When it comes to the best dating sites for serious relationships, I have real-life experience and a full-blown love story to back my reviews.

The immense dating site has over 40,000,000 singles communicating in 25 different languages looking for both casual and serious relationships. When you're open to meeting anyone around the world. Free dating sites can be a serious business. With a subscription service there is no charge for membership and communication options are unlimited. Free dating sites are useful when you want to begin a relationship, but don’t want to invest time in a relationship.

Growing up, I loved to fantasize about how I’d fall in love. I imagined just about every possible scenario — except for the one that actually happened.

I met the guy of my dreams on a dating app. He told me I had “a smidge of cute” on my face in his opening message, and we chatted about Disney songs and Marvel movies. A couple days later, I agreed to a coffee date, even though I dislike coffee. I arrived five minutes early, and he arrived 10 minutes late, but I fell for him anyway. The rest is sappy relationship history.

I’m not the only one to find a happily-ever-after ending on an online dating site. Something like 40% of American couples have met online. According to a 2017 survey of brides, online dating is now the most popular way to meet a spouse. These days, if you want to get in a relationship, you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and start swiping. So get out there!

Overall Best Dating Sites for Serious Relationships

Different online dating sites offer different online dating experiences, and it’s important to choose the one that fits your personality type and relationship goals. It’s not enough to choose a dating website your friend used, or the one you saw in a commercial or a Facebook ad. If you’re really serious, you should do your homework to find the best dating sites for serious relationships.

That’s where we come in. We’ve ranked our favorite dating sites and apps for relationship seekers and outlined the features and success stories that make them stand out in the online dating scene.

Match.com has come a long way since it launched in April 1995. This well-reputed dating site has honed its match algorithm to identify long-term compatibility and facilitate countless first dates, serious relationships, and successful marriages. Match.com's esteemed dating experts go to great lengths to guide singles to a seriously good match.

• Match is the world's longest running dating site
• The Discover section has search filters by interests, looks, lifestyle, and more
• Match is available in 50 countries and 15 languages
• Browse Match.com profiles 100% free»

Match is without a doubt one of the best online dating platforms in the business. Since 1995, Match has introduced countless couples and inspired matches that have stood the test of time. The dating site boasts being responsible for more long-term relationships and marriages than any of its competitors, and that’s great news if you’re serious about settling down.

Match.com attracts online daters who are over 30, well-educated, and relationship-minded. In fact, nearly 75% of Match users have earned a college degree, and 84% said they are selective about their dates.

The singles on Match.com are not screwing around and don’t want to waste time on dead-end dates. Many of them have paid subscription fees because they’re invested in the online dating process and hope to meet a person who’s in a similar place in life. Only paid subscribers can chat with everyone on Match, but free trial members can browse profiles, send likes, and enjoy limited communication until they decide it’s worth upgrading to get the full experience.

EliteSingles.com maintains a sophisticated network of young professionals seeking a relationship. Over 80% of its members hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree, and over 90% are over the age of 30. Elite Singles uses an intelligent matchmaking system to introduce daters to someone on their level.

• Over 2 million monthly users
• Premium members receive 20 wildcard matches a day
• Search features include age, height, education, ethnicity, and lifestyle habits
• Browse Elite Singles profiles 100% free»

EliteSingles is another high-end dating site that uses a paywall and in-app purchases to ensure only serious and successful singles come knocking. It’s free to create a profile and browse the site, but members with a subscription are the only ones who can view photos and send messages in this exclusive online dating club.

As you can tell from its name, EliteSingles caters to the cream of the dating crop. The site’s selective membership includes doctors, lawyers, bankers, and other professionals seeking a partner for the long haul. Over 85% of EliteSingles members have graduated from college, and over 90% say they want to be in a relationship.

EliteSingles uses a personality-driven matchmaking system and personality test to bring compatible couples together. A questionnaire uses a five-factor model to gauge how open, conscientious, agreeable, neurotic, and extroverted users are. The site also has customized Dating Preferences where active users can identify their must-haves in terms of age, ethnicity, religion, height, education, income, smoking habits, and other factors.

Since its launch in 2000, eharmony has endeavored to find the formula for love. Its 32-dimension personality test uses psychological truths to identify areas of compatibility between two individuals. The dating site's mission is to foster relationships that last, and every potential match has a reason behind it.

• Over 2 million people have found love here
• Users can filter their match recommendations by age or city
• Compatibility Quiz identifies common interests, lifestyles, and goals
• Browse eharmony profiles 100% free»

From the moment it launched in 2000, eharmony committed all its resources to helping online daters find the one they want to marry. A team of psychologists put their heads together to develop a clinically sound matchmaking system that would set couples up for success and happiness.

The recently updated eharmony Compatibility Quiz has been honed and perfected for decades now. It began as a 450-question assessment, and now it takes less than 20 minutes to answer straightforward questions like “What do your family and friends think about you?” and “What qualities do you look for in an ideal partner?”

This personality test focuses on who you are and want you want, using that information to generate accurate compatibility ratings.

The eharmony team is proud of its matchmaking system and urges singles to put their trust in its compatibility ratings. It’s all about long-term relationships here, and that’s why you won’t find any swiping or superficial features. To date, over 2 million online daters have found love on eharmony, and a new couple finds each other every 14 minutes on the site and app.

Zoosk is a socially savvy dating site known for its diverse membership base and behavioral matchmaking system. Over 40 million singles in 80 countries have joined the network so far, and it's growing larger every day. The platform offers many different ways to communicate and express interest in members, so it's easy to form a fast connection here.

• Send messages to premium members for free
• Over 3 million messages sent a day
• Premium perks include photo verification and sending virtual gifts
• Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free»

Zoosk got started in 2007 as a free dating network for socially savvy singles. The site’s team drew inspiration from popular social media platforms (like Facebook) and used an array of communication tools to inspire real-time connections. Zoosk is also available as an app for Android and iPhone users.

Today, the Zoosk team continues to think outside the box and make the site and app stand out from the pack. Zoosk offers a behavioral matchmaking system that has proven effective at identifying innate compatibility without asking a lot of personal questions. The system pays attention to how members behave on the site (their likes, views, and messages) to determine who’s hit it off with them.

Zoosk has over 40 million members to its name, so you certainly won’t run out of options as you browse for matches here.

Christian Mingle is a faith-based dating website for singles who want a relationship grounded in Christian values. People of all religions and backgrounds turn to this site in hopes of meeting a good Christian man or a good Christian woman. Christian Mingle's claim to fame is that it has the highest percentage of Christian members of any dating site or app in the world.

• For singles interested in God-centered relationships
• Over 3.5 million monthly users around the world
• Available as an app on Google Play and the App Store
• Browse Christian Mingle profiles 100% free»

Christians tend to gravitate toward long-term partners who share similar beliefs and values, and that can be a sticking point on other online dating services, but it’s not a problem on ChristianMingle, the #1 dating site for Christian singles.

ChristianMingle’s mission is to create God-centered relationships, and it has spent the last two decades doing exactly that. The dating site appeals to Christians of all denominations, and it’s also open to Jewish singles, Muslim singles, and other non-Christians who are willing to convert or support a Christian marriage.

You don’t have to take it on faith that ChristianMingle works. Just read the success stories out there from true believers who found love here. “We felt super comfortable with each other and could just talk and talk about anything,” Jess and Caleb said in a testimonial. “Don’t feel weird for looking elsewhere for your special someone.”

Since its launch in 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has created an African American singles network that stretches across North America. This niche dating site has 1.5 million members who are attracted to Black and biracial people. It takes less than two minutes to create a full profile and start browsing through profiles sorted by age, location, and orientation.

• One of the largest Black singles networks in existence
• Straightforward search and matching features
• Use Tokens to appear higher in search results
• Browse BlackPeopleMeet profiles 100% free»

It takes less than two minutes to create a profile on BlackPeopleMeet, but the relationship you find on the dating site could last a lifetime. As a black dating site, BlackPeopleMeet supports a tight-knit community full of diversity and fun, so it’s no wonder sparks fly so often here.

BlackPeopleMeet has thousands of members spread across the U.S. and Canada, and they’re all looking for hot dates who share a similar background, perspective, and cultural awareness. Single parents can use the site’s search tools to narrow the dating pool to the most desirable few and send virtual flirts to see if the attraction is mutual.

“Through this service, I have finally met the man I’m going to marry,” said a BlackPeopleMeet user from Oklahoma. “This network has allowed me to meet the man of my dreams, and I’m grateful for that.”

In 2004, OkCupid's founders decided to create a fool-proof formula for love, and they launched a free dating site to delve into what personal attributes made relationships work. OkCupid members can send unlimited messages for free. It's easy to discover mutual interests and compatibility on the platform's information-rich dating profiles.

• Free, unlimited communication for everyone
• Singles can swipe or search for a compatible date
• Over 91 million connections every year
• Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free»

OkCupid satisfies daters of all ages and orientations with its free matching and chatting tools. The dating site and app has endeavored to find the formula for love, and it’s scary good at finding like-minded people who meet your standards.

Love-driven singles can make the compatibility system more accurate by answering more questions in the personality test and filling out their dating profiles completely.

Every week, OkCupid members go on over 50,000 dates, and the well-known online dating service is responsible for more than 91 million love connections every year.

OkCupid was my dating site of choice for years because it offers free communication between mutual matches, and the dating profiles let people show off their quirks and get to know one another before anyone even says “hey.” Plus, you can tell from someone’s profile if he or she is interested in casual dating, long-term relationships, friendships, or something else.

Plenty of Fish prides itself on being one of the best dating sites for conversations. It supports 100% free and unlimited messaging for over 120 million monthly users in 20 countries. Since its launch in 2003, Plenty of Fish has developed a science-based matching system that has proven successful.

• Free registration, searches, and messaging
• The Chemistry Test creates a compatibility framework
• Over 1 billion messages sent per month
• Browse Plenty of Fish profiles 100% free»

PlentyOfFish can offer you free access to a global dating pool of over 150 million members in 20 countries. It’s free to join, free to match, and free to chat on this dating site and app. No need to pay monthly subscription fees or make in-app purchases. The paid membership is only for singles who want more perks from the dating service, including seeing who has viewed their dating profile.

The PlentyOfFish community is open to people from all walks of life, and they all have different intentions. Sure, some are looking for a casual hookup, but a lot of POF members are seeking genuine connections and are eager to see where the chemistry takes them.

In the average week, PlenthOfFish sees over 57 million matches made online, and many of those lead to real-life dates and long-term relationships. “I was on PlentyOfFish reading profiles and learning more about the men,” said Camille in her testimonial. “Flash forward two years, and now we are engaged and planning our May 2020 wedding. We recommend POF to any and all singles looking for their perfect match.”

Since its launch in 2014, Bumble has positioned itself as one of the queens of the online dating world. The dating app turns gender stereotype on its head by empowering women to make the first move in a conversation with a man. Once you've made that mutual match, you have up to 48 hours to respond and make a connection.

• A feminist dating app puts singles on equal footing
• 60% of Bumble matches turn into dates
• Bumble Bizz and Bumble BFF spark non-romantic connections
• Browse Bumble profiles 100% free»

Bumble is the female-friendly mobile app (available for Android and iPhone users) that’s currently on a crusade to civilize the online dating scene. How is it doing that? By letting women take control and set the tone in every mutual match.

On Bumble, single men cannot message a woman unless she first likes their profile and then sends the first message within 24 hours of the match. The online dating app isn’t afraid to set high standards in the dating world, and neither are its most active users.

Bumble members are serious about finding a committed relationship and escaping hookup culture. In an internal poll, fewer than 1% of women on the app said they were interested in a hookup, and 85% of all users said they wanted to find a long-term relationship. If you’re looking for the real deal, Bumble is a quality-driven place to conduct your search.

In 2012, Tinder pioneered a swiping-based match system that empowered singles to connect with dates who liked them back. Tinder users can message their mutual matches for free on this fast-paced dating app. Since its launch, Tinder has created over 60 billion matches worldwide.

• Supports active daters in 190+ countries
• The swiping system creates over 12 million matches per day
• Tinder Plus members have unlimited likes and 5 Super Likes
• Browse Tinder profiles 100% free»

Tinder may not have the reputation of a relationship app, but it actually has inspired its fair share of love stories over the years.

Tinder’s infamous swiping features allow singles to cherry-pick the types of dates they desire, so it’s pretty easy to avoid the screwboys and hookup chicks if that’s not what you’re into. Another thing Tinder has going for it is sheer numbers. Since its launch in 2012, Tinder has made over 65 billion introductions, and it currently makes over 26 million matches per day. Plus, it’s a free dating app, so you won’t need any in-app purchases to connect and chat.

In a recent survey, 42% of Tinder users said they use the app to find relationships, while 47% use it for a casual hookup, so you have pretty good odds of meeting a compatible person and turning the match into something real. You can download the free version of Tinder in the App Store or on Google Play if you have an Android device.

Best Senior Dating Sites for Serious Relationships

Young people can afford to be shortsighted and enjoy short-term dating on social media apps like Tinder, but singles of a certain age often don’t want to waste time with all that unnecessary stress and uncertainty.

Many singles over 50 would prefer to lock down a true, lasting relationship to brighten their golden years. The following senior dating sites and apps for serious relationships can help older singles meet in a mature and safe setting. That way, finding a local date in the same age group is much easier.

SilverSingles is serious about helping singles over 50 meet one another, and the site doesn't allow anyone under 50 years old to join the network. The secure signup process includes profile verification and fraud detection, so new members must portray themselves accurately to gain access to the platform. By fostering a safe environment, SilverSingles helps men and women meet mature dates in their area.

• An exclusively senior membership base
• Over 800,000 monthly users worldwide
• App available for free on Google Play
• Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free»

Over the last decade, Silver Singles has distinguished itself as the best senior dating app for silver-haired singles seeking new relationships and friendships. We’ve given it a 4.5-star rating because it has easy-to-understand features, great safety features, and a lot of success stories to its name.

As of 2019, the dating site surpassed 50,000 paid subscribers — all of whom have been verified as genuine, over-50 singles — and the team expects to keep growing as more tech-savvy baby boomers see the benefits of online dating.

“The success of Silver Singles is not only great news for our business, but also represents an outstanding new opportunity for singles on their quest to find a compatible partner,” said Spark Networks CEO Jeronimo Folgueira. “It’s a win-win for Spark Networks, for our shareholders, for our members, and ultimately, for love.”

OurTime is an over-50 dating site with a lot of helpful features to facilitate friendships and relationships. Senior singles can look for dates themselves using the search tools, or they can view a curated list of matches to find compatible folks. Singles can send likes, flirts, and faves for free, but they have to subscribe to send messages to their online crushes.

• Open to straight, gay, and lesbian singles over 50
• Free match recommendations and conversation starters
• Use Tokens to promote your profile and send virtual gifts
• Browse OurTime profiles 100% free»

OurTime is one of our favorite senior dating sites and apps. For one thing, it’s powered by People Media, which is owned by the Match Group, and that means it has extensive reach in the online dating scene. Something else we like is how active and personable members are on this senior dating app.

While browsing OurTime, older singles can view new members, see who’s online now, or click on the Today’s Matches tab to find a potential partner. The basic membership also includes access to advanced search tools for age, location, photos, ethnicity, and more. You can even specify that you only want to see profiles interested in marriage or a committed relationship.

OurTime members receive notifications whenever a new person views, likes, or messages their profile, and senior singles can choose to upgrade at any time to take the conversation to the next level on this online dating site.

Since 2003, SeniorMatch has built its reputation as one of the world's leading senior dating sites. The site offers free communication and searches to help singles over 50 find companionship and love. If you're interested in a mature dating experience, this dating site can meet your needs.

• Doesn't allow members under 45
• Available as a dating app in Google Play
• Dating advice and safety tips shared by senior daters
• Browse SeniorMatch profiles 100% free»

Launched in 2003, SeniorMatch has earned its status as one of the leading senior dating sites and apps. Not only does it have over 1 million seniors in its user base, but it also supports over 1.6 million private chats each month, so you know you’re in for some good conversations leading up to Valentine’s Day.

The SeniorMatch community gives singles the opportunity to share their thoughts, tell their stories, and meet the perfect match online. Singles can encounter people who live around the corner or around the world, and it often makes users feel less alone to have so many incoming messages and daily matches.

Whether you’re a widower or a single parent, you can enjoy a second chance at true love thanks to SeniorMatch.

When combing through SeniorMatch’s 36,000+ success stories, we found many glowing testimonials from older singles who are happily matched. “I met the most wonderful guy here. He is so lovely,” said one woman. “We have decided to live together in a month. Then to marry and travel and explore the world.”

Best LGBT Dating Sites for Serious Relationships

Online dating has been a terrific ally to the LGBTQ+ community. Once upon a time, queer singles had to rely on their charm and gaydar to spot a potential date in a crowd of straight people. Now they can simply set up a dating profile on a free gay dating app, connect it to their Facebook account, and let hot dates come to them. Today, around 65% of same-sex couples meet online — probably on one of the following popular apps.

HER is a women-only (or 'womxn' as the team says) dating app that helps cis, trans, and non-binary identified singles come into their own. This is a strict no-boys-allowed zone. HER encourages LGBTQ+ women to mingle by commenting on photos or events in the Feed, or they can like profiles to initiate a private conversation with a mutual match.

• A quirky and unapologetic womxn-only dating community
• Queer events get users connecting IRL
• The constantly updated Feed facilitates social networking
• Browse HER profiles 100% free»

HER supports an all-female dating community where friendships and romances can blossom into something more. The dating app has over 4 million womxn who identify across the sexuality spectrum and want to meet ladies in the local LGBTQ+ community.

From the moment you join HER, you can scroll through a fun newsfeed full of photos, stories, and events geared toward queer womxn. The app is free, and it has led to many #WeMetOnHER successes.

“Be proud of who you are. Be proud of who you love,” said a HER member on Instagram. “It’s wonderful being with the woman of your dreams.”

Grindr became the world's first gay geosocial app in 2009, and it continues growing its all-male user base more than a decade later. The app uses real-time GPS data to locate nearby date prospects and give gay and bisexual singles a chance to connect while they're out on the town.

• Social networking for gay, bi, trans, and queer men
• Location-based matches spark instant chemistry
• Grindr Equality advocates for LGBTQ+ interests on the global stage
• Browse Grindr profiles 100% free»

Grindr is the go-to dating app for gay, bisexual, and trans men seeking men in the local dating scene. Since 2009, Grindr has used a powerful location-based matching system to bring guys together and help them find date prospects who are in close proximity and may even have Facebook friends in common.

A lot of dudes use Grindr as a hookup app to scope out the hottest matches at the bar or club, but it’s also great for daytime flirting and chatting. There’s no pressure to commit right away on Grindr, but some relationships do form on the fast-paced app. One online study found that 84% of Grindr users fall in love on the app, and over 56% think it’s possible to find a long-term partnership here.

Grindr welcomes all single men in the LGBTQ+ community and offers premium features and in-app purchases to facilitate matchmaking. Whether you’re out and proud or still in the closet, you can log into Grindr to mingle freely and discover romantic connections from the privacy of your home.

Which Dating Sites are the Most Successful?

It took me a couple years of trial and error before I got into the online dating groove, found the dating platform I liked, and got the results I was hoping for. I went the long way around because I didn’t know what I was doing, but now I know the shortcuts to creating an attractive dating profile and making an online connection last.

First of all, you’ve got to pick a successful dating site if you want to have a successful dating experience. Apps like Tinder can give you a lot of potential date options, but swiping isn’t always the easiest method for finding love. Matching algorithms do a better job of recommending like-minded people based on shared interests and dating preferences.

It’s obviously important to have a dating site that has your back, and Match.com has had singles’ backs for nearly 25 years. And now users don’t even need a paid membership to communicate with Top Picks in the Match network.

Since 1995, Match has made a name for itself as one of the most successful dating platforms in the world. The site empowers singles to find compatible dates and make a deep connection based on shared interests and lifestyles. Match.com is responsible for countless love stories, and the next one could be yours.

• Find quality women with advanced search filters
• Communicate with your Top Picks for free
• Add up to 26 photos to your profile
• Browse Match.com profiles 100% free»

Match is a reliable dating site and app with a lot of great personalized and premium features for singles to use. We’d recommend completing every section of your profile — from the Summary all the way to What I’m Looking For — and adding four pictures of yourself (avoid bathroom selfies) to make the best possible first impression on the online dating service.

Another famously anti-swiping dating app is Coffee Meets Bagel, which was founded by three sisters in 2012. The dating platform actually puts limits on a single person’s matching and messaging capabilities to ensure quality wins out over quantity. As a result, Coffee Meets Bagel has frequently been described as a top dating app for serious relationships. Online daters can download Coffee Meets Bagel for free on Google Play or the App Store.

What is the Best Dating Site for Over 40?

When you enter your 40s, your feelings about casual dating and long-term relationships can change. Maybe you no longer meet as many people as you once did, or maybe your confidence isn’t what it used to be, or maybe you just don’t know what the rules are nowadays.

Dating sites and apps for professionals cater to a more mature age group and can help single parents start over in a safe space. EliteSingles is our go-to recommendation for online daters in their 40s and older because the online dating site specializes in building grown-up relationships based on mutual interests, not superficial looks.

Elite Singles prioritizes quality over quantity, and its highly selective match system satisfies discerning single women looking for a true partnership. A majority of Elite Singles users have graduated from college, excelled in their careers, and want to find someone special to share in their success.

• Helping over 2,500 singles find love every month
• An intelligent match algorithm uses profile information to reccommend dates
• Caters to relationship-minded men and women
• Browse Elite Singles profiles 100% free»

EliteSingles is known for supporting mature professionals — over 90% are 30 or older — seeking real relationships. It is not a sugar daddy site, but rather a place for equals to find their perfect match. The network uses a tried-and-true matching algorithm to make sure its active users encounter lots of compatible love interests.

Singles should note that online communication is a premium feature on this online dating app, but one doesn’t have to be a premium member to browse profiles and send icebreakers.

What’s the Best Online Dating Site for Jewish Singles?

Jewish singles should look into joining JDate, which is by far the most popular Jewish dating site on the market. For over 20 years, JDate has inspired countless first dates, relationships, and marriages within the Jewish community. Not all members of JDate are Jewish singles, but they are all interested in connecting through Judaism and sharing that culture and faith with a potential partner.

Is It Worth Paying for Online Dating Sites?

I’ve had a subscription on both paid and free dating sites, and each have different pros and cons. An obvious upside to a free site is that it’s free, and you never have to spend a cent to find potential dates in your area. The downside is that sometimes free sites can attract unsavory characters who are just there to make trouble, enjoy a casual hookup, or have some laughs without actually meeting anyone.

Pro Tip: Look for free dating sites or apps with identity verification tools through Facebook, Instagram, or other social media accounts. This will lower your odds of running into fake profiles and catfishers, but you may still meet flaky dates.

Singles don’t invest anything in a free dating site, so they can sometimes take the experience too lightly. Paid dating sites and apps, on the other hand, require all users to pay for the privilege of contacting singles online, and that automatically makes each match seem more valuable in the other person’s eyes. As a premium dating site, eharmony does a great job of weeding out casual daters and focusing on long-term relationships.

When it comes to long-term relationships, eharmony doesn't mess around. This dating website has crafted a time-tested matchmaking formula that identifies 32 key personality traits and areas of compatibility. It provides hard data on how you stack up against potential dates and delivers a curated list of match recommendations to your inbox every day.

• Over 2.3 million messages sent every week
• Match formula pinpoints compatibility in lifestyle, temperament, and goals
• Relatively even gender split of men and women
• Browse eharmony profiles 100% free»

If you have the cash to spend on it, then joining a paid dating site with premium features could help you avoid the flakes and meet people who actually care about finding a special person or perfect match. The in-app purchases on apps like Tinder could yield great results just in time for Valentine’s Day.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide how much your love life is worth to you. Maybe you’re fine putting in the time and effort to search for potential dates on mobile dating apps, or maybe you’d prefer more curated matches in a network where like-minded people can come to you.

What is the Safest Dating Site?

We’ve reviewed a lot of online dating sites and apps over the years, and sometimes we hear complaints from members saying they have encountered a lot of fake profiles or scammers. Single women are especially sensitive to safety concerns, so they seek female-friendly dating sites that cater to their interests.

When it comes to female-friendly dating sites and apps, Bumble is absolutely at the top of the list. The online dating app was made by a single woman on behalf of single women everywhere, and its progressive, feminist approach to dating has made it a highly respectable and safe place to meet like-minded people.

Bumble has embraced its role as the world's feminist dating app. The app launched in 2014 with the unique premise that women should send the first message and take the lead in a new romantic relationship. According to Bumble, over 85% of its users are looking for a long-term relationship, and less than 4% are looking for hookups.

• A female-friendly dating environment puts women in control
• Zero tolerance for bullying, misogyny, and rude behavior
• Conversations expire in 24 to 48 hours
• Browse Bumble profiles 100% free»

Bumble sets strict standards for its community and moderates all messages, photos, and profiles to ensure they reflect the core values of the app. As a result, its dating pool is full of honest relationship seekers who want a potential match to grow into something real.

“You should behave the same way on Bumble as you would in real life,” the Bumble team says. “As a community rooted in kindness and respect, we expect all of our users to respect each other, themselves, and the Bumble staff.”

Get Serious on Dating Sites & Find the Perfect Match

A combination of good luck and smart matching algorithms brought me to my ideal boyfriend on a dating app. Both of us were serious about finding a relationship, and we actively sought dates online because there’s no faster or easier way to meet people these days.

The best dating sites for serious relationships can give singles a simple way to make sense of the dating scene, seize romantic opportunities, and find The One. I’d recommend joining multiple dating sites or apps to increase your chances of successfully connecting with your online crush. We realized later that my boyfriend had actually sent me a message on two different dating apps — one went unanswered, and the other led to a committed relationship.

I know it’s a cliché, but you really never know what could happen once you sign up for a dating site. Today’s carefree swiping or casual relationship could turn into tomorrow’s lifelong love story — just don’t give up on it too soon!

When economists say “There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” what they mean is everything comes with a cost — it just might not be in dollars, euros, or yen.

Savvy online daters may already be familiar with the hidden costs of a 100% free dating site. They may run into pop-up ads, or they may not have access to paid features, including messaging and viewing photos. Some free sites may cost $0 to join, but they can be taxing in other ways, and singles need all the information if they want to game the system and get results without wasting a lot of effort or racking up a big price tag.

We’ve evaluated some of the most popular free dating sites and apps out there to give singles an idea of what they can expect online and what their subscription options are, so they can decide what they’re willing to spend on an awesome dating experience. Take a look!

Overall Best 100% Free Dating Sites

We’re going to save you a lot of time and money by putting the most cost-effective dating sites right up top for your enjoyment. The following free dating platforms provide valuable matching features, search tools, and networking potential — without an enormous price tag.

Match.com has come a long way since it launched in April 1995. This well-reputed dating site has honed its match algorithm to identify long-term compatibility and facilitate countless first dates, serious relationships, and successful marriages. Match.com's esteemed dating experts go to great lengths to guide singles to a seriously good match.

• Match is the world's longest running dating site
• The Discover section has search filters by interests, looks, lifestyle, and more
• Match is available in 50 countries and 15 languages
• Browse Match.com profiles 100% free»

Match is a free-to-join but pay-to-chat online dating site where singles can mix and mingle on their own terms.

Since 1995, Match has set high standards in the dating industry and inspired deep relationships based on mutual compatibility. Match used to offer a free trial period to singles who were curious about how it works, but now the dating site has a lifetime free membership option to kick things off. Free members can set up their dating profiles, add photos, browse matches, save their preferred search criteria, and exchange likes online with the perfect match.

Messaging is a premium feature on Match, but free members aren’t locked completely out of the conversation. Match allows singles to read and respond to messages from their Top Picks list, thus making the online dating experience more enjoyable and rewarding for everyone involved.

EliteSingles.com maintains a sophisticated network of young professionals seeking a relationship. Over 80% of its members hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree, and over 90% are over the age of 30. Elite Singles uses an intelligent matchmaking system to introduce daters to someone on their level.

• Over 2 million monthly users
• Premium members receive 20 wildcard matches a day
• Search features include age, height, education, ethnicity, and lifestyle habits
• Browse Elite Singles profiles 100% free»

Elite Singles sets high standards in the online dating scene, and its tiered membership appeals to people of all income levels. This dating site was designed to introduce relationship-minded professionals to one another, and we think it’s done a grand job so far.

You can start off with a free membership to see how things work, and then you can work your way up the ladder to a premium membership plan that fits your budget and meets your relationship goals.

Elite Singles creates thousands of love connections every week, and its commitment to quality over quantity has made for a selective dating environment. Over 80% of Elite Singles members have earned a college degree, and over 90% say they want to get in a serious relationship.

Zoosk is a socially savvy dating site known for its diverse membership base and behavioral matchmaking system. Over 40 million singles in 80 countries have joined the network so far, and it's growing larger every day. The platform offers many different ways to communicate and express interest in members, so it's easy to form a fast connection here.

• Send messages to premium members for free
• Over 3 million messages sent a day
• Premium perks include photo verification and sending virtual gifts
• Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free»

Thanks to its forward-thinking features, Zoosk has become one of the leading dating sites and apps in the world. In 2007, the platform draw inspiration from popular social media sites and took online dating to a whole new level.

Today, thousands of Zoosk couples have the site to thank for introducing them to a good match and giving them plenty of options to flirt.

Zoosk offers free match suggestions, free search tools, and a lot of free communication features to get singles on their way to a promising connection. The Carousel is the most efficient place to find viable dates because users can quickly swipe through profiles and create mutual interest on the fly.

Since its launch in 2000, eharmony has endeavored to find the formula for love. Its 32-dimension personality test uses psychological truths to identify areas of compatibility between two individuals. The dating site's mission is to foster relationships that last, and every potential match has a reason behind it.

• Over 2 million people have found love here
• Users can filter their match recommendations by age or city
• Compatibility Quiz identifies common interests, lifestyles, and goals
• Browse eharmony profiles 100% free»

The thing about eharmony is that it’s all about relationships. Not short-term dating. Not hookups. Not friendship. Its founding mission is to create lasting relationships that lead to marriage, family, and a fruitful life together — and that’s something the team takes very seriously. The team even offers a three-month guarantee to back its services.

Since 2000, eharmony has endeavored to identify true compatibility by using a psychology-based questionnaire that has been honed quite a bit over the years. It used to be over 150 questions long and take over an hour to complete. Now it’s much shorter, and singles can get through it in about 20 minutes.

The questionnaire is free and optional, but eharmony highly recommends singles answer each question honestly because that’s the basis for its match suggestions and compatibility ratings. You can browse profiles and see how you stack up with them without paying anything, but only premium members can view photos and send messages on eharmony — unless it’s a free communication weekend, which are rare but totally worth the wait.

Christian Mingle is a faith-based dating website for singles who want a relationship grounded in Christian values. People of all religions and backgrounds turn to this site in hopes of meeting a good Christian man or a good Christian woman. Christian Mingle's claim to fame is that it has the highest percentage of Christian members of any dating site or app in the world.

• For singles interested in God-centered relationships
• Over 3.5 million monthly users around the world
• Available as an app on Google Play and the App Store
• Browse Christian Mingle profiles 100% free»

ChristianMingle promotes good Christian values in the online dating scene and encourages devout singles to find someone who shares similar beliefs and traditions.

While ChristianMingle isn’t a Christian-only dating network — people of all faiths are welcome to create a free profile — the site focuses on inspiring God-centered relationships, and it has been the salvation of Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, and other faith-driven daters.

Its heartwarming success stories are proof of the dating site’s impact on people’s lives. “God used ChristianMingle to cross our paths,” said Rhonda, who met her husband Woody on the dating site.

Since its launch in 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has created an African American singles network that stretches across North America. This niche dating site has 1.5 million members who are attracted to Black and biracial people. It takes less than two minutes to create a full profile and start browsing through profiles sorted by age, location, and orientation.

• One of the largest Black singles networks in existence
• Straightforward search and matching features
• Use Tokens to appear higher in search results
• Browse BlackPeopleMeet profiles 100% free»

When you sign up for BlackPeopleMeet, you can diversify your dating prospects and enjoy a colorful dating experience in just a few clicks. The niche site boasts having the largest network of black and biracial singles in the U.S., and it is a valuable resource for singles seeking dark-skinned dates.

BlackPeopleMeet is free to people of all ethnicities, skin tones, and racial backgrounds, and singles can assess their options thanks to the site’s free features, which include photo likes, flirts, and favorites. Messaging will cost a little extra, but it can make all the difference in your dating life, so it could be worth the $3 to $4 per week for a paid membership.

BlackPeopleMeet uses a token-based system to give singles access to additional paid features, including virtual gifting, special notifications, and a highlighted dating profile.

In 2004, OkCupid's founders decided to create a fool-proof formula for love, and they launched a free dating site to delve into what personal attributes made relationships work. OkCupid members can send unlimited messages for free. It's easy to discover mutual interests and compatibility on the platform's information-rich dating profiles.

• Free, unlimited communication for everyone
• Singles can swipe or search for a compatible date
• Over 91 million connections every year
• Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free»

When OkCupid launched in 2004, the website promised to remain forever free to everyone, and it has pretty much stuck to that. Messaging is 100% free and unlimited on this dating site and app, and you can like and favorite as many profiles as you want without subscribing as an A-List member.

OkCupid has a mutual matching system to help singles filter their inboxes, but it still allows singles to message anyone they like. Anyone can send a quick greeting here; however, the message will only appear in the other person’s inbox if/when they like you back. Until then, it’ll appear to them as a notification on your dating profile. It’s a good way to get someone’s attention and make new friends.

The mantra at OkCupid is “Dating deserves better,” and that’s what this number-crunching website and app aim to deliver. Every week, over 50,000 dates are planned on OkCupid, and you don’t need a paid membership to join in the fun on this flirtatious, inclusive, and quirky community.

Plenty of Fish prides itself on being one of the best dating sites for conversations. It supports 100% free and unlimited messaging for over 120 million monthly users in 20 countries. Since its launch in 2003, Plenty of Fish has developed a science-based matching system that has proven successful.

• Free registration, searches, and messaging
• The Chemistry Test creates a compatibility framework
• Over 1 billion messages sent per month
• Browse Plenty of Fish profiles 100% free»

Plenty of Fish (aka POF) is another free dating platform where communication doesn’t cost a thing. It offers an open-ended space where anything can happen and dates are up for grabs.

The POF community is full of activity with millions of messages being exchanged every day. The site sees over 4 million views per day, and it makes over 57 million new potential matches each week. “Because of POF, I met the love of my life,” said Courtney in a testimonial.

The abundance of free features on Plenty of Fish has attracted budget-conscious daters of all stripes. Mingling in a dating pool of 150 million profiles can be overwhelming, but the online dating site’s search filters can help you narrow things down quite a bit. Just be on the lookout for suspicious characters and fake profiles because the downside of free, unlimited chatting is that sometimes catfishers or scammers can show up in your inbox.

In 2012, Tinder pioneered a swiping-based match system that empowered singles to connect with dates who liked them back. Tinder users can message their mutual matches for free on this fast-paced dating app. Since its launch, Tinder has created over 60 billion matches worldwide.

• Supports active daters in 190+ countries
• The swiping system creates over 12 million matches per day
• Tinder Plus members have unlimited likes and 5 Super Likes
• Browse Tinder profiles 100% free»

You’ve heard of Tinder, right? It’s only the world’s most popular dating app and the creator of #SwipeLife. In 2012, Tinder took the dating world by storm by introducing a clever mutual matching system that has been duplicated by just about every dating site and app these days.

Tinder lets singles decide who they want in the dating scene, and it can be a powerful tool for picking up dates and building relationships. While Tinder may have the reputation of a hookup app, it has actually led to quite a few long-term romances, and some couples have even gotten into a serious relationship or marriage thanks to the free dating app.

Tinder sees over 2 billion views per day, and it leads to over 1.5 million dates per week, and it’s totally free to download, swipe, match, and chat here. What more could you want from a casual hookup app?

Since its launch in 2014, Bumble has positioned itself as one of the queens of the online dating world. The dating app turns gender stereotype on its head by empowering women to make the first move in a conversation with a man. Once you've made that mutual match, you have up to 48 hours to respond and make a connection.

• A feminist dating app puts singles on equal footing
• 60% of Bumble matches turn into dates
• Bumble Bizz and Bumble BFF spark non-romantic connections
• Browse Bumble profiles 100% free»

Free Dating Sites For Serious Relationships

In 2014, Bumble set itself apart from other swipe-crazy dating apps by putting the needs and interests of women first. The free app has empowered women to make the first move (i.e. send the first message) when matching with men online.

Tech entrepreneur Whitney Wolfe Herd developed this innovative and progressive concept shortly after leaving an executive position at Tinder and striking out on her own. Today, Bumble has become one of the Tinder’s biggest rivals, and it has been widely recognized as “the feminist dating app” for singles seeking relationships, not hookups.

Bumble is a win-win for guys and gals in the dating scene. “Love that I don’t get bombarded with messages,” Cara said in a review. And a male Bumble user named Sidd added that he enjoyed meeting the high-caliber women in his inbox, saying, “Much more accomplished with much less random messages and matches.”

Best 100% Free Senior Dating Sites

The online dating world can be intimating for seniors who are recently divorced or widowed. They’ve been out of the game for a long time, and they may not know how mature dating works these days. Fortunately, senior dating sites and apps can offer a beginner-friendly space to learn, grow, and date again. We trust the following sites to help seniors and make them feel more confident about their romantic futures.

SilverSingles is serious about helping singles over 50 meet one another, and the site doesn't allow anyone under 50 years old to join the network. The secure signup process includes profile verification and fraud detection, so new members must portray themselves accurately to gain access to the platform. By fostering a safe environment, SilverSingles helps men and women meet mature dates in their area.

• An exclusively senior membership base
• Over 800,000 monthly users worldwide
• App available for free on Google Play
• Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free»

SilverSingles has streamlined online dating for a senior audience, and it offers matchmaking that works without putting the user through a lot of hassle and stress.

As an exclusive over-50 dating site, SilverSingles can give singles the opportunity to meet someone special who’s in the same age bracket and looking for a second chance at love

SilverSingles recommends compatible dating profiles (up to seven per day), and it also has advanced search tools that allow singles to identify matches based on their own standards. Premium members can see photos, view their profile visitors, and send unlimited messages on SilverSingles, so you can get the full picture if you subscribe.

OurTime is an over-50 dating site with a lot of helpful features to facilitate friendships and relationships. Senior singles can look for dates themselves using the search tools, or they can view a curated list of matches to find compatible folks. Singles can send likes, flirts, and faves for free, but they have to subscribe to send messages to their online crushes.

• Open to straight, gay, and lesbian singles over 50
• Free match recommendations and conversation starters
• Use Tokens to promote your profile and send virtual gifts
• Browse OurTime profiles 100% free»

The OurTime dating site helps senior singles get to know one another and create solid matches online and offline. It’s free to register an account on OurTime and fill out an in-depth profile about who you are and what you want.

OurTime profiles cover the basics — appearance, age, occupation, education, smoking habits, etc. — but also give singles room to tell their own stories and show a little personality in the In a Nutshell section. Singles can choose to answer fun prompts, including “Go-to karaoke song,” “Do you enjoy cooking?” “The one I am looking for,” and “I’d just like to add.”

It’s free to create your profile, upload photos, search for matches, and send flirts on OurTime. However, you’ll need to sign up for a subscription plan if you plan on messaging anyone here.

Since 2003, SeniorMatch has built its reputation as one of the world's leading senior dating sites. The site offers free communication and searches to help singles over 50 find companionship and love. If you're interested in a mature dating experience, this dating site can meet your needs.

• Doesn't allow members under 45
• Available as a dating app in Google Play
• Dating advice and safety tips shared by senior daters
• Browse SeniorMatch profiles 100% free»

SeniorMatch has been around since 2003, making it one of the oldest dating sites in its niche, and all that experience has made it more efficient and effective. The dating site can help seniors meet pen pals, new friends, local dates, and potential partners in a welcoming and mature setting.

Over 1 million singles have joined SeniorMatch, and the site claims to host over 1.6 million monthly conversations. This affordable site ensures genuine singles can become acquainted without jumping through too many hoops.

If you want proof that SeniorMatch works, you can read through its 36,000 success stories and get a sense of how many people have fallen in love on this platform.

Best 100% Free LGBT Dating Sites

Online dating has become one of the most popular ways for same-sex couples to meet one another. According to a Match.com survey, 56% of LGBTQ+ singles have dated someone they met online. In fact, LGBTQ+ singles use dating apps at about twice the rate of straight singles because it’s easier to identify queer dates and come out as a gay dater online.

The following gay-friendly dating sites can allow singles to pursue anyone they want and make the most of the dating scene.

Since 1996, MenNation has connected over 93 million men around the globe. This men-only dating site measures its success by the number of conversations and dates it facilitates with its intuitive matching system. Gay men love having a site to call their own, and its helpful features keep members engaged and entertained as they look for a hot date.

• One of the largest gay hookup sites in the world
• Search filters for age, location, physical attributes, and more
• Available in 12 languages and counting
• Browse MenNation profiles 100% free»

MenNation is a men-only hookup site where singles and couples can flirt, match, and solicit sex 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The site offers an anonymous and private forum for guys with sex on the brain. Its one-on-one chats can facilitate intimate encounters and lead gay men to the hot guy of their dreams. All it takes is a like or message to stimulate interest and get something going.

Millions of men are in the MenNation database, and that means a world of opportunities for guys bold enough to enter this sexual terrain.

HER is a women-only (or 'womxn' as the team says) dating app that helps cis, trans, and non-binary identified singles come into their own. This is a strict no-boys-allowed zone. HER encourages LGBTQ+ women to mingle by commenting on photos or events in the Feed, or they can like profiles to initiate a private conversation with a mutual match.

• A quirky and unapologetic womxn-only dating community
• Queer events get users connecting IRL
• The constantly updated Feed facilitates social networking
• Browse HER profiles 100% free»

Designed by a lesbian for singles like her, HER supports a womxn-only dating network that’s friendly, active, and worth your attention.

The dating app is free to download, and free members can browse a newsfeed of profiles, comment on photos or stories, and RSVP to local queer events (everything from parades to picnics). HER fosters a dynamic dating scene where womxn can feel safe, comfortable, and confident — and that means everything to the HER couples around the world.

Over 4 million lesbian, bisexual, queer, and trans womxn have joined HER so far, and we expect that number to grow as more LGBTQ+ people discover the incredible value offered by this upstanding community.

LesbianPersonals.com is powered by Friend Finder Networks, so it encompasses a vast network of sexually active women. The female-friendly dating site allows women, couples, and groups to create a profile and find online and offline romance. With over 2 million women in its community, LesbianPersonals is fast becoming one of the most popular lesbian dating sites around.

• Free membership includes viewing profiles and sending likes
• Exchange revealing photos and videos privately online
• Simple search filters by interests and appearance
• Browse LesbianPersonals profiles 100% free»

LesbianPersonals has basically become the go-to dating space for women with a high sex drive and few inhibitions. The hookup platform is free to join, and you can get a feel for what it has to offer by browsing profiles and sending likes.

The LesbianPersonals membership base includes lesbian singles, lesbian couples, straight couples, and groups, and they’re all looking for a special lady to join them in the bedroom. The fast-paced dating scene has led to hookups, threesomes, and orgies, bringing satisfaction to thousands of horny women out there.

Grindr became the world's first gay geosocial app in 2009, and it continues growing its all-male user base more than a decade later. The app uses real-time GPS data to locate nearby date prospects and give gay and bisexual singles a chance to connect while they're out on the town.

• Social networking for gay, bi, trans, and queer men
• Location-based matches spark instant chemistry
• Grindr Equality advocates for LGBTQ+ interests on the global stage
• Browse Grindr profiles 100% free»

We couldn’t end this list without mentioning Grindr. Since 2009, the gay dating app has become one of the most popular matchmaking tools for men seeking men, and its membership base includes over 27 million profiles in almost every country in the world.

Grindr is free to join, and it has the free matching and chatting features singles need to land a hot date, but some users say upgrading to Grindr XTRA gave them even more options and opportunities on the app. The premium features including additional filters, no banner ads, personalized push notifications, unlimited blocks and favorites, quick-send photos, and viewing up to 600 profiles.

Grindr XTRA Lite is a more cost-efficient one-month subscription. It’ll remove banner ads and allow singles to view up to 300 profiles, and that’s it. Upgrading is optional, and it is possible to make a match with a standard Grindr membership.

Best 100% Free Hookup Sites

Looking for a dating site that’ll give you the most bang for your buck? We’ve got a few good options for your browsing pleasure. These reputable hookup sites have satisfied singles and swingers with a fast-paced interface, sexy membership base, and affordable live messaging tools. Take a look at what they have to offer by reading our reviews.

BeNaughty invites singles to walk on the wild side and explore their sexuality in a fun, free-wheeling environment. This adults-only dating site is full of X-rated content, but users can blur nude photos if they'd prefer to leave some things to the imagination. Premium subscribers get the most bang for the buck because they can send messages, browse incognito, and receive alerts when their messages have been read by someone special.

• Sexually active adults in 10 countries
• Browse the Like Gallery for hot singles
• Stimulate conversation in intimate private messages
• Browse BeNaughty profiles 100% free»

When it comes to hookup sites, BeNaughty is almost always on top. Put simply, the site has a lot of game, and it fosters instant connections and matches between sex-oriented men and women.

BeNaughty users can either search for hot dates by age, location, appearance, ethnicity, and other characteristics, or they can go to the Like Gallery and see which profiles the site recommends based on their preferences. The Like Gallery is a fun way to decide who’s cute and who’s not, creating romantic opportunities with every swipe.

Really in a hurry to hook up with a local man or woman? Then send a mass flirty message to everyone online who meets your search criteria. BeNaughty encourages flirty conversations morning, noon, and night, and it’s never too late to woo someone on this dating website.

In 1996, Friend Finder Networks began harnessing the power of online networking to help adults meet sexually active singles in their area, and it has now grown into a global X-rated phenomenon with over 93 million profiles. Adult Friend Finder provides a safe, anonymous dating platform where singles and swingers can hook up with another.

• Among the largest online sex and swinger communities
• Completely free no-obligation registration
• Live chat rooms and discussion forums open 24/7
• Browse Adult Friend Finder profiles 100% free»

Since its launch in 1997, Adult Friend Finder has surpassed 97 million profiles and brought about a sexual awakening for countless individuals and couples.

The hookup site offers a lot of free forums and chat groups where members can mix things up. The AFF community has sparked more than 14 million group discussions, and it has published over 19 million blog posts full of erotic stories and X-rated content.

Browsing Adult Friend Finder can be an arousing experience, and the excitement doesn’t end online. Many AFF members are actively seeking an sexy playmate for IRL adventures and a casual hookup.

FriendFinder-X specializes in delivering hot dates to your inbox. For the last 20+ years, this hookup site has amassed a huge following around the world and led to countless sexy encounters. Millions of people have created an account and searched for singles, couples, and groups who can satisfy their deepest desires.

• Open to casual daters in the U.S. and abroad
• Free members can browse profiles and watch sexy videos
• Chat anonymously in the forum or private messages
• Browse FriendFinder-X profiles 100% free»

Last of all, FriendFinder-X makes it easy to enjoy a naughty dating experience and woo local hotties without leaving home. The hookup site characterizes itself as a place “where good girls do bad things.”

The anonymous nature of this free casual hookup site probably contributes to the bold and outlandish behavior of FriendFinder-X members. Singles, couples, and groups head to this platform when they want to mix things up and find the object of their desire.

If you’re interested in no-strings-attached sex, you can’t do much better than FriendFinder-X. It’s not completely free, but it is awfully exciting to view an X-rated dating profile and flirt with new people here.

What Is the Number 1 Dating Site

This is obviously debatable, and it depends heavily on who you are and what you’re looking for in the dating scene, but, if you want our opinion, we rank Match.com as the #1 dating site for just about anyone seeking love online.

Why do our dating experts love Match so much? Because we’ve seen it work. The site has serious street cred in the industry and countless love stories to its name.

Dating Sites

Match has become a trusted name in the online dating industry by catering to quality singles looking for love and romance. Since 1995, the dating site has developed a time-tested matching system to facilitate deep connections between men and women who share similar goals in life.

• In-depth matching appeals to women with high standards
• Video chat tools help online daters establish a rapport
• An established singles network in 50 countries worldwide
• Browse Match.com profiles 100% free»

Over the last 20 years, Match.com has been responsible for more first dates, relationships, and marriages than any other online dating site, and that makes it the best of the best in our book.

What Is the Best Dating Site for a Serious Relationship?

Serious Dating Sites Free Chat

Beyond a doubt, eharmony has the market cornered when it comes to relationships. The dating site has a time-tested, personality-driven matchmaking system that can seriously save folks a lot of time searching for a soulmate.

The free dating app isn’t 100% free to use — you need a paid membership to access the chat feature on eharmony — but this is a quality dating space for meeting new people who are authentic and loyal, and that makes it great for serious relationship seekers who are willing to invest in their love lives.

It may take some time to fill out eharmony's 32-dimension personality test, but the results are well worth it. This dating site goes the extra mile to get to know its members and deliver quality matches to their inboxes. Every profile has a compatibility rating to let you know your essential similarities and differences. Plus eharmony has inspired more than 2 million love connections since 2000.

• Designed to satisfy marriage-minded single women
• In-depth compatibility quiz generates high-quality matches
• Personalized Match Preferences on gender, age, income, religion, education, and more
• Browse eharmony profiles 100% free»

Over the last two decades, eharmony has given hope to marriage-minded singles around the world, and it is responsible for bringing over 2 million couples together in the U.S. alone. This is definitely a great place to find your happily-ever-after love story.

What is the Best Dating Site for 50-Year Olds

Silver Singles is our favorite dating site for singles in their 50s. It caters to a mature crowd of singles, and 50-year-olds will actually be the youngsters on this seniors-only network.

The Silver Singles dating site and app offer a completely free membership option so singles can test the waters before diving into the senior dating pool.

SilverSingles offers a secure dating experience for singles of a certain age. Anyone over 50 is welcome to join the network and browse for dates by using the simple search filters and match recommendations. Every month, over 800,000 senior singles join the dating site and start their journey toward love.

• Global membership base of exclusively single seniors
• Free members can browse matches, send smiles, and favorite profiles
• 24/7 online customer service
• Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free»

Silver Singles has a lot to offer as a free dating site with a premium matchmaking feature to help locate the perfect match. If you’re looking for age-appropriate dates, SilverSingles can introduce you to many singles who share similar backgrounds, experiences, and values.

The Silver Singles dating website and app automatically remove fake profiles from the network, so seniors can set their worries aside when meeting new people through this reputable dating service.

Are There Any Real Dating Sites?

Actually all dating sites are mere figments of your imagination. You’re probably having a fever dream from watching too many rom-coms.

I’m kidding. Yeah, a lot of dating sites are the real deal and can offer real opportunities to meet singles. You can tell a site is legit if it has good reviews (both from customers and third-party reviewers), offers some sort of profile verification system (via email address, social media, etc.), provides contact information for the customer service team (online contact form, email, and/or snail mail), and shares success stories on the site.

We’ve listed many real dating sites on this list already, but we’ll reiterate a few here for you. OkCupid has been around since 2004, and it is responsible for 1 million real-world dates on a weekly basis.

OkCupid inspires dates and relationships by identifying specific areas of compatibility. The dating site and app has an endless questionnaire that allows single men to express who they are and what matters to them. OkCupid uses this treasure trove of information to generate highly accurate match recommendations and compatibility ratings.

• Men can leave a message to anyone they fancy
• A sophisticated match algorithm developed by Harvard math majors
• The site and app facilitate over 50,000 dates every week
• Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free»

Bumble has staked its reputation on authenticity and integrity, and its team doesn’t hesitate to remove unsavory characters from the app. Its serious approach to online dating has helped countless real singles go on real dates and get in real relationships.

Free Serious Dating Sites For Marriage

Bumble has embraced its role as the world's feminist dating app. The app launched in 2014 with the unique premise that women should send the first message and take the lead in a new romantic relationship. According to Bumble, over 85% of its users are looking for a long-term relationship, and less than 4% are looking for hookups.

• A female-friendly dating environment puts women in control
• Zero tolerance for bullying, misogyny, and rude behavior
• Conversations expire in 24 to 48 hours
• Browse Bumble profiles 100% free»

What Dating Sites Have Free Messages

Even on a trustworthy dating site or app, you should still be on the lookout for the rotten apples that can sometimes slip past the security walls. Trust your instincts as you browse dating profiles online and vet potential matches before you agree to meet in person. Things to look out for include bad grammar, broken English, and pleas for money, gifts, or favors. These are all warning signs that the person you’re talking to isn’t trustworthy and may be trying to con you in a romance scam.

Does Online Dating Really Work?

Yes, online dating really, truly, and honestly can work for singles seeking everything from a casual hookup or a long-term relationship. How can I be so certain? Because I met my boyfriend on a dating app last year, and we couldn’t be happier with how our swiping experience went.

Online dating gives you instant access to a world of romantic possibilities, and it can spark relationships with that perfect match if you play your cards right. If you haven’t had much luck on dating websites and apps so far, maybe try beefing up your dating profile or working on your online conversation skills to up the odds of finding something real.

Over half of never-married adults in the U.S. say they have tried online dating, and 22% of newlyweds in 2019 met their spouse on a dating site or app. Taken as a whole, online dating is one of the most popular ways to meet people nowadays, and singles who embrace that will have more date options to show for their time and effort.

Serious Dating Sites Free Online Dating

A Free Dating Site Can be Your Ticket to Romance

You can put your wallet away. No need to check your credit limit. The best 100% free dating sites don’t require credit card information upon signup, and they won’t push you to subscribe or upgrade before you’re ready.

The top-rated sites on this list offer a lot of great free features, including matchmaking and messaging, and we firmly believe any of them can get singles off the couch and onto a great date. Just remember, you get what you pay for. You can save your cash on an absolutely free dating site, or you can invest your energy and save time on a premium online dating site — the choice is up to you.

Whether you’re looking for a short-term romance or a long-term love, the online dating world has plenty of affordable options available 24/7 to help you meet new people and make new friends. Spend wisely!