A friend of mine recently tried her hand with online dating post a number of years away from the scene. She became a member of one of the major dating sites out there and, like many others https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/10-best-opening-lines-for-online-dating-messages-583794/, 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 a third of Americans say they know a couple who met online. The good news is that there are a plethora of other sites and apps out there to try. The key is finding one that aligns with your dating goals and meets your needs.

The following top 8 dating sites are some of the most popular in the U.S. and are catered at different audiences. Some, such as eharmony and Match, are intended for those looking for serious relationships; others, for example, Tinder and Bumble, are more focused on casual hookups. Some sites have a zero-cost membership that lets you create a profile and view matches, while others require an subscription for messaging and other features.

OkCupid

The platform says it makes over 90 million matches a year and boasts that it’s “the greatest scientifically proven dating site on the planet.” It has a wide-ranging questionnaire that helps find compatible mates, but isn’t as long as the one on eharmony. It also prompts users to answer questions about things they’re passionate 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 advanced 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 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 for adults over 50 who are interested in serious relationships and companionship. Its members must have a minimum of 25 years’ experience to join, and it offers an exclusive customer service team to help with any issues. The site has a comprehensive library of articles about dating and relationships, and members can upload a maximum https://medium.com/@datersearch/what-nationality-makes-the-best-wife-04df89aeac31 of ten photos.

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