Why are relationships so complicated today? Maybe it’s because people are divided on what they want. They want loyalty and freedom, commitment but without expectations, and unconditional love without compromise.
That’s why you need the best dating sites to filter out the flakey people and get to the good stuff.
Whether you want something serious and marriage-minded, casual sex only, or just a one-night stand, we’ve got you covered.
We’ve compiled a list of the best dating sites and apps, along with what kind of relationship you can expect from each one.
The Best Dating Sites of the Moment
Zoosk came in at #1 for reasons we can only describe as “extremely flexible and extremely fun.” But this was a close one…
First Look at the Top 10 Dating Sites
- Zoosk – #1 of the best dating sites for the new age
- Elite Singles – Like the other dating sites, only successful
- eHarmony – The top site for finding someone compatible
- Silver Singles – Mature dating site for the swinging golden years
- Seeking – Luxury dating at its finest
- Friend Finder – Great place to find people by common interests
- Bumble – The most popular dating site for women
- Hinge – Cool place for a one nighter
- Tinder – Most popular dating site that’s still free
- Plenty Of Fish – In the top 10 of dating sites for FWBs
1. Zoosk – #1 of the Best Dating Sites Overall
Pros
- Live video-sharing community
- Filtered searches & free browsing
- AI smart SuperPick matches
- Date random locals
- Diverse dating population, from 18-55
Cons
- Limited free preview
- Not for the camera shy
Pricing
- $10.83/mo for 6 months
- $11.66/mo for 12 months
- 13.32/mo for 3 months
Zoosk is easily the most flexible of all dating websites, thanks to its combination of video sharing, personalized matchmaking, and free-roaming fun.
The site lets you start your journey with 4 ways of finding a date:
- Zoosk Live – video chat with matches
- Filtered searches – search by specific criteria
- Zoosk SmartPick Matchmaking – get matched automatically
- Random localized browsing – easily find local profiles
The video-sharing community is the most Gen Y and Z friendly, though it’s just as much fun for all ages to log in, say hello, and visit all their friends. Once you make connections in Zoosk Live!, you can take those conversations private in instant messaging.
SmartPick matchmaking is also something delightfully new. It’s not just another questionnaire-based system, but a form of AI that actually studies your dating patterns.
Whatever you like on the site, or whomever you engage with, is studied, and then more of the same is presented to you.
Besides that, there is also the free-roaming type dating, where you can check out random locals or browse using search filters.
This flexibility allows you to find members in different ways. It’s one of the reasons Zoosk’s demographics are so diverse.
Besides a large dating pool, Zoosk also has more people over the age of 35-60 than most other dating sites. Yet, it still has a fast-rising under-30 demographic.
Maybe its audience likes that you can customize your relationship from casual to fling, serious only, or even an “I don’t know” kind of status.
While the free preview is limited, it’s simply the most fun site to use – after you get through that paywall. But if there’s any doubt, remember, you can always check out Zoosk Like! for free.
>>See why of all the top dating sites Zoosk is the most flexible!
2. Elite Singles – Meet Successful, Educated Singles
Pros
- Career-minded pros only
- Casual or serious dating
- Questionnaire-based matchmaking
- 90% of singles have college degrees
- Wild card recommendations
Cons
- No photos for free members
- Simple design
Pricing
- $29.95/mo for 3 months
- $19.95/mo for 6 months
- $59.95/mo for 1 month
Of all the different dating sites Elite Singles makes it clear what demographic it’s going after…
Career-minded, successful singles!
Too often, people complain about getting mixed up with people that are unemployed, underemployed, or just plain scammy. That’s why Elite Singles represents something different.
Joining the site gives you access to career-minded professionals who are educated and putting those skills into practice. 90% of the site’s membership is college-educated and make above the national average in income.
The site is somewhat simplistic in design, and you can’t see member photos until you pay.
Of course, the two best-selling points of the site are intelligent matchmaking (using a long questionnaire) and access to an elite group of singles you can’t find anywhere else.
If you’ve ever wanted to date someone successful and attractive on LinkedIn, but felt rightfully shamed, don’t lose heart.
LinkedIn is not for dating, but the professional dating Elite Singles most definitely is – and flirting is encouraged.
>>Find out why all the A-listers are using the classy dating site Elite Singles!
3. eHarmony – Best Dating Sites Option for Meaningful Relationships
Pros
- Great at finding emotional connections
- Wildcard dating partners
- Video chat
- Casual, serious, or “undecided” users welcome
Cons
- Kind of pricey
- Long-term contracts
Pricing
- $7.96 for 24 months
- $11.96/mo for 12 months
- $18.36/mo for 6 months
Like other top dating sites, eHarmony is a questionnaire-based matchmaking system.
However, members know there’s a reason why it’s the most successful “serious relationship” dating site.
Its system is not based merely on similar interests but on shared core values – which experts agree, is the best predictor of a happy marriage.
eHarmony is used for both casual and long-term dating. However, no one can deny it helps you find a strong emotional connection with someone. Something that could grow into love, or just end with a really good date!
The rest is up to you.
The website is sophisticated, with features like matchmaking and video chat, and a chemistry predictor for everyone you meet. This allows you to test the waters before meeting up with your match.
The real downside is the long-term contract. eHarmony is so good at matching people; these people tend to get married quickly. That’s why eHarmony signs long-term contracts!
But if you want serious feelings to develop, you really can’t go wrong with eHarmony. It’s going to get you in the feels!
>>Find out why eHarmony is the best matchmaking dating site in the world!
4. Silver Singles – Best Dating Sites Option for Over 50
Pros
- Ideal for anyone over 50
- Retired or working singles
- Long & in-depth personality quiz
- Advanced matchmaking
- Wild card matches
Cons
- Simplistic design
- Younger singles might feel out of place
Pricing
- $12.95/mo for 6 months
- $17.95/mo for 3 months
- $29.95 for 1 month
Silver Singles is owned by the same parent company that runs Elite Singles, so it’s no coincidence that the sites feel very similar.
The problem is that while sites like Elite Singles have a reputation of being “successful and college-educated,” that leaves out a lot of people who haven’t been as fortunate. But that certainly doesn’t mean they aren’t smart, financially secure, and looking for love just the same.
Silver Singles is like Elite Singles but without the VIP section. Just normal, down-to-earth people, and usually over the age of 50 and up.
Silver Singles has a long questionnaire and matchmaking system, along with a few wild card suggestions. It’s an ideal dating app for Boomers and Gen Xers who don’t necessarily want to get married but want something more meaningful than just a fling.
After all, Boomers are just as interested in casual hookup dates as millennials are, according to some statistics.
Silver Singles will help you find a serious or casual relationship with a slight age difference. There are people who are 40, 50, 60, and upwards, and it’s all a respectful atmosphere with friendly people everywhere you turn.
>>Find out why Silver Singles is the best dating site for people over 40!
5. Seeking – Best Dating Site for Luxury & Romance
Pros
- Great place to meet wealthy people
- Find luxury relationships
- Women get a free premium membership
- Verified profiles
- VIP line for Priority Members
Cons
- Dating wealthy doesn’t appeal to everyone
- Pricey long-term
Pricing
- $15/mo for 3 months
- $96.66/mo after initial period
- $274.99 VIP Diamond Package
Seeking is the world’s top choice of luxury dating websites, emphasizing customizing your “ideal relationship.”
Many wealthy people have very specific needs. They want someone who understands their world and has high expectations.
It’s not everyone’s cup of tea to date a millionaire, but those who do feel a sense of security, excitement, and romance incomparable to normal dating.
Seeking’s job is not only to help you facilitate these needs but also to help all parties establish trust. The dating site does a good job of beefing up security. Members can get verified for income, identity, background, and photos.
While the site clearly caters to rich male members, women can also join as “wealthy seeking beautiful.”
However, for women joining as “beautiful seeking wealthy,” premium memberships are free.
The VIP club for Priority Members provides extra perks like new user notifications, priority messaging, and unlimited texting.
Of all the best dating sites Seeking is pricey, especially beyond the first discounted period.
But it’s the only site that finds you the ideal relationship you want, with romance, travel, luxury, and love on your own terms.
>>Visit Seeking.com and experience a true luxury dating site with all the frills!
6. Friend Finder – Best Dating Site for Finding Common Interests
Pros
- Discussion forums
- Live chat rooms
- Video streaming chat
- A whopping 90 million members
- Social network-type community
Cons
- Sometimes hard to make new friends
- No free preview
Pricing
- Silver – $13.31/mo for 3 months
- Silver – $10.82/mo for 6 months
- Gold – $15.82/mo for 6 months
FriendFinder is one of the oldest and best dating sites, starting in 1996. The site has consistently kept up with the times, catering not only to LGBTQ members but also to non-monogamous members.
For anyone that goes outside the “vanilla” standard, FriendFinder is the industry standard. The site makes it easy to find local members, by filtering, browsing, or seeing who’s active in online dating.
However, you can also meet people across the world if you join the discussion groups or visit live chat.
You can meet a global community of people according to region, special interests, hobbies, and lifestyle. You can even meet your crush face-to-face with live-streaming cameras!
FriendFinder is the most diverse in terms of niches among all the best dating sites. It’s friendly and safe for work, but if you want something a little spicier and more casual, Adult Friend Finder is in the same network.
FriendFinder’s layout is a bit cluttered, and it doesn’t give members much for free previews. The social media interface is also intimidating to people not used to making new Facebook friends.
There’s no question, though, that with a network encompassing 90 million members, it’s one of the largest dating pools anywhere online.
>>Find a kindred spirit with similar interests on FriendFinder
7. Bumble – Top Dating Site For Women
Pros
- Women send the first message
- Men can’t DM first
- Add friends & acquaintances
- Rewind swipes with Premium
- Travel Mode with Premium
Cons
- Only 24 hours to respond
- Not all women like making the first move
- Restrictive for male users
Pricing
- $19.99 for 1 week
- $39.99 for 1 month
- $25.66/mo for 3 months
Bumble was designed to appeal to women – it was actually created by a female executive who worked at Tinder.
Bumble lets women filter out random horny guys – as we know how they all tend to multiply like gremlins – and lets her make the first “move” or first message.
The yellow-themed dating site also introduces some very savvy features for the modern single, like BFF mode for finding “just friends” and BIZ mode, which helps you find “business associates.”
Of course, we frequently do get mixed up with friends and people we work with. It’s a nice way to keep tabs on people when you’re “not dating”, as well as when you’re single again.
Bumble Premium adds features like rewind swipes (accidental swipes), travel mode (out of town?), and more likes and swipes in general.
The 24-hour limit for a mutual match response is a bit rough. Still, Bumble has many nice features and a female-friendly atmosphere, making all the difference.
>>Find out why Bumble is the smartest of online dating apps for women!
8. Hinge – Find a Perfect Match for a One Night Stand
Pros
- Good for finding mutual attractions
- Good for one-night stands
- Date people in your league
- LGBTQ & Gen Y/Z friendly
- Video chat
Cons
- Hinge X is pricey
- Less good matches with free plan
Pricing
- Plus – $14.99/mo for 6 months
- Plus – $19.99/mo for 3 months
- X – $24.99/mo for 6 months
Much has been written about Hinge as a serious relationship app, but many people know that it’s more of a hookup app, or in other words, for casual dating.
Hinge’s algorithm is different than the usual questionnaire-based system. The casual dating app matches people who are more likely to like each other. It’s not just the usual one-sided attraction, which wastes a lot of people’s time. You’re in each other’s league!
Hinge also has modern features like video chat, icebreaker prompts to get a conversation going, and tags for sharing your mutual interests. Some examples of the Hinge icebreakers are “Green flags I’m looking for…”, “My most irrational fear is…” or “This year, I want to…”.
Of all the popular online dating platforms, Hinge is growing quite a bit – and is already just behind Tinder and Bumble in total downloads overall.
The main downside with Hinge is that you don’t get as many perfect-match candidates unless you subscribe to the more expensive Hinge X plan.
That’s why we gave Hinge a one-night stand award. Great to play with and experiment with when you’re single and not sure what you want.
>>Find out why Hinge is one of the best dating apps for casual dating and hooking up!
9. Tinder – The Top Free Dating Site
Pros
- Free limited use
- Most users are under 25
- The most downloaded app
- DM directly with Premium
- Include your social links
Cons
- Liars, scammers, and flakes – oh my!
- Limited swipes per day
Pricing
- Tinder Plus – $4/mo for 6 months
- Tinder Gold – $12.50/mo for 6 months
- Tinder Platinum – $8.33/mo for 6 months
Almost everyone has used Tinder once or twice, even if it’s just out of curiosity. It’s a sexy app for sure, because of all the college-aged heartthrobs, sweethearts, and their cheeky personal ads.
Tinder is notorious for one-night stands and “never see you again” relationships when you travel. But it’s still the most Gen Z-friendly app, even compared to Hinge and Bumble.
Most Tinder users are between the ages of 18-34. You know what that means – cute profiles, lots of social links, and you can upload photos and live chat in seconds.
But that also explains why ghosting, catfishing, spamming, and just “flaking out” is so common. A lot of people just use Tinder to boost their social media clout.
It’s not for serious relationships and not always great for meeting real people interested in dating.
Still, Tinder is free to use and with premium features like Direct Messaging, Super-Like, and See Who Viewed Me? You can increase your odds of finding a date.
>>Find out why Tinder is the most downloaded of all top dating sites and apps!
10. Plenty Of Fish – Best Dating Sites Choice for Finding FWBs
Pros
- Find a FWB, thanks to a large dating pool
- Play online dating games with members
- Filtered searches
- Random wild card selections
- DM directly with Premium
Cons
- Free app has intrusive ads
- Lots of fakes
Pricing
- $7.13/mo for 12 months
- $14.26/mo for 3 months
- $21.39 for 1 month
Plenty Of Fish is one of the best dating sites for total members. We’re talking 150 million members!
It also has a reputation as one of the most popular dating apps for casual dating. But for some reason, it’s still not as downloaded as Tinder and Bumble. What gives?
Plenty of Fish may just be too brainy for its own good. The free app offers some nice features like filtered searches, random swipes, streaming video chat, and matchmaking.
It’s also the only app that lets users play live online games with each other in order to break the ice.
Premium POF removes the ads, gives you many more swipes, and the ability to contact someone you find online directly. Otherwise, you need a mutual match to start a conversation.
Plenty Of Fish has a somewhat bland layout, not to mention a fairly long questionnaire and setup process in the beginning. The result is an app that’s not very useful for one-night stands but is still better for finding a friend with benefits.
It’s hard to imagine using POF to find a serious relationship since it’s mostly about sharing photos and brief bios. You can unlock more bio info with Premium.
Overall though, it’s one of those popular dating sites with a large dating pool and a lot of filtering freedom to find your perfect match on short notice.
See why the dating app Plenty Of Fish makes finding friends with benefits easy!
11. HER – Best Dating Sites Choice for Lesbian Partners
Pros
- LGBTQ friendly
- Discussion groups
- Moderated profiles
- Share kinks & interests
- Premium app unlocks features
Cons
- Men don’t fare well here
- Mostly random matchmaking
Pricing
- $7.50/mo for 12 months
- $10/mo for 6 months
- $14.99 for 1 month
HER is one of the most popular dating apps for the LGBTQ community, specifically lesbians and transwomen.
True, cis men don’t fare well on HER. But the dating site is practically made for the curious modern woman, whether married, polyamorous, single, or something in between those terms.
Besides local matching, HER also has discussion groups that can help introduce you to the local community. Premium HER gets you rewind, travel mode, and super-likes for letting your crush know how you feel.
Since it’s growing in popularity and becoming one of the best dating sites for LGBTQ, staff members are also moderating profiles.
It’s a safe and honest way to reach out to other women around you.
>>Find out why HER finds so many perfect match couples for lesbians!
12. Gay Friend Finder – Best Dating Sites Option for Finding Gay Men
Pros
- Find a perfect gay match
- Discussion groups for niches
- Video streaming & intros
- Detailed profiles
- Live chat rooms
Cons
- Limited free preview
- Smaller membership
Pricing
- Silver – $13.31/mo for 3 months
- Silver – $10.82/mo for 6 months
- Gold – $15.82/mo for 6 months
If you’ve ever felt out of place at HER, then Gay Friend Finder might be just what the hot doctor ordered. Gay Friend Finder caters to the LGBTQ community without any preferences for femme or butch.
No wonder it’s a favorite among gay men, including all cub, bear, otter, and twink categories.
As part of the Friend Finder networks, it has some resemblance to Friend Finder and Adult Friend Finder. But this one goes off on its own, welcoming cisgender gay men who may not like the atmosphere of HER or Grindr.
You can look forward to video streaming shows, discussion groups and chat rooms for general interest topics and dating talk.
It’s a nice-looking site and growing quite a bit since its initial launch.
>>See why, of all the best dating sites GayFriendFinder is the best dating app for men!
13. Christian Mingle – Best Dating Sites App for Christian Singles
Pros
- Christian-focused online dating
- Specify your faith
- Specify your church activity
- Get matches based on a questionnaire
- Or a few Wild Card matches too
Cons
- Not for all Christians
- Somewhat small membership
Pricing
- $24.99/mo for 3 months
- $34.99/mo for 6 months
- $49.99/mo for 1 month
Of all the best dating sites Christian Mingle is the most niche. The faith of many Christians requires an “evenly yoke coupling” when it comes to marriage. Namely, both partners must have a strong faith and share the same religion.
That makes a peaceful household, and that’s just what Christian Mingle specializes in. Christian Mingle finds Christians for other Christians. Of course, even within that niche, there are many uneven matches.
That’s why Christian Mingle aims to find out what kind of Christian you are and how often you attend church. The site offers matchmaking as well as wild card suggestions.
Though the membership is small, at about 12 million, the site is the fastest-growing Christian dating site in the world!
>>Find a perfect Christian match by visiting Christian Mingle today!
14. JDate – Best Dating Sites App for Jewish Dating
Pros
- Intelligent Jewish matchmaking
- Or date a few wild cards too
- Detailed questionnaire & profiles
- Jewish lifestyle questionnaire
- Secure & discreet dating
Cons
- Not much of a free preview
- Basic web design
Pricing
- $29.99/mo for 6 months
- $44.99/mo for 3 months
- $59.99 for 1 month
JDate wants to play matchmaker in the most “traditional” way possible, in the words of Tevye!
Yes, this Jewish-focused dating site wants to find a perfect match, not among just anyone, but someone who understands the Jewish culture and heritage.
Of the many best dating sites, JDate really has its heart in the right place.
While most other online dating sites offer basic matchmaking, JDate wants to know what sect or religion you belong to, whether or not you’re kosher, and what synagogues you attend.
Along with access to an authentic local Jewish community, you also get advanced search filters, a personality questionnaire, and a safe and secure environment.
JDate seems more focused on meaningful relationships and marriages than just casual or discreet dating.
But if you’re serious about finding someone who understands you and respects your family, this is one of the best options for finding a perfect (Jewish) match.
>>Find meaningful connections with someone who truly understands you at JDate!
Popular Dating Site FAQs
These are some of the most prominent questions people have when it comes to the best dating sites.
What are the top 10 dating sites?
The top 10 dating sites, in terms of downloads and traffic, include:
However, some social non-dating sites like Reddit, Instagram, and Snapchat have become just as popular for finding compatible matches in a more natural setting.
Which of the best dating apps have live chat rooms?
Of the many other best dating apps, Friend Finder is one of the few to have multiple text chat rooms.
However, Zoosk also has live video chat rooms in its Zoosk Live community. Zoosk Live is a video-sharing site similar to TikTok or Instagram but with an online dating slant.
What are the most popular dating sites?
The most popular dating site is Tinder, at least according to total downloads.
However, finding the best dating sites is more difficult than just downloading the most popular name.
You have to consider the dating app’s range of features, total dating pool count, and which demographics the dating app attracts.
Zoosk has quite a diverse audience, with many older and younger users. Tinder is well known for attracting younger users. Elite Singles attracts successful, career-minded singles, often looking for sugar daddy dating.
Do people still use affair dating sites like AshleyMadison, for example?
Ashley Madison is an ideal choice if you are interested in discreet dating.
However, not everyone likes Ashley Madison because of its controversial “Have an affair” tagline. This implies many of its users’ relationships are extramarital and not fully disclosed.
Should I try the most popular dating sites and apps or try a new one?
The most popular dating sites and apps have more members and a better chance of finding a local match quickly.
However, different dating sites – especially niches of top dating sites – may provide you with totally different experiences.
Using a Jewish dating site like JDate, or a Christian dating site like Christian Mingle, can put you in touch with people who share your culture and lifestyle.
It’s perfectly okay to try popular dating sites and sign up on niche online dating sites to compare your results.
Which of the most popular dating sites can help you find a serious relationship?
The most popular dating sites have all helped some people to find serious relationships.
However, none of the best dating sites can guarantee you a date, a happy family life, or even a guaranteed fling.
It depends on how much you’re willing to do to attract someone, stay in contact with them, and show them a good time.
What helps is considering compatible matches and what the best dating sites actually say about your dating style. Some paid dating sites, like Zoosk and eHarmony, offer detailed reports that tell you what the site has observed about your dating patterns.
Paying closer attention to this information could help you change the way you date and take a step forward to a more ideal relationship for you.
What are the best dating sites that are completely free?
The best dating sites that are completely free include Reddit R4R and Craigslist.
However, many prefer to use other popular dating sites with at least limited premium features. Other free dating apps to consider include Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge.
What are the top dating sites for Christians?
Some of the top dating sites for Christians include Christian Mingle and eHarmony.
However, mainstream dating sites like Zoosk and Silver Singles also have a high Christian population. You can always filter your searches when trying a larger dating site.
What is the most popular dating site for LGBTQ singles?
The most popular dating site for LGBTQ is a tie between Grindr and HER.
Both dating apps have a larger following. However, mainstream dating sites like Zoosk, Elite Singles, and Friend Friend also have filters for queer dating.
The Best Dating Sites To Help Your Love Life
If you’re not sure what you want when looking for the best free dating site, then maybe it’s time for a change.
Paid dating sites can give you more of what you what, including the features that matter. These other dating apps might include live video chat, dating style reports, and more intelligent matchmaking AI.
After a comprehensive overview of best dating sites, we decided that Zoosk offered the most practical features and a very flexible approach to dating.
Zoosk has diverse demographics, multiple ways to search for potential matches, and an easy way to filter searches according to what you want from dating. That includes casual, friends-with-benefits, or serious relationships.
Rather than blindly using the same free dating app again, why not let the best dating sites work for you and help you get better-quality matches?
