Since before the Covid-19 pandemic, more British singles have turned to U.K. dating sites to help find new people with similar interests to date. A study conducted by eharmony in partnership with the Imperial College Business School found that by 2035, more people in the U.K. will meet their partners online versus in person.
Given this insight, it’s no wonder that the dating site and app market is thriving in the United Kingdom. Our dating experts have put together the top picks just for you.
Overall Best Dating Sites for British Singles
The best dating sites overall make it easy to find and contact prospective matches, usually through algorithms and geographic location. While not all of the sites on this list are based in the U.K., they all have excellent features — and all of them have plenty of active users in the United Kingdom.
1. Parship
Although not based in the United Kingdom, Parship is the British branch of a larger, well-established online dating service based in Germany. Like Elite Singles, Parship’s membership tends toward high-class professionals. The site and related dating app are for people interested in a serious connection, as opposed to a one-night stand or casual encounter.
Free members can register and build a profile, take the Parship dating questionnaire, receive recommended partners, view other profiles, and use initial contact options like “smile,” “like,” and “icebreakers.” Paid members get unlimited messaging and better access to match sorting capabilities.
If you’re seeking a genuine connection in a secure dating platform to rival anything eharmony can provide, Parship has the experience and the technology to help you.
Best U.K. Dating Sites for Muslim Singles
Muslim singles in the U.K. often find it challenging to connect with the perfect match on mainstream dating sites. Luckily, several U.K. dating platforms are dedicated to bringing single Muslims together, emphasizing shared faith as a crucial element of compatibility.
2. Single Muslim
With more than 20 years of experience, Single Muslim is the first online dating service to work directly with marriage-minded Muslim singles. While the market has expanded, and more options exist, Single Muslim remains popular because the company focuses on the fundamentals. Single Muslim has over 3 million active members worldwide and has been responsible for more than 100,000 marriages.
The entire team at Single Muslim resides in the U.K. The site’s largest priority, according to founder Adeem Younis, is creating a safe and welcoming environment where any Muslim man or woman can find a good match, either for themselves or for a family member.
3. Muzz
A rebranded face in the U.K. dating sites and apps scene, Muzz launched in 2015 and has continued to grow outside of its original base to build a global presence. The dating app sets itself apart from the competition by keeping users fully involved: At every step in the upgrading and development process, the app solicits feedback from the user base.
Much like Single Muslim, Muzz caters to Muslim singles looking to date seriously, with in-app support features like chaperone support, photo privacy, and security built in. Muzz may be a relative newcomer, but it’s already played a part in over 15,000 romantic success stories.
In March 2020, the app saw a 12.6% increase in matches and a 45% increase in downloads, and the team has since added video and voice messaging features to satisfy online daters during the pandemic.
Best U.K. Dating Sites for Senior Singles
It can be difficult for single seniors to find new love, but singles in this demographic have been increasingly adopting online dating. The best U.K. dating sites for seniors combine easy-to-use features, strong customer service and assistance, and large membership lists. The following selections will help any U.K. single seniors find love.
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
OurTime is American, but every year it becomes more popular outside of the U.S., especially in English-speaking countries. For U.K. seniors seeking friends and lovers, OurTime makes it easy. Like many of the best dating sites for older singles, OurTime incorporates safety features to ensure that fake profiles and scammers don’t get a foothold.
Seniors on the dating site can either choose from curated matches, or search for potential partners using a few different criteria like religion, ethnicity, whether or not they have children, and so on. The price for premium membership is very reasonable, and OurTime even has an app available for iPhone and Android. Our full review has more information about how OurTime works and why it is the best dating site for a single person over 50.
5. Dating Over 50s
When Dating Over 50s launched in 2008, its target demographic still viewed online dating as a novelty. As U.K. singles of all ages turn to digital dating services in ever-larger numbers, Dating Over 50s has expanded, with residents of most major cities in the U.K. in its membership.
Basic membership gives you access to create a profile, browse mature local singles, and send icebreaker messages, while paid membership gives you access to fuller communication and community engagement. If you’re seeking a senior dating option that emphasizes community and friendship along with romance, Dating Over 50s is a very strong candidate.
6. SwingFree.co.uk
For older singles who don’t let traditional monogamy dictate their relationships, connecting with like-minded people can be tricky. SwingFree.co.uk doesn’t only accept mature singles, but the majority of the site’s membership is over 35. The site also puts security at the forefront, making it a safe place for older swingers and polyamorous people to swipe and pick up a potential date.
Free members can send icebreakers and winks, but deeper communication comes with a subscription. This paywall — along with the site’s 24/7 moderation policy — also discourages fake profiles and scammers.
Best U.K. Dating Sites for International Dating
Whether you’re visiting the U.K. or you’re one of Her Majesty’s subjects eager to meet people from outside your homeland, international dating sites simplify the connection process. These sites and mobile apps are specifically designed for those interested in a multinational experience, making it easy and enjoyable.
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
Although eharmony originally launched in the United States, its robust presence in the U.K. continues to grow. That international appeal makes this online dating site a solid choice for any international dater interested in a more serious relationship.
As the dating sites on this list go, eharmony leans more toward marriage than just dating. The original concept of the site when it launched in 2000 was to strengthen so-called traditional marriage, leading to a strong evangelical Christian presence. But over time, the site has opened up to a broader audience. While you can sign up for free, the premium membership gives access to better contact options and unlimited messaging with your potential matches.
8. Happn
One of the main complaints about online dating is that it takes away the magical, film-like moments of meet-cute. Happn, available on the App Store and Google Play Store, hopes to bring that element back. Users go through their days with Happn lurking in the background on their phone, and when they cross paths with another Happn user, the app lets them both know.
If you’re new to the U.K. and want to encounter locals, Happn gives you an instant icebreaker, and opportunities to find people in a way that combines chance and luck with determination. If you’re a U.K. citizen and looking to meet new people, you’re likely to run into more than just locals, opening up your dating pool and giving you the chance for some chance encounters. The app is free, but paid membership brings benefits when it comes to messaging.
9. I Love Your Accent
It’s no secret that many American ladies appreciate a man with a British accent, and I Love Your Accent brings that chemistry into the open. The dating site targets Americans and Brits who want to find each other, whether for a long-distance relationship, casual dating, friendship, or true love.
It is free to set up a user profile, complete with an audio sample of your speaking voice, as well as instant messages. VIP memberships come with some hefty perks, including unlimited likes and access to premium site features. Users who want an extra sense of security can also purchase background checks on a new person. This is a unique feature among dating sites and mobile dating apps.
10. DateBritishGuys
Another option for British men seeking American women, or vice versa, is DateBritishGuys. Founded by an American woman and a British man, the dating site is a popular option, so much so that even the BBC has mentioned it as the best dating site for a single person who wants to date a British guy.
Singles can sign up quickly and easily by connecting their Facebook or Google+ account, saving time to get down to the business of finding a match. The site also features a blog with dating expert advice, news, and success stories from members. Users must verify their identity, and women interested in messaging British men have to pay a subscription fee for access, but verified British men can access full messaging for free.
Best U.K. Dating Sites for Casual Hookups
While Tinder is well-known as a popular choice for singles looking for a casual encounter, there is more than one hookup app on the market and plenty of sites for people in the U.K. to find sex. These platforms all make it easy for Brits to find the hookup of their choice.
- 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. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
AdultFriendFinder, or AFF, has been in the hookup business for almost three decades, and that experience makes it a trusted platform. The hookup site makes it easy for users to put themselves out there: Over 100 million members globally and a free and simple signup process mean that your chances of finding a casual encounter are strong.
While there is a hookup app available along with the site, the platform’s content is too salacious for the App Store or Google Play, so you’d have to go looking for it. Free members get access to public forums and search functions, but one-on-one conversations require a paid membership.
Ashley Madison
- 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. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
For married people looking for a little action outside of their relationship, Ashley Madison is a go-to choice, for a lot of reasons. Scandal rocked the online dating website for married couples years ago, but this inspired the company to implement advanced security measures.
You don’t have to be married to join Ashley Madison, but since the dating site is for affairs, you have to be okay with your matches being married. Ashley Madison is the gold standard for illicit affairs online with its many bespoke features, including the panic button, fantasy dating, and customizable privacy settings.
13. IllicitEncounters
If Ashley Madison is the international gold standard for illicit affairs, IllicitEncounters works hard to provide heavy competition. The site launched in 2003 as a general-purpose hookup site in the U.K., but the site’s founder gradually recognized the need for married people to have the same chance to hook up for a hot date.
The site boasts more than 1.2 million users, including singles seeking couples and married men and women for a casual fling or hookup. Safety and security features along with a certain level of anonymity make for a fruitful playground for married people in the U.K., as well as the people who want to date them.
SaucyDates
- Relationships: Casual Dating, Hookups, Friends with Benefits
- Match System: Search filters, Suggested matches
- Our Experts Say: SaucyDates is a straightforward hookup site with a reputation for safe dating. The team manually checks profiles and photos. Naughty pics are allowed.
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
SaucyDates is a U.K. dating site that launched in 2007 with a simple premise: casual dating for singles without the need to pay tons of money.
It takes less than a minute to sign up for this inclusive hookup app where Black singles, LGBTQ+ singles, Muslim singles, and all other types of single people are welcome. Once your dating profile is complete, all you have to do is use the search tools to find the right person.
SaucyDates puts privacy and security first to weed out fake profiles and scammers and keep things fun. Whether you’re a single parent, a multiracial nonbinary person, a bisexual single, or a polyamorous couple, SaucyDates creates a safe environment to explore.
FAQs: Is There a U.K. Dating Site for Christian Singles?
Christian singles in the U.K. have a few very strong options when it comes to finding a dating website that puts faith at the forefront.
One faith-based dating website popular in the U.K. is Christian Mingle. While the site itself isn’t based in the United Kingdom, the user base for the U.K. continues to grow. With over 3.5 million monthly users around the world, there’s a high chance of finding the right person who shares your faith.
Another contender is Christian Connection. Based in the U.K., every member of the team for the dating website places a high value on faith. The dating service combines online engagement with offline, in-person events. Users get a free trial period, during which all site features are available, while paid members get more opportunities to reply to messages and engage with each potential match.
Is Jdate The Best U.K. Dating Site for Jewish Singles?
Jdate is one of the most established names in the Jewish dating niche. It has millions of users to its name.
If you’re seeking a more serious connection with marriage in mind, JWed lets you take it slow and get to know your match. The app and site bills itself as a community dating service, meant to connect marriage-minded Jewish members to eligible matches who share their faith.
Another option for singles in the Jewish community is Forj. Like JWed, this Jewish dating app combines algorithmic matching based on shared values and similar interests with dating expert advice to help you make the most out of every match.
What Are the Best Apps for British Singles Under 35?
Most of the mainstream dating app and dating website options cater to the under-35 crowd, but there are a few standouts, depending on what you’re looking for in a dating service.
OkCupid has been around for a long time, and while the dating site and app allow anyone of any age to sign up and find potential matches, under-35 members tend to be more active. There are perks to a paid membership, but if you’re looking to save money, you can access all the features without paying any money at all.
Coffee Meets Bagel, which launched in 2012, distinguishes itself from other dating service options by putting single women first and encouraging a more serious approach. The dating app limits the number of matches (called bagels) it sends every day, giving women the chance to delve and explore.
For some people, the easiest and most available option would be Facebook Dating. The direct connection to Facebook’s vast social media network makes it easy to set up a profile and meet people. Plus, your matches are a little more vetted than on other dating sites. The downside to this option is that there still aren’t as many active users as on comparable platforms.
Finally, our dating experts also recommend TapDat for Brits seeking something a little more casual. The sex-positive dating site and app sets itself apart from some other platforms in the space by keeping things straight to the point: no erotic content to wade through, free messaging, and a welcoming space to connect with prospective hookup partners for a casual encounter.
Find a Posh Partner on U.K. Dating Sites & Apps
Online dating is a popular way to meet new people and explore new types of relationships. Whether you’re looking for a hookup, a fun date, or something more serious, there is an online dating service for you.
The best U.K. dating sites help Brits find romance and love in their communities. And the good news is all the sites and apps on this list are free to join, so you can explore the online dating scene at no cost.
