A friend of mine recently tried her hand in online dating later a few years away from the scene. She joined one of the most popular dating sites online and, like many others, found herself swamped drowned in messages and unscreened matches. It quickly became work, not fun, and she gave up before she even met anyone. She’s not alone: Roughly 1/3 of Americans say they know a couple who met online. The good news is that there are a wide range https://www.scienceofpeople.com/how-to-ask-someone-out/ of other sites and apps out there to try. The key is discovering one that aligns with your dating goals and meets your needs.

The following 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, like 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 a subscription-based subscription for messaging and other features.

OkCupid

The platform says it makes over 90 million matches a year and boasts that it’s “the best scientifically proven dating site on the planet.” It has a comprehensive 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 enthusiastic 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 widened beyond its home base in the Big Apple. The app claims to eliminate endless swiping by only showing you dominican brides one match a day, and requires women to make the first move in heterosexual matches. It also offers a subscription-based 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 a mobile-friendly 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 a committed customer service team to help with any issues. The site has an ample library of articles about dating and relationships, and members can upload a maximum of ten photos.

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