Contributed by: ElyseRomano on Tuesday, June 05 2012 @ 09:37 am
Last modified on
When it comes to online dating, there's no bigger question than "How do I know which dating site is right for me?
That's the question YourTango tackles in Day Two of their Online Dating Bootcamp. Armed with a cadre of dating experts, YourTango reviewed a few of online dating's biggest players. This is what they had to say:
Match.com- The Pros: At over 20 million members, Match is huge. And not only does it give you access to a seriously wide range of potential dates, it also manages to be incredibly targeted at the same time. The Cons: Because the site is so big, you'll likely need to invest more time and energy into being proactive about finding a partner.
eHarmony - The Pros: The site accounts for 542 marriages a day - a massive five percent of all nuptials in the US. It's a great destination for those who are serious about settling down. The Cons: eHarmony is not for those who lack patience. The guided communication process can take a long time.
Chemistry - The Pros: Chemistry saves busy singles some time by automatically pairing up members and selecting daily matches for users. The Cons: The site does all the work for you, so it isn't ideal for those who want to have control over the search process.
Gay - The Pros: Gay.com is a hub for just about everything, from advice, to fashion, to - of course - dating. The Cons: Gay is just a standard dating site with no specific niche to narrow the search for Mr. Right.
OKCupid - The Pros: OKCupid is a free, fun, and has a social networking feel. The Cons: The nonexistent monthly fee means that just about everyone is on OKCupid. There's no system in place to filter the desirable dates from the fake profiles, scammers, and shirtless sleazebags.
Grindr - The Pros: For low-key hookups, it doesn't get any better. It's fast, convenient, and as anonymous as you want it to be. The Cons: If you're looking for anything more than a hookup, look elsewhere.
JDate - The Pros: This is THE site for Jewish dating. JDate is dedicated solely to pairing Jewish singles, and searches can be conducted by denomination for optimum compatibility. The Cons: non-Jews sometimes "crash the virtual party," so be on the lookout for singles who leave the religion field blank on their profiles.
ManHunt - The Pros: ManHunt is one of the oldest matching services for the gay community and now has more than 6 million members. The Cons: Like Grindr, ManHunt is primarily a hookup site. Don't come here if you're looking for something serious.
One Good Love - The Pros: One Good Love is designed by the LGBT community, for the LGBT community. If long-term love is your goal, this is the place to go. The Cons: Free access is limited. Payment is required for full access to the site's features.
Related Story: YourTango Online Dating Bootcamp: Day One & Day Two
Related Story: YourTango Online Dating Bootcamp: Day Four