Best Dating Sites
Looking for a dating site you can trust? Search no more.
For singles who want to find love online, encountering a ton of casual daters can be disheartening. If you feel like everyone online is looking for sex, chances are, you’re swiping in the wrong places. Grindr and Tinder might not be the right spots for you.
Instead, you need a serious platform full of singles ready to find long-term love. But where do you go? We sought advice from five trusted experts in the dating field and asked for their opinions on the best dating sites for relationships. Their suggested dating platforms have great reputations for success.
“For those looking for long-term love and serious connections, these platforms have a range of features that can help them connect on a deeper level,” dating coach and relationship expert James Preece told our team. “All it takes is finding one that works for you and being a little patient.”
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eharmony: “A Structured Process”
When it comes to creating quality, long-term connections, dating platforms would be hard-pressed to beat eharmony, and two out of five experts chose this as the top dating site for relationships.
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:
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User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Free Trial
All Singles*
48%*
52%*
4.1 Million*
Join eharmony FREE
Known for its psychologist-led personality tests, eharmony shines for singles who care about long-term compatibility with their matches.
Recommendation by Dating Coach James Preece
“eharmony is one of the longest-standing dating platforms, and it’s still very popular,” James said. “When you sign up, users must complete a detailed personality questionnaire, which helps the platform to find compatible matches. It’s quite a structured process, but it means those who aren’t serious about finding a connection are often filtered out.”
After filling out an in-depth profile and personality test, singles will find matches that are based on true compatibility, not just comparable profile popularity. “The platform’s algorithms ensure that members are introduced to profiles that suit them, which again makes it easy to find long-term connections,” James added.
Recommendation by Matchmaker Lauren Sanders
Singles should note that while eharmony provides great matches, it doesn’t have the same level of personal agency in finding matches that singles could find on a more casual dating app.
“eharmony has a decent track record of accurately pairing individuals based upon compatibility,” matchmaker Lauren Sanders said. “Many singles these days prefer to be more in charge during the candidate selection process. There are thousands of other apps available now that allow users to view profiles in a more independent manner. Convenience and a variety of available options are what singles prefer.”
Meet the Experts
- As the UK’s leading dating coach, James Preece has devoted the last 20 years to helping his professional and celebrity clients find love.
- Matchmaker Lauren Sanders is the founder of The Love Crush Agency, a bespoke matchmaking organization
Match: “Quality Over Quantity”
If you’re hooking up with someone from a dating app, it might not matter whether you share the same hobbies or like the same types of vacations. But Match pays attention to those details that matter to relationships.
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 »
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User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Free Trial
All Singles*
49%*
51%*
39.7 Million*
Get 3 Days FREE
When you’re looking to share your life with someone, common interests are really important, and that’s where Match.com shines.
Recommendation by Dating Expert Amber Brooks
“Match continues to be relevant to relationship seekers decade after decade because it puts common interests first,” Amber Brooks, DatingAdvice editor-in-chief, told me. “Singles have the ability to identify their hobbies, background, and goals in their profile and get a feel for potential matches at a glance. It’s a more serious dating experience for single adults.”
Amber shared that for people willing to pay for Match, it can be especially effective as a platform. But if you want to keep the app free, it can still work. “As a user, I opted to stay free forever, and I still found several good dates in my inbox,” Amber said. “It just took a little more time and energy on my part. I’d say if you’re more interested in quality over quantity, and you don’t mind dates over 27 years old, then Match could serve you well.”
Meet the Experts
- Dating expert Amber Brooks is editor-in-chief here at DatingAdvice.com. Since she joined the team in 2015, Amber has written over 1,800 articles about love, sex, and relationships.
Elite Singles: “For Quality Connections”
When I was using dating apps, I found that the majority of people I saw were not college-educated or on a solid career trajectory. I found that frustrating because it was important to me to find someone who valued learning and passion for their work the same way I did. That’s where Elite Singles can help.
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 »
Browse Free:
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User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Free Trial
All Singles*
44%*
56%*
2 Million*
Sign Up Free
Elite Singles doesn’t only offer you a successful member-base; its compatibility-based matching helps show you matches who you’ll truly connect with on a deeper level. For successful singles seeking partners on the same life path, Elite Singles is a great option.
Recommendation by Dating Coach James Preece
“Elite Singles is geared toward professionals who value quality connections and are looking to match with like-minded people,” James said. “Its membership fee might be higher compared to others, but this means it attracts individuals who are invested in finding a serious relationship.”
“Similar to eharmony, it has a detailed personality test and users are then shown potential matches once they have signed up,” James added. “This encourages people to upgrade and interact if they want to have success in finding a relationship, and the more members actively engaged the more chance people will find someone.”
Meet the Experts
- James works as a dating expert for many dating sites, including AI-based site HeraHaven.
Hinge: “Unique Features”
Now we’re getting into popular apps as well as sites. Hinge has a lot of success stories behind it, and three experts sing its praises.
Recommendation by Relationship Coach Angelika Koch
“Known as ‘the app designed to be deleted,’ Hinge is purpose-built for people looking to move beyond casual encounters,” Angelika said. “The prompts and profile features facilitate deeper conversations, helping you connect on a more meaningful level right from the beginning. If you’re ready for a serious relationship, Hinge’s user base is generally aligned with the same intentions.”
Recommendation by Dating Coach James Preece
Hinge is also James’s top choice for his relationship-seeking clients. “It has unique features like video, poll and voice prompts, which mean you can showcase your personality in a way that goes beyond text and photos,” he explained.
James shared that the voice prompt feature “adds an extra layer of depth to your profile and creates more opportunities for genuine connections. Being able to hear someone’s voice and watch a video about them, allows users to get a sense of their personality and can make those first conversations more engaging.”
Recommendation by Dating Expert Amber Brooks
At the same time, Hinge is less-curated than some dating sites like eharmony or Match. “I met my husband on Hinge, so I can verify that the app is legit life-changing,” Amber shared. “The hunt can take time, though. You have no real control over when you meet someone. Hinge was my go-to dating app for about two years before I found someone I wanted to stick with long-term.”
Meet the Experts
- Angelika Koch is a Certified Relationship Coach. She’s the author of “The Asshole Pandemic: A Field Guide To ID’ing, Deleting, and Healing From Toxic Relationships.”
- James has published 15 books on how to succeed at online dating and attract partners.
- Amber’s dating advice has been featured in The Washington Times, Cosmopolitan, The New York Post, Bustle, Well+Good, and AskMen, among others.
The League: “For High Achievers”
The League shines for ambitious and successful singles who want to meet the other half of their future power couples.
Originally created for Ivy-league grads, The League is now open to successful graduates from other universities. Still, you’ll need to apply and be vetted to join, so it may take a bit of waiting to gain entry to this exclusive club.
Recommendation by Lauren Sanders
“The best dating site for serious relationship dating is The League,” Lauren said. “Not only is it a dating site full of professional singles, it’s full of individuals who have achieved their career goals and are now in a place in their lives where they are ready to fulfill the only void they have left; finding a soulmate. Many singles on The League are high achievers who are very successful in life, but have not yet found their special person.”
The League is all about efficiency, so don’t expect to be swiping through an endless sea of profiles. Each day, you’ll get a “batch” of profiles who meet your preferences, and you can take it from there!
Meet the Experts
- Lauren is the author of “You Deserve the World,” a relationship self-help book guiding women to seek the love they deserve.
FAQs: Which Dating App Has the Best Marriage Success Rate?
According to The Knot, the majority of married couples who met online found each other on Hinge. Given that the Hinge is quickly becoming the most popular app for singles looking to find relationships, this makes a lot of sense.
Of course, our team has seen real-life evidence of Hinge’s high success rate. Amber met her husband on Hinge, where they were able to connect over their shared interests. “Our profiles both contained Marvel references, so that gave us something to talk about,” she told me. “We started chatting on the app in August 2019 and got married in 2022.”
At the same time, you might find a higher rate of marriages on less popular dating platforms like eharmony or Match, which do more compatibility matching on the front end. It took Amber a few years to meet her husband on Hinge; less general sites may connect compatible singles a bit faster.
Is Bumble Good for Relationships?
If forming an equal partnership is important to you, we recommend checking out Bumble. This progressive dating app is famous for backing feminist and egalitarian values.
Angelika believes that Bumble’s philosophy can make it easier for singles to connect deeply.
“For those ready to embrace a more intentional approach to dating, Bumble is a standout option,” she said. “The app’s unique feature of letting women make the first move empowers users to create more meaningful conversations from the start. The 24-hour response window ensures that those engaging on the platform are genuinely interested and actively looking for a serious connection.”
Which Dating Apps Work for Queer Relationships?
Queer daters may find that general dating apps have few potential partners for them or don’t feel inclusive. At the same time, daters looking for relationships are often frustrated with the hookup-oriented philosophy of certain popular queer apps.
For an inclusive queer app that supports all relationship structures, Angelika recommends Taimi. “If you’re part of the LGBTQIA+ community and seeking a serious, long-term connection, Taimi is an excellent choice,” she told us.
She continued, “What sets Taimi apart is its emphasis on creating detailed, thoughtful profiles, which encourages deeper, more authentic connections. The platform fosters a supportive and inclusive environment, making it ideal for those who want to be understood and appreciated for who they truly are.”
Taimi isn’t the only app for same-sex relationships. Dating app HER was created specifically for the needs of lesbian and bisexual daters. It’s a great place for sapphic daters looking for a lady love or romantic connection.
What’s the Best Dating Site for Seniors?
While some seniors are happy to date younger singles, many prefer to date solely within their age group. OurTime is the top dating site option for senior singles looking to date their peers.
“OurTime, a niche dating app for singles 50+, is designed to ensure that messages and matches come from age-appropriate singles,” Julie said. “This unique feature makes it an ideal platform for seniors in the dating world.”
If seniors prefer not to limit themselves to their age group, eharmony and Match are both great options for senior-friendly dating. Their user bases tend to skew a bit older, and their compatibility matching makes it easy for seniors to find high-quality matches already curated for them.
Does Online Dating Really Work?
Online dating definitely works. Just ask the 10% of couples who, according to Pew Research Center, met online. As online dating has grown in popularity, dating platforms have become the default places to meet partners.
Some singles struggle to meet long-term partners online because they have a hard time showing who they are online. Filling out a dating profile isn’t the same as flirting with someone at a party. That’s why Lauren emphasizes the importance of communicating who you are when dating online.
“Broadcast your personality,” she said. “Be as authentic as possible. Presenting your true personality as early as possible can increase your chances of matching with [someone] who is comfortable with you and likes you for who you are.”
If you wait too long to share who you are, your dates might fall for a version of you who doesn’t exist. Women especially might struggle to trust you.
“Be as authentic as possible.” — Matchmaker Lauren Sanders
“Be genuine,” Lauren said. “Women want to know the REAL you. In today’s world, many women are faced with men who are dishonest about their intentions, and mislead them regarding their level of interest. Therefore, women appreciate a man who is genuine and presents the best version of himself.”
Online dating may offer you many potential matches, but that doesn’t mean that every pairing will be a perfect fit. You need to stick with online dating to find the person you truly click with. That’s important when trying to find a partner, and it’s important when you find someone you like as well.
“Inconsistency is a huge turnoff,” Lauren said. “Most women have experienced their fair share of inconsistency and breadcrumbing. It confuses them and can make them unsure about themselves and the relationship itself. Therefore, if you can show consistency, you’ll be lightyears ahead of other men.”
Meaningful Connections Can Start With an Online Match
Once you get into a relationship, it doesn’t matter where you met. Couples who meet at the club are often just as happy and serious as couples who meet at church.
At the same time, singles looking for a relationship will have a much easier time finding love in spaces designed for those looking for a serious relationship. A casual hookup on Tinder may turn into a serious romance, but it’s definitely less likely to get serious than an eharmony-matched first date at a restaurant. If you know you want a relationship, set yourself up for success and look in the right places.
“For anyone serious about finding the perfect match, choosing the right dating platform can make all the difference,” James said.
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