Top 10 Best Sites
Looking for a dating site you can trust? Search no more.
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...”
Full Review »
Browse Free:
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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 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. Elite Singles
Some online daters have high standards. And that’s perfectly understandable. Working professionals have scant free time and don’t want to waste it on bad dates that go nowhere. If you’re looking to date someone well-educated and well-spoken, Elite Singles is the best dating network for you. This selective site specializes in matching professional singles over the age of 30.
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:
View Photos Now
★★★★★
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today's Deal
All Singles*
44%*
56%*
2 Million*
Browse Profiles Free
Over 80% of members on Elite Singles hold at least a bachelor’s degree, making it ideal for meeting people within the upper echelon of the dating pool.
3. Zoosk
Zoosk has a global dating community of over 40 million singles looking for friendship, romance, and love. Plus, with more than 30 million downloads, the app is the top grossing online dating app available in the Apple Store. Packed with premium features, Zoosk’s signature Behavioral Matchmaking technology streamlines the dating process by connecting online daters to the types of people they’re interested in.
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 »
Browse Free:
View Photos Now
★★★★★
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today's Deal
All Singles*
48%*
52%*
28.9 Million*
Start Zoosk for FREE
More than 3 million messages are sent every day on Zoosk. When you join the dating platform, you’ll enjoy a chatty, accessible community made for sending flirts around the world. If you’re hoping to find and woo a good match, you can use Zoosk to get started online.
4. 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...”
Full Review »
Browse Free:
View Photos Now
★★★★★
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today's Deal
All Singles*
48%*
52%*
4.1 Million*
View Profiles FREE
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!”
5. 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...”
Full Review »
Browse Free:
View Photos Now
★★★★★
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today's Deal
Mature Singles (50+)*
48%*
52%*
8.9 Million*
Over 50? Try It FREE
OurTime eases older members through the online dating process so it’s not so intimidating and much more fun!
6. 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.
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 »
Browse Free:
View Photos Now
★★★★★
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today's Deal
Christian Singles*
44%*
56%*
3.5 Million*
Try Now for $19.99/Month
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.”
7. 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...”
Full Review »
Browse Free:
View Photos Now
★★★★★
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today's Deal
Black Singles*
47%*
53%*
5.7 Million*
FREE Trial for New Users
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.
8. SilverSingles
The simple and fun atmosphere on SilverSingles encourages senior daters to mingle with one another online. Mature men and women (50 and older) can create a detailed profile, set up photo albums, and send messages in real time using the dating platform. Thousands of older singles turn to SilverSingles when seeking a substantial relationship with someone their own age.
Relationships:
Friendship, Casual Dates, Serious Relationships
Match System:
Search by age, location, height, education, ethnicity, and religion
Our Experts Say:
“SilverSingles caters to relationship-minded singles over 50 with simple, safe, and effective online dating tools...”
Full Review »
Browse Free:
View Photos Now
★★★★★
User Base
Gender Ratio
Popularity (Visits/Mo.)
Today's Deal
Mature Singles (50+)*
41%*
59%*
800,000*
Sign up for FREE
On SilverSingles, daters of a certain age can search by location to find a compatible partner. This senior matchmaking service offers a fast way to narrow the dating population in your area and target the type of person you want to meet.
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!
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