Top 10 Best Online Dating Sites For 2021
Dating is never easy – from the approach, to building rapport, to winning her heart.
Coupled with the global pandemic, it only makes finding a partner even harder.
Common meeting places – bars, restaurants, and nightclubs are no longer what they used to be.
But does that mean all hope for finding a relationship is lost?
Well, online dating sites and apps are the answer to your problems.
With so many choices available, it’s a no-brainer for people to turn to the internet to find love.
Be you’re seeking a long-term relationship or a one-time fling, there’s an online dating site just for you.
With interaction restricted during this tough time, where better to find meaningful companionship?
Many online dating sites even introduced video capabilities to deal with dating in the time of this crisis – we’ll talk about this later.
Here are our picks for the best online dating sites in 2021, in no particular order.
Best Online dating sites
- eHarmony – Best for Serious Relationships
- EliteSingles – Best for Working Professionals
- JDate – Best for seeking Jewish Dates
- Zoosk – Best for International Love
- Tinder – Best for Quick Hookups and Flings
- CoffeeMeetsBagel – Best for Smart Dating
- OkCupid – Best Freemium Online Dating Site
- CatholicMatch – Best for seeking Catholic Partners
- ChristianMingle – Best for seeking Christian Partners
- ChristianCafe – Best for meeting Christian Singles
Top 10 Online Dating Sites Comparison
| Online Dating Sites | Rating (Avg.) | Profile Quality | Registration Process | Matching algorithm | Platform Popularity | Free Features | Premium Benefits | Web Version | Mobile App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eHarmony | 4.4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| EliteSingles | 4.1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| JDate | 3.5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Zoosk | 3.8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Tinder | 4.0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| CoffeeMeetsBagel | 4.0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| OkCupid | 4.0 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| CatholicMatch | 3.6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| ChristianMingle | 3.9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| ChristianCafe | 3.6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
eHarmony – Best for Serious Relationships
EHarmony is one of the pioneers of online dating sites, with 20 years in the scene.
Established in 2000, it sets itself apart as an online dating site best for individuals seeking serious relationships.
And eHarmony claims over two million people have found love through their site.
Utilizing its powerful matching algorithm, it matches couples based on “29 dimensions” of compatibility.
EHarmony determines this with an in-depth questionnaire, to create a comprehensive personality profile for each user.
Of course, one can only tap into their powerful algorithm by giving honest, individualistic answers.
It’s free to register an account and send “smiles” and Icebreakers to kick off the conversation.
However, you do need a subscription to unlock their full features.
The most important is being able to send customized messages and full access to view your match’s profiles.
There are 6-month ($55.90/mo.), 12-month ($17.95/mo.), and 24-month ($12.95/mo.) premiums respectively.
At this point, there’s a considerable discount for the 12-month and 24-month plans.
To safeguard their users, all plans come with a three-month guarantee.
If after three months of paid membership and communicating with at least 5 members and you’re not satisfied, you can get a full refund.
Find out more from our in-depth eHarmony review
EliteSingles – Best for Working Professionals
A hectic, busy schedule is commonplace for most working professionals.
Work, sleep. and social life is three things that do not see eye to eye.
People who devote time to climbing the corporate ladder often work till the wee hours.
Due to this, working professionals lack opportunities to meet potential dates.
Those averse to the norm of online dating sites may find EliteSingles a breath of fresh air.
For those who do not have the time for trial and error, it matches you based on compatibility.
The comprehensive compatibility test takes into account looks, personality, and what you’re seeking in a partner.
For the personality aspect – questions on how optimistic, and ambitious you are, your social skills, and how you’re viewed, will be asked.
EliteSingles is popular among the mature demographic aged between 30 to 55 years old.
Because of this, most users are looking for a long-term commitment.
Coupled with 85 percent of users owning a university degree, intellectual matches are preferred.
You can register for free, but to send messages, see your matches photos and leave comments, you need a subscription.
You can opt for the 3-month ($57.95/mo.), 6-month ($44.95/mo.), and 12-month ($31.95/mo.) premium subscriptions.
As you can already tell, premium plans are slightly higher as compared to other online dating sites.
The reason is, that EliteSingles targets users with a more substantial disposable income.
Find out more from our in-depth EliteSingles review
JDate – Best for seeking Jewish Dates
The web’s largest Jewish online dating service, JDate has been around for nearly 20 years.
JDate offers a streamlined service for those interested in finding Jewish partners.
This Jewish online dating site has a community with over 90% being Jewish people.
The registration process for the website differs from other online dating sites.
JDate requires you to upload a short bio (typically 100-150 words) which acts as a personal description of your profile.
You can upload up to 6 photos, which will then undergo vetting from their site.
You’ll receive several matches in a day when you sign up for the premium subscription.
You can track every potential date you get each day with the Look Book, a list of whom has liked you back.
And you can socialize with the community through the Kibiktz Corner, where the site provides questions daily.
You can choose to answer those questions, and compare answers with your matches for a hint of fun.
JDate is one of the best dating sites for people seeking Jewish dates.
Zoosk – Best for International Love
Zoosk is the most popular dating site offering unlimited opportunities to find love.
This online dating site is best for individuals from around the world, seeking international love.
You’ll be able to meet people from different regions, religions, and cultures and have a chance to socialize and chat with them.
Zoosk’s online matching algorithm is a behavioral program that learns and perceives dating interests from your activities while using the platform.
The platform partners you with potential dates with similar behavioral patterns, using the program’s SmartPick function.
Zoosk is a socialization platform that allows people to connect with others even without a dating match.
This increases the chances for the program to learn and match you with a partner, and an opportunity to attract others even without a match.
The registration process is easy and only takes a short while to complete.
There are no tedious questionnaires you’ll need to fill out, and you can become a member in a matter of minutes.
However, you do need a premium subscription to get potential matches, view their profiles, or go on a face-to-face date.
Tinder – Best for Quick Hookups and Flings
Be it you’re looking for a casual hookup, a potential date, or a friendship, Tinder has got you covered.
It’s usually the first stop for those people new to online dating sites.
What makes the platform popular is that you do not have to enter much data or information.
Tinder aims at helping people meet, and arrange a date, without any limitations or rules.
The good thing is profiles are brief, which lets you come to a decision quickly.
But the flip side is that profiles might not contain enough information for you to find what you’re looking for.
You can register and hook up with a potential match in a short period.
But as you know very little about a person, it can make your initial conversation very challenging
The Tinder app makes the dating process much more streamlined and you can get matches on the go.
The user interface is simple and concise, so you’ll not have much of a problem using it.
With the large pool of people and little information on your hands, you need to be prepared.
There’s a possibility you’ll need to wade through a sea of profiles before finding a good match.
CoffeeMeetsBagel – Best for Smart Dating
An online dating site suited for individuals who are tired of scrolling through the sea of profiles.
Every day, the platform will curate a list of candidates that is in line with your preferences.
To start, you might only see a small number of potential matches.
But as you use the platform for a longer period, the algorithm will be able to pick up more candidates that align with your preferences.
Nonetheless, you’ll have to wait for the next day to view more matches once you’ve exhausted the list.
Once there is a match, you’ll be able to chat with their messaging feature.
To make things easier for the first interaction, icebreakers are provided to give you conversation ideas.
One thing to note, each conversation only lasts for 7 days, before it expires.
I dislike this one feature, as it makes the conversation seem as though it’s a rush with time.
CoffeeMeetsBagel offers free membership to anyone willing to register on their platform.
It also comes with a ‘Discover’ tab that allows you to view popular candidates out of your generated list.
However, to access exclusive features such as this, you’ll need to purchase a premium account.
You can download the CoffeeMeetsBagel app and use it at any time.
With it, you’ll be able to check for replies from potential dates on the go for added convenience.
OkCupid – Best Freemium Online Dating Site
I believe we would have all heard of the popular online dating site, OkCupid.
OkCupid bases its matching algorithm on simple, funny, and out-of-the-box questions.
These quirky multiple-choice questions cover a wide range of topics: sex, relationships, politics, religion, faith, etc.
With this interesting addition, profiles are more in-depth than most online dating sites.
If you take time to answer their seemingly endless series of questions, they will generate a percentage ratio on profiles to show compatibility.
The more questions you answer, the more accurate your matches will be.
However, in recent years, some changes have made OkCupid a bit like tinder.
It’s focusing more on swiping and you’re no longer able to message a user without matching.
You can still send them a message – just that it won’t be shown to them until you match. And this is something I still can’t get my head around as to why this feature exists.
OkCupid offers free membership to anyone looking to sign-up for the online dating site.
Registration and downloading of the app, and even the feature to message users is free. But you can unlock its extra features with a premium subscription.
OkCupid offers a wide range of dating options, with 22 genders and 13 sexual orientations to choose from.
This inclusivity garnered widespread popularity and the numbers are only growing each year.
CatholicMatch – Best for Seeking Catholic Partners
Finding love as a Catholic single in today’s world is tough, especially if your faith is important to you.
Outside of church, it’s not easy to know if the other singles you meet have the same faith.
If you are looking for a faith-focused relationship built around your Catholic beliefs, you’ll love this site.
CatholicMatch allows individuals of the same beliefs, i.e. the Catholic Church to mingle and find partners.
It has a really good selection of Catholic singles all over the country. Also, it’s backed by major Catholic leaders, which is a nice plus.
CatholicMatch even has a mobile app that makes it easier for you to find dates and potential partners.
Register for free to get started… and if you want to enjoy other exclusive features, purchase a premium package.
The bottom line is that the site is easy to use, well put together, and has tons of features to connect you with other Catholic singles.
ChristianMingle – Best for Seeking Christian Partners
ChristianMingle is an online dating site tailored for Christian men and women seeking a relationship centered around god.
The website was launched in 2001 by Spark Networks and has since garnered 15 million members.
Spark Networks is also behind popular online dating sites such as EliteSingles, Zoosk, and JDate.
The majority of ChristianMingle users are in their late 20s to 40s, meaning they are looking to settle down.
If you’re seeking a lifetime partner who shares the same faith, this might just be the site for you.
ChristianMingle boasts of its ability to help members make quality connections, with robust profiles and personalization features.
Overall, the registration process is simple and straight to the point.
Register for free to start building your personality profile with straightforward questions about commitment, beliefs, and family.
This allows you to explore the site, and determine if it’s what you’re looking for.
It has since expanded to offer a mobile app that you can easily download to access your dates from anywhere, anytime.
Take the leap of faith to meet like-minded individuals and it might just make the start of a lasting relationship.
ChristianCafe – Best for Meeting Christian Singles
ChristianCafe is an online dating site that is specifically made for Christian singles to meet and find love.
Their creed “Owned by Christians, for Christians” is to prove that they know what fellow Christians are looking for.
ChristianCafe was made not just for singles to find love, but more so for individuals who seek fellowship and support.
It has been operating for 20 years and has gained over 2 million members worldwide.
They’re responsible for connecting over 25,000 couples which eventually led to happy marriages.
Do note that the majority of ChristianCafe members are seeking love and serious relationships.
They are looking for a partner who shares the same faith and devotion.
As this is a Christian dating site, inappropriate language, photos or behavior are strictly prohibited. Members who do not follow their guidelines risk being suspended.
When it comes to the actual use of the site, it does feel a bit outdated. The functions are all working well, but the interface does give a dated vibe.
But if you see past that, the free trial and proven results are worth it.
Give the free trial a go to see if it fits, and who knows?
You might just be able to find the one you’ve been searching for.
Editor’s Choice – eHarmony
After going through so many online dating sites, which is the best for you?
Honestly, every site has its specialized niche to meet our various needs, and it’s hard to determine whether one is superior to the other.
But if you’re seeking a more generic online dating site with a large following, eHarmony will be our top pick.
EHarmony boasts a high success rate when it comes to matching couples online, and with good reason.
It’s packed with all the necessary features you would expect from an established online dating site.
Coupled with that, there’s a range of unique features that make online dating fun and engaging.
The user interface is simple yet refined, and it comes with a mobile app to make matching easier.
EHarmony’s matching algorithm takes into account many aspects to give an accurate compatibility rating.
From your personality, interests, beliefs, and to your preferences, you can be sure each match is carefully calculated.
So if you’re looking for a platform to greatly boost your success in finding love, eHarmony is your best bet.
To sum it up
online dating sites can vary greatly in terms of features, matching algorithms, users, and much more.
And finding the right online dating site to match your needs can be overwhelming.
Be it a committed relationship, to make more female friends or even just some adult fun.
The most important is to define what you’re looking for and seek out the site that focuses on that niche.
So there you have it! Our list of the top 10 best online dating sites.
Pick the one that suits you, and kickstart your online dating journey.
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