Once upon a time, local matchmakers held powerful sway over the lives of single men and women. From the promnestria of Ancient Greece to the cihuatlanque under Aztec law, families relied on the sound judgment of an experienced woman to pair up happy and prosperous couples. These sage individuals were entrusted to read the signs, conduct the rituals, and act as go-betweens for the betrothed.
Then in 1920s, people began to grow out of their superstitions, and matchmakers looked to science to divine if a marriage would succeed. By measuring heart rate, respiration, nerves, and other bodily evidence, some scientists attempted to match couples through more rational means.
Over the years, traditional matchmaking has continued to blend with scientific and technological advances in pursuit of a perfect matching service, and that’s how online dating got started.
Today, dating sites provide the best matchmaking tools for singles who want to build fast connections based on mutual compatibility. Free dating platforms currently serve as the go-to place to get a date and start a relationship. We’ve put together a list of the top eight matchmaking services (aka dating platforms) around to give singles the resources they need to meet the right person and fall in love.
1. Match
Looking for a perfect match? Go to Match.com. This longstanding dating site is renowned for its personality-driven matchmaking tools. Since 1995, Match has dominated the online dating industry and paired premium members up in more relationships and marriages than any other dating 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. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Match has considerable street cred among singles. We rank it as our number one matchmaking service because the platform’s high-tech algorithm focuses on interests over looks, thus ensuring long-term compatibility between singles.
2. eharmony
What makes eharmony stand out is its scientific approach to matchmaking. In 1997, the dating site’s Founder Dr. Neil Clark Warren decided to apply well-researched psychological principles to love, and so he created a 29-dimensional model of compatibility. The resulting matching system now directs marriage-minded singles to romantic matches with long-term potential.
- 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. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Active in over 200 countries worldwide, eharmony’s match algorithm has found great success with millions of people of all ages, religions, and backgrounds. “Thank you, eharmony, for matching us,” wrote Rachael and Nick, who got engaged two years after meeting on the site. “We probably couldn’t have done it without you!”
3. OurTime
Niche dating sites offer an easy way to meet singles with similar backgrounds and interests. For senior daters, we recommend OurTime. Its user-friendly dating platform caters to a mature crowd. This far-reaching dating site has been designed specifically for singles over the age of 50, so members won’t be expected to be technical wizards who were raised on the internet.
- 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. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
OurTime eases older members through the online dating process so it’s not so intimidating and much more fun!
4. ChristianMingle
Responsible for more Christian marriages than all other dating platforms, ChristianMingle has become a cherished place to find faith-based relationships based on shared values. Since 2001, the niche dating site has connected more than 15 million Christians in a vast online network.
You don’t have to take the success of ChristianMingle on faith — many testimonials speak to the effectiveness of the matchmaking system.
“We started exchanging emails on ChristianMingle, and we couldn’t stop. We would talk every single day!” wrote Megan and Justin, a married couple who met on the site. “Now, we have another daughter together, and we couldn’t be more blessed.”
5. BlackPeopleMeet
Since 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has welcomed black and biracial daters from across the US. You can share your interests and your photos by creating a profile within minutes online. The live-chat features and detailed dating personals help millions of diverse members make a match.
- 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. Our Review »
- Browse Free: View Photos Now
Whether you’re seeking a new friend or a hot date, BlackPeopleMeet introduces friendly singles in the largest African-American dating community in the world.
Choose the Matchmaking Service That’s Right For You
Making a solid connection with someone becomes easier with a little practice and professional assistance. There are so many different dating services available to help today’s singles. Whether you’re a young dater on the go or a mature dater seeking an age-appropriate partner, a dating site’s matchmaking tools offer a targeted path to friendship and love.
Instead of waiting for swallows to appear in the sky, like ancient Chinese matchmakers did, or having couples smell one another, as 20th century scientists did, modern matchmaking websites connect people based on true personal compatibility by using time-tested algorithms and advanced search features. You can create a profile and start building a mutual attraction on any of our top eight matchmaking services for singles. Good luck!
