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The 15 best dating sites in the UK
Below you’ll find honest, in-depth comparisons of the very best dating sites in UK. Let’s jump right in!
To present the best dating sites to you, we have tested more than 60 dating sites and apps based on the following criteria:
- User-friendliness
- Features
- Activity
- Seriousness
- Price
For each criterion, we assigned a rating between 0 and 5. A dating site receives a score of 5 stars only if it leaves nothing to be desired in that particular aspect.
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Bad
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Poor
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Good
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Excellent
Additionally, we provided an overall rating for each dating site, reflecting the average of the scores in the various criteria. Therefore, the overall rating considers all five parameters.
Learn more about how we score here.
Below is our overview of the 15 best dating sites. The overall rating is available directly below the logo. If you want to learn more about the evaluation in a specific aspect, simply click “Read review.”
In addition to our own experiences with the respective dating site, our reviews also take into account the experiences of others. We also read reviews from external sources such as Trustpilot to provide a nuanced and credible picture of the user experience.
This article contains affiliate-links.
- 20+ years of experience
- 1.6M people have met their partner on Match
- Leading online matchmaking agency
Target audience:
Everyone
Activity level:
Very high
Largest age group:
18-60 year olds
Target audience
Everyone
Activity level
Very high
Largest age group
18-60 year olds
A trusted brand for meaningful connections
Match.com is one of the most established dating sites in the world boasting that they’ve helped connect over 1.5m on the platform. Over the years, they’ve innovated their product massively, and today, it’s a sleek and powerful matchmaking tool that has stood the test of time. When it comes to a brand you can trust, Match.com is quite frankly unmatchable.
Effort and authenticity leads to success
The focus of Match.com is on longer, detail-rich profiles, where singles can show more of themselves and go into more depth than on other sites. The profile is designed to pull out every aspect of who you are to create a full and nuanced picture of your unique personality as well as personal interests. Creating your profile takes some time, but by going through this process, it makes for a much richer experience when you connect with someone on the site. In the end, it’s well worth the effort.
With longer and more detailed profiles, the filtering and search capabilities are allowed to be much more precise and thereby match people based on more meaningful criteria rather than just the superficial, as is the case on certain other platforms. This is the key thing that sets Match.com apart from the rest.
Honest and efficient matchmaking at a greater scale
By rewarding effort and honesty, Match.com is one of those platforms where you really do get out what you put in. The more authentic information you put into your profile, the greater your chances of success. If you’re looking for a quick and easy option, Match.com isn’t for you. But if you’re willing to put yourself out there, you can be sure that there’s a number of like-minded individuals looking for someone just like you. The scale, on its own, makes it a wonderful choice for most singles.
Pros
- Perfect for finding love
- More than 20 years experience with online dating
- Offers great smartphone app
- Lots of members
Cons
- The profiles are quite in-depth and can take some time to fill out properly
How much does a membership at Match.com cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 1 month | £29.99 / month | £29.99 |
| 3 months | £19.99 / month | £59.97 |
| 6 months | £9.99 / month | £54.94 |
- Intuitive and simple layout
- More than 20 years of experience
- Focuses on lasting, long-term relationships
Target audience:
Serious singles
Activity level:
Very high
Largest age group:
25-54 year olds
Target audience
Serious singles
Activity level
Very high
Largest age group
25-54 year olds
Delivering on the promise of authentic relationships
eharmony is another one of those dating sites that has been through thick and thin and is still standing after 20 years of operation. They remain one of the most established dating sites in the world – and for good reason. They really do deliver on their promise. In fact, they claim that eharmony facilitates a match made in heaven every 14 minutes, so why shouldn’t you be one of those lucky people?
A platform for serious individuals seeking long-term connections
From an operational perspective, eharmony rely heavily on their personality and compatibility tests, which are built directly into the profile experience with the aim of discovering what matters most to you in a relationship. When you sign up, you’ll need to complete these tests, in which there are no right or wrong answers necessarily. Instead, they serve to categorise how you think and what you’re looking for.
A time-effecient and thorough system
Upon completing the tests, the system will process your results, and an algorithm will then match you up with like-minded people with similar values. In this way, eharmony ensures that you’re spending your time effectively. Instead of having to put time and effort into connecting with someone over text-messaging, eharmony does the research for you and pairs you with someone that shares your values and fits your personality. In conclusion, eharmony is one of the best places to find truly authentic relationships.
While it does take a while to get registered and set up your profile, that does also mean that everyone on the site has been screened a bit and that only the truly serious remain. eharmony is definitely a site for people who are looking for something real. It skews towards those looking for long-term relationships, and, in case you’re in search of something more casual, you’d be best served elsewhere.
Pros
- Only for singles who are serious about dating
- Great matchmaking
- Simple and easy to use
- Lots of members in the UK and across the world
Cons
- Registration takes a while
How much does a membership at eharmony cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 6 months | £29.90 / month | £179.40 |
| 12 months | £23.90 / month | £286.80 |
| 24 months | £17.90 / month | £429.60 |
- 85% of members are highly educated
- Advanced matchmaking algorithm
- Only for serious singles
Target audience:
Educated singles
Activity level:
High
Largest age group:
30-55 year olds
Target audience
Educated singles
Activity level
High
Largest age group
30-55 year olds
Connecting educated singles effectively
Elite Singles focuses on connecting singles with a higher education looking for a serious relationship. People using this site are both able to hold a good conversation and intellectually curious in some respect, which is a very important factor to many.
With 3-7 potential match curations each day, Elite Singles boast an efficient and streamlined profile process that filters your matches for you and only delivers the very best of the best. In sharp contrast to other sites, they know how valuable your time is. Instead of serving you large numbers of hit-and-miss matches to go through, Elite Singles helps you separate the wheat from the chaff.
Where intelligence and ambition comes together
Your potential matches are bound to be intellectually stimulating, ambitious, driven, and serious singles who are looking for a long-lasting relationship. In short, you won’t find any casual daters here, and that’s what sets Elite Singles apart from the rest. If intelligence is at the top of your list, then this site should be at the top of your dating site list as well.
The unfortunate part of their selection criteria is that it doesn’t work as well for people who haven’t gone through the traditional educational system. It relies solely on educational credentials, which, as we all know, doesn’t mean everything in this world. Alas, it’s a small price to pay to create a dating space that celebrates brains rather than brawn, and at this moment in time, it’s the only real way to do it at scale.
Pros
- Most members are university educated
- Members are serious about dating
- Profiles are manually verified
- Personality-based matchmaking
Cons
- Not ideal for the casual dater
How much does a membership at EliteSingles cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 3 months | £39.95 / month | £119.85 |
| 6 months | £21.95 / month | £131.70 |
| 12 months | £19.90 / month | £238.80 |
- Mature dating for singles over 50
- Hosts real life events
- Profiles are validated manually
Target audience:
Mature singles
Activity level:
Very high
Largest age group:
50+ year olds
Target audience
Mature singles
Activity level
Very high
Largest age group
50+ year olds
When you’re over 50 and trying to find like-minded singles with similar interests, it can be a rather overwhelming task. That’s what Ourtime set out to help with and they’ve done an incredible job so far. They focus on matching singles who have similar interests but more importantly, similar outlooks on love and life. The objective is to create a safe space, both online and in-person at their events, for real, authentical connections to flourish and bloom.
Fostering authentic connections
Ourtime really does live by the moniker that the best of your life is still to come and after spending a bit of time on the site, you’ll feel the same way. It can open up your horizons to new activities, new people, new conversations that you never would have come across otherwise. And more and more of those are turning into long-term relationships which is very exciting to see. There’s a depth and empathy here that is difficult to find elsewhere. It’s hard to explain but they’ve managed to build a culture where everyone seems to be open and honest about themselves which makes for really great conversation.
Value for serious daters
Ourtime is a bit pricey compared to some others, but we think there is real value for money here if you’re willing to take things seriously and put yourself out there. The paywall creates a self-selected group of those who are willing to dedicate the time and effort to seek real connection. Take the plunge and you never know what you could find!
Pros
- Profiles are verified
- Members are all 50 years and above
- Hosts real life events
- 14-day money back guarantee
- Lots of members
Cons
- The price is above average
How much does a membership at Ourtime cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 1 month | £39.99 / month | £39.99 |
| 3 months | £24.99 / month | £74.97 |
| 6 months | £19.99 / month | £119.94 |
- Dating site for singles over 50
- Matchmaking based on personality
- Safe and secure to use
Target audience:
Mature singles
Activity level:
High
Largest age group:
50+ year olds
Target audience
Mature singles
Activity level
High
Largest age group
50+ year olds
Silver Singles has a wonderful community of singles who are over 50 years old but remain full of vitality and young at heart. If you’re looking for love and companionship for the next stage of your life, then this is a great place to start.
A vibrant community for over 50s
This platform is one of the easiest to use and is incredibly intuitive from start to finish. It strips out much of the fluff you’ll find in other apps and delivers only what needs to be there – list of carefully created matches for you to peruse through at your leisure. These matches are determined through personality compatibility assessments so that you can be assured that there will be something in common right from the start. No more awkward interactions – you can get right down to business.
Streamlined and user-friendly experience
Silver Singles is a fresh take on over-50s dating and we think that you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you experience when you get involved. It’s also a great place to start because the interface is simple and there is no steep learning curve to get started. If you find it difficult to adapt to technology and traverse these apps, this site is the easiest place to start your learning journey. Why hesitate? Those matches are waiting for you.
Pros
- Senior dating for people above 50
- Safe and secure site
- Matchmaking based on personality
- Simple and easy to use
Cons
- Photos are blurred for non-paying members
How much does a membership at SilverSingles cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 3 months | £24.95 / month | £74.85 |
| 6 months | £14.95 / month | £89.70 |
| 12 months | £13.95 / month | £167.40 |
- One of the biggest casual dating sites
- Free premium trial
- Perfect for casual hook-ups
Target audience:
Casual daters
Activity level:
High
Largest age group:
18-44 year olds
Target audience
Casual daters
Activity level
High
Largest age group
18-44 year olds
Casual and exciting
If you’re looking for something with no strings attached, then look no further than C-Date. It’s a platform that prides itself on its safety and anonymity, giving you the peace of mind to look for the date of a lifetime without the baggage of weighted expectations. They have tens of thousands of new singles joining every day which means that the novelty will never run out.
Great for casual hookups
By going on C-Date you know that the people you meet are looking for the same thing as you and this avoids so much of the awkwardness that exists when you’re looking for a casual hookup. Instead of playing games, you can get straight to the point and everyone understands the environment. It’s liberating and, if we’re honest, one of the most exciting online dating sites out there. Every interaction could be the start of an adventure and you can find the perfect partner in crime no matter who you are.
If you’re looking for your soulmate then you won’t be in luck here. But if it’s just fun that you’re after, C-Date is sure to deliver it in buckets. You’ll be connected to open-minded, interesting people who share your taste for casual dating experiences that don’t have any strings attached. Feeling spontaneous? Let the next adventure begin.
Pros
- Perfect for casual hookups
- Free premium trial
- Fairly cheap to use
- Free to use for women
Cons
- You probably wont find your soulmate here
How much does a membership at C-Date cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 1 month | £9.90 / month | £9.90 |
| 3 months | £13.30 / month | £39.90 |
| 6 months | £4.98 / month | £29.90 |
- Casual dating site
- Easy and quick registration
- Mainly for people seeking an affair
Target audience:
Casual daters
Activity level:
Medium
Largest age group:
18-44 year olds
Target audience
Casual daters
Activity level
Medium
Largest age group
18-44 year olds
If your marriage and/or sex life is not what it used to be and you’re seeking a discrete affair online, then Victoria Milan is the place to go. It’s the leading dating site for married and attached people who want something private and casual on the side. They’ve worked incredibly hard on ensuring anonymity, verified profiles, and privacy – so that you can have complete peace of mind.
Rediscover passion discreetly at Victoria Milan
Victoria Milan has proven incredibly popular with millions of people worldwide and it continues to gather steam. People who have used it often talk about how it has revived their love life once again, giving them that magical feeling that unfortunately isn’t present in their marriage anymore. The site doesn’t judge why you are on it, but just does what it can to help people uncover the passion that they are missing in their lives. Everyone on there is very clear about what they’re looking for and that honesty is hard to find in a safe environment. Victoria Milan delivers that in spades, cutting through the games and being unapologetic about what it is. It’s a breath of fresh air, really.
For discrete affairs
Victoria Milan is not for everyone, of course, and many are uncomfortable with the idea. But for many, it is a lifesaver to rediscover the spark and connection that they have lost. It’s full of passion, spontaneity, and verve – all of which make the site in a league of its own.
Pros
- For people looking for an affair or a casual hookup
- Registration is quick and easy
Cons
- Promotes adultery
- Not ideal for finding the love of your life
How much does a membership at
Victoria Milan cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 3 months | £19.99 / month | £59.97 |
| 6 months | £14.99 / month | £89.94 |
| 12 months | £9.99 / month | £119.88 |
- Dating for Christian singles
- 10 day free trial for new members
- Active since 1999
Target audience:
Christian singles
Activity level:
High
Largest age group:
18-55 year olds
Target audience
Christian singles
Activity level
High
Largest age group
18-55 year olds
Finding a partner with the same values as you is the most important part of any matchmaking service, and if your Christianity is important to you, then using a site like Christiancafe.com is an absolute no-brainer. The site is specifically targeted for Christian singles who want to meet someone who shares the same respect and love for God as they do.
Faith-centered connections for Christian singles
The Christian dating site has been around since 1999 and has shown great results for all those years in connecting people around their shared faith. The site is very much focused on dating for marriage, which is to be expected, which means that everyone on there is looking for serious relationships without games. You’ll never have to doubt intentions when on the site, you can rest assured knowing that your values are going to be aligned. In addition, the site is Christian owned as well which means that everything about it is going to be built with that way of life engrained into it. It’s a very wholesome experience and carries the sort of respect that some other sites don’t.
Worthwhile investment for serious Christians
Christian Café is quite expensive when compared to other sites, but when you consider the type of people that you will find there, it’s probably a worthwhile investment if you’re looking for a serious long-term partner. They also have a very generous free trial that allows you to test drive the platform for a little bit and see if you like it. So, there really is no risk here. If finding a Christian partner is a non-negotiable for you, then try the platform free and see how it goes. We think that if you give it a try, you might just find that the investment is worth it because of the quality of Christian singles on the site.
Pros
- Singles share same Christian values and beliefs
- Generous free trial to test-drive the platform
- Self-selects for people looking for serious relationships
Cons
- Expensive monthly subscription
- Only suitable for believing Christians
How much does a membership at ChristianCafe cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 1 month | £32.83 / month | £32.83 |
| 3 months | £17.02 / month | £51.07 |
| 6 months | £13.38 / month | £80.27 |
- For singles who are serious about dating
- Personality based matchmaking
- Available in 38 different countries
Target audience:
Serious singles
Activity level:
High
Largest age group:
30-55 year olds
Target audience
Serious singles
Activity level
High
Largest age group
30-55 year olds
Science meets matchmaking
Be2 brings science to the art of matchmaking and doesn’t apologise for it. In fact, they believe that it’s exactly what the dating world has been missing. And who are we to disagree? Their rigorous personality assessments feed proprietary algorithms that have shown tremendous success in facilitating authentic connections between people with serious intentions. It’s not about the superficial here – it’s about what truly matters.
Find your perfect match at Be2
What’s quite special about Be2 is that, besides pairing you with high potential matches based on your personality, you can actually learn an awful lot about yourself by going through their personality assessment. It acts as a mirror for self-awareness, which, in a world where we so seldom take the time to look inward, can be worth its weight in gold. When we’re looking for a partner, we have to first understand who we are so that we can bring our best selfs to the table. The personality tests at Be2 are a great way to do this, and that alone makes this site unique and worth checking out.
More than an ordinary dating site
Admittedly, the price is higher than you might expect, but that’s what it takes to put together the algorithmic matching that makes the site stand out. There is a lot of technology behind the scenes here, which doesn’t come cheap, and so you’re paying for much more than just a mere dating site. In conclusion, we don’t think you’ll regret giving it a go – if only for the chance to get to know yourself on a greater level. Besides, is there actually anything more attractive than a partner who knows themself? We don’t think so.
Pros
- Algorithm based matchmaking
- Members are serious about their search for love
- Partner suggestions are based on personality
Cons
- The price is above average
- Profile pictures are blurred unless you become a paid member
How much does a membership at Be2 cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 3 months | £39.99 / month | £119.97 |
| 6 months | £29.99 / month | £179.94 |
| 12 months | £19.99 / month | £239.88 |
- Dating site for academics
- Personality test
- High success rate
Target audience:
Ambitious singles
Activity level:
Medium
Largest age group:
35-55 year olds
Target audience
Ambitious singles
Activity level
Medium
Largest age group
35-55 year olds
Meaningful connections
Just like the name suggests, Academic Singles is a dating site for intellectuals. They believe that intellectual curiosity is one of the most attractive qualities in a person, and if you think so too, then this site is a great option for you. At Academic Singles, everyone is looking for conversation and engagement that goes beyond shallow small talk and is open to discussing things in much more depth than what you’ll find elsewhere.
Find your intellectual equal at Academic Singles
Using a scientifically designed questionnaire, Academic Singles will delicately craft your profile with emphasis on creating a model of who you are and what makes you unique. They then use that model to match you with others who are compatible with everything that you stand for. It’s a targeted, precise approach that wades through the noise and delivers you only the very best, hand-picked matches for your unique personality. All in all, it’s a really powerful service. Add on to that the video call function and you have all you need to find that special someone who you’re going to connect with on a personal, emotional, and psychological level. If intelligence is your main criteria, this really is the place for you.
Fairly expensive but comes with a free trial
The price for using this platform is quite steep, but fortunately, you can get a free trial that lets you take the personality assessment and receive your first round of suggested matches. In other words, you can see just what you’re getting yourself into before having to pull out your credit card. At the end of the day, you’re investing in your future here, and in many regards, the right partner makes all the difference in the world. It’s impossible to put af price on finding the perfect match, and to be frank, there are definately worse ways to spend your hard-earned cash.
Pros
- Prioritizes intellectual curiosity above looks
- Personality test provides well-curated matches just for you and your personality
- Free trial can give you a sense of what you’re getting into
Cons
- Expensive monthly subscription
- Ignores those who don’t have traditional educational qualifications
How much does a membership at
Academic Singles cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 3 months | £39.99 / month | £119.97 |
| 6 months | £29.99 / month | £179.94 |
| 12 months | £19.99 / month | £239.88 |
- Nearly 1 million members
- Uses a scientific personality test
- Personality based matchmaking
Target audience:
Serious singles
Activity level:
Low
Largest age group:
35-55 year olds
Target audience
Serious singles
Activity level
Low
Largest age group
35-55 year olds
Online dating for people in their 40s and 50s
If you’re in your 40s or 50s and thinking about hitting the open dating market, you’ve probably come to realize that your options are limited. After all, you have a career to worry about, obligations to family and friends, and maybe even kids to take care of. So where do you meet people in 2023? Online, of course! But do you go with a mainstream dating site that caters to singles of all age groups or a niche dating site like Single40sDating?
Find like-minded singles at the same stage in life
When you choose Single40sDating, you get a platform that’s dedicated to people mostly in their 40s and 50s. So if you don’t want to scroll or swipe through endless potential matches that aren’t around the same age as you, Single40sDating might be the dating site for you. With nearly 1 million members located within the UK, there is plenty of fish in the sea to snatch up. There’s also a balanced ratio of women to men, which isn’t all that common in the online dating world.
Daily partner recommendations
When it comes to features, Single40sDating doesn’t fall short of the big guys such as eharmony and Match. You can still enjoy a search function, recommended matches, personality matchmaking, as well as text and video chat. We actually like the video chat feature, especially for singles in their 40s, because it presents an opportunity to go on video dates even if you have a busy schedule. While the monthly cost isn’t the cheapest, it shouldn’t break your bank.
Pros
- Designed for over 40s seeking something long-term
- Scientific matching process based on personality
- Offers advice and tips to help you find dates
Cons
- No application available yet
- Minimum 3-month membership plan
How much does a membership at Single40sDating cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 3 months | £39.99 / month | £119.97 |
| 6 months | £29.99 / month | £179.94 |
| 12 months | £19.99 / month | £239.88 |
- For open-minded singles in their 30s
- Intelligent matching based on personality
- Anonymous, reliable and safe searching
Target audience:
Serious singles
Activity level:
Low
Largest age group:
25-45 year olds
Target audience
Serious singles
Activity level
Low
Largest age group
25-45 year olds
If you’re in your 30s and looking to date people in your same age range, Single30sDating could be the dating platform for you. Whether you are familiar with dating sites or not, Single30sDating makes it easy to register, create a profile, and start browsing and chatting with other members. That’s because the website provides a chatbox to help walk you through the process and answer questions about your ideal partner and information regarding your personality and lifestyle.
Finding matches made easy
Because Single30sDating uses an algorithm to match you with people based on your personality and personal preferences, you don’t have to worry about scrolling through thousands of matches. In our experience, we were presented with several pages of potential matches with multiple similarities based on the questionnaire every member has to fill out. However, it’s difficult to know whether there are a limited number of matches because of how tailored the matching system is, or if this young dating site just doesn’t have that many members to begin with.
Premium features for serious daters
To take advantage of all the features Single30sDating has to offer, you have to pay for the premium service. However, this is normal for a serious dating site that caters to a specific demographic. Most members are established professionals in their 30s, so the cost of the service shouldn’t be a major issue. Plus, for what you get, it’s plenty worth it. You can see your top match each day, browse members, shuffle through profile pics, and see who’s currently online. When it comes to contacting proposed matches, you can send messages and even request a video call.
Pros
- Easy to sign up and navigate the site
- Reveals your top match
- See who’s currently online
Cons
- Pricey premium package
- Requires premium plan for top features
- Fewer members than mainstream dating sites
How much does a membership at Single30sDating cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 3 months | £39.99 / month | £119.97 |
| 6 months | £29.99 / month | £179.94 |
| 12 months | £19.99 / month | £239.88 |
- Dating for singles 50 years and above
- Scientific personality test
- Offers video calls
Target audience:
Mature singles
Activity level:
Medium
Largest age group:
50+ year olds
Target audience
Mature singles
Activity level
Medium
Largest age group
50+ year olds
In the world of mature dating, TrueLifePartner stands out as potentially the most wholesome of the lot. They have well over a million members now and have proven themselves as one of the safest and most reliable ways to find singles above the age of 50 who share your interests and worldview.
Wholesome connections for mature daters
Every person on TrueLifePartner is in the senior age gap and can share their life experiences while also keeping things fresh as they look for new romantic partners. What sets this site apart is their new video calling feature which has made things even more interesting, allowing matches to test their chemistry before committing to a real in-person date. This combined with their personality compatibility features means that you’ll be sure to meet people who could truly become a true-life partner. Cheesy, but true. There’s only so much you can pick up from someone in a text exchange, but when you get a chance to talk on a video call, you can pick up body language, tone, and personality in a way that just isn’t possible with most sites. Essentially, it’s a dating site for those who hate texting on dating sites.
Unlock the power of premium membership
You’re going to need to get the premium membership in order to send any messages, but in our humble opinion, it’s well worth it. The premium version opens up the whole database to you and allows you to jump on your first video call in no time. Your person is just a couple clicks away. Grab back control of your dating life with this incredible service.
Pros
- Perfect for singles over 50 looking for love
- Matchmaking is based on a scientific personality test
- Video calls
Cons
- Premium membership is required to send messages
How much does a membership at TrueLifePartner cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 1 month | £19.99 / month | £19.99 |
| 3 months | £39.99 / month | £119.97 |
| 6 months | £29.99 / month | £174.94 |
- Behavioral Matchmaking technology
- More than 12 years of experience
- High member activity
Target audience:
Everyone
Activity level:
High
Largest age group:
25-34 year olds
Target audience
Everyone
Activity level
High
Largest age group
25-34 year olds
Zoosk is quick, nimble, and exciting – just like the young singles that it attracts to its site. They have a huge platform of over 40m users worldwide and have learned a lot about matchmaking from all that data – experience that they can put to work in finding you a more casual short-term relationship or even a built-to-last long-term one.
Popular and powerful mobile app
The biggest strength of Zoosk is their powerful mobile app which remains the key foundation for their service. In lots of measures, they dominate the mobile dating space bringing the masses of data at their fingertips to bear on providing a truly one-of-a-kind dating experience. It’s fast-paced, vibrant and take your breath away if you let it. The app experience itself can be quite addictive actually. They’ve clearly taken a leaf out of the book of some of the largest consumer apps out there and have created a dating experience that feels fresh and unique. This brings lots of people back on a very frequent basis which leads to a robust and high-activity conversational ecosystem.
Caters to young singles
The key focus for Zoosk is young singles in their 20s and 30s so keep that in mind if you’re going to give it a chance. But if you are in that bracket and are looking for a modern approach to the online dating world, then Zoosk is your best bet. Throw caution to the wind and you never know what you might find. Just be careful that it doesn’t take over your life, it’s that much fun.
Pros
- Great for finding short-term or long-term relationships
- 40 million users worldwide
- Unique features and a great mobile app
Cons
- A bit superficial
- Mostly targets young people
How much does a membership at Zoosk cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 1 month | £29.99 / month | £29.99 |
| 3 months | £20.00 / month | £60.00 |
| 6 months | £15.00 / month | £90.00 |
- 52% of users are graduates
- Compatibility-based online dating service
- Basic membership is free
Target audience:
Serious singles
Activity level:
Low
Largest age group:
28-55 year olds
Target audience
Serious singles
Activity level
Low
Largest age group
28-55 year olds
A data-driven matchmaking approach
Parship is a really unique dating site because of its proprietary matchmaking algorithm that they call ‘The Parship Principle’. This tool takes the results of a personality test you take on joining the site and analyses 32 different traits using 136 different rules to form a data-driven profile that can then be used to find your perfect match. It all sounds very complicated, I know.
But you don’t have to worry about how it works behind the scenes. Essentially, what it does is that it applies some science to the filtering process so that the selection can be deeper than the surface level of what we normally show on dating sites. It goes beyond the superficial and aims to connect personalities together who are going to click and be in it for the long haul. We’ve seen data play such a big role in every industry in recent years, and this is just a peek at what might be possible in online dating. The advanced pattern recognition and matching criteria makes this a really popular dating site that might just introduce you to a perfect match that normally you wouldn’t even consider. It helps to sidestep your preconceived notions.
Small but growing memberbase
Parship doesn’t have the scale of some of the other sites just yet, it is growing really fast and looks like it is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. If you believe in the power of data (and you should) then Parship could be a great opportunity to put that to the test in your love life. This is just the start of this data-driven journey. What have you got to lose?
Pros
- Great for finding a serious and long-term relationship
- Matching based on a unique system called 'Parship Principle'
- Available in 13 countries worldwide
Cons
- Few members when compared with Match.com and eharmony
How much does a membership at Parship cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 3 months | £29.90 / month | £89.70 |
| 6 months | £19.90 / month | £119.40 |
| 12 months | £14.90 / month | £178.80 |
FAQ – Dating sites
What dating site should I choose?
This all depends on what you’re looking for. Every site has its unique target market, preferred methodology, and culture. Once you have a clear understanding of what you’re looking for in your dating life – then you can use the comparisons on this site to select the best suited one for you.
In broad strokes, the best mainstream options for most people are match.com and eHarmony.
If you’re a senior and looking to date people over 60 then you’ll be best served with Ourtime, Silver Singles, or TrueLifePartner.
For more casual dating you would most likely want to use Victoria Milan, RichMeetBeautiful, or C-Date.
Lastly, if you want to make use of advanced matchmaking algorithms then try out be2, Zoosk, or Academic Singles.
But as always, each one is going to have a slightly different feel – so do your research and look at your options to find the right one for you.
What are the best dating sites in the UK?
‘Best’ is a tricky word. Every site has its own pros and cons and your experience is going to vary based on your circumstances and expectations.
Here on the site we’ve done everything we can to break down all the various options and give you the information you need to choose the best possible site for your needs. But, at the end of the day – the success you have on these sites is going to depend on how you use them and how much effort you put in to make it work.
Every site we’ve reviewed here has a strong network of people for you to meet and as long as you are authentic and real, while staying true to the values you care about, you can make it work. Don’t get stuck trying to find the perfect site, just get out there!
How do dating sites work?
Every dating site is different, but the basic principles is that you set up a profile that describes who you are, what interests you have, and what you’re looking for. The site will house that information in a database that is continually updating as people join the service. Then the site will go out to all its other singles and identify potential matches based on the criteria that matters to you. This can be through simple interest matching, or a complicated algorithm that takes into account a wide range of variables. This methodology differs per site.
Once you have those matches, then it’s up to you to connect with those matches and see if you get along. You can message them privately and interact for as long as you’d like to find out if you think there is something there. If you don’t think there is – it’s no hard feelings, but if you do – then you’re off to the races.
How do I start a conversation on a dating site?
The best way to start a conversation is to comment on a mutual interest that both of you share. Dig through their profile and see if there is something that can be used as a good icebreaker.
If you can’t find one of those, ask the other person a question about themselves and show genuine interest in their answer. Being selfless in this way is often the start of good conversations and shows that you really care about the person you want to interact with. Plus, people love to talk about themselves, so it really is a win-win.
Keep in mind thought that your question should not be overly generic, but rather should show that you’ve taken the time to craft something interesting that is going to set the tone for the conversation to follow.
How do I get a response?
Put some careful thought into your messages and interactions. Remember most people are chatting with a number of people at the same time and so you really need to stand out in order to get responses. Try and use humour and your unique personality quirks to elicit a response, don’t just follow the path of least resistance.
It’s also important that you look at the person’s profile that you’re messaging and craft your messages for them specifically. Can you identify something that they care about from their profile and ask them something about that? People are much more likely to respond if the message is personalized and relevant to them in isolation. It shows that you care and genuinely want to build a connection with them.
What should I say or write?
We always encourage people to be as honest and authentic as possible. People can spot inauthenticity from a mile away. Be clear and upfront about what you’re looking for, what matters to you, and who you are – and you’ll have much better success rates than trying to be someone you’re not.
Also, remember that you’re competing with thousands of other people on the site so you want show how you are unique. Don’t stick to the standard cliches and small talk that can get boring quickly. Try to show your character and personality through your conversations and have fun with it! Instead of rushing your texts, try to spend some time ensuring that they are interesting and full of colour – as this will result in a better result all round.
What should I write about myself?
Don’t make things up. Be honest and upfront about yourself because that works much better. Many people try to craft an image that they think will be attractive to potential suitors, but that falls apart when they realize that you were putting on a mask. Don’t do that.
Stick to those things that make you who you are. Think about what makes you unique, brings you alive, makes you tick – and those are the sorts of things that are great to write about. Your passion will show right through and become the reason why people want to interact.
The more personal you can make it, the better. Avoid the generic and go for what makes you who you are.
Who uses dating sites?
Dating sites have become incredible popular in recent years and it’s probably safe to say that the vast majority of singles are on some form of dating site – especially when it comes to technology-savvy people.
So, you’ll find a wide range of personalities, backgrounds, and worldviews coming onto these sites to look for like-minded people who share their values. If you’re single and are looking for a partner, then getting on these dating sites is a no-brainer.
What does it cost to use dating sites?
Every dating site has a different cost structure depending on the features and functionality you want to unlock. Most of the sites have a free version which allows you to jump in the deep end and try things out, but might put certain features behind a paywall.
The best way to approach things is to identify the sites that are most suitable for you (based on our comparisons above) and then go to those sites directly to see the costs for each one.
Are dating sites safe to use?
For the most part, yes. The sites themselves take safety very seriously and so you can rest assured that they’re doing everything they can to protect your identity, personal information, and anything else you share.
However, you must keep in mind that when you’re interacting with strangers over the internet, there will always be some that are looking to take advantage of you. It’s well-known that there are people who go on these sites to extract money from people, or steal identities or a range of other cyber-crime. The only way to guard against this is to keep a certain level of scepticism and look after yourself. Don’t let your emotion get in the way of your judgment.
Trust your gut intuitions and don’t interact with anyone who you don’t think has the right intentions. And never, ever send money to someone who is talking to you on these sites.
When should I meet up with people from dating sites?
You should only look to meet up with people from dating sites once you’ve built a bit of a connection virtually and you’ve made sure that you both have the same intentions. Take your time here and don’t rush into it. Spend the time getting to know each other and sharing enough about yourselves to make sure you’re not wasting each other’s time. If you are compatible and would like to take things to the real world, be sure to do so in a public place to keep it safe and comfortable for both of you.