Best Dating Sites
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Online Dating
There are a lot of things about Minnesota that make it special. Not only is it naturally beautiful, but it’s home to over 10,000 lakes, making it a great place to relax, picnic outside, and enjoy the outdoors. Nature is so rich that Minnesota is the home to plenty of bald eagles, who often make themselves somewhat scarce in other states — an incredible bonus for birders among us.
Minnesota is also fairly healthy — based on its strong agriculture, it’s actually the third healthiest state in the United States. And, it’s quite a diverse state as well, filled with many young adults looking for romance and love.
While Minnesota has a lot going for it, it can be hard for singles to connect, especially if they’re living in one of the many small towns in Minnesota. That’s why online dating is huge. If you’re a Minnesotan who wants to dip their toe in the dating field, here are some of the top sites in the area.
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 |
It’s hard to talk about online dating without mentioning Match, the dating site that launched in 1995 and helped set the stage for many other companies. Not only is Match a solid site for Minnesotans, but it’s become a huge deal internationally, as well. That means that there’s a good opportunity to meet a diverse range of individuals.
The site and app have over 15 million active users, and signing up is free. But if you like it enough, you can also pay to upgrade your experience. As for gender ratios, Match is more or less split, with 49% of users identifying as male, and 51% identifying as female.
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 you’re a Christian who values a connection with someone of a similar religion, then Christian Mingle will be your best bet. One interesting perk about Christian Mingle is that it screens every uploaded photo before it’s displayed, so you don’t have to worry about seeing anything inappropriate while scrolling. This added bit of security may also encourage catfish — or, people pretending to be someone they aren’t — to migrate to other websites that are less moderated.
Who should you expect to see on Christian Mingle? A survey done with the dating site found that 71% of all members go to church at least once per week.
Of course, faith-based dating isn’t just for Christian Singles. The same company behind Christian Mingle also runs JDate to connect Jewish singles.
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 »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
4.1 Million* | Join eharmony FREE |
If you’re looking for a trusted dating website with plenty of years to back its success, look no further than eharmony. Over 2 million former singles have found love thanks to the site, which uses a compatibility quiz to help like-minded people meet.
Basic membership is free and includes unlimited matches. But you can pay to enhance your experience, with paid memberships up to 24 months. eharmony is seen as a great site for those looking for long-term relationships. Need more stats to persuade you further? Approximately 71% of women and 69% of men who have joined met their partner through eharmony within just a year, which is pretty spectacular.
Bumble is another site that’s free to start — and based on the number of active users, you’ll want to jump on board to see who’s out there. In the first three years of Bumble’s operation, it amassed over 22 million users, which is huge. The site is also more female-friendly than many of its competitors. On Bumble, women make the first move.
When a man and woman match on Bumble, it’s the woman’s responsibility to reach out first. This feature gives women more control than most other apps. This feature doesn’t necessarily apply to same-sex matches, who are still more than welcome on the dating app (and have found plenty of success on it, as well).
All in all, Bumble’s women-first policy can help minimize the number of sexually explicit first messages that women often receive from people who may not be looking for a long-term connection. While all dating sites offer different experiences, Bumble is best known for sparking long-term connections and friendships.
OkCupid is another great dating site where Minnesotans can find love. The platform has a reputation for being a bit quirkier than the competition. It focuses on connecting like-minded people connecting by leveraging their responses to questionnaires. All the personal questions about your background and opinions may help you learn something about yourself and your type.
Messaging on OkCupid is totally free, which is great for beginners. Like most other sites, OkCupid offers more premium features with an active subscription. OkCupid offers compatibility ratings with other singles, helping you identify better matches based on how you both answered the questionnaire. It’s also a good way to find friends or a new social group.
Sure, the state fair may be one way to meet friends of friends you may click with — but if you’re interested in casually dating online, there are plenty of sites to check out that’ll offer just that. Tinder is quite popular for hookups, and Ashley Madison is also worth a try — especially if you’re a woman.
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 |
While the online dating site itself is best known for finding affair partners, it’s also good for both anonymous dating and one-off casual experiences. It also may be an interesting site to browse if you’re looking to be a third partner to an established couple, or just chat and flirt with others without taking the plunge.
On Ashley Madison, women can send and receive unlimited messages without having to pay a subscription cost, which can entice new users to give it a shot — especially after hearing that it has over 80 million members.
If you’re new to online dating, you may have a few reservations — and, that’s completely normal. Some people do abuse these types of sites, but most users are in it for the right reasons. Online dating is different from traditional dating because a lot of the tough questions will be answered for you. By perusing member profiles, you can learn about a person’s political affiliation, gender identification, and whether someone has (or wants) children. In a way, it’s like dating in person but with a filter to screen people who immediately wouldn’t be a good long-term match.
People using sites need to safeguard their information and always be on the lookout for red flags. For example, you should never share your financial information, your passwords, or even the street you live on. Be careful not to expose too much about yourself before establishing a solid connection with someone, and always meet in a public place rather than your home. It’s also important to block accounts that immediately make you feel uncomfortable — not every direct message deserves a response.
We mentioned Tinder earlier, and for good reason. It does happen to be the most popular dating app in the world. But just because it’s popular doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s right for you. If you’re looking for a quick hookup, or feel lonely while traveling, Tinder may be a good way to meet others.
However, as far as legit matches go, it’s not necessarily the most reliable. Tinder has created over 75 billion matches, but some users report feeling neglected or ignored. Since photos matter a lot on Tinder, one poorly chosen photo could put a damper on your self-esteem. The dating app may not work as well if you’re living in a small town where you’ll potentially run into someone you didn’t necessarily click with. Still, it’s worth a shot if you’re curious.
As mentioned before, JDate is one of the best websites for Jewish singles all over the country. The Jewish dating site was founded back in 1997, and its app rolled out in 2014. JDate is easy to use, and its prompts are great for getting to know a potential partner.
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 »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
Jewish Singles* |
46%*
54%*
|
2 Million* | Start JDate FREE |
Over 52% of Jewish couples credit their JDate membership for getting together, which proves its importance in the Jewish community. While most singles on the site are Jewish, not all are — but, with a quick introductory conversation with a potential match, you’ll know for sure.
Even if you’re not necessarily looking for a long-term relationship, dating apps can be a great way to connect with new people. Dating apps are an easy way to put yourself out there to connect with someone who shares your interests or to find a community in Minnesota. While all of the dating sites on this list are worth trying, there are also plenty out there that may be tailored to your interests. You never know who you might find until you sign up.
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