Best sites · Country

Dating Sites in the United States: Big Apps and Niche Picks

The best dating sites in the USA are the big apps most Americans already know, plus niche sites for specific communities. Hinge is our top pick for relationships, Tinder has the biggest pool, and Match and eHarmony suit people ready to commit.

Quick answer

Best overall in the USA

Hinge
4.8

Fit for usa · Overall 4.5

Relationship-focused, with detailed profiles and free messaging.

Visit Hinge

Best for serious relationships

eHarmony
4.3

Fit for usa · Overall 4.4

Compatibility matching for people ready to commit.

Visit eHarmony

Biggest free app

Tinder
4.7

Fit for usa · Overall 4.0

The most used dating app among US adults, per Pew.

Visit Tinder

Comparison table

SiteFit for usaOverallBest forFree versionPaid fromLink
Hinge 4.8 4.5 Finding a relationship in your 20s and 30s Yes ≈ $16.99 (US App Store) Visit
Tinder 4.7 4.0 Meeting lots of people fast Yes ≈ $9.99 (US App Store) Visit
Bumble 4.6 4.2 A big, well-moderated swipe app Yes ≈ $2.99 for Boost (US App Store) Visit
Match 4.4 4.2 Serious daters who like to search Yes ≈ $19.99 (US App Store) Visit
eHarmony 4.3 4.4 Serious relationships and marriage Limited shown after you sign up Visit
OkCupid 4.1 4.0 Matching on values and answers as well as photos Yes ≈ $10/mo Visit
Coffee Meets Bagel 4.0 3.9 Busy people who want fewer, better matches Yes ≈ $34.99/mo (US App Store) Visit
Plenty of Fish 3.9 3.6 Free messaging and searching a big pool yourself Yes ≈ $19.99 (US App Store) Visit
Facebook Dating 3.8 3.7 Trying online dating without paying anything Yes No paid plans Visit
Zoosk 3.7 3.8 Casual to serious dating on a budget Limited ≈ $29.99 (US App Store) Visit
SilverSingles 3.6 4.2 Over 50s who want an age-limited, verified community Limited ≈ $18.99/mo (US App Store) Visit
OurTime 3.5 3.9 Over 50s who like to browse Limited ≈ $19.99 for 1 week (US App Store) Visit
Hily 3.3 3.6 Younger daters who want a free, easy swipe app Yes ≈ $7.99 (US App Store) Visit
EliteSingles 3.0 3.5 Busy professionals who want something serious Limited ≈ $64.99 for 1 month Visit

We rank for this audience, so the order follows the fit score. The overall rating reflects the site as a whole. How we score.

The best options in detail

1

Hinge

4.8

Fit for usa · Overall rating 4.5

Best for: Finding a relationship in your 20s and 30s

Relationship-focused, with prompts and dating intentions that show who wants something serious. A good first app for Americans in their 20s and 30s, and messaging matches is free.

  • Detailed, conversation-friendly profiles
  • Strong focus on real relationships
  • Free version is usable, with free faith and ethnicity filters
Free version
Yes
Paid from
≈ $16.99 (US App Store)
2

Tinder

4.7

Fit for usa · Overall rating 4.0

Best for: Meeting lots of people fast

The most used dating app among American adults, according to Pew Research Center. Free to match and message, and the easiest place to find lots of people nearby.

  • Huge, active user base almost everywhere
  • Free version lets you match and chat
  • Very fast and easy to use
Free version
Yes
Paid from
≈ $9.99 (US App Store)
3

Bumble

4.6

Fit for usa · Overall rating 4.2

Best for: A big, well-moderated swipe app

A big swipe app where women send the first message in man–woman matches, which keeps inboxes calmer. Free to match and message, with paid plans for extras.

  • Big pool, with 100M+ Google Play downloads
  • Photo verification required in the US
  • Free in-app voice and video calls
Free version
Yes
Paid from
≈ $2.99 for Boost (US App Store)
4

Match

4.4

Fit for usa · Overall rating 4.2

Best for: Serious daters who like to search

One of the original American dating sites, with long profiles and detailed search. A strong choice in your 30s to 60s if you like to search for someone yourself; free members can chat with their matches.

  • Large, relationship-minded community
  • Free members can chat with their matches
  • Strong search, on the web and in apps
Free version
Yes
Paid from
≈ $19.99 (US App Store)
5

eHarmony

4.3

Fit for usa · Overall rating 4.4

Best for: Serious relationships and marriage

Compatibility matching for Americans who want a committed relationship. A detailed quiz drives your match suggestions, and messaging needs a paid plan.

  • Strong focus on long-term compatibility
  • Detailed quiz and compatibility scores
  • Free Basic membership with no time limit
Free version
Limited
Premium
shown after you sign up
6

OkCupid

4.1

Fit for usa · Overall rating 4.0

Best for: Matching on values and answers as well as photos

Free, question-based matching with detailed profiles and inclusive gender and orientation options. Good if you want to match on values and opinions, not only photos.

  • Match percentage based on real answers
  • Free messaging with matches
  • Over 60 gender and orientation options, plus pronouns
Free version
Yes
Paid from
≈ $10/mo
7

Coffee Meets Bagel

4.0

Fit for usa · Overall rating 3.9

Best for: Busy people who want fewer, better matches

Sends a small number of suggested matches each day instead of an endless feed. A calm option for busy people in their late 20s and 30s who want a relationship.

  • Free likes and chat with your daily matches
  • Free ethnicity, religion and relationship-goal preferences
  • Selfie verification
Free version
Yes
Paid from
≈ $34.99/mo (US App Store)
8

Plenty of Fish

3.9

Fit for usa · Overall rating 3.6

Best for: Free messaging and searching a big pool yourself

One of the few big dating sites where you can search, browse and message for free, with members of all ages. Video call before meeting, since free sign-up attracts more fakes.

  • Free messaging with matches
  • Huge, broad membership
  • You can search and filter yourself
Free version
Yes
Paid from
≈ $19.99 (US App Store)
9

Facebook Dating

3.8

Fit for usa · Overall rating 3.7

Best for: Trying online dating without paying anything

A free dating profile inside the Facebook app, with no paid plans at all. An easy way to try online dating if you already use Facebook.

  • Completely free
  • Huge potential audience
  • Profiles separate from your main Facebook
Free version
Yes
Paid plans
None
10

Zoosk

3.7

Fit for usa · Overall rating 3.8

Best for: Casual to serious dating on a budget

A mix of browsing and swiping, with SmartPick suggestions that learn from your activity. Free to join and browse; you pay to message.

  • Mix of swiping, browsing and daily suggestions
  • Web and app with one account
  • Photos reviewed before they appear
Free version
Limited
Paid from
≈ $29.99 (US App Store)
11

SilverSingles

3.6

Fit for usa · Overall rating 4.2

Best for: Over 50s who want an age-limited, verified community

Built for Americans over 50, with a personality test and suggested matches. Browsing is free, and messaging needs a paid plan.

  • Only singles over 50
  • Every visible profile verified by selfie video
  • Voice and video calls that hide your number
Free version
Limited
Paid from
≈ $18.99/mo (US App Store)
12

OurTime

3.5

Fit for usa · Overall rating 3.9

Best for: Over 50s who like to browse

A straightforward, affordable dating site for singles over 50 who like to browse profiles themselves. Free to join, search and send likes.

  • Built for people over 50
  • Very easy to use
  • Free to search and like
Free version
Limited
Paid from
≈ $19.99 for 1 week (US App Store)
13

Hily

3.3

Fit for usa · Overall rating 3.6

Best for: Younger daters who want a free, easy swipe app

A swipe app with a compatibility quiz and icebreakers. It suits younger daters who want something quick and free.

  • Free matching and chat
  • Easy to start
  • Verification badges and 24/7 moderation
Free version
Yes
Paid from
≈ $7.99 (US App Store)
14

EliteSingles

3.0

Fit for usa · Overall rating 3.5

Best for: Busy professionals who want something serious

Relaunched in 2026 by a new owner for educated, relationship-minded singles, with a personality questionnaire, profile review and selfie-video photo verification. Its member base was rebuilt from scratch, so expect a small pool.

  • Profiles are reviewed before they go live
  • Selfie-video photo verification
  • Voice calls inside the site
Free version
Limited
Paid from
≈ $64.99 for 1 month

Online dating in the USA: who uses what

Online dating in America is mainstream: three in ten US adults have used a dating site or app, according to Pew Research Center’s 2022 survey. Tinder is the most widely used: 14% of American adults say they have used it, followed by Match (9%) and Bumble (8%). And one in ten partnered adults met their current partner on a dating site or app (Pew Research Center, 2023).

Best dating apps in the US by goal

  • A relationship in your 20s or 30s: Hinge, with detailed profiles and dating intentions.
  • The biggest pool: Tinder, free to match and message.
  • Women messaging first: Bumble.
  • Ready to commit at 30 and up: Match or eHarmony.
  • Over 50: SilverSingles or OurTime.

Our Tinder vs Hinge, Hinge vs Bumble and eHarmony vs Match comparisons go into the details.

Free dating sites in the USA and what paid plans cost

Hinge, Tinder, Bumble, OkCupid and Plenty of Fish are the main free dating sites in the USA: you can match and message without paying, and paid plans add extras such as unlimited likes. Facebook Dating has no paid plans at all. eHarmony, SilverSingles and Zoosk are free to join and browse but charge before you can message, Match lets free members chat only with their matches, and longer plans cost less per month. Most subscriptions renew automatically, so set a reminder if you only want to try one.

Dating sites in the US for specific communities

Many Americans do better on a site built for their community or stage of life. See our rankings for Black singles, Latino singles, Christians, Catholics, Latter-day Saints, single parents, rural singles and over 50s.

Reporting romance scams in the USA

Romance scams often start away from dating apps: in 2025, nearly 60% of people who reported losing money to a romance scam said it started on social media (FTC, 2026). If you’re targeted, stop contact, call your bank if you’ve sent money, and report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Our romance scam guide explains the warning signs.

Compare these sites head to head

All comparisons →

Tips before you start

Choose by who you want to meet rather than by features: Hinge for relationships under 40, Tinder for reach, and Match or eHarmony if you’re ready to commit. Try one app and one site together, for example Hinge plus Match, and drop the one that isn’t working after a month.

Keep chats on the app until you trust someone, video call before meeting and choose a public place for a first date. Our dating bio guide helps you stand out in a crowded pool.

How we chose

We ranked sites on match quality, features, value, safety and ease of use, and weighed how well each fits this audience. See how we rate dating sites.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best dating sites in the USA?

The best dating sites in the USA depend on your goal. Hinge is the top choice for a relationship in your 20s and 30s, Tinder has the biggest pool, and Match and eHarmony suit people ready to commit. Over 50s often do better on SilverSingles or OurTime.

What is the most popular dating app in the USA?

Tinder. In Pew Research Center’s 2022 survey, 14% of US adults said they had used Tinder, more than any other dating platform. Match (9%) and Bumble (8%) came next. Overall, three in ten American adults have used a dating site or app.

Are there free dating apps without payment in the USA?

Facebook Dating has no paid plans at all. Hinge, Tinder, Bumble, OkCupid and Plenty of Fish are free to match and message, with optional paid extras. eHarmony, SilverSingles and Zoosk let you join and browse for free, but you need a paid plan to message. Match lets free members chat with their matches.

What is the best dating site in the US for serious relationships?

Hinge is the best free choice for people under 40 who want a relationship, thanks to detailed profiles and dating intentions. If you’re over 30 and ready to commit, eHarmony’s compatibility matching and Match’s detailed search are strong paid options.

Where do I report a romance scam in the US?

Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), and call your bank right away if you’ve sent money. Also report the profile on the dating app or social network where it started, and never pay anyone who promises to recover your money.

Other rankings

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