Online dating is becoming more accessible than ever, and the price tag isn’t as high as you may think. I spent $0 on the dating app where I met my husband. Some singles shy from online dating due to concerns about a costs, but free memberships and trial offers can close the gap. Dating apps and sites are starting to offer more free services so you can join some of the biggest networks in the world — at no charge.
Over the last 10 years, I have done considerable research in the online dating world (both professionally and personally), so I can confidently identify some highly-rated dating sites and apps that can change your life for the better without costing you a penny!
Best Free Dating Sites for Serious Relationships
If you’re serious about dating for keeps, then a totally free dating site may not be the best route for you. Sometimes it’s better to look for a more quality-driven platform that has a balance of free and paid services. That improves your chance of attracting more single people who want to invest in their love life and get in a relationship. You can start a membership for free on these dating sites and see how you like the matches you find there.
1. Match
Since 1995, Match has made a name for itself as one of the most successful dating platforms in the world. The site empowers singles to find compatible dates and make a deep connection based on shared interests and lifestyles. Match.com is responsible for countless love stories, and the next one could be yours.
- Find quality women with advanced search filters
- Communicate with your Top Picks for free
- Add up to 26 photos to your profile
- Browse Match profiles 100% free »
Match levels the playing field so singles of all ages have a chance to find someone who is relationship material. If you’re looking for that special person who wants a committed and long-term relationship, Match is the right fit. Match paves the way for serious dating and, at no charge, offers a dynamic online experience.
Match offers a variety of features that put compatibility first. Unlike other dating sites, Match ensures that free memberships are just as rewarding as their paid counterparts. Users can send likes to their matches and spark up a conversation with their Top Picks. Match also offers a calendar of real-world events, such as hiking and speed dating, to help people interact outside the online world.
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 »
Finding someone who takes dating seriously can be hard. Users of Elite Singles can use the date parameters to find a partner who aligns with their professional lifestyle. Members of this site are looking for a long-term bond.
Over 381,000 new members join the platform each month, so it’s a busy thoroughfare of educated people. And the best part of it all is that everyone is just as ready as you are to settle down. This helps users avoid wasting time on casual daters and flaky chats.
Elite Singles makes it easy and affordable to connect with compatible matches on your schedule. The app requires users to take a personality test and filter matches based on the results. Elite Singles help people balance their careers and dating lives at little to no charge.
3. eharmony
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 »
With the motto, “get who gets you,” eharmony focuses on making genuine matches that will last a lifetime. The eharmony app encourages users to focus on making deep connections and finding an intentional partner. Over the last 25 years, eharmony has facilitated over 200 million successful love stories and is still helping create more success stories today.
There’s a slight difference on eharmony between free and paid members. Fortunately, eharmony’s free membership allows members to view their potential matches and send limited messages. Singles can also use the app’s automatic icebreaker generated to start up a conversation. One thing to note is that paid subscribers have more freedom to message any person they like. The payment system is in place to encourage more meaningful connections between serious daters.
Best Free Dating Sites for Seniors
As you get older, your dating goals and life plans may change somewhat. You may not care for the casual and superficial scene on the mainstream dating apps. You may wonder if any dating services will work for you. Fortunately, plenty of senior dating sites can meet your specific needs, and here are our favorite sites for senior dating.
Since 2002, SilverSingles has reached out to the senior community to give mature singles a second chance at love. This exclusive senior dating site uses an intelligent matchmaking system to introduce its members to compatible dates of a certain age. As part of Sparks Network, SilverSingles maintains a global audience in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and other countries.
- 59% of users are women seeking a date
- Set match preferences by gender, age, height, distance, photos, or similarities
- Detailed and easy-to-read profiles
- Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free »
Finding love can be one of the hardest things to accomplish as we age. With Silver Singles, there is more opportunity for older singles to find a partner to spend their time with. Silver Singles is designed to help people over the age of 40 find their happily ever after.
Silver Singles has easy-to-use features for members to connect. Members can skip a payment plan if they’re not ready to commit right away and use the free membership to explore local date options. It’s free to send likes to see if there’s a spark. From start to finish, members are fully supported because Silver Singles has a strong community of experienced singles.
5. DateMyAge
Mature dating site DateMyAge invites older singles to switch to a more age-appropriate dating pool. The global service has successfully connected senior singles in over 30 countries, including the U.S. Safety is a top priority for the platform. All new dating profiles are vetted and verified by the team for authenticity, and a watchful anti-scam system flags and removes suspicious accounts.
- Local and international profile browsing
- Let’s Mingle icebreakers & Live Chat tools
- Advanced video chat, livestreaming, and personal clips
- Browse DateMyAge profiles 100% free »
DateMyAge is a mature dating service for people who are ready for a real relationship. The platform has an active user base in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world. Its commitment to inspiring relationships, despite distance or cultural differences, can be just what single people need to start fresh.
DMA provides a free membership package with all the basics. I can’t recall the last time I saw a dating site that charged for profile browsing, so that’s not too original. What stands out about DateMyAge is the credit system that allows users to pay as they go and only pay for features they actually intend to use. You can maintain a completely free existence on DateMyAge if you wish — or you can use credits to upgrade your online dating experience.
6. OurTime
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 »
OurTime is a senior dating site with great ambitions for the dating world. Its team, backed by Match Group, hopes to end the trend of loneliness in senior lives. Its services include limited free messaging between compatible older people.
Safety is a big concern for the senior dating population, and OurTime is proactive on that front. The dating service verifies profiles as authentic and removes any suspicious characters making trouble online.
OurTime has a lot of mature dating options on offer, and active profiles appear at the top of swipe lists, so the more you log in, the more matches will s
Best Free Dating Sites for Casual Chatting
Casual daters usually don’t want to commit to a monthly subscription plan, so free hookup sites have adapted to meet their needs. The following services provide no-strings chat rooms for those who want to explore romance without worrying about a monthly payment.
Most Ashley Madison users are married and looking for an escape. That could come in the form of harmless online flirting, or it could mean pursuing an affair with someone special. The dating site and app aren’t here to judge anyone for what they want. At the end of the day, Ashley Madison is all about following your heart — wherever it may lead.
- Proactive privacy and security measures
- Ability to hide your face in profile pictures
- Quick Reply to matches to show you’re interested
- Browse Ashley Madison profiles 100% free »
Known as the married dating site, Ashley Madison is here to turn the monotony of marriage into an exciting adventure. Ashley Madison is designed for married individuals who want to intimately and discreetly connect with someone other than their spouse. A free membership plan can help users turn their sexual fantasies into reality.
There are multiple benefits to using Ashley Madison. Women can message men for free without worrying about having to upgrade or pay extra fees, while men have to use a token system if they want to message a person of interest. By adding photo blurring and other privacy features, Ashley Madison is making extramarital activities fun and safe!
In 1996, Friend Finder Networks began harnessing the power of online networking to help adults meet sexually active singles in their area, and it has now grown into a global X-rated phenomenon with over 93 million profiles. Adult Friend Finder provides a safe, anonymous dating platform where singles and swingers can hook up with another.
- Among the largest online sex and swinger communities
- Completely free no-obligation registration
- Live chat rooms and discussion forums open 24/7
- Browse Adult Friend Finder profiles 100% free »
As you get older, a lot of things can change, but your sexual desire may not decline as much as polite society claims it does. In fact, senior libido can rival that of other age groups — given the right opportunity. AdultFriendFinder is an X-rated dating site where adults can explore sexual chats (or sexting as the kids say), nude photo galleries, and casual hookups.
The AFF network began in the 1990s, so its team has experience on its side in the dating industry. We recommend starting with a free profile to explore the ins and outs of the personal ads. If you see an intriguing date out there, then by all means shoot your shot!
Don’t let your nerves stand in the way of your love life. Everyone on AdultFriendFinder is looking for casual sex, so it’s a great place to come out of your shell.
FAQs: Is Tinder Completely Free to Use?
Tinder is free to join! The free membership includes swiping and chatting with mutual matches on the app. Those who are interested in an elevated dating experience can check out Tinder’s premium membership offerings: Tinder Plus and Tinder Gold.
Tinder Plus is the next level of Tinder. The premium plan gives members access to additional features such as unlimited likes and a broader search radius. To take things up a notch, Tinder Gold includes more super likes and the ability to see who likes you. These options are meant to speed up the swiping process and save you time.
Are There Free Dating Sites With No Payment Needed?
Here are two dating sites that offer a lot of value for a free membership. You will not have to pay to join these dating platforms, and some communication options are included as part of the deal:
- Facebook Dating
- OkCupid
Facebook is one of the oldest social media platforms still in use, and in 2018 it expanded into a dating app with Facebook Dating. At no charge, people can use this matchmaking tool. Facebook Dating takes profile information from users’ social media accounts and turns it into an easy kickstarter for their dating profile.
One of the best perks of Facebook Dating is the app’s dedication to the user experience. You can add Secret Crushes, send likes, and filter the people who can see your profile. Facebook Dating also offers users unlimited messages for free. You never have to worry about any hidden payments.
OkCupid is a haven for singles who want to steer clear of the major dating apps but are looking for a true connection in the dating world. With millions of registered users, OkCupid offers free messaging and matching that works. Free members can send a greeting to anybody, but they cannot send a second message unless the person likes their profile.
OkCupid is one of the most flexible and accommodating dating apps in the market right now. With over 13 sexual orientation options available and 22 gender identities, OkCupid is accepting of all forms of love. Users get access to free chatting features and a questionnaire with over 5,000 questions ranging from “Do like the taste of beer?” or “Do you believe in God?”
Is It Worth Joining a Niche Dating Site?
If you’re serious about only dating a certain type of person, a niche dating site may appeal to you. But it can, by definition, have a smaller dating pool. This may result in a slower dating process, but you’ll never have to worry about not finding someone who shares your interests. Some dating sites, including Christian Mingle and JDate, have built large followings in communities with a shared culture.
Is a Free Membership Worth It?
It truly depends on what you’re going for. Free dating apps like Hinge and Bumble are generally good for chatting up a lot of matches at once. But you’ll encounter a mix of people who may not be taking the online dating process very seriously.
Singles looking for a serious relationship may prefer the more quality-focused dating pools of Match or eharmony. These dating platforms have payment plans that help to weed out singles who are more casual or don’t know what they want.
Older singles tend to prefer the paid subscription option because it allows them more freedom to connect with people who share similar intentions and lifestyles.
If your main goal is to date online for free but still get the full experience, then OkCupid is a good place to start. Its free communication has been a hallmark of the dating platform since its launch in 2004.
Free Dating Sites Provide Easy Access to Potential Matches
The internet has multiple avenues for singles to navigate the dating pool. As technology continues to advance, singles will have plenty more dating options out there than they’ve ever had before. It’s just a matter of finding the right dating sites that will set you up for dating success.
Dating doesn’t have to be as complicated and as pricey as you think. What starts as a click can certainly end with a kiss and maybe even an “I do” at the altar!
