A friend of mine recently tested her hand on online dating after a scant few years away from the scene. She joined one of the most significant dating sites on the market https://www.talkspace.com/blog/6-quick-tips-to-maintain-your-mental-health-while-dating/ and, like many others, found herself swamped 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 one third of Americans say they know a couple who met online. The good news is that there are a lot of other sites and apps out there to try. The key is discovering 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 catered at different audiences. Some, such as eharmony and Match, are intended for those looking for serious relationships; others, like Tinder and Bumble, are more focused on casual hookups. Some sites have a membership that lets you create a profile and view matches, while others require a premium subscription for messaging and other features.
OkCupid
The platform says it creates over 90 million matches a year and boasts that it’s “the top scientifically proven dating site on the planet.” It has an extensive 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 zealous about, ranging from climate change to cilantro (it’s not for the faint of heart find brides for marriage).
Coffee Meets Bagel
After a successful launch in New York City and a stint on Shark Tank, this app has quickly grown beyond its home base in the Big Apple. The app claims to eliminate endless swiping by only showing you one match daily, and requires women to make the first move in heterosexual matches. It also offers an 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 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 toward adults over 50 who are interested in serious relationships and companionship. Its members must have a minimum of 25 years’ experience to join, and it offers a focused customer service team to help with any issues. The site has an extensive library of articles about dating and relationships, and members can upload as many as ten photos.
While Ourtime doesn’t have as many active users as some of the other options on this list, it is a substantial 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 large number of active senior singles.