Are you someone who finds dating IRL tricky? Don’t worry, you’re far from alone. One Pew Research Center survey found nearly 50% of US adults think dating’s become harder in the last ten years. That’s why, below, we’ve rounded up the expert’s pick of the best dating sites to help you find your perfect match.
Sure, you could wait to bump into a love interest in person, but post-pandemic, many � understandably � aren’t as patient. Statistics show that searches for the dating site Bumble rose by 3,350% last September, and over half of all single people are now using some form of match-making site to find love. More into apps? Read our guide to the best sex apps, here-hi, Tinder.
Long gone are the days when Internet dating was seen as a no-go. Now, e-dating is about as normal as Internet banking (just way more fun). That said, scoping out the best dating sites in a market of very *meh* ones can be difficult, especially if you’re a newbie to the whole she-bang or haven’t really dated much since Covid. So what is a guaranteed win?
We drafted in online dating expert Sloan Sheridan-Williams, who shared her pick of the fourteen best dating sites for those looking for queer, heterosexual, LGBTQAI+, casual, or serious love. Read up on our guide to what to talk about on a first date, while you’re here � and if all goes wrong, remember: the best sex toys will always be your friend.
12 best dating sites to try now
eharmony�s Rachael Lloyd says: �Maintain an open mind, and remember that being yourself is key to success. Treat online dating as an opportunity to meet new people and enjoy new experiences, rather than wondering if who you’re talking to is the love of your life. It’ll take the pressure off a little bit.�
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And while you’re at it, read our guides on how to make your online dating profile stand out and tantric sex, too.
1. Best dating site for a 
specific requirement: OkCupid
How does it work? This one’s great if you’ve got a really specific type in mind. You can filter your requirements by everything from age to what type of relationship you’re actually after. Then, following that, you’ll do an intense questionnaire about what your personal likes and dislikes are. Et voila � filtered results based on what you’re looking for.
The experts say: This dating site is great for more fussy daters, plus it’s about as inclusive as it gets. Choose from 22 genders and 13 sexual orientations � matchmaking for all.
2. Best dating site for beginners: eHarmony
How does it work? If you are serious about looking for that special thing called love, then this is the site for you. eHarmony takes this match-making lark very seriously, making them one of the top sites to try. They’ve even patented The eHarmony Compatibility Matching System. That’s right. They’ve taken 35 years of research to come up with a Relationship Questionnaire and pride themselves on matching users with people who are actually compatible with them.
The experts say: This is one of the best dating sites for those who are looking for personality matching. eHarmony takes the hard work out of trolling through 100s of photos and delivers compatible dates directly to your inbox. This site provides quality over quantity and is great for those looking for a long term relationship.
3. Best dating site for more matches: Match
How does it work? match is the most widely-used dating site in the world and has nearly 1.8 million subscribers. It works in the most traditional way: Simply create a profile, check out your potential matches, send them a few messages and then arrange to meet for a date. There are also various off-shoots of match with microsites for gay and lesbian dating, Asian dating, Christian dating and Polish dating. The love gods at match also arrange singles events and provide online dating advice, so it’s easy to see what makes them one of the top-drawer dating sites.