How Online Dating Works

For the most part, the online dating experience can be broken down into three parts: signing up, creating a profile, and interacting with other members. Depending on the site or app you’re looking into, the first two parts may take more or less time, but it’s important to note that the more accurately you answer the questionnaires and the more care you put into creating a profile that reflects who you are, the better chances you have of being matched with someone worth your while. When it comes to interacting, it can be as simple as sending someone a casual "wink" or liking their photo, or you can send them a more detailed message if you feel drawn to do so. Each site will have unique features to offer, all of which we’ve reviewed in detail for you.

While most sites require payment to access their full roster of features, we recommend starting with a free account. This way, you’ll get a taste for the service without committing to a monthly plan right off the bat.

The Shift Towards Online Dating

Online dating's popularity is right in line with how we conduct most of our business these days. We read our news online, watch TV and movies online, order food online -- why wouldn't we meet and flirt and look for relationships online, too? Not to mention: Where else could you go to meet so many singles ready to mingle? Sure, nothing beats meeting someone face-to-face and feeling the sparks fly, but there’s really no guarantee of meeting anyone and getting to know them in most public spaces, especially nowadays. The fact remains that online dating sites are a unique and effective way of connecting with more people who share your intentions than would otherwise be physically possible.

How to Choose the Right Site for You

As you can imagine, there are a lot of different sites to choose from out there. From the mainstream ones to those of a more “risque” nature, it’s tremendously important to consider your options before spending the time and energy getting set up on one. While sites in the matchmaking category (such as eharmony.com and Match) focus on helping people find true love, adult sites (such as Passion.com, AdultFriendFinder.com) tend to serve the purpose of exploring one’s sexuality and immediate gratification. Furthermore, niche dating sites like those in the religious, ethnic, wealthy or senior categories are really geared for people with a vested interest in those respective verticals.

Best Dating Sites of 2024

At AskMen, our team of editors has personally reviewed upwards of 110 dating sites in order to present you with the very best. We spent time browsing and testing features, as well as reading other customer reviews, with the goal of being able to provide honest and comprehensive insight into what differentiates a great service from one that’s just “OK”. And although our opinions may be subjective, we did base all ratings on a standardized scale in an attempt to be fair.

Reviews will be updated periodically, so keep checking in for the latest and greatest.