Top 10 Best Sites
Looking for a dating site you can trust? Search no more.
If you’re just getting back into the dating game, the sheer volume of dating sites and dating apps can be daunting. Each platform offers a different service, different dating pools, and of course, there’s the difference in cost from one online dating site or app to another.
All of the sites on this list are free to join, so you can definitely find your next date for free. However, each site on this list has been created by dating experts who offer specific benefits for users willing to pay a little more for a premium membership.
General Dating Site Cost Comparison
Looking at a dating site cost comparison can help you choose which dating website is best based on what you’re looking for. Here are some price breakdowns to help!
1. Zoosk
★★★★★
Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships
Match System: Search and get match recommendations
Our Experts Say: “Zoosk is integrated with social media sites, like Facebook and Google+, so it’s very popular with singles on the go…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
28.9 Million* | Start Zoosk for FREE |
Zoosk is a unique dating site, in no small part because it started life as a Facebook application in 2007. The team behind the site quickly recognized the potential to make Zoosk into a major dating service, complete with unique features for users.
Free membership on Zoosk gives you access to most of what you need. You can browse profiles, send and respond to likes and smiles, and explore advice about dating and relationships without paying anything. Free members can also earn or buy Zoosk coins to gain access to individual premium features like a 30-minute incognito mode.
Premium subscriptions come in packages of one month, three months, and six months, and grant full access to certain premium features like unlimited messaging. The price per month goes down depending on the package you subscribe to. Rates range from $10 per month for six months and $29.95 per month for a one-month subscription.
2. EliteSingles
★★★★★
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 »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
2 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
It should come as no surprise that a dating site aimed at the crème de la crème of the dating pool offers a premium membership option, and Elite Singles does reserve some of the core features of the dating site for premium members only. Basic Elite Singles members can receive curated matches, browse the Have You Met section, and send other members a “smile” to get their attention.
Premium memberships for elite single relationship-seekers range from $16.95 to $44.95 per month, depending on how long you subscribe and which premium package you decide on. All premium members get unlimited communication on the site, including personalized messages and icebreaker quizzes, and you also get access to Wildcard matches and the ability to see who’s seen your profile or read your messages.
3. 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…” Full 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 |
The crown jewel of the Match Group network of dating sites frequently wins the rank of best dating site for people seeking serious relationships, and Match has the success stories to prove it. Free members can only send messages to Top Picks selected by Match, or “like” other profiles they find on the dating service.
Paid subscriptions on Match start at $19.99 per month and go up to $39.99 per month, and come with a lot of extra features beyond unlimited communication. As a premium member, you gain access to tools like the Vibe Check video chat function, reverse search, and the option of seeing who has looked at your profile. You’ll also need a premium subscription to attend Match events.
4. 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…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
4.1 Million* | View Profiles FREE |
Although eharmony is a bit more expensive than comparable dating sites, the monthly fee for a premium subscription comes with a lot of benefits, as our experts found when working on our eharmony review.
Free members on eharmony gain access to the basic features, including the personality test, along with the ability to browse potential matches, take icebreaker quizzes, and add profiles to their favorites list. On rare occasions, eharmony allows basic members to communicate for free for short periods of time.
For full access to communication and other tools, however, you’ll want premium membership. The fee for eharmony paid subscriptions ranges from $35.90 to $65.90 per month, depending on how long you subscribe.
The trusted dating service’s hefty price tag comes with unlimited communication, access to anonymous browsing, and “What If,” a collection of 30 extra potential match candidates.
Niche Dating Site Cost Comparison
Niche dating sites cater to singles with different interests and priorities for their love lives. Here are some of the most popular dating platforms in their respective niches.
★★★★★
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…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| Black Singles* |
47%*
53%*
|
5.7 Million* | FREE Trial for New Users |
BlackPeopleMeet greeted Black online daters for the first time in 2002, and the dating site remains a staple of matchmaking in the Black and African American community, with hundreds of success stories.
Anyone can sign up on BlackPeopleMeet for free, browse for a potential match, and send flirts or favorite profiles. BlackPeopleMeet even offers prescripted greetings to help members break the ice with a new person.
But you’ll need to pay for a premium subscription to send or receive messages on the dating site. BlackPeopleMeet offers subscription packages ranging from $11.95 to $16.95 per month, depending on how long you commit to subscribing. Paid membership also gives you access to other tools like enhanced search filters and notifications.
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 »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| Mature Singles (50+)* |
41%*
59%*
|
800,000* | Sign up for FREE |
Older singles looking for the right person often turn to sites like SilverSingles, which keeps things simple with a clean layout and recommended matches based on preferences and compatibility. Everyone on Silver Singles has access to customer support and assistance, as well as high-quality security features to stay safe and maintain privacy in your dating life. Free members on SilverSingles don’t get the full run of the site, but you can still browse profiles and send and receive virtual smiles.
Paid subscriptions to SilverSingles range from $12.95 to $44.95 per month and give users the ability to see profile photos, send unlimited messages, and see who has visited their profile. As a paid member you also get access to more search tools and filters, as well as other perks to help you find your next date.
7. OurTime.com
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 »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| Mature Singles (50+)* |
48%*
52%*
|
8.9 Million* | Over 50? Start FREE |
OurTime is an international dating site and app that has a big dating pool and a clean layout for all members, whether you keep your basic membership or upgrade to premium.
Every free member on OurTime gets access to key features like browsing matches, viewing profiles, and customer support. Basic members can even read and reply to messages from premium members on a limited basis.
But to get full access to everything OurTime has to offer, you’ll have to pay for the premium subscription. A subscription rate of from $19.95 to $34.96 per month allows you to message anyone on the site, send virtual gifts, customize your match preferences, and get other perks. Those membership-only benefits are available on the popular dating app or the in-person events OurTime hosts.
Relationships: Dates and Serious Relationships
Match System: Search by gender, age, education, more
Our Experts Say: “If you’d like to try Christian dating for free, ChristianMingle is your site. Its Christian-only user base and excellent search functionality make finding a like-minded match easy…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| Christian Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
3.5 Million* | Free Search, Then $14.99/Mo. |
If dating within the Christian faith is important to you, you’ve probably already heard that Christian Mingle is the place to be for online dating. The site and the app that goes with it play host to over 3.5 million active users per month, making it a giant in Christian dating. All members on Christian Mingle receive curated matches, and you can browse the database with limited filters, send winks, and reply to messages from paid subscribers without paying.
You’ll need a paid subscription to send messages, see if your message has been read, and access other perks in the premium feature toolbox. Christian Mingle charges from $24.99 to $49.99 per month for premium subscriptions, depending on the length of your commitment. You also gain access to anonymous browsing and privacy features to keep your dating life secure.
9. 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 |
Boasting the largest network of Jewish singles in the world, JDate has a lot to offer basic and premium members alike. The dating site and the app that goes with it keep things simple, from a quick, signup to a user-friendly layout without tons of bells and whistles to figure out.
As a free member, you can browse as many profiles as you want and send winks to any new person you’re interested in, but messages and other perks only come with the premium membership.
JDate charges from $29.99 to $59.99 per month for premium memberships, depending on how long you subscribe. In addition to sending and receiving messages, paid subscriptions give you the option to see who views or likes your profile, and receive notifications when someone reads a message you send.
Hookup Dating Site Cost Comparison
Let’s be real, not everyone downloads a dating app or visits a dating website with pure intentions. Sometimes they’re just looking for a casual hookup, and the following sex-positive spaces can facilitate those explicit conversations.
10. 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…” 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 |
Ashley Madison does things a little differently from some other dating platforms. Every woman on Ashley Madison gets full access to the site for free. If you’re a woman on the affair dating site, you don’t have to buy a single credit to send or receive messages, although you can still purchase credits for certain extras if you’re interested.
For men on Ashley Madison, however, credits are the key to communication and access. Instead of a monthly subscription fee, Ashley Madison allows users to purchase credits at a cost of $49 per 100 credits, which they can use on the feature or features of their choice. The affair dating site also offers a free trial so you can see what you’d miss out on if you stick with a basic membership.
11. BeNaughty
Relationships: Hookups, Chats
Match System: Search by encounter, location, and more
Our Experts Say: “Absolutely free to sign up and browse profiles, BeNaughty is the top pick of millions for local “adult dating.” If you are looking for sex only — straight, swinger, gay, lesbian — this is your site…” Full Review »
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
13.3 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
BeNaughty isn’t for people who are shy about what they want. And for men, the site requires them to put their money where their mouth is.
The top-rated hookup site, also available as a mobile app through Google Play and the App Store, gives women and men different levels of access as free members. Women can send unlimited messages on BeNaughty, but men on the platform have to pay for one of the premium subscription packages to gain full access.
BeNaughty offers three different packages, starting at $0.99 per day. You can choose the Chataholic package for unlimited messaging and read receipts. Another option is the Extra Security package for full encryption, auto browser history cleaning, and access to incognito mode. The Premier Dater includes the benefits of both packages to combine security and communication.
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…”
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| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| All Singles* |
65%*
35%*
|
25.5 Million* | 3 Months @ $19.95/Mo |
With over 100 million members globally, Adult Friend Finder (AFF) is the one to beat in the hookup site industry. The adult dating site makes it easy for premium and basic members alike to connect, share fantasies, and make a date for naughty fun. All users have access to public spaces on the site, including chat rooms and forums, along with video and photo content submitted by other users.
To take things one-on-one, however, you’ll need a premium subscription. The cost for an AFF Gold membership ranges from $19.95 to $39.95 per month and comes with perks like extra special video content in addition to sending and receiving unlimited private messages.
FAQs: Is It Worth Paying for a Dating Site?
Whether it’s worth it or not to pay for a dating site depends on a few factors. Keep in mind what the online dating site offers in exchange for premium membership, along with the type of experience you’re looking for from a dating website or dating app.
If you’re really serious about connecting with people to find a potential partner, and you want to expand your options as much as possible, a paid membership on a dating site or app may be worthwhile.
The best online dating sites offer valuable perks for premium membership, like visibility boosts or unlimited communication. Some premium dating sites also use paid membership options to filter out the time wasters and scammers, meaning you’re more likely to meet quality singles.
Which Dating App Is the Cheapest?
The top spot for the cheapest dating app is a four-way tie, between Tinder, OkCupid, Bumble, and Hinge. Each one has a few restrictions, but they’re not ridiculous and tend to lead to better outcomes.
Tinder puts a limit on how many profiles you can view and like per day, and you can’t message someone unless there’s a mutual match between you and the other person. Tinder Plus offers unlimited likes for a low price.
OkCupid used to be a free-for-all when it comes to messaging people on the dating platform. More recently, however, the service restricts your ability to send a follow-up message to someone until they’ve seen and replied to your first message.
Bumble often gets ranked as the best dating app for women. If you’re a woman on Bumble, it’s up to you to send the first message when you establish a mutual match with another member. For men on Bumble, you’ll have to wait to get a message from your potential date first. Bumble also only gives you 24 hours to get the conversation started.
Hinge requires users to interact with each other on a deeper level, instead of just swiping. You like and comment on other Hinge users’ posts to get a conversation going based on topics of mutual interest.
Single men and women over 35 tend to get less attention on dating platforms, so you might find these dating apps and mobile app versions of dating sites work better with a premium membership. OkCupid’s A-List costs under $5 and includes options like monthly visibility boosts, which put your profile at the top for potential matches.
What is Facebook Dating?
Facebook Dating is the online dating app extension of the massive, international social network owned by Meta. Facebook launched its dating application worldwide in 2019, and while the app is still growing, it has some key advantages for people seeking love and sex on a budget.
Facebook Dating is free and uses your Facebook profile data to help populate your dating profile. You can pull pictures, interests, and other details to save time on building your bio, but you don’t have to worry about the dating site posting to your main account.
Facebook Dating also uses your existing friend network to make suggestions, while avoiding any profiles that are already in your own network. Because the dating app uses Facebook as its foundation, messaging is free and unlimited, so it’s a solid option if you’ve got a tight budget.
But Facebook Dating has a few disadvantages. The dating app is growing slowly, so you won’t find as many compatible profiles on Facebook Dating as you would on bigger platforms. And you have to have a Facebook profile and the Facebook app to have access to the dating app, which can be a dealbreaker for people who want to avoid the social media giant.
But if you want to keep things free and stick with local matches in your broader friends network, Facebook Dating offers a strong proposition.
Dating Sites Start With a Free Membership to Kick Things Off
Whether you’re into casual dating or looking for a long-term relationship, there are a lot of dating sites and apps out there that cater to exactly what you’re seeking. While you can definitely find love, dates, and casual sex for free, paying for premium features and a higher quality experience can be worth it as long as you do a dating site cost comparison to get the best value.
Don’t get sticker shock when you sign up for a premium dating service! Know what you’re willing to pay for, and get out there and find your next date.
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