Are Dating Sites a Good Idea? 7 Reasons Why They Are (2024)

We do a lot of things in life that could be considered bad ideas. We order another drink when we should go home and get some sleep. We skip going to the gym and binge watch something on Netflix or Disney+ instead. We spend our paycheck on clothes and sweets rather than putting it in a high-interest savings account.

From an objective standpoint, it’s easy to see that these are bad ideas that won’t pay off in the long run. But, is joining a dating site considered a bad idea? These days, it seems like everyone is online dating; however, some people are still on the sidelines wondering if it’s actually worth it.

We’re here to answer those questions as well as provide some insights into why using a dating site is a good use of your time.

The short answer is absolutely — dating sites were a good idea when they were first created in the 1990s, and they’re still a good idea today. We’ve provided a more detailed answer is below. In this article, you’ll find seven ways dating sites have changed our lives for the better.

1. You Have Thousands of Platforms to Choose From

Founded in 1995, Match was the first dating site ever, and it was so popular that other platforms started launching not long after. Now the count is up to about 8,000, with 2,500 platforms just in the United States. With this many options, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a site that you like and that will work for you based on your goals.

Match

★★★★★

4.9/5.0

Match

4.9/5.0

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.

See Our Review »

Amber Brooks Editor-in-Chief

Close

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...” Full Review »

Browse Free: View Photos Now

User Base	Gender Ratio	Popularity (Visits/Mo.)	Today's Deal
All Singles*	49%* 51%*	39.7 Million*	Try Match FREE

In addition to general dating sites, like Match, that cater to everyone, you’ll find gay dating sites, senior dating sites, black dating sites, relationship-oriented dating sites, hookup sites, “Star Trek” dating sites, vegan dating sites, and golf dating sites, among so many others. Seriously, we could go on and on. For more examples, check out our list of the top 100 dating sites.

2. You Can Online Date Whenever You Want, Wherever You Want

One of the best parts about online dating is that you’re not limited by time, location, or other circumstances. You can log in and search for dates no matter where you are and no matter what you’re doing.

You don’t have to wait for coffee shops and bars to be open. You don’t have to wait around for your friends to set you up with someone. You don’t have to get all dressed up to go out — only to not meet anyone you like. You can just sit at home in your PJs on your couch and see who catches your eye.

3. Browsing and Flirting is 100% Free

Joining a dating site isn’t really a gamble because you’re not putting any money on the line. Pretty much every dating site allows you to register, fill out a profile, upload several photos, search for matches, receive matches, and flirt (e.g., virtual winks and Favorites lists) for free.

You can have a look around and see if the dating site measures up to your expectations, and if someone special catches your eye.

Zoosk is an example of a dating site that doesn’t charge its members to search for matches.

Similar to other situations in life, such as trying on clothes or looking for a new car, you can test out the dating site before making any kind of commitment. If you end up not liking the site, you can always cancel the free membership, and the team will delete your information. No harm, no foul.

4. Dating Sites Have Millions of Members

Dating is a numbers game, and dating sites can help you win that game because of their sizes. For example, Zoosk has more than 40 million members, eharmony has more than 33 million members, Tinder has more than 50 million monthly users, and OkCupid has more than 3.5 million active members.

You’ll pretty much never run out of online crushes to talk to as long as you have popular dating sites like these as your wingman.

Where else can you be around that many people? If you go to a bar or club, you’ll probably see 50 to 100 people there, depending on the size of the venue, but that also includes people who are already taken. On a dating site, you know people are single and looking to meet someone.

5. You Can Filter By Your Preferences

Another perk about using dating sites is you don’t have to feel bad about specifying your preferences. Dating sites aren’t there to judge — they’re there to help you find that special someone. Search filters can include age range, gender, sexual orientation, appearance, location, ethnicity, religion, education level, lifestyle habits, and interests. You can get your dealbreakers out of the way early, and then enjoy nothing but compatible dates.

Whether you like blondes or brunettes, tall people or short people, athletes or hipsters, dating sites can help you find the right person for you.

Feel free to be as specific and as vague as you want when searching for a partner online. A lot of dating sites also let you save searches and start all over whenever you want to, and they’ll make suggestions based on those searches as well as your on-site behavior.

6. Online Dating Can Be Safer Than Meeting People in Bars

Think about it: When going out to a bar, you have no idea who the other patrons are or what their intentions are. You’re going in blind, which is why online dating can be safer than traditional dating.

Some dating sites require singles to sign up through Facebook, which helps ensure they are who they say they are. Other dating sites run background checks. Some dating sites use SSL encryption to keep scammers away and protect their members’ information. Some dating sites verify every new member.

There are systems in place to keep you safe while online dating. You can block or report a dating profile if you feel nervous, uncomfortable, or unsafe, and you don’t have to meet anyone in person unless you get a good vibe.

7. There are Dozens of Success Stories

Online dating works

, and the the proof is in the pudding. By pudding, we mean all the positive reviews and success stories.

You can read all about a dating site before joining, so you’re going into it with lots of helpful information. Check out reviews like ours, and visit the dating site’s success stories page to see who’s already found love.

Mariah and Justin met online, and now they’re happily married.

For example, Mariah and Justin are one of Match’s dozens of online dating success stories. She joined the site not expecting to meet anyone, and a few days later she got an email from Justin. They went to get coffee on their first date, and a year and a half later, he proposed to her in the same coffee shop.

“You never know how your story is going to start. We didn’t expect ours to begin with a profile, but we wouldn’t have it any other way! We are so excited to begin planning our wedding and cannot wait for our next adventure,” Mariah said.

Dating sites are probably the most effective and helpful tools available to singles today. They save us time, energy, and money — not to mention they’re a lot of fun. If you’re on the fence about online dating, we’ve just given you a good list of reasons why you really don’t need to be. It’s at least worth a try, and if you decide it’s not for you, that’s totally fine. But if you never try online dating, you’ll always wonder what you might be missing out on. Good luck!