Best Dating Sites
Looking for a dating site you can trust? Search no more.
Which dating sites are most successful? That’s a tricky one because “successful” can mean different things to different people.
Merriam-Webster defines successful as “resulting or terminating in success” and “gaining or having gained success.” LinkedIn has another definition that focuses more on accomplishing one’s goals in a personal and professional sense.
For us, though, successful dating sites are the ones that get results for their audience. Out of the thousands of dating sites in the world, we’ve narrowed down what we think are the 17 most successful in terms of number of users, positive reviews, and dates or relationships facilitated. These dating sites are also free to try, so you don’t have to take our word for it.
1. Match
BEST
OF
No other dating site could be at the top of this list besides Match. Since 1995, Match has created more romantic connections than any other dating site. We all probably know someone (or know someone who knows someone) who has met their partner on Match. In terms of affordability, Match has it going in that department, too. As soon as you sign up, you’re given a basic membership that is free and doesn’t expire.
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
39.7 Million* | Get 3 Days FREE |
2. EliteSingles
BEST
OF
More than 2,500 people find love on EliteSingles every month, and we expect that number to keep growing as the years go on. In addition, more than 2 million people visit EliteSingles every month, and the site gets 165,000 new signups every month. EliteSingles has an impressive following of doctors, lawyers, and other successful people seeking love. Once your profile is created, your membership is absolutely free, and you can hide it or cancel it at any time.
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
2 Million* | Sign Up Free |
3. Zoosk
BEST
OF
Not many dating sites can compete with Zoosk, especially in terms of the mobile experience. You can get the app in the App Store and on Google Play, and it’ll stay busy finding compatible matches for you while you’re at work, the gym, the bar, the movies, the store, and anywhere else. You can look for matches on your own on the Carousel page. Either way, it’s all free.
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
28.9 Million* | Start Zoosk for FREE |
4. eharmony
BEST
OF
The eharmony team has said that the dating site is responsible for a significant number of marriages in the U.S., and a big part of that is its Compatibility Quiz. Comprised of about 80 questions, this matching system delves deeper into your personality and relationship desires than matching systems you may find on other dating sites. Not only is the registration process free, but eharmony will send you matches every day for free, and you can view your compatibility scores to see if you’re on the same page in life.
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
4.1 Million* | Join eharmony FREE |
5. OurTime.com
BEST
OF
We got a lot of single seniors writing to us about dating sites that are just for them, and we always direct them toward OurTime. The site was created with men and women over 50 in mind, particularly those who are new to online dating and perhaps not as tech savvy. OurTime is easy, fun, and, of course, totally free to use. You just have to provide your name, city, gender, gender you’re interested in, and relationship status (e.g., single or divorced), among other things.
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| Mature Singles (50+)* |
48%*
52%*
|
8.9 Million* | Over 50? Start FREE |
BEST
OF
Billions of singles throughout the world identify as Christian, and they’re looking for a fellow Christian to spend their life with. That’s where ChristianMingle comes into play. This free dating site is one of our top choices for straight, gay, and lesbian Christians to connect. Since you don’t have to sort profiles by religion, you can focus more on other qualities, including career, life goals, personal interests, education, culture, and family history.
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| Christian Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
3.5 Million* | Free Search, Then $14.99/Mo. |
BEST
OF
More than 26% of people identify as African-American and/or multiracial African-American, according to the US Census. And for those who want to date within the community, we’d highly recommend BlackPeopleMeet. It won’t cost you anything to post a profile, search for and receive matches, like and favorite other profiles, and get to know like-minded singles in a variety of ways.
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| Black Singles* |
47%*
53%*
|
5.7 Million* | FREE Trial for New Users |
BEST
OF
SilverSingles is a member of the EliteSingles family except (as you probably guessed by its name) it caters to mature singles. After you’re finished registering, which is free to do, you’re given your own personality profile that highlights your unique characteristics as well as qualities you’re looking for in a date or partner. This way, whether you’re browsing or SilverSingles is browsing, you’ll receive the most on-the-nose matches.
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| Mature Singles (50+)* |
41%*
59%*
|
800,000* | Sign up for FREE |
9. BeNaughty
BEST
OF
Dates and relationships aren’t for everyone, and that’s OK because that’s what sites like BeNaughty are for. Here, you’ll find hookup buddies, swingers, cheaters, submissives, dominatrixes, sadists, masochists, fetish fiends, and so many others. In a matter of two minutes, you can start browsing by your criteria and chatting for free. You may even be able to set up a casual encounter for today.
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
13.3 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
Tinder has done so many good things for the dating industry, including introducing the swiping matching system. Not only that but Tinder has facilitated more than 30 billion matches and continues to facilitate more than 1.6 billion swipes a day and 1 million dates a week. Tinder is available for free and in several different languages in more than 190 countries, so no matter what your dating preferences are, you’re practically guaranteed to meet your ideal match.
URL: https://tinder.com/
OkCupid is completely free, it was completely free when it launched in 2004, and the team says it will remain completely free as long as the site is around. Completely free includes sending and receiving messages. OkCupid is also among the most inclusive dating sites in the industry. Genderfluid, heteroflexible, sapiosexual, queer, questioning, pansexual, Hijra, and non-binary are some of the gender and orientation identifiers that are available. OkCupid creates more than 91 million connections a year, and it leads to 50,000 dates per week. We’d say that’s pretty successful!
URL: https://okcupid.com/
Bumble has been called the world’s first feminist dating app because it was the first dating site or app to empower straight women to send the first message in a match (if you’re gay, lesbian, or bisexual, either person can send the first message). Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd said she did this because she wanted to put the power in women’s hands and make them feel safer in the online dating world. Bumble has received a lot of positive feedback over the years, and it’s free to download the app and see what it’s all about.
URL: https://bumble.com/
Hinge has positioned itself as the “anti-Tinder” or the app “designed to be deleted.” Its goal is to create matches that lead genuine conversations and relationships. Hinge users must complete a profile with six pictures and three original prompt responses, and they’ll receive likes and comments on specific parts of their profiles. No more mindless swiping and superficial chats! The Hinge team has gotten post-date feedback from users and boasts a great success rate — over 70% of Hinge users say they had a great first date and would go out again.
URL: https://hinge.co/
They say there’s plenty of fish in the sea, and Plenty of Fish proves it. The site has over 150 million members who send more than a billion messages a month. That makes Plenty of Fish one of the most talkative online communities in the world. Plenty of Fish also has a one-of-a-kind chemistry test, so you can create smart matches based on true compatibility. And let’s not forget that Plenty of Fish doesn’t charge you for anything, including messaging.
URL: https://pof.com/
Grindr is a dating app dedicated to bringing gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and curious men together. Its location-based matching has been a game changer in the dating scene. The free app, which was created in 2009, is also a leader in the LGBTQ+ equality movement. Grindr for Equality launches a ton of campaigns throughout the year that fight against discrimination. On Grindr, not only can you meet the love of your life, but you can also make a difference in the world.
URL: https://grindr.com/
We cross so many people’s paths every day — what if one of them is “The One” and you didn’t know it? Happn is here to solve that problem. The app connects you with singles you’ve encountered in real life (e.g., at school, the park, a restaurant, etc.). It’s a great way to see what you already have in common with someone. Happn is very easy on the wallet, too — because it’s completely free. You can browse and flirt to your heart’s content, meeting people who enjoy the same hangouts you do.
URL: https://happn.com/
Badoo is a huge dating site, and we really mean that. According to the ticker on the homepage, more than 460 million people have joined the site. It’d be surprising if you couldn’t find at least one good match on Badoo. We also recommend Badoo for singles who are jumping back into dating, as a portion of its user base is looking for new friends. You don’t have to feel any pressure or rush into anything on this free site. Just send a message and see what happens.
URL: https://badoo.com/
These Successful Dating Sites Can Lead You To Romantic Success
In our book, a successful dating site is one that works, and that’s true for all of the sites and apps on this list. They have proven effective over time, and we’d trust them with our love lives any day of the week.
No dating site or app can guarantee success — that’s up to you — but they can put you in a position to meet a lot of single people who share your passions, hobbies, values, and goals, and sometimes that’s enough to lead to a successful relationship.
Our experts have been covering the industry for decades and have done a ton of research to take the work off your shoulders. Any of these dating sites can put you on the road to success, and they’re all free, so you don’t have much to lose. Good luck!
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