How To Find Someone On Dating Apps And Prove They’re Cheating

Dating apps have completely changed the dating game. So much so, that we’ve dedicated tons of time to them for you here at Dear Media. We’ve posted about everything from dating apps for introverts to apps for hooking up—there’s a wide variety! In a perfect world, they are great for meeting new people. But, in reality? They’ve transformed online dating into a game with pretty high stakes with endless red flags. As if the fear of getting catfished and dogfished wasn’t enough, dating apps are the weapons of choice for cheaters. Basically, if your partner is cheating, chances are you’ll find them on one of these sites and apps!

This is mostly because of how easy it is to create fake or incomplete profiles on many dating apps. Yeah, it’s disgusting—but we didn’t have to tell you that. So, if you spot the signs he’s cheating and you’ve already listened to this episode of What We Said and this episode of Almost Adulting, it only makes sense for you to want hardcore evidence and proof. Finding them on a dating app is the ultimate way to make guilt totally irrefutable. To help you out, we’re sharing a guide on how to find someone on dating apps. Let’s dive in!

How To Find Someone On Dating Apps and Prove They’re Cheating

Try regular search engines.

So, you’re asking yourself: “is my partner’s online activity kinda sketchy???” You think he’s using dating apps, but you’re not sure and you don’t know where to start to find out. Our advice is to start with a standard search engine. The best way to do this depends on what information you have on hand.

Method 1: Search by username.

Whether out of habit or for consistency purposes, a lot of people use the same username for all of their sites and platforms. Google can help you find out if a person’s username is being used on any dating profiles or for any sketchy online activity. You can simply type the username into Google’s search bar, or you can type in the username and the name of a dating app to narrow down the results.

However, be aware that a username search will only work for dating apps that allow search engines to index their profiles. (Basically, not all dating profiles are searchable.) Bumble and OkCupid are two sites that allow their users to keep their info totally private if they want.

Method 2: Search by phone number.

You can also search for someone using their phone number. To do this, simply type their phone number into your search engine. This will pull up any accounts associated with that number, including profiles on dating apps. Again, this will only work if it’s searchable!

Method 3: Use metasearch engines.

Most of us use Google for our everyday searches, but there are a handful of other search engines that could produce better results. These advanced search engines, called metasearch engines, get their results from top authority sites and search engines like Google and Yahoo! to ensure you get the best results. If a standard Google search doesn’t turn up the info you’re looking for, try using a metasearch engine like Dogpile, Webcrawler, Monster Crawler, or Metacrawler.

Method 4: Use a reverse imagine search.

Take a picture from your partner’s social media (one you think that they’d be using on a dating app), and run that bad boy through Google Reverse Image Search, or through TinEye. If you’re unsure which picture they may use, look for a few different ones! Chances are if they’ve used it on a dating profile, it’ll pop up this way.

Use a specialized reverse search site.

So, this is probably the quickest way to find out if someone is on a dating app, but you have to pay for most of them. These types of websites work by searching the code on dating profiles to look for anything that suggests a person has a profile on the app. To use these services, you will need the person’s name, email address, or phone number. While some sites offer a free trial and a small few are totally free, you can expect to pay about $5-10 for each search.

These are the top-rated online tools and apps for tracking dating profiles:

UserSearch: A free search tool that searches for a dating profile on dating sites using a person’s username. No registration is required.
Cheaterbuster: Only works for Tinder, but it’s reportedly 98% accurate. One search costs $17.99 + tax.
Spokeo: Designed for background checks, this tool will reveal any social media and dating sites associated with a person’s name or email address. The free plan only reveals limited info; you’ll likely need a 1-month membership that’ll cost you $19.95, or a 3-month membership that will cost $14.95/mo.
Socialcatfish: This helps you uncover accounts and profiles associated with a name, phone number, email address, or username. The intro price is $5.73 for three days, then renews automatically at $27.95/month.

Create an account and search for them.

If you have a good idea which one of the many popular dating sites someone is using, you can sign up for the site yourself. This approach definitely takes more time and effort, but it’s nearly foolproof. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Create your own profile on the dating app.

Sign up for the dating app in question. You can use your real info or create a fake persona—there’s no judgment here! Do what you gotta do. Just do everyone else on the app a favor and clarify that you’re not looking for a connection.

Step 2: Adjust settings & filters.

To narrow down your potential matches and increase the likelihood of finding the person you’re looking for, set your location as the same city or town as the other person. Then, adjust the age filter to match the person’s age.

Step 3: Swipe.

Start swiping! Depending on how many people fit your search parameters, you could end up swiping for a while. But, if someone is using the app, you’ll eventually see their profile.

If you don’t feel like going through the hassle of creating a whole new profile, ask a bestie who you know is on dating apps to search for your partner! Nothing radiates feminine energy quite like girls showing up for their friends, right?

Important Things To Note

There’s a good chance you’ll find out if someone is on dating apps using the suggestions above. Other ideas, like trying to login with their email or clicking the reset password link, can only tell you whether someone has ever had a profile on the app, not if they’re actively using it.

If you do find someone on a dating app, they might give you the typical “it’s an old account” excuse. However, Tinder only shows profiles that have been active in the last week, so if it’s their Tinder profile you found, you can bet they’re lying. Do yourself a favor and know when to walk away from a relationship that’s not serving you anymore, and do not, under any circumstances, fall for the love bombing BS. If you’re unsure if you’re being loved bombed, you need to listen to this episode of Coming in Hot. You’re too good for that!

What you do once you find your S.O. is on dating apps is up to you, but always remember you deserve nothing less than the best.

You deserve SO MUCH BETTER than someone who leaves you feeling insecure, anxious, and unworthy. Keep that in mind as you search for the truth! It’s totally normal to want a peace of mind that your partner is true to you—especially if their behavior has been kind of off.

If you end up uncovering your partner’s infidelity and you’re left wondering what’s next, these podcasts might help. Check out:

Check out the Dear Media blog for everything from relationship advice to manifestation tips. And, don’t forget to check out the DM shop for tons of must-have items—like this “Didn’t Cry Today” crewneck! Because honestly, why would you cry? You just leveled up your life by either ensuring your partner was faithful, or by uncovering an undercover cheater. Either way, it’s a win in our books.