Best Dating Sites
Looking for a dating site you can trust? Search no more.
Virginia Hughes wasn’t sure Match.com would work, but the 22-year-old single decided to take a chance despite her reservations.
At first, Virginia acted like her Match.com profile was a joke, a somewhat ironic gesture of a girl with high self-esteem and nothing to lose. She found it hard to believe that Match’s profile stats and messaging system could translate into the magical chemistry that brings two people together.
Her membership with Match overturned her expectations.
Within eight months of signing up, Virginia went out on 30 dates. She had no shortage of options on Match.com, so finding dates became as simple as logging in.
Then she received a message from the man who would change her life. She ignored it. But then a follow-up message came from that same guy. She missed that one, too. He kept on messaging, though, and eventually his persistence paid off. Once they went on their first date, they were smitten. Virginia went from skeptical single to happily married in a matter of months.
Virginia (and her husband) may have had a successful experience, but does Match.com really work for everyone? And how does Match.com work, anyway? Here are 4 surprising stats about Match as well as everything you need to know about signing up, creating a profile, and finding matches.
1. Match Has Led to More Dates, Relationships, and Marriages Than Its Competitors
Virginia’s success is commonplace to Match.com. This dating hot spot has created more dates, second dates, relationships, and marriages than any other dating site in existence. Match.com is the largest and most well-respected dating site in the world, responsible for the happiness of countless couples throughout the world.
You don’t have to take my word for it, though. You can hear it in their own words:
Match.com can offer singles the chance to get serious and build relationships one message at at time. And it’s completely free to join and start getting to know people.
2. Stats of Success: 1 Million Babies Born to Match.com Couples
Since its launch in 1995, Match has been around for a long time, and its success is evident. Just look at the statistics: Match.com has facilitated 517,000 relationships, led to 92,000 marriages, and is responsible for the birth of 1 million babies — and counting.
As a giant dating network, Match.com’s user base is spread across 40 countries and exchanges 415 million emails per year. All that activity means members have plenty of date options.
3. About 11% of Married Match Couples Fell in Love on the Site
Some Match members know they’ve found someone special before even meeting face-to-face. In a 2004 survey, 11% of married people who met on Match.com reported falling in love while still online. The real-life date just confirmed an attachment that was already formed on the internet.
For Match.com couples, the time frame of dating before marriage is often shorter because many go to this website looking for something serious. Online dating puts couples on a fast track with complete profiles to inform their choices about long-term compatibility.
What’s more, the couples who meet online are statistically more likely to have fewer divorces and breakups than couples who met each other through offline avenues.
4. Thousands of Real-Life Success Stories Back Up the Stats
Success stories at Match.com abound. Their blog is packed with happy couples of all ages and backgrounds — from newlyweds like Emily and Brooke, who got engaged after a year of dating, to time-tested couples like Christina and Brian, who first messaged each other in 1999 on Match.com.
Christina and Brian met each other on Match.com and got hitched a year later.
A 2012 Science Daily report also found 46.7% of Match’s success stories are marriages. This site’s end goal isn’t simply a successful date — it’s a fulfilling and lasting relationship.
Match.com works. That’s why it enjoys great popularity among singles with millions of visits per month. The personal love stories of people like Emily, Brian, and Virginia speak to the impact that Match.com has had in everyday lives.
Match has actually led to more relationships and marriages than any other dating service or matchmaker.
So How Does Match.com Really Work?
Match.com has a host of great features to help singles skip the small talk and find the real deal. You’re free to browse, search, and flirt online, and you can scope out your date prospects before choosing to subscribe.
Sign Up and Test Out All Match Has to Offer Free
To find out how Match.com works, you can try out the dating site for free by creating a profile. It only takes a few minutes — you don’t even have to upload a photo right away — and then you can browse the database to see if you like anyone. We’re pretty sure you’ll find compatible dates on this top-rated site.
★★★★★
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 |
Match.com has a free membership plan to help singles get their bearings, but you’ll have to subscribe for the monthly membership plan if you want to engage in a meaningful conversation. Free members can only respond to a fraction of the messages in their inboxes, so it’s worth upgrading if you’re serious about meeting someone on Match.com.
It Takes Less Than 5 Minutes to Fill Out a Profile
Joining Match.com is easy. It took me less than five minutes to create a full profile. Of course, if you want to really dive in and make your profile something special, it may take a bit longer. Match.com gives users plenty of space for personal expression, so it’s up to you to decide how to describe yourself.
An extensive questionnaire helps you fill out your Match.com profile.
On your Match.com profile, you have the option to include details about your background, interests, lifestyle, appearance, education, pets, political views, sports, and more! Add as many pictures as you like to attract greater interest.
Once you’re a full-fledged member, you can start searching for matches and sending winks until you’re ready to subscribe and start a conversation.
You’ll Receive 5 (or More) Daily Matches and Can Search Singles On Your Own
Every day, Match.com brings matches straight to your inbox. You’ll quickly go through these Daily Matches and check whether or not you’re interested, helping Match.com refine its custom search parameters for you.
Mutual Match custom picks member profiles that meet your criteria for maximum compatibility.
You can conduct your own advanced search for certain attributes, including appearance, interests, background, lifestyle, and keywords. However, Match can also deliver you compatible matches based on your preferences. In the Mutual Match search, you’ll see thousands of profiles that meet your standards (and for whom you meet theirs).
To further broaden your horizons, you can visit the Reverse Match section to browse members who are looking for someone matching your profile.
On-Site and Off-Site Features Help You Every Step of the Way
Anyone can send a flirtatious wink to another member, and you can view your own winks in your inbox. For immediate connection, look on the right side of the screen to see who’s currently available to IM.
MatchPhone allows English-speaking subscribers to talk safely and easily. When a user accepts an invitation to MatchPhone, you’ll both receive a phone number that can be used to reach each other. This way you can text, call, and leave a voicemail using your phone, but without giving out your actual phone number.
Match Events are hosted by the dating site to bring singles together. From happy hours to outdoor adventures, these events vary but all involve meeting new people in a social setting.
To find out more about these features, check out our full review of Match.com.
Affordable Paying Memberships Come With Even More Perks
When you pay for a Match.com account, you’ll get so much more with your membership. Paid subscribers can read and receive messages, see who’s viewed their profile, receive SingledOut matches, and get priority access to special single events. Some premium members even rank higher in search results and can invite free members to answer their messages.
The pricing is reasonable for the benefits Match.com can bring:
If you’re serious about your search for a soulmate, consider upping your membership to the best it can be and give yourself the best shot at finding romance on Match.com — it can really work!
Match.com Can Work Wonders for You
Virginia’s happy marriage is not a fluke. It’s a testament to Match.com’s algorithm (and her husband’s persistence). The ease of browsing profiles and finding common ground has made Match.com superior to the bar scene or offline flirting.
How Match.com works is to cut straight to the central aspects of a person, using matching algorithms to build bonds based on personal compatibility. Whatever your interests or priorities, you can quickly target individuals with the same or similar values by searching online.
Test out the features of Match.com in a free trial and make the most of your membership by filling out your profile, adding pictures, and browsing through the profiles of singles in your area.
Even if you (like Virginia) join somewhat skeptically, you can still end up meeting the love of your life on Match.com if you keep checking your inbox and engaging in conversations. To make a lasting connection, sign up for Match.com today.
Advertiser Disclosure
DatingAdvice.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation from many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across the site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). DatingAdvice.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.
Our Editorial Review Policy
Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.
About the Author
Discuss This!