A friend of mine recently gave a shot at her hand at online dating subsequent to a couple of years away from the scene. She became a member of one of the major dating sites out there and, like many others https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1586768/, found herself swamped inundated with messages and unscreened matches. It quickly became work, not fun, and she gave up before she even met anyone. She’s not alone: Roughly 33% of Americans say they know a couple who met online. The good news is that there are a ton of other sites and apps out there to try. The key is locating one that aligns with your dating goals and meets your needs.

The following elite 8 dating sites are some of the most popular in the U.S. and are targeted at different audiences. Some, such as eharmony and Match, are intended for those looking for serious relationships; others, such as Tinder and Bumble, are more focused on casual hookups. Some sites have a no-cost membership that lets you create a profile and view matches, while others require a subscription for messaging and other features.

OkCupid

The site says it generates over 90 million matches a year and boasts that it’s “the top scientifically proven dating site on the planet.” It has a comprehensive questionnaire that helps locate compatible mates, but isn’t as long as the one on eharmony. It also prompts users to answer questions about things they’re devoted 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 a day, and requires women to make the first move in heterosexual matches. It also offers a paid 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 her latest blog 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 an chat room and a feature that allows you to see who has viewed your profile.

Ourtime

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

While Ourtime doesn’t have as many active users as some of the other options on this list, it is a robust 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 an array of active senior singles.