Dating Site Reviews Guide To Choosing the Best Dating Sites

8 Essential Factors Included in Our Dating Site Reviews

 
We take a look at the components of what makes a good dating site. What do the very best sites do that make membership an enjoyable experience and helps tip the balance in your favor regarding finding the right person?
 
Aside from rigorously backtesting all sites, what criteria do our writers for Dating Site Reviews use to assess? What do we cover in each review for our review scores and, ultimately, our conclusions?
 

1. Cost

 
Covered in all our dating site reviews ✔
 
Prices vary a lot, and there are also a lot of marketing ploys and sometimes a lack of transparency. Most sites, however, are pretty clear and charge a regular monthly subscription. In almost all cases the average monthly subscription cost goes down the longer you subscribe.
 
One month can sometimes seem a little short as frequently people do like to exchange a fair number of messages and get a ‘feel’ for someone before committing to meeting in person. Twelve months can result in a low average cost per month, but it’s pricey if you meet someone after three weeks.
 
Generally, a three-month sign-up is a sensible compromise option. If you are not exactly sure of what you are looking for then taking out a longer subscription does mean you can take your time and meet a few people without rushing. Date and commit in haste and repent at your leisure is a slight variation on a wise saying.
 
Most sites offer a free sign-up option. That’s a sensible idea if you are testing the waters to see if online dating is for you. It only makes sense though if you can browse the existing online members to see if there are a few people in your locality you would like to meet.
 
Some sites don’t offer this browsing or limit it by blurring pictures. The reason is two-fold; firstly, they want you to sign up and part with your cash and, secondly, it’s to satisfy the wish of many members who sign-up who only want to be seen by other members equally committed. They don’t necessarily want their profile to be visible to an ex or nosey neighbor who signs up with a faceless profile merely out of curiosity.
 
The other option is the free sites. Some are quite good but, inevitably, the absence of payment means it attracts plenty of ‘players’ with less serious intentions. Worse still, there is no payment deterrent to the loathsome scammers who frequent every site. Still, if you are savvy enough to spot the rogues, then it’s an option to consider.
 
Most of the free sites, however, do have fees for premium options which seems a bit of a contradiction. These include things such as putting your profile at the top of the pile and highlighted in dayglow yellow. Be careful of some of the sites that require you to buy tokens to use key parts of their website. It can be a rather sneaky way of disguising high prices.

2. Membership Quality and Size

 
Included in all our dating site reviews ✔
 
We are talking numbers, local dates and having enough choices here. You might be attracted to one of those obscure niche sites or be taken in by some hyped up marketing by a website with relatively new members. If you do want to date a farmer then of course opt for one of the niche sites but check whether there are enough members. If not, mainly if you are outside of the big cities, then be prepared to travel some distance.
 
At dating site reviews we don’t just rely on the numbers dating sites use for marketing purposes. We use independent data from the likes of research sites such as Similar Web and Alexa>
 
BlackSeniorPeopleMeet.com site is a very defined and lengthy named niche, and perhaps we will see BlackSeniorFarmingBikerPeopleMeet.com. Jesting aside, if you are looking for a particular niche such as a senior who enjoys travel, then, to get a decent number of dating prospects, it’s best to join a site with a large membership such as Match and then type in your preference criteria.
 
There are probably far more black seniors subscribing to Match in your local area than for SeniorBlackPeopleMeet. But if you feel more comfortable in a club that solely focuses on your age and race then the latter is still a justifiable option.

3. Types of Site

 
Featured in all our dating site reviews ✔
 
Essentially, there are four types of sites. Firstly, there are sites such as eHarmony and EliteSingles that use extensive questionnaires and personality tests. Their algorithm then does the work to provide you with a regular supply of matches in your email box.
 
Secondly, there are free sites that take basic information and let you do the searching. Thirdly, there are fascinating niche sites, and, lastly, there are the likes of Match that do give suggestions based on similar interests but still allow complete freedom to self-search. Even Match has its version of the 150-plus question sign-up site in the form of Affiny.
 
Intent on finding a committed relationship and don’t want to spend hours searching for matches? The likes of Elite and eHarmony will suit you. Alternatively, if you don’t trust algorithms and artificial intelligence to deliver Mr or Mrs. Right, then Match or a similar site will be ideal.
 
Looks do come into our choices of course and the self-select sites give you the freedom to pick those whose physical appearance appeals.
 

4. Features / Search

 
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A site can have the most amazing bells and whistles features but have a small membership base and, invariably, the subscription will turn out to be a waste of time and money. Nonetheless, all things being equal regarding member numbers, the variety, and the quality of features can help the searching process.
 
A site should have an excellent search facility where you can search on interests, education, physical characteristics, and personality traits. Other essential features include the ease of messaging someone, flagging up your interest, and the ability to block someone unappealing who is being persistent or troublesome.
 
Some sites offer ice-breaker question suggestions, and these can be useful regarding initiating a chat that goes beyond ‘how are you?’ or ‘nice weather!’
 
Mobiles are an accessible and convenient means of accessing dating online, and generally, the top desktop sites are matched equally regarding the quality of their mobile app. There are very few dating sites that don’t have a mobile app these days — the few that don’t usually have a good responsive version of their desktop site that transfer well to mobile usage.
 
Some of the sites such as Match set up events, and these provide an excellent opportunity to be brave and get away from the laptop and meet a few potential matches in person. The attraction of these events is that they are less intense than a first ‘one to one’ date and with plenty of excuses and options to escape from those with whom you have little in common.
 
Paying attention to dating safety is something Dating Site reviews can’t emphasize too much. Some sites provide a messaging service, so you don’t have to reveal personal numbers or information before you are sure whether you want to meet. Others offer a webcam option which is very useful in case you don’t want to reveal your skype or other messenger ID.
 
It’s always useful to use a video messenger app before meeting for a couple of main reasons. Firstly, there is the chance to get to know someone from the safety of your own home and, secondly, it’s not uncommon for profiles to use younger pictures. In the latter case, there isn’t much scope for hiding age and appearance in a video call. Some sites allow you to use your own ‘phone to speak to prospective matches without revealing your number.
 
The top online dating sites tend to be easy to use with a nice layout and their features and platform very intuitive to use. It’s essential for senior dating sites to score highly on ease of use.
 

5. Ease of Use

 
Covered in all our dating site reviews ✔
 
The younger generation will find the variety of dating features easy to navigate, but some of the older generations that are less tech-savvy will be suited to sites that focus on the basics. After all, the primary objective is to meet someone rather than be tested by a site over-burdened with exciting features.
 

6. Safety and Privacy

 
Detailed in all our dating site reviews ✔
 
It’s important to strike a sensible balance between revealing enough about yourself to attract interest without sharing too much that compromises your privacy. It’s a delicate balance, but we provide some tips in our online profile writing article. Most of the top sites allow you to protect yourself while using their website.
 
Dating Site Reviews aim to flag up scams and things to avoid, and the very best dating sites will devote a section of their website to give you advice on staying safe and avoid the pitfalls that, unfortunately, do exist. All the top sites have a means of efficiently reporting rude behavior and possible scammers.
 

7. Customer Service

Researched in all our dating site reviews ✔
 
Not all sites have a customer support telephone option but, to their credit, the likes of Match do. EliteSingles justifiably prides itself on its customer service, and it won the Newsweek award for ‘best customer service’ in their online dating category. Eharmony and Match also allow subscribers to raise complaints, technical issues and general queries with relative ease.
 
Other sites rely on email support, and any decent site will usually respond to member queries or concerns within 24 hours. In our dating site reviews, we give you the details for contacting customer services for each specific site.
 

8. Other Sites To Consider

 
Other suitable options suggested in all our dating site reviews ✔
 
Finally, there might be other sites that better fit your interests and dating aspirations. This is where knowing the membership numbers and our dating site reviews research comes into play. For example, if you are a keen cyclist and want to find someone with a similar passion then Fitness Singles would under some circumstances be an ideal choice.
 
If, however, you live in the countryside you might struggle to get enough dates as this site has a medium-size membership base. In this instance, we would recommend joining the likes of eharmony or Match with its plentiful search filters as there are likely to be a greater number of cycling enthusiasts who have joined Match in your rural area.
 
So, to conclude, we do the research and give you the facts and figures and conclude with the best options. Covid-19 has meant many people who ave been in isolation have reassessed and will be looking for relationships. There are abundant sites and apps that provide that opportunity.
 
We sincerely hope that our reviews guide you towards the best dating site choice and steer you away from the pitfalls. Enjoy your dating experiences and stay safe!