You’ve heard the old saying “the best things in life are free,” right? Well, we happen to think that the best dating sites in life are free as well.

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Because love don’t cost a thing, and neither should a friendly chat with a cute stranger. Many dating websites offer a lot of free features to help singles come together and form genuine relationships. It’s worth checking out some of the most popular and valuable dating sites and apps out there.

Here’s a list of our top-rated free online dating sites where online daters can mingle without breaking their budgets.

Best Overall Free Dating Sites

Over 8,000 dating websites exist in the world, and narrowing all those options down to the best of the best is exceedingly difficult. But we were up for the task. After scouring the online dating scene, reading reviews, and creating profiles ourselves, we’ve determined the following free dating sites and apps to be the cream of the crop.

Match.com has come a long way since it launched in April 1995. This well-reputed dating site has honed its match algorithm to identify long-term compatibility and facilitate countless first dates, serious relationships, and successful marriages. Match.com's esteemed dating experts go to great lengths to guide singles to a seriously good match.

• Match is the world's longest running dating site
• The Discover section has search filters by interests, looks, lifestyle, and more
• Match is available in 50 countries and 15 languages
• Browse Match.com profiles 100% free»

At the top of our list, Match is undeniably one of the best dating sites out there. Since its launch in April 1995, Match.com has developed a sure-fire matchmaking system that unites like-minded people with similar lifestyles, interests, and backgrounds.

Over the decades, Match has inspired countless loving relationships, and it boasts facilitating more marriages than any of its competitors.

You don’t have to take our word for it, though. You can read success stories and reviews from happy couples across the web. “Match.com is an online dating site that gives you a lot of flexibility,” said A.J., a user in California. “Like anything else in life, timing and luck play a role, but for those who are looking to meet people for a potential relationship, Match.com is an option that can bring you into contact with a potential partner.”

EliteSingles.com maintains a sophisticated network of young professionals seeking a relationship. Over 80% of its members hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree, and over 90% are over the age of 30. Elite Singles uses an intelligent matchmaking system to introduce daters to someone on their level.

• Over 2 million monthly users
• Premium members receive 20 wildcard matches a day
• Search features include age, height, education, ethnicity, and lifestyle habits
• Browse Elite Singles profiles 100% free»

In 2013, Elite Singles set itself apart from other dating sites and apps by putting quality before quantity. Instead of trying to build the largest singles database possible, this premium dating site sought to cater to the most desirable singles seeking love online.

As a result, over 80% of EliteS ingles members have a college degree, and over 90% say they are interested in finding a relationship. Elite Singles works for all types of singles, but it is particularly for young professionals with marriage on their minds.

Every month, Elite Singles adds over 381,000 new members and comes that much closer to having both quality and quantity on its side.

Zoosk is a socially savvy dating site known for its diverse membership base and behavioral matchmaking system. Over 40 million singles in 80 countries have joined the network so far, and it's growing larger every day. The platform offers many different ways to communicate and express interest in members, so it's easy to form a fast connection here.

• Send messages to premium members for free
• Over 3 million messages sent a day
• Premium perks include photo verification and sending virtual gifts
• Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free»

Zoosk began as a startup in Silicon Valley, and it has become a global sensation. Over 40 million singles have joined the dating site and app, which is active in over 80 countries.

The idea behind Zoosk is to make online dating more of a social networking experience, so there are a lot of communication features and matchmaking systems at your disposal. You can use the search filters to find people you like, or you can swipe through profile pictures in the Carousel.

Zoosk relies on Behavioral Matchmaking to bring compatible folks together, so the more you view profiles, send likes, and chat with like-minded people on the platform, the better its match suggestions for you will be.

Since its launch in 2000, eharmony has endeavored to find the formula for love. Its 32-dimension personality test uses psychological truths to identify areas of compatibility between two individuals. The dating site's mission is to foster relationships that last, and every potential match has a reason behind it.

• Over 2 million people have found love here
• Users can filter their match recommendations by age or city
• Compatibility Quiz identifies common interests, lifestyles, and goals
• Browse eharmony profiles 100% free»

By applying psychology to online dating, eharmony aims to create healthier, happier, and stronger marriages in the U.S. and abroad. This personality-driven dating site kicks things off with a comprehensive personality test that inquires about everything from your eating habits to your religious views.

Once you’ve set up your dating profile (which is free), you can also set match preferences (also free) in terms of age, distance, income, spirituality, smoking, and other key demographics. All this information goes into eharmony’s rigorous match algorithm, which then calculates compatibility scores on things like exclusivity, social values, and relationship values.

Personality powers matches on eharmony, and online daters can trust the dating site to identify the most compatible profiles out there.

Christian Mingle is a faith-based dating website for singles who want a relationship grounded in Christian values. People of all religions and backgrounds turn to this site in hopes of meeting a good Christian man or a good Christian woman. Christian Mingle's claim to fame is that it has the highest percentage of Christian members of any dating site or app in the world.

• For singles interested in God-centered relationships
• Over 3.5 million monthly users around the world
• Available as an app on Google Play and the App Store
• Browse Christian Mingle profiles 100% free»

ChristianMingle is designed to help good Christian singles find a match made in heaven. The site accepts members of all religious beliefs and affiliations — with the stipulation that all members must be open to being in a Christian marriage.

As a free member of ChristianMingle, you can browse through profiles organized by the newest, the closest, and the ones with the highest match percentage. You can also view profiles that are online now and flip through potential dates in the LookBook.

ChristianMingle offers a free basic membership, so singles don’t have to take it on faith that the site works. Free online members can see that they have messages in their inbox; however, they can only view those messages or send replies when they subscribe to a three-month, six-month, or 12-month plan.

Since its launch in 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has created an African American singles network that stretches across North America. This niche dating site has 1.5 million members who are attracted to Black and biracial people. It takes less than two minutes to create a full profile and start browsing through profiles sorted by age, location, and orientation.

• One of the largest Black singles networks in existence
• Straightforward search and matching features
• Use Tokens to appear higher in search results
• Browse BlackPeopleMeet profiles 100% free»

BlackPeopleMeet is among the top black dating sites available in the U.S. and Canada. Since 2002, the site has appealed to tens of thousands of black and biracial singles seeking friendship, romance, and love.

The site’s diverse user base makes it stand out. You can search for dates who share similar backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints, and it’s easy to make a connection in such an open-minded atmosphere.

You can create a free BlackPeopleMeet dating profile in less than two minutes and see what this diverse dating ground has to offer you. One thing’s for sure — you’ll definitely see a lot of black singles mingling here.

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.

• Free registration, searches, and messaging
• The Chemistry Test creates a compatibility framework
• Over 1 billion messages sent per month
• Browse Plenty of Fish profiles 100% free»

The dating site for conversations. That’s the moniker of Plenty of Fish, which offers 100% free and unlimited communication. All POF members can send as many messages as they want to anyone they want, and they don’t have to pay a cent.

During the average month, Plenty of Fish users exchange over 1 billion messages on the platform. The downside of free online communication, of course, is that it could turn into an open season for scammers and spammers. Fortunately, POF has laid down strict community guidelines to encourage respectful and kind interactions.

Over 150 million singles have trusted Plenty of Fish to connect them with someone special, and the site’s success stories prove its merits as an online matchmaker.

In 2012, Tinder pioneered a swiping-based match system that empowered singles to connect with dates who liked them back. Tinder users can message their mutual matches for free on this fast-paced dating app. Since its launch, Tinder has created over 60 billion matches worldwide.

• Supports active daters in 190+ countries
• The swiping system creates over 12 million matches per day
• Tinder Plus members have unlimited likes and 5 Super Likes
• Browse Tinder profiles 100% free»

In 2012, Tinder changed the way people saw free online dating when it introduced its swipe-based mutual matching system. Suddenly, singles had a way to filter their incoming messages and browse potential dates more quickly and effectively. And it has taken off.

To date, Tinder has facilitated over 30 billion matches in over 190 countries and territories. The popular dating app is responsible for over 1 million dates per week, and it has sparked connections between singles of all ages, orientations, and intentions. Tinder’s motto is “Single, no sorry,” so feel free to swipe until you meet someone who sweeps you off your feet.

“I’m getting married to someone I met on Tinder,” said Caitlin M. on Facebook. “We talked through text for about a week before we met. After meeting, we clicked immediately.”

Best Free Senior Dating Sites

Though they may not seem very tech-savvy, seniors have begun embracing online dating in a major way in the last few years. Dating sites and apps give singles the opportunity to come out of their shells and meet new people without leaving home, and a senior-friendly site can provide an age-appropriate community for individuals seeking companionship.

Below, we’ve listed a few of the safest and friendliest dating sites for seniors, and we hope you enjoy them.

SilverSingles offers a secure dating experience for singles of a certain age. Anyone over 50 is welcome to join the network and browse for dates by using the simple search filters and match recommendations. Every month, over 800,000 senior singles join the dating site and start their journey toward love.

• Global membership base of exclusively single seniors
• Free members can browse matches, send smiles, and favorite profiles
• 24/7 online customer service
• Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free»

First up, we have SilverSingles, a dating site that caters to singles over 50. The site gives every new member a personality test and uses their answers to devise daily match recommendations (up to seven per day), and you don’t need to make any in-app purchases to view a person’s profile and send a like or wink.

Singles can also look for dates using the search filters on SilverSingles. The dating site lets free members set parameters around age, distance, and other important factors to consider when deciding who’s right for you.

The dating website’s simple signup process and user-friendly interface ensure even newcomers to the online dating scene will understand how SilverSingles works.

OurTime gives singles over 50 a confidence boost by introducing them to age-appropriate dates online. The dating site offers multiple ways to connect and discover commonality, and it has led to thousands of success stories in the last few years. Whether you're looking for a pen pal, a friend, or a relationship, OurTime has got it covered.

• Thousands of success stories from all over the world
• Find senior dates using advanced search filters and match suggestions
• The Help Center offers quick tips and guidance
• Browse OurTime profiles 100% free»

As part of the People Media network, OurTime has an extensive reach in the online dating scene. The senior-friendly site welcomes anyone over the age of 50, and its security measures and safety tips can help new members guard against unsavory folks.

Many of OurTime’s members haven’t dated in years — even decades — so the site eases singles into the online dating process with a free membership and lots of matchmaking features.

OurTime’s greatest successes include widowers finding love again and single moms making friendships during their golden years. Online technology can lead seniors to their perfect match, and it’s worth exploring free online dating sites and free dating apps to see what’s out there.

SeniorMatch is one of the most trusted names in the senior dating scene. Since 2003, the over-50 dating site has catered to divorcees, widows, and other singles seeking a second shot at love. It's free to create an account on SeniorMatch, and you can browse profiles, discover matches, send messages to paid members without needing to upgrade or subscribe.

• Exclusively for men and women over 45
• Add a profile to your Hotlist to save it for later
• Seniors shares dating advice in members-only forums
• Browse SeniorMatch profiles 100% free»

SeniorMatch has over 1 million singles in its database, and the dating site plays host to over 1.6 million conversations each month. That’s a lot of activity for a community of retired and semi-retired folks!

SeniorMatch has dating forums, blogs, and private messaging where like-minded people can get to know one another on a deeper level. It’s not just about looks here. The site endeavors to foster a friendly space for seniors seeking genuine connections. You can read more about SeniorMatch here.

Since 2003, SeniorMatch has inspired over 36,000 success stories, and you can read some SeniorMatch testimonials on the site.

SeniorFriendsDate is on a mission to connect singles over 50 in a safe and trustworthy online network. This dating site is one of 150 niche websites run by the Friends Date Network, and it offers totally free communication to singles around the world.

• 100% free online dating for seniors
• In-depth profiles showcase your personality and lifestyle
• Members-only groups organized around travel, currents events, and BINGO nights
• Browse SeniorFriendsDate profiles 100% free»

Last but not least, SeniorFriendsDate is definitely worth checking out if you fall into the over-50 category. This senior dating site supports completely free online communication.

You don’t have to pay anything to join SeniorFriendsDate and start conversations on the site. You can search for dates for free, you can read your messages for free, you can favorite profiles for free — well, you get the point.

What’s more, SeniorFriendsDate.com is a mobile-friendly site, so you can access it using any of your mobile devices (smartphone, tablet, etc.) and enjoy a seamless and free online dating experience.

Best Free LGBT Dating Sites

Online dating has been a game changer for LGBTQ+ singles, especially those who are in the closet or don’t have a very large gay community in their area. By joining a dating site or app, people can explore their sexuality and express themselves more openly, honestly, or freely than they can in the real world.

As a result, according to survey data, 65% of today’s LGBTQ+ couples say they met online, while only 39% of today’s straight couples can say the same. Free online dating clearly has a lot to offer gay, lesbian, bi, trans, and queer individuals, and the following sites have a rainbow of features to recommend them.

OkCupid is a staunch ally of the LGBTQ+ community. The dating site and app made headlines in 2013 when it introduced 22 gender options and 13 orientation options to dating profiles. Few dating platforms have gone to such lengths to ensure that it represents everyone across the sexuality spectrum, and we give it props for connecting gay, bi, and queer men around the world.

• Gay men can express themselves in lengthy profiles
• Expanded orientation options includes pansexual and demisexual men
• Match lists only show guys who meet your criteria
• Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free»

In 2014, OkCupid updated its dating site/app and positioned itself as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community by adding 22 gender options and 13 orientation options to its profiles.

OkCupid’s team believes “dating deserves better,” and this popular dating platform is constantly changing to meet the needs of today’s online daters. At its heart, OkCupid is all about pairing up people who have real-life, long-term potential, and it uses a time-tested match questionnaire to see who can go the distance. The questionnaire is optional and offers over 4,000 questions ranging from “Do you like beer” to “Do you think homosexuality is a sin?”

Since its launch in 2004, OkCupid has promised to be a forever-free site, and it doesn’t charge users a penny to send messages. Upgrading your OkCupid account is totally optional, but it does give you access to helpful features like being able to see your profile views and likes.

Bumble is a female-friendly dating app made by women for women. The platform encourages women to take initiative and go after the date they find most attractive. Lesbian, bisexual, and queer women can use Bumble to make deep connections with women in the area.

• A global network of strong, confident women
• Conversations expire within 24 hours of a match
• Less than 1% of Bumble women are looking for hookups
• Browse Bumble profiles 100% free»

Bumble is a female-first dating app known for its innovative twist on online dating. Bumble’s CEO started on the ground floor of Tinder in her early 20s, but she soon left the company (and slapped it with a sexual harassment lawsuit) to create a healthier and more progressive dating space for all singles.

Since launching in 2014, Bumble has been a force for social change in the online dating space. Its female-oriented features appeal to both straight and gay women who are seeking greater quality and less harassment in their inboxes.

Bumble has differentiated itself from apps like Tinder by inspiring heartfelt conversations online and by ensuring both individuals feel safe, valued, and heard. Anyone can join the Hive for free to discover friendships and relationships built on mutual respect. As the Bumble team said, “We as a company will always swipe right for empowered moves, and left on attempts to disempower us. We encourage every user to do the same.”

A lesbian named Robyn Exton founded HER because she recognized that not all dating sites and apps look out for the unique needs and interests of LGBTQ+ womxn. The HER community does a great job of connecting its users in a fun-loving and active community. Its easy social networking tools are great whether you're fully out of the closet or just starting to question your sexuality.

• Free private messaging to all mutual matches
• Post comments or send likes to connect with local lesbians
• A safe, friendly, and one-of-a-kind dating app
• Browse HER profiles 100% free»

HER is a womxn-only dating app with over 4 million users who identify all across the sexuality spectrum. The idea for the app began with a lesbian named Robyn Exton, who was on a mission to create a safe community of queer womxn.

Once you set up your free dating profile (using an existing Facebook account or social media account), you become part of a vast network of womxn organizing events, posting colorful pictures, and commenting on each other’s thoughts, joys, successes, and stories. This unique social media atmosphere encourages dynamic relationships to blossom.

You can read loads of the app’s love stories under the hashtag WeMetOnHER. “I can’t imagine my life without her ever again,” said Kelsey and Ashley in a testimonial. “Thank you, HER, for helping me reconnect with my happily ever after.”

Grindr is one of the top dogs in the gay dating scene. It's the name everyone recognizes, and many gay men choose it as their go-to dating app. The location-based matching system satisfies the desires of guys who want to hook up on the fly.

• Among the most popular gay social networks in the world
• Men connect via private and group chats
• View nearby profiles using real-time GPS data
• Browse Grindr profiles 100% free»

When it comes to online dating apps for gay men, Grindr is probably the best option out there. Its location-based dating matches are ideal for guys on the prowl for a one-night stand, and its no-nonsense vibe helps users establish quick romantic connections.

Over the last decade, Grindr has amassed a global following by focusing on connecting local dates. The app’s main goal is to connect dates who are “zero feet away,” and the rest is up to you.

“I met my current bf on Grindr…When we met, I was explicit I was taking time away from dating and hookups,” said one Grindr user. “We were official two months later.”

Best Free Hookup Sites

If your dream date begins and ends in the bedroom, then you should start your search for romance on a hookup site known for being safe, effective, and discreet. We’ve picked out a few that will get the job done and help you make some magic in your local dating scene.

When it comes to arranging hookups, BeNaughty is fast, easy, fun, and safe. This dating site has built a global network of sexy men and women who want to skip the small talk and cut right to the chase. If you're interested in short-term romance, BeNaughty is the place to go and get your flirt on.

• A global network of naughty singles over 18
• Ability to blur nude and explicit content, if desired
• Advanced search filters and one-on-one messaging
• Browse BeNaughty profiles 100% free»

BeNaughty is a free hookup site with members in the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Canada, Spain, France, and other European countries. Once you input your location, the site will generate a match list of viable dates in and around your ZIP code.

Free members can scroll through dating profiles and send flirtatious pickup lines to get people’s attention. Only members with valid photos can send messages on the site.

If you really want to save time searching for a hookup or one-night stand on BeNaughty, go to the Like Gallery where you can quickly swipe through date options by answering the oh-so-serious question: Cute or Not?

Registering for an account on Adult Friend Finder (AFF) is like speeding into the fast lane of the online dating world. This hookup site puts you in the center of action and encourages sexy singles and swingers to satisfy their secret fantasies. Anyone over 18 can join AFF and browse millions of profiles for free, but only full-fledged members have access to the revealing content in the community forums and chat rooms.

• One of the largest adults-only sex communities
• Free and fast registration process
• Dating forums and live chats foster live flirtation
• Browse Adult Friend Finder profiles 100% free»

With over 100 million dating profiles, AdultFriendFinder has almost too many options for horny singles and couples. As a free member, you can check out the erotic blog and view sexy video broadcasts that run 24/7. You can also browse through profiles and photos for as long as you like.

The site’s free features are great, but the premium membership offers even greater privileges, including private two-way chats.

The AFF community is an adults-only space, so don’t be too surprised if you find some X-rated content here. Some raunchy members post nude or semi-nude pics, while others explain in graphic terms on their profiles the type of sexual encounter they desire.

AFF members can let go of their inhibitions and explore different kinks, fetishes, and sexual preferences on this anonymous hookup platform. It’s a great way to find a one-night stand without the hassle of monthly fees or in-app purchases.

FriendFinder-X offers sexy singles the gratifying experience of meeting hot dates within a few clicks. This hookup site is designed to excite people's imaginations and fill them with sexual energy. Whether you're chatting privately or in a group forum, singles and swingers can be upfront about their sexual desires, fetishes, and fantasies.

• A casual personals site for singles, couples, and groups
• Profiles have suggestive photos and strip tease videos
• Chat live via a two-way webcam or private messaging
• Browse FriendFinder-X profiles 100% free»

FriendFinder-X touts itself as a site “where good girls do bad things.” And if that doesn’t get you interested, then maybe the site’s free membership perks and location-based dating will.

On FriendFinder-X, you can create a personal ad and use advanced search filters to find sexy singles in your neck of the woods. You don’t have to use your real name to sign up, but you do have to upload a photo of yourself if you want your profile to appear in search results.

According to FriendFinder-X, dating profiles with photos receive 10 times as many likes as dating profiles without photos, so it’s worth dusting off your favorite selfie when creating your account.

MenNation has tons of X-rated content to arouse the senses and stimulate conversation. The hookup site attracts single men and gay couples all over the world and has grown its network to include over 93 million people. Free members can browse these profiles for as long as they want and send flirts to anyone who catches their eye.

• A massive men-only sex and swinger community
• Browse profiles and send private messages to your favorites
• Profiles feature erotic videos and sexually explicit blogs
• Browse MenNation profiles 100% free»

Straight people aren’t the only ones hooking up in the online dating world. MenNation caters to all the hot guys looking to slut it up on free dating apps and sites.

Thanks to its location-based dating, MenNation encourages singles, couples, and groups to find men who share similar sexual interests. Many guys will outright state in their profiles where, how, and when they want to hook up, and that takes a lot of the guesswork out of finding a sexy partner.

Every day, tens of thousands of men use MenNation to satisfy their curiosity and their desires. You can join them for free by providing a valid email address — a Facebook account or social media profile is not required.

As part of Friend Finder Networks, LesbianPersonals is a fast-paced hookup site built to satisfy. The dating platform caters to women, straight couples, lesbian couples, and groups who are looking to enjoy lesbian sex. LesbianPersonals members can find romance in live video chats or instant message conversations and take things to the next level by exchanging contact information.

• Create a free profile in less than a minute
• Search filters can identify attractive singles and couples in the area
• Strip tease videos, revealing photos, and other adult content
• Browse LesbianPersonals profiles 100% free»

Finally, LesbianPersonals has given lesbian, bisexual, and queer women a place where they can pursue their passions. The personals site does not allow men to join the site and spoil the fun.

Men can only join if they are in a relationship with a straight woman and interested in a threesome. Otherwise, it’s a girls-only space. Women can exchange messages, photos, and videos on the site, and it doesn’t take long for members to make contact here.

LesbianPersonals is a free, adults-only dating site, and it employs strict safety measures to ensure users behave themselves and have a fun time seeking the perfect match.

Is There a Totally Free Dating Site?

Most dating websites will offer at least some free features — typically, free profile searches and profile views — yet far fewer dating sites offer a completely free dating service. A paywall helps dating sites stay profitable, of course, but it also guarantees a certain level of safety and authenticity for members.

Hinge is a totally free dating app with personality-driven matching.

Free online dating sites can be problematic because they open the doors to spammers and scammers who want to take advantage of users. Cybercriminals can use the site’s free communication as their way into people’s lives and bank accounts.

A completely free dating service may save you money upfront, but you could lose money in a dating scam if you’re not careful. Instead of looking for always-free sites, singles should seek online dating apps that offer a good balance of free features and security measures.

Free online dating sites like OkCupid and Plenty of Fish — and free dating apps like Coffee Meets Bagel and Hinge — can be a good option if you want to land a date without paying a lot of money or putting yourself at risk. You can mingle freely on these online dating apps and send messages without paying for a monthly subscription.

Is OkCupid Completely Free?

OkCupid offers free communication to all its members, but the free dating service does have premium features to give certain online daters an edge. You can chat with as many people as you want for as long as you want on OkCupid. However, only premium members can see their profile views and likes.

Something we like about OkCupid is the way it filters incoming messages. Anyone can write an introductory message to someone they like, but only messages from your mutual matches will show up in your inbox. Otherwise, you’ll see them at the top of the person’s dating profile.

Is POF Really Free?

Yes, Plenty of Fish is really free. The POF network has built its reputation on its free communication system, and that’s how it has earned the trust of 150 million users worldwide. You can search, chat, match, and use Plenty of Fish for free.

Another good feature is that Plenty of Fish requires only an email address — not a Facebook profile or Instagram account — to jump on board its membership.

How Can I Get Zoosk for Free?

The Zoosk app offers a free membership to all newcomers with an email address or social media profile (Facebook or Google+). You can take advantage of its free matching features by creating a profile on the dating site or downloading the dating app.

Zoosk is a dynamic dating site with over 40 million members worldwide. This general dating platform caters to singles seeking short-term and long-term relationships, and you don't need a paid subscription to join the fun. Zoosk members can send messages to premium members for free, and they can use Zoosk Coins to earn added perks.

• Free trial with unlimited profile browsing
• Flirt with women in 80+ countries
• Behavioral matchmaking system pays attention to your likes and views
• Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free»

You don’t have to make any in-app purchases to browse Zoosk profiles, take the personality test, use its social networking features, and find the perfect match online. To further help budget-conscious singles, Zoosk offers special discounts on its subscription plans and gives users plenty of options to make the experience their own and meet potential dates.

Find Love Online by Using the Best Free Dating Sites

There you have it. The best free dating sites and apps on this list can help you turn your luck around and fall into the arms of someone special.

You can join any of these popular dating sites for free to see what they’re about, and, if you like what you see, you may want to upgrade your account to get the most out of it. Maybe money can’t buy you love, but it can buy you access to some pretty great online dating experiences, if you play your cards right.

It’s up to you to decide how much time, money, and energy you’re willing to spend in the online dating scene. Just remember, you’ll get out of it what you put into it, so put your best foot forward and have fun!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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!