Top Ten Free Dating Sites In Usa

The best online dating sites and apps have made it easier than ever before to meet potential matches. Thanks to these romantic platforms, you can scroll through a pool of prospective partners on your phone, looking for the perfect date. This could feel a little overwhelming at first, but don’t worry – most of our top picks do the legwork for you, narrowing down the pool so you’re only shown matches who meet your specific criteria.

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8 Best Free Dating Sites in 2021. With this popular app (also available on desktop), you can simply swipe through profiles – albeit with scant information on each potential. While Match.com's full services aren't free, it belongs in this list because it's a well-known. Match is one of the biggest names in online, free dating sites and has been for decades now. With over 100 million users, they’re a giant with a massive user base. This does mean though that there are a lot of fake and dead profiles. Still, it’s one of the best free online dating sites because of the user base and features available. Top 10 free dating sites in usa. Plentyoffish pof, argentina and women in this niche. Top ten free dating sites.

Many of the best online dating sites and apps now have video chats, so you have the opportunity to check you have chemistry with your match before meeting them in person. And plenty of them have additional features that make it easier to communicate with people too, via chat messages and question prompts.

We conducted quite a bit of testing to evaluate which platform was the winner out of the below. We created profiles for each platform, then calculated how many matches we made across a 24-hour period. In addition to this, we also evaluated platforms for things like useful features and safety measures that have been put in place.

On top of this, we also have round-ups of the best gay dating apps, the best dating apps for women, the best Christian dating sites, and the best senior dating sites. These guides can help you narrow down your choice, if you’re finding it difficult to pick one of our options below.

1. Match.com: Best online dating site overall

Specifications

Reasons to buy

Overall, Match.com is our favorite dating site. It has one of the best sign-up processes and it gave us a good number of high quality matches when we tested it out. On top of that, it also regularly pushes new features, like the latest video chat function that allows you to meet remotely. It even has an AI dating chatbot feature, called Lara, that will give you dating tips and advice on where to meet.

The only drawback to this site is that it has a very pared back free tier offering. Essentially, when you first sign up you can have a brief browse across other users’ photos, but you won’t be able to reach out and message them. Instead, you can send them cheeky ‘winks’ to show you’re interested.

Available as an app or via desktop, it manages to get the balance right of feeling welcoming, but not cheesy. Overall, this is definitely one that’s best-suited to people who are looking for relationships rather than short-term flings, but you’ll have to pay for a subscription to access the best features.

• Read our full Match.com review

2. OkCupid: Best free dating site

Specifications

The best thing about this platform is that it feels fresher than its rivals, eHarmony and Match.com. It's filled with vibrant colors, has a quirky sign-up process, and is packed with fun-to-use features. Like a few other modern dating platforms, it's also a site that can be used to simply forge new friendships, so it doesn't have a purely romantic focus.

It’s one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly apps that we tested, allowing users to enter a range of genders and sexualities for potential matches. We enjoyed testing out both the desktop version and the app, finding them easy to navigate, and we liked that it assesses your personality before asking you to upload photos.

Unlike apps like Tinder, you can’t get a good read on who likes you, as that visibility is only available to paying members. But as your matches come with a compatibility rating, you should be able to figure out which users are the most likely to fit well with your personality.

• Read our OkCupid review

3. Plenty of Fish: Best dating site for rural areas

Specifications

Plenty of Fish has a user base of at least 150 million people, so in theory there should be lots of members for you to match with, wherever you live. Like the other older dating platforms, the sign-up process relies on you going through a five-minute long questionnaire that analyses your personality, before you’re allowed to build a profile and upload pictures.

Previously, the site used to pride itself on its lengthy sign-up process, but now it puts its free messaging at the forefront of its advertising. You can contact up to 25 new members a day and once you’re locked in a chat with a person you can talk as much as you like.

Like the other platforms, it’s available to use as an app or via your desktop, and both versions are easy to navigate.

The only drawback with POF is that it has a narrow age range. According to Statista, the site is mostly populated with people aged 45 - 54.

• Read our full Plenty of Fish review

4. eharmony: Most thorough dating site

Specifications

This is another site that has a really bare bones free offering, which essentially lets you assess the local dating pool before you commit to getting a subscription. But we really like that the site is exclusively for people searching for long-term relationships - this should mean that everyone you match with is serious about finding a partner.

The sign-up process for eHarmony is really in-depth. It took us about 15 minutes to complete the questionnaire, which is what the company uses to pair you up with other users. You can either download the app to use the platform, or log on to the company’s website.

If you want to message other users, though, you’ll have to sign up for a subscription. It may well be worth the price - eHarmony boasts that it’s the dating site most likely to lead to a happy relationship.

• Read our full eharmony review

5. Tinder: Best for casual relationships

Specifications

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

Famous for its addictive swiping function, Tinder still has an impressively large user base that draws in a younger crowd (over half the users on there are aged between 18 and 25.) It’s free to use and you can either access it via the famous app or on the Tinder.com site.

The thing about Tinder is: it’s genuinely fun. Swiping across profiles to pick the ones you like (and reject the ones you don’t) is a little bit of an ego boost. A study from 2017 actually found that most people are on the platform to use it as a form of entertainment.

Top 10 Free Dating Site In Usa 2021

It’s definitely not as in-depth as the more established dating platforms, which try and assess your personality before matching you up with users. Instead, Tinder relies on your location, and pairs you with other singles who happen to be nearby.

All in all, this is definitely definitely best suited to people who enjoy the rush of dating, rather than singletons who are serious about settling down.

• Read our Tinder review

6. Coffee Meets Bagel: Safest dating site

Specifications

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

Coffee Meets Bagel limits the number of profiles you can view at one time, forcing you to consider the profiles you do see more carefully. The service gives male users 21 curated matches every day that they can either like or pass on. The women, in turn, get to see which men have liked them and decide whether to like them back. If they do, the matched pair can then chat for free.

Setting up your profile is fast and only requires a few quick facts about yourself and your appearance. It also uses “beans” as currency, which you can earn either by doing certain actions, like logging in often, or by simply purchasing them. You then use beans to unlock special features in the app and to “like” other user profiles.

In our tests, the maximum number of profiles we could like before running out of beans was five a day, which we would think keeps most people from being flippant about their matches. The messaging feature also has a seven-day time limit for conversation between two people, which forces you to decide whether you want to take action on that potential love connection. In general, we found that this one was populated with people who are looking for long-term relationships, rather than hook-ups.

• Read our full Coffee Meets Bagel review

7. Bumble: Best dating app for meeting new people

Specifications

Bumble’s main selling point is that it encourages ladies to make the first move. Once two people have swiped right on each other, the woman has 24 hours to message the man. But if the man is keen on the woman, he does have the option of extending that 24 hour period.

Available as both an app and via the website, Bumble is unusual in that it has completely different app modes for different types of relationships. You can use Bumble BFF if you’re just looking for new friends, Bumble Bizz if you want to make business connections and Bumble Date if you’re searching for romance. We like that it has a wide range of options for this. We also like that rather than having to narrow your search down to one particular gender, you can say that you’re interested in meeting men, women or everyone.

The main drawback with the site is that the matching system itself is a bit lacking. Other than creating a profile, you don’t enter any details on your character and what sort of person you’re hoping to meet. So you might have to do a fair bit of swiping before you find a good match.

• Read our full review of Bumble

8. Elite Singles: Best dating site for professionals

Specifications

Reasons to buy

This site boasts that the vast majority of its users have received some higher level of education, with over 80% of its members holding at least a university degree. You don’t actually have to show your qualifications to sign-up for the process, but you will have to show your wallet, as messaging isn’t free on the website or app.

What we liked most about the platform was its sign-up process and matching system. When you sign-up, you’ll go through a thorough questionnaire that evaluates your personality according to the Five Factor personality test. You’ll then be matched with other singles in line with your results; but you’ll only receive 3- 7 matches a day, so you really have to consider each one carefully.

It feels like this dating pool might have narrow appeal, though. We think this is a good fit for anyone who really wants to meet and date people from a similar educational background, but if you’re open to a wider range of characters try out one of the other options first.

• Read our full Elite Singles review

How we tested the best dating sites and apps

We spent more than a week testing more than a dozen popular dating apps and sites to figure out which are the most effective, affordable and ultimately the overall best dating apps. That meant monitoring three made-up profiles for 24 hours, collecting match data and using every feature a dating website or app comes with. We looked at which websites give free access to other users’ profile photos and messaging, and whether you have to pay to access extra features.

Sites received bonus points for having good compatibility systems, an easy to use interface and a sizeable user base for members to peruse.

How much do the best dating sites cost?

A lot of dating websites and apps advertise the fact that they’re free, but this isn't always the case. Setting up a profile is usually free, but quite a few of the apps and websites we tested only offered some of their matching services free of charge. This isn't usually the case for the more recently created dating platforms, like Tinder and Bumble, but the older relationship-focused dating sites tend to operate on this basis.

For these sites, premium options cost about $10 each month for basic service, or if you want more effective pairing with people you’re more likely to get along with for an average of $40 per month. You could also pay less if you purchase a membership for several months at a time.

Is online dating safe?

The downside of online dating is the lack of face-to-face interaction, at least when you first start chatting with someone. This leaves users vulnerable to chat bots, or people who are only on the dating sites in order to scam other users.

There are a few things to look out for when you first start messaging someone, which should give you a good indication of whether or not they’re genuine. If it’s a bot, you’ll likely find that their language is quite mechanical. If it’s a user who’s trying to build a relationship in order to scam you out of money, you’ll often find that their language quickly becomes very floral and romantic. Watch out for early declarations of love.

The clearest sign that someone may be out to scam you is if they ask you for money. Basically, if another user on a website ever asks for money, credit card details or other log-in information, they’re probably not really looking to start a relationship. You should report them to the platform you’re using and block them, too.

Does online dating work?

There's no guarantee that using a dating site will help you find a relationship, but it's certainly a very popular modern tool. A recent study from Stanford sociologist, Michael Rosenfeld, suggests that nearly 40% of US couples meet online. And another study (albeit from the same researcher) suggests that couples who meet online are no more likely to break up than couples who meet offline.

Given the above, it seems like the trend for online dating isn't waning anytime soon - and it doesn't look like the relationships forged via apps and websites are any different in terms of prospects to those that have been created in traditional settings.

Specialized dating sites

We tested online dating websites and apps aimed at broad audiences, but there are many options for tailored dating experiences.

If you’re looking for something specific in a mate, odds are there's a dating website or app just for that. For example, the Color Dating app allows users to focus on a specific ethnicity. Christian Mingle caters to singles of the Christian faith.

Silver Singles is a paid service for people entering their golden years who are looking for a relationship.

There are also websites for people with certain medical needs. SpectrumSingles.com is geared toward people on the autism spectrum, while Dating4Disabled is an option for people with disabilities.

There are also options for people living alcohol-free lives, like Single and Sober. It's similar to OKCupid, but its users don't drink. In short, there are plenty of online dating options, no matter what you’re looking for in life.

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8 Best Free Dating Sites in 2021

Deciding what type of online dating website is right for you is a little like finding the right partner.(Getty Images)

In the last year, COVID-19 has made online dating sites even more indispensable for the single set. It has been hard for singles to meet potential significant others, since going out and being social is discouraged during the pandemic. But with an online dating website, you could try to get to know someone online through emails, texting and video chat. Then, if you were both assured that the other was being safe, you might try to meet.

But you can still meet that special someone during a pandemic, according to Amy Schoen, a professional life, dating and relationship coach in Rockville, Maryland, and the founder of the website Motivated to Marry. 'You can meet people through socially distant meetups,' Schoen says. 'I've had clients meet people through outdoor activities like archery and axe throwing. You can go to parks, hike, play tennis or some of the more socially distant sports.' But Schoen also endorses trying to make connections digitally. 'I recommend online dating sites as part of your dating plan,' she says.

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But what online dating websites should you try? Deciding what type of online dating website is right for you is a little like finding the right partner. What you think is a great dating site, others may hate. Read on for a list of some of the best free dating sites that you may want to try. Keep in mind that not all of these websites are purely free – some have free components that are worth your consideration. Here are some of the most popular free dating sites:

• Tinder.
• Bumble.
• Match.
• OurTime.
• OKCupid.
• Plenty of Fish.
• Facebook Dating.
• Hinge.

With this popular app (also available on desktop), you can simply swipe through profiles – albeit with scant information on each potential match. As you look at photos, you can select a heart icon or an X; alternatively, you can swipe to the right if you like a profile or swipe to the left if you don't. If you like somebody who also likes your photo, then you'll be alerted that you have a match, and you'll be able to message your potential date. While the app is free, you can pay for Tinder Plus (around $9.99 a month if you're under 30, or $19.99 if you're older) and Tinder Gold (around $29.99 per month, depending on your location and age), which offer additional features, such as a rewind button that enables you to update your selection if you accidentally swiped the wrong way.

Similar to Tinder, Bumble enables users to find a match by swiping right if you like the person or left if you don't. The major differentiating factor is, for heterosexual couples, the woman must send a message first. Conversely, with same-sex couples, either person can initiate contact. There's also a premium service that can screen your matches for certain qualities or criteria, like level of education. Prices vary from $7.99 a week to $32.99 a month, or you can pay $199.99 for a lifetime subscription of the premium service.

While Match.com's full services aren't free, it belongs in this list because it's a well-known website that offers a free 72-hour trial period. You can set up a profile and search through profiles for free, but if you want to contact the person, you'll have to pay for the service unless you're still in the free three-day trial period. Still, at least you can determine who you might want to contact if you do pay for the service, rather than paying for a service and then hoping that there are some people you'd like to meet. As for the prices, they vary. For one month's access to the site, you'll pay $35.99. But you can get longer plans that last anywhere from three to six to 12 months. You'll fork over more money at once, but you'll pay less per month (i.e., $19.99 for three months).

As advertised on their many TV commercials, OurTime is for people 50 years old and up. Like Match.com, OurTime is a paid service. While it isn't free, you can browse profiles for free, and that is worth something in the online dating world. The last thing anybody wants is to pony up money for a dating site, put up a profile and then look around and find out that the nearest potential person you might be interested in is 300 miles away. As for the prices, they vary, but you can expect to pay about $35 a month, with the price dropping considerably if you sign up for the six-month plan.

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This popular dating website and app is free, allowing you to browse profiles and reach out to anyone you want to connect with. That said, you can pay for premium services, and those premium services can make the site a little easier to navigate. For instance, with the paid version, there are unlimited likes and no outside ads. You can also see who 'likes' you before you like them. However, with the free version, you don't know who has clicked 'like' on your profile unless you also 'like' them. Prices vary.

Plenty of Fish, as its name suggests, features a wide selection of dating profiles. It is free, but you'll probably find it far easier to use if you pay for the premium services. Prices vary, but you can expect to pay $12.90 a month for three months or $6.78 a month for 12 months. You can send and receive messages for free; the premium membership is an ad-free version that allows users to search more easily, using filtering options such as education and income.

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Facebook recently entered the dating scene with Facebook.com/dating. You can set up a dating profile, which won't be shared with anyone outside of the Facebook dating app. In other words, your friends and family on Facebook won't be able to see that you're a member of Facebook Dating. As an added bonus, you can use your Facebook profile to automatically fill in your profile. It's only available on the Facebook app on your phone and not on the Facebook website. It's completely free.

Hinge is only available on your phone and not on your desktop or laptop. It is a free site, but like all of these sites, you can navigate the site more easily if you pay for its premium version. Prices vary for the premium version, but it starts at around $19.99 a month, and then the price per month goes down after that if you get a three or six month membership.

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Acamea Deadwiler, based out of Las Vegas, is the author of 'Single That: Dispelling the Top 10 Myths of the Single Woman.' She points out that because of COVID, something is lost by not going out to dinner or the movies – and one should think carefully about how they're starting a relationship.

'Instead of going to a movie theater, you're streaming movies and inviting people to join you on the couch. Instead of meeting at a bar, you're allowing someone you may have just met into your home for cocktails,' Deadwiler says. 'So those initial 'getting to know you' steps in the dating process are being skipped and you may end up dating someone exclusively by default or getting serious with someone more quickly than you normally would.'

She points out that inviting somebody you don't know well into your home too soon isn't just potentially unsafe – it 'accelerates the relationship's progression.' She says that there's the risk that the pandemic forces you into a dating bubble where you're seeing one person instead of perhaps seeing several people and having one relationship form more naturally.

'We've had more free time than ever over the past year,' Deadwiler says. 'It hasn't been much of an inconvenience to fit someone into your schedule. Just because you're spending a bunch of time with someone doesn't mean they're 'the one.' Ask yourself if they're someone you would've pursued a relationship with in the pre-COVID world.'

And if not, then you may need to go back to the drawing board and ask your friends and family if they know anyone. And, yes, you may want to check out some of the free dating sites.

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