Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (2024)

FEATURED PARTNER OFFER Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (1)

Partner Offers feature brands who paid Forbes Health to appear at the top of our list. While this may influence where their products or services appear on our site, it in no way affects our ratings, which are based on thorough research, solid methodologies and expert advice. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services

eHarmony- Love Begins Here!

Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (2)
  • Free Basic Membership and free trial available
  • Complete a compatibility quiz to create your personality profile
  • Align with individuals who desire deeper and more meaningful relationships
  • Offers special features like Discover showing compatible matches near you, Likes and Favorites

On eHarmony's Website

Our Top Online Dating Sites

  • Best Additional Features: Plenty of Fish
  • Most Well-Established: Match
  • Most Comprehensive Matching Algorithm: OkCupid
  • Best Free Features: eharmony
  • Best for Behavior Matching: Zoosk

Best Online Dating Sites of 2024

Best Additional Features

Plenty of Fish

Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (4)

Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (5)

5.0

All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

  • Annual subscription cost: $119.99 for POF Premium
  • Free version available
  • Mobile app available for iOS and Android devices
  • Special features: Cue’d Up, Live! (live streams where you can interact with other users) and Mutual Matches (shows that both users are interested)
  • BBB rating: B; Trustpilot rating: 3.4 out of 5

Why We Picked It

Pros & Cons

Most Well-Established

Match

Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (6)

Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (7)

4.8

All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

  • Annual subscription cost: $17.99 per month for Standard Plan, $19.99 per month for Premium Plan
  • Monthly subscription cost: $49.99 per month
  • Free trial available
  • Mobile app available for iOS and Android devices
  • Special features: Private Mode (displays your profile to only users you’ve talked to), Boost (puts your profile in top six results of people looking for someone like you) and Match Events
  • BBB rating: Not rated; Trustpilot rating: 1.3 out of 5

On Match.com

Most Comprehensive Matching Algorithm

OkCupid

Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (9)

Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (10)

4.8

All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

  • Monthly subscription cost: $34.99 for OkCupid Basic, $44.99 for OkCupid Premium
  • Free version available
  • Mobile app available for iOS and Android devices
  • Special features: Boosts (highlights your profile to more users than usual), SuperBoosts, Read Receipts and more
  • BBB rating: Not rated; Trutspilot rating: 1.3 out of 5

Why We Picked It

Pros & Cons

Best Free Features

eharmony

Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (11)

Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (12)

4.6

All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

  • Monthly subscription cost: $45.90 per month for six-month Premium Light plan, $29.90 per month for 12-month Premium Plus plan, $19.90 per month for 24-month Premium Extra plan
  • Free Basic Membership and free trial available
  • Mobile app available for iOS and Android devices
  • Special features: Discover (shows you compatible matches near you), Likes, Favorites (a saved list of profiles that interest you)
  • BBB rating: A-; Trustpilot rating: 3.2 out of 5

On eHarmony's Website

Why We Picked It

Pros & Cons

Best for Behavior Matching

Zoosk

Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (14)

Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (15)

4.4

All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

  • Monthly subscription cost: $34.99 per month
  • Free version available
  • Mobile app available for iOS and Android devices
  • Special features: SmartPick matching algorithm, Carousel (allows you to view users’ profile picture and age), Boost (promotes your profile to more users), Zoosk Live (live streaming) and more
  • BBB rating: A+ (for Spark Network); Trustpilot rating: 2.3 out of 5

On Zoosk's Website

Why We Picked It

Pros & Cons

Methodology: How We Picked the Best Online Dating Sites of 2024

To determine the best online dating websites for 2024, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on popular online dating platforms.

Our team of editors and researchers independently collected data on a variety of metrics, including subscription fees, features available, the size of a platform’s user base, communication methods, safety features and more.

The collected data on each online dating site was then assigned a score based on its performance in comparison to its competitors for that specific metric. We weigh metrics based on what we deem to be most important to the consumer, calculate the scores and assign a star rating based on those scores.

Specifically, we looked at the following metrics:

  • Free option availability (10%)
  • Standard membership fee (10%)
  • Premium membership fee (10%)
  • Size of site network (5%)
  • Site features such as compatibility questionnaires, filter options, matching algorithms and number of matches per day (35%)
  • Communication options (5%)
  • Community groups and social events (5%)
  • Mobile app availability (5%)
  • Safety features, such as photo verification and blocking (10%)
  • Supplemental content on website (5%)

You can find an in-depth explanation of our online dating methodologies here.

FEATURED PARTNER OFFER Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (17)

Partner Offers feature brands who paid Forbes Health to appear at the top of our list. While this may influence where their products or services appear on our site, it in no way affects our ratings, which are based on thorough research, solid methodologies and expert advice. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services

Match.com

Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (18)
  • Offers free, standard and premium plans from $17.99 per month
  • Personalized recommendations based on your preferences and must-haves
  • In-app and IRL experiences that encourage deeper connections
  • Customizable profile with topics and interests to show others the real you
  • Match serves 24 countries and hosts sites in 15 different languages

On Match.com's Website

How Do Online Dating Sites Work?

Online dating sites offer a platform to find a partner that fits into contemporary lifestyles and our ever-increasingly internet-reliant world. These sites are often subscription-based, where you pay a monthly fee to use the service.

Upon signing up for a service, you will usually complete some type of assessment or questionnaire, giving details about what you’re looking for in a partner. Certain metrics are used within the site to match up users, often based on personal characteristics you might have in common, such as education, hobbies, values, goals and more.

How Do I Match With Someone on a Dating Site?

Dating sites use various algorithms to introduce possible matches. Typically, after you set up a social media-like profile—where you include a few pictures of yourself, a brief bio and some of your hobbies—the platform can use that information to connect you with similar people.

Depending on how in-depth the features are (some sites offer additional subscription bonuses), you may see other singles based on commonalities, areas of interest and intentions for the future. They may even offer the option to rank the order of importance of certain qualities you desire in a partner, such as education level. Meanwhile, other dating sites may match you solely based on age range or distance.

What to Look for in a Dating Website

The type of potential matches. While some dating sites are geared toward casual dating, others may lean toward building strong relationships, sharing certain religious beliefs and other qualities. Research the site, the potential matches and the types of customized filters it offers.

The details. Look for how detailed the profile creation process is, since it may indicate how much you can read into other singles’ pages. Different sites may offer different features such as questionnaires, multiple-choice tests or quiz functions to help you illustrate what you’re looking for in a partner and narrow down your options from there.

The cost. Many sites offer basic membership for free, upgrading with a paid subscription.

The safety. Be sure the site offers key safety features before joining, including tools to protect privacy and data from hackers or suspicious members, and that allow you to share where, when and who you may be meeting in real life with your friends and contacts, if you choose to do so.

How Much Do Online Dating Sites Cost?

The cost of using a dating site varies depending on the site/company and subscription plan you choose. For example, OkCupid offers Basic membership subscriptions ranging from $17.49 to $34.99 per month, and Premium membership options between $22.49 to $44.99 per month, depending on length of plan. In this case, purchasing a three or six-month subscription would be more cost-effective than if you were to go the month-to-month route, which is something you may want to factor in during your search.

Some dating sites are more expensive than others, so it’s important to consider your budget and desired subscription length while looking for the right site for you.

Paid vs. Free Dating Sites

There are a few distinctions between paid and free dating sites.

One difference to consider is the level of accessibility you have within the site. Many dating sites offer a limited use of certain features and advertise paid subscriptions within the platform to get full access to all of its features. For example, purchasing a subscription or paying a fee might give you the ability to boost your account and be seen by more potential matches.

The Pros and Cons of Using Online Dating Sites

There can be benefits and drawbacks in any dating experience, and online dating is no different.

One benefit of online dating is the ability, in most cases, to have access to a wider pool of individuals, with the potential to meet someone on a site or app that you may not have otherwise met in person. Another benefit is the added transparency that online dating offers with certain profile markers, such as desired relationship type and length, which can help users determine if a match has the same dating goals.

However, many online dating apps can be quite expensive, and while some free versions are available, this may come with limited use of the platform. Additional drawbacks of using online dating sites, per 2020 data from Pew Research Center, can include uninvited communication, such as persistent contact from a user you’ve expressed disinterest in, receiving unwanted sexually explicit messages or images or being called offensive names[1]The Virtues and Downsides of Online Dating. Pew Research Center. Accessed 2/7/2024. . Others to look out for are fake profiles and dating scams, which are outlined below.

How to Make a Good Dating Profile

First impressions of dating profiles often depend on the photos included, so choosing pictures that authentically represent who you are can set you up for success. Using more solo photos than group photos or photos with friends can also make it easier for a potential match to determine whose profile they’re looking at.

Another factor to consider is how you describe your dating goals. Being clear about your intentions for using a dating site and what you’re looking for in a potential partner can add more meaning to your profile.

Additionally, some attributes you can highlight that can help make your profile and messages with a match standout, include humor, intelligence, creativity and originality.

Avoiding Fake Dating Profiles and Scams

Some online dating profiles are too good to be true. In just the past few years, dating scams have led to victims losing billions of dollars and sensitive personal information, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Many scammers use fake profiles to lure you in and then may begin asking for money or personal data they don’t need to know.

Some common dating scam red flags, notes the FTC, include:

  • Being asked for money
  • Being sold a story about financial loss or being asked to invest in an unusual business
  • Always getting an excuse when trying video chat or meet in person

Here For Real Love

You're ready to find your person. eharmony is here to make that happen.

Health Benefits of Meaningful Relationships

Broad research exists backing the link between good mental health and strong social relationships, whereas loneliness has been linked to sadness and other negative mental health outcomes. While not every relationship may lead to marriage, positive companionship can help improve your wellness on many levels, including:

1. A healthier mind. The level of happiness in a relationship can influence overall health, with positive social associations linked to delayed mental and physical decline, notes research in Psychology and Aging[2]Hawkley L, Cacioppo J. Loneliness Matters: Social Relations and Age-Related Change in Memory. Psychol Aging. 2019;34(6):751–765. .

2. A healthier heart. Positive, supportive social connections including romantic relationships may promote healthy heart functions, suggests data in Frontiers in Psychology[3]Berli, C.. Loneliness Matters: “We Feel Good”: Daily Support Provision, Health Behavior, and Well-Being in Romantic Couples. Frontiers in Psychology. .

3. A longer life. Stable social surroundings factor into staving off isolation, which may lead to a higher risk of morbidity (having a disease or medical condition) and mortality (related to death)[4]Hawkley L, Cacioppo J. Loneliness Matters: Loneliness, social isolation, and all-cause mortality in the United States. SSM - Mental Health. 2021. .

How to Pick the Right Dating Site for You

The right dating site for you will depend on what you’re personally looking to get out of using the site. Take your preferences into consideration, such as relationship type, inclusivity of the particular site, what you’re looking for in a partner, site features and cost as you search for the right site for you.

Get Who Gets You

We understand it can be difficult to find a match with whom you share a similar background, goals, or beliefs, and regardless of who you may be looking for, eHarmony wants to help you find the love of your life.

Join For Free Today

On eHarmony's Website

Summary: Compare the Best Online Dating Sites in 2024

Productcompany_logoForbes Health Ratingsforbes_advisor_rating_imageBest ForView Morelearn_more_cta_below_textLearn More
Plenty of FishBest Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (20)5.0Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (21)Best Additional FeaturesLearn MoreRead Forbes' Reviewhttps://www.forbes.com/health/dating/plenty-of-fish-review/
MatchBest Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (22)4.8Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (23)Most Well-Established Learn MoreRead Forbes' Reviewhttps://www.forbes.com/health/dating/match-review/
OkCupidBest Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (24)4.8Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (25)Most Comprehensive Matching Algorithm Learn MoreRead Forbes' Reviewhttps://www.forbes.com/health/dating/ok-cupid-review/
eharmonyBest Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (26)4.6Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (27)Best Free FeaturesLearn MoreOn eHarmony's Websitehttps://www.dpbolvw.net/click-9311742-13788437" rel="nofollow"
ZooskBest Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (28)4.4Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (29)Best for Behavior MatchingLearn MoreOn Zoosk's Websitehttps://zskpro.com/?a=167&c=252&s1=167&s2=YOURSUBIDHERE" rel="nofollow"

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the safest dating sites?

How safe a dating site is can depend on personal behaviors. Look for and practice certain measures to keep yourself safe, such as utilizing and interacting with profiles who are photo or identity-verified, reporting or blocking users that make you feel unsafe and if you choose to meet up with matches, doing so in public.

What is the most used dating site in the U.S.?

According to a July 2022 online dating survey of more than 6,000 adults by Pew Research Center, three out of 10, or 31% of those surveyed stated they had used Match. The survey also found that OkCupid was used by around a fifth of users. Additional popular online dating sites can be found in the above selection of winners on our list.

What is the best dating site for serious relationships?

The best dating site for serious relationships depends on how you utilize the platform. If you’re seeking a serious relationship, many dating sites will allow you to select what you’re looking for in the initial questionnaire when signing up. You may also be able to write this out in your profile’s biography or About section.

Which dating sites are completely free?

Most dating sites offer a basic, free version of their site, like OkCupid, for example. However, full access to a site’s benefits and features may require a paid subscription.

What is the most effective online dating site?

The most effective online dating site for you will be one that meets your unique needs, such as budget or desired relationship type, as well as one that offers the communication modes or safety features that you’re looking for.

What is the best dating site for beginners?

The best dating site for beginners depends on a specific user’s comfort level with using dating apps, as well as factors like user safety features. For this reason, one place to start could be choosing a long-standing platform in the space such as Match, which launched in 1995.

Online Dating Reviews

  • Plenty of Fish Review
  • Match Review
  • OkCupid Review
  • eHarmony Review
  • Zoosk Review

Sources

References

Next Up In Dating

  • Best Dating Apps
  • Best Dating Sites For Seniors
  • Best Free Dating Sites
  • Best LGBTQ+ Dating Sites
  • Best Dating Apps For Serious Relationships
  • SilverSingles Review
  • eharmony Review
  • SeniorMatch Dating Review

Information provided on Forbes Health is for educational purposes only. Your health and wellness is unique to you, and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer individual medical advice, diagnosis or treatment plans. For personal advice, please consult with a medical professional.

Forbes Health adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers.

Carley PrendergastEditor

Carley is a writer, editor and social media professional. Before starting at Forbes Health, she wrote for Sleepopolis and interned at PBS and Nickelodeon. She's a certified sleep science coach and member of the Peloton community. When she's not creating content, you can find her boating on the Chesapeake Bay, chasing around her three toddler nephews or trying a new outdoor lunch spot with her Pomeranian, Leo.

Jessica DiGiacintoEditor

Jessica is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience in both lifestyle and clinical health topics. Before Forbes Health, Jessica was an editor for Healthline Media, WW and PopSugar, as well as numerous health-related startups. When she isn't writing or editing, Jessica can be found at the gym, listening to a health or true crime podcast, or spending time outside. She also really enjoys bread (even though she's not supposed to eat it).

Discover The Best Dating Sites

  • Best Dating Apps
  • Best Free Dating Sites
  • Best Dating Sites For Seniors
  • eharmony Review
  • Zoosk Review
  • Match Review
  • Elite Singles Review
Best Online Dating Sites: Reviewed In 2024 (2024)

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