12 Best Free Dating Sites & Apps for 2024

Jonathan Hartley
By Jonathan Hartley Updated on: March 10, 2024 Fact Checked by Emily Thompson

Finding a free dating site that provides useful free features can be quite difficult. Luckily, some dating sites do offer free memberships that allow you to match with profiles and send messages to them for free. After all, the song goes, ‘love don’t cost a dime’, so you should not have to break the bank to find love.

Our team has tested various free dating sites to ensure that they’re as free as they claim and they provide useful free features for their free users. We also ran tests on their web and mobile versions to report on user-friendliness.

Our top pick is eHarmony because it is very inclusive, and its sophisticated matching algorithm ensures that users get matched to whom they’re most compatible with. Plus, they can browse through profiles for free. Read on to find out more information on our top 12 free dating sites for 2024.

Top 12 Free Dating Sites for 2024

  1. eHarmony – Free compatibility test to help you find your perfect match.
  2. Match – No promo is required for free membership.
  3. OkCupid – View matches for free.
  4. SilverSingles – Free and easy-to-navigate dating site for 50+ singles.
  5. Tinder – Super Like per day for free!
  6. Facebook Dating – 100% free dating site.
  7. Bumble – Encourages women to make the first move for free.
  8. OurTime – Help singles in their 50s to connect for free.
  9. BeNaughty – Casual hookup site accessible for free.
  10. ChristianMingle – Connect with Christian singles for free.
  11. Plenty of Fish – See who is online for free.
  12. Zoosk – Browse through profiles for free.

eHarmony - See Who Recently Viewed Your Profile for Free!

Serious Love Search
4.9/5
  • Big member pool
  • Efficient matching system
  • Free version available
Enjoy Compatible Matches, even on Free Membership
Visit eHarmony
  • Free membership (limited)
  • LGBTQ+ inclusive 
  • Smiles, Likes, and Icebreakers are available for free

eHarmony stands out with their compatibility test that helps them connect you to your potential matches. 

Research has shown that eHarmony is responsible for 4% of marriages in the US. Almost everyone on the dating site is looking for something serious.

One of the reasons we love eHarmony is that even with a free membership they allow you to see who viewed your profile. eHarmomy also lets you take the compatibility quiz for free! You can send messages to anyone you like, although the free messages are limited in number.

eHarmony terms and conditions

We also reviewed their terms and conditions page to check what’s available for free. Upon sign-up, you’re required to take the compatibility test, so you get the benefit of this handy tool at no additional cost.

Pro-Tip: Take advantage of the Smiles, Likes, and Icebreakers since they’re available for free.

Pros
  • ✅ Browse anonymously for free.
  • Send and receive Smiles, Likes, and Icebreakers for free.
  • See who recently viewed your profile.
  • Sign-up is free.
  • ✅ Compatibility Quiz is free.
Cons
  • ❌ Must pay for SecureCall feature.
  • ❌ Customized messages require payment. 

Match - Browse Through Profiles for Free!

Connect, Empower, Love
4.7/5
  • Plenty of matches
  • Flexible matches
  • Free trial version
Serious Dating, Discover Your Perfect Match
Visit Match
  • Free membership available 
  • Supports LGBTQ+ community
  • Available on iOS and Android 
  • Over 39 million members

Match has been around for more than two decades, helping people find meaningful relationships by using the dating site. Match allows users from different demographics such as those over 50, LQBTQ+ Christians, Muslims, etc.

Using the free version, you can send messages to anyone, but the number of available messages is usually limited. You also get to browse through profiles without paying a dime! Whatever you’re looking for; friendship, long-term relationships, casual hookups, you’ll be sure to find one at Match.

Pro-Tip: Be sure about whom you want to send a message, so you don’t hit the message limit. 

Pros
  • ✅ Receive daily match suggestions based on preferences.
  • Can send messages for free.
  • Browse through profiles for free. 
  • Match profiles for free.
Cons
  • ❌ Free version doesn’t allow seeing who liked your profile.
  • ❌ Limited messages for free users.

OkCupid - Send and Receive Likes for Free!

Find Special Match
4.6/5
  • Plenty of matches
  • Many free options
  • All kinds of relationships
Match on What Matters, Find Genuine Connections
Visit OkCupid
  • Free membership 
  • LGBTQ+ inclusive
  • Supports monogamy and nonmonogamy

OkCupid is a modern and very inclusive dating site as it caters for 20 sexual orientations and 12 gender identities. You’re required to select your gender identity and sexual orientation from the menu when signing up. OkCupid also provides options for monogamy and nonmonogamy.

Sign-up is usually free and during the process OkCupid will ask a lot of detailed questions about your personality and interests. Your answers will help them find who they think you’re most compatible with. You can also send and receive a limited number of likes and message matches for free.

Some people may find the questionnaire tedious but we think it’s very valuable as it helps to filter out people who will clash with your personality type, saving you both time and effort.

Pro-Tip: Since Likes are limited on the free version, use them wisely.

Pros
  • ✅ Sign-up is free.
  • You can send and receive Likes for free.
  • View matches for free.
  • Messaging is free although limited.
Cons
  • ❌ Free dating includes ads.
  • ❌ Likes are limited.

SilverSingles - Connect with 50+ Singles for Free

Meaningful Mature Connections
4/5
  • Appealing design
  • Clear profile structure
  • Receive daily list of matches
Exclusive Senior Dating, Find Companionable Silver Love
Visit SilverSingles
  • Free membership
  • Designed for singles 50 years of age and above
  • Free personality test to match 50+ singles

Who says you can’t find love in your 50s? SilverSingles is a dating site that allows 50+ singles to connect for free. Whether you’re looking for friendship, casual dates or long-term relationships, SilverSingles caters for you.

The dating site uses a personality test designed by relationship experts to match like-minded 50+ singles, and free services are available. Based on the results of your personality test, the dating site suggests three to seven matches for you per day, even if you only have a free membership! Taking the personality test might sound like a lot of work but it’ll save you a lot of time and effort in the long run. You’ll find relationships develop better and faster with more compatible matches.

Using the free version of SilverSingles, you can send winks and private messages for free. Winks help you tell the other person that you’re interested in them. One improvement we would like to see is the inclusion of video chat. Still, SilverSingles is highly recommended for singles in their 50s looking for love.

Pro-Tip: Use the Winks to your advantage since they’re free.

Pros
  • ✅ See your matches for free.
  • Personality test is free.
  • Manually change your preferences for free.
  • Send winks and messages for free.
Cons
  • ❌ Mobile app is limited to premium users.
  • ❌ Free messaging is limited.

Tinder - Free Swipes Available

Swipe for Free
4.5/5
  • Large user base
  • Very user-friendly
  • Informative profiles help find relevant matches
Swipe Right, Spark Instant Connections
Visit Tinder
  • Free membership
  • LGBTQ+ inclusive
  • Free swipes
  • Mobile apps for iOS and Android

Tinder is one of the most popular dating sites with more than 50 million users worldwide. It is a swipe-based dating site, with paid and free memberships. You either swipe left or right to show interest or not.

What’s more, free members get one Super Like per day. The feature tells the other person that you really like them. Chatting with your matches is also available free of charge on Tinder.

Although Tinder has a reputation for having a lot of fake accounts and casual users, we can’t deny that the platform has produced a lot of successful relationships, so it’s worth giving a try.

Pro-Tip: Tap another user’s heart icon to show interest.

Pros
  • ✅ You can send one Super Like per day.
  • Read receipts are available for free.
  • Swipes are free.
  • Chat with your matches for free.
Cons
  • ❌ Free membership has some limitations.
  • ❌ Not recommended for serious relationships.

Facebook Dating - All Features are Available for Free

4.3/5
  • User friendly on mobile
  • 100% free
  • Find out if your crush likes you too
Enjoy Compatible Matches, even on Free Membership
Visit Facebook Dating
  • 100% free!
  • LGBTQ+ inclusive
  • Available apps for iOS and Android

In September 2019, the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, launched Facebook Dating. It’s a totally free dating platform that allows Facebook users to find their perfect match. There’s no premium membership, everything is free!

The platform uses your location, age, and common interests to find potential matches for you. No need to worry about your Facebook family and friends seeing what you’re up to. Facebook will not notify them that you joined the dating platform.

Special features like Lucky Match and Secret Crush are available to users for free. The Lucky Match feature broadens your search, linking you to profiles outside of your regular limits.

Note that dating is only available on the mobile app (iOS and Android). It’s not a widely-used dating platform yet, so it might take a while to find your perfect match but don’t give up!

Pro-Tip: Use the Lucky Match feature to extend your search.

Pros
  • ✅ Totally free dating site.
  • All features are at your disposal.
  • Your dating information is hidden from current Facebook friends.
Cons
  • ❌ Web version is not available.

Bumble - Swipes are Available for Free!

First Move Magic
4.4/5
  • Women make the first step
  • Detailed profiles
  • Funny interest badges
Take the Lead, Empowered Connections Await
Visit Bumble
  • Free membership
  • Android and iOS apps are available
  • LGBTQ+ inclusive
  • Encourages women to make the first move

Bumble is a swipe-based dating platform that encourages women to make the first move on someone they like. This gives ladies freedom, more safety and more control in a dating setup, since only women can send a message first. If both users are women, anyone can send a message first.

They have apps available for Android and iOS. Bumble allows free members to swipe and send messages to their matches for free. Note that if the person doesn’t respond within 24 hours, the match disappears.

Typically, after matching, you have 24 hours to start a conversation or the match disappears. One helpful tool Bumble provides is the Extend feature which gives your match another 24 hours to reach out to you. This feature is available once a day for free members.

Pro-Tip: Use the Extend feature if your crush doesn’t start chatting after 24 hours.

Pros
  • ✅ Free swipes are available.
  • Send messages for free.
  • Make matches for free.
  • One chance daily to extend response time.
Cons
  • ❌ No chatting within 24 hours lets match disappear.

OurTime - Connect with 50+ Singles for Free!

Quality matches for mature-singles
4.5/5
  • Big dating pool
  • Quick onboarding
  • Many search options
Find Mature Love, Embrace New Beginnings
Visit OurTime
  • Free membership (limited)
  • Designed to connect 50+ singles
  • LGBTQ+ inclusive

OurTime is a senior dating platform that allows single men and women in their 50s to find love. This platform is also LGBTQ+ inclusive. OurTime is known for hosting community events that you can attend even if you’re using the site for free. All you need to do is pay for that particular event.

The downside of this dating platform is that you can’t send or receive messages if you don’t pay for a subscription. On the free version you can only receive messages if the other person has a feature that allows you to reply to their message for free.

The good thing is that their subscription is more affordable when compared to many other dating sites.

Pro-Tip: Pay to attend the events so you don’t miss out on the fun.

Pros
  • ✅ Men and Women over 50 can interact for free.
  • Hosts in-person singles events.
  • Best for building long-term relationships.
Cons
  • ❌ Free members can’t send or receive messages.

BeNaughty - Casual Hookup Site with Free Winks!

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  • Women can send messages for free
  • Free app available for Android only
  • LGBTQ+ inclusive

BeNaughty is a hookup site for men and women looking for casual sexual encounters without breaking the bank. Women can chat for free, but the subscription is as low as $0.99 per day, so if you like the platform it’s worth trying out the paid version too.

It is a great option for women who do not want to pay for a hookup site. Single men have limited messaging but free winks are available. When using the free option, you can only see a person’s profile photo. To access their gallery, you have to pay for a subscription.

Pro-Tip: Do not schedule a first encounter at your house.

Pros
  • ✅ Women can send messages for free.
  • Free winks are available.
  • You can see a list of who’s online for free.
  • Add people to a Favorite List, even on free version.
Cons
  • ❌ Men have to pay to send messages.
  • ❌ You have to pay to see the person’s location.

ChristianMingle - #1 Christian Dating Site with Free Options

God-Centered Matches
4.5/5
  • Quick onboarding
  • Free profile views
  • High-quality matches
Faith-Based Connections, Find Christian Love
Visit Christian Mingle
  • 15+ million Christian singles
  • For Christians looking for love
  • Available app for Android and iOS

ChristianMingle is a faith-based dating platform for Christians to enable them to connect with other Christians who share the same interests. To boost your chances of getting noticed you can upload up to six photos to your profile.

Although sending and receiving messages is limited to paid users, you can still send likes and read other users’ profiles for free. Note that you can respond to messages that a paid user sent you.

Pro-Tip: Use the free search and free likes to your advantage so that you can connect to paid users and be able to reply to their messages.

Pros
  • ✅ You can search users for free.
  • Read the user’s profile for free.
  • Send likes for free
Cons
  • ❌ You can only reply to messages from paid users.

Plenty of Fish - Plenty of Fish Available to You for Free!

Positive Love Matches
4/5
  • Large pool of members
  • Comprehensive profiles
  • Games and questionnaires
Explore a Sea of Singles, Find Your Catch
Visit Plenty of Fish
  • Free membership
  • LGBTQ+ inclusive
  • Available apps for iOS and Android

As they say, there’s plenty of fish in the sea. This is still the case, even when you use Plenty of Fish for free. It is a popular dating site with free membership available that allows you to send and receive messages. You also get to see who’s online without paying a fee.

The downside of using Plenty of Fish for free is that annoying ads might pop up. Still, it has innovative features like First Contact that allows you to send a message to someone you haven’t matched with yet. Your message will appear at the top of the recipient’s inbox.

Pro-Tip: Take advantage of the First Contact feature but use it wisely since it’s only available once per day for free users.

Pros
  • ✅ You can send messages for free.
  • View profiles for free.
  • Meet Me is available for free.
  • First Contact is available once per day.
Cons
  • ❌ You can’t see who likes you.
  • ❌ Likes are limited.

Zoosk - Send Likes and Smiles for Free!

Smart Worldwide Matches
4.7/5
  • Enormous dating pool
  • Various types of matching
  • Quick onboarding
Smart Dating, Discover Your Perfect Match
Visit Zoosk
  • Free membership
  • LGBTQ+ inclusive
  • Available apps for iOS and Android
  • Sign-up for fee

Zoosk is one of the most used dating sites in the world and users include the LGBTQ+ community. Using Zoosk for free, you can send Likes and Smiles to the people you like. Although you can browse through profiles for free, you can’t send or reply to messages except from paid users.

With Zoosk’s free option you can attract attention with the use of multiple images, instead of just one. Pick some of your best photos to let your matches and potential matches get an excellent first impression.

Pro-Tip: Since Likes and Smiles are available for free, take advantage of them to send positive signals to the people you like.

Pros
  • ✅ You can receive messages from premium
  • Browse through profiles for free.
  • Sign-up is free.
Cons
  • ❌ Messaging is limited for free users.

How We Chose the Best Free Dating Sites

We did extensive research on the free dating sites and narrowed them down to what, we believe, are the top 10 best free dating sites. Our ratings are based on the number of active users and matching algorithms used by brands like Match, eHarmony and Tinder.

We also looked for free dating sites that are known for initiating serious relationships and have many success stories. We ensure that these sites are LGBTQ+ inclusive. In addition, we considered free dating sites that also assist users looking for casual hookups.

Other factors we considered include reputation, cost, communication tools, and user-friendly interfaces.

Important Tips for Safety & Success on Free Dating Sites

Meeting your potential partner through a dating site is quite different from meeting them in real life. There are unique challenges because it’s more difficult to gauge someone’s true intentions when you’re only communicating online via text and video. This is why you should be very careful before choosing who you connect with and whether you’ll meet them in person.

Here are important tips for success and precautions to ensure your safety on free dating sites.

  1. Choose Your Best Photo: Browse through your gallery and choose the best photo you have. Your photo is the first thing they see and it is a primary element for attracting strangers to your profile. So, you want to make sure that you’re using a photo that shows your best features.

    Keep in mind that you want to stay real while looking your best. It could be quite disappointing if they found out that in real life you look different from your pictures. This can even make them doubt your honesty as a person.
  2. Be Descriptive in Your Bio: Let’s look at this from your point of view. If you read someone’s bio and it shows they have a lot in common with you, you would not hesitate to connect with them. Research has shown that people are more likely to be attracted to people similar to them. Therefore, share enough in your bio that someone can see if they’ll enjoy connecting with you.

    That being said, while you should make your bio very captivating, do it without necessarily writing an essay. A lot of people have short attention spans and may click away if there’s too much information to process.

    Here’s how to write a descriptive and captivating bio:
    • Mention things that are very important to you, for example, family, what you do for fun, your job, etc.
    • Include information that makes you stand out and appear interesting, such as a personal achievement.
    • State what you’re looking for in a partner. Get straight to the point with your intentions, so your matches understand your expectations.
  3. Be Honest: As they say, honesty is the best policy. Be honest about who you are, starting with your bio. And once you start chatting with your match, stay honest and authentic. If you start a connection based on a lie, things will go south pretty quickly. Don’t lie about who you are or what you like just to impress them. Remember that someone who really loves you will love you for who you are. Furthermore, if you find out that they’re not what you want in a person, whether it’s a red flag you’ve noticed or incompatibility, be honest about it (while being nice about it). Rather terminate the relationship as this will save you both the hassle of investing in a relationship that isn’t going anywhere and robs you both of time.
  4. Be Open-Minded: Stay open-minded as you navigate through the world of online dating. You may never find someone who has the exact same interests as you and that’s okay! Being open-minded helps you connect with people better and you may learn valuable things from someone who is different than you are.
  5. Have Fun: Have fun with it! You’re not going to find the perfect match right away, but don’t get worked up about it. If after a while you still haven’t found a match and you realize it’s affecting your self-confidence, we highly suggest you take a break from the dating site.
  6. Use the Right Emojis: Emojis help to tell what you’re feeling without having to type it out. Make sure you’re using the right emoji to give off the right vibe. Also, use the right amount of emojis, so you do not creep the other person out. For example, instead of sending multiple 😘 to a new connection, rather stick to just one 😉. For clarity in communication, research what various emojis mean so that you don’t give the wrong message.
  7. Match with Verified Profiles: Not everyone on dating sites has good intentions, and for safety we recommend that you only match with verified profiles. This is how you decrease your risk of running into scammers.
  8. Avoid Sharing Nude Photos: Whether or not you have met this person, it’s not a wise decision to send them your nude photos. If the person is being persistent, report the account even though you have started building a connection with them. Your safety should come first!
  9. Request Video Chat Before Meeting: If you have gone far into the talking stage and you have decided to meet a match, we suggest that you request a video call before you meet them in person. This confirms that they look like their profile picture. If the person refuses to accept your request, cut off contact with them for safety reasons.
  10. Meet in a Safe and Public Place: While you’re looking for love, you also need to ensure your safety. Schedule your first date in a public place, for example, a coffee shop, restaurant, arcade, or any location with many people around. DO NOT invite them to your house or workplace! Once you notice suspicious activity, alert someone like a waiter in a subtle manner to create a distraction. Use the opportunity to quickly exit the environment or even call the police if you think it’s necessary. Also, it’s best to tell a family or close friend where you’re going.
  11. Be Careful of Profile Pictures that Look “Too Good”: Anything that looks too good to be true is usually not to be trusted. If a profile picture looks too perfect, it’s probably a fake account created by a scammer or someone who could potentially harm you. Ask for more pictures or avoid them entirely.
  12. Ask for Their Social Media Handles: To confirm their identity, ask for their social media handles. Browse their profiles and see how long they’ve been on that platform, to confirm authenticity. Also see what they post as this will say a lot about them. If they post pictures of their pets, families, occasions and other personal matters, they probably don’t have anything to hide. And if you like what you see, consider taking a chance on them.
  13. Don’t Share Too Much Information e.g bank details: There’s a rising rate of online scammers and criminals and they’re always looking for new ways to find their prey, even through dating sites. Don’t share too much information about your life before you meet a match. Also, if a match is constantly asking for personal information like your bank details or home address, cut off all forms of contact with them.

Conclusion: What are the Best Free Dating Sites?

The best free dating site for you will depend on your preference like what type of match algorithm you prefer and what you’re looking for in a partner. For example, the best dating site for serious relationships is Match and eHarmony, and the best free dating site for Christian dating is ChristianMingle.

❤️ Personally, we think the best free dating sites are eHarmony, Match and Bumble. Take a look at each of these recommended free dating sites, and you will surely find one that suits your preferences.

FAQ

What is the Best Free Dating Site for Serious Relationships?

eHarmony and Match are known to be the best dating sites for serious relationships. They’re some of the most used dating sites worldwide because of their unique matching algorithms that help users find their match.

Are Free Dating Sites Actually Free?

Are Paid Dating Sites Better Than Free Dating Sites?

Which Free Dating Site Has the Highest Success Rate?

Are Free Dating Sites Safe?

How Do I Know Fake Profiles on a Dating Site on Free Sites?

Jonathan Hartley
Author Jonathan Hartley

Jonathan Hartley is a 41-year-old Relationship Coach with over 12 years of experience. He specializes in helping individuals and couples navigate the complexities of modern relationships. Holding a Master's degree in Psychology and a certification in Relationship Coaching, Jonathan's approach integrates academic theory with practical experience, focusing on emotional intelligence and effective communication.

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