When it comes to online dating, many people are still skeptical. Where to start? Where to look? Is it a waste of time? Thankfully, Reviews.com researched 68 online dating sites to find the best ones. While their research may not help you find your one true love (you have to put in the effort), it can help you get your footing at least. In brief, they outline the two best options for the first-time user looking for a date online, the best apps and niche dating sites, as well as outlining some common pitfalls and strategies to maximize your efforts online.
The two top websites chosen were Okcupid and Match.com. Okcupid was chosen as the best overall pick, given that it is free, has a wide user base and has the best matching algorithm. Match.com was ranked as the best site for long-term relationships, as it has a higher barrier to entry (both financially and in terms of how complicated the profiles can be) and this higher barrier tends to weed out the uninterested crowd. You can lower the cost of a Match.com subscription by finding Match promo codes online. These websites are both praised for attracting a large user base, a component that is essential for finding quality people to date. However, there are also several websites targeting a smaller subsection of the dating market, and it might be worth exploring for the intrepid internet dater.
Dozens of dating apps have popped up in the past few years, targeting a diverse group of people with different interests and approaches to dating. Several apps have worked on integrating other parts of social media, like Facebook friend lists, in order to find matches more closely involved with your social circle. Bumble is one such app, which is also applauded as an app where women must send the first message. This helps women avoid the onslaught of crude messages. Coffee Meets Bagel incorporates a similar principle, avoiding the rapid-fire approach that someone can feel swiping and swiping away at faces on Tinder. Coffee Meets Bagel pairs people through Facebook friends, and only offers one potential match a day. This approach is more of a quality over quantity take on online dating.
Another approach that applications and services is taking is the development of niche markets. Our Time is a dating website that is specifically targeted at the fifty-plus audience. So if you are interested in finding someone more age appropriate, this might be the site for you. Religious affiliated dating sites are also on the upswing, most prominently Christian Mingle and Jdate, for your Judeo-Christian dating needs. Jdate has claimed to be responsible for more Jewish marriages than all other dating sites combined, but the data on this could be more flushed out.
Their main takeaway is simple: you get out what you put in. A quality profile can go a long way towards helping you meet your goals, but there is still a bunch of filtering to do. With some persistence and good luck, you might be able to find your diamond in the virtual rough.