It's never been easy to find a partner, and challenges from COVID-19 has made dating even more complicated. Luckily, even if you're not getting out as much as you used to, online dating sites and mobile dating apps can help you make connections that lead to a long-term relationship (or even a fun fling!). Yes, the internet is a wonderful thing.

Best Dating Sites of 2021. Below are the best dating sites and apps of 2021, as tested and reviewed by our experts. Try any of these top online dating websites 100% free, and gain access to millions of singles looking for a potential match, hookup, or serious relationship. Founded in 2000, eharmony is a well-known name in the dating industry, but it’s also known for its affordability (a basic membership is 100% free), ingenuity (the one-of-a-kind 32 Dimensions of Compatibility Quiz), and simplicity (the site does all the searching for you).

But where to start? There are lots of good dating websites and apps, whether you're looking to meet new people, try casual dating, find others with similar interests or finally find your ideal match for a long term relationship. I took into consideration everything from each online dating service's dating pool to whether it provides daily matches to whether it's a free dating app or a paid service. A new person that fits your exact dating profile is sure to be out there!

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Here's an overview of the best dating sites on the market. My recommendations are based primarily on my own experiences in the online dating platform arena as a woman, with some word-of-mouth impressions from friends thrown in for good measure.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up for these top dating sites or apps, start chatting and maximize your chances of meeting your perfect match. We'll update this list periodically.

Bumble is basically Tinder for women... and on a timer. Bumble is a free dating app that requires women to message first. If the guy doesn't message back within 24 hours, he loses the potential dates. Because that's the one thing my love life was really missing: Arbitrary time limits.

The timer is designed to encourage contact and some people really do appreciate that feature. But if you're someone who procrastinates, Bumble may not be for you. Because women must message first, Bumble tends to weed out the more insecure males from the dating pool. However, the rate of overly confident men tends to be higher than I've seen on other apps. Bumble also has a BFF feature to help you meet new people, but that's really not our focus, so I'll save it for another time.

Whether you're looking for a casual hookup, potential date, friendship or an LTR (long term relationship), Tinder has you covered. It's basically the first stop for those entering the dating world. If you want to play the odds when it comes to online dating, you need to be swiping where everyone's swiping.

On the upside, the profiles are brief, which helps you to make decisions quickly. The downside is that a short dating profile makes it harder to figure out what a lot of people are looking for. Knowing very little about a person can also make initial messaging a lot more challenging. You'll need to wade through a sea of profiles, which makes it easy to pass over people you might have given a chance under different circumstances.

OkCupid, how you confuse me. I have friends who've met their ideal match and even spouses through OkCupid. My last serious relationship came from the OkCupid dating service. In fact, I've been on OkCupid on and off, for roughly the last 11 years. Profiles are a lot more in-depth than most online dating sites and if you answer a seemingly endless series of questions (much like a personality test), they will spit out a reasonable Match/Enemy percentage ratio on profiles to help you gauge compatibility based on interests.

Changes in the last few years have made OkCupid a bit more like Tinder (both owned by the same company), focusing more on swiping and eliminating the ability to message a user without matching with them first. Online daters can still send a message -- it just won't show up in the recipient's inbox unless you match. Because who doesn't enjoy sending a thoughtful message to someone who might never see it? However, OkCupid has pointed out that these changes did help lower the number of offensive messages and fake profiles people received, which might be a worthwhile trade-off. Unfortunately in my experience OkCupid has become a bit of an online dating app ghost town.

Hinge finally won me over, becoming my favorite dating app last year. Originally the app focused on common connections and mutual friends that you and a potential partner shared on Facebook, which was a gimmick I was never sold on. But it has since pivoted away from this model. Hinge has designed the app to make user profiles more engaging (and helpful) than on apps like Tinder. You have the option of displaying a lot of useful information that could be deal breakers: Your political leanings, your religion, your alcohol consumption frequency or even your interest level in having children someday. The prompts provided by Hinge make it easy to create more engaging profiles. Hinge's current slogan is 'designed to be deleted,' so if a potential match for a serious relationship is what you're looking for, this is the dating app I would recommend.

Coffee Meets Bagel hopes to offer people better-quality matches by sending curated daily matches, or 'bagels,' each day at noon. They suggest ice-breakers for first messages and the profiles are more in-depth than Tinder. For people who like a little extra hand-holding, CMB isn't the worst option. However, I found the app confusing to use, with too many features and a lot of gimmicks. I shouldn't have to look up online tutorials to figure out how to use a dating app. Plus why call matches Bagels?

I was also disappointed in the notifications, which I found too pushy. CMB was constantly 'gently' reminding me to message people I'd matched with. I eventually disabled the app after receiving the following notification: 'Show [match name] who's boss and break the ice today!' Should a potential future relationship be rooted in a hierarchical power dynamic? At the end of the day, I have friends who've had the perfect match on CMB, but it isn't one of my favorite online dating apps.

Happn matches you with people who are located nearby. It's a cool concept and helpful for people who want to meet someone in a more organic manner. That said, I've never met a single person who actually uses the app.

After signing up, Happn showed me 68 people it said I'd crossed paths with in the preceding 3 hours, though I hadn't left my apartment all day. This might be helpful if you're looking to date your immediate neighbors (or Uber drivers), but I don't see the attraction when competitors like Tinder already show the distance between you and other users. Frankly, if I saw an attractive guy in a coffee shop, I'd just approach him rather than check to see if he's on Happn. The app seems designed for people who don't want to use online dating sites but also don't want to approach people in real life. Pick a lane.

The Best Free Dating Sites 2020

The League is an 'elite dating app' that requires you to apply -- and supply your job title, college and LinkedIn profile. Big cities tend to have long waiting lists, so you might find yourself twiddling your thumbs as your application to be one of the elite singles on the app is reviewed. (Of course, you can pay to expedite the process.) The exclusivity can be a draw for some and a turnoff for others, but I'll let you in on a secret: I've seen most of the profiles I come across on The League on other dating apps, too. So at the end of the day, you'll probably see the same faces for potential dates on Tinder, if you aren't deemed elite enough for The League.

Most dating apps are fairly LGBTQ inclusive. Still, it's nice to have an app to call your own. Her is tailored to lesbian, bisexual and queer women. It's a worthy notion -- but the app has some bugs and glitches that made it frustrating to use. Most of my queer female friends have told me they found the app 'just OK' and not perfect and that they usually end up back on Tinder or Bumble. Still I checked it regularly for some time and had a few pleasant conversations with actual human beings. Isn't that all we're really looking for in a dating app?

Clover tried to be the on-demand version of online dating sites, letting you order a date much like you would a pizza. It also provides numeric match predictions based on compatibility and interests, though it isn't entirely clear how those numbers are calculated.

I was on Clover for quite some time, but had since forgotten it existed until I started to compile this list. It strikes me as a less-successful hybrid of OkCupid and Tinder with a relatively small user base, even though I live in an urban area with plenty of people who use a wide variety of dating apps. Clover says it has nearly 6 million users, 85% of whom are between the ages of 18 and 30.

Plenty of Fish launched in 2003 -- and it shows. The problem I come across over and over again is that POF is filled with bots and scams, even though it may have the most users of any dating app. POF's issues don't mean you won't be able to find love on it, but the odds might be stacked against you. Unless you're into dating bots.

Match.com has a free version, but the general consensus is that you'll need a paid subscription to have any luck. That's a hangover from the early days of online dating sites, when a paid basic membership to a site meant you were serious about settling down. But my friends and I have long since come to the conclusion that you might be a little too eager to find a significant other or the perfect partner if you pay to get dates, particularly given the abundance of free dating apps. There are definitely paid features on some dating apps that are worth the price, but I've yet to be able to justify shelling out cash for love.

eHarmony was one of the pioneers among online dating site options, and -- while I haven't personally used this one -- we all remember the pitch for online daters, thanks to years of TV commercials: The service matches couples based on '29 dimensions' of compatibility and interests (as determined by a thorough relationship questionnaire and personality test). While you can review the profiles of your prospective matches for free, you'll need to pay to unlock the full features of the service. There's a three-month plan and a six-month plan, and they come with a guarantee: If, after three months of paid membership and communicating with at least five members, you're not satisfied, eHarmony will refund your money. Despite a rocky road that eventually involved a high-profile lawsuit, the site finally added same-sex dating in 2013. I have mixed feelings about using the site myself, but it's at least technically more inclusive now.

Have you had a good (or bad) experience with one of these services? Do you have any other online dating sites you'd recommend? Share your experiences in the comments or on social media.

Looking for love? Read these next

How to find legitimate Russian dating sites? What are the criteria to take into consideration when deciding what service to use? Is it easy to find Russian singles on sites like that? Let's find out.

Russian dating websites are gaining popularity among singles all over the world. These services give excellent opportunities to meet, talk, flirt, and date Russian singles. So what Russian dating websites to choose?

Top Russian dating services

Online dating has grown the speediest and easiest way in a partner search. And the Russian dating sites below are best to start your hunt with.

BravoDate

Another website that's been in Russian online dating for years now. What's special about it? When you visit a site first, they suggest you take a short tour and tell you how everything works on BravoDate. One of their peculiarities is so-called Regional Partners. Who are they?

Some of them support users in overcoming cultural differences and language barriers. They also ensure that singles have the proper identification and help to set up profiles and upload quality photos, arrange for present delivery, organize contact exchange, and set up meetings through the platform. If members require help with translation, Regional Partners are at their service too.

Another advantage BravoDate is proud of is its customer support. Your positive experience is very important for the site. That's why the client service team is ready to assist you 24/7. For example, you can contact it if you have an issue with a site's member and want to report them (or you can press the “Report Abuse” button directly on the member's profile page).

How to search for soulmates? Options on BravoDate are similar to the majority of other Russian dating sites. You can use either regular or advanced search. The filters are country, city, age, online status, validated status, parental status, or Member's ID.

What are the other services to enjoy on the site? Add the users you're interested in to the Favorite list not to lose the contacts. When you're ready — contact them via chats or emails. When your relationships are gathering speed — try features like “Flowers and Presents', “Request a contact”, or “Request a meeting”. They help to take your dating experience to a brand-new level.

AmourFactory

Russian dating is usually a wonderful experience. At least that's what the AmourFactory website claims when you visit the platform. They're so positive for one simple reason — they're sure about the services they provide. Let's learn what the site is like step-by-step.

Eharmony Free Trial

Registration is free and takes about a minute. A user is required to indicate his name, gender, and birthday and answer a short questionnaire. What else is free of cost? Browsing the site, searching for members, other users' photos, and profile info. The site gives an opportunity to first decide whether you like it and only after that you can continue with purchasing credits. There are no subscription fees, as well as no automatic recurring payments without your authorisation. You're in charge of your expenses on AmourFactory.

What do you need credits for? As a rule, there are two ways to communicate on Russian dating sites — chatting and emailing. But there are other services to spend credits on. For example, the “Let's talk” feature offers a straightforward way to break the ice and start a new dialogue or continue an old one. Or, there are stickers and smiley-face emojis that help to express your feelings and emotions better.

What else? There's a great service called “Gifts & Flowers”. Choose anything in a catalog — roses, perfumes, clothes, bags, gadgets, teddy bears. AmourFactory will deliver it right to your partner's home. Each delivery is confirmed by a photo of the recipient with the present. Finally, every member can request contact information or arrange a date through the site.

JollyRomance

As Russian dating is progressing, the competition between sites is growing too. That's why they have to put lots of effort into creating a really quality and accessible product. Jolly Romance is one of those sites which regards the daters and their needs as a top priority. They strive to be a superb website in meeting various social requirements the members might have.

What do they have for successful Russian dating? First, features for communication. Users can initiate chats with one another and talk in real-time exchanging messages fast and lively. They're also able to send and receive longer emails. By the way, you can attach up to 20 photos in each mail message and even use templates in chat if you don't know what to start a conversation with.

Second, services that help to interact more. The website allows users to exchange contact information and set up the dates. However, it's not allowed to exchange personal information like emails, phone numbers, or private photos using chats and emails on the site.

Another important part of every online dating site is search tools. You can use three different options. General Search to promptly look for singles by age or online status. Extended Search that has more filters like country, city, height, education, occupation, marital status, and parental status. Finally, Member ID Search in case you know and remember the Member ID of a particular user.

Members can browse the site anytime they wish. Both desktop and mobile versions function properly. The interface of the website is simple and fine-featured. No matter what you do on the platform, it's easy to handle because a professional team made sure it's user-friendly and suits any type of user.

AmourFeel

Dating with AmourFeel is also a real pleasure as the site is user-friendly, accessible, and affordable. Its main focus is made on international communication. And it doesn't matter whether you want to have a small flirty chat or share your love story. What are the site's advantages?

First, the community. It's big and active. The female users on the site are all pretty and it's easily proved by the photos you see right after the registration. Their profiles are descriptive, and you learn a lot about them by visiting their personal pages and reading about their habits, hobbies, interests, values. Usually, you don't have to initiate a chat, a lot of them do the first step. But your account has to be appealing. Otherwise, it won't raise any interest.

Second, convenience. The website structure is straightforward and organized logically. The navigation isn't overrun with too many options. Daters never find themselves at dead ends, like pages without links to related content. The design is compatible and responsive. It resizes as needed for different devices, from desktop computers to tablets and mobile phones.

Third, search. If you have no specific preferences, you may surf the database until you find someone interesting for you. Otherwise, if you have a portrait of a person to connect with, just use the search tool and select all necessary criteria. For example, education, marital/parental status, religion, country, city, habits, etc.

Finally, interaction features. Communicate with other users via two possible ways — chats and emails.

The quality of AmourFeel's services is being constantly improved. Any problems the members sometimes face are resolved quickly. The interface and functions of the platform are adjusted for users' convenience.

AnastasiaDate

One more site to try Russian dating at is Anastasia Date. It's one of the best dating services that has been connecting singles from different countries for over 15 years now. Their mission, as they claim, is to expand your dating opportunities. A platform helps users to meet new people for both a friendly talk or a more serious relationship.

Registration is free. Only after you pass a signing up procedure, you're allowed to start communication. In what ways can you interact on Anastasia Date?

• Live Chat. It's a feature for users who need to begin a talk immediately. Just by clicking Live Chat, you can instantly start a private chat session with any user who's online at that moment.
• Emails. Another simple but very common way to connect with ladies and males is to send letters. Simply click the 'Email Me' link on a member's profile. As a bonus, you can attach a photo to your letter free of charge.
• Call Me. There are two options. First, Phone Reservation. It allows you to hear the voice of a member that interests you. You should place a reservation at least 24 hours beforehand. The site's interpreters usually help with this kind of call. Second, Direct Call. This service allows you to speak with anyone you like instantly. But there are two conditions — they should be online and their level of English is advanced or fluent.

Many users choose Anastasia Date because of the high-quality communication services they provide.

CharmDate

What is CharmDate? It is a dating website that was created for the loving hearts from different parts of the world. Here people from the West can get acquainted with singles from Russia and Ukraine with an intention to create a family. Most of the users here have a serious goal about their relationships, so if you are searching for something that can last for a lifetime, CharmDate can be your good helper.

CharmDate is a site that has a very easy and understandable interface so any customer can feel free here. The navigation is intuitive, which is a huge benefit to the newbies. The design is simple and doesn’t distract from your main goal - communication.

The registration on Charmdate passes quite fast. You have to share the basic information about you to create your profile. That would be:

• your gender
• name
• date of birth
• email address and password.

After this, you have access to the site. Of course, you better update your profile with more info about you, mentioning your interests, job, hobbies, and preferences in partner.

To ease the use of Charmdate even more, there is a special mobile app developed for your comfort. It fits both iOS and Android, so you can use it on any device and keep in touch with CharmDate users as long as you want.

Russian dating is possible nowadays because of a great number of dating sites. There are so many of them, singles get confused and don't know what to choose. The list mentioned above contains only tried-and-true resources that lots of people all over the world use every day. As the registration is free on all of them, you can always give them a try. What do you think?