Dating is more complicated than ever, and you might not be getting out as much. How can you meet people for dates? Online dating opens up a whole new world of dating in the US.
There are a ton of dating sites online. No matter what you’re looking for — serious relationships, affair dating, or other types of relationships — there is a site with your preferences in mind. With so many dating site choices, how can you find one that is reputable and legit?
That’s where this article becomes useful. We’ll review the top-ranked and rated US dating sites so you can find a date that complements your personality. One note: Most of these dating sites offer trials and can be used for free, but most offer upgraded memberships that offer more features.
Best Dating Sites in the US
eHarmony
eHarmony is one of the best options for serious relationships. The site has an excellent reputation and boasts a vast community of members in 190 countries.
Founded in 2000, eHarmony’s compatibility matching system narrowed down each person's match to fewer possible matches, thus saving time and is more likely to create better matches. eHarmony is a user-friendly site that makes it easy to find serious relationships.
A 6-month eHarmony membership will run you $9.98 per month, while a year membership will cost $2.99 per month when you pay in full.
Pros
Good site for long term relationships
The dating experience is entirely personalized
The matching system saves you time
Easy to use platform with a modern design
eHarmony uses a matching algorithm that works
They offer a free 3-day trial
Great customer support
Cons
There’s no search feature
There are limited free options
The signup process is rather long
Bumble
On Bumble, women make the first move when it comes to contact, meaning they have more control and call the shots on this dating site.
Bumble is a popular dating app involving swiping through singles' profiles near you. Since the app started, there have been over one billion swipes across the platform.
New users get a free trial for one week before paying for a subscription when signing up for Bumble. You can use Bumble for free effectively, but a paid subscription ensures more matches.
Pros
Great for bold women
Great for shy men (since women make the first move)
Huge user base
Photo verification system
Video and voice chat
Cons
There is no matching algorithm
There are profile limitations
Men need to wait for women to make the first move
EliteSingles
EliteSingles is an online matchmaking service that pairs up professional single men and women who not only want to find a date but are also ready to find lifelong love.
The best dating site for marriage-minded, busy singles, EliteSingles boasts thousands of new users monthly, and they’re all looking for commitment.
Like eHarmony, EliteSingles caters to professional, education singles, making it stand out from other dating sites. It’s a premier dating site without fake profiles or bots. 82% of EliteSingles members have a bachelor’s degree.
Pros
Caters to professionals
Hundreds of thousands of new members per month
Good for international relationships
Most members have above-average education
Responsible for over 2,000 new relationships each month
Someone finds their soulmate every 8 seconds
Cons
Limited free trial
Not for people looking for casual dates
The signup process is long
You need to have a premium membership for unlimited communication.
OkCupid
Since 2004, OkCupid has been a staple in the online dating world. Not only does it have a ton of members, but it’s also free to use.
With over 30 million active users, OkCupid features many potential dates. And the best part is that it’s free to use the service. It’s easy to sign up, but expect to answer a lengthy questionnaire before you can view any profiles.
Safe and secure, OkCupid is a great US dating site for singles serious about meeting people for dates. If you want to explore more of the site’s valuable features, a paid premium membership is suitable for advanced search options, browsing in incognito mode, and more.
Pros
It’s free to join and browse
Vast database of singles
Sophisticated algorithm
The site is easy to use
LGBT-friendly and supports non-monogamous relationships
No random messaging feature
Cons
A lot of fake profiles
You have to pay for the full functionality of the site.
SilverSingles
SilverSingles takes matchmaking seriously, and it’s ideal for older singles who are widowed, divorced, or seniors who just want a serious relationship.
SilverSingles is 100% dedicated to 50 and older dating. It has been a popular dating site and app for almost two decades now, and it boasts over 800,000 monthly active users.
The site matches 2,000 couples every month and is an excellent option for singles over 50 looking for a committed relationship. SilverSingles makes it easy to find dates based on personality and interests with an intelligent matchmaking algorithm.
Pros
Exclusively for singles 50 and older
800,000 monthly active users
User-friendly interface
Nice mobile app
Members are looking for serious relationships
Free trial offered
The website is easy to navigate
A mobile app is available for Android and iOS device
Cons
Lengthy questionnaire to sign up
You can’t send messages for free
Paid memberships are rather pricey
No phone support
Ashley Madison
Ashley Madison is an industry leader in the discreet online dating world. It’s for married people who want to have affairs, and it works.
Boasting over 70 million users, Ashley Madison is entirely free for women. Their slogan is “Life’s short. Have an affair.” — that should tell you all you need to know. Seriously, it’s the best married dating site we’ve come across.
A free account will let you explore all of the site's features. However, you may want to become a paid member if you use it often enough — you’ll enjoy a lot more benefits.
Members purchase credits to get the full functionality of the website or app. Credits on Ashley Madison are 1000 credits for $249, 500 credits for $149, and 100 credits for $49. If you’re in an unhappy marriage and want to find a potential match to hook up with, no strings attached, Ashley Madison is worth checking out.
>> Read full Ashley Madison review
Pros
Ideal for discreet dating
Disappearing chat feature
User security is taken seriously
Free for women
Video chat
Great communication features
Easy signup process
Attractive people
Cons
Paid membership doesn’t cover purchased points
There are a lot of ads
Not for serious relationships
No auto matchmaking features
Christian Mingle
Explicitly geared towards men and women of faith, Christian Mingle has millions of visitors each month.
This faith-based platform focuses on serious God-centered relationships and features free registration and a stern verification system. You won’t find many fake profiles here.
Many people find their true soulmates on Christian Mingle. With a huge user database, there are many opportunities to find like-minded Christian dates here. You can try the site for one day at only $2.99, and they also offer a monthly Premium subscription.Pros
The site caters to single Christian adults
Users get daily suggested matches
Verification system ensures users are legit
The site has recently been redesigned
Variety of search options
Cons
Only a regular chat function
Messaging is a paid feature
The mobile app is glitchy
Seeking
Seeking.com is the leading elite dating site where over 20+ million members find genuine and honest relationships that fit their lifestyle.
Also known as SeekingArrangment, Seeking is a dating site promoting and featuring sugar dating and relationships. In a nutshell, this site is for rich men and women who want a sugar baby arrangement. In other words, one person has lots of money, and they spend it on an attractive date.
With millions of users, Seeking promotes a luxurious lifestyle, and it’s perfect for those looking for a sugar relationship.
>> Read full Seeking review
Pros
The site has a solid reputation.
Simple, easy to use interface
Comprehensive verification process
Excellent search tool
You can sort members by “recently active.”
College women get a free Gold membership
Cons
Members need to verify their income
Most features only available to paid users
The paid membership doesn’t cover all costs
The site has a lot of ads
AdultFriendFinder
AdultFriendFinder, also known as AFF, is a staple dating site for casual relationships in the US.
Ideal for finding casual dates, AFF boasts a huge member base. Their personality test matches you with others who have similar interests. There are also lots of forums and cam-to-cam video chats to explore.
Pros
Great data-driven matching system
2 million daily log-ins
There are a ton of search options
The site has a pretty good search tool
Great for finding casual relationships and flings
Cons
Lots of bots
No serious relationships
Zoosk
Since 2007, Zoosk boasts a massive database of singles looking for serious relationships and more.
One of the most popular online dating sites in the US, Zoosk is a great way to meet local singles for dating. Their trademarked "Behavioral Matchmaking" engine and algorithm delivers users better matches through their actions, meaning you don’t have to fill out a lengthy questionnaire to find matches.
Zoosk also has a feature similar to Tinder called Carousel — it’s a quick look at profiles.
Pros
Great matching algorithm
More than 40 million users
Easy to register
Most accounts are 100% real
Cons
Messaging isn’t free
You can’t search for a profile by using any keyword of interest.
Hinge
Launched in 2012, Hinge is a unique dating app and site that boasts an impressive digital matching system to improve finding a date.
Hinge is a popular dating site for relationship-minded singles. The site is primarily made up of millennial singles and has one of the best matching systems on a dating site. Their Date From Home feature is ideal to progress from messaging to a video or phone call.
Using the Gale -Shapley algorithm, Hinge pairs people based on who engages with you and who you engage with. It sounds pretty scientific, but trust us — it works.
Pros
You can sign up and message others for free
Similar to Tinder
The app focuses on matching with people you share friends with
It’s fast-growing
Cons
Only searches for matches in big cities
Free users only get 10 matches per day
Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish, also known as POF, is one of the most popular dating sites worldwide, including in Canada.
Launched in 2003, Plenty of Fish has a fantastic reputation for Canadian singles seeking dates. Famous worldwide but mainly in the US and Canada, POF helps you meet singles on your wavelength.
While some players are on here, mostly everyone is looking for a serious relationship. Many couples have met on this site and gotten married. Plus, POF offers a standard account that’s completely free.
Pros
Free standard account
Simple onboarding
Ideal for long-term Canadian relationships
Lots of prompts to send quality messages
Live streaming is available
Very few messaging limits
Simple signup
Cons
Lots of fake profiles
Men outnumber women by around 20%
You can’t see if someone has read your message unless you pay
Final Thoughts
Finding decent dates has always been a challenge. Fortunately, the above dating sites in the US will give you a better chance of meeting potential dates. Maybe you’ll just find “the one.” Good luck, and have fun!
