When economists say “There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” what they mean is everything comes with a cost — it just might not be in dollars, euros, or yen.Savvy online daters may already be familiar with the hidden costs of a 100% free dating site. They may run into pop-up ads, or they may not have access to paid features, including messaging and viewing photos. Some free sites may. Gay dating in South Africa. Are you looking to meet gay singles from South Africa? Gaydating.website gives you the perfect opportunity to meet gay and lesbian singles from all over South Africa with our easy to use site. Whether you're looking for dating, love or even just friendship, try somewhere that puts some method into the madness.

1. Best Free Dating Sites South Africa
2. Free Dating Sites South Africa Gauteng
3. Free Dating Sites South Africa Pretoria
4. Free Dating Sites South Africa

South African Model – Megan Coleman (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Here is the quick list of my top five dating sites (and apps) in South Africa. I’ll go into more detail in my reviews later in this article.

Due to its history, South Africa is known as a “Rainbow Nation.” Having lived in South Africa as an expat, I can tell you that you’ll find beautiful black people, white people, Indian people, and coloured people. For best results, I recommend you go to the big cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Pretoria where the hotties tend to hang out.

You can always check out the normal places to meet people (bars, clubs, church, mutual friends, supermarket, organizations, etc.). You can also grab your smartphone and download Tinder. However, the best and most efficient way to meet new single people for long term relationships is to do traditional dating sites.

The benefit of doing a traditional dating site is that you’ll find large numbers of available single men and women who are serious and ready to date and find love. You can also check out their interests and profile before making a connection.

Without further ado, here are my detailed reviews of the top five dating sites in South Africa.

When you are a foreigner in a new country, it can be really tough to meet members of the opposite sex. A buddy of mine told me about a website called AfroIntroductions, so I signed up for a subscription and used it with a lot of success during the year that I lived in Johannesburg. I also used their popular Brazilian-based site, Brazilcupid.com, when I was in Brazil.

Launched in 2002, AfroIntroductions is a rare gem for meeting singles whether you are in South Africa, the United States, the UK or other African countries. Dating online can be sketchy sometimes, and you can run into people who are not so genuine. But, for the most part, AfroIntroductions has plenty of eager singles ready to meet up.

Sign up Process

The sign-up process is like most other dating sites. You are required to fill out your information such as your age, gender, who you are looking for, etc.

Next, you will need to talk about you. Fill in some information such as your favorite color and places you might want to visit in the future. Don’t forget to mention the type of person you are looking for, whether you want them tall or short, athletic or a gamer. This helps to narrow down your searches later on.

Every so often, if your profile is not 100% complete, AfroIntroductions will request more information about you, but the questions are easy to answer and will only help narrow down your dating preferences.

How to Locate Potential Matches

On AfroIntroductions, there is the option of searching for a potential date by their motto or blurb. Some people like this because it gives them an idea of their personality whether they are funny, serious, or a little in between. You also have the option of scanning through profile photos (I prefer this one).

AfroIntroductions has an advanced search feature that enables you to filter by a number of characteristics, including body type (e.g. muscular, average build, etc.), smoker vs. non-smoker, wants children vs. doesn’t want children, and even zodiac sign.

How to Communicate with Other Members

AfroIntroductions has a simple but effective messaging system. As a premium member (Gold or Platinum), you can use audio and video chat. Similar to Skype, this feature enables you to “meet” someone without having to go out. In my experience, those first few moments will tell you right away if you have a keeper or not.

Unique Site Features

AfroIntroductions is straightforward. It is easy to navigate and browse profiles. There is a counter at the top that lets you know how many people are available at any given time.

A unique feature of this site that makes it different than other dating sites are Reverse Matches and Mutual Matches. These searches provide you with profiles of people like you based on your criteria, which makes it easier than ever to find someone you are going to like.

What is Included for Each Membership Level

• Standard: Search for matches based on your preferences, send interest to any member, read messages from paying members
• Gold: Communicate with all members, audio/video chat, Instant Messaging, ad-free browsing, anonymous browsing
• Platinum: Higher ranking in searches, more profile space, extensive search features, message translating, VIP profile highlighting

South African Cupid

SouthAfricanCupid.com is under the same Cupid Media family as Afrointroductions.com I described above. SouthAfricanCupid doesn’t have near the user base that Afrointroductions has, but it is still worth setting up a profile if you’ve got time.

SouthAfricanCupid is an online veteran, bringing compatible matches together since 1999. As a branch of the Cupid Media Network tree, this site does benefit from Cupid Media’s established website design, premium member options, and overall quality in terms of genuine profiles. This is a great website, however be advised going in: SouthAfricanCupid’s members seemed more seriously focused on long-term relationships than other sites I’ve been a member of.

Sign up Process

This site’s sign-up process is quick and easy, requiring you only to enter your name, gender, email and a password to start. After that, briefly describe yourself (traits, lifestyle, hobbies, etc.) and the kind of partner you’re looking for, and you’re finished.

Now, it’s up to you to decide whether you want to take the time to finish your profile or continue on to use the site and start the search for your perfect match. If you do end up going straight to browsing with an incomplete profile, every once in a while you’ll have to answer a couple more questions to continue with what you were doing.

How to Locate Potential Matches

When browsing matches, you have four display options for the profiles: photos only, photos with basic information, photos with basic information and a short blurb about them, full profile. For a more targeted search, you have a number of criteria you can specify: age, location, and education, body type, ethnicity, lifestyle choices (smoking, drinking, etc.), marital status, whether they have kids, religious views, even their star sign.

How to Communicate with Other Members

SouthAfricanCupid’s basic messaging system is easy to use, with a number of different options for communicating. You can click a heart icon on any profile to “show interest”, or add them to your favorites. SouthAfricanCupid will tell you when other members are online, and when they are you can start Instant Messaging chats.

Audio and video chat is also available, which can be extremely useful tools to ensure you are compatible with another member before you decide to actually meet them in person. As a Standard member, communication with premium members is unlimited. To send messages to or read messages from fellow Standard members, you’ll have to upgrade to Gold or Platinum.

Unique Site Features

A unique feature of SouthAfricanCupid is the option verify your profile. To do this, you upload a copy of an official ID, like your passport or driver’s license. Once uploaded, SouthAfricanCupid will compare your identification to the information you provided when filling out your profile and verify your name, age, gender and other details. While this is not mandatory, verifying yourself in this way will set you head and shoulders above the competition as a genuine, trustworthy profile.

What is Included in Each Membership Level

• Standard – Craft customized searches, browse recommended matches, send interest, communicate with premium members
• Gold – All of the above, plus: Communicate with all members, audio/video chat, Instant Messaging, ad-free browsing, anonymous browsing
• Platinum – All of the above, plus: Higher ranking in searches, more profile space, extensive search features, message translating, VIP profile highlighting

OkCupid is popular in South Africa, as well as around the globe. The site takes online dating to a whole new level with complex algorithms to find the perfect match. With so many members, the chances of finding at least a date are fairly high.

Of course, there are a number of bad apples in the bunch, but what do you expect from a free online dating site? With this site, you can find anything from a serious relationship to a fun one-time date and everything else. Although this is a dating site, it is a great place to find new people to hang out with, grab a bite, or hit up a movie without ever getting serious.

Sign up Process

There are several ways to sign-up, from using your Facebook account to entering everything in manually. You will be requested to come up with a password as well as a username or nickname for the site.

Next, you will need to answer a few questions about yourself and like three profiles to set the boundaries for the system to get you set up with potential matches. Once all the basic information is set up, you are ready to go and start browsing through the profiles.

The entire sign-up process could take you 5 to 30 minutes depending on how much information you want to give to OkCupid. You can upload photos, enter all your basic stuff like height, age, occupation, etc. You could fiddle with the question and answers aspect of the system and basically write your autobiography if you wanted. Or, you can come back later to fill all that stuff in and just start your hunt to find your better half.

How to Locate Potential Matches

OkCupid is set up to help you find your best possible matches quickly with several different filters to choose from. When you first begin browsing, you will see the person’s image and username along with where in the world they are.

You will also notice a percentage that Cupid has come up with telling you whether or not you are compatible, and by what margin. You will notice right away whether that profile is completely wrong for you by the Enemy percentage. To make things easy, OkCupid has a QuickMatch that allows members to like or dislike a profile and notifies both members if there is potential.

How to Communicate with Other Members

This site allows for two ways to communicate. You can “like” someone, or you can send them a message. Both ways of communication are free which makes this site so popular. However, you can’t see who has liked your profile unless you sign-up for a premium membership.

There is, of course, an option for those who are shy and that is by visiting someone’s profile. OkCupid will send a message each and every time your profile is viewed, as well as every time you view someone else’s.

Unique Site Features

The best thing about this site, besides that fact, that it is a free online dating site, is the question matching system. There are a ton of questions that narrow down your personality and match it to others who are like-minded.

The questions range from whether you are a morning person, or if you have a particular fetish. The questions are fun to answer and help bring you closer to someone who may end up being “THE ONE.”

The more questions you answer, the more profiles you will see that are catered to your preferences. Every time you answer a question, OkCupid creates a broader profile for you telling others more about your personality and whether you are adventurous and outdoorsy, or kinky and spontaneous.

Membership Fees and What is Included in Each Membership Level

• Free – Create a profile, browse, Like, and message other users
• A-List – Advanced search options, invisible browsing, message filtering, extra message storage, ad-free browsing, username changes, see who has liked you, and see when someone has read your message
• Incognito Mode – Lets you Like and visit profiles invisibly, hides your profile from searches.
• Profile Boosts – Appear more often in searches and at the top of the list in Quickmatch.

Dating Buzz

DatingBuzz.co.za is a South African focused dating site. It was launched in 1997 and was rebranded and went international in 2002. These days there are DatingBuzz websites for most of Europe, the U.S., India, Singapore and a few countries in Africa, and you have access to all of these members on DatingBuzz.co.za.

DatingBuzz has an understated, classy visual design that pleases the eye and doesn’t overwhelm. The layout of the site is not my favorite, and I would have liked to see some stronger communication features, especially audio/video. But all-in-all, using DatingBuzz was an easy, pleasant experience for me.

Sign up Process

To sign up, either link your Facebook profile or manually enter your gender and the preferred gender and age range of your ideal match. Continue with your birthday and a username, password and email. Click the link in a verification email and continue with more basic information.

To view matches or make any searches, you’ll have to complete at least the ‘About Me’, ‘My Ideal Match’ and ‘In My Own Words’ sections of your profile. Beyond that, there is a lot more to fill out if/when you choose.

How to Locate Potential Matches

For a Basic Search, you can filter by gender, match gender, age range and location. Advanced search ups the filter possibilities to include photo status and any of the criteria you selected when filling out your own profile. You can also search by keyword and username, browse members who are new, currently online, and popular, and those who have birthdays or have recently modified their profile.

Head to the Connections section of the site, and you can browse 100 of your two-way matches (1000 as a premium subscriber), where each of you fit the other’s specified ideal match criteria. You can also see members who you have rated or added to your favorites in this section, as well as those who have viewed your profile or favorited you.

For every profile you view, DatingBuzz will give you a match compatibility percentage, the average of how much you are a match for him/her and vice-versa. Scroll down and you can see exactly which criteria from the Ideal Match section each of you fits or doesn’t fit.

How to Communicate with Other Members

Click on a profile you like and you can reach out in a couple ways. Start easy by sending them a virtual gift, or adding them to your favorites. You can also invite them to view your private photos, and send a basic message. Messages are text-only, and only available for premium subscribers. Free members can send “quick, snappy” One-Liners however, but only if you have fully completed your profile and it’s been approved by DatingBuzz.

Unique Site Features

DatingBuzz makes it easy for you to help out your lonely, single friends with the aptly named Tell a Friend feature, easily accessible on every profile you visit. Click this button, enter your friend’s name and email, and DatingBuzz will send them an email with a short summary of the profile in question, including a short personalized message by you if you choose.

What is Included in Each Membership Level

• Free – Create a profile, upload photos, reply to messages
• Subscribe – Read and send unlimited messages, send virtual gifts, view up to 1000 matches, view private photos, see who has viewed your profile, sort your search results, search messages by keyword

I’ve used Matchmaker in the past, but, frankly, I had to spend a lot of time messaging a lot of women to get any response. I had a couple of dates through there, but it was only after A LOT of effort.

Sign up for this one only if you have lots of time.

Sign up Process

In order to register, select a username (screen name or alias) and set up a profile describing yourself and the type of person and relationship you are looking for. You can search the site without setting up a profile. However, to view full member profiles you need to become a member and set up a profile.

Once you upload a photo, you are good to go. Note that it could take up to 24 hours for your photo to be approved by the site’s admin team.

How to Locate Potential Matches

You can do a basic quick search or an advanced search. You can filter based on age, hair color, smoker vs. non-smoker, location, etc.

If you do the advanced search and find that it doesn’t turn up any search results, select less search criteria.

How to Communicate with Other Members

In order to communicate with another member, click their ‘Contact Him (or Her)’ link, enter what you want to say into the message box, and then click send. If you are a premium subscriber, the person you sent the message to will be able to reply to you.

Unique Site Features

I like the notes feature. With each profile, you can include a note and star rating that will enable you to keep track of everyone you come across on the site.

What is Included in Each Membership Level

• Free – Create a profile, view two-way matches, see who has viewed you, read unlimited messages
• Standard – Send unlimited messages, view private invitation-only photos, sort search results, search messages by keyword
• Premium – Everyone can reply to you

If you plan to go to South Africa, be sure to check out my South Africa Travel Guide for in-depth information on traveling to the country.

Further Reading

• Worldwide Online Dating Site Reviews: Be sure to check out my country-by-country reviews of the best online dating sites in the world.

• Worldwide Moving Guide: Everything you need to know in order to plan your move to 65+ countries around the world.

• Worldwide Jobs Guide: If you are interested in working in this country, be sure to check out my posts on how to find jobs in this country and other countries around the world.

• Worldwide Apartments Guide: If you are interested in renting an apartment in another country, take a look at my articles on how to find an apartment in various countries around the world.

Visahunter.com accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to the accuracy of the information contained on this site. Please read the Visitor Agreement and Disclaimer. If you think there is an error in the information, please bring it to our attention so that we can correct it. Also, some of the links above could be affiliate links, which means that I will earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) should you decide to click on the links and make a purchase. I recommend sites from time to time, not because I get a tiny commission if you click on the links and make a purchase, but because, I want you to focus on the places that will deliver you the most value and the best results. Good luck!

When economists say “There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” what they mean is everything comes with a cost — it just might not be in dollars, euros, or yen.

Savvy online daters may already be familiar with the hidden costs of a 100% free dating site. They may run into pop-up ads, or they may not have access to paid features, including messaging and viewing photos. Some free sites may cost $0 to join, but they can be taxing in other ways, and singles need all the information if they want to game the system and get results without wasting a lot of effort or racking up a big price tag.

We’ve evaluated some of the most popular free dating sites and apps out there to give singles an idea of what they can expect online and what their subscription options are, so they can decide what they’re willing to spend on an awesome dating experience. Take a look!

Overall Best 100% Free Dating Sites

We’re going to save you a lot of time and money by putting the most cost-effective dating sites right up top for your enjoyment. The following free dating platforms provide valuable matching features, search tools, and networking potential — without an enormous price tag.

Match.com has come a long way since it launched in April 1995. This well-reputed dating site has honed its match algorithm to identify long-term compatibility and facilitate countless first dates, serious relationships, and successful marriages. Match.com's esteemed dating experts go to great lengths to guide singles to a seriously good match.

• Match is the world's longest running dating site
• The Discover section has search filters by interests, looks, lifestyle, and more
• Match is available in 50 countries and 15 languages
• Browse Match.com profiles 100% free»

Match is a free-to-join but pay-to-chat online dating site where singles can mix and mingle on their own terms.

Since 1995, Match has set high standards in the dating industry and inspired deep relationships based on mutual compatibility. Match used to offer a free trial period to singles who were curious about how it works, but now the dating site has a lifetime free membership option to kick things off. Free members can set up their dating profiles, add photos, browse matches, save their preferred search criteria, and exchange likes online with the perfect match.

Messaging is a premium feature on Match, but free members aren’t locked completely out of the conversation. Match allows singles to read and respond to messages from their Top Picks list, thus making the online dating experience more enjoyable and rewarding for everyone involved.

EliteSingles.com maintains a sophisticated network of young professionals seeking a relationship. Over 80% of its members hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree, and over 90% are over the age of 30. Elite Singles uses an intelligent matchmaking system to introduce daters to someone on their level.

• Over 2 million monthly users
• Premium members receive 20 wildcard matches a day
• Search features include age, height, education, ethnicity, and lifestyle habits
• Browse Elite Singles profiles 100% free»

Elite Singles sets high standards in the online dating scene, and its tiered membership appeals to people of all income levels. This dating site was designed to introduce relationship-minded professionals to one another, and we think it’s done a grand job so far.

You can start off with a free membership to see how things work, and then you can work your way up the ladder to a premium membership plan that fits your budget and meets your relationship goals.

Elite Singles creates thousands of love connections every week, and its commitment to quality over quantity has made for a selective dating environment. Over 80% of Elite Singles members have earned a college degree, and over 90% say they want to get in a serious relationship.

Zoosk is a socially savvy dating site known for its diverse membership base and behavioral matchmaking system. Over 40 million singles in 80 countries have joined the network so far, and it's growing larger every day. The platform offers many different ways to communicate and express interest in members, so it's easy to form a fast connection here.

• Send messages to premium members for free
• Over 3 million messages sent a day
• Premium perks include photo verification and sending virtual gifts
• Browse Zoosk profiles 100% free»

Thanks to its forward-thinking features, Zoosk has become one of the leading dating sites and apps in the world. In 2007, the platform draw inspiration from popular social media sites and took online dating to a whole new level.

Today, thousands of Zoosk couples have the site to thank for introducing them to a good match and giving them plenty of options to flirt.

Zoosk offers free match suggestions, free search tools, and a lot of free communication features to get singles on their way to a promising connection. The Carousel is the most efficient place to find viable dates because users can quickly swipe through profiles and create mutual interest on the fly.

Since its launch in 2000, eharmony has endeavored to find the formula for love. Its 32-dimension personality test uses psychological truths to identify areas of compatibility between two individuals. The dating site's mission is to foster relationships that last, and every potential match has a reason behind it.

• Over 2 million people have found love here
• Users can filter their match recommendations by age or city
• Compatibility Quiz identifies common interests, lifestyles, and goals
• Browse eharmony profiles 100% free»

The thing about eharmony is that it’s all about relationships. Not short-term dating. Not hookups. Not friendship. Its founding mission is to create lasting relationships that lead to marriage, family, and a fruitful life together — and that’s something the team takes very seriously. The team even offers a three-month guarantee to back its services.

Since 2000, eharmony has endeavored to identify true compatibility by using a psychology-based questionnaire that has been honed quite a bit over the years. It used to be over 150 questions long and take over an hour to complete. Now it’s much shorter, and singles can get through it in about 20 minutes.

The questionnaire is free and optional, but eharmony highly recommends singles answer each question honestly because that’s the basis for its match suggestions and compatibility ratings. You can browse profiles and see how you stack up with them without paying anything, but only premium members can view photos and send messages on eharmony — unless it’s a free communication weekend, which are rare but totally worth the wait.

Christian Mingle is a faith-based dating website for singles who want a relationship grounded in Christian values. People of all religions and backgrounds turn to this site in hopes of meeting a good Christian man or a good Christian woman. Christian Mingle's claim to fame is that it has the highest percentage of Christian members of any dating site or app in the world.

• For singles interested in God-centered relationships
• Over 3.5 million monthly users around the world
• Available as an app on Google Play and the App Store
• Browse Christian Mingle profiles 100% free»

ChristianMingle promotes good Christian values in the online dating scene and encourages devout singles to find someone who shares similar beliefs and traditions.

While ChristianMingle isn’t a Christian-only dating network — people of all faiths are welcome to create a free profile — the site focuses on inspiring God-centered relationships, and it has been the salvation of Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, and other faith-driven daters.

Its heartwarming success stories are proof of the dating site’s impact on people’s lives. “God used ChristianMingle to cross our paths,” said Rhonda, who met her husband Woody on the dating site.

Since its launch in 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has created an African American singles network that stretches across North America. This niche dating site has 1.5 million members who are attracted to Black and biracial people. It takes less than two minutes to create a full profile and start browsing through profiles sorted by age, location, and orientation.

• One of the largest Black singles networks in existence
• Straightforward search and matching features
• Use Tokens to appear higher in search results
• Browse BlackPeopleMeet profiles 100% free»

When you sign up for BlackPeopleMeet, you can diversify your dating prospects and enjoy a colorful dating experience in just a few clicks. The niche site boasts having the largest network of black and biracial singles in the U.S., and it is a valuable resource for singles seeking dark-skinned dates.

BlackPeopleMeet is free to people of all ethnicities, skin tones, and racial backgrounds, and singles can assess their options thanks to the site’s free features, which include photo likes, flirts, and favorites. Messaging will cost a little extra, but it can make all the difference in your dating life, so it could be worth the $3 to $4 per week for a paid membership.

BlackPeopleMeet uses a token-based system to give singles access to additional paid features, including virtual gifting, special notifications, and a highlighted dating profile.

In 2004, OkCupid's founders decided to create a fool-proof formula for love, and they launched a free dating site to delve into what personal attributes made relationships work. OkCupid members can send unlimited messages for free. It's easy to discover mutual interests and compatibility on the platform's information-rich dating profiles.

• Free, unlimited communication for everyone
• Singles can swipe or search for a compatible date
• Over 91 million connections every year
• Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free»

When OkCupid launched in 2004, the website promised to remain forever free to everyone, and it has pretty much stuck to that. Messaging is 100% free and unlimited on this dating site and app, and you can like and favorite as many profiles as you want without subscribing as an A-List member.

OkCupid has a mutual matching system to help singles filter their inboxes, but it still allows singles to message anyone they like. Anyone can send a quick greeting here; however, the message will only appear in the other person’s inbox if/when they like you back. Until then, it’ll appear to them as a notification on your dating profile. It’s a good way to get someone’s attention and make new friends.

The mantra at OkCupid is “Dating deserves better,” and that’s what this number-crunching website and app aim to deliver. Every week, over 50,000 dates are planned on OkCupid, and you don’t need a paid membership to join in the fun on this flirtatious, inclusive, and quirky community.

Plenty of Fish prides itself on being one of the best dating sites for conversations. It supports 100% free and unlimited messaging for over 120 million monthly users in 20 countries. Since its launch in 2003, Plenty of Fish has developed a science-based matching system that has proven successful.

• Free registration, searches, and messaging
• The Chemistry Test creates a compatibility framework
• Over 1 billion messages sent per month
• Browse Plenty of Fish profiles 100% free»

Plenty of Fish (aka POF) is another free dating platform where communication doesn’t cost a thing. It offers an open-ended space where anything can happen and dates are up for grabs.

The POF community is full of activity with millions of messages being exchanged every day. The site sees over 4 million views per day, and it makes over 57 million new potential matches each week. “Because of POF, I met the love of my life,” said Courtney in a testimonial.

The abundance of free features on Plenty of Fish has attracted budget-conscious daters of all stripes. Mingling in a dating pool of 150 million profiles can be overwhelming, but the online dating site’s search filters can help you narrow things down quite a bit. Just be on the lookout for suspicious characters and fake profiles because the downside of free, unlimited chatting is that sometimes catfishers or scammers can show up in your inbox.

In 2012, Tinder pioneered a swiping-based match system that empowered singles to connect with dates who liked them back. Tinder users can message their mutual matches for free on this fast-paced dating app. Since its launch, Tinder has created over 60 billion matches worldwide.

• Supports active daters in 190+ countries
• The swiping system creates over 12 million matches per day
• Tinder Plus members have unlimited likes and 5 Super Likes
• Browse Tinder profiles 100% free»

You’ve heard of Tinder, right? It’s only the world’s most popular dating app and the creator of #SwipeLife. In 2012, Tinder took the dating world by storm by introducing a clever mutual matching system that has been duplicated by just about every dating site and app these days.

Tinder lets singles decide who they want in the dating scene, and it can be a powerful tool for picking up dates and building relationships. While Tinder may have the reputation of a hookup app, it has actually led to quite a few long-term romances, and some couples have even gotten into a serious relationship or marriage thanks to the free dating app.

Tinder sees over 2 billion views per day, and it leads to over 1.5 million dates per week, and it’s totally free to download, swipe, match, and chat here. What more could you want from a casual hookup app?

Since its launch in 2014, Bumble has positioned itself as one of the queens of the online dating world. The dating app turns gender stereotype on its head by empowering women to make the first move in a conversation with a man. Once you've made that mutual match, you have up to 48 hours to respond and make a connection.

• A feminist dating app puts singles on equal footing
• 60% of Bumble matches turn into dates
• Bumble Bizz and Bumble BFF spark non-romantic connections
• Browse Bumble profiles 100% free»

In 2014, Bumble set itself apart from other swipe-crazy dating apps by putting the needs and interests of women first. The free app has empowered women to make the first move (i.e. send the first message) when matching with men online.

Tech entrepreneur Whitney Wolfe Herd developed this innovative and progressive concept shortly after leaving an executive position at Tinder and striking out on her own. Today, Bumble has become one of the Tinder’s biggest rivals, and it has been widely recognized as “the feminist dating app” for singles seeking relationships, not hookups.

Bumble is a win-win for guys and gals in the dating scene. “Love that I don’t get bombarded with messages,” Cara said in a review. And a male Bumble user named Sidd added that he enjoyed meeting the high-caliber women in his inbox, saying, “Much more accomplished with much less random messages and matches.”

Best 100% Free Senior Dating Sites

The online dating world can be intimating for seniors who are recently divorced or widowed. They’ve been out of the game for a long time, and they may not know how mature dating works these days. Fortunately, senior dating sites and apps can offer a beginner-friendly space to learn, grow, and date again. We trust the following sites to help seniors and make them feel more confident about their romantic futures.

SilverSingles is serious about helping singles over 50 meet one another, and the site doesn't allow anyone under 50 years old to join the network. The secure signup process includes profile verification and fraud detection, so new members must portray themselves accurately to gain access to the platform. By fostering a safe environment, SilverSingles helps men and women meet mature dates in their area.

• An exclusively senior membership base
• Over 800,000 monthly users worldwide
• App available for free on Google Play
• Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free»

SilverSingles has streamlined online dating for a senior audience, and it offers matchmaking that works without putting the user through a lot of hassle and stress.

As an exclusive over-50 dating site, SilverSingles can give singles the opportunity to meet someone special who’s in the same age bracket and looking for a second chance at love

SilverSingles recommends compatible dating profiles (up to seven per day), and it also has advanced search tools that allow singles to identify matches based on their own standards. Premium members can see photos, view their profile visitors, and send unlimited messages on SilverSingles, so you can get the full picture if you subscribe.

OurTime is an over-50 dating site with a lot of helpful features to facilitate friendships and relationships. Senior singles can look for dates themselves using the search tools, or they can view a curated list of matches to find compatible folks. Singles can send likes, flirts, and faves for free, but they have to subscribe to send messages to their online crushes.

• Open to straight, gay, and lesbian singles over 50
• Free match recommendations and conversation starters
• Use Tokens to promote your profile and send virtual gifts
• Browse OurTime profiles 100% free»

The OurTime dating site helps senior singles get to know one another and create solid matches online and offline. It’s free to register an account on OurTime and fill out an in-depth profile about who you are and what you want.

OurTime profiles cover the basics — appearance, age, occupation, education, smoking habits, etc. — but also give singles room to tell their own stories and show a little personality in the In a Nutshell section. Singles can choose to answer fun prompts, including “Go-to karaoke song,” “Do you enjoy cooking?” “The one I am looking for,” and “I’d just like to add.”

It’s free to create your profile, upload photos, search for matches, and send flirts on OurTime. However, you’ll need to sign up for a subscription plan if you plan on messaging anyone here.

Since 2003, SeniorMatch has built its reputation as one of the world's leading senior dating sites. The site offers free communication and searches to help singles over 50 find companionship and love. If you're interested in a mature dating experience, this dating site can meet your needs.

• Doesn't allow members under 45
• Available as a dating app in Google Play
• Dating advice and safety tips shared by senior daters
• Browse SeniorMatch profiles 100% free»

SeniorMatch has been around since 2003, making it one of the oldest dating sites in its niche, and all that experience has made it more efficient and effective. The dating site can help seniors meet pen pals, new friends, local dates, and potential partners in a welcoming and mature setting.

Over 1 million singles have joined SeniorMatch, and the site claims to host over 1.6 million monthly conversations. This affordable site ensures genuine singles can become acquainted without jumping through too many hoops.

If you want proof that SeniorMatch works, you can read through its 36,000 success stories and get a sense of how many people have fallen in love on this platform.

Best 100% Free LGBT Dating Sites

Online dating has become one of the most popular ways for same-sex couples to meet one another. According to a Match.com survey, 56% of LGBTQ+ singles have dated someone they met online. In fact, LGBTQ+ singles use dating apps at about twice the rate of straight singles because it’s easier to identify queer dates and come out as a gay dater online.

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The following gay-friendly dating sites can allow singles to pursue anyone they want and make the most of the dating scene.

Since 1996, MenNation has connected over 93 million men around the globe. This men-only dating site measures its success by the number of conversations and dates it facilitates with its intuitive matching system. Gay men love having a site to call their own, and its helpful features keep members engaged and entertained as they look for a hot date.

• One of the largest gay hookup sites in the world
• Search filters for age, location, physical attributes, and more
• Available in 12 languages and counting
• Browse MenNation profiles 100% free»

MenNation is a men-only hookup site where singles and couples can flirt, match, and solicit sex 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The site offers an anonymous and private forum for guys with sex on the brain. Its one-on-one chats can facilitate intimate encounters and lead gay men to the hot guy of their dreams. All it takes is a like or message to stimulate interest and get something going.

Millions of men are in the MenNation database, and that means a world of opportunities for guys bold enough to enter this sexual terrain.

HER is a women-only (or 'womxn' as the team says) dating app that helps cis, trans, and non-binary identified singles come into their own. This is a strict no-boys-allowed zone. HER encourages LGBTQ+ women to mingle by commenting on photos or events in the Feed, or they can like profiles to initiate a private conversation with a mutual match.

• A quirky and unapologetic womxn-only dating community
• Queer events get users connecting IRL
• The constantly updated Feed facilitates social networking
• Browse HER profiles 100% free»

Designed by a lesbian for singles like her, HER supports a womxn-only dating network that’s friendly, active, and worth your attention.

The dating app is free to download, and free members can browse a newsfeed of profiles, comment on photos or stories, and RSVP to local queer events (everything from parades to picnics). HER fosters a dynamic dating scene where womxn can feel safe, comfortable, and confident — and that means everything to the HER couples around the world.

Over 4 million lesbian, bisexual, queer, and trans womxn have joined HER so far, and we expect that number to grow as more LGBTQ+ people discover the incredible value offered by this upstanding community.

LesbianPersonals.com is powered by Friend Finder Networks, so it encompasses a vast network of sexually active women. The female-friendly dating site allows women, couples, and groups to create a profile and find online and offline romance. With over 2 million women in its community, LesbianPersonals is fast becoming one of the most popular lesbian dating sites around.

• Free membership includes viewing profiles and sending likes
• Exchange revealing photos and videos privately online
• Simple search filters by interests and appearance
• Browse LesbianPersonals profiles 100% free»

LesbianPersonals has basically become the go-to dating space for women with a high sex drive and few inhibitions. The hookup platform is free to join, and you can get a feel for what it has to offer by browsing profiles and sending likes.

The LesbianPersonals membership base includes lesbian singles, lesbian couples, straight couples, and groups, and they’re all looking for a special lady to join them in the bedroom. The fast-paced dating scene has led to hookups, threesomes, and orgies, bringing satisfaction to thousands of horny women out there.

Grindr became the world's first gay geosocial app in 2009, and it continues growing its all-male user base more than a decade later. The app uses real-time GPS data to locate nearby date prospects and give gay and bisexual singles a chance to connect while they're out on the town.

• Social networking for gay, bi, trans, and queer men
• Location-based matches spark instant chemistry
• Grindr Equality advocates for LGBTQ+ interests on the global stage
• Browse Grindr profiles 100% free»

We couldn’t end this list without mentioning Grindr. Since 2009, the gay dating app has become one of the most popular matchmaking tools for men seeking men, and its membership base includes over 27 million profiles in almost every country in the world.

Grindr is free to join, and it has the free matching and chatting features singles need to land a hot date, but some users say upgrading to Grindr XTRA gave them even more options and opportunities on the app. The premium features including additional filters, no banner ads, personalized push notifications, unlimited blocks and favorites, quick-send photos, and viewing up to 600 profiles.

Grindr XTRA Lite is a more cost-efficient one-month subscription. It’ll remove banner ads and allow singles to view up to 300 profiles, and that’s it. Upgrading is optional, and it is possible to make a match with a standard Grindr membership.

Best 100% Free Hookup Sites

Looking for a dating site that’ll give you the most bang for your buck? We’ve got a few good options for your browsing pleasure. These reputable hookup sites have satisfied singles and swingers with a fast-paced interface, sexy membership base, and affordable live messaging tools. Take a look at what they have to offer by reading our reviews.

BeNaughty invites singles to walk on the wild side and explore their sexuality in a fun, free-wheeling environment. This adults-only dating site is full of X-rated content, but users can blur nude photos if they'd prefer to leave some things to the imagination. Premium subscribers get the most bang for the buck because they can send messages, browse incognito, and receive alerts when their messages have been read by someone special.

• Sexually active adults in 10 countries
• Browse the Like Gallery for hot singles
• Stimulate conversation in intimate private messages
• Browse BeNaughty profiles 100% free»

When it comes to hookup sites, BeNaughty is almost always on top. Put simply, the site has a lot of game, and it fosters instant connections and matches between sex-oriented men and women.

BeNaughty users can either search for hot dates by age, location, appearance, ethnicity, and other characteristics, or they can go to the Like Gallery and see which profiles the site recommends based on their preferences. The Like Gallery is a fun way to decide who’s cute and who’s not, creating romantic opportunities with every swipe.

Really in a hurry to hook up with a local man or woman? Then send a mass flirty message to everyone online who meets your search criteria. BeNaughty encourages flirty conversations morning, noon, and night, and it’s never too late to woo someone on this dating website.

In 1996, Friend Finder Networks began harnessing the power of online networking to help adults meet sexually active singles in their area, and it has now grown into a global X-rated phenomenon with over 93 million profiles. Adult Friend Finder provides a safe, anonymous dating platform where singles and swingers can hook up with another.

• Among the largest online sex and swinger communities
• Completely free no-obligation registration
• Live chat rooms and discussion forums open 24/7
• Browse Adult Friend Finder profiles 100% free»

Since its launch in 1997, Adult Friend Finder has surpassed 97 million profiles and brought about a sexual awakening for countless individuals and couples.

The hookup site offers a lot of free forums and chat groups where members can mix things up. The AFF community has sparked more than 14 million group discussions, and it has published over 19 million blog posts full of erotic stories and X-rated content.

Browsing Adult Friend Finder can be an arousing experience, and the excitement doesn’t end online. Many AFF members are actively seeking an sexy playmate for IRL adventures and a casual hookup.

FriendFinder-X specializes in delivering hot dates to your inbox. For the last 20+ years, this hookup site has amassed a huge following around the world and led to countless sexy encounters. Millions of people have created an account and searched for singles, couples, and groups who can satisfy their deepest desires.

• Open to casual daters in the U.S. and abroad
• Free members can browse profiles and watch sexy videos
• Chat anonymously in the forum or private messages
• Browse FriendFinder-X profiles 100% free»

Last of all, FriendFinder-X makes it easy to enjoy a naughty dating experience and woo local hotties without leaving home. The hookup site characterizes itself as a place “where good girls do bad things.”

The anonymous nature of this free casual hookup site probably contributes to the bold and outlandish behavior of FriendFinder-X members. Singles, couples, and groups head to this platform when they want to mix things up and find the object of their desire.

If you’re interested in no-strings-attached sex, you can’t do much better than FriendFinder-X. It’s not completely free, but it is awfully exciting to view an X-rated dating profile and flirt with new people here.

What Is the Number 1 Dating Site

This is obviously debatable, and it depends heavily on who you are and what you’re looking for in the dating scene, but, if you want our opinion, we rank Match.com as the #1 dating site for just about anyone seeking love online.

Why do our dating experts love Match so much? Because we’ve seen it work. The site has serious street cred in the industry and countless love stories to its name.

Match has become a trusted name in the online dating industry by catering to quality singles looking for love and romance. Since 1995, the dating site has developed a time-tested matching system to facilitate deep connections between men and women who share similar goals in life.

• In-depth matching appeals to women with high standards
• Video chat tools help online daters establish a rapport
• An established singles network in 50 countries worldwide
• Browse Match.com profiles 100% free»

Over the last 20 years, Match.com has been responsible for more first dates, relationships, and marriages than any other online dating site, and that makes it the best of the best in our book.

What Is the Best Dating Site for a Serious Relationship?

Beyond a doubt, eharmony has the market cornered when it comes to relationships. The dating site has a time-tested, personality-driven matchmaking system that can seriously save folks a lot of time searching for a soulmate.

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The free dating app isn’t 100% free to use — you need a paid membership to access the chat feature on eharmony — but this is a quality dating space for meeting new people who are authentic and loyal, and that makes it great for serious relationship seekers who are willing to invest in their love lives.

It may take some time to fill out eharmony's 32-dimension personality test, but the results are well worth it. This dating site goes the extra mile to get to know its members and deliver quality matches to their inboxes. Every profile has a compatibility rating to let you know your essential similarities and differences. Plus eharmony has inspired more than 2 million love connections since 2000.

• Designed to satisfy marriage-minded single women
• In-depth compatibility quiz generates high-quality matches
• Personalized Match Preferences on gender, age, income, religion, education, and more
• Browse eharmony profiles 100% free»

Over the last two decades, eharmony has given hope to marriage-minded singles around the world, and it is responsible for bringing over 2 million couples together in the U.S. alone. This is definitely a great place to find your happily-ever-after love story.

What is the Best Dating Site for 50-Year Olds

Silver Singles is our favorite dating site for singles in their 50s. It caters to a mature crowd of singles, and 50-year-olds will actually be the youngsters on this seniors-only network.

The Silver Singles dating site and app offer a completely free membership option so singles can test the waters before diving into the senior dating pool.

SilverSingles offers a secure dating experience for singles of a certain age. Anyone over 50 is welcome to join the network and browse for dates by using the simple search filters and match recommendations. Every month, over 800,000 senior singles join the dating site and start their journey toward love.

• Global membership base of exclusively single seniors
• Free members can browse matches, send smiles, and favorite profiles
• 24/7 online customer service
• Browse SilverSingles profiles 100% free»

Silver Singles has a lot to offer as a free dating site with a premium matchmaking feature to help locate the perfect match. If you’re looking for age-appropriate dates, SilverSingles can introduce you to many singles who share similar backgrounds, experiences, and values.

The Silver Singles dating website and app automatically remove fake profiles from the network, so seniors can set their worries aside when meeting new people through this reputable dating service.

Are There Any Real Dating Sites?

Actually all dating sites are mere figments of your imagination. You’re probably having a fever dream from watching too many rom-coms.

I’m kidding. Yeah, a lot of dating sites are the real deal and can offer real opportunities to meet singles. You can tell a site is legit if it has good reviews (both from customers and third-party reviewers), offers some sort of profile verification system (via email address, social media, etc.), provides contact information for the customer service team (online contact form, email, and/or snail mail), and shares success stories on the site.

We’ve listed many real dating sites on this list already, but we’ll reiterate a few here for you. OkCupid has been around since 2004, and it is responsible for 1 million real-world dates on a weekly basis.

OkCupid inspires dates and relationships by identifying specific areas of compatibility. The dating site and app has an endless questionnaire that allows single men to express who they are and what matters to them. OkCupid uses this treasure trove of information to generate highly accurate match recommendations and compatibility ratings.

• Men can leave a message to anyone they fancy
• A sophisticated match algorithm developed by Harvard math majors
• The site and app facilitate over 50,000 dates every week
• Browse OkCupid profiles 100% free»

Bumble has staked its reputation on authenticity and integrity, and its team doesn’t hesitate to remove unsavory characters from the app. Its serious approach to online dating has helped countless real singles go on real dates and get in real relationships.

Bumble has embraced its role as the world's feminist dating app. The app launched in 2014 with the unique premise that women should send the first message and take the lead in a new romantic relationship. According to Bumble, over 85% of its users are looking for a long-term relationship, and less than 4% are looking for hookups.

• A female-friendly dating environment puts women in control
• Zero tolerance for bullying, misogyny, and rude behavior
• Conversations expire in 24 to 48 hours
• Browse Bumble profiles 100% free»

Even on a trustworthy dating site or app, you should still be on the lookout for the rotten apples that can sometimes slip past the security walls. Trust your instincts as you browse dating profiles online and vet potential matches before you agree to meet in person. Things to look out for include bad grammar, broken English, and pleas for money, gifts, or favors. These are all warning signs that the person you’re talking to isn’t trustworthy and may be trying to con you in a romance scam.

Does Online Dating Really Work?

Yes, online dating really, truly, and honestly can work for singles seeking everything from a casual hookup or a long-term relationship. How can I be so certain? Because I met my boyfriend on a dating app last year, and we couldn’t be happier with how our swiping experience went.

Online dating gives you instant access to a world of romantic possibilities, and it can spark relationships with that perfect match if you play your cards right. If you haven’t had much luck on dating websites and apps so far, maybe try beefing up your dating profile or working on your online conversation skills to up the odds of finding something real.

Over half of never-married adults in the U.S. say they have tried online dating, and 22% of newlyweds in 2019 met their spouse on a dating site or app. Taken as a whole, online dating is one of the most popular ways to meet people nowadays, and singles who embrace that will have more date options to show for their time and effort.

A Free Dating Site Can be Your Ticket to Romance

You can put your wallet away. No need to check your credit limit. The best 100% free dating sites don’t require credit card information upon signup, and they won’t push you to subscribe or upgrade before you’re ready.

The top-rated sites on this list offer a lot of great free features, including matchmaking and messaging, and we firmly believe any of them can get singles off the couch and onto a great date. Just remember, you get what you pay for. You can save your cash on an absolutely free dating site, or you can invest your energy and save time on a premium online dating site — the choice is up to you.

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Whether you’re looking for a short-term romance or a long-term love, the online dating world has plenty of affordable options available 24/7 to help you meet new people and make new friends. Spend wisely!

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