37 Opening Lines That Actually Get Replies on Dating Apps

“Hey” isn’t cutting it. Here are opening lines that actually start conversations. And if you’re on Bumble wondering how to respond to “hey,” we’ve got 12 examples that work.

Why most openers fail

The average person on a dating app gets dozens of messages. Generic greetings like “hey” or “how are you” get lost in the noise. Good openers are specific, easy to respond to, and show a bit of personality.

Profile-based openers

The best openers reference something specific in their profile:

1. “I see you’re into hiking — what’s the best trail you’ve done recently?”
2. “Your dog is adorable. How long have you had them?”
3. “Okay I need to know — what’s your go-to karaoke song?”
4. “That travel photo is amazing. Where was that taken?”
5. “Fellow coffee snob here. What’s your go-to order?”
6. “Your taste in music is impeccable. Seen any good shows lately?”
7. “I noticed you’re into cooking — what’s your signature dish?”

Fun hypothetical openers

8. “If you could only eat one cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be?”
9. “Hot take: pineapple on pizza — yes or no?”
10. “If you won the lottery tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’d do?”
11. “Most underrated movie of all time — go.”
12. “If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?”
13. “Controversial opinion: what’s a popular thing you just don’t get?”
14. “Would you rather have the ability to fly or be invisible?”

Playful and witty openers

Want to know how to be funny over text? These openers show you how.

15. “On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your texting skills? I’m about a 6 but trying to improve.”
16. “I’m not great at openers but I’m excellent at follow-up questions.”
17. “I’ll skip the small talk — what’s something that made you laugh this week?”
18. “Fair warning: I send a lot of food photos. Hope that’s okay.”
19. “My friends dared me to come up with the world’s best opener. How am I doing?”
20. “Two truths and a lie about me: I can juggle, I’ve been skydiving, and I’m a morning person.”

Direct and confident openers

21. “Something about your profile stood out to me — I’d love to get to know you.”
22. “You seem like someone who’s actually interesting to talk to. Am I right?”
23. “I like your vibe. What are you looking for on here?”
24. “Alright, I think we’d actually get along. Prove me right?”
25. “Not going to lie, your profile made me stop scrolling.”

Situational openers

26. “Happy Friday! Got any fun plans this weekend?”
27. “This weather has me wanting to stay in and binge something. Any show recommendations?”
28. “Just tried that restaurant in your photos — so good. What did you order?”
29. “I think we have the same taste in [books/music/shows]. What are you into right now?”
30. “New to [city/app]! What’s your favorite hidden gem around here?”

Bold openers

31. “I’m going to skip the boring small talk — tell me something unexpected about yourself.”
32. “Rate your week so far from 1-10. I’ll go first: solid 7.”
33. “What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?”
34. “I bet I can guess your favorite genre of music based on your profile.”
35. “If your life had a theme song right now, what would it be?”
36. “Let’s play a game — I ask a question, you ask a question. I’ll start.”
37. “What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten?”

After the opener

A great opening line gets you in the door, but keeping the conversation going is where it counts. Learn how to keep a conversation going without forcing it. That’s where TextVibe helps — paste their response, pick your tone, and get smart reply suggestions that keep things flowing.

Try TextVibe free and never run out of things to say.