Best Dating Sites
Looking for a dating site you can trust? Search no more.
Embarking on your online dating journey is an exciting experience. You never know who you’ll meet when you make a dating profile. One of the many blessings of online dating is that there are so many options at your fingertips. Of course, that can be overwhelming for some new users.
Sometimes, online daters need a soft start to get their feet wet and see if the particular dating site or app is a good fit. That’s why free trials and free memberships are so desirable in the online dating market. We have compiled a list of the best dating sites with affordable options to make your dating journey fun and smooth.
1. Match
Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
Our Experts Say: “As the largest and most diverse dating site in the world, Match features profiles of millions of local singles and a popular app. If you only try one dating service, make it Match…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
39.7 Million* | Get 3 Days FREE |
Sometimes dating apps get a bad reputation for being too rushed or superficial, but Match has always taken more of a slow and steady approach to online dating. This serious dating service has earned high ratings and good reviews since its launch in 1995. The dating site and app cater to users who are looking for deep connections.
Match has immersive dating features that often give users a deep appreciation for the quality membership. The Match registration process includes users providing some personal information, including name, ZIP code, and email address. Then, new members complete a personality test that takes into account religion, parental status, appearance, and other factors that can be important for finding compatible singles.
A free trial membership allows users to post their photos, search for other profiles, get matches, and send likes to other members. Free members can also chat with dating profiles that qualify as Top Picks, meaning their compatibility rating is off the charts. The best part is that the free trial never expires, so free members can stay on Match as long as they like.
2. eharmony
Relationships: Casual Dates, Deep Relationships
Match System: Personality test suggests matches
Our Experts Say: “Simply put, eharmony is where you go if you’d like to speed up the marriage process. Complete a free questionnaire, get matched for free, and find your lifelong partner all in one fell swoop…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
4.1 Million* | Join eharmony FREE |
As one of the oldest and most reliable dating sites, eharmony is a valued presence in the online dating world. eharmony launched in 2000 and has created millions of successful love stories over more than two decades. The platform’s commitment to true love has established a genuine community of singles who are in the dating scene for the right reasons. An eharmony free membership includes access to match lists, icebreaker quizzes, compatibility ratings, and other helpful matchmaking tools.
eharmony creates a level playing field for singles searching for new relationships. That is a helpful approach as more than 337 million people use online dating platforms. Initially, eharmony offered a three-day free trial, but expanded to a completely free membership that doesn’t expire. Free members can complete their profile and take the compatibility quiz to find the perfect match. Some limited communication tools are available for free as well, but only premium members can chat with any eharmony member at any time.
4. JDate
Relationships: Casual Dates and Long-Term Relationships
Match System: Search and receive matches
Our Experts Say: “JDate is a go-to dating site for single Jewish men and women, and the site doesn’t charge for browsing and flirting…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| Jewish Singles* |
46%*
54%*
|
2 Million* | Start JDate FREE |
Sometimes, hopping on mainstream dating sites isn’t the best option for your dating needs. Jewish singles can use the JDate app to meet like-minded people who share a similar background, culture, and faith. This lowkey app lets free users find matches in the Jewish community. JDate has built a solid reputation among Jewish singles and is widely considered the best dating service of its kind.
JDate changes the online dating game for users by making it easy for them to connect. After users complete a dating profile, the platform takes them through a series of questions so the dating app’s algorithm can categorize the best matches possible.
Relationships: Hookups, Casual Dates, Affairs
Match System: Search by age, location, appearance, and more
Our Experts Say: “With its massive user base and advanced privacy features, Ashley Madison is the #1 site for discreet hookups, dates, or relationships…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| All Singles & Attached* |
71%*
29%*
|
65 Million* | Browse FREE |
Passion comes in many forms, and people may seek it in spontaneous romance or even extramarital affairs. Ashley Madison is a married dating site where romance has no bounds. Society treats cheating as a taboo subject, but it is a reality for many couples.
According to HackSpirit, approximately 60% of couples will experience cheating in their relationship. So instead of trying to change people’s natural inclinations, Ashley Madison embraces affair seekers and gives them a safe space to have fun with others who share similar intentions.
Ashley Madison is designed for married, coupled, and single people who are looking to reignite that spark in their love lives. Women can chat on the platform for free, while men have to pay for credits to access communication features. When men sign up for a free trial, they receive several credits assigned to their account, these credits help users communicate with matches and unlock special text messaging features. Men receive a 30-day free trial and can accumulate more credits through in-app purchases. With Ashley Madison, there can be more to life than one partner.
5. OkCupid
OkCupid is a free dating app that gives singles plenty of swiping options and quiz questions to spark new matches. According to its internal data, OkCupid inspires approximately 91 million love connections each year. Not everyone on OkCupid is searching for true love, and individuals can declare if they’re interested in a serious relationship, a casual hookup, or a new friend.
OkCupid’s free trial is actually a free membership that every new member can access without a promo code. Simply create an OkCupid profile, start filling out the questionnaire, and discover potential matches in the suggested lists. All communication is free on OkCupid, and the only catch is that a single person must respond to your first message before you can send a second one.
6. Bumble
Bumble was launched by an enterprising woman in 2014, and is now famous as the online dating app where single women make the first move. With more than 12.5 million active users, Bumble has set a high bar for daters across the globe. Whether you’re a woman who wants more control in the dating world or a man who would like more responses from women, Bumble has the solution with its unique matchmaking system.
Bumble makes it easy for straight female users to take initiative with their dating life. The free membership includes messaging — as long as the woman messages first in an opposite-sex match — and limited swiping in the Hive. Users who want more privileges on Bumble may want to upgrade to a paid subscription, which includes unlimited swipes and the ability to extend your time limit on matches so they don’t disappear too quickly.
FAQs: Where Can I Go to Meet Local Singles in Person?
Meeting local singles in person may take more effort than swiping on a dating profile, but some singles prefer to put their screens away and find dates the old-fashioned way. If you’re looking to meet eligible singles in real life, you may want to hit the local bar or club scene in the evening hours to see who’s out there.
If nightlife isn’t your vibe, try joining a gym or an intramural sports league. Meetup.com is a good resource to find like-minded people near you who have regular get-togethers.
Social settings are key to meeting local singles. And it may be easier to form connections and build romantic feelings when you’re face-to-face instead of screen-to-screen. One important piece of dating advice for singles to keep in mind is to remain authentic. While it may be tempting to be a more impressive version of yourself, just remember that honesty is the most desired trait to other singles.
Which Free Dating Sites Work Best for Senior People?
Our dating experts recommend that seniors try OurTime. This senior dating site is designed for more seasoned users who are looking to find connections — and perhaps even a new love story.
Relationships: Dates and Relationships
Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more
Our Experts Say: “OurTime is our top choice for free senior dating, with a simple interface and tons of mature and senior users. Its site, app, and free trial are for those 50 and older only…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| Mature Singles (50+)* |
48%*
52%*
|
8.9 Million* | Over 50? Start FREE |
Match Group now owns OurTime and has made significant improvements to its matchmaking system. Free users can now chat with people in their Top Picks list without needing a subscription, and that has opened up new avenues for romance.
Don’t allow age to stop you from online dating. The benefit of using a niche app like OurTime is that all users are at the same stage of life. The dating platform empowers daters over 50 to network, match, chat, and, hopefully, build lasting relationships.
A Free Trial Could be Your Ticket to Finding Love
Love can be a complicated journey. One minute you’re happily vibing with a friendly person over chat, and the next you’re ghosted and back to swiping. Online daters may experience high and lows as they navigate dating apps and sites.
The original purpose of dating site free trials was to encourage singles to try something new and enjoy a fresh start in the dating world at no cost. Now, the free basic membership has largely replaced the free trial of old, which works to the advantage of today’s singles.
Instead of only having three days to give a new dating site or app a whirl, single people can take as much time as they need to explore their potential matches and decide if it’s worth upgrading to a premium membership. All of the dating sites and apps listed above offer enough free features to get you started. The rest is up to you!
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