For singles in the dating game, it can seem like a constant struggle to get honest answers from a potential match. Honest dating sites and apps aim to make it easier to find what you’re looking for because by encouraging each online dater to be upfront about what they’re looking for.
Whether you’re seeking true love, long-term dating, or casual sex, these online dating sites and apps help you find a compatible match.
Honest Dating Sites & Apps for Serious Relationships
Let’s get right to it. Relationship seekers are playing the long game, and they don’t want to waste time with fake profiles and casual dating apps. They’re looking for quality dates, and that means they’ll need a quality dating site or app like our favorites listed here:
1. Match
Match.com has come a long way since it launched in April 1995. This well-reputed dating site has honed its match algorithm to identify long-term compatibility and facilitate countless first dates, serious relationships, and successful marriages. Match’s esteemed dating experts go to great lengths to guide singles to a seriously good match.
- 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
- Browse Match profiles 100% free »
There’s a good reason that our dating experts rank Match as the best dating site for people who want a serious relationship. Match launched in the late 1990s, and decades of experience in matching people based on compatibility makes for a strong reputation.
Signing up for Match is simple and only takes a few minutes. That said, you may want to spend a little time thinking about your answers to the personality quiz that Match includes. Answer the questions about your personality, interests, and goals honestly, and you’re more likely to get good results.
From there, Match offers up daily suggestions for who among the diverse user base will be the best fit for you. You can also browse for a potential match using filters for characteristics like age, religion, interest, and lifestyle. Although Match is a free dating site, your options for communication are restricted to your top matches unless you sign up for the premium membership. With a paid subscription on Match, you can contact anyone you encounter on the dating site or app without restrictions.
2. 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 »
If you’re done with casual dating and hookups, and want to finally find your perfect match, eharmony wants to help you. The dating site dedicated to committed relationships launched with the goal of reinforcing marriages, so you know that everyone on the platform is serious. The process of finding your true love on eharmony is also serious, even though it’s not very complicated.
The dating site and the app that goes with it both use the eharmony personality test to determine who on the platform will be the best possible match. Answer the questions honestly, and eharmony will take it from there.
You’ll only see the profiles of people on eharmony that the sophisticated matching system believes will have strong compatibility with you, which helps cut down on wasted time. Beyond the personality factors, you can further narrow your search with filters for age, location, and other characteristics that are desirable in a new partner.
The long-term relationship site also provides lots of contact options, although to gain full access you’ll need the paid membership.
Honest Dating Sites & Apps for Dates & Friendships
Not all singles are in for the long haul. Some are just a little curious, maybe a little lonely, and hoping that an online dating app will be the key to sparking a new connection. If you’re looking for attractive dates and new friendships, then the following platforms are here to support you.
3. Zoosk
Zoosk is a socially savvy dating site known for its diverse membership base and behavioral matchmaking system. Over 40 million singles in 80 countries have joined the network so far, and it’s growing larger every day. The platform offers many different ways to communicate and express interest in members, so it’s easy to form a fast connection here.
- Send messages to premium members for free
- Over 3 million messages sent a day
- Premium perks include photo verification and sending virtual gifts
- Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free »
Zoosk may have started out as a Facebook application, but the dating platform quickly came into its own and set itself apart from the competition by offering tools and features that keep dating fun. Setting up your dating app profile on Zoosk is extremely simple, especially if you use Facebook authentication to pull all the relevant details and pictures to your dating site account.
That connection to Facebook also provides a key element of honesty: While Zoosk won’t post to your social media account, the social media verification and profile setup will allow other Zoosk members to get a glimpse of your photo reels and Facebook posts, making it a lot harder to pretend to be someone you’re not.
Free messaging access also helps to keep things honest and straightforward. You can take your time and cultivate new romantic connections on Zoosk and be sure to get your money’s worth.
Christian Mingle is a faith-based dating website for singles who want a relationship grounded in Christian values. People of all religions and backgrounds turn to this site in hopes of meeting a good Christian man or a good Christian woman. Christian Mingle’s claim to fame is that it has the highest percentage of Christian members of any dating site or app in the world.
- For singles interested in God-centered relationships
- Over 3.5 million monthly users around the world
- Available as an app on Google Play and the App Store
- Browse Christian Mingle profiles 100% free »
Christian Mingle isn’t just a dating site, it’s an online venue for meeting other Christians from around the world, from San Francisco to London. Given the faith-based approach to social networking and dating, it’s no surprise that Christian Mingle is responsible for a staggering number of marriages.
If you want to take things slow and form friendships that potentially lead to more, however, Christian Mingle’s user base is on your side. In fact, a key part of the signup process is setting your preferences for the kinds of activities you prefer, right alongside your churchgoing habits and membership and willingness to relocate.
By putting everything up front, the Christian Mingle team believes that singles can get to what’s important right away. Honesty is a major Christian value, so it makes sense that Christian Mingle encourages it at every step of the process. If you want to date someone who shares your faith and values, with the goal of a committed relationship, Christian Mingle is one of the most honest dating sites you’ll find.
5. Hinge
Hinge is widely known as the dating app that was “designed to be deleted.” That means everything from the in-depth profile to the matchmaking formula works overtime to connect singles to that perfect match. The goal isn’t to get single people in as many chats and on as many first dates as possible. The goal is to streamline the process of finding a relationship and then retiring your Hinge profile forever.
- Profiles require multiple photos and responses to prompts
- Users can send a message with their match request
- The app collects post-date feedback to improve its system
- Browse Hinge profiles 100% free »
Hinge operates more like a social media site than it does a traditional dating app. If you’re looking for an honest relationship that builds from friendship, Hinge is a strong choice because of how the app works.
Instead of the fast-paced environment of swiping apps like Tinder, Hinge requires each user to start a conversation by responding to a photo or prompt on the user’s dating profile. If you can’t think of anything to say based on what the other person wrote, they’re probably not a great match for you anyway.
This approach also helps keep users honest because, as any dating expert can tell you, it’s hard to fake things for very long when it comes to interests and preferences. Hinge pushes its users to reveal things about themselves to get the conversation going, making it a strong choice for the best dating app for building a solid friendship and meaningful connection.
And best of all, everyone has free access to communication on Hinge. That means that, even without a paid subscription, you can find true love and end up doing what the team behind the app hopes every member will one day do: delete it.
Honest Dating Sites & Apps for Casual Hookups
Honestly, adults don’t need to be shy about seeking casual sex. It’s natural to want to find intimacy with another person, and it’s perfectly fine if forever love isn’t on the agenda for tonight. For a quick local hookup, we recommend swiping right on the following adult dating sites and apps.
Ashley Madison is an extramarital dating site with over 80 million profiles in its private database, and it is full of temptation. The site and app offer a judgment-free zone where married people can consider their options and chat with singles who are willing to get together on the down-low.
- A uniquely open-minded dating network
- Privacy-conscious features
- Over 1.4 million matches per month
- Browse Ashley Madison profiles 100% free »
Ashley Madison has a lot to offer whether you’re a married person who needs relief outside of your marriage, or a single person who just wants to keep your sex life discreet. The dating site for affairs may cater to dissatisfied married people, but you don’t have to be married to be on the platform. It may seem strange, but the judgment-free atmosphere on Ashley Madison makes it easier to be honest about what you want and what you’re looking for.
Although Ashley Madison offers tools to maintain your privacy, the dating site and app also encourage users to be upfront about their goals. Profile information includes details like whether you want to keep things to just conversations or meet in real life. And you can set up a private gallery of images that other users can only access with a password that you give them. The dating site and app that goes with it both prove that you can be discreet and still be honest while seeking a hookup.
7. Flirt.com
Flirt.com is a great hookup website for fun-loving and dirty-talking singles over the age of 18. The free registration and quick-and-easy searches appeal to online daters who know what they want and aren’t afraid to go after it. If you’re looking for sexting, virtual dating, or hot sex, then look no further than this flirtatious dating site.
- Over 70 million registered users
- Naked photos, videos, and private messaging available
- Send a Flirtcast to get in touch with all potential matches
- Browse Flirt.com profiles 100% free »
Even if you’re keeping things casual and fun, it’s a lot easier to do when everyone is honest. Flirt.com provides a footloose and fancy-free atmosphere with no judgment and plenty of honesty to make casual dating easier.
Flirt.com is a casual dating site where members can be open about what they want and what their goals are, making it easy to find the right people for whatever you have in mind.
Flirt.com encourages members to be honest when building their online dating profile. You can pick and choose which of the 17 profile questions with drop-down menus to answer. But you’ll only get the information you’re willing to provide yourself, so if you want to know something, you’ll have to answer the same question.
FAQs: Which Honest Dating Sites Should Older People Use?
If you’re over 50 and want to find your potential partner without having to filter through all the 20-somethings on a dating platform, several dating websites let you get to the point and find companionship in whatever form you want.
Silver Singles is a senior dating service that offers all of the best features of a mainstream dating website without making things confusing or difficult. Silver Singles maintains an active user base of singles over-50 who come from all walks of life.
SilverSingles is serious about helping singles over 50 meet one another, and its network stretches across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The secure signup process includes profile verification and fraud detection, so new members must portray themselves accurately to gain access to the platform. By fostering a safe environment, SilverSingles helps men and women meet mature dates in their area.
- An exclusively senior membership base
- Over 800,000 monthly users worldwide
- App available for free on Google Play
- Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free »
Silver Singles members are looking for love, sex, and companionship for their golden years. On Silver Singles, you don’t have to worry about dealing with younger online daters whose experiences don’t match up to your own. Silver Singles keeps things simple by using a basic personality test as part of the signup process and guides users through every step. Customer service is easy to find and can help you with any problem you come across through the process.
OurTime is another popular platform for older singles. More than 8 million active users browse on the site and app every month. The dating site makes it easy to get started, walking users step by step through the process. As you go through the registration, your OurTime profile will include details like your lifestyle, family background, and your expectations, so whether you’re looking for casual dating or a committed relationship, you can make that clear from the very beginning.
What Are the Safest Dating Apps for LGBTQ+ Dating?
Safety is a big priority for LGBTQ+ singles, and the dating sites and apps that cater to the community know this. Whether you’re out or still in the closet, you deserve to feel safe and secure while you explore the dating pool and avoid the harassment that often comes with LGBTQ+ identities on mainstream dating services.
The safest dating apps for same-sex, transgender, and nonbinary dating offer specific tools and features to prevent harassment and other issues. Grindr frequently takes top billing as one of the most popular dating apps for men seeking men — and for good reason.
Grindr is one of the top dogs in the gay dating scene. It’s the name everyone recognizes, and many gay men choose it as their go-to dating app. The location-based matching system satisfies the desires of guys who want to hook up on the fly.
- Among the most popular gay social networks in the world
- Men connect via private and group chats
- View nearby profiles using real-time GPS data
- Browse Grindr profiles 100% free »
The dating platform makes it easy to stay anonymous and you aren’t obligated to provide any details you’re uncomfortable sharing. More than just a swipe-based dating app, Grindr is a real community, dedicated to men interested in same-sex encounters, and that does not exclude anyone based on specific sexual orientation.
HER is a women-only dating network that keeps same-sex attracted women and nonbinary people safe by keeping the doors closed to men. The app takes an inclusive approach to the LGBTQ+ community and functions as much like a social media platform as it does a dating service.
HER is a women-only (or “womxn” as the team says) dating app that helps cis, trans, and non-binary identified singles come into their own. This is a strict no-boys-allowed zone. HER encourages LGBTQ+ women to mingle by commenting on photos or events in the Feed, or they can like profiles to initiate a private conversation with a mutual match.
- A quirky and unapologetic womxn-only dating community
- Queer events get users connecting IRL
- The constantly updated Feed facilitates social networking
- Browse HER profiles 100% free »
Taimi is another dating platform that also functions as a social network, with expansive features that help singles in the LGBTQ+ community connect and meet up in groups as well as one on one. The platform is especially friendly to nonbinary people, offering the most expansive list of sexual orientation and gender identity options of any dating platform. The content moderation team and dedicated security team help keep members safe by weeding out harassment at the source.
Bumble is a mainstream dating app with a women-first approach to dating that goes far beyond a gimmick. As an answer to the frequent harassment that women in general often encounter on dating platforms, Bumble maintains a diligent content moderation policy, and keeps users safe through its enforcement. It’s especially useful for lesbians, though the dating app is safe for the entire LGBTQ+ community.
What Are Some of the Warning Signs of Fake Profiles?
Fake profiles and romance scammers are an unfortunate fact of life when it comes to digital dating. Despite their best efforts against scammers, even the best online dating site may end up with a few profiles that belong to catfish or even more nefarious players. Know what to look out for so you can report fakes and scammers for removal, as well as to avoid getting caught up yourself.
While specifics may vary, there are a few key red flags to look out for when you’re checking out an online dating profile. Beyond factors like the location of the profile or gaps in the details for your potential match, you can do your due diligence even when interacting with a possible scammer.
Generic messages with lots of spelling and grammar mistakes are a common feature of scammers, although of course this doesn’t on its own mean that the person you’re talking to is fake. It’s definitely possible that the other person is just not especially good at writing, or lacks creativity.
The situation becomes more suspicious when they start asking for money, or presenting outlandish sob stories. It’s also suspicious when a new person tries to rush the usual relationship steps by doing wild things like proposing marriage within the first conversation or saying “I love you” within hours or days.
Any one factor may not be a sure sign of a scammer or a fake profile or a bot, but taken together, you’re better off reporting the dating profile for investigation. Above all, don’t give sensitive personal information to people you haven’t met in person, and listen to your gut: If someone sounds too good to be true, they probably are.
Is It Worth Paying for an Online Dating Membership?
Whether a paid membership for an online dating service is worth it depends on a few different factors. Each dating app and dating site offer different perks for premium membership, so what you get for your money can vary. For example, Tinder Plus doesn’t offer a whole lot more than the free membership in exchange for the monthly fee, unless you’re really invested in swiping outside of your zip code.
On some paid dating apps and sites, the subscription fee does offer a substantial benefit, opening up increased privacy and security, or even the ability to boost your visibility to your potential matches. Then too, there are hookup sites like Adult Friend Finder and BeNaughty that offer free communication to all women but require men to pay for unlimited messaging services.
BeNaughty invites singles to walk on the wild side and explore their sexuality in a fun, free-wheeling environment. This adults-only dating site is full of X-rated content, but users can blur nude photos if they’d prefer to leave some things to the imagination. Premium subscribers get the most bang for the buck because they can send messages, browse incognito, and receive alerts when their messages have been read by someone special.
- Sexually active adults in 10 countries
- Browse the Like Gallery for hot singles
- Stimulate conversation in intimate private messages
- Browse BeNaughty profiles 100% free »
These premium membership models keep instances of spam and fake profiles down, but if you’re a man, you’ll need a paid subscription to get full access to the benefits of the online dating site.
Finally, although free dating apps like Facebook Dating and Plenty of Fish include unlimited messaging in the core features, the number of users on the platform is often lower. All the unlimited messaging in the world won’t be of much use if you can’t find a new person you want to talk to.
Honest Dating Sites & Apps Give Singles a Fair Shot
Finding honest dating sites and apps takes the stress and game-playing out of the dating process, making it that much easier to get to the good stuff. Whether you’re looking for a short-term hookup, long-term relationship, or your own personal happily ever after, these dating apps and sites put everything up front, so you don’t have to waste your time screening and filtering for the right person.
Find your match the honest way on a dating platform that lets you be who you really are! Best of luck!
