A friend of mine recently tested her hand in online dating after a couple of years away from the scene. She joined one of the premier dating sites out there and, like many others, found herself swamped flooded with messages and unscreened matches. It quickly became work, not fun, and she gave up before she even met anyone. She’s not alone: Roughly thirty-three percent of Americans say they https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platonic know a couple who met online. The good news is that there are a ton of other sites and apps out there to try. The key is identifying one that aligns with your dating goals and meets your needs.
The following eight dating sites are some of the most popular found in the U.S. and are directed at different audiences. Some, such as eharmony and Match, are intended for those looking for serious relationships; others, such as Tinder and Bumble, are more focused on casual hookups. Some sites have an membership that lets you create a profile and view matches, while others require an subscription for messaging and other features.
OkCupid
This platform says it produces over 90 million matches a year and boasts that it’s “the most scientifically proven dating site on the planet.” It has a comprehensive questionnaire that helps find compatible mates, but isn’t as long as the one on eharmony. It also prompts users to answer questions about things they’re enthusiastic about, ranging from climate change to cilantro (it’s not for the faint of heart).
Coffee Meets Bagel
After a successful launch in New York City and a stint on Shark Tank, this app has quickly advanced beyond its home base in the Big Apple. The app claims to eliminate endless swiping by only showing you one match each day, and requires women to make the first move in heterosexual matches. It also offers a version that provides more potential matches and eliminates ads.
HER
This dating app targets lesbian, bisexual, and queer people. It’s free to join and browse profiles, but a subscription is required to contact matches and send gifts. The app uses location find brides for marriage data to show you potential matches in your area. It also has a chat room and a feature that allows you to see who has viewed your profile.
Ourtime
Owned by Match, this site caters in the direction of adults over 50 who are interested in serious relationships and companionship. Its members must have at least 25 years’ experience to join, and it offers a specialized customer service team to help with any issues. The site has a large library of articles about dating and relationships, and members can upload upwards of ten photos.
While Ourtime doesn’t have as many active users as some of the other options on this list, it is a solid choice for those who are over 50 and are serious about finding a romantic partner. Its user base is fairly diverse and the site includes a wealth of active senior singles.
