Dating App Screenshot Templates That Show What Makes You Different
Screenshot templates for dating, matchmaking, and relationship apps. The dating category is one of the most competitive on both stores — differentiation in screenshots is the primary way to stand out before a user ever tries the app.
What most dating apps get wrong
The mistake: Using screenshot 1 to show a match notification ("You have a new match!"). This is the most copied first screenshot in the dating category and provides zero differentiation. Every competitor shows this. Show something about how your matching works instead.
What actually works: Dating apps have a unique problem: all their core functionality looks identical in screenshots — swipe cards, chat bubbles, profile grids. The apps that win on screenshots differentiate through positioning, not UI. "For serious relationships" vs "For casual connections" must be visible in the screenshot aesthetic, not just the description.
4 Template Styles That Work for Dating Apps
Each style serves a different positioning goal. Pick the one that matches how your app acquires users.
Match Card Stack
Best for: Swipe-based dating apps
Shows the core swiping interface with illustrated or avatar-based profiles. Clean card design. Differentiates through card design details, not just the swipe gesture.
Compatibility Score
Best for: Algorithm-based matching apps
Shows a match percentage or compatibility breakdown. Communicates that the app does more than swiping. Number-focused design. Good for serious relationship apps.
Conversation Starter
Best for: Conversation-first, prompt-based apps
Shows an interesting profile prompt or icebreaker question. Signals depth over appearance-first matching. Works well for intellectual or values-based dating apps.
Success Story
Best for: Relationship-focused apps
Shows a "Couples who met here" counter or success testimonial in UI format. Social proof as a screenshot. Strong for conversion with serious relationship seekers.
What Your First Screenshot Must Show
The first screenshot is visible in App Store search results without tapping in. It does 70% of the conversion work.
Show what makes your matching mechanism different. If you use questionnaires, show the question UI. If you use compatibility scores, show the scoring system. If you target a specific demographic, make that demographic visible in the illustrated or avatar-based profile shown.
Recommended Screenshot Order for Dating Apps
This ordering is based on the decision journey of a user evaluating a dating app.
Color Strategy for Dating Screenshots
Pink and purple gradients dominate the dating category but are becoming generic. Premium dating apps are moving toward deep navy, charcoal, or warm cream tones to signal seriousness. Vibrant orange or red signals energy and casual intent. Match your color palette to your positioning, not to your competitors'.
Conversion tip
If your app has a safety verification feature (photo verification, ID check, phone number requirement), show it. Safety concerns are the #1 barrier to trying new dating apps — especially for women. A "Verified users only" feature shown in screenshots reduces this objection before the user even installs.
Common Questions
Can dating app screenshots show real user profiles?
No — App Store and Google Play policies require that screenshots accurately represent app functionality without revealing real user data. Use illustrated avatars, placeholder profiles with obviously fictional names, or blurred profile images. Some apps use animated/cartoon style profile cards to solve this entirely.
What is the #1 mistake dating apps make in their screenshots?
Showing a match notification or "You matched!" screen as the first screenshot. This is the most overused first screenshot in the entire dating category. It tells users nothing unique about the app. The first screenshot should show what makes your matching or discovery experience different.
Should dating apps show chat screenshots?
Only as a secondary screenshot (3rd or 4th position). The conversation experience matters, but it's harder to differentiate visually. If you show chat, make sure the conversation shown demonstrates a real feature — icebreaker prompts, voice notes, video calls — not just a generic text exchange.
How do you show a niche dating app's target audience in screenshots?
Through visual signals in the UI — profile interests shown (hiking, jazz, literature), category labels visible in the app, or explicit taglines in captions. Avoid real demographic imagery for the reasons above. The app's target user should be inferable from the interests and aesthetic without needing to show specific people.
Templates for Related App Categories
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