Best Dating Sites
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Online Dating
Relationship-oriented daters often desire elite dating sites where they can meet people on their level, but they have a hard time finding such superb dating grounds.
Some swipe-happy dating sites are like the fast food restaurants of the online dating scene. They provide quick, easy, and cheap service for the general public. Swiping on a free dating app offers instant gratification, but not all singles want to sacrifice quality for the sake of expediency.
High-profile individuals see dating as an investment in the future, and they’re not willing to settle on anything less than the best. Such singles want to go beyond the run-of-the-mill dating platforms everyone joins to find the best place to put their time and energy.
We’ve hand-selected the best quality-driven dating sites to help single men and women upgrade their online dating experiences and make an extraordinary match based on their values.
There are approximately 8,000 online dating services vying for your attention in the dating scene, and it can be difficult to know which are right for you. The all-around best dating sites have an active membership base and easy-to-understand match and communication tools that foster real-time connections.
Here at DatingAdvice, we don’t believe in saving the best for last. We think the best should come first. So, without further ado, here are the top dating sites for high-caliber singles.
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
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All Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
2 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
When it comes to elite dating, Elite Singles has the best name in the biz. This dating site is a trusted resource for singles looking for a meaningful relationship. The site uses an intelligent matchmaking algorithm to introduce its members to date prospects who share similar backgrounds, hobbies, and goals.
Every day, Elite Singles curates a list of three to seven highly suitable matches. Members can send a like or a message to break the ice and engage in a stimulating conversation.
Elite Singles has established an impressive following of well-educated and relationship-minded singles all over the world. Over 85% of its U.S. members hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and over 90% say they are looking for a serious 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 »
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User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
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All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
39.7 Million* | Try Match FREE |
Since 1995, Match has inspired countless love connections on five continents around the world. The dating site boasts facilitating more dates, relationships, and marriages than any of its competitors, and it’s still growing.
Match caters to relationship-oriented singles who are serious about finding The One. The site lets singles create a profile and browse their matches for free, but they have to upgrade their accounts to send a message and actually build a one-on-one connection become one of Match’s many success stories.
Match’s paid communication features help the dating site screen its membership and ensure everyone is equally invested in meeting someone special. As a result, many Match members are high-earning individuals with extra pocket money to spend on dating. Over 91% of Match members have earned a college degree, and about two-thirds of users are between 24 and 53 years old.
According to a 2017 Match survey, the average American spends about $1,596 a year on dating-related costs. That’s a lot of money to put into the dating process, so it may be worth looking into free dating sites and apps where you can cut unnecessary costs. Most dating sites offer free registration, but some also have valuable and cost-effective features to sweeten the deal.
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
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All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
28.9 Million* | Start Zoosk for FREE |
Zoosk has a vast membership base of over 40 million singles in over 80 countries, so you’ll never run out of people to talk to here. Zoosk allows singles to send pre-written icebreakers, auto-replies, smiles, and likes for free, and you can also pay for or earn Zoosk Coins to send virtual gifts.
You can earn Zoosk Coins by becoming a fan of Zoosk on Facebook or downloading the Zoosk app on the App Store, Google Play, or Amazon Apps.
Every day, Zoosk members send over 3 million messages to one another, and many Zoosk couples form as a result. Zoosk has plenty of communication options to suit singles on a tight budget, so the only limit is your imagination on this affordable, socially savvy dating platform.
is a high-end dating site where highly successful singles can mingle in peace. This isn’t a platform for sugar dating or gold digging — it’s a place where desirable men and women meet and date as equals.
Luxy has instituted a thorough Anti-Scam System to build trust with its users and protect them from being taken advantage of. The Luxy team will permanently ban anyone found to have “impure motivations or fraudulent intentions.” The community guidelines underscore its high expectations for members on the site.
According to the guidelines, “Any profile we suspect of being a fake, a copy of another person or recreation of a previously deleted profile can be banned and removed by us. Luxy is all about being real and trusting each other, that’s why we have photo and income verification.”
Luxy automatically screens profile content and messages, but it also empowers its members to report unwanted behavior directly. If you see someone who doesn’t belong on Luxy, click the flag icon or report button to make a quick, confidential report. Luxy customer service is available 24/7 and personally addresses any issues and concerns that arise.
From screening users to curating matches, Luxy strives to provide a safe and friendly environment for its users. “Guys were all very nice and respectful on Luxy,” said Tiffany, a 48-year-old New Yorker who met her Mr. Right on Luxy.
A study conducted by researchers at Australia’s Queensland University of Technology analyzed the dating patterns of singles from 18 to 80 and found that single women under 30 are among the pickiest daters around. Many of these women are looking for a partner to build a family, and they value education and income as indicators of a stable future.
“Evolution favors women who are highly selective about their mates,” said the study’s lead author Dr. Stephen Whyte. If you’re looking for a particular type of man, the following dating sites can help you sort the winners from the losers.
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
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Christian Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
3.5 Million* | Try Now for $19.99/Month |
Since 2001, ChristianMingle has devoted itself to serving the needs of Christian singles. This dating site fosters God-centered relationships by uniting Christians under a common banner.
Of course, you don’t have to be a devout Christian to join the niche site. As part of the Sparks Network, ChristianMingle supports a diverse network of people of all faiths.
The Coffee Meets Bagel dating app invites singles to rediscover dating by making authentic connections in private chats. Every day at noon, the app curates a list of potential matches (they call them bagels) and empowers singles to choose who they want showing up in their inboxes. Users have only so many likes (aka beans) they can use per day, so they have to choose wisely.
Three single women founded Coffee Meets Bagel in 2012 to fix two main problems they saw in the online dating scene — 1) women have too many options to filter out and 2) quality men have trouble making themselves stand out online.
Coffee Meets Bagel solves these two problems by offering a limited number of daily matches and highlighting personal information in its dating profiles. CMB also offers a user activity report, so you can see how often your online crush sends a first message or how long it usually takes for him/her to reply.
If you’re looking for a real relationship, you can use Coffee Meets Bagel to focus on the most compatible folks in your area.
Men have to work hard to find a date online. In 2013, before the days of mutual matching, the average man would have to send over 58 unsolicited messages to receive a response. Fortunately, dating sites have gotten better at facilitating conversations and making sure men don’t waste time on women who are uninterested in them. The following two dating sites have spent years perfecting match algorithms and streamlining the online dating process so single men can find the woman of their dreams.
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
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All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
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4.1 Million* | View Profiles FREE |
A team of psychologists put their heads together to create the 29-dimension matching system used by eharmony. Since 2000, this marriage-focused dating site has identified areas of compatibility between single men and women, and it has used that wealth of knowledge to recommend the best matches and foster many love stories.
It may take some time to create a profile on eharmony — you have to answer a lengthy questionnaire about your temperament, likes, goals, and lifestyle — but it all pays off when you are browsing profiles and can see exactly where you are aligned.
As if it weren’t already a great deal, eharmony has a three-month guarantee, which states that if a full member doesn’t meet someone special within three months, they can have another three months free. To be eligible for the guarantee, the eharmony member must have a complete profile with at least three photos, and they must send or reply to messages from at least five members.
High-quality singles don’t have to settle for anything less than the best now that they have elite dating sites like The League behind them. The League does the scouting and matching, so singles can simply sit back and enjoy meeting interesting and attractive people. This whole smart dating system is designed to introduce singles to the type of people they actually want to date.
The League users can set dating preferences regarding age, height, distance, education, religion, and other important factors. Once you set your standards, The League will do everything possible to meet or exceed those expectations.
“If you are seeking someone of similar educational level, values, interests, and a more meaningful potential at a relationship, then this is absolutely a great start,” said Docmom21 in a review. “No, you will not see hundreds of matches, but you will see quality matches.”
Studies seem to indicate that today’s black singles are choosier than ever when it comes to commitment and marriage. In 2016, about 50% of African-Americans said they had never been married. Only one-third of all Americans can say the same.
Black singles can have difficulty finding what they want on general dating sites because so many different types of people mingle on this space. It can be hard to zero in on individuals who have been brought up the same way and have similar views on race, politics, and family. Fortunately, niche dating sites are working to solve this problem and connect black singles across the country and around the world.
Relationships: Deep Relationships or Just Casual Dates
Match System: Search by location, age, more
Our Experts Say: “BlackPeopleMeet is a large dating site, and its user base is growing every day. If you're only interested in black or biracial daters, you've come to the right place...” Full Review »
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User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
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Black Singles* |
47%*
53%*
|
5.7 Million* | FREE Trial for New Users |
BlackPeopleMeet unites African-American singles living in the U.S. and Canada. It takes only seconds to join this diverse network and start browsing for a black or biracial date. BlackPeopleMeet offers a free registration process but only singles who upgrade to full membership can send messages on the platform.
Since its launch in 2001, BlackPeopleMeet has led to many happy endings and love stories. You can read some of its customer testimonials to see for yourself.
“The site is wonderful, and I met the guy for me,” said an anonymous user from Columbus, Ohio. “The chemistry was great. We hit it off great, and I want to give it a chance.”
appeals to a specific type of person. It has created a niche within a niche and given young black professionals a place they can call their own. Many of these singles may be in the minority in their professions as doctors or lawyers, but on BlackProfessionalMeet, they are in the majority.
BlackProfessionalPeopleMeet empowers black singles to network with one another and build connections based on shared ambitions and outlooks.
Powered by People Media, this niche site has a lot going for it, and its extensive search filters and matching options can help you hunt for a date more efficiently.
In the last few years, the online dating scene has come a long way in terms of serving the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. There was a time when many dating sites didn’t have options for singles seeking same-sex relationships or identifying as gender fluid. Now you can find rainbow dating profiles on just about every dating platform. We’ve picked out two of the most helpful and well-known dating sites for choosy LGBTQ+ singles.
Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
Our Experts Say: “More than a million lesbian women in the U.S. are looking for dates and relationships on Match, making it the best site for this audience...” 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 is open to singles of all sexual orientations. The dating site is an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and has facilitated many same-sex relationships. Match has a global database of singles to help LGBTQ+ find a sense of belonging and love.
Online dating is widely popular among lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and queer singles because it liberates them to be themselves and seek dates who will accept them for who they are. It’s a way of discovering a community. According to a Match survey, 56% of LGBTQ+ singles have dated someone they met online.
was built in 2004 by four Harvard graduates who wanted to create a foolproof formula for love. And if that isn’t elitist, I don’t know what is. The dating site took off thanks to its nerdy, data-driven philosophy and its completely free live chat system. Today, OkCupid facilitates over 50,000 dates each week and embraces the many forms love can take.
In 2014, OkCupid became the first dating platform to add 22 gender options and 13 orientation options to represent the rainbow of members looking for romance here. LGBTQ+ members have flocked to OkCupid ever since.
Whatever your orientation, you can use OkCupid’s mutual matching system, detailed search filters, and free communication to make a deep connection.
Once you reach a certain age, dating becomes more of a challenge, but it’s not impossible to find love as an over-50 single. “In my experience, this is the best age yet for flying solo,” wrote Lowri Turner in a National Post article. “There is such a joy to being able to do whatever you want without permission.”
Cheers to that! If you’re looking to spread your wings and find love again, you can rely on a mature dating site to point you in the right direction.
Relationships: Dates and Relationships
Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more
Our Experts Say: “OurTime is just for men and women who are 50 or older, and it's one of the most popular dating sites in this niche because of its size...” Full Review »
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User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
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Mature Singles (50+)* |
48%*
52%*
|
8.9 Million* | Over 50? Try It FREE |
OurTime is our favorite senior dating site because it empowers singles over 50 to come into their own and use technology to make their lives better. This dating platform is all about bringing a fun, youthful spirit to the online dating scene, no matter what age you are.
OurTime keeps things fresh by offering an abundance of matching and chatting options, yet the clean interface doesn’t overwhelm people who aren’t very tech-savvy. It’s an intuitive dating site where mature singles can find companionship within a few clicks.
“I have found an amazing man on this site!” said Elkhart in a testimonial. “He is the most precious and dearest person I have ever met.”
connects beautiful women with interesting men who will shower them with compliments and gifts. This niche dating service got off the ground in 2009, and it has attracted thousands of sugar daddies and sugar babies ever since.
It’s free to sign up, browse profiles, and send flirts on Established Men, but singles have to pay a little extra to send messages and virtual gifts on the platform. The Established Men team personally reviews new content on the website, and they reserve the right to remove anything deemed inappropriate. Staff members typically read and approve new profiles within 24 hours of submission.
Premium members appear higher in searches than standard members do, so it may be worth upgrading your profile just for the extra attention. Or you could just add some more photos because profiles with multiple photos also rank higher in searches on Established Men.
Online dating has become increasingly common among young, single Americans. According to recent polling, 19% of all internet users in the U.S. use dating sites or apps. That’s millions of people flirting every day on the web. Want to join them? Then check out the following U.S.-based dating sites.
began as a European dating site for A-List singles, and it became so popular that it expanded overseas in 2017. Within its first three months in the U.S., the dating app saw over 32,000 sign-ups in New York City and Los Angeles. Altogether, The Inner Circle has over 1 million members who have been vetted and approved by discerning dating experts.
You have to submit an application to join The Inner Circle, and many singles are put on a waiting list before being allowed access to this high-class network. If you know someone who’s already in The Inner Circle, you can skip the waiting period by asking them to send you an invitation.
The Inner Circle prides itself on maintaining a desirable user base of gorgeous, intelligent, and successful singles, and the app’s team isn’t shy about turning away folks who don’t make the cut. The average member is over 30 and looking for a relationship that’s on their level. According to the app’s internal data, 98% of its users have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
When you join The Inner Circle, you become part of an elite community of online daters all around the world. You can read our full review of The Inner Circle here.
In the last few years, DateMySchool has established a tight-knit community of college students and college graduates. The site has over 1.3 million users, and it’s always welcoming a new incoming class. Members can sign up as a student or an alum of over 2,700 universities in the U.S. All students must have a verified .edu email address.
“It is all because of this site that we have had the best year of our lives.” — Amanda and Michael, a DateMySchool couple
DateMySchool is 100% free to use if you’re a student. However, alums aren’t so lucky. They have to pay a subscription fee for the privilege of mingling with a younger crowd on one of the best dating sites for college students.
You can set custom privacy filters to keep to a certain age range or school when you browse for dates, and many singles enjoy the chance of sharing their school spirit on this dating platform. DateMySchool has a companion app available on Google Play and iTunes.
International dating networks have allowed singles to go beyond borders to find meaningful connections. Previous generations of singles could only date within their established social circles — i.e., people in their neighborhoods, classrooms, or offices. But now anyone can expand their horizons and meet someone they may never have encountered otherwise.
Some studies indicate that dating sites have contributed to the rise in interracial marriages in the U.S., and it’s reasonable to assume it has a positive effect on international relationships, too.
has branded itself as “a relationship app” to appeal to singles who expect a little bit more from their online dating experience. The app’s mission is to help singles go on dates and create real-life relationships as soon as humanly possible, and its personality-driven tools emphasize the importance of getting to know someone as a person, not a picture.
On Hinge, singles must add six pictures of themselves (the app can pull suggested photos from a Facebook account to save time) as well as answer three open-ended questions of their choice. These prompts range from funny (best Halloween costume?) to introspective (I’ll know I’ve made it when) and can tell potential matches a lot about your sense of humor, lifestyle, and goals.
Hinge dating profiles are full of information, so singles can feel confident in every swipe. Another unique feature on Hinge is that users must like or comment on a specific photo or prompt in the profile to initiate a match. Oftentimes users take this opportunity to ask a question or give a compliment to get the ball rolling. Hinge stimulates deep conversations between high-quality singles thanks to its streamlined matching system.
In 2018, Hinge launched the We Met feature to measure its success in the real world and find out if singles who chatted on the app actually met up in person and had a good time. According to the app, 90% of its members said their first dates were great, and 72% would go out with the person again.
Since 2014, Bumble has garnered an international reputation as the feminist dating app. Its female-powered matching system has satisfied discerning single women who know what they want and aren’t afraid to go after it. Bumble encourages women to make the first move on the app and start a conversation based on their interests.
Once a match has been formed, users have 24 hours to send a message before the chat window disappears. In heterosexual matches, the woman is the only one who can send the first message, while in same-sex matches, either person can send a message. This fast-paced matching system encourages singles not to dawdle or second-guess themselves.
Now Bumble has launched Bumble BFF and Bumble Bizz to help young professionals network in other areas of life. These apps use its tried-and-true swiping process to stimulate platonic and working relationships as well as romantic relationships.
Over the years, Bumble has seen quite a few success stories from happy couples. Jamie and Ivana matched on Bumble in 2015 and got engaged two years later. “I went out on a limb to not only match Ivana, but to extend the match,” Jamie said. “If you have a good feeling about someone, then don’t give up. Who knows — maybe you will end up traveling the world or something similar by making that first move.”
sounds pretty glamorous, and the site honestly lives up to its name. Over 4 million singles have joined MillionaireMatch since 2001, making it one of the largest dating sites for high-value singles. Despite the name, you don’t have to be a millionaire to join MillionaireMatch — the average user makes over $200,000 a year.
Doctors, lawyers, CEOs, models, actors, and entrepreneurs have joined MillionaireMatch to find the yin to their yang. The dating site can verify income and photos upon request, and many millionaires use this feature to show potential matches that they’re the real deal. MillionaireMatch is cognizant of the unique needs of successful singles. For instance, celebrities enjoy VIP access to the site and can maintain their privacy while picking up dates.
MillionaireMatch has a wealth of success stories posted on its site, and it has been featured on CNN, ABC, and CBS as one of the most outstanding millionaire dating services around.
An elite dating site is where the cream of the dating crop go to meet people. It’s not for just anybody. It’s like a private club for singles who bring a lot of value to the table.
These sites usually cater to a particular type of person — young professionals, millionaires, models, Christians, etc. — and encourage members to have high standards when choosing a match. Elite dating sites often use sophisticated match algorithms to pair up compatible dates. Many also have thorough screening processes to keep out unsavory characters.
Yes, elite dating sites work. Online dating has become the most common way to meet a spouse, and that journey is made easier when you have curated matches and an upscale network behind you. Elite dating sites pull out all the stops to help the most desirable singles find the most desirable dates, and it’s refreshing to mingle among date prospects who share similar values and backgrounds.
You can find tons of anecdotal evidence that online dating works. Dating sites love to share success stories and feature couples who met online. But it’s important to remember that no dating site, however sophisticated it may be, can build a relationship for you. Singles have to do their part to make online dating work for them.
As a HuffPost article says, “More experience with online dating has been found to be predictive of relational success when daters are able to reflect on and adjust their dating strategies.”
The price tag will vary from dating site to dating site. Most elite dating sites will be a mix of free services (signup, match recommendations, browsing, and limited communication) and paid services (unlimited messaging and seeing who’s liked or viewed you). There will typically be an option to upgrade to a monthly subscription and gain access to premium features on the site or app.
Elite Singles offers three-month, six-month, and 12-month plans that start as low as $31.95 per month. You can cancel your subscription at any time by going to My Settings.
Yes, online dating is a safe way to meet new people in your area. As long as you take reasonable precautions. When you join an elite dating site, you should make sure you don’t put any contact details in your profile and keep an eye out for red flags on dating profiles. You should also never send money to someone you haven’t met in person.
Remember: If you’re getting a strange vibe from someone on a dating site and feel uncomfortable with the conversation, you can always block or report that person. After all, better safe than sorry!
Fast food is great if you’re in a hurry and can’t afford anything better, but it’s not exactly the highest quality option out there. Fine dining restaurants are there for when you’re in the mood for something a little grander — an elegant experience you can’t find just anywhere.
Elite dating sites are the same way. These exclusive platforms can satisfy high-class singles who know their worth and refuse to settle. A-list singles have a wealth of options at their disposal these days, so all they have to do is choose the one that best suits their needs. Bonne chance!
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