Best Dating Sites
Looking for a dating site you can trust? Search no more.
Online dating sites and apps have been a game-changer for many hopeless romantics. According to a Pew Research survey, 12% of American adults say they’ve found love or tied the knot with someone they met online.
However, some singles shy away from online dating due to concerns about the price tag of a subscription. Fortunately, nowadays, you can find completely free dating sites without payment. Read this article, join some of the platforms, hang out, and boom! You can get what you want: a hookup partner, a serious partner, or anything in between. Enjoy!
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…”
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1. Match
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Free Trial
All Singles*
49%*
51%*
39.7 Million*
Get 3 Days FREE
If you’re on a budget and looking for free dating sites that don’t skimp on quality, look no further than Match. Most people on this platform are seeking someone who wants a long-term relationship.
Singles can’t go wrong with Match. The dating site has been around since 1995, and it’s seen plenty of success stories.
You can pave your way toward a serious relationship by creating a dating profile detailing your interests and match preferences, exploring singles who live nearby, and perhaps attending exclusive Match events. But that’s not all. You can also chat with your Top Picks, the most compatible matches according to the algorithm. This gives you a good chance of getting a date with someone you hit it off with, free of charge.
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…”
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2. eharmony
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Free Trial
All Singles*
48%*
52%*
4.1 Million*
Join eharmony FREE
Putting eharmony on this totally free dating sites list is a no-brainer. With the motto, “Get who gets you,” the platform focuses on helping singles build genuine connections that will last a lifetime. Over the past 25 years, eharmony has played a role in writing more than 2 million successful love stories and counting.
To set up an eharmony dating profile, you only need a valid email address. This basic free account allows you to upload photos, take its psychology-driven compatibility quiz, and send likes to show interest.
Many serious daters find that the eharmony personality test works better than superficial swiping in terms of recommending compatible matches. Note that only paid members can view photos and send unlimited messages. This can be a dealbreaker if you’re on a budget.
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…”
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User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Free Trial
Mature Singles (50+)*
41%*
59%*
800,000*
Sign up for FREE
SilverSingles is a good option for senior daters who are trying to find a partner. With easy-to-use features, personality tests, and advanced search filters, you can connect with new people to see if there’s a spark. One thing to note is that most SilverSingles members are looking for friendships and long-term relationships, not hookups.
As with every free dating site on this list, you can join SilverSingles for $0 and your free account won’t expire. You can create a dating profile, browse for local matches, and gain limited access to messaging. If you’re ready to upgrade to premium membership, you can see photos of other members and message anyone who matches with you.
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…”
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4. EliteSingles
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Free Trial
All Singles*
44%*
56%*
2 Million*
Sign Up Free
Elite Singles stands out by targeting the upper crust of the dating world. If you have a solid career and are looking for someone similar, this platform could be your best bet. You can expect simple features to give you extra assistance in meeting high-quality individuals who are ready to settle down.
“I was impressed with the quality of my partner suggestions,” said Mark, a user in Boston. “I have to admit I have been pleasantly surprised.”
You can create a free account on Elite Singles with no hidden fees. It costs you nothing to browse and enjoy certain forms of communication. The app requires you to take a personality test that filters your matches based on the results of this test. Unfortunately, you must upgrade to a paid membership if you want complete access to your inbox and other members’ photos.
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…”
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5. OurTime.com
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Free Trial
Mature Singles (50+)*
48%*
52%*
8.9 Million*
Over 50? Start FREE
Competing in the swiping game with people half your age isn’t an ideal situation for mature singles looking for dates. That’s why OurTime was launched. It’s a seniors-oriented dating pool where mature singles can connect with new people in their age bracket without feeling awkward. You must be over 50 to join this free dating service.
On OurTime, you can create a free dating profile in less than two minutes. The interface is user-friendly, as it was designed to help seniors who aren’t the most tech-savvy. With a free membership, you can sign up, add photos, search for a date, and have a good time. You can also message seniors in your Top Picks list without giving your credit card number. These are people who are compatible with you according to the OurTime matchmaking system.
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…”
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Browse Free:
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User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Free Trial
Christian Singles*
44%*
56%*
3.5 Million*
Free Search, Then $14.99/Mo.
If you’re a Christian seeking a partner who shares the same religion, using mainstream dating apps to find dates can be challenging. After all, asking about religion on your first date can be awkward. And if you keep postponing asking, you may end up falling in love with someone who doesn’t align with your beliefs. This is where Christian Mingle comes in handy.
Since its launch in 2001, Christian Mingle has become a reputable brand for Christian dating. With over 16 million members, it offers a large dating pool to help Christians find their other half.
Using a basic membership, you can upload photos, search for date prospects, receive match suggestions, and communicate in a variety of ways. After 20+ years in the matchmaking business, Christian Mingle has been responsible for 29% of Christian marriages that began online, and over 80% of members would recommend this dating service to a friend.
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:
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User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Free Trial
All Singles*
65%*
35%*
25.5 Million*
3 Months @ $19.95/Mo
AdultFriendFinder is a hookup site for sexually charged connections. This platform is ideal is for those seeking a one-night stand, threesome, or hookup partner. With over 105 million profiles in its database, AFF allows you to mingle with a never-ending sexy crowd.
On AdultFriendFinder, you can join public dating forums, read erotic blogs, and watch live video strip teases. You can also cut right to the chase and use the search tab to find the hottest singles nearby. The best part is that you don’t have to be a mutual match to send a message. As a Gold Member, you can message anyone who catches your attention.
8. OkCupid
OkCupid is a haven for singles who want to build true connections without breaking the bank. Since 2004, OkCupid has attracted young singles and build an active and diverse database.
On this free dating site, singles can enjoy unlimited messaging without paying any membership fees. You can even chat with someone without having to match first. However, if you want to keep the conversation going, they’ll need to like your dating profile.
On this platform, you can find any kind of relationship, from casual hookups to something more serious. OkCupid requires users to state what they’re looking for so that people don’t waste their time.
The algorithm provides helpful compatibility ratings to help you focus on people who share your values and goals. It’s no wonder this platform claims to be responsible for making 91 million matches every year.
9. Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish is another totally free dating site that allows you to chat with new people without paying a cent or requiring mutual matching.
Having begun in 2003 as a Canadian dating site, POF quickly became a global sensation with 1 billion messages exchanged per month. Other impressive stats include the fact that it has over 150 million members, 70,000 new people join daily, and the site creates over 57 million new connections each week.
Plenty of Fish reviews are overall positive and upbeat. A user named Marlene James wrote on Google Play: “The selections of partners are a bit diverse. The app works great very easy to send and receive and flip through. In general, it’s a decent dating app but you also have to take more initiative to meet someone you might find suitable. Use your own discretion as to who and where you wish to meet someone.”
10. Facebook Dating
Facebook Dating is an online dating service created by Meta. It’s currently accessible only through the Facebook app on Android and iOS, with no web version available. Without paying a cent, people can log on and chat up local people.
Facebook Dating takes profile information from your Facebook account to jump-start your dating profile. But don’t worry: Your activity on Facebook Dating will not appear in your main Facebook account.
The most fun feature of Facebook Dating is the Secret Crush section, where you can see if someone in your Facebook or Instagram account is interested in you. This may ignite a long-forgotten love from your teenage days. If someone adds you to their crush list on Facebook Dating, you’ll get a notification when they join Facebook Dating.
11. Tinder
This list wouldn’t be complete without the king of swiping apps: Tinder. This app invented swipe-based matching in 2012 and forever changed the way people find dates. Today, it is responsible for over 97 billion matches, and it inspires over 1.5 million first dates every week.
Although Tinder is famous as a place to find casual hookups, you can also find real Tinder love stories that lead to marriage. At the end of the day, your outcome depends on how you use Tinder.
After all, online dating is a numbers game, and Tinder has the biggest numbers in the market, so it’s worth your time to download the app and start chatting with new people.
12. Bumble
If you’re not interested in being bombarded by random guys in your inbox, Bumble may be the best app for you. Launched in 2014, this platform distinguished itself through the its women-first rule in the matchmaking game.
This app allows women to pick and choose their prospective dates. Many guys love this approach because they don’t have the pressure of coming up with a pickup line and only chat with women who are interested in them.
In addition to its romantic matching, Bumble has tools for making friends. You can connect with people through Bumble BFF or Bumble IRL events.
As of today, Bumble has over 100 million users and serves more than 150 countries. Simply swipe, and chat; before you know it, you could be on a flirty first date.
13. Hinge
If you’re looking for an online dating app that allows you to find the right partner and stop swiping endlessly, you must give Hinge a try. With the tagline “designed to be deleted,” this platform sets up 200,000 first dates every week.
Even better, Hinge’s founder, Justin McLeod, claims that three out of four of those first dates turn into a second date.
One detail that sets Hinge apart from its counterparts is that you must like or comment on something specific on the profile to create a match. That means generic greetings like “Hi” or “What’s up” won’t work.
You can comment or ask a question on one of the six photos in someone’s profile, or you can respond to one of their three personal prompts. Hinge also offers 80 prompts to help you show your personality in your dating profile. And it recently implemented an AI feature to offer tips for users on what to say.
14. Coffee Meets Bagel
If you’re looking for true love without the need for payments, you should consider downloading Coffee Meets Bagel. In this app, you have a limited number of likes and matches per day, and you won’t see people again once they pass by. This rule forces you to be super-selective and to slow down when giving likes to other profiles.
CMB users tend to find serious relationships; those looking for fast and easy matches should go elsewhere.
Here’s what Dave Disselkamp said about this app in his review: “Easy to use, good matches. I met a wonderful woman through this app and things are going very well. We’re even talking about getting married! To all you singles out there, persistence pays off!”
15. HER
HER is a woman-only dating app that offers a safe space for queer women to explore their community and sexuality. To date, this dating site has 15 million members who are verified as women seeking women.
The app is equipped with social media feeds, personality profiles, and event listings, and it doesn’t allow men or couples to hunt for unicorns just for casual sex.
You can access HER core features such as creating a profile, browsing other user profiles, and instant messaging without any payment.
However, if you upgrade to premium membership, you can remove ads and get additional perks such as seeing who’s online in real-time and accessing incognito mode for even more anonymity.
16. Grindr
Grindr is famous as the gay Tinder, but it’s more like an older brother, as it launched in 2009, three years before Tinder. It is undeniably the number one app for gay, bi, trans, and queer men to find dates. Today, Grindr is available in 196 countries, has 3.6 million daily users, and altogether has over 27 million users.
Most of Grindr’s users are looking for hookup partners. Using location-based matches and live chats, you can find your nearest date, say hi, and see where it takes you. You can enjoy all these features for free. If you want to enjoy an ad-free experience, swipe outside your location, or expand your search filters, you can upgrade to Grindr XTRA.
17. Happn
If you’re interested in finding love next door, Happn is the best dating app for you. The app uses your smartphone’s location data to match you with people you cross paths with in daily life — whether it’s once, twice, or more.
Once you get a Crush, which is a match, you can start chatting right away and have a second chance at winning over local sweethearts. This platform has over 90 million users, most of whom live in big cities in the U.S., India, the U.K., and France.
I think it’s worth mentioning that Happn keeps everyone’s exact location private, so safety is not an issue. Instead, the app simply shows places you have in common, like frequenting the same bars, grabbing coffee at a particular café, or browsing in the same bookstore.
FAQs: Which Free Dating Site Doesn’t Require a Credit Card?
Many of the dating sites I mentioned in this article are free, meaning you can create a dating profile and chat with people without providing your credit card number. OkCupid is one of the best forever-free dating sites because it never charges members to search, chat, or match. Tinder is also famous for delivering good results with its free membership.
Ashley Madison always gives women a free ride on all its features, including unlimited messaging.
It may be controversial, but Ashley Madison is undeniably popular with over 80 million members.
At the end of the day, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. You must decide what you’re looking for, pick a platform, and give it a try.
If you have frustrations with free trials, you might want to subscribe to get an enhanced experience with more filters, features, and technology on your side.
How Safe Are Online Dating Sites?
Online dating is fairly safe, assuming you play your cards right. You can’t trust every single person you meet in real life or online, so move with caution. If you feel uncomfortable, you can always push the block and report buttons.
I would encourage you to research any online match by checking their social media profiles, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram. Pay attention to what they say and look out for red flags like stories that don’t add up or flimsy excuses about why you can’t meet in person.
Catfish and scammers tend to hang out on free dating sites where they can lure victims without cost. If you want to surround yourself with real matches who are invested in love, that’s where a paid subscription to a premium site comes in handy.
Can I Find a Serious Relationship on a Free Dating Site?
Yes, you can. The most important thing is your willingness to put in the work and connect with genuine people. After all, online dating apps only help introduce you to profiles; you still need to learn about each other and see if you both want the same thing.
For a better shot at finding your match, choose an app that dives deep into profiles and uses advanced matchmaking. Apps like eharmony have serious relationships in mind and encourage users to invest in their love lives.
Free mingling has limits on some paid dating platforms because profile pictures and unlimited messaging are reserved for premium members.
I’d also caution you that free dating sites can be breeding grounds for scammers and fake profiles. That means you’d better stay alert when meeting new people.
Search for Love Online Without Paying a Dime
Online dating may have once been stigmatized as a place for lonely and desperate singles, but nowadays, if you’re running out of people to date in your social circle, your next step should be a given: Go online.
We’ve created this list of completely free dating sites to give you a place to start without paying a dime. Now that you know about their most helpful features, you can forge your way to a relationship that meets your needs. Have fun!
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