A friend of mine recently tried her hand on online dating after a small number of years away from the scene. She enrolled in one of the largest dating sites in existence and, like many others, found herself swamped with a flood of messages and unscreened matches. It quickly became work, not fun, and she gave up before she even met anyone. She https://www.buzzfeed.com/fabianabuontempo/dating-app-tips is not alone: Roughly a third of Americans say they know a couple who met online. The good news is that there are a plethora of other sites and apps out there to try. The key is seeking out one that aligns with your dating goals and meets your needs.
The following eight dating sites are some of the most popular in the U.S. and are targeted at different audiences. Some, such as eharmony and Match, are intended for those looking for serious relationships; others, for example, Tinder and Bumble, are more focused on casual hookups. Some sites have a cost-free membership that lets you create a profile and view matches, while others require a premium subscription for messaging and other features.
OkCupid
This platform says it produces over 90 million matches a year and boasts that it’s « the ultimate scientifically proven dating site on the planet. » It has a detailed questionnaire that helps identify compatible mates, but isn’t as long as the one on eharmony. It also prompts users to answer questions about things they’re fanatical 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 scaled 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 subscription-based 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 mobile-friendly chat room and a feature that allows you to see who has viewed your profile.
Ourtime
Owned by Match, this site caters for adults over 50 who are interested in serious relationships and companionship. Its members must have a 25 years’ experience to join, and it offers a customer site link service team to help with any issues. The site has an extensive library of articles about dating and relationships, and members can upload as much as ten photos.
While Ourtime doesn’t have as many active users as some of the other options on this list, it is a reliable 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 multitude of active senior singles.