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The 12 best dating sites in Northern Ireland
From gorgeous views to rich historic places, there are tons of places to go on dates in Northern Ireland. Not to mention all the pubs, sporting events, and green walks. Finding somewhere to go on dates isn’t the problem—it’s finding them that’s the hard part. But that’s where online dating comes to save the day. In modern times, it can be difficult to meet people to go on dates with, especially with someone attractive and like-minded.
But online, you see what they look like and learn a little bit about them before you even make contact—it’s like cheating! But with so many dating sites out there, how do you choose the best one? Luckily for you, we put together a list of the best dating sites in Northern Ireland to help you make an informed decision.
Hopefully, by the end of this read, you’ll know exactly which one to choose!
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 12 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.
- 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
Experienced site focusing on compatibility
eharmony has over 20 years of experience connecting singles all over the world, including Northern Ireland. The idea behind eharmony is that you spend less time looking at profiles and more time talking to compatible singles. They do this with their unique proprietary personality test and compatibility matching system to match singles by criteria. Ranked from best to worst, your match list shows you compatible singles instead of the roulette-style matching system Tinder and other dating sites employ.
Many features helping singles connecting
eharmony provides a number of communication tools to help you make first contact with that person who caught your eye. You can use their icebreakers to help initiate a conversation. You can send a smile to let them know you’re interested. You can also send a regular message or even go on a video date. By the way, you can take advantage of every feature on both the app and the desktop website.
Tips and tricks for dating in Northern Ireland
On eharmony’s Northern Ireland web page, they give advice on how to meet singles in your area. Furthermore, they give you first date ideas, such as St. George’s Market in Belfast, a picnic at the summit of Slieve Binnian, a tour of Titanic Quarter, or a walk on the Gobbins Cliff Path. With so many tools and features, you shouldn’t have any issues making contact on eharmony.
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 |
- 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
World-renowned dating site with huge scale
Chances are you’ve already heard about Match.com. This dating site and application have been introducing singles to each other for almost as long as the internet has been around. Still today, millions of users in over 50 countries are using Match.com to find that special someone, and in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland, singles can even register for free and start browsing profiles.
Discover singles for free and experience live events in Belfast
To unlock messaging features, you will need to pay for a subscription. But at the very least, you can assess whether Match.com is right for you before paying a single penny. Besides discovering people online to chat with, Match.com also features socials and matching events in Belfast and throughout the United Kingdom. This means that you will have the opportunity to meet online or in person, depending on the type of person you are.
Rely on compatibility-based matching or go searching yourself
With Match.com, there are several ways of finding someone to date. Based on the personality test you fill out at the start, you are provided with personal matches on a daily basis that correspond with your preferences. All you have to do is either like or pass on each profile, and once you and another person have mutually liked each other, you can start chatting. Furthermore, you can search for matches on your own by refining your search to find someone that interests you.
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 |
- A place for like-minded readers
- Matching singles since 2014
- Uses two-way matching system
Target audience:
Serious singles
Activity level:
Medium
Largest age group:
20-60 year olds
Target audience
Serious singles
Activity level
Medium
Largest age group
20-60 year olds
Local dating service with as much privacy as you like
Belfast Telegraph Dating has been connecting like-minded readers in Belfast and Northern Ireland since 2014. Members can find love or friendship on the site, with most users interested in genuine, long-term relationships. Anyone can sign up anonymously by choosing a username, and no private information is shared with other users. Even when messages are exchanged, no first or last names are shared unless you choose to share that information.
Attractive features with financial upsides
We like Belfast Telegraph Dating because they let you sign up, fill out your profile, upload photos, and browse other profiles for free. You can also receive messages as well as send and receive one-liners. It’s not until you want to send a personalised message that you actually need to purchase a subscription. And even then, the premium subscription rates are reasonably priced compared to other dating sites.
Protective of their members
Belfast Telegraph Dating is recognised by the Online Dating Association, which means they must maintain certain standards and protect their members. If you’re uncomfortable with fellow members being able to see your profile, you can simply go to settings and hide your profile. You can also rest assured that nearly all profiles are authentic because their staff checks and approves every uploaded photo.
Pros
- Community of like-minded readers
- Ideal for finding either relationships or friendship
- Genuine singles with high standards
Cons
- Fewer members than mainstream dating sites
- Must purchase a membership to unlock messaging features
How much does a membership at Belfast Telegraph Dating cost?
| Duration | Price | Total |
| 1 month | £28.00 / month | £28.00 |
| 6 months | £13.33 / month | £79.98 |
| 12 months | £10.50 / month | £126 |
- 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
Dating for singles with successful careers
With around 100,000 singles in Belfast alone, there are plenty of dating sites vying for attention. One of those is EliteSingles, a dating site for young professionals with above average education. These are single people that have found financial success through hard work and dedication to their careers and are looking for a partner with similar priorities. According to EliteSingles, 85% of its members have obtained higher degrees.
Matchmaking based on five factor personality assessment
To register for EliteSingles and create a profile, you will have to take a 30-minute personality assessment that’s modelled after a Five Factor Model theory. Those five dimensions are openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. The personality assessment will help EliteSingles’ algorithm find seven quality matches for you each day. Also, you will be able to match with singles and receive messages free of charge.
The many advantages of their premium membership
To really get the most out of EliteSingles, you will have to upgrade to the premium membership. This gives you unlimited messaging capabilities, full photo viewing ability, and enables you to meet more matches. EliteSingles subscribers tend to prefer matching with other paying members because they then know that they are taking the dating site more seriously than free members. You can also search for additional members by customising your own preferences.
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
Mature dating based on informed decisions
Looking for like-minded singles over 50 in Northern Ireland? Ourtime understands that online dating can be intimidating and challenging at any age, especially for singles at 50 and up. That’s why the profiles on Ourtime are detailed and comprehensive, which means that you can make a more informed decision when choosing who to contact. In other words, they don’t want you to waste your time on singles you don’t have common interests with.
Detailed profiles with extensive information
So how does it work? You start by creating your profile and providing lots of details about yourself. Begin with an introduction that tells a little about who you are and include a couple of icebreakers. Then share your interests, hobbies, passions, and qualities that you would like to see in a partner. Make sure to also include your faith or any other types of potential dealbreakers. Finally, the last thing you’re going to do is upload a flattering photo or two of yourself.
One step at a time
To match with other singles on Ourtime, you will be presented with one profile at a time. You then have the option to like or pass on each profile you’re shown, and once you and another member have mutually liked each other, you can start conversing. Alternatively, you can choose to search for members by selecting filters to narrow down your search. Once matched, you can also set up virtual video dates in addition to sending messages.
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
Long-term companionships based on personality test
SilverSingles is a dating site and app designed for singles at 50 and up looking for long-term companionship. Once you sign up, you can fill out a personality test that helps the dating site find you compatible partners. There is also a member directory in case you would like to search for other members yourself. You can narrow down your search results by selecting certain filters. Most people you’ll meet in Northern Ireland are divorcees, widowers, and the recently single, many with older kids.
Free version available but presumably not sufficient
With the standard membership, you’re limited in what you can do on the site. However, you’re still able to create an account, complete the personality test, view profiles, and send “Smiles.” If you want more out of SilverSingles, you will have to purchase the premium subscription. This will allow you to view all profile photos, see who visited your profile, communicate unlimitedly, and view your personality profile.
Mostly educated singles with serious intensions
While most of SilverSingles’ members are in their 50s, you can still find younger singles in their 30s and 40s who are looking to date older people. Most users are interested in long-term relationships and spending the rest of their lives enjoying each other’s company. You’ll also find that the majority of members are highly educated, with 80% having a university degree.
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 |
- 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
Millions of members interested in having an affair
With 9 million anonymous members and counting, Victoria Milan has the largest online community of affair-seeking members. These are people that are married or attached and looking to spice up their lives by having affairs with other married or attached members. There are also younger users on the site that are single and looking for a married or attached person to have casual encounters with.
Freedom to explore your options with complete discretion
The reason that people join Victoria Milan is to keep their sexless marriages alive and find exciting relationships. Victoria Milan ensures guaranteed discretion and privacy with 256-bit top-level SSL security and the ability to use their anonymity tool to stay completely anonymous. This means that you don’t have to worry that people you know will find out about your unfaithfulness.
Great chances of finding a discrete affair near your location
Victoria Milan finds you other members based on your location, and with 53% women and 47% men, the platform gives everyone a great chance to find what they’re looking for. Every day, the site attracts 16,000 new members and create 20,000 matches around the world, which means that you can have discreet dates with anyone anywhere — even Northern Ireland! Victoria Milan’s advanced search and matching system is always working hard to find you someone nearby.
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 |
- 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
Personalised matching based on compatibility
With nearly a million users and an even ratio of men to women, Be2 is a great place for singles to find long-term relationships and love. They provide a personalised matching experience free of charge that lets you see who’s available in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland. In addition, when you visit each profile, you will even be able to see how compatible and similar you are in percentage.
Comprehensive personality tests creating love at first sight
Be2 is not a swipe left or right dating site. Instead, you will have to fill out a comprehensive personality test that Be2 uses to find like-minded singles. When presented with matches, you have the option to answer yes or no to the question “Is it love at first site?”. If both of you answer yes, a match has been made and you can start communicating. Additionally, you can search for members and send them a like or chat invite.
Video call dates bringing more excitement to the table
A new feature offered by Be2 is the video call date. This, along with the messaging feature, is part of the premium membership. Without the membership, you are limited to browsing profiles and liking other members, which doesn’t exactly help you go on dates, although it does help you get to know the site and see who’s using the platform. That should be enough information to help you decide for yourself whether Be2 is worth the squeeze.
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
Dating for academics only
The name pretty much says it all — this dating site is for singles that care about their education level and want to date people on the same level as them. Academic Singles is a niche dating app with an estimated 200,000 members in the United Kingdom. It’s difficult to say how many of those members are from Belfast or around Northern Ireland. Fortunately though, they do allow you to sign-up, make a profile, and see other profiles in your area.
Pairing like-minded singles through test results
Like most of the dating sites reviewed here, Academic Singles take the information you give them during the personality test to match you with like-minded singles. You also have the option to narrow down your results by using the advanced search filter. If you like someone they recommended or someone you have found on your own, the only way to send a personalised message is by signing up for a monthly subscription.
Premium membership the way to go
The fee-based service allows you to view everyone’s photos, send and receive unlimited messages, read all your messages, see who visited your profile, and add users to your favourites list. Furthermore, you can set up video call dates so that you can get to know someone before meeting them in person. In the end, there are many advantages of joining the platform as a paying member.
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
Dating for singles around 40
Mainstream dating sites are great and all, but what if you want something a little more catered to your own demographic? Maybe you don’t want to sift through countless profiles just to find someone within your age range. With Single40sDating, everyone is within your age range — granted you are interested in people in their 40s. Not only that, but the site also matches you with people you have common interests with.
Take the test and receive a list of compatible singles for free
When you sign up for Single40sDating, the first thing you have to do is answer the questions in their scientific personality test in order for them to connect you with like-minded singles. As a standard non-paying member, you can create a profile and receive a list of compatible partners. However, if you want to make contact with someone, you’ll have to become a premium member first. This is completely normal for sites seeking to match singles based on compatibility.
Multiple tools to find what you’re after
Each profile you’re presented with on Single40sDating will show a compatibility percentage — the higher the percentage, the more you have in common with the person. Additionally, there is also a roulette-style feature that allows you to like or pass on each profile shown to you. Once you and someone else have mutually liked each other, a match will have been made and you can start chatting it up.
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 |
- 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
Safe and secure site with almost a million members
Here’s another 50 and over dating site that uses your personality test results to connect you with like-minded singles. TrueLifePartner nearly has a million members, an even male-to-female balance, and allows you to search for singles anonymously. They ensure that your conversations and personal data are protected and secure from third parties, you can decide who sees your photos yourself, and only members can see your profile.
Have a free taste before committing
As a standard member, TrueLifePartner allows you to sign up for free, create a profile, and browse matches. In this way, you can see the quality of singles in your area before deciding to upgrade to the premium membership. To send compliments or personal messages to someone, you must have a subscription service.
Set up video dates from every kind of device
In addition to messaging features, paid members can also set up video dates. You can decide when you want to set up a video call and choose how long the date lasts. For singles in their 50s, this is a great way to ensure that the single you eventually meet in person is who they say they are. TrueLifePartner can be accessed from your laptop or desktop computer, and if you prefer using your phone, their service is also available as an Android and iOS application.
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
Popular site in Northern Ireland competing with Tinder
Zoosk is considered one of the more popular dating sites and apps in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland. With 40 million members worldwide, it’s one of the most popular dating sites anywhere. People who choose Zoosk over Tinder often do so because Zoosk provides more catered matches over time, whereas Tinder just shows profiles to you in a random order based on location and not personal qualities.
Easy and effortless platform that figures you out on its own
Zoosk can be used to make friends, go on dates, or hook up. The platform is easy to learn and navigate, which means that it will take no time at all to start chatting it up and going on dates. Even better, you don’t have to fill out your profile with a bunch of information when starting out. Instead, Zoosk automatically learns about your interests over time in order to paint a picture of your perfect match.
Multiple features at your disposal
Zoosk gives you the option to use the carousel feature or the advanced search tool. The carousel feature presents you with one profile at a time – each one catered to your preferences. If you head over to the advanced search area, you can narrow down your search so that you only see profiles that match your criteria. The only downside is that you have to upgrade to the premium plan if you want to message other members.
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 |
FAQ – Dating Sites in Northern Ireland
How long should I wait to meet a match?
If you have been chatting with someone for a few days, you should start thinking about meeting them soon. Online dating can be tricky because you can like someone’s messaging personality and not their real-life personality. That’s why you don’t want to waste time messaging each other back and forth for multiple weeks just to find out you don’t like them in person. Just make sure you meet in a public area and take your safety seriously. We recommend going on a video date beforehand just to make sure everything feels right.
What if the first date didn’t go that well?
First dates are always a little awkward for both parties involved. Oftentimes, it’s difficult to get a sense of someone’s true personality when they’re nervous and trying to act on their best behaviour. If there is some mutual attraction and things just didn’t click the first meeting, that doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t any chemistry. Sometimes it takes a few dates to really get to know someone. We would also recommend doing something different each time so you can see another side of someone.
What if I’m not matching with anyone?
Online dating can sometimes be a marathon. You need to be patient and give it time. This right person doesn’t always present themselves right out of the gate. But if it’s been a couple of weeks without a hit, you might want to consider how your profile looks to other people. What kind of photos do you have uploaded? They should showcase your best attributes and provide some context regarding your lifestyle. Also, make sure you provide enough information so that other members can make a better assessment of you. If your profile lacks details about your personality, interests, hobbies, and so on, then people have to learn all those things about you. Sometimes, that seems like too much work.
What kind of info should I provide in my profile?
The most important factor in a profile is truthfulness. If you go hiking twice a year, don’t count hiking as one of your hobbies, because if you meet someone and they like to hike every weekend and you don’t, then things probably won’t work out. You want to meet someone that enjoys doing the same things as you. If you enjoy going out to dinner multiple times per week, say that in your profile. That way, you’ll find someone that wants to join you in doing the things you love.
How many people should I go on dates with?
On rare occasions, people will meet someone amazing on their very first online dating experience. That, unfortunately, is not the case with the vast majority of people. That’s why you should go on dates with multiple people before you settle on one for the long term. That’s not to say you need to date multiple people simultaneously. But the more people you meet, the more you’ll figure out what you want and don’t want out of a partner. Once you figure that out, you’ll know exactly what you’re looking for in a partner.