A friend of mine recently attempted her hand in online dating post a number of years away from the scene. She joined one of the premier dating sites out there and, like many others, found herself swamped drowned in messages and unscreened matches. It quickly became work, not fun, and she gave up before she even met anyone. She https://medium.com/@datersearch/latin-brides-discovering-love-beyond-borders-d6861260a3e3 is not alone: Roughly one third of Americans say they know a couple who met online. The good news is that there are a lot of other sites and apps out there to try. The key is finding one that aligns with your dating goals and meets your needs.

The following eight dating sites are some of the most popular on the U.S. and are targeted at different audiences. Some, such as eharmony and Match, are intended for those looking for serious relationships; others, for example, Tinder and Bumble, are more focused on casual hookups. Some sites have a membership that lets you create a profile and view matches, while others require an subscription https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/10-best-opening-lines-for-online-dating-messages-583794/ for messaging and other features.

OkCupid

This site says it generates over 90 million matches a year and boasts that it’s «the greatest scientifically proven dating site on the planet.» It has a comprehensive questionnaire that helps identify compatible mates, but isn’t as long as the one on eharmony. It also prompts users to answer questions about things they’re passionate about, ranging from climate change to cilantro (it’s not for the faint of heart).

Coffee Meets Bagel

After a successful launch in New York City and a stint on Shark Tank, this app has quickly scaled beyond its home base in the Big Apple. The app claims to eliminate endless swiping by only showing you one match each day, and requires women to make the first move in heterosexual matches. It also offers a premium version that provides more potential matches and eliminates ads.

HER

This dating app targets lesbian, bisexual, and queer people. It’s free to join and browse profiles, but a subscription is required to contact matches and send gifts. The app uses location data to show you potential matches in your area. It also has a chat room and a feature that allows you to see who has viewed your profile.

Ourtime

Owned by Match, this site caters geared toward adults over 50 who are interested in serious relationships and companionship. Its members must have a minimum of 25 years’ experience to join, and it offers a dedicated customer service team to help with any issues. The site has a large library of articles about dating and relationships, and members can upload a ceiling of ten photos.

While Ourtime doesn’t have as many active users as some of the other options on this list, it is a sturdy choice for those who are over 50 and are serious about finding a romantic partner. Its user base is fairly diverse and the site includes a great many active senior singles.