A roundup of the best online dating sites

 

Sure, Mrs. Right could be the queasy-looking girl that yells “dammit!” when the bartender announces that it’s last call, but  thanks to the climactic popularity of online dating websites, you might be better off skipping the bars and searching for your soul mate on your laptop. In recent years online dating has become big business, expanding into specialty sites that cater to specific religions, ages, and sex fetishes. There’s even a dating site for people seeking extramarital affairs. But if you’re new to online dating and you simply want to meet a nice boy or girl (and you don’t already have a wedding ring), then these five sites are your best bet. Each one has different pros and cons, so weigh the stats before deciding which matchmaking service is right for you.

Average cost: $35 per month

The good: It’s the largest of the online dating services (15 million members), and users appreciate that it’s easy to navigate and has advanced search options. You’ll find one of the most diverse mixes of online daters, from vegans for Buddha to meat eaters for Jesus.

The bad: Your subscription bills and renews automatically, which elicited an angry “doh!” from my roommate when he forgot to cancel his membership. Because personal information might be shared with third parties, you may see an increase of spam in your inbox.

Best online dating site for serious relationship seekers: Chemistry.com

Average cost: $50 per month

The bad: While it offers a more in-depth compatibility matching style than other online dating sites, Chemistry.com’s membership cost is among the highest. You aren’t allowed to search profiles before signing up and the dating pool is a bit more limited than other sites. 

Best site for casual dating: Lavalife

Average cost: $35 per month

The good: It’s known as the hip, fun Internet dating service—think online bar. Whether you’re looking for a casual fling or a relationship, this multi-faceted site has you covered. Unlike Match.com, Lavalife offers up an online chat option as well as video clips and instant messaging.

The bad: You can’t turn off instant messaging (Dammit, Backstreetboysrule6969! I said I wasn’t interested!). A different profile is required for each sub-site, and you have to be a paid member to initiate contact with other members.

Best free online dating service: OkCupid.com

Cost: Free

The good: This free online dating website has some features that give larger sites a run for their money (literally). There’s customized quizzes, a personality analysis tool, and a lightning-quick joining process. This is definitely the best of the free dating sites, so if you’re seeking a budget-friendly soul mate, look no further.

The bad: The site won’t verify the legitimacy of the users, so you’ll have to keep your fingers crossed that the buxom blonde you’re courting in cyberspace isn’t a 70-year-old guy with flatulence issues. Also, the dating pool is smaller than many paid membership sites.    

Best site for the 30+ crowd: eHarmony

The good: This online dating site’s profile is one of the most extensive. With 436 questions assessing 29 dimensions of compatibility, the profile takes about 45 minutes to complete. eHarmony is extremely well organized, making navigation a breeze. The site does most of the grunt work for you, so if you’re new to online dating and feeling technologically overwhelmed, eHarmony takes the wheel.

The bad: You can view matches before ponying up the membership fee, but you must join to see the photographs. eHarmony offers name, city and age verification of other members—but this tacks on an additional fee on top of the pricey monthly membership.