Best Dating Sites
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Online Dating
Popularity isn’t everything. But it’s pretty important for dating sites and apps.
Singles have the best chance of meeting someone on dating apps with the largest and most diverse user bases. But finding the most popular dating apps can be tricky because the dating world is in a constant state of flux. Fortunately for you, our job is to keep tabs on the comings and goings of today’s single population.
Dating platforms are notoriously tight-lipped about exactly how many users they have, but we’ve done our homework to find the most recent and accurate stats we can regarding daily active users and overall membership numbers. That way, you can get a sense of just how popular these industry leaders are.
Tinder is truly a monster dating app with a lot of impressive stats to its name. The Tinder app reached and then surpassed 100 million downloads in 2016. The popular app has been downloaded over 530 million times to date, and it is currently available in 190 countries.
In 2019, Tinder reported having 5.2 million paid subscribers and seeing over 2 billion views per day, so it’s safe to say people are pretty busy in this international dating and swiping scene.
Tinder users go on over 1 million dates per week, and 95% of Tinder users say they arrange first dates with their online crushes after just a week of chatting.
Badoo was one of the first dating apps on the scene, and it has amassed a large following around the world. Badoo boasts having over 318 million users — and counting!
Every day, the Badoo database adds about 300,000 new members, its photo gallery grows by over 10 million photos, and its members send more than 350 million messages.
Entrepreneur Andrey Andreev founded Badoo in an effort to use the power of social media technology to expand the dating pool. So far, it’s been working.
Badoo boasts the largest singles database in the world, and these aren’t all inactive profiles. The dating platform has over 60 million monthly active users, and it sees over 12 billion swipes per day. You can download the Badoo app for free on Google Play or the App Store.
Plenty of Fish has been topping lists like these since its launch in 2003. The dating site and app offer free, unlimited messaging, so it has an undeniable appeal to singles exploring the dating scene.
The POF community has over 150 million members total, and it sees over 4 million daily active users.
In the average week, Plenty of Fish makes about 57 million love connections by using a smart matchmaking algorithm.
“We recommend POF to any and all singles looking for their perfect match,” said Camille and Nigel in a POF success story. “We can’t wait to continue to share our love story and wedding with you all!”
Bumble began in 2014 with a simple idea: Ladies first. A former Tinder executive named Whitney Wolfe Herd decided it was time to take online dating into the 21st century and empower women to make the first move (by sending the first message) in an online match.
In 2020, Bumble surpassed 100 million users in 150 countries, leaving no doubt that it is one of the most popular independent dating apps out there.
Bumble has been hailed as the fastest growing dating app because it saw 70% year-over-year growth in its first three years. People call Bumble the feminist dating app because of its progressive values and female-friendly policies.
What can we say? Sex sells. Since 1996, Adult Friend Finder has dominated the online hookup scene as the world’s largest sex and swinger community.
According to the hookup site, Adult Friend Finder has over 99 million members around the world, and it sees about 1 million views per day.
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...”
Browse Free: View Photos Now
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
All Singles* |
65%*
35%*
|
25.5 Million* | 3 Months @ $19.95/Mo |
The AFF community is all about owning your sexuality and getting laid. Adult Friend Finder has created over 4.5 million love connections thanks to its live chatting, discussion forums, and video broadcasts.
MenNation supports one of the largest gay hookup sites on record, and it doesn’t take much to get into the swing of things here.
In terms of popularity, MenNation has 99,462,356 active members — and counting — and it has over 67,000 men mingling online at any given moment.
Relationships: Daters & Hookups
Match System: Search by age, zip code, more
Our Experts Say: “MenNation is a well-established gay dating and hookup brand, having been founded in 1996. It's totally free to join, view profiles, receive matches, and flirt...”
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User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
Singles & Couples* |
95%*
5%*
|
780,000* | Start for Free |
MenNation is an adult dating site for men only, and it works great for local guys seeking a hot date. It’s free for singles and couples to create an account on MenNation and anonymously browse its personals section.
Launched in 1995, Match is the longest running dating site in existence, so it makes sense that it would have one of the largest membership bases as well.
According to the internet’s best estimate, Match has over 96 million registered users, most of whom live in the U.S. While Match is available in 25 countries, it is by far most popular in the States, and Match Group’s headquarters are in Dallas, Texas.
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 |
Match has over 7.7 million paid subscribers, the majority of whom are serious about meeting a potential partner. Match has positioned itself as the premium alternative to free swiping apps. About 75% of Match members are over 30 and have clear relationship goals.
“This is definitely a great app for dating,” said Santana S. in a review. “I really appreciate that you have to pay for things to take off.”
Ashley Madison is an undeniably scandalous dating site — and it’s also undeniably popular. Over 80 million people have created dating profiles on Ashley Madison, the dating site where not-so-single folks can explore romantic relationships.
The motto at Ashley Madison is “Life is short. Have an affair.” And, if that piques your interest, you’re not alone.
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 »
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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 |
Ashley Madison encourages men and women to explore their desires in the discreet and safe online setting. After a 2015 data breach, Ashley Madison has cracked down on security and put a large amount of resources into protecting the personal information and secrets of millions of users.
Happn is a unique dating app that uses location-based data to create serendipitous matches. The app will tell you where you cross paths with singles in your city, and you can discover matches who share similar tastes, interests, and lifestyles.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, online dating signups surged, and Happn reached 100 million users to become one of the all-time most popular dating apps.
Happn is currently available for singles in 50 major cities spread across 40 countries, and it has plans to grow its reach in other urban areas in the coming years. The online dating app is particularly popular in the UK where is sees over 3.2 million active users.
The Zoosk nation extends around the world, reaching over 80 countries and including over 40 million users. This highly effective dating site is among the top 10 largest dating sites available, and it allows singles to search for love all over the globe.
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 members exchange over 3 million messages in a single day, and many of those messages lead to IRL meetings and relationships.
It’s free to set up a profile on Zoosk and browse profiles by age, distance, and online activity. You can also read and respond to certain free greetings to get your flirt on.
Since 2000, eharmony has distinguished itself as a serious dating site on a serious mission to strengthen marriages in the U.S. and beyond. The eharmony algorithm uses a questionnaire to identify long-term compatibility between two heart-driven individuals.
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 |
BusinessInsider reported that eharmony has over 10 million active users and 750,000 paid subscribers, a number that has held steady for the last few years. Taken as a whole, the eharmony database exceeds 37 million users.
The eharmony dating site and app have inspired over 2 million relationships so far, and the platform creates a new love connection every 14 minutes.
In 2004, OkCupid launched on a mission to create a sure-fire formula for love, and it began collecting a wealth of personal data to measure compatibility. Over the years, OkCupid’s free dating services and personality-driven matchmaking has attracted millions of users.
Today, OkCupid has over 30 million active users, and it sees more than 1 million unique views on an average day.
OkCupid offers free, unlimited messaging to anyone feeling flirty, horny, or chatty. Its users exchange over 7.3 million messages per day and go on over 50,000 dates per week.
Grindr has been a leading gay dating app since 2009, and many single men have given it a whirl. To date, Grindr has over 27 million men in its database, and it sees around 3.6 million daily active users.
Grindr puts gay singles in touch with local date prospects by using the smartphone’s GPS data to prioritize dating profiles that are close by.
Thanks to Grindr, casual dating with gay men is much easier. Single guys can find dates who are in the same bar, club, or neighborhood, and they don’t have to put in much effort to pick up a date.
Three women founded Coffee Meets Bagel because they were disappointed and frustrated with online dating, and they decided to change it.
From the beginning, Coffee Meets Bagel has prioritized quality over quantity, but that doesn’t mean the dating app doesn’t have a large user base. Over 21 million users have joined the CMB community seeking a better dating experience.
In 2015, the Coffee Meets Bagel team turned down $30 million from “Shark Tank” investor Mark Cuban because they wanted to maintain control over the direction of the app and the user experience.
Coffee Meets Bagel curates a list of matches for singles and slows down the swiping process, so users can take their time and consider each dating profile.
In the last 20 years, ChristianMingle has built a faith-driven community that reaches 29 countries and is available to English, French, German, and Spanish speakers.
ChristianMingle has over 16 million members, making it one of the largest niche dating sites in the world.
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...” Full Review »
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User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
Christian Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
3.5 Million* | Try Now for $19.99/Month |
ChristianMingle is a subsidiary of Spark Networks, a German dating company with over 1 million paid subscribers. It isn’t hyperbole to say that ChristianMingle is the most popular dating site for Christian singles.
BeNaughty is an extremely popular hookup site full of sexy profiles organized by distance, age, online activity, and popularity.
In the average month, BeNaughty sees over 13 million users, and over 433,000 people flirt there on a daily basis.
Relationships: Hookups, Chats
Match System: Search by encounter, location, and more
Our Experts Say: “BeNaughty is a premier hookup app where you can feel comfortable expressing your desires. Plus, it's free to join, browse, and flirt...” Full Review »
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User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
13.3 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
BeNaughty catches people’s attention with its free messaging tools, and you can even save time by mass messaging everyone who meets your dating criteria. The casual hookup site has search filters as well as a swiping tool (the Carousel) to help users find a potential match on their terms.
The name says it all. EliteSingles is a highly selective dating site for singles who are successful, desirable, and serious about making a quality match.
EliteSingles isn’t a dating site for the masses, but it has attracted a massive number of educated and wealthy individuals. The dating website has over 13 million users, and it adds over 381,000 per month.
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 |
EliteSingles helps over 2,500 singles find love each month. It is an online wingman for busy professionals seeking high-quality dates. If you identify as an elite single, you’ll be in good company on this popular dating app.
The HER dating app was built to help LGBTQ+ women overcome the challenges of dating as lesbian, bisexual, or queer single. A lesbian named Robyn Exton quit her job to create a female-friendly space for flirting, mingling, and making friends.
Today, the HER community encompasses 11 million women of all ages, orientations, and backgrounds. All profiles have been verified as authentic females — the moderators remove men and delete fake profiles to ensure a positive dating experience.
HER offers an events calendar and an engaging newsfeed to help LGBTQ+ women feel comfortable socializing with one another. It’s free to download HER and start swiping on ladies who catch your eye.
OurTime has drawn attention as the leading senior dating site with a large population of over-50 singles.
As a People Media site, OurTime has access to a massive database of singles. Currently, OurTime hosts nearly 9 million monthly active users, and it adds almost 20,000 members in the typical week.
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...” Full Review »
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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 |
OurTime is free to join, and it has led to many success stories in the U.S. and abroad. “I’ve found my soul mate,” said a single woman from Illinois. “We are in a serious relationship. He is one of the nicest, sweetest men I have ever met.”
Hinge has been around since 2012, and it has recently gained traction as the “dating app designed to be deleted.” Hinge’s goal isn’t to rack up a lot of swipes and active users who aren’t finding what they want — the team wants its users to find dates, get in relationships, and delete the app ASAP.
Hinge has an estimated 6 million users worldwide, and about 4 million of those users are in the U.S.
Hinge users arrange about 200,000 dates a week, and it has a remarkably high success rate when it comes to turning first dates into second dates. In fact, three out of every first dates between Hinge users lead to second dates.
I should note that I’m incredibly biased when I say that Hinge is the best dating app because I fell in love and got married to the guy I swiped right on thanks to Hinge!
BlackPeopleMeet is a niche dating site where black and biracial singles can enjoy being in the majority.
Since 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has built the world’s largest network of African-American singles with over 5.7 million monthly active users.
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 allows singles to find dates who share similar backgrounds, values, and perspectives, and that has inspired many love stories in the U.S. and Canada.
When singles reach a certain age, they often feel isolated from or ostracized by the mainstream dating scene. Fortunately, SilverSingles is there to offer a helping hand and a senior-friendly dating zone.
SilverSingles has over 800,000 monthly active users, and it maintains a sure-fire Fraud Detection System to keep the fakers and frauds at bay.
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.) |
Today's Deal
|
Mature Singles (50+)* |
41%*
59%*
|
800,000* | Sign up for FREE |
As of 2019, SilverSingles had over 50,000 monthly subscribers in the 50+ demographic. “The success of SilverSingles is not only great news for our business, but also represents an outstanding new opportunity for singles,” CEO Jeronimo Folgueira said.
LesbianPersonals invites singles, couples, and groups to find the woman of their dreams with a simple online search.
This naughty hookup site sees over 500,000 visits per month, and it claims the title as the largest lesbian dating site in existence.
Relationships: Hookups Only
Match System: Search by location, interest, more
Our Experts Say: “LesbianPersonals provides a fun, quick, and easy experience for gay and bisexual women looking for sex online. Join for free, and you'll be able to search and communicate immediately...”
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User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
Singles & Couples* |
10%*
90%*
|
500,000* | View Profiles Free |
LesbianPersonals offers live chat and video messaging to help women get the ball rolling, and it encourages local singles to explore their sensuality and arrange a no-strings-attached hookup, threesome, or orgy.
Finally, FriendFinder-X is a popular hookup site that’s open to singles, couples, and groups seeking hot dates.
FriendFinder-X deserves a spot on this list because it sees over 40,000 daily active users — which means it has a larger population than Monaco.
Relationships: Hookups Only
Match System: Search by location, interest, more
Our Experts Say: “A hookup site specializing in casual encounters, secret affairs, live chats, and member videos, FriendFinder-X skips the awkward "dating" stage of a relationship and fast-forwards straight to the sex...”
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User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
Singles & Couples* |
64%*
36%*
|
1.2 Million* | Browse Members Free |
As you can see, FriendFinder-X has a lot to offer sexually active singles, and this discreet dating environment can help men and women come out of their shells.
FriendFinder-X may not have as many online daters as some of the larger dating sites and apps on this list, but what it lacks in numbers, the database makes up for in sheer sexual energy. Local singles aren’t afraid to put it all on the line on this casual sex site.
If you’re ready to settle down, the swiping scene may not be quite your style. It can be exhausting to match, chat, and ghost on loop just to find one compatible person to go out with you. Fortunately, singles with swiping fatigue can switch things up by joining a more quality-driven dating site or app.
Match can offer a premium dating experience for singles in search of a loving relationship.
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 »
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 |
Since 1995, Match has paired up countless couples and made a difference in the dating scene. You can search the Match database by age, location, looks, interests, lifestyle, and other personal factors to find the most compatible profiles within seconds.
We have reviewed the top dating sites in detail and ranked them according to our own editorial standards. We consistently rank Match as the cream of the online dating crop because of its user-friendly interface and time-tested features.
Match is responsible for more relationships and marriages than any other dating service, and we think that’s worthy of the #1 dating site spot.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
13.5 Million* | Free Download |
Next, we have EliteSingles, the dating site for the well-to-do. Singles with high standards and serious intentions will feel right at home here.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles* |
43%*
57%*
|
290,000* | Free Download |
In the #3 spot, we have eharmony, which became popular thanks to its heartfelt commercials and psychology-driven matchmaking system. To date, over 2 million couples have found love here, and you could be next!
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Straight Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
4.1 Million* | Free Download |
Zoosk has over 40 million users, so we’d be remiss to leave it out of this list. Conversation rules the day on Zoosk, and its members exchange over 3 million messages in the average day.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
3.8 Million* | Free Download |
Last but not least, SilverSingles has done a great job of making online dating more approachable and senior-friendly. Over 120,000 members join the SilverSingles network every month, and you can mingle with them for free.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Singles Over 50* |
41%*
59%*
|
800,000* | Free Download |
Those five dating sites and apps have won us over, but plenty of other sites and apps can also work well for singles seeking dates. Our dating experts have reviewed hundreds of dating sites, and more crop up all the time, so you should never run out of options in the online dating world.
Success is in the eye of the beholder, but Tinder beats the competition in most metrics. Not only does it see over 2 billion views per day, but it also arranges over 1.5 million dates per week.
Tinder is the most successful dating app in terms of sheer size; however, the #SwipeLife isn’t for everyone. When it comes to inspiring relationships, Hinge has been a great success — and I’m not just saying that because it’s where I met my partner.
Hinge is one of the few dating apps that checks in with its users and asks how their first dates went. The We Met feature allows singles to give feedback on the quality of their experience. According to its internal stats, 90% of Hinge members enjoyed their first dates, and 72% said they would go out with that person again.
That depends on what you’re looking for. Some singles say paid dating sites are better because they offer a more serious dating crowd. Everyone with a paid membership has essentially paid a cover charge to get in, so you don’t have to worry as much about spammers, scammers, and fakers getting in touch with you. In fact, the members on paid dating sites tend to be more educated and career-minded folks who can afford to pay for a subscription.
Paid dating sites, like eharmony, also tend to have better security features and more hands-on matchmaking tools, and that can help singles who are new to the online dating scene.
User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Straight Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
4.1 Million* | Free Download |
Of course, if you’re on a tight budget, then you may be better off on a dating site or app with unlimited free messaging. OkCupid doesn’t charge a cent for its private chatting features, and it offers a world of romantic opportunity free of charge.
It’s up to you to decide what you can afford. Don’t worry, though, because you can join just about any dating site (or download the mobile app) for free and see if you like it before paying for its dating services.
You never really know what a dating site or app is like until you create a profile and discover it for yourself. Sometimes online daters take the time to set up an account only to discover the membership base is too small to have any viable options in a small town or rural area, and that’s just plain disheartening.
If you do some research and choose a dating site with millions of active users, you won’t be disappointed by the available matches.
Popular dating sites have a lot to offer today’s singles. These high-grade platforms have a virtually endless list of potential love interests just waiting to be contacted and wooed. All you need is a free membership and the right pickup line (nothing fancy — just say hi and ask an icebreaker question) to land a hot date on a site or app. Good luck!
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