Match.com, eHarmony and OKCupid: The top online dating sites

Online dating has long since lost its stigma, and the current crop of sites are becoming more comprehensive and specific. From matchmaking sites like eHarmony.com and Chemistry.com that do most of the work for you, to Match.com, which offers versatile search capabilities, and niche sites like JDate and DivorcedSingles.com, there's something for everyone. Our recently updated report on online dating explores this new terrain.

eHarmony, once rife with scandal, has become the most popular matchmaking site around, thanks to its scientific matching and extensive profiles. After a recent lawsuit, eHarmony, which only matches heterosexual couples, launched a same-sex dating site, CompatiblePartners.net. Match.com remains the most popular general dating site for its versatility and large subscriber base, while OKCupid is the top free online dating site that offers a bit of quirk.

Though there's no single website that rises to the top, niche dating sites catering to specific groups based on age, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, hobbies or a host of other criteria are more visible than ever. According to the statistics from Hitwise, specialty sites like SeniorPeopleMeet and BlackPeopleMeet are gaining ground on Match.com and other general dating sites. However, there aren't many reviews of these specially-targeted dating sites.

So, if you've shied away from online dating in the past, there are a lot more and better options than ever. Even if you currently have a profile on a dating site, you may find there's a site you haven't tried that's a better fit. Read our online dating report for details on matchmaking sites, free services and other highly-rated dating sites.