Finding a spouse has never been easy, and the challenges posed by COVID-19 have made it even more difficult. Even if you don’t go out as frequently as you used to, online dating services and mobile dating apps can help you build connections that could lead to a long-term partnership (or even just a fun fling!). Yes, the internet is a fantastic tool.
But where do you begin? Whether you’re trying to meet new people, attempt casual dating, locate individuals with similar interests, or eventually find your ideal match for a long-term relationship, there are plenty of reputable dating services and apps to choose from. Everything from the size of each online dating service’s dating pool to whether it offers daily matches to whether it’s a free or paid service was taken into account. There’s bound to be someone new out there who matches your exact dating profile!
Here’s a rundown of the greatest dating sites available. My recommendations are mostly based on my personal experiences as a woman using online dating platforms, with some word-of-mouth recommendations from friends tossed in for good measure.
So, what do you have to lose? Sign up for one of these popular dating services or apps, begin chatting, and increase your chances of meeting your ideal match. This list will be updated on a regular basis.
The best dating sites
Bumble
Bumble is like Tinder for women, but with a timer. Bumble is a free dating app in which women must initiate contact. If the guy does not respond within 24 hours, the possible dates are lost. Because arbitrary time constraints were the one thing lacking from my love life.
The timer is intended to foster communication, and some people appreciate it. However, if you’re a procrastinator, Bumble might not be for you. Bumble tends to pick out the more insecure males from the dating pool because women must message first. The rate of overconfident males, on the other hand, is higher than I’ve seen on other applications. Bumble also offers a BFF option that can help you meet new people, but that’s not our focus right now, so I’ll keep that for another day.
Tinder
Tinder has you covered whether you’re looking for a casual hookup, a prospective date, friendship, or an LTR (long-term relationship). It’s essentially the first stop for people who are new to the dating scene. When it comes to online dating, you need to swipe where everyone else is swiping if you want to beat the odds.
On the plus side, the profiles are brief, allowing you to make quick selections. The disadvantage is that a brief dating profile makes it difficult to determine what many people are looking for. When you don’t know much about someone, it can be difficult to strike up a conversation. You’ll have to sift through a sea of profiles, making it easier to overlook folks you would have given a chance in other situations.
OkCupid
How you perplex me, OkCupid. Friends of mine have met their soul mates and even husbands on OkCupid. The OkCupid dating service was the source of my most recent significant relationship. In fact, I’ve been on and off with OkCupid for the past 11 years. Profiles are far more detailed than those found on most online dating sites, and if you complete a seemingly endless series of questions (much like a personality test), they will spit out a fair Match/Enemy percentage ratio on profiles to help you judge compatibility based on shared interests.
In recent years, OkCupid has become more like Tinder (both owned by the same firm), with a focus on swiping and the opportunity to approach a user without initially matching with them. Online daters can still send messages; but, unless you match, they will not appear in the recipient’s inbox. Who doesn’t like sending a thoughtful message to someone who may or may not read it? However, OkCupid claims that these improvements helped reduce the quantity of unpleasant messages and bogus profiles received by users, which may be a worthwhile trade-off. Unfortunately, in my experience, OkCupid has turned into a virtual ghost town.