Best Dating Sites in the USA for 2021

The best dating sites in the USA have won over singles by providing fast, free, and simple avenues to meet new people from coast to coast.

Online dating has exploded in popularity in the United States over the last few years. A solid 48% of Americans under 30 say they have used an online dating site or app, and 12% of all Americans say they have gotten into a relationship thanks to swiping and matching technology.

Singles can explore a more diverse and opportunity-rich dating scene simply by going online. We’ve ranked the most popular dating sites and apps that have had the most success in the land of the free.

Best Overall Dating Sites in the USA

According to census data, about 45% of American adults are unmarried. That means something like 100 million people are in the dating scene right now — just waiting for the right person to come along and sweep them off their feet.

The following dating services are available in all 50 states and have gotten rave reviews from American singles.

Match is a terrific place to start your search for an American dream date. This online dating site has been around for decades and established itself as one of the most effective matchmakers for serious daters.

About 74% of Match members say they have gone to college, and 84% characterize themselves as being selective in the dating scene.

The Match Group was one of the pioneers in the online dating industry in 1995. Today, the Texas-based company has completely dominated the scene and acquired many of its competitors in the process. It doesn’t get more American than that.

EliteSingles started out as a high-brow European dating website, but its platform has now expanded throughout North America to seek greater opportunities in a new frontier.

Single professionals from San Francisco to New York city have flocked to this serious dating platform in hopes that it can raise the bar from the usual swiping app. Over 80% of EliteSingles members have graduated from college, and over 90% say they’re looking for something serious.

EliteSingles analyzes individual date preferences regarding age, ethnicity, religion, education, and appearance to find the perfect match in a diverse dating pool. Every month, over 2,500 singles find love on this premium dating service.

Zoosk began in 2007 as a what-if question about tech entrepreneurs in California. The founders wanted to see if online dating could be improved by integrating social media tools and behavioral matchmaking into the process. It was an instant hit among young Americans looking for a more engaging online experience.

Now Zoosk has over 40 million members spread across 80 countries, but its biggest fan base is still in the U.S. The Zoosk team is committed to help genuine singles connect based on mutual interest. In 2018, Zoosk developed a military insignia verification tool that gave real U.S. military servicemen and veterans a discount and helped them distinguish themselves from the fake profiles and romance scammers.

An American psychologist and theologian founded eharmony in 2000 out of a desire to lower the national divorce rate and help singles find their happily-ever-after ending. Since then, eharmony has been responsible for connecting more than 2 million happy couples in the U.S.

The eharmony matchmaking system is unique because it is based on psychology. Its 80-question personality quiz asks in-depth questions — including “how would your friends describe you?” and “why are you single?” — to get to the heart of who a single person is and what they need and want in a potential partner. Once eharmony users complete the quiz, they can view a personality assessment and compatibility ratings that reveal long-term relationship potential.

Christianity is the largest religion in the U.S., and ChristianMingle is the biggest Christian dating site in the world, so it’s a natural fit for Americans seeking a God-fearing date.

Christian singles can use the swiping and matching tools on ChristianMingle to date with more purpose and fortitude. It’s easy to find shared values on this platform because each dating profile specifies which denomination of Christianity a person follows (if any) and how often they attend church every week. According to internal stats, over 70% of ChristianMingle users say they go to church at least once a week.

ChristianMingle upholds religious freedom and welcomes single people of all faiths and creeds. Any single person who wants to date a Christian can join this Christian dating site to start meeting good-hearted folks in the Bible Belt and beyond.

With over 5.7 million users, BlackPeopleMeet boasts having the largest network of African-American singles in the U.S. and Canada. This Black dating site welcomes tens of thousands of visitors per day and provides filters to help them find common ground.

Singles do not have to be Black to create a dating profile or download the dating app. White, Asian, and Hispanic singles who are open to an interracial relationship can join the BPM network and diversify their date prospects.

“I found someone very special on this site, and we are pursuing a relationship,” said a woman from Texas in an online testimonial. “I’m crazy about him. We would never have met, if it were not for BPM, and to think he was right here in Arlington all along.”

Freedom is central to the American spirit, and OkCupid is an American dating site that has made freedom central to its business model. Four Harvard math majors designed OkCupid to offer free communication and smart matching for singles of all ages, orientations, and backgrounds.

Since its launch in 2004, OkCupid has built a robust reputation in the United States. It has the distinction of being the most mentioned dating site in The New York Times wedding announcements, and it was one of the first major dating sites to launch an online dating app.

Plenty of Fish is a free dating site with plenty of romantic opportunities for Americans in a flirtatious mood. The POF community has over 150 million members worldwide, and it facilitates over 17 million conversations per day.

As a completely free dating service, Plenty of Fish has a large appeal in the U.S. It account for about 18% of the online dating market in the States, making it one of the most successful brands in the business.

The Plenty of Fish team personally reviews all photos uploaded to the website and app to ensure that members are being genuine and putting their best foot forward. Fake profiles and inactive accounts are automatically removed from the database.

Tinder was born in 2012 in Los Angeles, and the online dating world will never be the same. The revolutionary dating app was the first to offer swipe-based matching, and American singles took to it immediately.

Since its launch, Tinder has generated more than 43 billion matches and attracted over 350 million users worldwide.

Tinder gives online daters greater control over their online dating experience. A Tinder user can choose to swipe right on everyone and let in all the poor, tired, and horny masses, or the user can be more selective and only open the door to the most attractive and desirable people online. It’s your dating profile and your choice.

Bumble is an online dating app with a strong independent streak. Former Tinder Co-Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd created Bumble in 2014 to bring civility back to the online dating scene by putting more power and trust in single women.

Women have the sole discretion to start conversations with men on the Bumble app. Men cannot message a single woman until she says something first. This way, women set the tone, women make the first move, and women have an overall more satisfying and respectful dating experience.

“Love this app — it has cool features that make it very comfortable to use,” said Sole S. in a five-star review on Google Play. “It almost gets rid of the weirdness of app dating!”

Best Senior Dating Sites in the USA

Mature singles may worry that the dating game is too fast or too young for them, but in actuality, plenty of senior dating sites cater to an older crowd. We’ve picked out some of our favorite dating platforms for senior singles looking for a genuine connection in the USA.

SilverSingles offers an upscale dating service for singles in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. Its sophisticated matchmaking tools connect people who share similar interests and backgrounds.

Life experience is a valuable asset on SilverSingles. Online daters come here expecting to meet single men and women who have raised their families and are looking toward retirement. The dating website and app facilitate authentic connections by providing free icebreakers and premium chatting tools.

Senior singles must upgrade to a paid membership to view photos and send private messages on SilverSinglers, but it’s worth the investment to find a single American in your age range.

OurTime is an online dating website that makes mature singles feel right at home. Its membership base stretches from the U.S. to Europe, and it has location filters to ensure users don’t have to search far and wide for a date.

Americans can stick close to home by browsing a list of profiles in their ZIP code, state, or region, and users can even organize them by distance or online activity to find the perfect match.

A 70-year-old widow from Illinois said she is currently dating and living with a 68-year-old man she met on OurTime. “Thank you for sending me the best man in the whole world,” she said in her success story online. “I would recommend your site to everyone and anyone — especially lonely seniors.”

Since 2003, SeniorMatch has distinguished itself as one of the most successful senior dating sites around. In fact, it has over 36,600 success stories shared on its website, and thousands more positive reviews on the mobile app.

Over 1 million people have joined SeniorMatch in hopes of meeting more mature singles and making meaningful connections. The majority of its members live in the U.S.

The dating website has age-based and location-based search tools to ensure like-minded people can meet one another fairly easily. Every month, the dating website facilitates about 1.6 million private conversations between potential love interests.

Best LGBT Dating Sites in the USA

LGBTQ+ singles can declare their independence from the club and bar scene by downloading a gay-friendly app and swiping from the comfort of home. The following dating platforms appeal to gay, lesbian, and bisexual singles in the U.S. and abroad.

MenNation hosts an all-male dating scene where all men are created equal and have the inalienable right to seek sex. Seriously, this hookup site is full of kinky content and slutty profiles, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find a sexual partner in your neighborhood.

A free member can browse MenNation at any hour of the day or night, and he has full access to photo galleries, group discussion boards, and livestreaming videos. However, he can only send messages or video chat if he subscribes to a monthly membership plan.

LesbianPersonals is a sister site to MenNation. This hookup platform offers similar search tools, chat rooms, and messaging systems — but for a primarily female audience. Anyone who is over 18 can join LesbianPersonals to find a sexually active woman to take to bed.

Singles, couples, and groups can create a personal ad on LesbianPersonals and upload a sexy photo to get attention from the lesbian community.

LesbianPersonals doesn’t judge women for having sexual needs or wanting to explore their sexuality. It’s not about labels or slut-shaming. It’s about helping individuals satisfy their desires online and offline.

HER is a dating app designed by a lesbian woman on behalf of lesbian, bisexual, and queer women everywhere. Since 2012, the HER network has expanded to ensure that women in the LGBTQ+ community can build meaningful connections wherever they go.

HER has over 5 million users around the world, and almost half of them reside in the U.S. All users must provide either a Facebook login or phone number to verify their identity.

A Chicago woman named Katy M. shared her #WeMetOnHER story on Twitter, saying, “So thankful for this beautiful soul who is my love, wifey, and best friend.”

Grindr is the ultimate guide for a man seeking men in the dating scene. Since 2009, this gay dating app has become incredibly popular in the U.S., and it sees nearly 4 million views per day.

The Grindr company is based in California and has long stood up for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Whether it’s offering HIV test reminders or incognito app icons, Grindr provides a support system for any gay, bisexual, or queer man interested in a fun and safe dating experience.

“I hookup up with a hot guy once,” said a Grindr user on Reddit. “Seven years later, we’re still together. Dogs. Mortgage. The works!”

Best Hookup Sites in the USA

Casual hookup sites give American singles the freedom to express their desires and pursue their pleasures in an anonymous setting. If you’re hoping to meet a hot date, check out the following adult dating sites for some hot tips.

Ashley Madison is an affair dating site that — much like pop star Justin Bieber — began in Canada and then made a huge splash in the U.S.

Since its launch in 2001, Ashley Madison has racked up over 60 million users in 53 countries. The dating site currently arranges nearly 40,000 affairs a day. The vast majority of Ashley Madison members are seeking anonymous sex, and they’re typically not shy about getting intimate with another person — regardless of their relationship status.

BeNaughty encourages American singles to embrace the sexy side of life. This hookup website provides an endless potential match list as well as search tools and prewritten icebreakers to make picking up a hot date much easier for the average person.

The biggest upside of joining BeNaughty is that you can chat for free. The only reason to upgrade to a paid subscription (which costs pennies a day) would be to get more robust security features or receive greater visibility on the site. Paid members rank higher in search results, and they also have the ability to browse incognito. Which is great if you have a secret crush that you’re not ready to reveal just yet.

Technically speaking, Adult Friend Finder is an international sex site with over 103 million members all around the world. However, American adults can submit their ZIP code to transform a global chat room into a local dating scene.

The AFF community welcomes singles, swingers, and polyamorous groups with sex on their brain. An online dater can explore erotic blogs, dating forums, live video streaming, and local personals to spice up a night at home.

Adult Friend Finder has earned many good reviews since its launch in 1996, and we expect it to continue to make life easier for sex seekers for generations to come.

FriendFinder-X can help local American singles up their dating game and find a sexual partner within minutes of browsing. The adult dating site organizes profiles by ZIP code and only offers match recommendations if both individuals live within the same state.

A dater doesn’t need to complete a lengthy personality test or provide credit card information to become part of the FriendFinder-X network. All it takes is an email address and profile picture to get access to this sexy dating pool.

Finally, Flirt.com is a hookup site that may as well be called “the land of the free chatting” because all single women can chat without getting a paid membership. Plus, single men can send a limited number of free messages and mass texts to get the ball rolling.

The Flirt database stretches from Europe to North America, and it has taken particular hold in several major American cities. Singles who lead fast-paced lives are excited to have a fast-paced dating platform that can keep up with them. It takes less than five minute to complete a Flirt.com dating profile and start browsing sexy photos, so what are you waiting around for?

How Do the Best Dating Sites in the USA Actually Work?

The first step to joining an online dating network is creating a dating profile. Users must provide basic information (age, gender, location, etc.) about themselves and verify their identity through an email address, phone number, Facebook login, or social media account.

The upside of linking your dating profile to your Facebook or Instagram account is that you can download photos directly from your albums. Plus, it can speed things up by autocompleting your background details. Dating platforms will never post anything on a Facebook profile or social media page, and your social network will not be able to see any information about your online dating activity.

Once you’ve finished your profile, you can start swiping or searching for potential dates. Typically, the platform will give users the ability to like or favorite a profile to show their interest, but they may have to form a mutual match (meaning the other person sends a like back) or subscribe to a paid membership to send instant messages.

It’s important to note that online dating sites often have an auto-renewal on their subscriptions, so be sure to go into your settings and cancel your paid membership if you don’t want another payment to show up on your credit card.

Mobile dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge may use a smartphone’s GPS data to find date prospects near you, but they do not publish such private user data and will never reveal a person’s exact location.

Are Dating Sites in the USA Really Safe to Use?

It’s normal to enter the online dating scene with some security concerns — particularly if you’re a single mother — but those jitters tend to go away once you’ve been swiping and matching for awhile. You can set your own boundaries in terms of how you present yourself and who you let slide into your DMs.

The main thing you need to know is that it’s all right to go at your own pace. Everyone has different comfort levels, and it’s best to communicate those reservations with any potential partner so you’re on the same page.

Young adults tend to have fewer qualms about meeting a new person within a week, a day, or even an hour of their first message, but mature singles may want to take things slower in the beginning and build trust over months of conversations. Online daters who are genuinely interested in getting to know one another may arrange a video date or phone call during the early days of their romance. That way, they can become better acquainted while staying safe.

Which Dating Site in the USA Should I Choose?

The best dating site for you isn’t necessarily the best dating site for everyone. Your success is going to vary based on your individual circumstances and which city or state you live in.

For instance, if you’re a relationship-minded person in California, you may want to download Coffee Meets Bagel, which was founded by three sisters in Silicon Valley. Data analysts found that Coffee Meets Bagel is the most searched for app in California. Meanwhile, American singles on the East Coast favor Match.com and Elite Singles when looking for a potential partner.

It’s also important to take your dealmakers and dealbreakers into consideration when choosing a dating website. If you are looking for Christian singles, your best bet is to join a Christian dating site like ChristianMingle, but if you want to meet Jewish singles, then you may find more success on JDate. Both these platforms are run by the same dating company; however, they cater to vastly different audiences.

American dating sites and apps tend to have pockets of support throughout the country, so ask your friends which platforms they use to see what’s trending in your area.

Which Dating Site in the USA is the Most Successful?

You can measure success in the online dating world a number of different ways. Tinder has a good claim as the most successful American dating app because it has created more matches (over 43 billion) and facilitates more dates (about 1.5 million per week) than any other online dating service. If all you want is to meet a lot of single people and go on a lot of first dates, then Tinder is best equipped for the job.

However, singles who have their sights set beyond the first date often abandon the endless swiping carousel that is Tinder in search of success on a relationship-driven app or site. Match.com is one of the most successful dating sites when it comes to actually creating meaningful connections that hold up in the real world.

Match.com is a star-spangled dating site that is responsible for more relationships and marriages than any of its competitors. Millions of couples have found love thanks to its personality-driven matchmaking. Founded in 1995, Match.com also has the title of the longest-running dating site in the world, and its success is unmatched.

American Dating Sites Support Your Pursuit of Happiness

Dating in the USA isn’t always easy, but those who rise up and take a shot often find their efforts rewarded. An online dating platform can represent the will of the people with its fast matching and free chatting tools. And that can cause a romantic revolution for singles who have trouble meeting someone new.

Modern dating sites and apps give singles the liberty to pursue their own form of happiness — whether that means arranging a casual hookup or building a real relationship. All types of daters are welcome in the melting pot of online dating.

Our dating experts have endorsed the best dating sites in the USA . These platforms have pledged to unite singles and forge indivisible bonds with chats and matches for all.