Best Dating Sites: An Experts Top 10 Picks!

Best dating sites: My top 10 picks in the US!

Now that the internet and phones are such a huge part of our everyday lives, it should come as no surprise that people have started to use these tools for finding love! We live in a society where people are finding it harder and harder to meet someone with whom they can build a solid, long-lasting relationship.

It’s very hard to meet someone that inspires you and wants to continue growing together because our culture encourages us to be consumers. We have a tendency to go through relationship after relationship, and people get lazy. They don’t want to invest in a serious relationship, and the result is that many people are left feeling discouraged, wondering, “Where can I find love?”

Luckily, with all the technological advances available to you, you have access to all of the best dating sites that make it easy to find someone who is looking for the same thing as you!

In today’s article, I wanted to round up some of the best dating sites on the internet so that you can read up on what they have to offer and decide whether or not you’d like to look for love on a site, app or online chat!

Best online dating sites: Why they are so great

Dating sites have become so successful today because they connect millions of people and make it easy for them to find someone compatible. Whether you are interested in casual dating and possibly one night stands, or building a long-lasting relationship with a solid foundation, online dating can prove to be an incredible tool for finding what you’re looking for.

The best dating sites force you to step out of your comfort zone.

A lot of people are hesitant, and I’ll go over these hesitations in a moment, but I truly do think that if you’re open-minded, you can find something worthwhile. I understand that the concept of chatting with someone that you don’t know online can make you feel a bit nervous, but often times the best things come from stepping outside of your comfort zone. The key is always to go into it having fun.

There is no sense in placing a ton of pressure on yourself to meet The One right away, or to always be perfect, know what to say, and woo anyone that comes into contact with you.

Signing up on a dating app or site can make anybody feel vulnerable, but it’s important to remember that everyone is putting themselves out there. What’s more, you can always choose what kind of dating service you’d like to try out. Some are more casual, and some are much more serious and in depth. Don’t worry, I’ll outline the top dating sites and apps for you below!

Another advantage of the best websites for dating is that they can put you into contact with people that you might not normally meet.
Like I said above, these sites and apps have the power to connect millions of people, and the right person for you might just be hanging out in a different area of the city! Some sites and apps really go into detail about a person’s likes and hobbies and their algorithms match you in accordance. It could also be a great way to discover new places while having fun with an exciting new person you’ve just met!

Going on dates with people you meet online is also a great way to feel more at ease in the dating world. What I mean by this is that the more dates you go on, the easier it becomes, and these sites and apps make it easier to go on more dates in a shorter amount of time. It puts you in total control of your love life. That said, it doesn’t mean that you have to go on date after date after date after the date (unless you want to!) Just know that you have a tool at your disposal that allows you to meet as many people as you want!

The best dating websites put you in control. So many people come to me saying, “Alex, I’m so tired of being alone. Why don’t I meet anyone? What am I doing wrong?” My first question is always, “Are you going out and doing activities that would allow you to meet new people?”

I often see that people actually don’t realize that they’re in essence just sitting on their couches, waiting for love to fall from the sky. They forget that if you really want something, you have to be proactive and do things that will enable it to happen! This means that you can’t just wait around. You have to get out there, put yourself out there, and be in situations where you can meet people. If you’re closed off or don’t look like you’d be welcoming if someone were to talk to you, chances are that they might not even try.

Similarly, if you’re not putting yourself in situations where you have access to new people, you’re going to meet new people much less frequently.

This is why the biggest online dating sites are so useful.

I am not saying that by signing up on a dating site that you’re immediately going to find the man or woman of your dreams, but in my experience, I’ve seen that when people decide to take control of their love lives and start working towards something they want, good things start to happen.

It’s also important to not get discouraged if things don’t go the way you would have liked. Remember, have fun, and each experience is a learning experience that will serve you in the future.

I’ve come across a lot of nay-sayers about online dating. Where does this reticence come from?

Best dating websites: Why do some people think they’re taboo?

Unfortunately, some of the best dating sites still carry a stigma because people have a negative or incorrect view of them.

I was speaking with one of my coachees recently and she told me that according to her friends, signing up for a dating site is “desperate.” I was surprised to hear this because that’s not how I see it at all. If you want to be happy, and you know that you’re in charge of your own wellbeing, why would harnessing the power of the internet to bring you joy in love be “desperate…?”

Mind you, these friends of hers were single and were not doing anything to find love.

Truth be told, more and more people are turning to online dating services and more and more people are finding successful relationships! Dating online is by far one of the best ways to meet new people.

Besides, signing up on a dating app or a dating website does not mean that you can’t still meet people in your day to day lives.

I have also seen that dating online has a bad reputation because people try it, go on one bad date, and they don’t want to try anymore. So they’re left with a bad taste in their mouths and don’t give it another chance, which I think is a shame. Online dating isn’t a miracle solution. Whether you meet a partner in real life or online, there, of course, is a chance that you’re not going to be the perfect match, but does that mean that you should just give up…?

Nope.

Now, another reason why many people don’t want to try these sites is simply that some of the other users have given them a bad name. They aren’t there for anything serious and so a person that is potentially interested can end up feeling very disappointed. The best way to guard against this is by turning to the best dating websites that require you to answer lengthy questionnaires that really help to paint an accurate picture of what a person is looking for and match them accordingly.

Best dating sites for both men and women

I’ve compiled some of the best dating sites for you here so that you can see what sounds like it corresponds best to what you’re looking for. I know some of you are interested in just having some fun, and some of you are looking for a serious relationship. Let’s dive right in and you’ll find everything you need!

Match

This is one of the top dating sites in America. It has over 17 million users, and that means you have access to 17 million people. Not bad, huh?

The way it works is relatively simple. You can sign up for free and browse through profiles, send “winks” and get matches, and if you want to communicate with anyone, you have to pay for the premium service. It’s a good way to try out the dating pool and see if there’s anyone that catches your eye. If you feel like going a bit further you can sign up for the premium service. The advantage of this system is that it helps to clear away anyone who isn’t serious. Not to mention, it has an in-depth profile questionnaire for you to fill out. You can share a lot about yourself and learn a lot about a potential match before you even get in contact!

It also exists in app form, so you can use it on your smartphone when you’re away from your computer.

Tinder

I’m sure you’ve heard of Tinder. It’s been all the rage lately, and it’s an app that is used on your phone. It’s easy if you want to just try it out. It’s free and it’s linked to your Facebook profile, so it uses that to match you up with potential matches that are within a certain mile radius. Much less information is presented in a person’s profile. You post a few pictures of yourself and a brief description. When you’re browsing profiles, depending on how you swipe on the person’s picture, you either “like” them or dismiss them.

If you both “like” each other, you are able to talk to one another. It’s a very simple system, and it is often used for casual dating or hooking up. Some people are looking for something serious, but others aren’t. A con is that many people only use it to look for one night stands, but one of the pros is that a person can only talk to you if you’ve “liked” them too.

I would suggest using this site to have fun or to test out casual online chatting and/or dating, and to go in with an open mind.

Plenty of Fish (POF)

Plenty of Fish aka POF is one of the best online dating sites in which the amount of information you provide about yourself helps it to match you with someone compatible. Basically, the more info you give, the easier it will be for the algorithm to match you. Pretty straightforward, no?

One of its features is called “MeetMe,” which enables you to quickly match with people who share common interests or live in the same area. This allows you to get to the point faster and contact someone that has caught your attention about setting up a date.

It also has a similar feature to Tinder, in that if you like the profile of someone who’s liked your profile, you’ll get a notification to connect right away.

You’re in charge of how much information you want to share on this dating site, it’s free, and can also be downloaded onto your phone as an app.

It’s been described as a dating site that is comprehensive, organized and easy to use.

Bumble

Bumble is a dating app that is similar to Tinder, but women have to make the first move, and the men have 24 hours to respond! It’s free to use, the idea behind it is to stop the influx of unsavory messages in women’s mailboxes. The downside to this is that some men get lazy and like making the women do all the work.

I would suggest using this app for dating if you’re a woman who would like to feel more in control of the situation.

Inner Circle

This dating site is a bit (a lot) more on the exclusive side. It accepts its members (yes, you have to apply), based on their job, education, and age. It calls itself a site with “the most successful and attractive singles.”

This is a good site to use if you’re very picky, and want to meet someone who shares the same social status as you…

If you want to gain access to other features of the site you have to invite other people to join or pay.

EliteSingles

This dating site is similar to the Inner Circle in that it caters to well-to-do people who have rather high standards in terms of a potential partner’s profession, physical attractiveness and education.

The matching system is based on twenty-nine unique character traits, so when you sign up, there will be a lengthy questionnaire!

Zoosk

Zoosk is not as well known as some of the other sites on this list, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a lot to offer for someone who’s looking to date online!

It links to your Facebook or Google+ account and proves that people are really who they say they are.

eHarmony

eHarmony is one of the best dating sites that is also one of the most well known. People fill out a long survey when they sign up, which is then used to help match them with other people who want “serious, long-lasting relationships.”

Once you are a user, psychologists and dating experts guide you every step of the way. It’s a longer process than some of the other apps and sites I’ve listed, and people can’t just browse through profiles, but it means that generally speaking, there are only serious people on the site.

Though some of the sites and apps I outlined above are free, I wanted to give you a one more. I know that sometimes you don’t have a big budget or you just don’t feel comfortable paying for something you’re not sure is going to work for you. So try things out with these free dating sites!

OkCupid

OkCupid is one of the biggest dating websites today, and it’s been very successful in providing people with successful relationships. People have the opportunity to create very detailed profiles, so you can easily find out whether someone is just looking for one night stands, a friend with benefits, or something serious.

The only downside is that because anyone can message you, sometimes your inbox can fill messages from male or female suitors that you aren’t necessarily interested in.

And to summarize, out of the best dating sites and apps that I listed above, the following are free:

Tinder, Plenty of Fish, Bumble, Zoosk, and OkCupid.

What is the best online dating site that actually isn’t even a dating site?

There are certain sites that can serve as great ways to meet other single people without having to be labeled “dating sites.”

Meetup is a website that allows to you meet other individuals in your community that share similar interests as you. So if you’re into music or hiking, you can meet up with a group of people that love doing the same things. You never know who might catch your eye!

Similarly, there are meetups for single people and you can meet all kinds of people that are open to meeting others that share their same interests!

How to make the perfect profile on a dating site

I hope that you’re feeling more open to meeting people online after having read about some of the best dating sites on the internet.

If you are going to begin dating online, keep in mind that there are certain things to do that will increase your chances of meeting the right person for you! The first thing you want to do is make sure that you have a good profile picture.

Stay away from photos that look really staged or sexy, and stay away from the bathing suit pics on the beach please! You want to post an image in which you look good of course, and in a nice setting. Don’t use a photo you took of yourself with a webcam with your bedroom in the background.

Next up, think about what you’re going to write in your description. If you really want to meet someone compatible with you, you want to share details about your background, your hobbies, and your passions. It will help people to get a better idea about what you like and whether or not they have things in common with you!

Now, don’t share it all. Leave some tidbits to share with a person when you’re on a date! You don’t want to write out your life story and then end up with nothing left to share! A little bit of mystery is good.

To put it simply, write a description that makes someone viewing your profile want to know more! There are so many profiles, so you want to make sure that you stand out from the crowd.

When you do meet someone that you really like, take your time. There is no reason to rush things! It is, of course, exciting, but let things develop naturally.

And my last piece of advice to you as this article comes to a close, it to try out different sites and apps. You might have more success with one than another, and you won’t know unless you try! Just keep an open mind and have fun with it. Remember no pressure!

Sincerely,

Your coach for knowing the best dating sites,

Alexandre Cormont