Best Dating Sites
Looking for a dating site you can trust? Search no more.
Online dating can work in your favor, but when you’re in the digital romance trenches, it might not always feel that way. Many daters experience dating burnout now more than ever, and, as a response, singles are starting to lose faith in online dating.
According to Psychology Today, singles can overcome dating burnout by being more intentional and strategic with their time on dating apps. So, before you decide to delete your profile, here are some real-life success stories to show that you can truly find love while using a dating app.
Match.com Stories
Member Nancy Freckles did not hesitate to say, “Yes!” when asked if purchasing a Match membership was worth it. She claimed that her Match journey was not a linear path but one that she is truly grateful for — because it helped her find her perfect partner.
“On day two [of rejoining Match], I received a message from a man who wrote in full sentences, asked me real questions about myself, and had similar interests. I was intrigued. After exchanging messages for a week, we decided to meet… We just got engaged last month,” said Nancy in a testimonial.
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…”
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★★★★★
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today’s Deal
All Singles*
49%*
51%*
39.7 Million*
Try Match FREE
Match is an international dating app that continues to get better with time. Match was founded by Gary Kremen and Peng T. Ong and launched in 1995 –– so it’s been around for a while. Match has gained a lot of attention over the years for being an effective matchmaking platform. And if you ask me, it does its name justice!
And Nancy isn’t the only one. Match has plenty of other success stories out there from real people who had a positive online dating experience. So if you’re thinking about throwing in the towel, consider giving Match a try.
eharmony Stories
eharmony user Lizzie shared her dating experience and how her rocky start eventually led to her saying “I do,” to her eharmony match, J, at the end.
“My fiance and I met on eharmony a little over three years ago. After going to a million bars and going on some truly awful dates, I decided to just sign up for eharmony for a few months. I went on a bunch of dates and had little to no success. I had one more day until my subscription expired and one more match to look at. So I looked at his picture and thought, ‘Hmm… he’s a good-looking guy,’ said Lizzie in a testimonial.
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…”
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★★★★★
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today’s Deal
All Singles*
48%*
52%*
4.1 Million*
View Profiles FREE
Considered by many as the most trusted dating app on the market, eharmony is on a mission to help singles find their perfect match. With the motto, “Get who gets you,” eharmony matches members based on compatibility. eharmony is one of the few dating apps that puts compatibility at the forefront of the matchmaking process –– making it more likely for members to have people in their dating queue who share the same interests.
Lizzie said that after she and J got to know each other for a couple of weeks, they finally decided to meet up. The first meeting is often nerve-wracking for daters, and it was no different for Lizzie. But after a few drinks and bonding over some yummy food, she knew the date was a hit.
ChristianMingle Stories
The love story of Gina and John started on Christian Mingle in 2014. Members can choose their matches by anonymously browsing through the app and reaching out to those who fit their dating criteria. That’s exactly what Gina did when she found John.
“I was thinking I would meet her for about an hour. We ordered drinks and appetizers and hardly touched the appetizers. We spent the whole time talking and then we took a walk on the San Antonio River. We ended up spending five hours together,” said John in a testimonial.
Relationships:
Dates and Serious Relationships
Match System:
Search by gender, age, education, more
Our Experts Say:
“ChristianMingle is among the largest dating sites in the industry that only caters to single Christian men and women, and the site has some of the best search filters and safety features…”
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★★★★★
User Base
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Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today’s Deal
Christian Singles*
44%*
56%*
3.5 Million*
Try Now for $19.99/Month
Christian Mingle is a faith-based dating app for Christian men and women who want to find a God-centered relationship. Many Christian singles are skeptical of using dating apps because they think it’s common to meet someone at church. But dating apps such as Christian Mingle prove that you can find love outside of the Sunday service.
John shared that after their date they spent many nights talking on the phone. The two remained optimistic as they started off a long-distance couple. When asked what advice they would give other Christian Mingle members, the pair responded:
“Don’t try and make it happen. Be authentic. Most importantly, pray for the kind of person you are looking for. He or she is out there.”
OurTime.com
When Susie joined OurTime, she was newly divorced from a thirty-three-year marriage and was initially looking for an online friend or companion. But shortly after starting her online journey, she realized she wanted more.
“Girlfriends and family are great, but sometimes you just want to be held or cuddled. Again not a sex partner, just a friend,” said Susie in a testimonial.
Susie shared that OurTime allowed her to meet several men along the way and after some trial and error, she fell in love with her now husband within just six months of being on the app.
“We will be celebrating our second anniversary next week. So very blessed! I do want to say that sometimes God allows things to happen because we weren’t moving forward. Let your faith guide you to the love of your life. I’m certainly glad I did!”
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…”
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★★★★★
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today’s Deal
Mature Singles (50+)*
48%*
52%*
8.9 Million*
Over 50? Try It FREE
The senior dating app OurTime is determined to change the way older singles date. OurTime members are typically over the age of 50 and looking for social connections in all forms. Whether you’re looking for a lover or a friend, OurTime’s goal is to help singles find a quality connection that will last outside of the app. And that’s exactly what OurTime user Susie got out of her online dating experience.
Ashley Madison Stories
Ashley Madison is the first dating site that was created for married people to have discreet affairs with no judgment. People use Ashley Madison for different reasons, but when member Paula Howley joined, her goal was to find a sexual connection. After 15 years of being in a sexless marriage, Paula had a friend who referred her to Ashley Madison.
“I signed up last September and the shooting gallery started,” said Paula. “I backed up, took my time, looking for what I wanted. And this, to me, was actually the greatest gift of Ashley Madison.”
“I ended up dating only four men from Ashley Madison, but each man was more of what I was looking for because I was looking more each time,” said Paula. “That journey quickly led me to the world of BDSM and kink where I am a newbie but knew I had desires that better met with people who understood them much more so than ‘vanilla’ folks.”
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…”
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★★★★★
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today’s Deal
All Singles & Attached*
71%*
29%*
65 Million*
Start Now for FREE
Men on Ashley Madison have to pay a fee to use its services, but women don’t have to worry about paying a dime. Which could explain why Paula’s DM’s were active.
6. Hinge
Hinge is the dating app that was designed to be deleted — literally! Many people know Hinge as a go-to app when you’re looking to make a meaningful connection that will last outside of the app. Since it launched in 2013, Hinge has helped millions of people find their happy endings, including writer Courtney Voegel.
Courtney said Hinge changed her life for the better, and after hearing how she and her now fiance Lee found each other, you can see why. While on Hinge, Courtney noticed Lee’s profile and was immediately drawn into a photo of him dancing at a wedding. From there, they matched and, a few weeks later, decided to meet in person.
“We had the best conversations, and I couldn’t stop smiling and laughing. I felt so much like myself around him that I ended up telling him one of my most embarrassing stories like 15 minutes in. We discovered our mutual love for music and bonded over the fact that we both played violin and were trained in the Suzuki method,” said Courtney in a testimonial.
7. Bumble
Bumble isn’t your ordinary dating app; it was created to challenge the antiquated rules of dating and provide singles with a respectful and kind dating environment.
Women on Bumble are the ones in charge of making the first move, which is pretty cool considering it’s not often you see women calling the shots in the online dating world. Bumble incorporated this aspect to ensure relationships formed on the app started with respect, but members soon discovered it was much more helpful.
“These first moves allowed me to make even bigger moves, and I began hosting panel events and giving speeches,” said Bumble user Stephanie Yeboah in a testimonial. “I’m no longer scared of being rejected or laughed at when dating, and even if I end up embarrassing myself with a goofy anecdote or comment, so what? I know that I’m worthy — of a date, and of love.”
Stephanie’s online dating experience didn’t end with her finding her Mr. Right, but it helped her gain the confidence she needed to excel in her career and become successful in dating.
“For the most part, the majority of my matches didn’t amount to much, but I realized that I was enjoying dating for the first time ever. Even as an introvert, I was having fun putting myself in the driver’s seat and actively taking part in conversations,” said Stephanie.
FAQs: What’s the Best Dating Site for Serious Relationships?
Match and eharmony both have great reputations for relationship seeking. This is nice, considering that hookup culture is taking a huge toll on the online dating prospects of many singles.
Plenty of singles stress out about running into people who aren’t on the same page. Luckily, both Match and eharmony typically have a large crowd of serious daters.
Why Is It So Hard to Find Love on Tinder?
Dating is hard everywhere, but Tinder is particularly problematic because its swiping system implies that there’s always another, better option out there. It’s superficial and reductive.
Relationships:
Serious Relationships
Match System:
Search, Receive Partner Suggestions
Our Experts Say:
“EliteSingles is a leading dating site just for busy, single professionals. More than 80% of members have earned a college degree, and most are looking for a serious commitment…”
Full Review »
Browse Free:
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★★★★★
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today’s Deal
All Singles*
44%*
56%*
2 Million*
Browse Profiles Free
As a result, a lot of people use Tinder as a hookup app. So, if you’re looking for something more serious than a casual fling, you should consider using eharmony or EliteSingles.
Is It Safe to Meet Potential Matches Online?
Yes, it’s safe as long as you take precautions. And if you are new to online dating, many dating apps offer safety advice on what to do and what not to do when you first meet in person.
We recommend hopping on a video call before meeting in person. Many modern dating apps offer robust video chat features.
Where Can Senior Singles Go to Meet New People?
OurTime doesn’t box its members into one relationship. Whatever kind of relationship you’re looking for, OurTime allows you to explore it. Many OurTime users are divorced and looking for someone they can spend time with — sometimes without the commitment.
Relationships:
Friendship, Casual Dates, Serious Relationships
Match System:
Search by age, location, height, education, ethnicity, and religion
Our Experts Say:
“SilverSingles is a fast-growing, easy-to-use niche dating site exclusively for active daters over the age of 50…”
Full Review »
Browse Free:
View Photos Now
★★★★★
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today’s Deal
Mature Singles (50+)*
41%*
59%*
800,000*
Sign up for FREE
SilverSingles is strictly for singles over the age of 50. With a much smaller audience, members are more likely to meet someone in their age group, hence better matches. SilverSingles is typically used for serious dating. Older singles who are brave enough to find love again — or even for the first time — soon discover after joining how simple it is to find matches through the SilverSingles app.
Online Dating Success Is Not Only Possible — It’s Probable!
Persistence is key when you begin your online dating journey — it’s just a numbers game. It may not happen right away, but giving yourself the best opportunity to meet people is still a better strategy than sitting at home waiting for love to come to you.
Joining an online dating app or site is an easy first step. So find one that piques your interest and start your search!
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