Roast Tinder bios where users list their height all you want, but a good portion of us are goddamn thankful for online dating.
Some grandparents and much of fake spiritual Twitter still insist that online dating takes away from that raw conversation that can only be had in person, but if you think about it, online dating fosters many more interactions with people that you probably wouldn’t have come across otherwise. Plus, it’s a helpful step to mitigate the pressure of meeting someone new, especially for introverts.
The truth is, not everyone can serendipitously run into the love of their life at the gym. That antiquated mindset continues to be shown up by scholarly research. In fact, two Stanford sociologists found that online dating is officially the most popular way for U.S. couples to connect. The 2017 survey found that 39% of heterosexual couples and 60% of same-sex couples originally met online, beating the numbers of older, traditional methods like meeting through friends or at work or school. Read more…
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IMAGE: Match
BEST OVERALL
Match
The OG dating site reigns supreme with a tried-and-true algorithm and more users than the population of NYC.
- Free version: Yes
- Three months: $25.99/month
- Six months: $22.99/month
- One year: $19.99/month
IMAGE: Mashable
BEST SWIPING APP
Hinge
This modern go-to app for millennials to find a date is chiller than Match but less “Wanna bang?” than Tinder.
- Free version: Yes
- One month of paid: $12.99/month
- Three months of paid: $6.99/month
- Six months of paid: $4.99/month
IMAGE: OkCupid
BEST FOR LIBERALS
OkCupid
Millennials who follow current events will enjoy OkCupid’s Tumblr-esque design and a focus on social issues.
- Free version: Yes
- One month: $9.95/month
- Three months: $7.95/month
- Six months: $4.95/month
IMAGE: eharmony
BEST FOR THOSE LOOKING TO GET HITCHED
eharmony
Casual or liberal daters might feel smothered here, but straight people who are tired of the chase will love the focus on settling down.
- Free version: Yes
- Three months: $54.95/month
- Six months: $36.95/month
- One year: $22.95/month
IMAGE: Mashable
BEST HOOKUP SITE
AdultFriendFinder
Live videos and more monthly visitors than eharmony makes AFF great for finding a down-for-anything fling.
- Free version: Yes
- One month: $30/month
- Three months: $20/month
- One year: $15/month
IMAGE: Mashable
BEST FOR OUTGOING GIRLS AND SHY GUYS
Bumble
Women are required to make the first move, so it’s great for ladies tired of being bombarded by creepy dudes.
- Free version: Yes
- One week: $8.99/week
- One month: $24.99/month
- Three months: $16.66/month
- Six months: $13.33/month
IMAGE: Mashable
BEST FOR CAREER-ORIENTED PEOPLE
Elite Singles
You can speak your love language *and* money language here, but it might be too hit-or-miss for the price.
- Free version: Yes
- Three months: $69.95/month
- Six months: $53.95/month
- One year: $39.95/month
IMAGE: Mashable
BEST FOR PEOPLE NERVOUS ABOUT MEETING IRL
Coffee Meets Bagel
Skip the pressure of *constant* inbox notifications with CMB’s smaller user base and authentic curated matches.
- Free version: Yes
- One month: $34.99/month
- Three months: $24.99/month
- Six months: $19.99/month
- One year: $14.99/month
IMAGE: Mashable
BEST FOR GAY MEN WHO HATE GRINDR
Chappy
While Grindr’s whole thing is hookup culture, Chappy is for people who want something more real and verifies users through Facebook.
- Free version: Yes
IMAGE: Plenty of Fish
BEST (MOSTLY) FREE SITE
Plenty of Fish
It’s rare to find a full site where most features are free, but the lack of safety features or a modern design is its downfall.
- Free version: Yes
- Two months: $19.35/month
- Four months: $12.75/month
- Eight months: $9.99/month
IMAGE: Zoosk
BEST FOR INTERNATIONAL DATERS
Zoosk
The unique matchmaking that follows your swipe patterns doesn’t make up for Zoosk’s outdated design and dead profiles.
- Free version: Yes
- One month: $29.95/month
- Three months: $19.98/month
- Six months: $12.49/month
IMAGE: 99 Flavors
BEST FOR SWINGERS
99 Flavors
This swingers site lets couples add more *flavor* to the bedroom by signing up and hunting for matches together.
- One month: $40/month
- Three months: $27/month
- One year: $20/month
$20 from 99 Flavors
IMAGE: Cams.com
BEST FOR VIDEO HOOKUPS
Cams.com
Bored of porn? Chat with real models in HD and test out Bluetooth sex toys.
- 100 tokens: $12
- 250 tokens: $26
- 500 tokens: $50
- 1,000 tokens: $99
IMAGE: Mashable
BEST FOR GAY MEN TIRED OF SWIPING
Gay Friend Finder
You won’t find a hookup within the hour, but this is a mature alternative for those who feel Grindr is too impersonal.
- Free version: Yes
- One month of Silver: $22.99/month
- Three months of Silver: $13.99/month
- One year of Silver: $8.99/month
- One month of Gold: $34.99/month
- Three months of Gold: $13.99/month
- One year of Gold: $7.99/month