Best dating sites for men looking to hook up, find love, and just about everything in between
Finding someone to get drinks with is one thing, but finding someone who has the same relationship goals as you is another. Be honest about what you want, then select the dating site that best aligns with your vision. You got this.
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By Leah Stodart
Online dating is a challenge for everyone. A lot of pressure comes with keeping up a conversation with someone you don't know anything about (other than the fact that they are hot) — if you even had the patience to swipe or scroll enough to find someone worth chatting with, that is.
Why is online dating so hard?
One aspect of online dating dynamics poses a challenge for both men and women, but from different angles: If it's a lady you're pursuing, chances are she's received more than a few unsolicited messages already. For women, maneuvering around creeps is often more work than it's worth. For men, the responsibility to not be one of those guys can add a heightened intimidation factor.
Don't be a creep
The internet is plagued with tales of nasty messages and whack opening lines from men. Avoiding the creep factor with someone you just matched with shouldn't be hard — simply don't be pushy about sexting, getting their number, or meeting up, and definitely don't harass someone about not wanting to hang out during a pandemic. (Just don't be pushy about anything, really. It's as simple as that.) As for devising an opener that will grow into a nice conversation, the harmless intent to be funny or flattering can go south quickly. Choosing the right dating app can make all the difference for men who are a little rusty or generally shy about messaging first. Bumble, the app where only women can make the first move, is an obvious safe choice for the latter.
SEE ALSO: EliteSingles vs. Match: A career-oriented site goes up against the OG
For men who need a point in the right direction when it comes to conversation starters, dating sites with user profiles more extensive than a rushed Tinder bio could make a world of difference. The ability to see someone's hobbies, favorite movies, career goals, or even political views before even talking to them opens up a wealth of clever ice breakers. Bonding over how you both thought Solo: A Star Wars Story was actually good, is one million times better than telling a woman that you "think you saw them somewhere." (That is not endearing. Never do that.)
Be honest about what you want
Tinder can be the right app for some singles. But if you find yourself constantly deleting it and re-downloading Tinder every other month despite the fact that you hate the app, a different site might make better use of your time. What is it that's not working about your current dating site of choice? Is it too entrenched in hookup culture? Is it not focused on hookups enough? Do you find yourself getting intentions mixed up with people who aren't looking for the same thing? Each dating site serves a different purpose, and things are a lot easier when you're mingling with people who want what you want.
What are the best dating sites for men?
Here are the best dating sites and apps for single men looking for a date, a movie buddy, a friend with benefits, or even love and commitment.
Easy to tell who's serious about finding a real relationship • Even number of men and women • Find love in six months or get six months free • Lots of ways to showcase who you are • Free users can now message their "Top Picks"
Sifting through so many users takes work • Notifications for EVERYTHING • Prices change too often
If you sign up for Match, be ready for it to work — so fast that you might not use most of your subscription.
Match
Find your soulmate without that lovey-dovey pressure with Match's new design that make it easy to tell who's serious.- Free version: Yes
- One month of Premium: $35.99
- Three months of Premium: $19.99/month
- Six months of Premium: $17.99/month
- One year of Premium: $15.99/month
Any man thinking seriously about getting serious in a relationship has thought about Match at least once. Its decades in the business bring constantly-evolving insight to the table for singles looking for that spark. But if you're expecting a corny questionnaire and ancient graphics reflective of the fact that it was born in the 90s, think again.
One of Match's shining points of consistency over the years is its well-populated but balanced user base. There's a near-even split between men and women, users who don't have kids and users who do have kids, and a pretty stacked feed of people to match with even if you're looking for love in a less-populated area.
Match (no more ".com") has totally reconstructed its questionnaire to be less of a tedious interrogation and more of a conversational probe into how you'd react to realistic situations — both with a partner and, say, a neighbor who needs help at 3. a.m. The probe into your daily habits and values (plus the ability to mark traits that are deal breakers) ensures that Match sets you up with someone whose ideal lifestyle matches yours. The meshing of playfulness and rational thinking downs the pressure of signing up for a paid dating site.
The site's push to appeal to a younger crowd goes past the clean app redesign. AskMatch, a free dating advice service that lets you pick the brain of a dating coach, can be thanked for a wave of . In 2020, Match launched Vibe Check, a social distancing-era video call feature that aims to give new matches the closest thing possible to a first date. (This is also a smart way to ensure that the person on the other end is legit.) Users can now talk to their Top Picks without a paid subscription — a free feature that's sure to make up some people's minds.
One of Match's shining points of consistency over the years is its well-populated but balanced user base. There's a near-even split between men and women, users who don't have kids and users who do have kids, and a pretty stacked feed of people to match with even if you're looking for love in a less-populated area.
Match (no more ".com") has totally reconstructed its questionnaire to be less of a tedious interrogation and more of a conversational probe into how you'd react to realistic situations — both with a partner and, say, a neighbor who needs help at 3. a.m. The probe into your daily habits and values (plus the ability to mark traits that are deal breakers) ensures that Match sets you up with someone whose ideal lifestyle matches yours. The meshing of playfulness and rational thinking downs the pressure of signing up for a paid dating site.
The site's push to appeal to a younger crowd goes past the clean app redesign. AskMatch, a free dating advice service that lets you pick the brain of a dating coach, can be thanked for a wave of . In 2020, Match launched Vibe Check, a social distancing-era video call feature that aims to give new matches the closest thing possible to a first date. (This is also a smart way to ensure that the person on the other end is legit.) Users can now talk to their Top Picks without a paid subscription — a free feature that's sure to make up some people's minds.
Daily matches are limited, but high qualtiy • Instant gratification based on more than a one-sentence bio • Witty ice breakers • Rapidly-growing user base, especially in cities
Might see the same people from Tinder • Filtering by height is no longer a free feature
Less hookup-centric than Tinder, less serious than Match, and is extremely popular in big cities.
Hinge
Avoid sitting at the bar with someone you hate with Hinge's curated daily matches and criteria deeper than being hot.- Free version: Yes
- One month of Hinge Preferred: $12.99
- Three months of Hinge Preferred: $6.99/month
- Six months of Hinge Preferred: $4.99/month
"Going on a Hinge date" may have officially replaced binge-watching The Office as everyone's favorite post-work past time. Although it launched in 2012, Hinge massively overhauled the platform in 2016 to differentiate itself from Tinder, which is also owned by Match Group. Now, Hinge's matching criteria past a cute profile picture and its palate of non-corny ice breakers can help give men ideas for more natural opening lines.
Despite the fact that we're actively seeking out new dating apps to try, no one wants to be on these. Unless you're in it for the booty calls, the whole point of online dating is to find your person so you can stop looking for your person. That was the idea behind Hinge's 2019 rebrand to "the dating app designed to be deleted." TBH, it's a smart combo of witty and optimistic that should deliver users some hope. speak on that: Beta trials of a feature called "We met" asked Hinge users how the first date went. Some 90% said the first date was great and 72% said they'd be down for a second date.
There's a common understanding among users that Hinge isn't just for sex, but there's no pressure to rush into a relationship either. Hinge uses personal prompts to find you anywhere from five to 15 matches per day. Prompts range from "The most spontaneous thing I've ever done" to "Two truths and a lie."
You can also explore a potential match's height, college (if they went), political affiliation, stance on weed, and more, which are displayed as profile constants like age or gender. By covering so many bases before even messaging someone, Hinge lowers your chance of meeting someone you'd hate.
Despite the fact that we're actively seeking out new dating apps to try, no one wants to be on these. Unless you're in it for the booty calls, the whole point of online dating is to find your person so you can stop looking for your person. That was the idea behind Hinge's 2019 rebrand to "the dating app designed to be deleted." TBH, it's a smart combo of witty and optimistic that should deliver users some hope. speak on that: Beta trials of a feature called "We met" asked Hinge users how the first date went. Some 90% said the first date was great and 72% said they'd be down for a second date.
There's a common understanding among users that Hinge isn't just for sex, but there's no pressure to rush into a relationship either. Hinge uses personal prompts to find you anywhere from five to 15 matches per day. Prompts range from "The most spontaneous thing I've ever done" to "Two truths and a lie."
You can also explore a potential match's height, college (if they went), political affiliation, stance on weed, and more, which are displayed as profile constants like age or gender. By covering so many bases before even messaging someone, Hinge lowers your chance of meeting someone you'd hate.
High success rate speaks for itself • People sign up because they're ready to settle down • Questionnaire makes you think about what you need to work on • Super user-friendly
Historically not LGBTQ-friendly • No support for non-binary users
If you're dying to get serious with the one, eharmony's proven success in marriage is worth the premium cost.
eharmony
Casual daters will feel smothered, but eharmony has made serious changes to appeal to marriage-minded millennials.- Free version: Yes
- Six months of Premium: $59.50/month
- One year of Premium: $35.90/month
- Two years of Premium: $25.90/month
Ever see a commercial for eharmony and wonder if a dating site that corny actually works? Weirdly enough, it does. A spokesperson for the site says it's been used by 54 million people, and is apparently responsible for 4 percent of U.S. marriages. That doesn't mean you're going to walk down the aisle within the first year, but it at least narrows your options to singles who are open to being exclusive, meeting the family, or moving in together.
What was once a doozy of a sign-up process is now short, sweet, and free of the corny, religious questions that held it back from being a top choice for the younger crowd. The comprehensive questionnaire now covers 32 dimensions (up from 29) of what makes a happy relationship. Instead of blatantly asking if you get mad easily or if you're emotionally stable, eharmony may ask how you handle apologizing after a fight or if a certain action would piss you off. These hypotheticals draw more natural responses, and a few other fun ones are thrown in to cover surface-level basics like hobbies, too. Everything is displayed on profiles that look like a fancy résumé designed by a graphic designer.
It's not the deep dive into your emotions like it was a few years ago, but eharmony is still so confident in its matchmaking skills that you'll get three months for free if you don't find a boo within the first three months.
It should be noted that eharmony hasn't always been a welcoming place to members of the LGBTQ+ community. , their gay and lesbian spin-off site Compatibility Partners has been folded into eharmony's overall site, but users on Reddit as recently as 2019 say that it still seems geared more toward straight people.
What was once a doozy of a sign-up process is now short, sweet, and free of the corny, religious questions that held it back from being a top choice for the younger crowd. The comprehensive questionnaire now covers 32 dimensions (up from 29) of what makes a happy relationship. Instead of blatantly asking if you get mad easily or if you're emotionally stable, eharmony may ask how you handle apologizing after a fight or if a certain action would piss you off. These hypotheticals draw more natural responses, and a few other fun ones are thrown in to cover surface-level basics like hobbies, too. Everything is displayed on profiles that look like a fancy résumé designed by a graphic designer.
It's not the deep dive into your emotions like it was a few years ago, but eharmony is still so confident in its matchmaking skills that you'll get three months for free if you don't find a boo within the first three months.
It should be noted that eharmony hasn't always been a welcoming place to members of the LGBTQ+ community. , their gay and lesbian spin-off site Compatibility Partners has been folded into eharmony's overall site, but users on Reddit as recently as 2019 say that it still seems geared more toward straight people.
Quality matches over quantity • Spend more time in reality instead of an app • No swiping • Little to no effort required after making a profile
Limited number of potential matches • User base isn’t as large • You might see the same profiles again and again
With only a handful of matches a day, you're forced to really consider who you want to meet IRL.
Coffee Meets Bagel
Avoid a blown-up inbox with this Reddit-backed app's smaller community and authentic, curated matches.- Free version: Yes
- One month of Premium: $34.99/month
- Three months of Premium: $24.99/month
- Six months of Premium: $19.99/month
Grabbing coffee is the low-pressure date idea that lets you skip the formalities that come with a nice restaurant. Coffee Meets Bagel is like the "grabbing coffee" version of dating apps, aiming to bring an easygoing atmosphere to folks who might be a little rusty. It's actually one of the few dating apps that doesn't get completely roasted on Reddit, with promising success stories popping up in multiple threads.
Millions upon millions of active users is usually a plus. It is nice to know that your options are virtually limitless, but it can be jarring to have 20 new messages every time you sign on. This happens on eharmony and Tinder alike — people want connection, and they want it now. CMB's unhurried approach is great for men who are out of practice, introverted, or who simply don't feel like scrolling every time they have a free minute.
Every day, CMB offers seven of its best matches (bagels) for you, chosen by your answers to prompts, how you swiped on yesterday's batch, and who has already expressed interest in you, too. Bagels are limited regardless of whether you upgrade to a paid account.
CMB encourages users to get the ball rolling by only keeping your match for seven days. It's less pressure than Bumble's 24-hour time limit but still eliminates a list full of matches who don't care enough to respond or plan a meet-up. Plus, not being bombarded with available hotties 24/7 gives you time to contemplate whether you genuinely want to get to know them or if you're just bored.
Millions upon millions of active users is usually a plus. It is nice to know that your options are virtually limitless, but it can be jarring to have 20 new messages every time you sign on. This happens on eharmony and Tinder alike — people want connection, and they want it now. CMB's unhurried approach is great for men who are out of practice, introverted, or who simply don't feel like scrolling every time they have a free minute.
Every day, CMB offers seven of its best matches (bagels) for you, chosen by your answers to prompts, how you swiped on yesterday's batch, and who has already expressed interest in you, too. Bagels are limited regardless of whether you upgrade to a paid account.
CMB encourages users to get the ball rolling by only keeping your match for seven days. It's less pressure than Bumble's 24-hour time limit but still eliminates a list full of matches who don't care enough to respond or plan a meet-up. Plus, not being bombarded with available hotties 24/7 gives you time to contemplate whether you genuinely want to get to know them or if you're just bored.
Expands compatibility to social justice views • Dedicated space in bio for preferred pronouns • Trendy redesign is genuinely fun to navigate • Shows a percentage for each match based on things you agree on (or not)
Often marked as a free app, but you have to pay for the best features • Not great in small, rural areas • Inconsistent rules
Affordable, woke, and just plain fun, OkCupid has a unique system and makes online dating feel cool.
OkCupid
Informed millennials dig OKC's focus on the nexus between political views and meshing romantically.- Free version: Yes
- OkCupid basic: $19.99/month
- OkCupid premium: $29.99/month
Is your worst nightmare going on a date with someone super hot just to find out they don't care about women's issues? OkCupid is here to weed them out.
Users can illuminate the issues they hold dear and people they'd want to argue with by answering deal-breakers like "Would you date someone who keeps a gun in the house?" or "Should the government require children be vaccinated for preventable diseases?" As one of the most inclusive dating sites on the market by far, OkCupid is known for its decision to let all users . In June 2020, the site introduced the option to add a to your profile. A voter badge was also introduced in September ahead of the 2020 election — and per OkCupid's own findings, singles who marked an intention to vote were 63 percent more likely to get a match and 85 percent more likely to receive a message (compared to non-voters).
Of course, politics aren't the only determining factor in romance. OKCupid has in-depth user bios, but profile building isn't long or tedious at all. The questions are smart and dive into your dating style without being too mushy. You'll even get to see the percentage of how much you have in common with other daters based on the questions you both answer. It's an algorithm that OKC has been perfecting and evolving since their launch in 2004.
Users can illuminate the issues they hold dear and people they'd want to argue with by answering deal-breakers like "Would you date someone who keeps a gun in the house?" or "Should the government require children be vaccinated for preventable diseases?" As one of the most inclusive dating sites on the market by far, OkCupid is known for its decision to let all users . In June 2020, the site introduced the option to add a to your profile. A voter badge was also introduced in September ahead of the 2020 election — and per OkCupid's own findings, singles who marked an intention to vote were 63 percent more likely to get a match and 85 percent more likely to receive a message (compared to non-voters).
Of course, politics aren't the only determining factor in romance. OKCupid has in-depth user bios, but profile building isn't long or tedious at all. The questions are smart and dive into your dating style without being too mushy. You'll even get to see the percentage of how much you have in common with other daters based on the questions you both answer. It's an algorithm that OKC has been perfecting and evolving since their launch in 2004.
Women-first messaging offers confident boost for rusty guys • Eliminates "dead" matches that go nowhere • Large user base
The expiration period could be longer • A lot of the same people as Tinder
Guys who aren't smooth with opening lines will dig how Bumble requires women to make the first move.
Bumble
Men get a better idea of which women actually want to talk with Bumble's unique messaging rules.- Free version: Yes
- One week of Boost: $9.99
- One month of Boost: $24.99
- Three months of Boost: $16.66/month
- Six months of Boost: $13.33/month
- Lifetime Boost: $119.99
Meet the dating app version of the Sadie Hawkins dance, created by ex-Tinder employees. In an attempt to correct one of the common complaints of dating apps — that women get spammed with tons of creepy messages — women are required to message first with Bumble. It pushes some women out of their comfort zone, but like Tinder, you'll at least know that someone also swiped right on you before making a move. It also takes the pressure off of dudes who feel like they need to start the conversation every time. (For same-sex matches, either party can start things off.)
Matches expire after 24 hours so you can't agonize over that opening line for too long, and your match list won't be filled with people you forgot you matched with 57 weeks ago. It's a win-win setup for introverted men who don't have the confidence to message first and for women who are tired of being bombarded.
You'll see pictures and short bios of potential matches in your area and can swipe depending on whether you're interested. It's a pretty close mock of Tinder, except for the fact that Bumble relieves the anxiety of accidentally swiping left on a hottie by letting you backtrack. Bumble also offers a to find strictly platonic friends and a in attempts to remind everyone that it's not just a hookup app.
Filtering by zodiac sign is also a thing as of 2019. The internet is divided over whether this will actually help you find people you'd get along with, as the feature only incorporates sun signs and anyone with basic astrology knowledge knows that sun signs aren't a tell-all. However, if someone just went through a messy breakup with a Virgo, they have the right to not want to mess with a Virgo for a while.
Matches expire after 24 hours so you can't agonize over that opening line for too long, and your match list won't be filled with people you forgot you matched with 57 weeks ago. It's a win-win setup for introverted men who don't have the confidence to message first and for women who are tired of being bombarded.
You'll see pictures and short bios of potential matches in your area and can swipe depending on whether you're interested. It's a pretty close mock of Tinder, except for the fact that Bumble relieves the anxiety of accidentally swiping left on a hottie by letting you backtrack. Bumble also offers a to find strictly platonic friends and a in attempts to remind everyone that it's not just a hookup app.
Filtering by zodiac sign is also a thing as of 2019. The internet is divided over whether this will actually help you find people you'd get along with, as the feature only incorporates sun signs and anyone with basic astrology knowledge knows that sun signs aren't a tell-all. However, if someone just went through a messy breakup with a Virgo, they have the right to not want to mess with a Virgo for a while.
Easy and instantaneous • Extra fun while traveling • You can connect your Instagram and Spotify accounts • People looking for hookups will probably say so in their bio • Huge user base, even in small towns
No actual matchmaking algorithm • Amount of swiping is begging for carpal tunnel syndrome • Women get swamped with bad pickup lines • Pricing based on age (under or over 30)
An undeniably great tool that can find you a real connection or a friend with benefits without much effort.
Tinder
The swiping app we've all used at least once where you should be able to find a date within the hour.- Free version: Yes
- Tinder Plus for users under $30:: $9.99/month
- Tinder Plus for users over $30: $19.99/month
Our love/hate relationship with Tinder notwithstanding, we can't ignore the fact that it's a tried-and-true option when you feel like keeping things casual. (We'd be surprised if you didn't already download it at least once.) Tinder pioneered the now-ubiquitous swiping function, revolutionizing the world of online dating and boasting 1.6 billion swipes per day, a stat that drowns out dating apps with comparable mechanics.
What started out as strictly a hookup app has turned into one of the biggest matchmakers in the world. As you're served a series of photos, swipe right if you like what you see and left if you don't. When you both indicate interest in each other, you'll get a notification that it's a match. I mean, "Tindering" is just as much of a verb as swiping at this point.
Tinder may not want to advertise as such, but we all know what it's mostly used for. You're quite literally deciding if you want to interact with someone based on nothing but profile pictures and a quote from The Office, so yeah, you can see how getting laid would be the main goal of most users — but hey, we all know those couples who met on Tinder and have been together for years.
"Super Like" is a neat feature that lets someone you've swiped right on know that you're really interested. These can be flattering if you follow up with a friendly conversation or annoying if you follow up with a grotesque attempt at seeing if they're DTF.
One good thing about Tinder's rashness? Putting "Just looking to hook up" is an innocuous move. On an app where so many people are looking for so many different things, most people actually appreciate the head's up in case they're looking for a different type of relationship.
What started out as strictly a hookup app has turned into one of the biggest matchmakers in the world. As you're served a series of photos, swipe right if you like what you see and left if you don't. When you both indicate interest in each other, you'll get a notification that it's a match. I mean, "Tindering" is just as much of a verb as swiping at this point.
Tinder may not want to advertise as such, but we all know what it's mostly used for. You're quite literally deciding if you want to interact with someone based on nothing but profile pictures and a quote from The Office, so yeah, you can see how getting laid would be the main goal of most users — but hey, we all know those couples who met on Tinder and have been together for years.
"Super Like" is a neat feature that lets someone you've swiped right on know that you're really interested. These can be flattering if you follow up with a friendly conversation or annoying if you follow up with a grotesque attempt at seeing if they're DTF.
One good thing about Tinder's rashness? Putting "Just looking to hook up" is an innocuous move. On an app where so many people are looking for so many different things, most people actually appreciate the head's up in case they're looking for a different type of relationship.
Users are up front with what they’re looking for • Can find a date within the hour • Grindr for Equality campaign advocates for sexual health and safety of LGBTQ+ people in unsafe countries
Bots and performance issues • Level of NSFW is jarring • Reports of biphobia and hate toward queer women on the app • Reports of data breaches
A great option for gay or bi men that ditches small talk and has tons of people online 24/7.
Grindr
Tired of straight-centric apps? This long-time classic is home to millions of gay, bi, and trans profiles.- Free version: Yes
- One month of XTRA: $14.99
- Six months of XTRA: $8.50/month
- One year of XTRA: $6.50/month
With in Feb. 2019, there aren't many apps specifically for gay or bisexual men that aren't some iteration of Grindr's ab pic and dick pic-filled feed. But even after , Grindr remains a go-to for instantaneous location-based hookups for gay and bi men.
Going into it, you probably have an idea of what's coming on Grindr: some serious adulation, a few pushy messages, and dick pics. But finding and meeting up with men on Tinder or OkCupid isn't always easy, especially if you're in a small town with a meager queer community. Whether it's your first time with a guy and you want someone experienced or you're the experienced guy, it's nice to have Grindr in your back pocket.
That's not to say it's not for relationships. One of my good friends met his current boyfriend on and nearly 85% users say that they've fallen in love on the app. The campaign also pushes the app past being a simple hookup facilitator by advocating for sexual health and the safety of LGBTQ+ people in unsafe countries.
The main complaint from bisexual people about Grindr isn't that it's aggressively horny or overwhelmingly men. It's the biphobia. This thread of have experienced it in some way, describing the disappointment they feel from not being supported by their LGBTQ+ community and getting messages like "vaginas are gross" at the first mention of being bisexual or anything that's not strictly gay. Grindr is technically advertised toward queer women as well, but because of the atmosphere on the app, they're .
Going into it, you probably have an idea of what's coming on Grindr: some serious adulation, a few pushy messages, and dick pics. But finding and meeting up with men on Tinder or OkCupid isn't always easy, especially if you're in a small town with a meager queer community. Whether it's your first time with a guy and you want someone experienced or you're the experienced guy, it's nice to have Grindr in your back pocket.
That's not to say it's not for relationships. One of my good friends met his current boyfriend on and nearly 85% users say that they've fallen in love on the app. The campaign also pushes the app past being a simple hookup facilitator by advocating for sexual health and the safety of LGBTQ+ people in unsafe countries.
The main complaint from bisexual people about Grindr isn't that it's aggressively horny or overwhelmingly men. It's the biphobia. This thread of have experienced it in some way, describing the disappointment they feel from not being supported by their LGBTQ+ community and getting messages like "vaginas are gross" at the first mention of being bisexual or anything that's not strictly gay. Grindr is technically advertised toward queer women as well, but because of the atmosphere on the app, they're .
Great for men looking for a partner in the same job field • Recent update makes questionnaire more fun • More mature user base than competitors • Very specific age group target
Distance filter starts at 50 miles • Might get suggestions that don't match your filters • Easy for users to lie about salaries • More expensive than eharmony
Men who are established in their careers can look for love with someone who values the same things.
Elite Singles
Turned on by career goals? This site introduces working professionals over 30 looking for other successful singles.- Free version: Yes
- Three months of Premium: $69.95/month
- Six months of Premium: $53.95/month
- One year of Premium: $39.95/month
A difference in work ethic and professional schedules can really throw a wrench into even the most head-over-heels relationships. For those unwilling to budge when it comes to their partner's educational values and career goals, EliteSingles attempts to offer more specificity where eharmony and Match leave off.
EliteSingles loves to brag that 82% of their members are college grads, and with most of its members between 33-50 years old, we can pretty surely say you won't have to worry about accidentally coming across a fresh college graduate. College kids probably wouldn't be down to pay $30 to $70 a month on a dating site anyway, and that high subscription price is just another giveaway that EliteSingles is targeted toward more established folks with a disposable income.
Rather than being thrown into an endless pool of profiles, EliteSingles attempts to match you through the Five Factor Personality Test. Via 29 algorithms, the site will try to find singles to complement your attachment style, selfishness, and more stuff that you should try to be honest about. The boring parts are broken up by chill questions like "Do you like sleeping with the window open?" and "Which of these foods would you like the best?" It takes forever and a lot of the questions are fake deep, but how else do you expect to be successful on a dating site?
Plus, you can take comfort in the fact that you won’t be dealing with fake or scam accounts, as EliteSingles manually verifies all accounts with an upscale fraud detection system. However, though you can technically filter potential matches by profession (for example, a teacher looking to date another teacher), it’s difficult for any dating site to track down every single person lying about their job or how much money they make.
EliteSingles loves to brag that 82% of their members are college grads, and with most of its members between 33-50 years old, we can pretty surely say you won't have to worry about accidentally coming across a fresh college graduate. College kids probably wouldn't be down to pay $30 to $70 a month on a dating site anyway, and that high subscription price is just another giveaway that EliteSingles is targeted toward more established folks with a disposable income.
Rather than being thrown into an endless pool of profiles, EliteSingles attempts to match you through the Five Factor Personality Test. Via 29 algorithms, the site will try to find singles to complement your attachment style, selfishness, and more stuff that you should try to be honest about. The boring parts are broken up by chill questions like "Do you like sleeping with the window open?" and "Which of these foods would you like the best?" It takes forever and a lot of the questions are fake deep, but how else do you expect to be successful on a dating site?
Plus, you can take comfort in the fact that you won’t be dealing with fake or scam accounts, as EliteSingles manually verifies all accounts with an upscale fraud detection system. However, though you can technically filter potential matches by profession (for example, a teacher looking to date another teacher), it’s difficult for any dating site to track down every single person lying about their job or how much money they make.
Matchmaking based on subconscious swiping behavior • Really easy signup process • Huge variety of people
Potential to be hit with random fees • Too many dead or spam profiles • Profile views might be inflated to make you feel better
Zoosk is boring but could expand your horizons if you're tired of the same Match users popping up.
Zoosk
It's easy to use and has a decent rep on the internet, but the spammy feed make giving up look easier than searching.- Free version: Yes
- One month of Premium: $29.95
- Three months of Premium: $19.98/month
- Six months of Premium: $12.49/month
What initially as a Facebook app developed in 2007 has grown into a company with in more than 80 countries. Rather than asking its users for dating questions, picks dates for its users based on quick questions about physical appearance and religion, and then keeps tabs on who you talk to the most to get a better idea of what you're after. There are a lot of flirty little ways to spark a conversation without having to actually give an opening line, but you'll know next to nothing about the person going into it.
When Zoosk switched from a social media app to a legit dating site, it was more or less in a league of its own. Incorporating "liking" photos and having a similar look as a Facebook feed was super attractive to young, single people... in the early 2000s. The problem is that Zoosk hasn't changed much since then. It's plain, riddled with dead or fake profiles, and and there certainly aren't any modern tweaks like OkCupid's politics-related ice breakers or Match's overhauled questionnaire. Despite ads being everywhere, people started opting for Match Group's offerings with more premium designs, less messy email notifications, and algorithms that take your personality type into account.
Zoosk is free to sign up, but you'll need a paid subscription to do basically anything. Not only is there a fee on the end of every message, but Reddit users complain about to their account and ignored requests to cancel their subscriptions. The company also uses its own form of currency called "Zoosk coins" that are available for purchase. Daters can use these for features like adding a "boost" to their own profiles in search or sending another user a virtual gift like roses. The whole coin system feels less like romance and more like you're playing some sort of pop-up ad game, but they're there.
When Zoosk switched from a social media app to a legit dating site, it was more or less in a league of its own. Incorporating "liking" photos and having a similar look as a Facebook feed was super attractive to young, single people... in the early 2000s. The problem is that Zoosk hasn't changed much since then. It's plain, riddled with dead or fake profiles, and and there certainly aren't any modern tweaks like OkCupid's politics-related ice breakers or Match's overhauled questionnaire. Despite ads being everywhere, people started opting for Match Group's offerings with more premium designs, less messy email notifications, and algorithms that take your personality type into account.
Zoosk is free to sign up, but you'll need a paid subscription to do basically anything. Not only is there a fee on the end of every message, but Reddit users complain about to their account and ignored requests to cancel their subscriptions. The company also uses its own form of currency called "Zoosk coins" that are available for purchase. Daters can use these for features like adding a "boost" to their own profiles in search or sending another user a virtual gift like roses. The whole coin system feels less like romance and more like you're playing some sort of pop-up ad game, but they're there.
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