Free Online Dating

Free dating sites are gaining popularity

Some dating sites have seen the success of free social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter and are jumping on the bandwagon. Top free dating sites like PlentyOfFish.com, OkCupid.com and Ge.la.to do not have broadcast media campaigns like eHarmony, but that hasn't stopped millions from flocking to these sites that allow users to find matches and communicate without any financial commitment. According to a 2009 article in BusinessWeek magazine, the struggling economy has led to a dramatic increase in the popularity of free dating sites. For example, statistics published by Real Simple magazine shows that the free dating site, PlentyOfFish.com, has the same number of monthly users as Match.com.

OkCupid.com, founded in 2004 by the creators of SparkNotes.com, is another site that allows users to search for matches as well as automatically generates matches. You can search by sexual orientation, age range and proximity without registering. About.com's dating guide, Bonny Albo, reviews seven free dating sites and gives a perfect rating of 5 stars to OkCupid. She says this site has far fewer ads than other dating sites, and she has been "well-matched" during the years she has used the site. OkCupid.com is recommended by a majority of the reviewers at Viewpoints.com and has the highest average rating. Users say it's fun to use and has diverse features.

Unlike eHarmony, OkCupid's profile questions aren't generated with the help of a psychologist. In fact, users who answer at least 500 questions are allowed to submit their own questions. Members decide how many questions they answer and can even choose to ignore certain questions. Then, a mathematical formula generates matches and shows the percent of accuracy based on three criteria: your answers to questions, how you want a match to answer those questions and how important the question is to you. You must answer at least 100 questions to have a possible match that's reasonably compatible, site managers say. OkCupid claims to be accurate as long as "you're honest, and you know what you want."

Another unique feature at OkCupid is that you can take thousands of quizzes created by the site's staff and users, as well as participate in forums. The site also offers a free iPhone app, so you can check email, send instant messages and browse through profiles while on the go.

PlentyOfFish.com, launched in 2003, has over 10 million members and receives the most monthly visits of any dating site according to Hitwise, an organization that tracks Internet statistics. The site doesn't offer automated matching like OkCupid -- users must "fish" for potential partners. PlentyOfFish doesn't offer as robust selection criteria as some websites, but you can see who's online and chat with those people. DatingSitesReviews.com asks users to vote on their favorite free dating site and the 2009 Single's Choice Award goes to PlentyOfFish. However, Jen Best at The Frisky says PlentyOfFish is more for casual relationships and not those looking for something long-term.

There are currently four optional tests available on the site to help you uncover information about yourself. Without registering, you can answer 30 questions from the psychological assessment test or answer 28 questions to find out if your current love interest is a keeper. Once registered, there are two additional tests: the relationship-needs assessment results in 33 topics to explore with potential partners, while the relationship chemistry predictor assessment is based on five personality traits (self confidence, family orientation, self control, openness and easygoingness). The relationship assessment is short and quick to complete compared to eHarmony.com and Chemistry.com. However, little information is given on how the questions were developed or if there's any scientific merit to the test.

PlentyOfFish has plenty of helpful features like email notification, blocking unwanted contact and creating a favorites list. One downside of the site is there are no mobile apps to access the site on the go. Additionally, PlentyOfFish is run by only a handful of people, so you can't expect the level of customer service you might get with paid dating sites. One complaint by users is profiles can disappear without any reason. Other users question the security of personal information, since there's no affiliation with a company like TRUSTe.

Facebook, which currently has over 400 million active users, is a social networking site that is gaining momentum as a dating portal. In addition, Facebook makes it easy to link profiles to dating site profiles like Zoosk.com and SpeedDate.com. The site's main draw is its clean interface, which contrasts with the more chaotic design of competitor MySpace, which has about 100 million active users. For both sites, anyone who is at least 13 years old can join for free, while dating sites require you to be 18 or older. Each user can have his or her own page on which to build a profile. You can list your likes and dislikes, upload photos and ask your friends to join. You can correspond with people via email, online chat, instant messaging and discussion groups. You can also invite people to either private or public events that happen in the real world.