The journey to true love can begin with a small gesture, a new friendship, or even a Google search for “the best free dating sites for serious relationships.” Seriously, it doesn’t matter what that first step is, as long as you go in with clear intentions and a good mindset.
The online dating world has helped many hopeless romantics find their way to something serious. In fact, about 1 in 10 partnered adults met their current partner on a dating website or app. I’m actually one of them – my husband and I met on a dating app in 2019!
Singles can take control of their love lives by joining these free dating sites geared toward sparking conversations and building meaningful connections.
Match
- 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 at the top of the online dating industry when it comes to inspiring deep and loving relationships. This dating site and app has spent over 30 years developing a personality-driven matchmaking system. As a result, Match Group has countless success stories to its name.
Once you’ve completed your Match profile, you’ll receive custom match suggestions that highlight common interests and shared values. You can also use the search tools to see who’s online and meets your standards.
| Pros: | Smart compatibility matching, detailed profiles, mature users, search filters, no pressure to pay. |
| Cons: | Limited free messaging, no video chat. |
It’s free to send likes or winks to anyone on Match; however, free members can only message people in their Top Picks list. You’ll need to subscribe to a monthly plan to get full access to your inbox.
Match tends to attract more mature and relationship-oriented people because it’s not completely free, and that can work to your benefit if you’re looking to settle down with a compatible partner.
DateMyAge
- Relationships: Serious Dating, Long-term Relationships, Pen Pals
- Match System: Search filters, Suggested matches
- Our Experts Say: DateMyAge provides local and international matches for singles who are over 50 and hoping to entertain a long-term love interest. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
DateMyAge acts as a chat room and matchmaker for senior singles in the U.S. and abroad. The online dating service launched in 1993 with big ambitions to bring more love into the world. Today, its online community extends to 32 countries — and counting.
| Pros: | Mature members, international chats, free trial. |
| Cons: | Fake profiles, long-distance matches. |
When you join DateMyAge, you’ll see many profile pictures of mature men and women seeking a potential partner. This site focuses on inspiring long-term love, not casual hookups, so don’t be surprised if online daters in your DMs are more interested in your lifestyle than your looks.
OurTime.com
- Relationships: Dates and Relationships
- Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more
- Our Experts Say: OurTime is well-known in the over-50 dating crowd, particularly because it has a ton of helpful search features and an easy layout. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
As part of the People Media network, OurTime connects senior singles all over the world. The online dating platform has given men and women of a certain age the chance to find companionship and love in their golden years.
| Pros: | Senior-friendly matching, expert guidance, local profiles. |
| Cons: | Smaller user base, limits on free chats. |
The online dating website simplifies senior romance by offering features like virtual likes and instant messaging to help break the ice. OurTime creates a welcoming environment for seniors, making it easy to forge new friendships and meaningful relationships.
In addition to its dating site, OurTime has launched a dating app for Android and iPhone users who want to connect with people while on the go.
eharmony
- Relationships: Casual Dates, Deep Relationships
- Match System: Personality test suggests matches
- Our Experts Say: Accounting for 2% of U.S. marriages, eharmony's compatibility-based system and commitment-minded user base are ideal for those seeking a serious relationship. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Since its launch in 2000, eharmony has become a champion of love in the online dating world. This premier dating platform uses psychological principles to identify true compatibility between two people.
| Pros: | In-depth compatibility ratings, icebreaker quizzes, serious dating. |
| Cons: | Expensive membership tiers. |
The eharmony dating profile is full of personal information about a person’s goals, quirks, values, and lifestyle. It even has multiple gender identity options for LGBTQ+ folks. Plus, if both you and your potential match have taken the Compatibility Quiz, the online dating website will provide a breakdown of your compatibility in terms of your communication styles, relationship habits, and life motivations.
A free eharmony account includes some guided communication options, including the ability to share icebreaker quizzes. Members can also send a smile or a video date invitation to kick things off and test the dating waters.
- Relationships: Deep Relationships or Just Casual Dates
- Match System: Search by location, age, more
- Our Experts Say: BlackPeopleMeet.com is the one of the largest and most popular dating sites for black and biracial singles, and the site is used by more than 5 million people a month. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Race is an important factor in the dating scene, and every dater has a different perspective on this issue. Since 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has been an ally to anyone seeking a date in the Black community. I would say it’s by far the best dating site for Black singles.
| Pros: | Friendly community, profile verification, fast-paced swiping. |
| Cons: | Niche membership can be limiting. |
This niche dating site empowers Black, biracial, and mixed singles by surrounding them with date prospects that share similar values and cultural backgrounds. Black singles are in the majority on the BPM dating website, and they don’t have to worry about being judged negatively because of their skin tone.
The BPM membership base includes people of all races, and every non-Black single in the network is open to (and even hoping for) interracial dating and interracial marriage.
Other Dating Apps
These apps are popular and have free messaging features — but not everyone there is going to be exactly serious about settling down, and that’s why we’ve ranked them lower on this list.
6. Bumble
In 2014, Bumble distinguished itself as the world’s first feminist dating app by decreeing that only women could send the first message to men after a match is created. Today, Bumble has over 100 million users and reaches more than 150 countries.
Women-first matchmaking system has been key to Bumble’s success and popularity. Women enjoy the opportunity to filter their matches, be gatekeepers of their messages, and set the tone in a conversation, while men enjoy being pursued by confident ladies.
| Pros: | Affordability, safety features, advanced filters, incognito browsing. |
| Cons: | Mixed intentions, superficial swiping. |
Bumble is a serious dating app for singles who want to build true friendships and relationships. The app is the passion project of Whitney Wolfe Herd. She co-founded Tinder in 2012 and launched Bumble in 2014 to fix the problems she saw in online dating. The Bumble team follows strict ethical guidelines to remove any negativity and toxicity from the app.
The beauty of Bumble is you can decide if you’re interested in sex, love, or friendship, and your swiping experience can quickly lead to a flirty conversation and a great first date.
7. Hinge
Hinge is the dating app that is “designed to be deleted,” which means its algorithm works overtime to introduce users to their perfect match. After all, the point of online dating isn’t to keep swiping forever — it’s to meet someone who holds your attention long enough for a relationship to develop.
One detail that sets Hinge apart from other dating apps is that users must like or comment on something specific to a dating profile to generate a match.
I’m a big fan of Hinge because I met the love of my life there in 2019, and we are now happily married and raising a baby boy. The app’s unique matching system made it easy for us to strike up a conversation about our common interests (Disney songs and rescue dogs).
| Pros: | Unique profile prompts, engaging features, high success rates. |
| Cons: | Not everyone is serious, paid features aren’t worth it. |
Hinge profiles include six photos, three personal prompts, and basic demographic information, so we knew a lot about each other before we even got to our first date.
Hinge is a totally free dating app, meaning you don’t need a paid membership to create a dating profile, send likes, match with users, and engage in private chats. The only reason you’d sign up for a premium Hinge account is if you want to see who’s liked you and unlock more match filters.
8. OkCupid
OkCupid is a free dating site and app where singles can chat as much as they like without paying any membership fees or using any tokens. You don’t even have to match with a person to send them a greeting. However, your online crush will have to like your dating profile to send a response and continue the conversation.
Since 2004, OkCupid has attracted millions of users and established a diverse and active dating pool where young people can thrive.
As a free dating app, OkCupid is a go-to wingman for singles on a budget. Some are just looking for a casual hookup, while others are more interested in something serious. Luckily, OkCupid requires users to state what they’re looking for, and it also asks a flurry of personal questions to get to the heart of who someone is.
| Pros: | 5,000+ personality questions, inclusive profile options, always free messaging. |
| Cons: | Inactive profiles, flaky chats. |
OkCupid offers compatibility ratings that help you focus on people who share your values and goals. Its match algorithm is impressively responsible for creating 91 million matches each year.
9. Coffee Meets Bagel
In 2012, Coffee Meets Bagel (or CMB) embarked on a mission to bring civility and authenticity back to the online dating scene, and it has countered modern swiping culture by limiting the number of dating profiles a person can view and like in a day.
Rather than overwhelm a new person with choices, the CMB app provides a curated list of match options that take your dating dealbreakers and personal preferences into account. CMB uses a learning algorithm to make online connections that have the potential to become a real relationship.
| Pros: | Curated profiles, simple interface, focus on relationships. |
| Cons: | Small membership, few daily matches, glitches. |
Coffee Meets Bagel is good for serious relationship seekers because it doesn’t waste time with games, paywalls, or complex features. The dating app highlights compatible profiles, and you can make a judgment call from there.
To date, Coffee Meets Bagel has made over 50 million matches, and it remains a proudly independent and female-owned dating company.
10. Happn
Happn is all about embracing the idea that dating should be local. This app plays on the charm of serendipity—or those chance meetings—by focusing on matches with people you’ve actually crossed paths with in real life.
When it launched nearly a decade ago, Happn was one of the first mobile dating apps to use a smartphone’s geolocation tools to inspire local connections. The app has now adopted the mutual matching system that has become standard in the online world.
| Pros: | Local matches, interesting layout, affordable. |
| Cons: | Not many options outside of big cities. |
It’s important to note that the Happn app will never reveal anyone’s exact location. It merely provides a map that references the places you have in common with other singles using the app. Perhaps you frequent the same bars or visit the same independent bookstore. You may have missed connecting at these real-life places, but the online dating scene gives you a second chance at creating that spark.
Happn has over 90 million users worldwide, and it is particularly popular in big cities in the U.S., India, the U.K., and France.
11. Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish (POF) began in 2003 as a Canadian dating site that promised free communication to all users — and it swiftly became a global sensation.
The POF community now includes over 150 million users in 20 countries, and its members make over 57 million matches every week. Plenty of Fish has been heralded as the best dating app for conversations because it doesn’t require users to pay anything or make a match to send a message.
| Pros: | Free chatting, diverse members, video features. |
| Cons: | Spam messages, catfishing. |
All you have to do is create your free dating profile and add a photo of yourself to be eligible for free communication.
Plenty of Fish offers a vibrant dating experience, benefiting both casual daters and those seeking committed relationships. With numerous date options around you, it’s simple to chat up anyone who piques your interest, making it easy to send out many flirty messages and see what connections develop.
12. The League
If you want to up your game and attract more desirable matches, then you should consider joining The League, a premier dating app for elite singles. The League encourages singles to be unapologetically choosy and maintain high standards in the online dating scene.
“At 31, it’s time for me to stop worrying about what other people think and start worrying about moving the needle,” said The League Founder and CEO Amanda Branford. “I wanted to build a community where smart, outspoken, high-achieving women are celebrated and encouraged to progress in their career full time.”
| Pros: | Quality matches, speed dating video events, serious dating. |
| Cons: | Expensive, waiting list can be long. |
The League caters to the cream of the dating crop. Over 98% of women in The League have college degrees, 30% have advanced degrees, and 39% make over six-figure salaries. Singles must apply to enter this premier dating app, and the team vets every dating profile to make sure it upholds the values and standards that have made this community great.
Anyone looking for a world-class love can depend on The League to raise the bar and provide a fast-track to high-caliber date prospects.
13. Tinder
We couldn’t very well create a list of the best free dating apps without mentioning the king of swiping apps — Tinder. Like it or not, Tinder changed the online dating game when it invented swipe-based matching in 2012, and it has amassed an impressive following over the years.
Tinder has created over 100 billion matches since 2012, and it inspires over 1.5 million first dates every week. The Tinder app is currently available in 40 languages and 190 countries.
Tinder has mastered the art of matchmaking by putting singles in control of their own fate. Their actions (swiping left and right) determine how many matches and conversations they get into. Those who are interested in casual dating tend to swipe right on virtually everyone, while more selective and relationship-minded singles take their time and carefully vet their matches.
| Pros: | Popular, affordable, simple interface. |
| Cons: | Mixed intentions, too superficial, burnout. |
Tinder may not seem like an obvious choice if you’re looking for a relationship, but we have seen evidence of real Tinder love stories that lead to marriage.
At the end of the day, dating is a numbers game and no other app has numbers like Tinder, so it’s worth the $0 it costs to download the app and start chatting with people. If you like it, you may even want to upgrade to Tinder Plus to get more perks.
14. HER
HER is a woman-only dating app, and that very fact sets it apart from 99% of the dating apps on the market. All 15 million HER members have been verified (through social media platforms like Facebook) as women seeking women.
HER doesn’t allow men or couples to enter the membership base, hunt for unicorns, and put a damper on the dating experience of LGBTQ+ women.
As a lesbian-owned company, HER is deeply committed to the happiness and safety of LGBTQ+ singles. The app strictly bans spam, fake news, crossposting, hate speech, and nude pics.
| Pros: | Active moderation, queer and nonbinary options, community newsfeed. |
| Cons: | Catfish profiles, unicorn hunters. |
The HER moderators are quick to remove anyone who violates the HER community guidelines, and users can report any disrespectful, shady, or downright harmful behavior.
HER offers a diverse community where all types of lesbian women can intermingle freely.
15. Badoo
Since its launch in the UK in 2006, Badoo has seen over 479 million users and become one of the most active online dating networks in the world. Whether you’re mingling on Badoo’s website or its online dating app, you’ll have a variety of text, video, and swiping options at your fingertips.
The Badoo platform facilitates more than 12 billion swipes per day, and the average user spends 1.8 hours on the app per day.
| Pros: | Video features, fast-paced swiping, match filters. |
| Cons: | Fake accounts, a lot of ads. |
Badoo has helped a young generation of online daters find their way to friendship, hookups, and serious relationships, and it is constantly adding new features to keep up with the trends.
“I found my first love through Badoo seven years ago,” Nath said in a review of the app. “That was when no one had heard about it. Now it’s becoming such a famous app.”
16. Lavalife
Lavalife got started as a phone dating company in 1987, and it shifted gears to online dating in 2001, becoming an early pioneer of this space. This tech-savvy team endeavors to “make dating fun again” and “help singles click” by offering search tools and matching features that focus on common interests and backgrounds.
Today, the Lavalife dating website and app connect millions of members in the U.S. and Canada.
All new Lavalife members automatically receive a seven-day free trial, so it’s possible to get your chat on and meet someone special without paying for the online dating service.
| Pros: | Voicemail features, profile verification, free trial. |
| Cons: | Inactive profiles, small membership. |
Lavalife is an old-school dating service, but it has worked for singles looking for new connections and date opportunities.
FAQs: Which Dating Sites Have the Highest Success Rates?
That depends on how you measure success. If success is facilitating the highest number of swipes per day, then Badoo has every other app and site beat. If success is arranging the most first dates, then we’d have to give Tinder credit for inspiring over 1.5 million dates every week.
However, if you’re talking about long-term success and real matches that mean something — then Match has to be in the running for the most successful dating platform on the market. Since 1995, Match has been responsible for launching more relationships and marriages than any other online dating service.
Match has been in the matchmaking game for 30 years and counting. It’s stayed popular for a reason. The platform has a smart matchmaking system, straightforward search tools, and a more mature membership base, so it’s ideal for 30-somethings and 40-somethings looking for a real relationship.
And if you want to know the app that actually worked for me: It was Hinge.
How Are Dating Sites for Serious Relationships Different from Hookup Sites?
Serious dating sites differentiate themselves from hookup sites by featuring more in-depth profiles and advanced matchmaking systems. These platforms recognize that attraction is about more than just looks and often provide tools to help establish common interests.
On a serious dating app, you’re more likely to engage with a compatibility quiz and invest time in crafting your dating profile. These platforms often require you to upload several photos and provide thoughtful written responses to prompts.
How Do You Know an Online Match Is Serious?
Online dating has blurred the lines of romance somewhat, and that can be confusing for a new person just getting their bearings in the swiping scene. You’ll quickly discover that online daters have wildly different goals, priorities, and comfort levels.
Some singles are fine with just talking online for weeks and months. You may exchange lengthy messages every day, but that doesn’t mean you’re dating or in a relationship. You’re basically in online dating purgatory, and the only way to move forward is by going on an actual first date with your pen pal.
Meeting in person might reveal that your love interest is more interested in a casual fling than a committed relationship.
If they’re only after sex and not a serious commitment, you’ll likely spot some yellow or red flags, such as not really talking about themselves or avoiding deep subjects. They may also favor coffee dates or meeting at a local bar or other cheap and casual places.
Singles who are looking for a serious relationship are more likely to ask a lot of personal questions and plan dates at restaurants, festivals, and places where it’s easy to talk for a long time.
Can I Search by Type of Relationship on Dating Sites?
Not every dating site and app will offer search filters by type of relationship. Some don’t even require this to be listed in a dating profile.
Popular dating sites like Match, OkCupid, and OurTime offer a lot of advanced search filters, including some for relationship type. Meanwhile, apps like Tinder, Bumble, and eharmony depend more on algorithms than search tools to pair like-minded singles. In that case, you may be able to set some date criteria for your swiping experience on apps, but you don’t control who shows up on your screen as a potential match.
How Do I Know Which Serious Dating Site to Choose?
You have to use good judgment and do some research (the fact that you’re here means you’re already doing that). Reading reviews, success stories, and top-best lists can help give insight into what an online dating experience is like, but you’ll probably have to create a dating profile on a few different platforms before figuring out which one is best for your budget, location, and dating style.
Think about the kind of person you want to attract and where they’re likely to be swiping. Also consider how much time and money you’re willing to spend in the search.
For instance, if you want to talk to as many people as possible for free, a popular dating app like Tinder will be your best bet. However, if you want to narrow your dating options to a select few, then The League or Hinge may appeal more to you.
What is the Best Genuine Dating Site?
Putting your heart on the line on a dating site can be a scary prospect, so it helps to have a trusted and time-tested ally by your side. Over the years, eharmony has proven to be one of the most trustworthy dating sites available for relationship-minded singles, and it has led to countless love stories.
A single person can meet many genuine people on eharmony if they’re willing to put some effort into it. The popular dating site attracts single men and women who are serious about settling down and have invested in the process.
Is There a 100% Free Dating Site?
Yes, many dating sites offer all free features with no restrictions, catches, or hidden fees. OkCupid is one of my personal favorite “forever free” dating sites because it never charges members to search, chat, or match. You can write paragraphs upon paragraphs to your matches (but I’d recommend three sentences or fewer to begin the chat) and not be charged a penny.
All OkCupid members can communicate for free, and that really levels the playing field in the dating scene. You won’t need the A-List subscription to have a successful dating experience on OkCupid, but some singles use it to speed up the matching process.
Get One Step Closer to Love on a Dating Site for Relationships
Singles don’t have to spend their time (and their hard-earned cash) on a paid dating site to find love. I know plenty of men and women — myself included — who have never paid for a dating app subscription yet still gone on dates and even gotten into a serious relationship or marriage thanks to online dating.
All you need is a valid email address, a phone number, or Facebook account to set up your dating profile and surround yourself with potential date options. The sites on this list can provide the opportunities to connect. Then it’s up to you to get into gear, send flirty messages, and make something happen.
Just keep in mind: No matchmaking algorithm will magically deliver love right to you. You’ve got to put in the effort to search, match, chat, and attract the right person. Best of luck!
