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Over the past 4 years I have been running Loveawake.com I have been asked the following question by many people:
“Which online dating site should I join?”
To which I simply replied: “What are you looking for?”
Each of the major online dating sites out there caters to a specific group of people, generally speaking. Each of the sites also has its pros and cons. Prior to writing this post, I did a little research online. I tried to find a website that basically explained what each online dating site was about, and what kinds of people joined. I found plenty of reviews of the online dating sites, but nobody really said which site is for who. I then asked a few of my readers to share their experiences (both good and bad) and surprisingly enough they were similar to my personal experiences.
Below you will find a general (can’t stress that enough) guideline as to what online dating site you should join, based upon what/whom you are looking for:
eHarmony is widely considered a “high end” online dating site. You aren’t going to find many people on eHarmony who are looking for 1 night stands. We have all seen the eHarmony commercials run 24/7, adnauseum. eHarmony is pretty much like what their commercials look like. People coming together, looking for the love of their life or something close. In comparison to the other online dating sites, eHarmony does cost a little bit more money. The way I (and a few other people who have had success on eHarmony) see it, it weeds out those who aren’t seriously looking for love. On the other hand, what if you are looking for love, but just can’t afford it due to the economy/etc. eHarmony offers promotional code which will allow you to save money on your monthly membership.
The “eHarmony alternative”. Chemistry.com is run by Match.com and is another high end online dating site. The basic premise is similar to eHarmony: prior to joining you will need to complete an in-depth questionnaire which will then be used by Chemistry to match you with the person whom you are most compatible with. The main difference between the two is that Chemistry also allows for gays and lesbians to use their service as well. You can also browse profiles, wherein eHarmony you cannot. Is Chemistry.com better than eHarmony or vice versa? I have heard good things and bad things from people who have joined both sites. It’s kinda like comparing a Mercedes Benz to a BMW. The only thing they really have in common is that they cater to people who are looking for the best. Chemistry.com has a 7 day free trial offer for those who are on the fence.
If I could take the wildest party bar in Los Angeles and somehow turn it into a website, I would have created Match.com. Ok, so not everyone on Match.com is a party animal, but that’s the feeling that I get. Match.com is more “light and breezy” than eHarmony and Chemistry. Sure, there are people on Match who are looking to find Mr. or Mrs. Right….just as there are people on Match who are looking for Mr. or Mrs. “Right Now”. I have also noticed that the more skin you show on Match, the more responses you will get. Simply put, Match.com is the quintessential online dating site. It has been around forever and a day (and many people have gotten married who met on Match) and will continue to do so for many years to come. If you aren’t looking for your soulmate and are just looking to date to “see what might happen”, then I would advise you to join Match.com.
Same as Match.com. With one big caveat: I have met my last 3 girlfriends off of Yahoo Personals. To me (a single 30 year old guy) it seems that the women that I find on Yahoo are a lot less “flakey” than on other sites. The only negative about Yahoo Personals is that they need a new site interface update. The site looks like it hasn’t been updated in a while. But why mess with perfection? Yahoo Personals offers a 7 day free trial to their services, of which is more than enough to browse the profiles and see if something/someone catches your eye.
The free online dating sites. A step up from picking up chicks on Myspace, a step down from an actual paying online dating site. There really isn’t much I can say about these free online dating sites, other than “you get what you pay for”.