With Americans spending an average of 47 hours a week at work, meeting local singles can be hard. Sometimes you’re so tired after a long day, the last thing you want to do is go to a crowded bar and shell out a bunch of money for drinks or apps — all in the hopes of meeting a person who might be somewhat attractive and interesting.
Staying home is much easier — not to mention free — but that’s not how you meet people. Your next date isn’t going to knock on the door, interrupt your Netflix or Hulu binge, and sweep you off your feet. You’re going to have to be proactive in the dating scene and make something happen, so I’ve put together a list of ways to meet singles online and in real life. Go get ’em!
1. Online Dating Sites & Apps
Online dating is the easiest and best way to meet local singles, hands down. According to recent studies, over half of American singles have tried using dating sites or apps to meet people, and there are so many top-rated dating platforms to choose from — most of which allow you to search for potential matches by zip code and distance radius of up to 100 miles.
A lot of dating sites and apps also offer free memberships that include helpful search tools and instant messaging. Here are some of our top picks:
Match: The Best Overall Dating Website
With its large user base (over 13.5 million visits a month), unbeatable reputation (has led to more dates, relationships, and marriages than any other dating site), and all-inclusive free trial, Match is my favorite free site to meet local singles.
- Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
- Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
- Our Experts Say: Match has facilitated the most dates and relationships of any dating site, and its large audience and high success rate make it our top review. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Match is just the best. Not only does the local dating site have the specific search filters you’re looking for, but it also has features like being able to see who’s online now. Daters can also chat for free on Match if they’re in each other’s Top Picks list, meaning this potential match has a lot of common ground.
You really can’t go wrong on this personality-driven and relationship-oriented dating website (and its companion dating app). Match has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from the world’s leading dating service.
NaughtyCharm: Great for Hookups
If you’re looking for a casual hookup, NaughtyCharm is one of my top picks. You can browse profiles in any town for free, and everyone is on the same page — no need to feel bad for being straightforward about your desires.
- Relationships: Hookups, Chats
- Match System: Search by encounter, location, and more
- Our Experts Say: NaughtyCharm is a premier hookup app where you can feel comfortable expressing your desires. Plus, it's free to join, browse, and flirt.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
NaughtyCharm is a local hookup site with no pretenses or inhibitions. You can find a sexual playmate by using the search or swipe tools, and any woman who uploads a photo to NaughtyCharm can chat for free as long as she likes.
2. Through Family, Friends, or Coworkers
Whether it’s your mom, best friend, or HR manager, probably everyone in your life knows at least one single person they could introduce you to. It doesn’t cost any money to meet singles through people you know in real life. And it should be pretty easy to ask for a suggestion for a potential date.
Plus, they know you and what you’re looking for, so they’ll be able to find that right person, taking the hard work off your shoulders.
Once they do set you up with a mutual friend, just focus on having fun — it doesn’t have to be anything more than that. Instead of putting pressure on the date to be perfect, enjoy getting to know someone new. If it works out, great. If it doesn’t, you’ve made a new friend who may know a person who would be a better match. See, it’s a chain reaction.
3. Pick Up a Hobby
From painting to sports to cooking to writing, there are tons of groups out there that offer activities for free. You can either find a new hobby or get better at one you’re already interested in.
The best place to find these local groups is Meetup.com, whose whole goal is to bring neighbors together “to learn something, do something, share something.” Just like the dating sites, Meetup is ideal for connecting singles with common interests. The website lets you pick your preferred location and activity, so you can narrow the search down as much as you want. People can also post events where only singles are invited, so keep an eye out for those.
If Meetup isn’t your thing, you could also just Google something like “free cooking classes New York City,” and you’ll see a bunch of results from sites like Yelp and Groupon.
4. Parties
When I say “parties,” I don’t necessarily mean all-night ragers or anything like that. A party could be a wild lou shindig, or it could be a backyard barbecue, house-warming, or game night. It’s OK if you aren’t a big partier because small gatherings like these are still good for meeting people. You also actually get to talk to the person and hear what they’re saying — something you can’t really do in a loud club.
Get into “Yes Man” mode and go to as many parties as possible when invited. Believe me, it works. I met my last boyfriend at a party that I didn’t want to go to, but I made myself, had an awesome time, and ended up dating him for the next several years.
5. Community Events
There are free events going on in your city or town all the time — you just have to know how to find them. Again, our trusty friend Google comes in handy. Typing in “free things to do in [enter your city]” will bring up so many options (e.g., music and art festivals, gallery openings, and museum exhibits) that you could fill up your social calendar for the rest of your life and still not get to them all.
Eventbrite is a good resource for finding out about concerts, farmers markets, food truck rallies, yoga classes, and other community events hosted in real life.
You can also check on Facebook to find out about parties, shows, meetups, and festivals happening nearby, and you have the benefit of seeing whether any of your Facebook friends are attending and could possibly be your wingman or wingwoman.
6. Volunteering
Volunteering provides the best opportunity for meeting local singles who share your same values. You also get to do something nice for your community, and who doesn’t love that?
Let’s say you really love animals. You could spend a Saturday at your local Humane Society helping dogs and cats find their forever home — while also interacting with the people looking to adopt or care for animals.
If you’re passionate about LGBTQ activism, organizations like The Human Rights Campaign hold fundraisers and rallies all the time. It’s easier to start a conversation with new local singles and eventually ask them out if you’re both in the middle of doing something that you’re passionate about.
7. Church
For religious or spiritual people, going to church is a fantastic option for meeting like-minded singles, and it doesn’t just have to be a Sunday service either. Most churches and religious organizations do bible studies or other group classes — some geared particularly toward Christian singles — on a regular basis. Churches also have social activities going on several times a month. These can be a lot of fun, and the people are very welcoming as well.
If dating or marrying a real person who has the same religious or spiritual beliefs is important to you (or even a deal-breaker), the church is a great place that will help you find that person. A quick search like “religious organizations near me” should help.
Pick Your Favorite & Get Out There!
It doesn’t have to be so hard to meet local singles if you know where to go and how to spark conversations. While it may take some research and preparation beforehand, meeting people on a local dating app, in social environments, or at dating venues is as simple as saying hello.
Equipped with these ideas for where to meet local singles (for free, too), all you have to do is choose the one that works best for you and head out the door. Now what are you waiting for? Your perfect match is waiting for you!
