EmailBest Reviewed
Online Dating
- Best dating site overall Match.com *Est. $35
- Best matchmaking site eHarmony.com *Est. $60
- Best free dating site OkCupid.com *Est. $0
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Best dating site overall
- Lower subscription fee than some sites
- Excellent search options
- Diverse pool of members
- Mobile access
- Six-month guarantee
- Only paying members can send and reply to emails
- Automated matches aren't based on science
With more than 15 million profiles, Match.com emerges as one of the largest dating sites. Reviewers praise it for being easy to navigate and offering versatile search capabilities. Match.com's custom search options include a solid keyword search function and two-way matching based on common interests of members. You can browse for free, but you will have to register to read a complete profile, and you will have to become a paying member in order to contact someone or reply to email. Overall, reviewers say Match.com is a fun dating site with the most diverse member base compared to other online dating sites, but if you want automated matching based on in-depth compatibility questions, eHarmony.com (*Est. $60 per month) finds compatible partners for you.
Match.com is included in more reviews than any other dating site. DatingSiteReviews.com gives the perspective of both editors and users. Real Simple magazine compares four top dating sites on number of users, costs and registration time. We also found a review at About.com, and user reviews at TheDatingDame.com and Viewpoints.com, which are mainly negative.
Our Sources
For the third year in a row, Match.com is named the top pick by DatingSitesReviews.com editors. Users can vote for their favorite dating site and give Match.com 200 of the 700 votes. Editors describe the new MatchMobile and MatchMyFriends features and list the site's pros and cons. Subscription fees and additional costs are described in detail as of September 2009.
Review: 2009 Dating Sites Reviews Single's Choice Award, Editors of DatingSitesReviews.com
Online dating industry professionals voted on their favorite dating site in 11 different categories and announced the winners at the January 2010 Internet Dating Conference. Match.com wins awards for the best dating site and the best site design.
Review: 2010 iDate Awards, Editors of the Internet Dating Conference, January 2010
3. Real SimpleDetails/Subscribe
In this brief assessment of four dating sites, Real Simple magazine identifies Match.com and PlentyOfFish.com as the two dating sites with the highest number of monthly users at 2.75 million each. Editors say Match.com is "simple to navigate," and other pros include finding compatible matches using keyword searches and apps for smartphones.
Review: Cost Comparison: Internet Dating Sites, Editors of Real Simple magazine
4. About.com
About.com's dating guide Bonny Albo rates Match.com based on features and cost. Match.com is praised for its unique features, but it doesn't appear that Albo tested the site herself, and we don't know whether the information is up-to-date. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Match.com Dating Site Review, Bonny Albo
The Dating Dame reviews approximately 40 dating sites. About half of the reviews include user ratings on quality of prospects, ease of use and features. Match.com is the only dating site to receive a perfect score in all three areas. The prices are outdated, so it appears the information has not been updated recently.
Review: Dating Reviews, Editors of TheDatingDame.com
Most dating sites receive mixed user reviews here. Match.com is one of the sites with the most reviews, but only about half are willing to recommend the site. Some reviewers say it has a good pool of singles, but others say the selection is too limited for smaller towns.
Review: Match.com Reviews, Contributors to Viewpoints.com
Online Dating Runners Up:
3 picks by top review sites.
2 picks including: About.com, VillageMatchmaker.com…
2 picks by top review sites.
2 picks by top review sites.