Dating has changed a lot in the past couple decades. It is harder than ever to meet people and organically start a relationship in public. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly did not help either, closing bars and clubs and leaving singles feeling isolated.
For these reasons, and many more, millions of singles around the world are turning to online dating.
In the past, online dating had a negative connotation and was often seen as hookup culture or unsafe. Thankfully, dating sites have come a long way and online dating is more popular among all age groups.
If you are looking for marriage or a serious relationship, there are some dating sites and apps designed to meet your needs and preferences. Keep reading for the top dating sites for marriage or serious relationships.
Can You Find “the One” Through Online Dating?
Before you can find love online, you have to believe it is possible. Online dating still raises a lot of doubt for some people, but the data proves otherwise.
Countless studies have been conducted showing the successful marriage rates from online dating sites and apps. In some cases, the rate of marriage among of people who met online was higher than other couples.
If marriage or a serious relationship is your goal, consider dating sites and apps that have a more thorough questionnaire or come with a higher price tag. People on these sites are likely to be more serious about finding a match because of the time and money invested in online dating.
Of course, love can be found almost anywhere, so it is important to find the dating site or app that works for you and makes you feel most comfortable.
Dating Sites with a Successful History of Marriages
It’s hard to argue against 20 or more years of successful matches that lead to marriages. Some dating sites have been around for quite a while and undergone serious evolutions to become what they are today.
These sites have larger user bases, making it easier to find a large number of potential matches. If you start to ask around, it probably won’t take long to find someone with a Match.com or eHarmony success story.
1. Match
Match.com focuses on creating long-term relationships, making it a perfect choice for people looking to get married. You’ve likely seen the commercials featuring happy couples for years because the company has more than 20 years of success under their belt.
Match.com even claims that one in five marriages comes from their site! A paid membership for Match.com is relatively affordable, but it also encourages only serious singles to sign up.
The Match.com questionnaire can help pair you with compatible singles from day one. With a variety of search filters, you can quickly find the type of person you are looking for.
2. eharmony
eHarmony is another standard in the online dating world. More than 54 million people use the dating site, and the company claims responsibility for 4% of all marriages in the United States.
The sign-up process for eHarmony is considerably longer than many other dating sites, but there is a reason for the thoroughness. The unique compatibility questionnaire is used to help show you the best possible matches on the site.
The questions can even be fun and make you think about what is most important to you. A paid membership for eHarmony is a little more expensive than other dating sites, but many users find the cost to be worth the rewards.
Both the eHarmony website and app are easy to use, and you can add your name to the list of success stories!
Dating Apps Popular with Young Singles
Millennials and Gen Z are taking over the online dating scene. While some may think that younger people only care about casual dating or hookups, many millennials are looking for something more serious.
Busy schedules and high expectations have caused many young singles to turn to online dating. The best dating sites and apps for marriages let you connect with people on your own time, no matter where you are.
1. Hinge
Hinge has become the latest popular dating app among millennials thanks to its unique formatting and fun environment. The dating app feels casual, but many users are looking for something more serious.
You can create your profile using a series of prompts and add your favorite photos for a very visual profile. The pressure is off when it comes to Hinge, so you can start up a conversation that is enjoyable.
The app’s algorithm helps find your best potential matches, and the first-date follow up can refine your results even more. Profiles on Hinge let you learn a lot about someone’s personality, ensuring you are more likely to actually like them once you connect.
2. Bumble
Another popular dating app for serious relationships among young people is Bumble. The app only allows women to make the first move, making it a great choice for ladies who know what they want and aren’t afraid to go after it.
For shyer guys who are more reserved, the app takes some of the pressure off when it comes to reaching out first. Bumble encourages fast connections and conversations.
Your matches will expire after a certain period of time if someone does not start the conversation. This feature forces users to consider their matches closely and put time and effort into their interactions.
Dating Sites Popular with Older Singles
Millennials aren’t the only ones enjoying the online dating scene. More singles age 40 and up are making their way to online dating apps and sites to find long-term relationships.
Whether you are divorced, widowed, a single parent, or looking for something serious for the first time, there are dating sites designed for your stage of life.
1. Silversingles
If you find the user base on other dating sites to be too young or noncommittal, check out SilverSingles. The dating site was created for singles over 50 to help you reenter the dating scene in your golden years. The site is easy to use and the age filters actually help narrow down your search.
The compatibility system for SilverSingles assess several personality traits to help select your matches. The site is also less overwhelming than other dating apps because there is not an endless stream of matches to filter through. Instead, you receive a handful of matches each day to review as you have time.
2. OurTime
You can also find singles in the same stage of life as you through OurTime. The dating site focuses on older singles looking for a relationship and makes it easy to filter through your potential matches.
On OurTime, you can quickly find singles with similar values, of a certain age, or with similar relationship objectives.
With a more mature user base, OurTime is a great alternative to more casual dating sites designed for younger users. You can decide what is more important to you and use that criteria to match with people on the site.
Dating Sites for Casual to Serious Relationships
Sometimes the most solid relationships form out of a friendship or something more casual. Finding a serious relationship may be your long-term goal, but you don’t feel any pressure to get married tomorrow.
More casual dating apps may not be your first choice for marriage, but they can lead to some great relationships that last.
1. OkCupid
OkCupid has a reputation for being open-minded, so you can find whatever it is you are looking for. The online survey helps narrow down your search, and OkCupid will push your most compatible matches to the top of your list.
The app is super fun to use, and you can find matches based on political and social justice views if that is important to you. People in more rural areas may struggle to find a lot of matches, but city dwellers should have no problem.
The recent update to OkCupid brought the app into the 21st century, making it easy to use and an overall enjoyable experience.
2. Tinder
Tinder has been thought of as a hookup app for quite some time. It may surprise you, though, that many successful relationships got their start on the dating app.
Tinder has a large user base, making it easy to find singles in your area. The fun swipe platform puts your taste to the test, forcing you to make quck decisions on what you do or do not want in a partner.
The overall environment on Tinder is relaxed, but that can help take the pressure off to find the right person. You may find yourself connecting with someone and being pleasantly surprised by the potential for a long-term relationship.