The best dating sites have won over singles by providing fast, free, and simple avenues to meet 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 success in the land of the free.

Best Overall

According to census data, about 45% of American adults are unmarried. That means roughly 117 million people are in the dating scene right now — just waiting for the right person to come along and sweep them (swipe them?) off their feet.

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

1. Match

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • 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

Match is a terrific place to start your search for an American dream date. This online dating platform 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.

Match Group was one of the pioneers in the online dating industry way back in 1993. 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.

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.9/5.0
  • Over 2 million monthly users
  • Premium members receive 20 wildcard matches a day
  • Search features include age, height, education, ethnicity, and lifestyle habits

Elite Singles started out as a highbrow European dating website, but its network has now expanded throughout North America. It’s become a popular dating app among single professionals who want 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 Elite Singles members have graduated from college, and over 90% say they’re looking for something serious.

Elite Singles analyzes individual date preferences regarding age, ethnicity, religion, education, and appearance. Every month, over 2,500 singles find love on this premium dating service.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.3/5.0

Christianity is the largest religion in the U.S., and Christian Mingle 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 Christian Mingle 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 Christian Mingle users say they go to church at least once a week.

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

4. Zoosk

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.7/5.0
  • Send messages to premium members for free
  • Over 3 million messages sent a day
  • Premium perks include photo verification and sending virtual gifts

Zoosk began in 2007 as a what-if question by tech entrepreneurs in California. The founders wanted to see if online dating could be improved by integrating social media tools and behavioral matchmaking in 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 helping 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 of romance scammers.

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.7/5.0
  • 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

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 uses psychology principles to create compatible matches. Its personality quiz asks insightful 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 partner.

Once users complete the quiz (which is free), they can view a personality assessment and compatibility ratings that reveal a match’s relationship potential.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.2/5.0

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. 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.”

7. OkCupid

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.1/5.0
  • Free, unlimited communication for everyone
  • Singles can swipe or search for a compatible date
  • Over 91 million connections every year

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 earned a robust reputation in the United States. The network has the distinction of being the most mentioned dating site in The New York Times wedding announcements, and it boasts creating 90 million connections every year.

OkCupid has over 5,000 personality questions available to add a unique flair to a dating profile. The questions run the gamut from political views to life goals, and every answer becomes part of its match calculations.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.1/5.0

Plenty of Fish is a free dating site with plenty of chat features 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. In fact, POF accounts 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 reviews all photos uploaded to ensure that members are putting their best foot forward. The platform has banned the use of filters in photos to support genuine vibes and deter catfish.

9. Tinder

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.0/5.0
  • 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

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 97 billion matches and attracted over 630 million users worldwide.

Tinder gives online daters greater control over their matches. A Tinder user can choose to swipe right on every dating profile 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.

10. Bumble

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.0/5.0
  • A feminist dating app puts singles on equal footing
  • 60% of Bumble matches turn into dates
  • Bumble Bizz and Bumble BFF spark non-romantic connections

Based in Texas, Bumble is a 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. How? By putting more power and trust in the hands of single women.

Women used to have the sole discretion to start conversations with men on the Bumble app. Now men can message a single woman if she grants her matches First Move privileges. Thanks to Bumble’s unique setup, women set the tone for their dates and have a more satisfying and respectful dating experience.

Bumble has seen over 100 million downloads, and it’s easily one of the most popular apps in the U.S.

“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

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 Americans looking for a genuine connection.

11. DateMyAge

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.0/5.0
  • Local and international profile browsing
  • Let’s Mingle icebreakers & Live Chat tools
  • Advanced video chat, livestreaming, and personal clips

DateMyAge is an international dating service that has proven particularly popular in the good ol’ United States. Its niche dating pool beckons divorcees and widowers to start again and find what they truly desire.

The majority of DateMyAge users are in their 50s and older, so it’s a great space for mature chats and respectful connections.

One thing I like about DateMyAge is it lets new users set a desired age range right off the bat. That means you don’t have to bother with date prospects who are too young for you — which is a common complaint on swipe apps like Tinder.

Category Rating
★★★★★ 4.5/5.0

Silver Singles 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 Silver Singles. Online daters come here expecting to meet people 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 Silver Singles, but it’s worth the investment to find a single American in your age range.

13. OurTime

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.4/5.0
  • Open to straight, gay, and lesbian singles over 50
  • Free match recommendations and conversation starters
  • Use Tokens to promote your profile and send virtual gifts

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. Our full review details the matchmaking process and subscription costs involved.

A 70-year-old widow from Illinois said in a success story that 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 testimonial. “I would recommend your site to everyone and anyone — especially lonely seniors.”

Category Rating
★★★★ 3.7/5.0

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. 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 love interests.

Best LGBTQ+ Dating Sites

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.

15. MenNation

Category Rating
★★★★ 3.8/5.0
  • One of the largest gay hookup sites in the world
  • Search filters for age, location, physical attributes, and more
  • Available in 12 languages and counting

MenNation hosts a casual dating scene where all men are created equal and have the inalienable right to seek sex.

Seriously, this dudes-only 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, even if you live in the rural South. MenNation can cross vast distances with a single search, so there’s a lot to explore online.

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.

16. HER

Category Rating
★★★★ 3.5/5.0
  • A quirky and unapologetic womxn-only dating community
  • Queer events get users connecting IRL
  • The constantly updated Feed facilitates social networking

HER is a dating app designed by a lesbian woman on behalf of lesbian, bisexual, and queer women everywhere. Since 2014, the HER network has expanded to ensure that women in the LGBTQ+ community can build meaningful connections wherever they go.

HER has over 15 million users around the world, and the majority of them reside in the U.S. The app takes pride in offering a safe space for meeting queer women, and its profile verification steps ensure straight men, couples, and scammers can’t ruin the good vibes.

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

17. Grindr

Category Rating
★★★ 3.4/5.0
  • Social networking for gay, bi, trans, and queer men
  • Location-based matches spark instant chemistry
  • Grindr Equality advocates for LGBTQ+ interests on the global stage

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

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 dating sites for some hot tips.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.2/5.0

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. and the international dating community.

Since its launch in 2001, Ashley Madison has racked up over 80 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 relationship status.

19. BeNaughty

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.1/5.0

BeNaughty encourages American singles to embrace the sexy side of life. This hookup site 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 women 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.

Paid members rank higher in search results and can browse incognito. Which is great if you have a secret crush that you’re not ready to reveal just yet.

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.0/5.0

Technically speaking, AdultFriendFinder is an international sex site with over 105 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 the brain. A user can explore erotic blogs, dating forums, live video streaming, and local personals to spice up a night at home.

AdultFriendFinder 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.

Category Rating
★★★★ 3.9/5.0

FriendFinder-X can help local Americans up their dating game and find a sexual partner on the down low. 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.

22. Flirt.com

Category Rating
★★★★ 4.0/5.0
  • Over 70 million registered users
  • Naked photos, videos, and private messaging available
  • Send a Flirtcast to get in touch with all potential matches

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 a paid membership. 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 a big appeal in large 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 minutes to complete a Flirt.com dating profile and start browsing sexy photos, so what are you waiting around for?

FAQs: How Do Dating Sites 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.

Facebook Dating is one of the few dating platforms to require a social media profile to even sign up. Typically, it is optional to link to your social media.

Facebook Dating screenshots
Facebook Dating offers free chatting, but it’s only accessible in the Facebook app.

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 auto-completing your background details.

Once you’ve finished your dating 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 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 nearby, but they do not publish such private user data and will never reveal a person’s exact location.

Are Dating Sites Safe to Use?

It’s normal to enter the online dating scene with some security concerns — particularly if you’re a woman or trans person — but those jitters tend to go away once you’ve been swiping and matching for a while.

Online dating platforms empower users to protect themselves and filter new matches. You can set your own boundaries in terms of how you present yourself and who you let slide into your DMs.

Catfish profiles are common hazards. A survey found that 52% of online daters have encountered a catfish.

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 early on 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 and build trust through consistent weeks of conversations.

Online daters who are genuinely interested in getting to know one another can 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 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.

Coffee Meets Bagel screenshots
Coffee Meets Bagel aims to put quality before quantity in the swipe scene.

Meanwhile, American singles on the East Coast favor Match when looking for a partner.

It’s also important to take your dealmakers and dealbreakers into consideration. If you are looking for Christian singles, your best bet is to join a Christian dating site like Christian Mingle, 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.

Price is an important factor too. The best free dating site in our book is OkCupid, but some singles find it’s worth paying a few bucks for a premium membership on Bumble or Hinge so they can meet more compatible matches.

Different 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 Is the Most Successful?

You can measure success in the online dating world in a number of different ways. Tinder has a good claim as the most successful dating app ever because it has created more matches (over 97 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 equipped for the job.

Tinder logo
Tinder has been downloaded more than 630 million times.

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

Match 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 1993, Match 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. A dating platform can represent the will of the people with fast matching and free chatting tools. And that can cause a romantic revolution.

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

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

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