The dating market - France

1.1 Introduction and definition

Dating sites and applications offer the chance to meet like-minded singles (or not), generally living within a defined area. Most platforms enable users to fill in a profile card with detailed information on what they're looking for, their activities, tastes, etc. They can then view the profiles of other members. They can then view the profiles of other members.

The dating market is made up of a large number of online platforms and applications, most of which generate revenue through paid subscriptions, but also offer a free version that allows users to test the application with limited functionality.advertising is also a possible source of revenue, but only in a minority of cases.

The worldwide market for dating sites is growing at a relatively high rate, and seems to be benefiting from the democratization of the Internet and new technologies, which are enabling the development of innovations in the sector. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% between 2023 and 2030, with the majority of players belonging to global groups such as Match.com and Spark Networks.

The French market has experienced strong growth since the creation of Meetic in 2001, which put the spotlight on the sector. Since then, the number of dating applications and sites has multiplied to cover the needs of all users, whatever their interests and requirements. French companies are dynamic, with Happn, for example, created in 2014, taking an ever-increasing share of the market. They are, however, suffering from fierce competition from foreign companies that can easily export their model to France. Sales in the sector rose by 41% between 2008 and 2011, then stagnated until 2016. The health crisis and the confinements have revitalized this market, which has once again experienced a phase of very strong growth since the start of 2020. Unique monthly users are increasing in number, and platforms are becoming increasingly successful in selling their paid offers to their users. Tinder, Adopteunmec and Happn all rank in the top 10 apps on which the French spent the most in 2020.

Consumers of these services are growing in number as the number of singles increases and Internet use becomes more intense. In addition, trends can be observed, notably to democratize use by women and encourage the emergence of safe, respectful exchange spaces, but also to ensure the protection of user data .

1.2 The booming global market, dominated by Tinder

Grand View Research estimated the size of the global online dating market at $*.** billion in ****. This market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (***) of *.*% from **** to ****. We can therefore imagine the market growing at a CAGR of up to $** billion by ****.

Global online dating market size World, ...

1.3 Growth in the French market

There are no recent estimates of the market size of dating apps and sites in France. Nevertheless, a study carried out in **** forecasts the evolution of this market's sales until ****. For example, sales of dating sites in France stood at *** million euros in **** in France, a figure already up on ****. Projections ...

1.4 The Covid-19 effect on dating apps

While the French continued to log on to dating sites and apps, containment has changed the market.

A total of **% of French people connected to these platforms during this period. Couples living apart were more likely to reconnect with former partners or talk to strangers online. However, they were less likely ...

2.1 Demand driven by the democratization of the Internet and the growing number of singles

The two main factors driving the development of online dating services are the number of singles and the population's use of the internet.

In France, the number of singles (***) was around ** million in **** according to Insee, when this data was last updated, representing **.*% of the population aged ** or over. We consider ...

2.2 User profile: young users and an over-representation of non-heterosexuals

The use of dating apps and sites varies greatly according to gender, age, socio-professional category and sexual orientation.

Men are the most likely to log on to dating sites and applications, with **% having done so in their lifetime in ****, compared with just **% of women. According to Médiamétrie's "l'année ...

2.3 Dating apps are part of everyday French life

Nearly half of French people consider that they could use a dating website or app (***). Dating sites therefore enjoy a positive image among consumers.

Preferred ways to find a partner France, ****, in % Source: ****

The results show that friends are the most frequently cited meeting place, with **% of respondents declaring that they ...

2.4 Negative effects that fuel user mistrust

Platform addiction

The first criticism that can be levelled at these platforms is their addictive potential. Indeed, **% of people who have used them have felt addicted. **% say that people close to them have told them they were addicted. Although it remains in the minority, addiction needs to be taken seriously by ...

2.5 Contrasting trends: slow dating and revenge dating

Slow dating:

The concept of slow dating is emerging as a new option to the culture of speed and superficiality in online dating. By emphasizing quality over quantity, slow dating encourages singles to take their time and discover each other on a deeper level. This approach favors slowness, depth and emotional ...

2.6 Audience analysis

MEETING WEBSITE MARKET - Audience breakdown by age group France, ****, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, % Source: ****

The audience of the market studied shows significant variations in relation to the proportions of the French population. The most represented age groups are those aged **-** (***). On the other hand, age groups over ** are under-represented in the market's audience, ...

3.1 A market dominated by a small number of players

The French market for dating sites and apps is concentrated in the hands of a handful of players. Indeed, the market is mainly dominated by foreign players with Tinder (***). France does, however, have its own national leaders, even though Meetic, the leading French dating site, was bought by the American group ...

3.2 The business model of dating websites and apps

Applications often develop around the same business model, combining several sources of revenue:

A freemium business model: Free version: applications offer a free version of the application to attract customers. Functions are limited, with, for example, a finite number of swipes. Premium version: A premium version is then available with additional ...

3.3 New players

Digital giants

The arrival of digital giants on the market should shake things up. For example, Facebook has launched its "Facebook Dating" dating service in the United States and in ** countries in America and Asia. This represents a major threat to existing players, particularly as Facebook already has a large user ...

4.1 Segmentation of existing products

There are many online dating sites and applications, each with its own specific segmentation to attract a particular target.

Websites include :

Historical sites for finding love: These sites are mostly used by older people than for apps, who are looking for serious relationships and therefore have a "premium" image. Meetic: France's ...

4.2 Price analysis

A study of the prices offered by the various platforms reveals several business models, each with its own specific pricing. On the one hand, some platforms offer "credits", a kind of virtual currency that enables users to perform actions on the platform. Others, on the other hand, offer paid access to ...

4.3 Constant renewal of our offering

An increasingly varied offering

The dating app market is characterized by low barriers to entry, and many new companies are entering the sector. To stand out from the crowd, they rely on a different approach and precise segmentation.

The first trend on the supply side is therefore the appearance of dating ...

4.4 Focus on dating websites and apps

According to an IFOP survey conducted at the end of ****, **% of French people feel at least occasionally lonely, and **% of French people say they suffer more from loneliness than before the health crisis caused by covid-**.

What's more, **% always or often feel alone, * points more than in **** before the crisis. This ...

5.1 Current regulations

It's important to distinguish between the regulations that apply to a marriage agency and those that apply to dating sites, since in the former case the agency carries out searches on behalf of the client to find the ideal person. In the case of dating sites, it's the users who carry ...

6.1 Segmentation

The following segmentation of players is used:

• Meetic
• Ashley Madison
• Attractive World
• Tinder (Match Group)
• Badoo
• Lovoo
• Happn
• Bumble
• Once
• AdopteUnMec
• Match Group Hinge
• Elite Rencontre
• Hinge Dating (Match group)
• Grindr
• Plenty Of Fish (Match group)
• Zoosk
• Match.com
• Feeld
• Voice Meet