When it comes to the best dating sites for serious relationships, I have real-life experience and a full-blown love story to back my reviews.
MATCH sites are sent preselected potential matches everyday also. What it ll cost you: Try.
Growing up, I loved to fantasize about how I’d fall in love. I imagined just about every possible scenario — except for the one that actually happened.
I met the guy of my dreams on a dating app. He told me I had “a smidge of cute” on my face in his opening message, and we chatted about Disney songs and Marvel movies. A couple days later, I agreed to a coffee date, even though I dislike coffee. I arrived five minutes early, and he arrived 10 minutes late, but I fell for him anyway. The rest is sappy relationship history.
I’m not the only one to find a happily-ever-after ending on an online dating site. Something like 40% of American couples have met online. According to a 2017 survey of brides, online dating is now the most popular way to meet a spouse. These days, if you want to get in a relationship, you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and start swiping. So get out there!
Different online dating sites offer different online dating experiences, and it’s important to choose the one that fits your personality type and relationship goals. It’s not enough to choose a dating website your friend used, or the one you saw in a commercial or a Facebook ad. If you’re really serious, you should do your homework to find the best dating sites for serious relationships.
That’s where we come in. We’ve ranked our favorite dating sites and apps for relationship seekers and outlined the features and success stories that make them stand out in the online dating scene.
Match.com has come a long way since it launched in April 1995. This well-reputed dating site has honed its match algorithm to identify long-term compatibility and facilitate countless first dates, serious relationships, and successful marriages. Match.com's esteemed dating experts go to great lengths to guide singles to a seriously good match.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles | 51% | 15 Million | Try Match.com FREE |
Match is without a doubt one of the best online dating platforms in the business. Since 1995, Match has introduced countless couples and inspired matches that have stood the test of time. The dating site boasts being responsible for more long-term relationships and marriages than any of its competitors, and that’s great news if you’re serious about settling down.
Match.com attracts online daters who are over 30, well-educated, and relationship-minded. In fact, nearly 75% of Match users have earned a college degree, and 84% said they are selective about their dates.
The singles on Match.com are not screwing around and don’t want to waste time on dead-end dates. Many of them have paid subscription fees because they’re invested in the online dating process and hope to meet a person who’s in a similar place in life. Only paid subscribers can chat with everyone on Match, but free trial members can browse profiles, send likes, and enjoy limited communication until they decide it’s worth upgrading to get the full experience.
EliteSingles.com maintains a sophisticated network of young professionals seeking a relationship. Over 80% of its members hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree, and over 90% are over the age of 30. Elite Singles uses an intelligent matchmaking system to introduce daters to someone on their level.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles | 57% | 2 Million | FREE Sign Up |
EliteSingles is another high-end dating site that uses a paywall and in-app purchases to ensure only serious and successful singles come knocking. It’s free to create a profile and browse the site, but members with a subscription are the only ones who can view photos and send messages in this exclusive online dating club.
As you can tell from its name, EliteSingles caters to the cream of the dating crop. The site’s selective membership includes doctors, lawyers, bankers, and other professionals seeking a partner for the long haul. Over 85% of EliteSingles members have graduated from college, and over 90% say they want to be in a relationship.
EliteSingles uses a personality-driven matchmaking system and personality test to bring compatible couples together. A questionnaire uses a five-factor model to gauge how open, conscientious, agreeable, neurotic, and extroverted users are. The site also has customized Dating Preferences where active users can identify their must-haves in terms of age, ethnicity, religion, height, education, income, smoking habits, and other factors.
Since its launch in 2000, eharmony has endeavored to find the formula for love. Its 32-dimension personality test uses psychological truths to identify areas of compatibility between two individuals. The dating site's mission is to foster relationships that last, and every potential match has a reason behind it.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
Straight Singles | 49% | 10 Million | View Profiles FREE |
From the moment it launched in 2000, eharmony committed all its resources to helping online daters find the one they want to marry. A team of psychologists put their heads together to develop a clinically sound matchmaking system that would set couples up for success and happiness.
The recently updated eharmony Compatibility Quiz has been honed and perfected for decades now. It began as a 450-question assessment, and now it takes less than 20 minutes to answer straightforward questions like “What do your family and friends think about you?” and “What qualities do you look for in an ideal partner?”
This personality test focuses on who you are and want you want, using that information to generate accurate compatibility ratings.
The eharmony team is proud of its matchmaking system and urges singles to put their trust in its compatibility ratings. It’s all about long-term relationships here, and that’s why you won’t find any swiping or superficial features. To date, over 2 million online daters have found love on eharmony, and a new couple finds each other every 14 minutes on the site and app.
Zoosk is a socially savvy dating site known for its diverse membership base and behavioral matchmaking system. Over 40 million singles in 80 countries have joined the network so far, and it's growing larger every day. The platform offers many different ways to communicate and express interest in members, so it's easy to form a fast connection here.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles | 52% | 12 Million | Browse Profiles FREE |
Zoosk got started in 2007 as a free dating network for socially savvy singles. The site’s team drew inspiration from popular social media platforms (like Facebook) and used an array of communication tools to inspire real-time connections. Zoosk is also available as an app for Android and iPhone users.
Today, the Zoosk team continues to think outside the box and make the site and app stand out from the pack. Zoosk offers a behavioral matchmaking system that has proven effective at identifying innate compatibility without asking a lot of personal questions. The system pays attention to how members behave on the site (their likes, views, and messages) to determine who’s hit it off with them.
Zoosk has over 40 million members to its name, so you certainly won’t run out of options as you browse for matches here.
Christian Mingle is a faith-based dating website for singles who want a relationship grounded in Christian values. People of all religions and backgrounds turn to this site in hopes of meeting a good Christian man or a good Christian woman. Christian Mingle's claim to fame is that it has the highest percentage of Christian members of any dating site or app in the world.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles | 56% | 3.5 Million | View Profiles FREE |
Christians tend to gravitate toward long-term partners who share similar beliefs and values, and that can be a sticking point on other online dating services, but it’s not a problem on ChristianMingle, the #1 dating site for Christian singles.
ChristianMingle’s mission is to create God-centered relationships, and it has spent the last two decades doing exactly that. The dating site appeals to Christians of all denominations, and it’s also open to Jewish singles, Muslim singles, and other non-Christians who are willing to convert or support a Christian marriage.
You don’t have to take it on faith that ChristianMingle works. Just read the success stories out there from true believers who found love here. “We felt super comfortable with each other and could just talk and talk about anything,” Jess and Caleb said in a testimonial. “Don’t feel weird for looking elsewhere for your special someone.”
Since its launch in 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has created an African American singles network that stretches across North America. This niche dating site has 1.5 million members who are attracted to Black and biracial people. It takes less than two minutes to create a full profile and start browsing through profiles sorted by age, location, and orientation.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
Black & Biracial Singles | 53% | 1.5 Million | Browse Profiles FREE |
It takes less than two minutes to create a profile on BlackPeopleMeet, but the relationship you find on the dating site could last a lifetime. As a black dating site, BlackPeopleMeet supports a tight-knit community full of diversity and fun, so it’s no wonder sparks fly so often here.
BlackPeopleMeet has thousands of members spread across the U.S. and Canada, and they’re all looking for hot dates who share a similar background, perspective, and cultural awareness. Single parents can use the site’s search tools to narrow the dating pool to the most desirable few and send virtual flirts to see if the attraction is mutual.
“Through this service, I have finally met the man I’m going to marry,” said a BlackPeopleMeet user from Oklahoma. “This network has allowed me to meet the man of my dreams, and I’m grateful for that.”
In 2004, OkCupid's founders decided to create a fool-proof formula for love, and they launched a free dating site to delve into what personal attributes made relationships work. OkCupid members can send unlimited messages for free. It's easy to discover mutual interests and compatibility on the platform's information-rich dating profiles.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles | 48% | 3.5 Million | Browse Profiles FREE |
OkCupid satisfies daters of all ages and orientations with its free matching and chatting tools. The dating site and app has endeavored to find the formula for love, and it’s scary good at finding like-minded people who meet your standards.
Love-driven singles can make the compatibility system more accurate by answering more questions in the personality test and filling out their dating profiles completely.
Every week, OkCupid members go on over 50,000 dates, and the well-known online dating service is responsible for more than 91 million love connections every year.
OkCupid was my dating site of choice for years because it offers free communication between mutual matches, and the dating profiles let people show off their quirks and get to know one another before anyone even says “hey.” Plus, you can tell from someone’s profile if he or she is interested in casual dating, long-term relationships, friendships, or something else.
Plenty of Fish prides itself on being one of the best dating sites for conversations. It supports 100% free and unlimited messaging for over 120 million monthly users in 20 countries. Since its launch in 2003, Plenty of Fish has developed a science-based matching system that has proven successful.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles | 40% | 120 Million | Browse Profiles FREE |
PlentyOfFish can offer you free access to a global dating pool of over 150 million members in 20 countries. It’s free to join, free to match, and free to chat on this dating site and app. No need to pay monthly subscription fees or make in-app purchases. The paid membership is only for singles who want more perks from the dating service, including seeing who has viewed their dating profile.
The PlentyOfFish community is open to people from all walks of life, and they all have different intentions. Sure, some are looking for a casual hookup, but a lot of POF members are seeking genuine connections and are eager to see where the chemistry takes them.
In the average week, PlenthOfFish sees over 57 million matches made online, and many of those lead to real-life dates and long-term relationships. “I was on PlentyOfFish reading profiles and learning more about the men,” said Camille in her testimonial. “Flash forward two years, and now we are engaged and planning our May 2020 wedding. We recommend POF to any and all singles looking for their perfect match.”
Since its launch in 2014, Bumble has positioned itself as one of the queens of the online dating world. The dating app turns gender stereotype on its head by empowering women to make the first move in a conversation with a man. Once you've made that mutual match, you have up to 48 hours to respond and make a connection.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles | 50% | 22 Million | Try Bumble FREE |
Bumble is the female-friendly mobile app (available for Android and iPhone users) that’s currently on a crusade to civilize the online dating scene. How is it doing that? By letting women take control and set the tone in every mutual match.
On Bumble, single men cannot message a woman unless she first likes their profile and then sends the first message within 24 hours of the match. The online dating app isn’t afraid to set high standards in the dating world, and neither are its most active users.
Bumble members are serious about finding a committed relationship and escaping hookup culture. In an internal poll, fewer than 1% of women on the app said they were interested in a hookup, and 85% of all users said they wanted to find a long-term relationship. If you’re looking for the real deal, Bumble is a quality-driven place to conduct your search.
In 2012, Tinder pioneered a swiping-based match system that empowered singles to connect with dates who liked them back. Tinder users can message their mutual matches for free on this fast-paced dating app. Since its launch, Tinder has created over 60 billion matches worldwide.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles | 50% | 50 Million | View Profiles FREE |
Tinder may not have the reputation of a relationship app, but it actually has inspired its fair share of love stories over the years.
Tinder’s infamous swiping features allow singles to cherry-pick the types of dates they desire, so it’s pretty easy to avoid the screwboys and hookup chicks if that’s not what you’re into. Another thing Tinder has going for it is sheer numbers. Since its launch in 2012, Tinder has made over 65 billion introductions, and it currently makes over 26 million matches per day. Plus, it’s a free dating app, so you won’t need any in-app purchases to connect and chat.
In a recent survey, 42% of Tinder users said they use the app to find relationships, while 47% use it for a casual hookup, so you have pretty good odds of meeting a compatible person and turning the match into something real. You can download the free version of Tinder in the App Store or on Google Play if you have an Android device.
Young people can afford to be shortsighted and enjoy short-term dating on social media apps like Tinder, but singles of a certain age often don’t want to waste time with all that unnecessary stress and uncertainty.
Many singles over 50 would prefer to lock down a true, lasting relationship to brighten their golden years. The following senior dating sites and apps for serious relationships can help older singles meet in a mature and safe setting. That way, finding a local date in the same age group is much easier.
SilverSingles is serious about helping singles over 50 meet one another, and the site doesn't allow anyone under 50 years old to join the network. The secure signup process includes profile verification and fraud detection, so new members must portray themselves accurately to gain access to the platform. By fostering a safe environment, SilverSingles helps men and women meet mature dates in their area.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
Singles Over 50 | 59% | 800,000 | View Profiles FREE |
Over the last decade, Silver Singles has distinguished itself as the best senior dating app for silver-haired singles seeking new relationships and friendships. We’ve given it a 4.5-star rating because it has easy-to-understand features, great safety features, and a lot of success stories to its name.
As of 2019, the dating site surpassed 50,000 paid subscribers — all of whom have been verified as genuine, over-50 singles — and the team expects to keep growing as more tech-savvy baby boomers see the benefits of online dating.
“The success of Silver Singles is not only great news for our business, but also represents an outstanding new opportunity for singles on their quest to find a compatible partner,” said Spark Networks CEO Jeronimo Folgueira. “It’s a win-win for Spark Networks, for our shareholders, for our members, and ultimately, for love.”
OurTime is an over-50 dating site with a lot of helpful features to facilitate friendships and relationships. Senior singles can look for dates themselves using the search tools, or they can view a curated list of matches to find compatible folks. Singles can send likes, flirts, and faves for free, but they have to subscribe to send messages to their online crushes.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
Senior Singles | 52% | 600,000 | Try OurTime.com FREE |
OurTime is one of our favorite senior dating sites and apps. For one thing, it’s powered by People Media, which is owned by the Match Group, and that means it has extensive reach in the online dating scene. Something else we like is how active and personable members are on this senior dating app.
While browsing OurTime, older singles can view new members, see who’s online now, or click on the Today’s Matches tab to find a potential partner. The basic membership also includes access to advanced search tools for age, location, photos, ethnicity, and more. You can even specify that you only want to see profiles interested in marriage or a committed relationship.
OurTime members receive notifications whenever a new person views, likes, or messages their profile, and senior singles can choose to upgrade at any time to take the conversation to the next level on this online dating site.
Since 2003, SeniorMatch has built its reputation as one of the world's leading senior dating sites. The site offers free communication and searches to help singles over 50 find companionship and love. If you're interested in a mature dating experience, this dating site can meet your needs.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
Senior Singles | 60% | 2.7 Million | Browse Profiles FREE |
Launched in 2003, SeniorMatch has earned its status as one of the leading senior dating sites and apps. Not only does it have over 1 million seniors in its user base, but it also supports over 1.6 million private chats each month, so you know you’re in for some good conversations leading up to Valentine’s Day.
The SeniorMatch community gives singles the opportunity to share their thoughts, tell their stories, and meet the perfect match online. Singles can encounter people who live around the corner or around the world, and it often makes users feel less alone to have so many incoming messages and daily matches.
Whether you’re a widower or a single parent, you can enjoy a second chance at true love thanks to SeniorMatch.
When combing through SeniorMatch’s 36,000+ success stories, we found many glowing testimonials from older singles who are happily matched. “I met the most wonderful guy here. He is so lovely,” said one woman. “We have decided to live together in a month. Then to marry and travel and explore the world.”
Online dating has been a terrific ally to the LGBTQ+ community. Once upon a time, queer singles had to rely on their charm and gaydar to spot a potential date in a crowd of straight people. Now they can simply set up a dating profile on a free gay dating app, connect it to their Facebook account, and let hot dates come to them. Today, around 65% of same-sex couples meet online — probably on one of the following popular apps.
HER is a women-only (or 'womxn' as the team says) dating app that helps cis, trans, and non-binary identified singles come into their own. This is a strict no-boys-allowed zone. HER encourages LGBTQ+ women to mingle by commenting on photos or events in the Feed, or they can like profiles to initiate a private conversation with a mutual match.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
All Women | 100% | 7 Million | View Profiles FREE |
HER supports an all-female dating community where friendships and romances can blossom into something more. The dating app has over 4 million womxn who identify across the sexuality spectrum and want to meet ladies in the local LGBTQ+ community.
From the moment you join HER, you can scroll through a fun newsfeed full of photos, stories, and events geared toward queer womxn. The app is free, and it has led to many #WeMetOnHER successes.
“Be proud of who you are. Be proud of who you love,” said a HER member on Instagram. “It’s wonderful being with the woman of your dreams.”
Grindr became the world's first gay geosocial app in 2009, and it continues growing its all-male user base more than a decade later. The app uses real-time GPS data to locate nearby date prospects and give gay and bisexual singles a chance to connect while they're out on the town.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
Gay Singles | 0% | 5 Million | Try Grindr FREE |
Grindr is the go-to dating app for gay, bisexual, and trans men seeking men in the local dating scene. Since 2009, Grindr has used a powerful location-based matching system to bring guys together and help them find date prospects who are in close proximity and may even have Facebook friends in common.
A lot of dudes use Grindr as a hookup app to scope out the hottest matches at the bar or club, but it’s also great for daytime flirting and chatting. There’s no pressure to commit right away on Grindr, but some relationships do form on the fast-paced app. One online study found that 84% of Grindr users fall in love on the app, and over 56% think it’s possible to find a long-term partnership here.
Grindr welcomes all single men in the LGBTQ+ community and offers premium features and in-app purchases to facilitate matchmaking. Whether you’re out and proud or still in the closet, you can log into Grindr to mingle freely and discover romantic connections from the privacy of your home.
It took me a couple years of trial and error before I got into the online dating groove, found the dating platform I liked, and got the results I was hoping for. I went the long way around because I didn’t know what I was doing, but now I know the shortcuts to creating an attractive dating profile and making an online connection last.
First of all, you’ve got to pick a successful dating site if you want to have a successful dating experience. Apps like Tinder can give you a lot of potential date options, but swiping isn’t always the easiest method for finding love. Matching algorithms do a better job of recommending like-minded people based on shared interests and dating preferences.
It’s obviously important to have a dating site that has your back, and Match.com has had singles’ backs for nearly 25 years. And now users don’t even need a paid membership to communicate with Top Picks in the Match network.
Since 1995, Match has made a name for itself as one of the most successful dating platforms in the world. The site empowers singles to find compatible dates and make a deep connection based on shared interests and lifestyles. Match.com is responsible for countless love stories, and the next one could be yours.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles | 51% | 15 Million | Try Match.com FREE |
Match is a reliable dating site and app with a lot of great personalized and premium features for singles to use. We’d recommend completing every section of your profile — from the Summary all the way to What I’m Looking For — and adding four pictures of yourself (avoid bathroom selfies) to make the best possible first impression on the online dating service.
Another famously anti-swiping dating app is Coffee Meets Bagel, which was founded by three sisters in 2012. The dating platform actually puts limits on a single person’s matching and messaging capabilities to ensure quality wins out over quantity. As a result, Coffee Meets Bagel has frequently been described as a top dating app for serious relationships. Online daters can download Coffee Meets Bagel for free on Google Play or the App Store.
When you enter your 40s, your feelings about casual dating and long-term relationships can change. Maybe you no longer meet as many people as you once did, or maybe your confidence isn’t what it used to be, or maybe you just don’t know what the rules are nowadays.
Dating sites and apps for professionals cater to a more mature age group and can help single parents start over in a safe space. EliteSingles is our go-to recommendation for online daters in their 40s and older because the online dating site specializes in building grown-up relationships based on mutual interests, not superficial looks.
Elite Singles prioritizes quality over quantity, and its highly selective match system satisfies discerning single women looking for a true partnership. A majority of Elite Singles users have graduated from college, excelled in their careers, and want to find someone special to share in their success.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles | 57% | 2 Million | FREE Sign Up |
EliteSingles is known for supporting mature professionals — over 90% are 30 or older — seeking real relationships. It is not a sugar daddy site, but rather a place for equals to find their perfect match. The network uses a tried-and-true matching algorithm to make sure its active users encounter lots of compatible love interests.
Singles should note that online communication is a premium feature on this online dating app, but one doesn’t have to be a premium member to browse profiles and send icebreakers.
Jewish singles should look into joining JDate, which is by far the most popular Jewish dating site on the market. For over 20 years, JDate has inspired countless first dates, relationships, and marriages within the Jewish community. Not all members of JDate are Jewish singles, but they are all interested in connecting through Judaism and sharing that culture and faith with a potential partner.
I’ve had a subscription on both paid and free dating sites, and each have different pros and cons. An obvious upside to a free site is that it’s free, and you never have to spend a cent to find potential dates in your area. The downside is that sometimes free sites can attract unsavory characters who are just there to make trouble, enjoy a casual hookup, or have some laughs without actually meeting anyone.
Pro Tip: Look for free dating sites or apps with identity verification tools through Facebook, Instagram, or other social media accounts. This will lower your odds of running into fake profiles and catfishers, but you may still meet flaky dates.
Singles don’t invest anything in a free dating site, so they can sometimes take the experience too lightly. Paid dating sites and apps, on the other hand, require all users to pay for the privilege of contacting singles online, and that automatically makes each match seem more valuable in the other person’s eyes. As a premium dating site, eharmony does a great job of weeding out casual daters and focusing on long-term relationships.
When it comes to long-term relationships, eharmony doesn't mess around. This dating website has crafted a time-tested matchmaking formula that identifies 32 key personality traits and areas of compatibility. It provides hard data on how you stack up against potential dates and delivers a curated list of match recommendations to your inbox every day.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
Straight Singles | 49% | 10 Million | View Profiles FREE |
If you have the cash to spend on it, then joining a paid dating site with premium features could help you avoid the flakes and meet people who actually care about finding a special person or perfect match. The in-app purchases on apps like Tinder could yield great results just in time for Valentine’s Day.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide how much your love life is worth to you. Maybe you’re fine putting in the time and effort to search for potential dates on mobile dating apps, or maybe you’d prefer more curated matches in a network where like-minded people can come to you.
We’ve reviewed a lot of online dating sites and apps over the years, and sometimes we hear complaints from members saying they have encountered a lot of fake profiles or scammers. Single women are especially sensitive to safety concerns, so they seek female-friendly dating sites that cater to their interests.
When it comes to female-friendly dating sites and apps, Bumble is absolutely at the top of the list. The online dating app was made by a single woman on behalf of single women everywhere, and its progressive, feminist approach to dating has made it a highly respectable and safe place to meet like-minded people.
Bumble has embraced its role as the world's feminist dating app. The app launched in 2014 with the unique premise that women should send the first message and take the lead in a new romantic relationship. According to Bumble, over 85% of its users are looking for a long-term relationship, and less than 4% are looking for hookups.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Monthly Users | Best Offer |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles | 50% | 22 Million | Try Bumble FREE |
Bumble sets strict standards for its community and moderates all messages, photos, and profiles to ensure they reflect the core values of the app. As a result, its dating pool is full of honest relationship seekers who want a potential match to grow into something real.
“You should behave the same way on Bumble as you would in real life,” the Bumble team says. “As a community rooted in kindness and respect, we expect all of our users to respect each other, themselves, and the Bumble staff.”
A combination of good luck and smart matching algorithms brought me to my ideal boyfriend on a dating app. Both of us were serious about finding a relationship, and we actively sought dates online because there’s no faster or easier way to meet people these days.
The best dating sites for serious relationships can give singles a simple way to make sense of the dating scene, seize romantic opportunities, and find The One. I’d recommend joining multiple dating sites or apps to increase your chances of successfully connecting with your online crush. We realized later that my boyfriend had actually sent me a message on two different dating apps — one went unanswered, and the other led to a committed relationship.
I know it’s a cliché, but you really never know what could happen once you sign up for a dating site. Today’s carefree swiping or casual relationship could turn into tomorrow’s lifelong love story — just don’t give up on it too soon!
SAN DIEGO, April 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TigersofTinder.com announces the release of the review, “Best Dating Sites in 2021”
Dating sites and apps are numerous nowadays and asking someone about their favorite site will elicit a response as unique as the person themselves.
While some people might be searching for love and marriage, others may be looking for something more casual.
The best dating sites offer plenty of variety and privacy, among other features. This article aims to lay out the best dating site for each person's unique situation and relationship goals.
First look:
How The Best Dating Sites Were Evaluated:
User reviews - For each dating site we looked at app store reviews, forum discussions, and trustpilot reviews to find sites with the highest average rating in a given category.
Privacy and security - Everyone has heard horror stories of online dates gone sour or dangerous. The best dating sites feature built-in privacy features and even moderators to step in when a user is out of line or poses a risk to others.
Unique features - Some dating websites just offer straightforward meet-up options, whether through chat or video call. Others help people find their match with compatibility games, filtering options, and more. These additional features indicate a better chance at success.
15 Best Dating Sites for 2021
1. Eharmony - Best for serious relationships
Millions of couples have been connected by Eharmony—in reality, 400+ users marry someone they meet on the website every single day. The platform has even won awards as the best site for finding stable relationships.
Eharmony requires users to complete a lengthy survey upon signup, which functions as a “compatibility matching system.” The site then uses this information to present users with could-be successful dating choices.
Thiss platform is interesting in that it prompts users to like or comment on a certain section of the other person's profile. It provides a way for people to interact beyond the usual chat.
8. Seeking - For sugar daddies and sugar babies
Seeking is unique because it focuses on linking younger individuals (sugar babies) with older, wealthy sugar daddies. Apparently, it is more common than most believe, given the platform now has over 10 million subscribers. Each person can specify his/her terms before they connect, whether they want to travel, demand an allowance, or other specifications.
There is a high female-to-male ratio, which means the daddies have plenty of options to choose from, although it also indicates that competition could be fierce for the babies.
9. JDate - Jewish singles only
JDate is a dating service exclusively for Jewish singles. It was established in 1997 and is now accessible in over 100 countries, allowing users to communicate with Jewish singles in five different languages (English, Hebrew, French, German, and Spanish).
When it comes to online Jewish weddings, JDate is responsible for matching over 50 percent of those couples.
Users can contact anyone with a free or paid membership. Customer service checks each profile to ensure that it is created by genuine customers.
10. ChristianMingle - Best Christian dating site
ChristianMingle assists users within the christian community with finding their forever love. It boasts over 1 million users, and the site explicitly encourages “faith-based dating” for long-term potential.
There is a free account option or a monthly membership for $29.95. The latter comes with a guarantee, where a user can receive six months for free after their initial six-month membership is over if they do not find some suitable.
11. Zoosk - Large international community
Zoosk boasts one of the largest platforms on an international scale, with over 40 million members worldwide. Each day, these users submit more than 3 million messages in 25 different languages. Zoosk operates in over 80 nations.
The website employs something called “behavioral matchmaking technology” to help singles find compatible individuals that might equate to a match made in heaven.
After a free trial period, a Zoosk membership costs $29.99 per month.
12. Reddit R4R - Best for Reddit users
R4R, or Redditor for Redditor, is a subreddit dedicated to connecting users. The platform does not use a matching scheme, instead, it is a massive venue of personal ads.
A user’s search criteria brings up their preferred results. Reddit consumers use it to find activities, friends, parties, hookups, and even long-term relationships.
Even though it is a generalized forum, there are still rules relating to age, privacy, legality, and conduct. For example, NSFW posts are allowed but must be labeled as such so users can decide if they want to view the post or not.
13. OkCupid - Free and popular
OkCupid is one of the most well-known dating sites and features comprehensive profiles that other members can thoroughly scan before connecting. It is available in both a desktop and mobile version, with loads of details that users can fill in for the best results.
The site is very inclusive, with over 20 gender and sexual orientation choices.
14. Ashley Madison - Best married dating site
Ashley Madison is one of a kind, made for married individuals looking to have private affairs. It is not connected to social media accounts for this reason.
There are other privacy restrictions and features to help users stay anonymous if they are afraid of getting caught. Additionally, Ashley Madison has a travel option where members can search their upcoming location in advance.
Special Mentions:
Match.com - Match has been around since 1995 and offers a virtual dating mentor program to assist participants in matchmaking and dating ideas.
Tinder - This dating app is widely popular and comes with credibility. Most people use it for hookups, given its massive user base and location-driven algorithms.
BlackPeopleMeet - For over 18 years, BlackPeopleMeet has been connecting African American singles seeking love. The site's 100,000+ members can flirt, email, and see who views their profile.
Grindr - Grindr is exclusively for LGBTQA+ individuals. It is location-based, and users primarily use it for hooking up, though longer-term matches are also possible.
Plenty of Fish - This dating website is Canadian-based, but allows users to communicate with people from all around the world.
Why Do People Use Online Dating Sites?
Dating sites expose people to a far larger pool of individuals than a single person would have the chance to meet in real life. This is especially the case for users that have a limited social group, are new to town, or otherwise.
Using these sites can also allow users to be more selective based on criteria that are important to them: shared values, hobbies, or the type of relationship they want.
Are Dating Apps Safe?
Generally, yes, dating apps are safe, but it does still require discernment and caution. Apps have privacy features in place to help members out, such as profile verification. Certain websites also scan participants manually, adding an extra layer of security to the process.
Individuals should never provide personal information before meeting someone in real life, such as their surname, address, or even their neighborhood. It is also smart to arrange a first date in a public space. Contacting a friend beforehand and letting them know they are going on a date with a stranger is also not a bad idea.
How to Ensure Your Safety While Online Dating?
Never provide personal information to someone online, especially before meeting in person. This information includes the surname, employer, address, and even neighborhood.
When encountering anyone online, arrange for the first few dates to take place in public places. This may be a café, a hotel, a theatre, or some other public space. Avoid isolated areas such as beaches, and never allow strangers into the house.
Finally, contact a buddy before the date to inform them of the whereabouts and anticipated return time. Notify them when it's time to leave for home. To provide an extra layer of protection, request that they call or text during the date to ensure maximum safety.
First Date Suggestions
Dating for the first time can be overwhelming! To ensure optimal safety and to meet the match in person, follow these tips:
Maintain an open mind. Individuals may look very different in person than they do online, so be prepared for the preferences to change.
Avoid being too formal. Establishing a social meeting, such as a lunch date, allows the users to get to know one another without feeling obligated to spend hours together.
Review the conversations before going on a date. Re-read the person's profile and review what was discussed, and schedule general discussion topics.
Is It Possible to Develop a Serious Relationship When Dating Online?
Yes, it is possible! If two people meet, are compatible, and chemistry is present, the relationship could turn into something stable and secure. It happens every day, thanks to sites like Eharmony.
Online Dating Sites in Conclusion
The trick to online dating is for the individual to know what they want and need in a relationship beforehand. Based on the list above, there are many types of relationships to be found on these sites.
Maintain caution but an open mind when using a dating site. Each site here has something to offer, depending on what the user desires.
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