Dating Services

Recipient
OkCupid

The 2015 Editor's Top Pick - Free Award recipient is OkCupid. OkCupid has always been a favorite of ours and it continues to be a favorite of our visitors as well. Google recently ranked OkCupid as the fourth most searched online dating service in 2015. OkCupid sees more than 1 million app installs (combine count of iTunes and Android) every week and over 7.3 million messages are sent between OkCupid members every day. You will also find between 125 thousand and 180 thousand users online at any one time. Most of these users are from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

OkCupid also has one of the highest app ratings of any dating app on Google Play. Over 200 thousand people have rated the app and have given it a 4.2 out of 5 stars. On iTunes they have a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. OkCupid has a staff of 45 employees (most of them software engineers) who are dedicated in bring it's members a high quality online dating experience. Being a free service means their first priority is not about generating paid subscriptions but about generating matches between members and having those members communicate as easy as possible. Being free also means that you can send messages with any member you find on OkCupid that sparks your interest for zero cost. With most paid dating sites both members have to have a paid subscription to be able to communicate with each other. OkCupid does offer a paid upgrade called the A-List. This upgrade gives you enhancements like advanced search options, message read receipts and no online ads.

Matchmaking on OkCupid is more than your basic filter for age ranges and matching people together with who have the same interests. OkCupid uses real math and algorithms that help provides matches based on the Match Questions you answer. Match Questions are not only provided by OkCupid but by other users as well.

Read our review of OkCupid for more information about this online dating service or visit OkCupid directly.

This Year's Runner Up for this award is: POF

2015 was the biggest year yet for online dating. Ten years ago, digital dating was still viewed with skepticism. Today, a majority of Americans believe it's a good way to meet people and 5% of Americans in committed relationships say they met their significant other online.

Now that singles have fallen head over heels for online dating, services have exploded. From the basics like Match and eHarmony, to youth-centric options like OkCupid and Tinder, to hyper-specific sites for bacon lovers and beard aficionados, there's something for everyone. So which dating services are a cut above the rest?

Bustle teamed up with Google to reveal the top-searched dating apps and sites in 2015. The list is surprisingly diverse:

1. Plenty Of Fish: Plenty of Fish sounds like a throwback to an earlier era of online dating, but the site is alive and well as we start 2016. Its inexpensive options draw 50,000 new members every day and even hooked The Match Group, which acquired POF in July 2015. See our full review of Plenty of Fish.
2. Tinder: It's no surprise that Tinder nearly took the top spot. The time-killing app made “swipe” an important part of everyone's vocabulary and totally changed the dating game. See our full review of Tinder.
3. Match: Match.com has been connecting singles since the primitive days of online dating and is still a prime choice. Over the years, the site has perfected its matching technique and remained a favorite for daters all around the world. See our full review of Match.
4. OkCupid: OkCupid revolutionized the online dating industry as an entirely free service. Today paid options have popped up, but OkCupid remains largely free to use and scores highly for its excellent compatibility algorithm. See our full review of OkCupid.
5. eHarmony: Though it began as a dating service strictly for Christians, eHarmony has expanded its service to welcome a wider variety of singles. The site has built a reputation as a go-to service for serious relationships. See our full review of eHarmony.
6. Zoosk: Zoosk quietly continued its quest for world domination in 2015. With service available in 80 countries, 25 different languages, and on your computer, phone, tablet, and Facebook, Zoosk is practically inescapable. See our full review of Zoosk.
7. Bumble: Bumble got a lot of press last year for its “Feminist Tinder” approach to online dating. The app takes the infamous swiping set-up, but attempts to lower the creep factor by putting female members in charge.
8. Hinge: Scared of meeting strangers online? Hinge solves the problem by using Facebook to connect users with mutual friends. Members can breathe easy knowing that their dates have been vetted by someone they trust. See our full review of Hinge.
9. Grouper: It's impossible to take all the awkwardness out of a first date, but Grouper helps lessen it by adding friends to the mix. The app connects groups of friends to take the pressure off.
10. Farmers Only: Yes, believe it or not, the uber-niche Farmers Only made the cut. Although perhaps it's just from people searching Google to find out if it's actually real.

Recipient
Senior People Meet

Senior People Meet is the recipient of the 2015 Editor's Top Pick - Senior Award. This popular dating service by People Media is designed to match singles 55 years and older. It can be accessed via the website at SeniorPeopleMeet.com or via your phone through the dating app available at iTunes and Google Play.

It takes about 2 minutes to create a basic free membership account on Senior People Meet. From there you are allowed to search and view member profiles and photos, and send flirts. You also get access to Today's Matches which gives you 5 matches every day that meet your criteria and location. After viewing the profiles of these matches you can answer Yes, No or Maybe if you agree that they could be a possible match. If you both agree that you are a possible match then communication can start.

After creating a free account it is recommended that you upload a photo since only member's with photos appear in the search results. You should also update your profile as it will only be about 15% completed after registration with only the basic information entered. Under your profile you will also find Message Ideas that you can select which one's you would want singles to ask you. These are present to members who wish to message you and are are great way to break the ice.

When you find some matches you like and you wish to chat live with them or send a message, you will need to pay for a subscription which can cost under $2 a week.

Senior People Meet takes your privacy and safety seriously. Under My Account you can setup features to control who sees your profile, block users, and change your online status.

Read our review of Senior People Meet for more information about this dating service or visit Senior People Meet directly.

This Year's Runner Up for this award is: OurTime.com

Recipient
MillionaireMatch

The 2015 Top Pick - Wealthy Award from the Editor's goes to the dating service MillionaireMatch. This service has been online since 2001 and has had over 2.6 million singles sign up for a membership. By our estimation this dating service is the largest dating service in it's niche of matching wealthy singles and admirers.

2015 was about growth for MillionaireMatch. With the release in the previous year of the Android and iOS dating apps is has allowed MillionaireMatch to expand their market share and reach more people. One of the reasons for MillionaireMatch's popularity is the ability to have your photos and millionaire status verified. Verified members are marked with a Diamond icon. Being able to trust that the information in a profile is correct is very important and leads to a lot more communication requests by other members.

The service also has a host of other features which keeps it in the running (every year) for the Editor's top pick award. These include:

• Customer support being available by phone and live chat
• Ability to find out if the mail you sent to a member was read
• Can post questions on profiles and see other answers
• Check latest activity of your favorite members
• Private Photo Albums
• Gold Members can contact all members

Read our review of Millionaire Match for more information about this dating service or visit MillionaireMatch directly.

This Year's Runner Up for this award is: Sugardaddie.com

Recipient
Christian Mingle

Christian Mingle is the recipient of the 2015 Editor's Top Pick - Christian Award. This dating service is available via their website and dating apps for both the iPhone and Android devices. From our estimation using a number of online traffic tools we found that it is the leading dating service for Christian singles seeking like minded people.

This dating service has gone through a lot of changes this year. We have seen a number of updates for their dating app which brought in new features like new search criteria, complete layout redesign, and a updated registration process to improve access to the app. With the streamlined user experience which simplifies interactions between members we also saw the new Daily Matches feature which presents to the user when they sign in a collection of matches. Tablet and iPad users were not forgotten as the app layout takes advantage of the larger screen real estate that these devices offer.

Christian Mingle didn't forget about their website either. In December we saw a brand new interface as well which included a lot of new improvements along with a vastly updated layout which makes finding all the different features of this dating service easier. Interaction between members also have improved since now both the website and dating apps now share the same communication platform.

Christian Mingle’s also held onto their high rating at the Better Business Bureau (BBB). They are a BBB Accredited Business and have been a member since 1999 and continue to hold a A- rating. According to the BBB Spark Networks (which owns Christian Mingle) is "commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints".

Read our review of Christian Mingle for more information about this dating service or visit Christian Mingle directly.

This Year's Runner Up for this award is: Christian Cafe

If “find love” is one of your resolutions for 2016, you're in luck. Get your best pickup lines ready, because the busiest time of year for online dating is rapidly approaching.

Match.com has revealed the exact day the most users will log on in 2016, and even narrowed the time down to the minute. Using their site traffic data, Match predicts that Sunday, January 3, at 8:52 pm EST is when the most users in all of 2016 will be logging on to the site.

Why is early January peak season for online dating? January 3 follows two major holidays, Christmas and New Year's, when singletons can feel especially lonely. On top of that, the beginning of the year is prime time for New Year's resolutions, which are often made about love and relationships.

Dr. Helen Fisher, biological anthropologist and Chief Scientific Advisor for Match, says there's a biological reason for this behavior. “I think all three brain systems for love become stimulated around this time of year, including sex drive, feeling of attachment and romantic love,” she told Bustle.

She goes on to say that the novelty of the holidays can trigger the dopamine system, which encourages feelings of romance, while the hugging and nostalgia that accompany the season can trigger feelings of attachment. If you're not in a relationship, it can emphasize your singlehood.

“Moreover,” she continues, “the beginning of the new year is a natural time for rejuvenation and renewal; and has been for thousands of years. So we naturally begin to look around for a true love.”

If you can't log on exactly at 8:52 pm EST on January 3, don't stress. Match says that peak season will span the full month of January and then some. The site rountinely experiences a 60 percent leap in new members signing up between December 25 and February 14, so you could have a new special someone just in time for Valentine's Day.

And it's not just sign ups that get a boost during this time of year. The number of messages exchanged also increases with the influx of new numbers. Match says that a whopping 50 million messages are sent during peak season.

In order to secure that V-Day date, users step up their game across the board. Along with sending more messages, members use the new year to rejuvenate their profiles and add new photos. Fifteen million new images are uploaded to Match between Christmas and Valentine's Day.

Is all that effort worth it? Statistics say yes. Match predicts that 1 million people will go on dates as a result of the elevated activity during peak season. Now is the perfect time to freshen up your profile and double down on your dating efforts in 2016. For more information on this dating service, please read our review of Match.com.