Best Dating Sites
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Matchmakers are typically not very fond of dating sites, and most don’t make a secret of their dislike. After all, dating sites and dating apps are competition for matchmaking services, so it makes sense that matchmakers tend to emphasize the downsides of online dating.
However, some dating sites have enough clout that they even get a matchmaker’s seal of approval.The following online dating platforms on this list set themselves apart from the crowd, and that’s why even the most skeptical matchmaking experts can’t help but recommend them.
1. Match — Recommended by Three Day Rule
Matchmaking service Three Day Rule doesn’t take the usual doom-and-gloom view of online dating. The dating experts at this company encourage singles to get the most out of their chosen dating apps and sites. The team provides dating advice on everything from choosing the right platform to curating the best possible profile. When it comes to online dating, the team at Three Day Rule makes highly recommends Match.
Three Day Rule isn’t alone in recommending Match, either. Several matchmakers recommend the service in no small part because Match brings professionals and experts into the mix to help singles.
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 |
In 2021, Match introduced a new matchmaking service within the site and app. The upgraded assistance is available for a small monthly fee. Users answer four questions, and a member of the matchmaking team uses those answers to find a potential match for each person.
Match dating expert Rachel DeAlto explains that the new feature narrows the field of compatible users and highlights the best possible candidates. And it’s hands off for the user. Matchmakers don’t reach out to people using the service unless they’ve found the right fit.
2. eharmony — Recommended by Patti Stanger
Patti Stanger, also known as the Millionaire Matchmaker, built her reputation on her matchmaking service and her popular reality TV show on the Bravo network. Since Patti is all about helping single people find their happily ever afters, it should come as no surprise that the Millionaire Matchmaker herself partnered with eharmony in 2014 to provide a human touch to the online dating service.
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 |
The eH+ service eventually fell by the wayside, but Patti Stanger stands by her endorsement of the dating platform. The eharmony plus approach was much more personalized, with dating experts and matchmakers combing through the compatible matches suggested by the eharmony platform and working with members on a one-on-one basis.
Instead of sending endless messages and browsing matches, a matchmaker would contact each eH+ user with a few candidates, and set up dates for them to get to know each other offline.
This approach is similar to the one Patti Stanger uses in her luxury matchmaking service to make a good match. This master matchmaker brings her clients together based on compatibility, interests, and goals, so it should come as no surprise that she maintains a working relationship with eharmony and expresses respect for the online dating service.
3. OurTime — Recommended by Carmelia Ray
Older singles have an ally in Carmelia Ray, professional matchmaker and dating coach. The successful dating professional works with singles of all ages, and she specializes in helping online daters get the most out of online dating platforms. Carmelia recognizes that seniors face particular challenges on dating sites and dating apps, which is why she recommends OurTime, a dating website and app made for senior citizens.
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 »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| Mature Singles (50+)* |
48%*
52%*
|
8.9 Million* | Over 50? Start FREE |
OurTime is among Carmelia’s many partners in the industry, and she gives the online dating site her top recommendation. She considers it “a premier dating site for mature singles,” due to the combination of safety features and ease of use, along with quality matches.
“If you’re an older single person considering online dating, it’s important you know there are both good and bad people dating online,” she explains.
While it’s impossible to completely avoid scammers and fake profiles, OurTime uses strong verification systems to catch as many fraudulent profiles as possible, and it’s easy to report any suspicious users you see.
4. JDate — Recommended by Jenny Apple
Matchmaking has a hallowed history in the Jewish community, and Jewish matchmaker Jenny Apple brings that tradition to the 21st century by embracing dating apps and sites rather than viewing them as competition. She has used JDate herself, and met her husband on JSwipe (owned by JDate), so she’s happy to recommend the matchmaking site to Jewish singles of all ages.
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 |
Jenny uses a combination of traditional and modern methods to support single people. She coaches singles on online dating strategies, including what to say in their dating profile and how to choose the right partner.
According to Jenny, JDate can be part of a multi-pronged approach to make new connections. The Jewish platform operates as a social hub in addition to helping singles find a potential partner. She explains that the biggest issue in Jewish matchmaking is setting expectations for a healthy relationship. Jenny says, “It’s OK to be picky about things that you want, but do you know what’s important in a long-term monogamous relationship?”
5. Christian Mingle — Recommended by VIDA Select
The Vida Select team recognizes that online dating is unavoidable. The team’s philosophy is it’s better to work with technology than against it. The experts at Vida Select help clients build unique and attractive profiles on dating sites and apps. In addition to online dating profile assistance, the matchmakers will conduct a selective search for compatible matches based on the single person’s criteria. From there, it’s just a matter of setting up dates and letting things run their course.
In her review of Christian Mingle, Ally (Vida Select’s Director of Matchmaking) gives the dating platform a strong vote of support.
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 »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Free Trial
|
| Christian Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
3.5 Million* | Free Search, Then $14.99/Mo. |
Although Ally specifies that there are some issues with the platform—namely that it’s harder to find matches if you don’t live in a major city—she recommends the Christian dating site and app as a good option for men who want to date within the Christian faith.
Ally explains that while Christian Mingle doesn’t have as large a dating pool as a more mainstream site like Match, it offers better odds for straight men because single women in the CM community tend to be responsive to inquiries.
6. Hinge — Recommended by Maria of Agape Match
You may have seen Maria Avgitidis on TikTok posting reviews of dating profiles. As the owner of Agape Match, Maria believes in keeping up with the trends in the dating scene, and that includes knowing all about the best dating apps and sites. Maria often recommends Hinge as the best dating app for singles. She has even interviewed the app’s Director of Relationship Science for her podcast.
Maria and the executive matchmakers at Agape Match aim to bring the analog dating experience to the digital world. By offering online dating management as well as matchmaking, the team creates a positive experience that uses technology as a benefit, rather than a demoralizing distraction.
“People are experiencing a lot of dating fatigue. They may act a bit more flaky because they can swipe on someone else and because no person can hold them accountable,” Maria said in an interview.
Maria recommends Hinge because of the combination of quality connection and convenience that the app offers users, since you can’t just start a random conversation with a “hey.” Maria also likes Hinge because, like her, the app encourages users to get to the first date quickly, instead of spending ages texting back and forth.
FAQs: Which Dating Apps Do Pros Advise Against?
As a rule, matchmakers recommend avoiding swipe-based dating apps if you’re serious about forming a relationship in real life. Some matchmakers view online dating as a necessary evil or a test of confidence. These matchmakers will occasionally coach their clients on how to make the most of what apps have to offer, even while counseling against relying on them as the only way to meet new people.
A few dating apps often get a matchmaker’s seal of disapproval. Tinder may be the most popular dating app worldwide, but it’s by far the least popular dating app among matchmakers.
The experts dislike how the Tinder app’s swipe-based matching system and simple profiles encourage quick judgments rather than true personal connections.
Professional matchmakers also tend to come down hard on Bumble, although most experts in the field agree that the Bumble app is a step above Tinder in how it matches users. Matchmakers tend to feel that Bumble is still fairly shallow and that the women-first approach doesn’t make up for the meat-market atmosphere that swiping apps foster by nature.
What Are The Benefits of Matchmaking vs. Online Dating?
More and more single professionals have started turning to a personal matchmaking service instead of using dating sites or apps, and it’s not hard to see why. Singles often complain of app fatigue, especially in regards to online dating platforms where quantity is the name of the game, rather than quality. Although there are some real gems out there when it comes to online dating, tackling your love life all by yourself can be intimidating, and going through dozens of potential matches to find the perfect partner is exhausting.
The main benefit that matchmaking services offer is a personalized approach. Although matchmakers tend to use a standardized form and build a profile based on similar questions to those on a dating site, most services also take time to talk to clients one-on-one. This helps matchmakers to get a more precise and nuanced idea of what you’re looking for, what you’re like, and how you interact with other people.
Unlike most dating apps and sites, matchmakers can also provide individual coaching. From making first contact to finishing your first date and making the successful transition from dates to a relationship, a good matchmaker can offer advice and guidance to steer you in the right direction. This makes it much easier to find a lasting relationship with a potential partner, instead of racking up one-night stands.
Which Dating Site Has The Highest Success Rate?
There are a handful of contenders when it comes to the most successful dating site, but Match generally gets the top spot. The dating site has a major advantage because Match.com launched in the 1990s, so the team has had a long time to perfect its matchmaking and inspire touching success stories. Match has some key features that make it such a popular option—even among many matchmakers.
Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
Our Experts Say: “Match is a popular choice for your area singles, having led to more dates, marriages and relationships than any other dating site…” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today’s Deal
|
| All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
39.7 Million* | Try Match FREE |
Match pairs users based on a combination of compatibility (determined by a personality test), personal preferences, and online activity. As you interact with your Top Picks and browse user profiles, the machine-learning algorithm gets smarter, bringing you that much closer to your perfect potential match.
It doesn’t hurt that Match also boasts one of the biggest user bases in online dating. A new user will find lots of prospective partners in the database, and those high numbers only increase the likelihood of finding a highly compatible partner.
What Type of Men Use Matchmakers?
A lot of single men employ a professional matchmaker to meet women and boost their love life. He may be a wealthy, busy man who doesn’t have time to date the normal way, or he may be a hopeless romantic who just wants a bit of coaching and match suggestions to speed things along.
The men who hire matchmakers tend to have thriving careers in finance, medicine, or engineering, but they’re missing a partner in life. Most men who use matchmakers want personalized service when it comes to improving their love lives, and a good matchmaking or coaching service can provide that level of attention. Men who use matchmakers also tend to be looking for a serious relationship, rather than a fling or a one-night stand.
Professional matchmakers prefer to work with serious men who have a clear idea of what they want and are willing to do what it takes to reach their goal.
Online Dating Isn’t The Only Way to Find Love
Matchmakers and other professional dating services can help busy singles on their road to finding long-term love. Matchmaking services tend to be more personalized and less time-consuming than online dating, so the appeal to working professionals is clear. But you don’t have to choose one or the other!
A professional matchmaker or dating coach can recommend the best online dating service to augment your search, and help you bolster your dating profile on whichever platform you choose.
The dating sites that matchmakers recommend have proven successful and reliable, so it’s worth checking them out. Join a dating platform with the blessing of a professional, and get the most from your online dating efforts!
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