12 Most Effective & Successful Dating Sites (2024)

The most effective and successful dating site is going to differ from person to person. After all, everyone has different goals and expectations when they create a dating profile.

Some singles are results-oriented and want to rack up as many dates as possible. Other singles are more about the slow-and-steady life, so they’d rather build a long-term relationship than play the field. And still other singles use local dating platforms as a way of making friends and building confidence in the social scene.

Whatever your intentions, preferences, or dating history, you can always find a dating site or app to match you up and show you a good time. We’ve ranked several of our favorites by category to help you make something happen in the online dating scene.

Best Overall | Free | Relationships | Senior | Christian | Black

LGBT | Hookups | FAQs

Let’s save some time and start with the overall most successful dating sites for people of all ages and backgrounds. These platforms have proven success stories, positive reviews, and intelligent matching systems that help singles meet people and make a date on their terms.

Match has been leading the way in the online dating industry since 1995 — before many of its current users were even born!

Ranking Match as the all-time most successful dating platform is kind of a no-brainer. Not only has it been around longer than all of its competitors, but it also has more success stories (first dates, relationships, and marriages) to its name.

Over 200,000 people find a relationship on Match every year, and the platform continues building momentum and honing its algorithm year after year.

EliteSingles is a high-caliber dating site geared toward professionals seeking real relationships. Casual dating is not a thing here. Singles join this elite network because they want to invest in love and find someone to spend forever with.

Over the years, EliteSingles has successfully cultivated a highly educated, talented, and intelligent dating network. Over 82% of its members have graduated from college, and over 90% are at least 30 years old.

The EliteSingles matchmaking system factors in age, location, education, income, religion, drinking habits, and other personal attributes when calculating compatibility and recommending viable dates, and it frequently hits the nail on the head. Over 2,500 couples find love on EliteSingles each month.

3. Tinder

In 2012, Tinder revolutionized online dating and became one of the world’s most popular dating apps pretty much overnight. I can sum up the key to its success in one word: swiping.

Tinder invented the swipe-based matching that has become standard operating procedure for modern dating sites and apps. Under the Tinder model, only singles who like one another can send messages to one another. This system gave singles the ability to screen dates more efficiently, and it also ensured that the people they messaged would be interested in them as well.

Some dating experts may criticize Tinder for turning dating into a superficial game and devaluing individual dates, but they can’t deny that it gets results. Tinder has some of the most impressive match stats out there. The app sees over 2 billion views per day, and it arranges over 1 million dates per week.

Tinder has inspired over 30 billion matches in less than a decade. If you’re looking for a fast date, Tinder can definitely live up to its international reputation and give you plenty of options in your area.

4. Bumble

Since 2014, Bumble has made a name for itself as a female-friendly dating app with a high-integrity approach to matchmaking.

Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd (who also happens to be a Tinder Co-Founder) built on the success of modern swiping apps and added a feminist twist by encouraging single women to make the first move online.

Straight women have First Move Privileges on Bumble, so they can set the tone in every conversation. Once a man and woman form a mutual match on Bumble, the woman has 24 hours to break the ice and send a first message. If she doesn’t say something — and the man doesn’t extend the match for another 24 hours — the chat window will disappear.

“No ambiguity,” said Sidd V. in a review. “Much more accomplished, with much [fewer] random messages and matches.”

Dating can be quite expensive. The average American single spends $146 a month on dating-related expenses. From dinner dates to dating site subscriptions, costs can pile up quickly on today’s active daters, and it makes sense to look for ways to save money and lighten the financial burden of meeting new people.

Free dating sites can go a long way to help penny-pinching singles stay on budget, but the catch is they may have to put in some extra effort to find a great match here.

Zoosk is a cost-effective dating site and app with lots of different communication tools at your fingertips. You don’t have to be a paid subscriber to send likes or smiles and respond to free greetings here.

A basic Zoosk membership may not give you access to all the bells and whistles — you won’t be able to read all incoming messages or see who’s liked you — but it can introduce you to some dates and get things started on a high note. It doesn’t cost anything to browse the site and like people who stand out to you.

Free Zoosk members can also earn or purchase Zoosk Coins to get some extra perks, including a higher ranking in search results.

6. OkCupid

OkCupid

has always been a completely free dating platform, and the team has vowed to keep it free forever. The app and site offer unlimited messaging to everyone looking for a romantic connection, and its open-ended, user-friendly interface has been the key to its success.

Singles exchange over 7.3 million messages a day on OkCupid, and many of those conversations turn into real-life dates and relationships.

OkCupid has inspired an online dating free-for-all where millions of people can pursue their dream dates without spending a fortune. The platform creates over 91 million matches per year, and it is responsible for as many as 50,000 dates per week.

Stephanie R. called OkCupid “easily one of the best dating apps out there” in her Google Play review. “It’s affordable, and I like the freedom it allows the user to have,” she said.

7. Plenty of Fish

As a totally free dating app, Plenty of Fish invites singles to swim in a massive dating pool that spans the globe. Since 2003, over 150 million people have joined the POF community, and more than 65,000 users sign up every day.

Plenty of Fish doesn’t require users to pay anything to send messages on the site or app, which fosters a fast-paced and conversation-driven dating environment.

Plenty of Fish creates over 57 million connections each week, so it’s safe to say the free chatting and matching tools are pretty successful and effective.

“I joined POF after getting sick of other apps, thinking I just needed to shake things up a bit. Right away, things changed,” said Tyler in a Plenty of Fish success story. “It only took a couple of dates for us to realize this was the real deal. Long story short, after a year or so of dating, we got engaged. We were married this past December, and are now expecting our first child.”

Commitment-oriented singles don’t want to waste time on flaky dates and ghosted conversations, so they often seek love-driven dating sites and apps that have more to offer than an endless list of dating profiles.

Online dating can be a great solution for singles seeking a serious relationship or marriage. In fact, 22% of newlyweds in a 2019 survey said they met their spouse on a dating site or app. We’ve picked out two of the most effective dating platforms for anyone looking for their happily-ever-after love story.

A team of psychologists and relationship experts developed the match algorithm for eharmony in 2000, and it has sparked over 2 million romantic relationships since then, making it one of the most successful matchmakers in history.

The eharmony love formula uses psychology to identify compatibility and lead singles to their ideal partner online. The dating site and app doesn’t have search tools or customizable match settings — instead, it relies on profile information and an 80-question compatibility quiz to determine who’s right for you.

Every 14 minutes, someone finds love on eharmony, and they have its high-quality membership base and time-tested match system to thank.

9. Hinge

Since 2012, Hinge has distinguished itself as a “relationship app” where singles can get to know one another on a deeper level. Hinge profiles include six photos and three original prompts, plus a lot of demographic details, and users have to like or comment on something specific to create a mutual match.

The Hinge app was “designed to be deleted,” meaning its goal is to get singles into an exclusive relationship as soon as possible.

My current boyfriend was only on Hinge for a week when he came across my profile and commented on a photo. We chatted for another week before going on a date, and by our third date we’d both deleted our online dating accounts.

Hinge has introduced countless singles to their significant others, and it boasts having the highest first-date success rate of any dating app or site. According to an internal survey, 90% of Hinge users who exchanged contact information said they enjoyed their first dates, and 72% would agree to go out again.

Hinge is a free dating app, and you can message anyone in your Matches list for as long as you want and build relationships by discovering common interests and values.

In the last few years, online dating usage has doubled among senior singles in the U.S., and more baby boomers now say they view online dating in a positive light. That spike in popularity has increased the effectiveness of senior-friendly dating sites worldwide.

You don’t have to be very tech-savvy to get the hang of the following dating sites. All you need is a valid email address and a good profile description to get a fresh start in the dating scene.

First up, we have OurTime, a leading senior dating site created by People Media. Over 20,000 new members join this network every week, and it facilitates thousands of dates and relationships with its premium chat tools.

OurTime can tickle the fancy of senior singles by offering an ever-growing list of compatible dates who live in the same ZIP code, city, or state. Users can also see who’s currently available to chat (the little green dot on the profile picture means he/she is online now), so they can spark an instant connection by sending a like or message.

Free members can reply to some messages on OurTime, but they’ll have to subscribe to read and respond to everything in the inbox. Senior singles can also pay for a Boost, which will boost their visibility on the site for one hour and therefore generate a lot of likes and messages.

As an exclusively over-50 dating site, SilverSingles has streamlined the online dating experience and given seniors direct access to age-appropriate dates.

SilverSingles is a sister site of EliteSingles, and it has a fairly identical interface from the premium messaging to the custom dating preferences. The main difference lies in the kind of people you’ll meet on SilverSingles. This dating site screens incoming profiles and removes anyone under 50 and hides anyone missing a profile picture.

Authenticity is at the core of everything SilverSingles does, and seniors enjoy greater peace of mind on this friendly and safe platform.

12. SeniorMatch

SeniorMatch

operates under the motto “You don’t have to be alone,” and the dating site has been chipping away at senior loneliness since 2003. Over 1 million people have joined the SeniorMatch membership base, and the team has received testimonials from over 36,600 members.

“I won the lottery on SeniorMatch,” said one member. “I met the most wonderful guy here. He is so lovely! We have decided to live together.”

SeniorMatch facilitates over 1.6 million conversations a month, and it helps people find the pen pals, travel companions, best friends, and romantic partners they’ve been looking for.

Our dating experts recently named it one of the most successful and helpful dating sites for singles over 50.

Christians naturally gravitate toward one another in the dating scene, and not just because they go to the same church or celebrate the same holidays. It goes deeper than that. Christian singles see the world the same way, and they have similar values, traditions, and goals for their lives. Relationships built on shared beliefs are strong because both individuals know where they stand and where they want to go.

If you want to find your partner in faith, then a Christian dating site could be the answer to your prayers.

ChristianMingle is our top pick for Christian dating sites because its steadfast network has the highest concentration of Christian singles in the world. Most of its members are some denomination of Christian, and the rest are looking to date and marry a Christian.

According to a ChristianMingle survey, 84% of the dating site’s members would recommend ChristianMingle to friends and family members. What’s more, about 29% of Christian marriages started on this faith-driven dating site.

Mirka  and Marek said they could never thank ChristianMingle enough for introducing them. “It gave us a very good life, a beautiful family, and everything we ever wanted,” the married couple said in their success story.

14. Christian Connection

Christian Connection

is an award-winning dating site created by Christians for Christians. The team operates under the highest integrity standards in the business and provides transparent pricing models, responsive customer support, and frequent live events and meetups.

“People value that they can trust Christian Connection,” said Jackie Elton, who founded the dating site in 2000. “We were one of the leaders in creating the Online Dating Association.”

At the U.K. Dating Awards, Christian Connection has earned recognition as the Daters’ Favourite Site (2015, 2016, 2017), the Best Niche Site (2015, 2016, 2017), and for having the Best Customer Service (2017).

If you want further proof that Christian Connection works, you can read its heartwarming testimonials from couples who met and fell in love on the site.

If you’re a black, biracial, or multiracial single, dating can be a challenge. The average mainstream dating site may not have a lot of people who are part of the black community, and sometimes people of color can run into discriminatory dating practices that leave them without many mutual matches.

Black dating sites can solve those problems by giving minorities a chance to be in the majority. Here are two popular sites for singles seeking dates with darker skin.

BlackPeopleMeet does exactly what its name promises and helps black people meet dates online. The site boasts having the largest network of black and biracial singles in North America.

A free BPM membership includes unlimited profile browsing and virtual flirting, and you can also send photo likes and favorite profiles to show interest. If you find someone worth getting to know better, then you can always upgrade your dating profile and build the connection through private messages. Who knows? You could become the next BlackPeopleMeet success story.

“I was able to find a wonderful woman through the use of your site,” said a man from Maryland. “I truly feel as though she is the woman of my dreams, and when the time is right, I will ask her to marry me. Thanks, BPM.”

16. BlackCupid

BlackCupid

is part of the Cupid Media dating network, so you won’t bemoan a lack of diversity here. The membership base includes over 30 million people from all around the world, and it is constantly expanding to meet the needs of a new generation of daters.

BlackCupid offers a three-month free trial, so you don’t have to pay anything to mingle with people on the site. Just upload a photo, and you’re good to go!

Over 100,000 people have downloaded the BlackCupid app, which has 3.9 stars on Google Play. “I’ve gone on four dates from this app,” said Giovanni G. in a review. “Recently met a lovely girl… really the best date I’ve had in 18 months, and all thanks to BlackCupid.”

Online dating has become a remarkably effective way for LGBTQ+ singles to find one another and build relationships. In a recent study, 65% of same-sex couples said they met each other online.

Whether you’re looking for a hot date or a long-term relationship, the following gay dating sites and apps can offer a rainbow of options in your neighborhood.

MenNation has been around since the 1990s, and it has amassed substantial following in that time. The gay dating site has over 99 million members, and over 72,000 guys stop by and mingle on a daily basis.

As you can probably tell from the name, MenNation is all about helping men find male dates. It has become a safe haven for gay men, bisexual men, transgender men, and guys who are just a little bi-curious.

MenNation facilitates no-strings-attached hookups every day, and it doesn’t take much to persuade someone to join you in a sexually charged chat and a steamy encounter.

LesbianPersonals is basically the all-female version of MenNation. It has a similarly vast database and similarly raunchy goals, but it’s exclusively for lesbians, couples, and groups.

Anyone interested in taking a sexy woman to bed can join LesbianPersonals to find enthusiastic playmates in their area.

LesbianPersonals offers instant messaging as well as video chats and photo exchanges to get the ball rolling and help sexually active adults get to know each other better.

19. HER

HER

, formerly known as Daatch, has a formidable reputation in the LGBTQ+ dating scene. The lesbian dating app was created in 2013 by a 20-something lesbian who understood the challenges, frustrations, and desires of this niche demographic.

“We evolve the app based on what people ask us to do,” Robyn Exton said in an interview. “We’re able to hear problems that people are experiencing and change what we’re doing to address them.”

Today, HER has over 4 million followers, all of whom have been verified as lesbian, bisexual, or queer womxn. The app supports and engages womxn across the sexuality spectrum with a dynamic newsfeed and queer events calendar.

Free members can not only find a date on HER; they can find their tribe and discover a sense of belonging in this unique online community.

20. Grindr

Grindr

is a playful all-male dating app that brings guys out of their shell. For the last decade, Grindr’s fast-paced and looks-driven matching system has defined the gay dating experience and led to countless sexual awakenings.

Many Grindr users say it’s most effective for hookups, but we’ve also heard of some casual Grindr dates turning into full-blown relationships, so you never really know what’ll happen or who you’ll meet once you start swiping.

Since 2009, Grindr has helped over 27 million members make inroads in the local LGBTQ+ community and find dates who share their sensibilities and desires. One study revealed that 84% of Grindr users say they’ve fallen in love with someone they met on the app, and 56.% believe they can find their soul mate here.

If you’re most interested in getting laid, the most successful dating sites and apps for you will center around, shall we say, adult entertainment. Hookup sites create a sex-positive environment that encourages men and women to let go of their inhibitions and embrace their deepest desires. Here are some effective hookup sites for singles motivated primarily by sex.

BeNaughty is a popular hookup site devoted to sexy singles seeking hot dates. It’s O.K. to be a little naughty here and post revealing pictures that let people know what you’re about.

It’s also completely free to send messages on BeNaughty, so you can flirt with anyone who catches your eye. Singles who are in a hurry can even send a mass message to everyone who meets their search criteria in terms of age, gender, location, body type, and other characteristics.

Whether you’re swiping in the Like Gallery or chatting via private message, you can follow your heart’s desire and get the attention of sexy singles who are looking for someone like you.

22. Adult Friend Finder

★★★★★

4.2/5.0

Adult Friend Finder

4.2/5.0

About this rating

Our team of editors and writers draw from their industry expertise to calculate dating platform ratings based on a variety of criteria that impact the modern dating experience. We looked at popular platforms and analyzed important factors, including:

Active membership

Pricing and affordability

Filters and communication tools

Profile verification

Customer support

Our rating and review system is independent of commission rates, and any platforms we partner with do not have a say in their scores.

Amber Brooks Editor-in-Chief

Close

Relationships: Hookups Only

Match System: Search by location, interest, more

Our Experts Say: “Make no mistake: this site isn't about making friends, it's about finding hookups and casual encounters. No adult site has a larger or more active user base of those seeking discreet fun...”

Browse Free: View Photos Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	Today's Deal
All Singles*	65%* 35%*	25.5 Million*	3 Months @ $19.95/Mo

Adult Friend Finder has over 99 million users to its name, so it has a right to claim the title of the world’s largest sex and swinger community.

For years, the AFF community has given people a private place where they can talk dirty, get flirty, and meet dates who are under 30. The hookup site is open to singles and couples, and it also has profile options and search tools for transgender, transsexual, and transvestite daters.

To date, Adult Friend Finder has created over 4 million sexy introductions, and it has hosted over 14 million group discussions about love, relationships, and sex.

23. FriendFinder-X

★★★★★

3.4/5.0

FriendFinder-X

3.4/5.0

About this rating

Our team of editors and writers draw from their industry expertise to calculate dating platform ratings based on a variety of criteria that impact the modern dating experience. We looked at popular platforms and analyzed important factors, including:

Active membership

Pricing and affordability

Filters and communication tools

Profile verification

Customer support

Our rating and review system is independent of commission rates, and any platforms we partner with do not have a say in their scores.

Amber Brooks Editor-in-Chief

Close

Relationships: Hookups Only

Match System: Search by location, interest, more

Our Experts Say: “A hookup site specializing in casual encounters, secret affairs, live chats, and member videos, FriendFinder-X skips the awkward "dating" stage of a relationship and fast-forwards straight to the sex...”

Browse Free: View Photos Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	Today's Deal
Singles & Couples*	64%* 36%*	1.2 Million*	Browse Members Free

Finally, FriendFinder-X can stimulate sexy chats and meetups with its local search tools. The hookup site highlights the personal ads submitted by real people looking for intimacy and excitement online.

The FriendFinder-X tagline is “where good girls do bad things,” and the network includes adults with a variety of kinks, fetishes, and sexual curiosities. As an active member on FriendFinder-X, you can meet attractive and adventurous people who can turn your sexual fantasy into a reality.

Paid dating sites can certainly offer a change of scenery for singles suffering from swipe fatigue on free dating apps. Some serious daters find pay-to-chat sites work better because they automatically weed out people who are not serious about dating. Everyone has to invest in the process to get something out of it, and that changes the attitude with which they approach each conversation.

Paid dating sites also tend to cultivate a more mature (read: employed) crowd, and that can be great for 30-somethings, 40-somethings, and 50-somethings seeking dates.

Yes, we definitely think it’s worth paying for a Match subscription — if you’ve got the cash to spare and truly want to find a relationship.

Match is a relationship-driven dating site and app that has gotten amazing results in the last two decades. Its algorithm identifies common interests and recommends dates who line up in all the ways that count.

You don’t have to pay to create a profile or have an enjoyable dating time on the Match app or site. Match offers some free communication features, including limited messaging, that could spark romantic connections. However, only paid subscribers can message anyone and everyone they like in the network, so it could be worth subscribing to take the Match experience into your own hands.

From the moment you sign up, it’s clear that eharmony is a genuine dating site for genuine people.

The dating platform actually takes the time to get to know you, and the eharmony profile gives you plenty of space to talk about your passions, experiences, hobbies, and relationship goals.

Not really. It may seem scary at first — especially if you’re not used to meeting people online — but online dating is no more dangerous than meeting a stranger at a bar, club, or coffee shop. Just use common sense and don’t take unnecessary risks. A stranger is a stranger, and you always have to be a little wary when making that new connection.

The more you chat and swipe, the better you’ll get at spotting the fakes and recognizing red flags. For instance, someone you met online should not ask you for money or pressure you to meet in a private or secluded location when you don’t know each other that well. Don’t be afraid to block or report someone who seems sketchy. Better safe than sorry!

Everyone approaches dating with a slightly different strategy and attitude, so it makes sense that multiple dating sites and apps have evolved and become popular over the years. Some platforms find success by catering to relationship-minded singles, while others find greater success in the hookup scene.

There are over 8,000 dating platforms in the world, and many of them can help you in some way. It just depends on what you want, and how much time, effort, or money you’re willing to spend to reach those goals.

We’ve highlighted several successful dating sites and apps to guide you on your way, and any of them would be effective allies in the online dating world. Choose wisely!