smart Safety Features
Real-time location sharing, panic buttons, and AI moderation protect users from unsafe behavior, building trust in the platform.
Example:
- Bumble integrates a safety center with location sharing via Noonlight, providing tools to ensure safe in-person meetings and moderated online conversations.
- “Safe Meet Mode” alerts a trusted contact during first dates and automatically moderates chats to prevent unsafe behavior.
How IdeaUsher Will Help to Build Your Creative Dating App?
Creating an emotionally intelligent dating platform combines creativity, psychology, and technology. IdeaUsher designs Sonder-like dating app features that cater to Gen Z’s desire for authenticity and real connections.
Here’s how our developers and strategists bring your creative dating platform to life:
1. Consultation
We start by defining your app’s creative niche, target audience, and emotional positioning. Our strategists build a framework that sets your platform apart from generic swipe apps and aligns with Gen Z’s expressive dating culture.
2. UI/UX Design for Emotional Resonance
Our designers use neuro-aesthetic principles and minimalist design to create visually inspiring, emotionally intuitive user journeys. We focus on interfaces that spark creativity and trust, using custom typography and creative prompts so users feel seen and inspired.
3. Feature Architecture & Prototyping
We build a modular feature stack with creative dating elements like aesthetic discovery and emotion-driven compatibility. Prototypes are quickly developed and tested before full-scale development.
4. Development
We use Flutter or React Native for cross-platform deployment, with a Node.js and Python backend. Features include collaborative canvas tools, real-time chat, AR filters that enhance creative expression and user engagement.
5. Creative Community Building
We design systems that reward creative engagement like sharing art, collaborating, or joining events. Features like creative badges and collaborative prompts foster an emotionally engaged user community.
6. Continuous Optimization
After launch, we monitor user engagement and sentiment to enhance the experience. We also offer growth consulting, influencer partnerships, Gen Z branding, and creative social media campaigns to boost adoption.
7. End-to-End Support & Maintenance
We provide comprehensive maintenance from updates to new features so your platform scales efficiently and stays authentic. Our post-launch support ensures uptime, bug fixes, and performance optimization.
Estimated Cost to Build a Creative Dating App like Sonder
Estimating the cost of developing a creative dating platform depends on design complexity, tech stack, and unique Sonder-like dating app features. Here’s a breakdown of the key development phases and their estimated costs.
| Development Phase | Description | Estimated Cost |
| Consultation | Research and define the app’s niche, users, and creative vision. | $4,000 – $7,000 |
| UI/UX Design | Create visual identity and intuitive Gen Z-focused design. | $10,000 – $17,000 |
| Feature Architecture | Build wireframes, prototypes, and validate key features. | $13,000 – $28,000 |
| Core App Development | Develop frontend and backend with real-time chat. | $20,000 – $38,000 |
| Creative Ecosystem Integration | Add interactive and collaborative creative tools. | $14,000 – $22,000 |
| Testing | Test app performance, function, and user experience. | $3,000 – $6,000 |
| Deployment & Launch Support | Publish app and support marketing launch. | $2,000 – $4,000 |
| Post-Launch Optimization | Provide updates, analytics, and ongoing support. | $2,000 – $5,000 (monthly) |
According to IdeaUsher, the estimated cost ranges from $60,000 to $125,000, depending on feature complexity, platform, design, and ongoing maintenance.
Consult with our developers to get a personalized quote and roadmap tailored to your app idea.
Conclusion
Building a dating platform that truly connects people requires more than standard matching tools. The right Sonder-like dating app features can transform user experiences through creativity, personalization, and authentic interactions. Features such as AI-driven matchmaking, interactive profiles, and advanced communication tools make the platform engaging and trustworthy. By focusing on inclusivity, user safety, and meaningful engagement, businesses can create a dating app that reflects real human connections while standing out in the competitive digital dating landscape with innovation and thoughtful design.
Work with Ex-MAANG developers to build next-gen apps schedule your consultation now
FAQs
Essential features include AI-driven matchmaking, interactive profiles, creative prompts, and advanced chat options. These elements enhance user engagement, foster meaningful connections, and make the app more appealing than traditional swipe-based platforms.
Personalization through tailored recommendations, user interests, and activity-based suggestions increases engagement. It helps users find compatible matches faster while providing a more satisfying and unique experience within the app.
Strong safety measures, such as profile verification, reporting systems, and encrypted communication, protect users and build trust. Privacy controls allow individuals to manage visibility and feel secure while engaging on the platform.
Features like video profiles, polls, quizzes, and creative challenges encourage users to interact beyond messaging. This builds stronger connections, increases session time, and makes the app more dynamic and enjoyable.
