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. Women over 50 may feel overlooked in the dating world. Rather than superficially swiping through younger generations, online dating allows mature 50-year-old women to meet serious partners for free. We've reviewed and rated some of our favorite older dating sites to help mature women enjoy online dating and find a suitable match.

Dating sites with free messaging appeal to singles who want to save money and meet new people. But can free dating services work as well as paid dating services? That’s a tall order, even for the most popular apps in the world.

Online dating can offer a world of romantic opportunities, but it can involve some give and take from users. As in, if you don’t give certain platforms your money, then it could take quite a bit of time and effort to find a good match.

We’ve broken down the payment systems of the most popular dating platforms to help online daters keep their costs low and expectations high. Here are our rankings for the best dating sites with free messaging features.

1. Match.com

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Friends, Dates, and Relationships

Match System:Browse by zip, age, appearance, more

Our Experts Say:“Match has facilitated the most dates and relationships of any dating site, and its large audience and high success rate make it our top review...” Full Review»

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Match.com pretty much wrote the book on online dating. This premier dating website launched in 1995 long before swiping, behavioral matching, and location-based searching even existed.

From the beginning, Match focused on identifying mutual compatibility and inspiring long-term relationships. Its match algorithm has gotten more sophisticated over time, and it now uses a combination of profile information and browsing history to predict which couples will make the best match.

It’s free to join Match, complete your dating profile, and send likes to anyone who catches your eye. Members can also send free messages to anyone in their Top Picks list as well as to any premium member who messages first.

2. EliteSingles

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Serious Relationships

Match System:Search, Receive Partner Suggestions

Our Experts Say:“EliteSingles is a leading dating site just for busy, single professionals. More than 80% of members have earned a college degree, and most are looking for a serious commitment...” Full Review»

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Elite Singles is a dating site for professionals who don’t want to settle for second-rate dates. It’s free to create a dating profile and send likes, smiles, and photo requests to anyone online.

The basic membership is a good introduction to the Elite Singles network. There is no obligation to upgrade, but doing so will give you access to member photos and messaging.

Elite Singles isn’t a totally free dating site, but mature daters enjoy that prestigious quality it has going for it. Over 80% of Elite Singles members have graduated from college, and over 90% are looking for a serious relationship, so it could be worth investing in this quality-driven dating space.

3. eharmony

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Casual Dates, Deep Relationships

Match System:Personality test suggests matches

Our Experts Say:“Accounting for 2% of U.S. marriages, eharmony's compatibility-based system and commitment-minded user base are ideal for those seeking a serious relationship...” Full Review»

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When eharmony entered the online dating scene in 2000, it offered a solution to help single adults stop playing games and find their perfect match. Today, the dating website and app have united more than 2 million couples in the U.S.

Free members have limited messaging options on eharmony, but it’s enough to get the ball rolling, make a connection, and land a hot date. Once you’ve completed your profile and taken the Compatibility Quiz, you can send icebreaker quizzes to any eharmony member and you can respond to messages from highly compatible singles near you.

The eharmony team puts a cap on the number of messages free members can exchange, so you may want to exchange contact information quickly or upgrade to a premium membership to make sure your online crush doesn’t slip away.

4. Zoosk

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Fun Dates, Serious Relationships

Match System:Search and get match recommendations

Our Experts Say:“Zoosk is integrated with social media sites, like Facebook and Google+, so it's very popular with singles on the go...” Full Review»

Browse Free:View Photos Now

Zoosk is a free online dating site with a ton of messaging and matching options. As soon as you sign up, you can send likes, winks, and greetings for free — no subscription or mutual matching required.

Zoosk does put some communication tools behind a paywall, but free members can work around its rules and get to know premium members with verified photos and phone numbers.

This flirtatious atmosphere is great for chatty singles on a budget. The Zoosk network includes over 40 million profiles around the world. Every day, Zoosk members exchange over 3 million messages, and many of those conversations lead to a first date or hangout.

5. SilverSingles

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Friendship, Casual Dates, Serious Relationships

Match System:Search by age, location, height, education, ethnicity, and religion

Our Experts Say:“SilverSingles is a fast-growing, easy-to-use niche dating site exclusively for active daters over the age of 50...” Full Review»

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SilverSingles offers an online dating site and chat app dedicated to the senior population. That means anyone over 50 is welcome to join and explore date possibilities within their age range.

The free SilverSingles membership includes some messaging capabilities. For instance, the site has prewritten greetings available, and users can send smiles to initiate a mutual match. However, you’ll need to get a paid membership to have a full-on private conversation on the SilverSingles site or app.

SilverSingles focuses on personal compatibility when recommending potential matches, and its detail-oriented profiles make it easy to find common ground. A single person can mingle in a mature dating scene thanks to this first-rate dating platform.

6. ChristianMingle

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Dates and Serious Relationships

Match System:Search by gender, age, education, more

Our Experts Say:“ChristianMingle is among the largest dating sites in the industry that only caters to single Christian men and women, and the site has some of the best search filters and safety features...” Full Review»

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ChristianMingle has made a name for itself as the most popular online dating website and app for Christian singles. More than 80% of ChristianMingle members attend church regularly, and 100% are seeking a Christian partner to take home to their parents.

Since 2001, ChristianMingle has seen over 15 million registrations, and the site has collected heartwarming testimonials from people whose faith led them to a loving relationship.

This niche dating service offers some free instant messaging between local singles who meet each other’s match criteria. However, to keep spam and fake profiles to a minimum, ChristianMingle only offers unlimited chatting to paid members.

7. OurTime.com

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Dates and Relationships

Match System:Search by profiles by zip and more

Our Experts Say:“OurTime is well-known in the over-50 dating crowd, particularly because it has a ton of helpful search features and an easy layout...” Full Review»

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OurTime is a premium online dating service where singles over 50 can chat with someone their own age. And it doesn’t cost anything to join.

The free messaging system on OurTime is more accurately a free replying system. Free members can reply to messages from premium members — they cannot send unsolicited messages to other users. This can somewhat limit your date options, especially for straight men because women don’t typically message first, but it also cuts down on the spam you’ll receive in your inbox.

8. BlackPeopleMeet

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Deep Relationships or Just Casual Dates

Match System:Search by location, age, more

Our Experts Say:“BlackPeopleMeet.com is the one of the largest and most popular dating sites for black and biracial singles, and the site is used by more than 5 million people a month...” Full Review»

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BlackPeopleMeet has created a diverse chat room devoted to singles in the Black community. The majority of BPM members identify as African American, Caribbean, biracial, multiracial, or just plain Black.

This free dating site and mobile app has unlocked some messaging features for free members with verified profile pictures. As long as you keep things 100, you’ll be able to reply to incoming messages and get to know Black dates prospects in the U.S. and Canada.

“I just want to say I have found true love,” said a former BPM member in an online testimonial. “I am terminating my membership since I have found the woman I am to spend the rest of my life with.”

9. Ashley Madison

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Hookups, Casual Dates, Affairs

Match System:Search by age, location, appearance, and more

Our Experts Say:“With its massive user base and advanced privacy features, Ashley Madison is the #1 site for discreet hookups, dates, or relationships...” Full Review»

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Ashley Madison is a married dating site that encourages discreet connections between single and not-so-single folks. Members don’t have to upload a photo or use their real names to meet new people through this online dating service.

All women have the power to read and respond to messages for free, and they can also write an automated Quick Reply to members who have liked their dating profile. Men can like or favorite profiles for free, but they have to spend credits to unlock conversation windows.

More than 60 million people have sought sexual relationships and affairs on Ashley Madison, and over 470,000 new users sign up every month.

“We encourage our members to be kind, courteous, and well-mannered,” the Ashley Madison team said. “To get the most out of your experience, please treat others as though you are speaking to them face to face.”

10. BeNaughty

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Hookups, Chats

Match System:Search by encounter, location, and more

Our Experts Say:“BeNaughty is a premier hookup app where you can feel comfortable expressing your desires. Plus, it's free to join, browse, and flirt...” Full Review»

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BeNaughty is a sex site with unlimited free messaging available to all female members — and some free chat options for guys as well.

Single men can browse BeNaughty for free and like or favorite profiles that stand out to them. They also have the option to send a free automated greeting to all users who match their search requirements. BeNaughty will even suggest flirty messages that get good response rates.

All women can send private messages on BeNaughty without paying a single dime, but men will have to subscribe to a one-day, one-week, or one-month subscription to get messaging privileges. These subscription packages cost less than a dollar a day, so it shouldn’t bust your budget to say hi to a single lady.

11. Adult Friend Finder

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Hookups Only

Match System:Search by location, interest, more

Our Experts Say:“Make no mistake: this site isn't about making friends, it's about short-term 'hookups' and affairs only. Note that a basic account costs $14.95/month, but it's well worth it if casual sex is your goal...”

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Adult Friend Finder boasts having the world’s largest sex and swinger community because more than 102 million people have signed up since its launch in 1996.

The AFF community has a lot of free networking capabilities. For instance, members can join the dating forums, which feature over 14 million group discussions, or they can browse live chat and video broadcasts featuring AFF’s hottest members.

Sending online flirts is free on Adult Friend Finder, but only premium members can exchange instant messages through the sex-driven dating site.

12. FriendFinder-X

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Hookups Only

Match System:Search by location, interest, more

Our Experts Say:“A hookup site specializing in casual encounters, secret affairs, live chats, and member videos, FriendFinder-X skips the awkward 'dating' stage of a relationship and fast-forwards straight to the sex...”

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FriendFinder-X is an online site for adults seeking sex, so it doesn’t waste time with unnecessary questionnaires and potential match requirements. All it needs is an email address, age, gender, and location to comb the dating scene for viable dates.

It’s not totally free to message folks on FriendFinder-X, but you can send virtual flirts and auto-reply greetings to get the ball rolling. The Message Center allows users to read incoming messages, but the only way to engage in a sexting conversation is by getting a paid membership.

13. Flirt.com

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Hookups, Casual Dating, Chats

Match System:Search by age, location, gender, orientation, and other factors

Our Experts Say:“Flirt.com frees singles to chat with attractive locals and pick up dates on the spot. This hookup site is always open to horny and sexy people seeking one-night stands, casual dating, threesomes, and other sexual encounters...”

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Flirt.com is yet another sex site that provides free messaging to all women. It is totally and completely free for women to send flirts, prewritten greetings, and text messages to any members they fancy.

Men have some dynamic messaging options available on Flirt.com as well, but they may find it’s worth paying about $1 a day to contact local singles on the dating site. A paid membership is 100% optional and comes with a satisfaction guarantee for members who have been active on the site for three months and haven’t been satisfied with their online dating experience.

14. MenNation

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Daters & Hookups

Match System:Search by age, zip code, more

Our Experts Say:“MenNation is a well-established gay dating and hookup brand, having been founded in 1996. It's totally free to join, view profiles, receive matches, and flirt...”

Browse Free:View Photos Now

MenNation is a casual dating site for men who hope to score with a hot local guy. Gay, bisexual, bi-curious, and queer men can have a ball flirting in this sex-driven scene.

The free messaging options on MenNation include liking profiles and commenting on member blogs. You can add a profile to your Hot List to make it easier to find later. MenNation gives men the ability to exchange emails, voicemails, and photos in total privacy, and it’s a great wingman if your top priority is to get laid.

15. LesbianPersonals.com

Our expert ratings are based on factors such as popularity, usability, value, and success rate of each site.

Relationships:Hookups Only

Match System:Search by location, interest, more

Our Experts Say:“LesbianPersonals provides a fun, quick, and easy experience for gay and bisexual women looking for sex online. Join for free, and you'll be able to search and communicate immediately...”

Browse Free:View Photos Now

As a female-friendly dating service, LesbianPersonals gives real women the opportunity to come out of their shell and make a sexy connection. Tons of lesbian singles, married couples, and poly groups have used this hookup site to seduce beautiful women through private messaging or video chat.

Free members can show interest by liking each other’s personal ad. They are also free to post in discussion forums geared toward lesbian dating. LesbianPersonals has premium messaging available for women who want to flirt in private. The site encourages its paid members to exchange photos and post videos to show off their looks and attract hot dates.

16. Tinder

The Tinder dating app made a big splash in 2012 by offering free messaging to all users who form a mutual match by liking each other’s dating profile. Its swiping system is now responsible for creating over 43 billion matches in 190 countries.

Tinder empowers singles to find a potential partner by swiping right on anyone they find attractive and messaging folks who show mutual interest.

Tinder users can chat with their mutual matches for free.

As a free dating app, Tinder allows unlimited instant messaging between matches, but it does put a limit on the number of likes a free member can send. Some proactive singles choose to upgrade to Tinder Plus or Tinder Gold because they want to have unlimited likes, swipe outside their hometowns, and boost their profile’s visibility so they will get a little more action online.

17. Bumble

Bumble became known as the feminist dating app in 2014 because it empowered single women to set the tone in their chats with men. Messaging is absolutely free on Bumble, and the only catch is that you have to form a mutual match and men have to wait for women to send the first message before they can respond.

As of 2020, Bumble exceeded 100 million members and counted itself among the fastest-growing dating apps in the world.

Bumble has a unique messaging system that always puts single women first.

When Bumble creates an opposite-sex match, the iOS and Android app gives the woman 24 hours to say something. If she doesn’t send a message, the man can use the Extend option to give her another 24 hours to message, or the conversation window will be deleted.

18. Hinge

Hinge is a quality-driven dating app where singles can match and message without paying anything. The only reason to upgrade to a paid membership is if you want to get more match filters, see who has liked you, and send unlimited likes per day.

It’s definitely possible to meet someone on Hinge without upgrading — that’s how my boyfriend I met over a year ago — and all it takes is a like or a comment on a photo to spark a meaningful connection.

The Hinge app gives users a chance can get to know one another on a deeper level.

Hinge has gotten many positive reviews over the years because it has staked out a middle ground between casual dating apps and paid dating sites. It doesn’t charge users to send messages, and it doesn’t support mindless swiping, so it’s a great option for anyone who wants to get serious in the dating scene.

19. OkCupid

OkCupid is a completely free dating site and app with instant messaging options available to all users at all times. No hidden fees, no obligations, and no catches.

Well, maybe there is one catch. As of 2017, only mutual matches can engage in a conversation on OkCupid. That means you can send a first message for free to any OkCupid user, but that person has to like your dating profile before you can send another message. So, be sure to word your first message carefully.

You don’t need a paid membership to chat on the OkCupid dating service.

Singles never have to pay anything to send and receive messages on OkCupid. There isn’t a message limit or a free trial period. However, OkCupid does have an A-List subscription plan to give online daters a little extra boost. A-Listers can see who has liked their dating profile, send unlimited likes, and use advanced search filters to make grade-A matches.

Best Rated Free Dating Sites In The Word

Many online daters have said subscribing to A-List seems pointless when free members already have the messaging tools to get dates, but some singles don’t mind having a little extra support in the romance department.

20. Plenty of Fish

Plenty of Fish has won the hearts of over 150 million users because it has completely free messaging with very few limitations. This dating site and app keep costs low and don’t charge users for the pleasure of contacting each other.

Plenty of Fish does not require free members to create a mutual match before sending messages to each other. Anyone can send a flirtatious greeting and engage in a conversation on this dating site and app.

POF creates over 57 million new connections every week.

The POF community has a lot to offer singles on a budget. It sees over 4 million unique visits a day and has features that actually help local singles get in touch with each other.

Some dating platforms may offer more targeted searches or match recommendations, but, if you’re mostly interested in free communication, there’s no comparison. The online site provides tons of chatting opportunities, and POF users can send up to 55 first messages per day.

21. Coffee Meets Bagel

Coffee Meets Bagel (also known as CMB) is a dating app designed to spark interesting conversations and real-life relationships. Three sisters in Silicon Valley launched the app in 2012 because they wanted to cut through the noise by fostering a more streamlined and curated dating experience.

The CMB app limits the number of likes and matches users can create each day, but it doesn’t have any restrictions or paywalls when it comes to messaging your mutual matches.

CoffeeMeetsBagel began as a passion project of three entrepreneuring women.

It’s free to create a CMB profile, send likes, and message anyone who likes you back. The app’s simplified design and smart matching system encourage serious dates to focus on a few date prospects at once so they’re not spreading themselves too thin in the swiping scene.

“In the world of online dating, messaging is what bridges the gap between seeing someone’s profile and going out on a date with them,” a CMB user said in a blog post. “Use questions to start the conversation and to keep it going but don’t be excessive.”

22. Grindr

Grindr is a gay dating app that supports a flirtatious free-for-all because its messaging features are 100% free. Men have the option to chat with any guy who likes their dating profile, and the only limit is they can only view a certain number of new profiles a day.

Since 2009, over 27 million men have downloaded Grindr on their smartphones and used its free location-based matching to spark an instant connection.

As one of the world’s largest gay dating apps, Grindr sees nearly 3 million views per day.

All messaging is free on Grindr, but some singles choose to upgrade to Grindr Xtra to get more premium features and perks. The paid subscription plan offers additional filters, a discreet app icon, message-read receipts, quick-send photos, and saved chat messages.

Plus, Grindr subscribers enjoy an ad-free browsing experience, which means they don’t have to worry about pop-up ads interrupting the conversation’s flow.

23. HER

By consistently putting safety first, HER has grown into its role as the top dating app for women seeking women. A lesbian woman launched the women-only social network in 2012, and it has never expected women to pay for matches or messaging features.

Once you’ve downloaded the HER app and created a profile, you’ll have access to an endless newsfeed of photos, statuses, and events shared by women in the local LGBTQ+ community. If you see someone you like, you can click the thumbs-up icon or send an initial message to spark a love match.

HER is a social dating app where lesbian, queer, and bisexual womxn can find their person.

HER has over 4 million members worldwide, and every dating profile has to pass a two-step authentication system to make the cut. The HER team uses Facebook profile information to guarantee a woman is who she says she is.

What are the Different Types of Messaging on Dating Sites?

Dating sites have developed many different ways to communicate with potential matches. Singles can send likes, text messages, icebreaker questions, quizzes, and pre-written pickup lines, depending on the platform they’re on. Some dating platforms also give users the option to exchange photos, leave voice messages, or video chat.

What Does “Free” Mean on Dating Sites?

A lot of dating sites claim to be totally free when they’re really only free to join. Some sites may encourage singles to complete the 100% free registration process only to lock them out of their inbox, hide their notifications, or blur other members’ photos until the free member becomes a paid member.

Online daters should always be cautious when they see the word “free” applied to a dating site or app. Those free services may include profile browsing and match suggestions, but it may stop short of offering free messaging.

Free dating sites and apps will usually have some paid features for premium users.

You can look at the payment policy or subscription plan description to find out the true cost of an online dating site. Sometimes a free membership will include everything you need to chat with users and pick up dates, and sometimes you’ll have a better online dating experience if you upgrade to a premium subscription. It’s totally your call.

How Do Paid Dating Sites Work?

Paid dating sites can offer greater security and more curated matches for singles who are serious about meeting someone special. They basically set up a cover charge to ensure only authentic daters can send messages and build online relationships.

It’s usually free to create a dating profile on a paid dating site, but premium features like messaging will be behind a paywall. You can browse the site for as long as you want without paying anything; however, you’ll only truly be able to meet someone once you’ve paid for a subscription.

Are Free Dating Sites Safe?

Yes, free dating sites are relatively safe places to meet new people. Even the ones that offer completely free messaging typically have some verification tools and harassment reporting systems to keep scammers and fake profiles at bay.

A free dating site offers a level playing field for singles to pursue their fantasies, but not everyone goes into it with good intentions. Online daters ought to be aware that a stranger they meet online may not always be telling the truth. It’s important to vet all potential dates through text conversations, online searches, and even phone calls or video dates to make sure he or she has nothing to hide.

Free dating sites cannot always catch every romance scammer and catfisher in the database.

Online dating is safe as long as you look out for red flags and keep your guard up when meeting someone new. Do not get involved with someone who doesn’t respect your boundaries.

If a person is pressuring you to send them money, meet in a private place, or do anything you’re not comfortable with, then you should sever contact immediately. No exceptions. An online relationship is not worth risking your safety or compromising your values, and there are many other fish in the sea.

How Do I Go About Choosing the Best Dating Site?

Just go with your instincts. Every dating site and app on this list has a large user base and solid matching features, so it’s just a matter of figuring out which one appeals the most to your dating style. For instance if you are serious about settling down, then eharmony may be the right dating site for you, but if you’re looking for something more casual, a free dating app like Tinder could work just fine.

Free Dating Sites Can Save You Money & Time

Most dating sites and apps offer some form of free communication to help singles meet one another. But only a handful offer 100% free messaging for all users all the time. That’s why it’s important to do your research, talk to your friends, and figure out which dating service can meet your needs without overextending your budget.

Dating sites with free messaging can strike a good balance between low-cost services and efficient matchmaking. However, singles may have to put in some extra hustle to make up for the fact that they don’t have premium features helping them out.

We’ve ranked some of the most popular free dating platforms to make it clear what you can expect to get for your $0 membership. It may not always be easy, but a free membership on a dating site or app can be enough to swipe, match, and get something going in the dating scene. Good luck!

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I’m friends with a single mom who joined her first dating site not that long ago. Like most singles seeking a fresh start, she chose one of the largest dating sites out there. It was also 100% free. She thought she was doing the right thing, but the dating platform had thousands of people for her to sort through and not enough features to help her do that. To make matters worse, dozens of unscreened matches and messages flooded her inbox every day. She couldn’t keep up with it all. Online dating had become work, not fun, so she deleted her dating profile without going out with a single person.

Truth be told, if my friend had done a little bit of research before she joined the dating site, she would’ve seen that there’s an online dating service for just about everything — from Jewish singles to single parent dating — and all of them offer something a little bit different from the rest.

Of course, most singles don’t have the time or inclination to do a lot of in-depth research in the dating world, and that’s what we’re here for.

Reviewing dating sites is our job, and we love finding different dating sites to help singles. So, we have ranked seven types of dating websites and apps that the average dater should know about and then gone the extra mile to select the best dating sites and apps in every niche category we could think of.

Oh, and just for good measure, our experts answered some frequently asked questions about meeting new people through an online dating service. Let’s get to it!

1. Most Popular Dating Sites

In our consideration, the most popular dating sites are the ones that receive the most positive comments and high star ratings from users. We rely on word on the digital street to help us identify the platforms we ought to try, and then we rate the dating sites based on their affordability, ease of use, safety features, and, most importantly, success rates.

The local dating pool is much easier to navigate when you have a popular dating site or app in your back pocket.

Here are our picks for the top dating sites for online daters seeking romance and love.

Best Overall: Match

Match.com was founded in 1995 and has been a pioneer in the dating industry ever since. No other dating website has been responsible for more dates, relationships, and marriages than Match. Not only that, but with over 13.5 million people visiting Match every month from more than 50 countries, no other dating website has anywhere near the same reach.

The basic membership is free and includes unlimited browsing and some communication options. Every online dating profile contains a good mix of photos, written responses, tags, and demographic details, so it’s easy to judge compatibility at a glance.

Match is the best online dating site for singles who are serious about meeting someone special and don’t want to mess around with too much superficial swiping and endless chatting.

Best for Mobile: Zoosk

If you’re always busy and on your phone all the time, like most of us are, then we’d highly recommend Zoosk. In 2007, the Zoosk dating website came into being, and it was one of the first major dating sites to integrate its match tools into an online dating app.

Zoosk allows fast signups through Facebook or Google profiles, and it doesn’t require a new person to upload a photo to explore the user base.

We consider Zoosk to be among the best mobile dating apps because it has been downloaded over 30 million times, and its customer reviews are consistently positive. Plus, Zoosk members get a lot of communication tools for free, and the paid subscription plan is affordably priced for those singles who want an upgrade.

Best for Serious Relationships: eharmony

Launched by clinical psychologist Dr. Neil Clark Warren in 2000, eharmony.com is a go-to if you want a serious, long term relationship with someone who meets or exceeds all your expectations. The eharmony dating site has inspired over 2 million relationships in the U.S. alone, and it creates a new potential match every 15 minutes.

One of eharmony’s biggest claim to fame is its unique in-depth matchmaking system that compares 32 dimensions of compatibility to identify which members will hit it off with each other and create a relationship that lasts in the long run.

If you want to learn even more about the top dating sites and apps, then take a look at our full reviews of Match, Zoosk, and eharmony:

Any of these sites or apps could introduce you to new people and help you get your footing in a fast-paced and exciting online dating scene.

2. Hookup Sites

Online dating isn’t just for finding a date or relationship — it’s also a great way to find a casual hookup, a secret affair, or a one-night stand. However, not all hookup websites are created equal. There are legit dating sites you’ll want to join, and then there are sketchy dating sites you’ll want to avoid. Here’s what you need to know about the best casual dating sites:

Best Hookup Sites: BeNaughty

Best Rated Free Dating Sites In The Word Search

BeNaughty is a hookup site that is among the cream of the crop in the online dating scene. With cool features like instant messaging and location-based matching, this dating platform will help you find no-strings-attached adult fun in no time.

Communication is 100% free to all BeNaughty members with an approved profile picture and a valid email address, so nothing will stand between you and a hot date here.

Best Affair App: Ashley Madison

If you’re hoping to date on the down low — as in, without a significant other finding out what you’re up to — then a mainstream dating app like Tinder may not be the best choice. For one thing, it’s super well-known as a dating app, and you could very well run into someone you know in real life there.

Fortunately, an affair dating app like Ashley Madison can help single and not-so-single people meet more discreetly and anonymously. Ashley Madison has some great undercover features, including the ability to blur or mask your face in photos, and it takes great pains to protect user privacy.

Dating Websites List

Best Sugar Daddy Site: Seeking Arrangement

Sugar daddy sites can get a bad reputation for having too many fake profiles or inactive users, but we’ve found some that make an effort to only support authentic singles seeking an age-gap romance or relationship.

Seeking Arrangement has over 13 million members, all of whom have been verified as authentic. This sugar daddy site can verify incomes and profile pictures to ensure that its women are really beautiful and its men are really rich, so newcomers don’t have to worry about getting conned by something too good to be true.

Sugar daddies and sugar babies come together on Seeking Arrangement to lay their cards on the table, play to their strengths, and find a potential partner who’s willing to engage in a special arrangement.

Some Free Hookup Sites to Avoid: Craigslist and Backpage

When you’re searching for the top sex site, you’ll often find ones that claim they’re 100% free. While that certainly sounds appealing, we’d suggest staying away from these services, including Craigslist and Backpage. We’ve all heard or read the horror stories about people on Craigslist pretending to be someone they’re not, and the Craigslist personals section and Backpage were actually shut down altogether in 2018 because they’d become overrun by criminal activity and sex trafficking.

You can avoid running into scams, fake profiles, and unsavory characters by joining a reputable hookup site like BeNaughty. Not only do they offer a free membership that doesn’t cost anything, but they also use anti-scammer technology to ensure their members stay safe from start to finish.

3. Christian Dating Sites

Finding someone who has the same religious beliefs and values is important to a lot of people, particularly Christians, and online dating can make that search much easier and quicker.

When it comes to Christian dating, one site has consistently proven itself to be leader and savior for people of faith.

Best Christian Dating Site: ChristianMingle

One of the best Christian dating sites on the web is ChristianMingle. More than 2.4 million Christian singles use the site every month, and the search filters even let you sort by keywords like “bible study.”

ChristianMingle creates potential match list of people who share similar interests, backgrounds, and beliefs, and its values-driven dating service has proven effective over time. In fact, ChristianMingle is currently the most popular Christian dating site for finding love and marriage in the Christian faith.

4. Senior (Over 50) Dating Sites

Online dating for seniors can be intimidating, especially if they’ve just been through a divorce, lost a partner, or aren’t that tech savvy. But it doesn’t have to be so difficult to start again. Mature singles over 50 can use a premium dating website or app to meet people in the same age range.

Here’s our rankings of the top senior dating sites:

Best Dating Site for Singles in their 50s: OurTime

OurTime.com is dedicated to singles over 50 and has a quick signup process and clean interface, making the entire process very easy to manage and understand. This is easily one of the top senior dating sites of all time, and we think it’s best for singles in their 50s looking to connect.

It takes less than five minutes to create a dating profile on OurTime, and doing so could open you up to age-appropriate dating prospects throughout the globe.

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Best Dating Site for Singles in Their 60s: SeniorFriendsDate

SeniorFriendsDate is a free dating site for retired professionals who don’t have the cash to waste on premium dating service and matchmaking tools. These savvy senior singles just want to chat without spending a cent of their savings on the deal, and that’s what SeniorFriendsDate has to offer.

You can create a profile on SeniorFriendsDate, browse other members’ dating profiles, and send messages to anyone you like all for free. The site promises to remove any underage daters and fake profiles, so this mature dating network should be to your liking.

Best Dating Site for Singles in Their 70s: SilverSingles

As you get up there in age, it’s natural for your dating prospects to start to disappear and fade a bit. It’s also natural to have less patience for incompatible dates and matches. Singles in their 70s don’t have time to mess around, so they look for a quality-driven dating platform like SilverSingles to get something going.

We’ve ranked this among the top senior dating sites because it uses an in-depth personality test to pair up couples with the most in common, and you can set your preferences for age, appearance, income, and other important factors.

SilverSingles can help a person in their 70s dust off their flirting skills and meet someone worth going out on a first date again.

5. Gay & Lesbian Dating Sites

While you may think you have to use an LGBTQ-specific dating site if you’re an LGBT single, that’s not really the case. There are plenty of conventional sites that are also among the top websites for gay dating and the top lesbian date sites.

With over 1.5 million gay members and more than 1 million lesbian members, Match is one of them. Zoosk is another fantastic choice, particularly if you’re looking for a quality mobile dating experience.

However, if you would rather skip the mainstream and find some queer-friendly date options, you can check out these gay and lesbian dating platforms.

Best Dating App for Gay Men: Grindr

This is probably a no-brainer, but Grindr is by far the best gay dating app on the market. It’s the most popular — over 27 million members worldwide — and it has some of the most effective location-based matching tools you’ll find on any dating app anywhere.

Since 2009, Grindr has made waves in the gay dating pool by offering a men-only dating system that works. You can low-key swipe through dating profiles to meet guys who are ready and willing to go on a date.

Grindr was designed to satisfy gay men seeking a casual hookup or romantic tryst, and it never stops working on your behalf.

Best Dating App for Lesbian Women: HER

The online dating scene can be pretty tough for lesbian women who are ready to find a potential partner for life but keep running into requests for casual hookups and threesomes. Fortunately, a lesbian woman named Robyn Exton has embarked on a mission to aid queer women with an online dating app called simply HER.

The HER dating app is free to download, and it offers a lot of free networking and chatting tools to help womxn break the ice. You can comment on someone’s photo or RSVP to a local queer event to get noticed on the app.

If you want to meet a woman and start a serious relationship, the HER network will be there to make the proper introductions, support the LGBTQ community, and keep the creepers at bay. What more could a lesbian dater ask for?

Best Dating Site for Bisexual Singles: BiCupid.com

With over 1.6 million members, BiCupid has claimed the title as the world’s largest dating site for bisexual men and women.

This free dating site can help bisexuals find a potential date based on their unique dating preferences and dealbreakers. Most dating sites and apps require users to choose one gender or the other when browsing dating profiles, but BiCupid liberates bisexual and bi-curious online daters to pursue anyone they fancy regardless of that person’s gender, orientation, or sexual identity.

But wait, there’s more! BiCupid has recently launched a companion app that offers all the same matchmaking and search technology in a more mobile-friendly interface.

Best Dating Sites for Transgender Singles

A lot of so-called ladyboy or tranny dating sites treat transgender singles like they’re a fetish or a sexual object rather than a living breathing person hoping for a genuine connection. That’s why we’ve highlighted some upstanding transgender dating sites for singles in the LGBTQ community.

Sites like MyTranssexualDate.com have created thriving communities around the idea that people of all orientations and gender identities deserve to find love. These niche sites can offer a welcoming world of romance for singles willing to take the plunge and create a free dating profile.

6. Free Dating Sites

Free doesn’t necessarily have to mean a cheap or low-quality experience. The best free dating sites are the ones that give you every chance of success without any hidden fees or other barriers. We’re happy to say all of the sites on our list are 100% free to create a profile, upload photos, browse for and receive matches, and communicate.

Best Free Dating Site: OkCupid

Back in 2004, OkCupid launched with a pretty ambitious plan to offer a completely free dating service with a lengthy personality test and data-driven matching algorithm. The OkCupid site and app have thrived because the team has never wavered from the promise to provide high-quality matches and chatting for free.

It doesn’t cost anything to send messages on OkCupid, but you can only engage in a conversation if someone likes your dating profile. Otherwise, you’ll have to just send a flirty greeting and then move on to the next potential match.

Online daters should note that OkCupid calculates compatibility based on your profile information, answers to personal questions, and user activity, so the more data you give it, the more accurate your match ratings will be.

Every year, OkCupid creates over 91 million matches, and its free online chatting tools lead to millions of first dates and lasting relationships.

7. Dating Apps: Free vs. Best Apps

Dating apps have become extremely popular because they allow singles to date anywhere they are and at anytime, but you don’t want to just download the first dating app you happen to come across on Google Play or the App Store. Fortunately, we’ve done our homework and selected some of the best dating apps making headlines today.

Best Free Dating App for Your 20s: Zoosk

Zoosk’s much-heralded dating app lets you sign up through Facebook or Google+, so you can pull pictures and quick facts about yourself from your profiles that already exist — instead of having to spend a lot of time answering a bunch of questions. This is just one of the many reasons Zoosk is among our favorite online dating apps.

Zoosk maintains an active social network with affordable dating tools, and that’s why singles in their 20s have flocked here hoping to meet new people in their hometown or college town.

Best Totally Free Dating App: Tinder

Tinder is undeniably the biggest name in the online dating industry, so it deserves a place of honor on our list. We’ve ranked it as the best free dating app for singles of all ages, orientations, and backgrounds.

By creating a Tinder profile and swiping on daily matches, you can enjoy a casual dating experience that moves fast and suits your sensibilities. You’re in control of who can send you a message, so you can be as choosey or play the field at will.

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Tinder has created over 60 billion matches since its launch in 2012, and the app also claims to be responsible for inspiring over 1.5 million dates per week. This online dating app is fast, fun, easy, and, most importantly, completely and totally free to use.

Best Dating App for Online Chatting: PlentyOfFish (POF)

The PlentyOfFish dating platform offers 100% free communication to all users at all times with no mutual matching requirements, so it’s a great option if you want to start some interesting conversations with people in the area.

The PlentyOfFish app can give you access to over 150 million dating profiles, and users typically exchange 1 billion messages a week, so don’t be shy about saying hi to someone special here.

We’re not saying PlentyOfFish is the best dating site in the world for creating a serious long term relationship, but it can introduce you to new people who love to chat, and then it’s up to you to take it from there and see if you have any chemistry in real life.

Best Premium Dating App: Elite Singles

You could take a chance on a 100% free dating app, but, honestly, you never really know what you’re going to get. A lot of the self-proclaimed free dating apps attract scammers, liars, cheaters, and casual daters because they don’t have to invest much to carry on a conversation with a stranger and there aren’t many security measures in place to stop them.

Fortunately, a premium dating service like Elite Singles can stop scammers in their tracks by requiring all users to pay to play. This dating site only allows premium members to view photos and chat, so people with ill intents stay away.

Elite Singles is free to download, and you can browse profiles and review your daily matches for free too, but the paid communication tools put this app a step above the competition and ensures only serious daters (typically over 30) will take part in the fun.

Best Dating Apps for Relationships: Coffee Meets Bagel

Coffee Meets Bagel is the best online dating app for singles whose main goal is to get in a long-lasting and serious relationship. This app is free to download, but its matchmaking services can offer a lot of value and local dating opportunities.

The way the app works is that you receive a curated list of potential matches and can only send a limited number of likes per day. Coffee Meets Bagel encourages users to slow down and really consider their options rather than mindlessly swiping through profile after profile. As a result, Coffee Meets Bagel has made over 55 million matches and inspired thousands of relationships and marriages since its launch in 2012.

Whether you’re a cat person or a dog person, you can use this online dating service to find a potential partner who suits your lifestyle.

Best Jewish Dating Site: JDate

JDate was created in 1997 to unite Jewish singles in the dating pool. The online dating website made an overall positive impression on marriage-minded Jews and it grew into the premier Jewish matchmaker in the dating market.

As a Spark Networks site, JDate maintains an active and respectful community of singles who know what type of romantic partner they want.

Although JDate allows single people of all faiths to join its online dating network, the vast majority of JDate profiles identify with the Jewish faith or Jewish community.

Best Casual Dating App: SaucyDates

If all you want is a casual hookup, then you should seek out a free hookup app that can get the job done quickly and discreetly. Our dating experts like the SaucyDates dating app because it has a lot of street cred and the backing of a vast hookup network.

SaucyDates is a hookup site and app with instant matching, anonymous browsing, and plenty of naughty date options to go round. The SaucyDates platform is free to join and keeps things exciting by promoting and supporting adult dating opportunities every hour of every day.

Which Dating Apps Are Similar to Tinder?

Tinder is the dating app that invented the swiping and mutual matching system that is standard operating procedure for most of today’s dating services, so it’s pretty easy to find a dating app that looks and feels a lot like Tinder.

Our dating experts have gone in-depth and listed some great Tinder alternatives for anyone tired of the swiping scene, and we recommend joining two or three at a time to figure out which one suits you best.

For instance, many of my single friends like to use Hinge and Bumble at the same time because these two apps are similar to Tinder but with more relationship-oriented and female-friendly features. What does that mean exactly? On Bumble, only women can send the first message to men once a match has been formed, and on Hinge, users must like or comment on something specific on the dating profile to generate a mutual match.

Both these systems add an interesting twist to Tinder’s traditional swiping, and that can lead to more engaging conversations and respectful connections online.

Which Dating Sites Are Legit?

Many legit dating sites and apps exist in the online dating scene, and you can find them simply by scanning lists like this one. We’ve pointed out a lot of dating platforms that are guaranteed to work, and the top dating sites stand out for having some great customer reviews on Google Play, the App Store, and social media.

Sites like Match.com and eharmony have really done online dating right, and we recommend giving them a try the next time you’re in the mood to meet your perfect match.

Legit dating sites put in a lot of effort to screen new member profiles and remove unsavory characters. An algorithm can actually learn to recognize an online dating scam based on profile wording and photos. Plus, verification tools ensure a new person is genuine.

List Of Online Dating Websites

It doesn’t matter if you’re a 20-year-old college student, a 45-year-old single parent, or a 67-year-old retiree, there’s an online dating site out there for people of all types, and we’ve listed many reputable ones to give you a good idea about where to go to pick up a compatible date.

Which Dating Platforms Use Video Chat?

In 2020, video chat became a dominant force in the online dating market. Millions of online daters were stuck at home due to COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns, so they relied on the video date to keep their romantic dreams alive.

As a result, many dating sites and apps integrated video chat into their matchmaking and chat tools. Apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Coffee Meets Bagel inserted a video chat invite button for mutual matches. Meanwhile premier dating sites like eharmony have used video chat as an icebreaker or speed date event. Plenty of Fish has a video livestreaming feature. The League has host video speed dating events.

Which Dating Website Has the Best Reviews by Local Singles?

Ultimately, narrowing down all of the best dating sites out there comes down to which ones receive the best user and company reviews. Listening to singles about their online dating experiences and testing out the numerous options ourselves are the two biggest components that make up our reviews of the top 10 dating sites.

And through all of our research, we’ve determined that Match truly is the top dating website for any type of dater, while Zoosk is among the best mobile dating apps for singles on the go.

Online dating shouldn’t be frustrating and overwhelming, like it was for my friend. It should be fun to look for a potential date online! Please take a few minutes to read the information we’ve provided before taking the leap and creating an online dating profile.

Whether you’re a young adult or a single parent, you can benefit from reading reviews of the best dating sites and apps in the online dating industry. Then you’ll feel 100% confident about your decision!