13 Legit Romantic Dating Sites in 2022
Online dating has helped several people to meet new people and find potential partners. It allows individuals to interact with persons outside their social circle. Internet romances are much easier to initiate and there is less awkwardness if it does not work out.
The global number of dating app users hit 270 million in 2020, and it is expected to keep increasing. It is much easier to find a person with similar interest and hobbies online instead of in the physical world.
What are the risks of online dating?
While on your quest to find love on the internet, you are highly likely to come across scammers and fraudsters who will try to trick you into sending money. Fraudsters feed on the victim’s affection and trust and create an illusion of love and care to manipulate them. Apart from the general risks of signing on a social media platform, you may also be exposed to the following:
- Your date may not be who they claim to be and maybe feeding you fake information. This is also called catfishing.
- Most often, fraudsters build a stable relationship and gain the victim’s trust. Then they may ask for money under the guise of a medical emergency, or some debt, or visa documents.
- At times scammers may ask you to create bank accounts that could be used for some other fraudulent activity, making you a ‘money mule’.
How to protect yourself from being ‘catfished’?
Online romance frauds are committed by smart and expert scammer as they must seem believable to you. The following tips might help you from becoming a victim:
- Do not give dating sites or apps more information than needed, such as financial details or your address.
- Internet dating sites are filled with fake profiles. If the photos are too perfect and they match with you, it is highly likely that the person is fake and may try to defraud you.
- Some dating sites have been known to have bot profiles with celebrity-like photos. This is mostly harmless though and is a trick to attract more people to the platform.
- Be wary of overly friendly people. Do not meet anyone in a secluded place the first time.
- Never send money to anyone you meet online.
- Do not divulge any personally identifiable information until you meet your online match.
Our recommendation is to always first have a few video calls with your data before you share personal data or meet in person. Be extremely suspicious if your date suddenly starts asking for money. A normal person should have friends or family around them to help him or her in case of need.
13 Legit Romantic Dating Sites
Here we list some reliable online dating websites and apps that are competent in protecting their users. Most of these require users to verify themselves using a photo or government ID and even connect to other social media pages.
However, bad actors cannot be rooted out completely, so it is advisable to exercise caution.
| Online dating portals |
| Match.com |
| Tinder |
| Bumble |
| Hike |
| Zoosk |
| ChristianMingle |
| PlentyOfFish |
| Hinge |
| OkCupid |
| Her |
| SilverSingles |
| eHarmony |
| EliteSingles |
| Coffee Meets Bagel |
Match.com
Match is an online dating service with web sites serving over 50 countries in twelve languages. Match is owned by Match Group, which owns several online dating services. They offer a guarantee that if you don’t find your ideal match in six months, they will give you an additional 6-month membership for free. It also claims to have produced more marriages and relationships than any other online dating site.
Tinder
Tinder is an online dating and geosocial networking application. Users anonymously "swipe right" to like or "swipe left" to dislike other users' profiles, which include their photo, a short bio, and a list of their interests. Tinder uses a "double opt-in" system where both users must have "swiped right" to match before they can exchange messages. In 2020, Tinder had 6.2 million subscribers and 75 million monthly active users. As of 2021, Tinder has recorded more than 65 billion matches worldwide.
Bumble
Bumble is an online dating application. Profiles of potential matches are displayed to users, who can "swipe left" to reject a candidate or "swipe right" to indicate interest. In heterosexual matches, only female users can make the first contact with matched male users, while in same-sex matches either person can send a message first. Users can sign up using their phone number or Facebook profile, and have options of searching for romantic matches or, in "BFF mode", friends.
Zoosk
Zoosk is a top-rated dating site and app with tons of chat and matching features, and it can help people build friendships, romances, and relationships on the fly. Zoosk is a socially savvy dating site known for its diverse membership base and behavioural matchmaking system. Over 40 million singles in 80 countries have joined the network so far, and it's growing larger every day.
ChristianMingle
Christian Mingle is an online dating service that caters to Christian singles. The service is one of a number of demographically focused online match-making websites operated by Spark Networks. Because of the focus on relationships between Christian singles, Christian Mingle is considered a special-interest online personals site.Christian Mingle members may choose whether to specify the Christian denomination to which they belong. Members can also search the site for free, though a subscription is required to communicate with other members.
PlentyOfFish
Plenty of Fish is a Canadian online dating service, popular primarily in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Brazil,[2] and the United States. It is available in nine languages. The company, which is based in Vancouver, British Columbia generates revenue through advertising and premium memberships. While it is free to use, Plenty of Fish offers premium services as part of their upgraded membership, such as allowing users to see who has "liked" a member through the service's MeetMe feature, and whether a message has been read and/or deleted.
Hinge
Hinge is a dating application that bills itself as the only dating app that emphasizes long-term connections between users. The application was designed to be less superficial than Tinder, dispensing with Tinder-like swiping and using the slogan "the relationship app."
OkCupid
OkCupid is a U.S.-based, internationally operating online dating, friendship, and formerly also a social networking website and application. It features multiple-choice questions to match members. Registration is free. OKCupid is owned by Match Group, which also owns Tinder, Hinge, Plenty of Fish, and many other popular dating apps and sites. While the site and app once supported multiple modes of communication, this has been restricted to messaging.
Her
Her, formerly Dattch, is a geosocial networking app geared towards lesbian, queer, bisexual and straight women and non-binary people. It is available for iOS and Android. Users can join the app with their Facebook account or email address. Cisgender men are not allowed to create profiles on the platform. As of May 2018, the application is available in 55 countries.
SilverSingles
Catering specifically to singles 50 years old and above, SilverSingles is one of the top and most popular senior dating apps. With over 50,000 new sign-ups every week, SilverSingles is able to match 2000 couples every month. Their matchmaking algorithm takes into account the conclusive results of each members’ required personality test. The suggested matches are based on the compatibility of each member’s personality.
eHarmony
Eharmony (styled eHarmony) is an online dating website launched in 2000. eHarmony is based in Los Angeles, California. Prospective members complete a proprietary questionnaire about their characteristics, beliefs, values, emotional health and skills. Matching algorithms, which the company believes match people's core traits and values to replicate the traits of happy couples, use these answers to match members with users the company believes will be compatible.
EliteSingles
EliteSingles is one of United States' leading dating services for educated singles who are looking for a serious relationship. Globally, the site has 65,000 new members joining per week and an average of 2,000 new couples each month in more than 20 countries. Members of EliteSingles are more likely to be academics with more than 80% having a university degree. It is perfect for those who prefer a more intellectual individual.
Coffee Meets Bagel
Launched in 2012 by three entrepreneurial sisters, Coffee Meets Bagel is a San Francisco-based mobile dating app. A customised service named #LadiesChoice was created to elevate the quality of mobile dating for members. Men will receive matches - known as "Bagels" and have 24 hours to either like or pass on the Bagels. Among the men who expressed interest, CMB curates the best potential matches for women. This model uses your Facebook information to curate a matching pool from the friends of your friends. #LadiesChoice ensures that your potential matches are already more familiar to you (compared to other dating apps) and gives you the opportunity to create more meaningful relationships.
Source: Wikipedia, DatingScout, DatingNews
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