Top 10 Best Sites
Looking for a dating site you can trust? Search no more.
As a single woman on a budget, I always jumped on opportunities to join free dating sites with no credit card or hidden fees attached.
The costs of actively dating can pile up pretty quickly. The average unmarried American spends over $1,500 a year on dating, and singles in big cities can spend up to $300 on one date night. That’s a high price for romance, and not everyone has that kind of spending power.
Fortunately, free dating sites with no credit card required can help singles save their cash while meeting people who are worth getting to know better over dinner, drinks, or coffee.
We’ve ranked the 19 most cost-efficient dating sites that offer many free features to help today’s singles make valuable connections in the local dating scene. You don’t need a credit card to sign up to these free dating platforms.
1. Match
Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
Our Experts Say: “Match has facilitated the most dates and relationships of any dating site, and its large audience and high success rate make it our top review...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
39.7 Million* | Try Match FREE |
Match is our favorite dating site because it offers a great value for your money. Since 1995, this time-tested dating site has developed an effective matching system guaranteed to get results. The best part is you don’t need to pay anything to join this global dating network.
It’s free to sign up to Match and browse dating profiles as much as you please. You can send likes to let your online crush know you’re interested. Free members can also read and respond to some messages in their inboxes. The limited communication could be enough to start a relationship, or it could give you enough confidence in the service to warrant signing up for a full membership plan.
Match subscriptions can cost as little as $16.99 a month (for a one year membership), and members can cancel at any time. Contact the Customer Service team with questions about the terms of membership.
2. EliteSingles
Relationships: Serious Relationships
Match System: Search, Receive Partner Suggestions
Our Experts Say: “EliteSingles is a leading dating site just for busy, single professionals. More than 80% of members have earned a college degree, and most are looking for a serious commitment...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
2 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
If you’re looking for a first-class dating experience, EliteSingles is the best dating app for the self-identified elite single person. This premier dating site supports quality singles with its strict code of conduct and creates smart matches based on personal compatibility, not superficial attraction.
Free members can search the database and swipe through matches on EliteSingles, but they cannot see any dating profile pictures unless they subscribe. This paywall ensures only serious singles can get in touch.
Over 80% of EliteSingles members have graduated from college and are now working professionals who want to invest in their love lives. The EliteSingles network currently reaches the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa, so singles don’t have to stick to their own backyards when looking for romance. This international dating site uses a personalized algorithm to lead a new person to the perfect match.
3. OurTime.com
Relationships: Dates and Relationships
Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more
Our Experts Say: “OurTime is well-known in the over-50 dating crowd, particularly because it has a ton of helpful search features and an easy layout...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| Mature Singles (50+)* |
48%*
52%*
|
8.9 Million* | Over 50? Try It FREE |
Singles of a certain age can use OurTime to get back out there and meet age-appropriate dates. This senior-friendly site provides simple search tools and straightforward matching systems that facilitate mature relationships.
The free features on OurTime include viewing profiles, searching for profiles, sending likes, and reviewing matches. The free site also offers safety tips to help newcomers have the best possible experience.
OurTime also has a free dating app available on Google Play and the App Store. Even if you’re not that tech-savvy, you’ll soon get the hang of this user-friendly dating platform.
Relationships: Hookups Only
Match System: Search by location, interest, more
Our Experts Say: “Make no mistake: this site isn't about making friends, it's about finding hookups and casual encounters. No adult site has a larger or more active user base of those seeking discreet fun...”
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
65%*
35%*
|
25.5 Million* | 3 Months @ $19.95/Mo |
Adult Friend Finder (AFF) is a free hookup site where local singles and swingers can let go of their inhibitions and pursue their desires. Since it went online in 1996, the AFF community has grown to include over 100 million profiles around the world.
All these sexy profiles offer a world of flirtatious opportunity for anyone seeking no-strings-attached sex. Casual daters can be honest about their fantasies and anonymously solicit sex with local hotties.
The AFF members-only forum is a great place to start. This community-driven space has over 170,000 groups organized by interest and fetish, and over 3 million members have taken part in the casual dating discussion.
5. eharmony
Relationships: Casual Dates, Deep Relationships
Match System: Personality test suggests matches
Our Experts Say: “Accounting for 2% of U.S. marriages, eharmony's compatibility-based system and commitment-minded user base are ideal for those seeking a serious relationship...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
4.1 Million* | View Profiles FREE |
At its heart, eharmony is all about fostering happy marriages, and it uses proven psychological principles to inspire love connections between its members.
CEO and Founder Dr. Neil Clark Warren decided after 35 years of counseling couples that singles needed resources to help them select the right partner, so they wouldn’t end up in a therapist’s office. He created eharmony to introduce single men and women to potential partners who shared similar goals, values, temperament, and interests.
Today, eharmony continues relying on its psychology driven personality test to identify a potential match on the online dating site and app. Free members can take the survey and review their Daily Matches, and they can upgrade their accounts if they see anyone worth messaging. One thing singles should know is that eharmony is an old-school dating service with a growing array of new-school technology, including fun quizzes and video chat.
Relationships: Friendship, Casual Dates, Serious Relationships
Match System: Search by age, location, height, education, ethnicity, and religion
Our Experts Say: “SilverSingles is a fast-growing, easy-to-use niche dating site exclusively for active daters over the age of 50...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| Mature Singles (50+)* |
41%*
59%*
|
800,000* | Sign up for FREE |
SilverSingles has earned the trust of the senior community by consistently putting its members’ needs first. The easy-to-navigate dating platform offers simple search tools, in-depth profiles, and personalized like and chat options to satisfy local singles seeking companionship.
SilverSingles profiles offer a lot of good insights into who a person is. The online dating site can even assess how open, conscientious, extroverted, agreeable, and neurotic a person is through a questionnaire. By perusing these dating profiles, you can find someone who’s a keeper on SilverSingles.
“Our vision is to maintain the industry’s highest standards,” according to the SilverSingles team. “We are as committed to our members, and the most important part of our work is, and always will be, bringing people together.”
Relationships: Dates and Serious Relationships
Match System: Search by gender, age, education, more
Our Experts Say: “ChristianMingle is among the largest dating sites in the industry that only caters to single Christian men and women, and the site has some of the best search filters and safety features...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| Christian Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
3.5 Million* | Try Now for $19.99/Month |
The central mission of ChristianMingle is to support Christian marriages around the world. That being said, you don’t have to be a Christian to sign up. Atheist, Muslim, and Jewish singles (and anyone, really) can join if they are open to being in a relationship with a Christian person.
ChristianMingle offers a free trial period where users can explore the online dating site and see if it’s right for them. Paid members have full access to all the features on ChristianMingle, including unlimited messaging.
ChristianMingle is a popular dating site with many success stories that serve as a testament to the work this team does every single day. If you’re looking for a person of faith and devotion, you should become a member of Christian Mingle.
Relationships: Deep Relationships or Just Casual Dates
Match System: Search by location, age, more
Our Experts Say: “BlackPeopleMeet.com is the one of the largest and most popular dating sites for black and biracial singles, and the site is used by more than 5 million people a month...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| Black Singles* |
47%*
53%*
|
5.7 Million* | FREE Trial for New Users |
Since 2002, BlackPeopleMeet has made a name for itself as the top dating site for African-American singles. Its membership base stretches from sea to shining sea and includes people of all ages, races, and backgrounds.
If you’re attracted to Black or biracial people, you’ll be in good company in here. BlackPeopleMeet caters to the Black community in the U.S. and Canada. Its diverse user base invites free members to search, browse, and make an online connection that could lead to Black love or an interracial relationship.
You can send flirts and review your matches for free, and paid members can send unlimited likes and as many messages as they want on BlackPeopleMeet.
9. BeNaughty
Relationships: Hookups, Chats
Match System: Search by encounter, location, and more
Our Experts Say: “BeNaughty is a premier hookup app where you can feel comfortable expressing your desires. Plus, it's free to join, browse, and flirt...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
13.3 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
As far as free dating and hookup sites go, BeNaughty is the casual dater’s dream. Once you complete your dating profile, you can browse row upon row of profile pictures until you see a potential partner who attracts your interest and warrants a like or favorite.
Free members can send individual chats or mass messages to make something happen. BeNaughty requires all members to be over 18 years old because conversations can get sexually explicit and lead to some adult encounters.
BeNaughty tempts its users to become premium daters by signing up for a monthly membership plan. A paid member will receive extra security features and rank higher in search results, meaning they’re seen by five times as many people online. These membership plans cost pennies a day and yield fast results, so it’s no wonder BeNaughty has the rep as one of the greatest sex dating apps.
10. Hinge
Hinge is the dating app of choice for quality-driven and relationship-minded singles across the U.S. The Hinge team designed this app to be deleted, meaning singles can use it to find a compatible date quickly and then hang up their online dating hats for good.
It’s free to download Hinge, and you can chat with mutual matches for as long as you like without paying a cent. The app encourages deep conversations by giving people the space and freedom to express their personalities.
The Hinge dating profile includes basic demographic information as well as six photos and three original prompts about their likes, hobbies, experiences, and plans for the future. Hinge members can choose to add captions or location tags to their photos to provide even more details about themselves.
Hinge users must like or comment on a picture or prompt to initiate a mutual match, and that can often lead to a genuine connection. And all after the match communication is totally free with no time limit or trial period to worry about.
The Hinge team follows up to find out if your first date went well and if you plan to see that person again. The experts can also recommend fun date activities to bring some excitement to your time together. You don’t have to do anything elaborate, though — I met my husband on Hinge, and we went to a coffee shop even though neither of us drink coffee. Sometimes things just work out.
11. OkCupid
OkCupid is a totally, absolutely, forever free dating site where all singles can enjoy unlimited messaging. And did I mention it’s free? Many singles on a budget sign up to OkCupid to save their cash for their first dates. OkCupid is responsible for facilitating over 50,000 dates per week, and over 91 million matches every year.
In 2004, Harvard math majors began designing a love algorithm that has grown exponentially more complex and efficient and now is a major factor in OkCupid’s compatibility ratings.
OkCupid uses a virtually endless list of personal questions to determine who you are and what you want. Its questions range from serious dealbreakers — i.e. “how religious are you?” or “are you in favor of monogamy?” — to silly or thought-provoking questions — as in, “Do you still order from the kid’s menu” or “Marvel or DC?” The platform gathers this information and uses it to match users based on their interests, temperament, and values.
What we like about OkCupid is that it gives singles a lot of leeway and a lot of freedom to be themselves and find dates on their terms. Plus, it doesn’t charge anything for messaging, and you don’t have to wait for a mutual match to say hi.
12. Bumble
Women have the power to make the first move on Bumble, aka the world’s foremost feminist dating app. In 2014, Bumble shook up the dating scene by encouraging its female users to take the lead in their online conversations with men. Once a mutual match is established between opposite-sex partners, women have to send a greeting within a day or the chat will disappear.
Bumble allows straight and bisexual women to be the gatekeepers of their inboxes, and it has taken the pressure off men seeking female companionship in the dating scene. It’s free to download, match, and chat, but paid subscribers do have access to premium features, including Bumble Boost.
Over the years, Bumble has led to many healthy, egalitarian relationships, and 85% of users say they’re looking for something serious on the app, while less than 4% say they want a hookup.
In the wake of its success as a dating tool, Bumble has expanded to impact interpersonal relationships of all types. Bumble Bizz offers networking opportunities for career-minded individuals, and Bumble BFF helps people make new friends in the area.
13. Plenty of Fish
Plenty of Fish (POF) prides itself on being the best dating site for conversations — no credit or debit card needed. Its free messaging features have prompted a dating free-for-all where anyone can reach out to their online crushes.
According to the free online dating site’s internal statistics, POF members send over 1 billion messages a month to one another, and over 65,000 new members join the flirtatious network every day. In total, Plenty of Fish has over 150 million users.
The Plenty of Fish free signup process may take some time because it includes a Chemistry Test that measures self-confidence, family orientation, self-control, social dependency, and flexibility. Over 37 million POF users have taken this test and used its insights to create strong relationships.
“Before I joined Plenty of Fish, my dating life had somewhat stalled,” said Tyler, who met his future wife on POF. “Long story short, after a year or so of dating, we got engaged. We were married this past December and are now expecting our first child.”
14. Tinder
Tinder operates under the motto “single is a terrible thing to waste.” This popular dating app endeavors to help singles make the most of their love lives and date as many people as they want. Its swiping tools may be a bit controversial, but they get fast results, and it’s hard to argue with that.
On average, Tinder is responsible for over 1.5 million dates per week, and it has created over 75 billion total matches and been downloaded over 530 million times since its launch in 2012. Those numbers are impressive, and a pretty compelling reason to set up a free Tinder profile.
Tinder is available in over 190 countries, and it sees millions of swipes every day. Active daters can use Tinder’s ingenious swiping system to fill their date calendars and meet interesting people who live nearby. Free users have a limited number of likes per day, so some singles upgrade to Tinder Plus or Tinder Gold to get more perks, including access to the Super Like option.
Though Tinder has the reputation as a hookup app, it has actually led to a fair share of long-term relationships. Reddit has a thread about Tinder success stories and many couples have posted saying their mutual match became a love connection.
15. Grindr
Since launching in 2009, Grindr has become one of the most best-known hookup apps for single men. It maintains a dating network for a man seeking men, and guys of all orientations are welcome to come on board.
Grindr users location-based settings to connect guys who are right around the corner from one another. The purpose of its swiping system is to turn online flirtations into real-life romance, so the dating app works as a wingman for single men on the prowl for quick sex.
Grindr empowers men to discover hotties and confidently arrange first dates and hookups from their smartphones. At the same time, Grindr understands that not everyone in the LGBTQ+ community is out and proud, so the hookup app has a strict privacy policy and security features to make singles feel safe exploring their sexuality and meeting new people.
16. Happn
The Happn team has taken the idea of “serendipity” and turned it into a dating app. It works by using a smartphone’s location settings to see where you cross paths with other members. Maybe you both frequent the same coffee place and just haven’t met yet. Or maybe you were at the same party last week but didn’t connect.
Happn alerts you when these romantic opportunities occur and encourages users to create a match with someone who could be mere feet away from them.
When you view Happn dating profiles, you can see approximately how far away they are as well as when and where you last crossed paths. If you like what you see, click the Heart button to find if he or she is interested as well. While Happn masks the exact location of its users, it does offer a ballpark to help you find and flirt with dates within a close proximity.
17. HER
HER is a woman-only dating app where lesbian, bisexual, trans, and queer women mix and mingle. Over 13 million people have joined the network so far, and it continues to grow by word of mouth in the LGBTQ+ community.
It’s free to create a HER profile and scroll through a newsfeed of posts, photos, and events, and you can send likes and messages for free too. Anyone who identifies as a woman (or womxn) seeking women is welcome to make the most of a free membership on HER.
Rather than forcing romance on its users, HER encourages women to feel comfortable commenting, posting, and making friends in a space that feels like a private social club. There are matching features, but the app also promotes queer events to help individuals find their tribes.
“Finding an app that caters to bisexual women is hard,” said one HER user in a review. “HER is one of the few apps that are legitimate.”
18. CoffeeMeetsBagel
CoffeeMeetsBagel is a dating app designed by three single women who recognized the challenges of online dating and resolved to make it easier for genuine people to connect online. They have built a curated matching system where free members only have a certain number of likes and matches at their disposal each day.
The CoffeeMeetsBagel matching system forces users to be more selective and carefully view each dating profile in their daily match recommendations (aka bagels).
Since 2012, CoffeeMeetsBagel has created more than 50 million matches, and tens of thousands of singles have gotten into relationships as a result of its good work. You can download CoffeeMeetsBagel for free on Google Play or the App Store to see what it’s all about.
What Are the Worst Dating Sites?
The world’s worst dating sites are in business to attract signups, not to facilitate conversations or connections. Some of these sites may tempt singles with fake profiles or automated messages, but they don’t have a robust enough database to actually spark real matches that lead to a potential date.
Never give your credit card number to paid dating sites that don’t let you at least view profiles or read your messages for free. A dating website may claim to have thousands of local singles available, but the reality could be disappointing.
A disreputable dating service won’t screen members nor monitor content, so it becomes a hunting ground for scammers and spammers. You can look through a dating site’s customer reviews to get a sense of whether it’s the real deal or not. Users are usually pretty quick to one-star dating sites and apps that waste their time with false promises.
Another warning sign to look out for is the payment policy. You should read the fine print on a premium membership and know if your subscription will automatically renew and charge your credit card — or if you can get a refund should things not work out. Be careful where you spend your money because many online dating services are nonrefundable.
Do Online Relationships Last?
Yes, online relationships formed on a free dating site or app can go the distance in the real world and lead to strong, healthy, and fulfilling marriages. I’m now happily married and count myself among those success stories of online dating. But let’s look at the facts. Early evidence suggests that couples who meet online break up at slightly lower rates than couples who had met offline.
Online daters also have expressed higher levels of marital satisfaction in a survey commissioned by eharmony and conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago.
Economics professors Josue Ortega and Philipp Hergovich estimated that roughly one-third of all marriages begin online. These relationships are grounded on mutual interest, and therefore have what it takes to last a long time. According to this research, “on average, marriages created when online dating becomes available last longer than those created in societies without this technology.”
Is Online Dating Better Than Traditional Dating?
Online dating can be totally worth it for certain people in the dating scene. Say you get nervous talking to a new person and looking a stranger in the eye. Online dating can offer a low-pressure way to break the ice first. Or say you don’t have time to scour the bar scene every night. Online dating can save you precious time and money by bringing date prospects to you and allowing you to mingle whenever you’re free.
Singles are limited to their own neighborhoods when dating the traditional way, but online dating can offer access to singles in other cities or even other countries. It expands the dating pool and ups the odds of meeting a compatible person.
Dating sites and apps can also offer more control over your dating experience. You can use the search tools to identify compatibility and screen date prospects. Dating platforms surround you with options and empower you to sort through them until you find a compatible man or woman who meets your standards. Of course, the mindset with which you go into the dating site and dating app can make all the difference in the world too.
Online dating is all about exploration and learning what you like — and sometimes what you really don’t like! It’s up to the individual to carve their own path through the swiping scene and decide which online community suits their needs and gives them the best opportunity to meet like-minded people.
You Don’t Need a Credit Card to Flirt on Free Dating Sites
If you think dating is too rich for your blood, think again. Singles can use many deal-hunting strategies to cut the costs of dating someone special. You could skip the appetizers and desserts when wining and dining that special someone, or you could visit museums, parks, zoos, and other affordable date spots.
Signing up for free dating sites (no credit card) is another great way to enjoy an affordable dating experience. You don’t have to pay exorbitant prices to meet your match online. Plenty of dating platforms provide free search and chat features to satisfy the romantic and financial needs of singles around the world.
Whether you’re looking for a short-term romance or a long-term love, you can depend on the top-rated dating sites on this list to help you pursue your dream dates, and that’s absolutely priceless.
Advertiser Disclosure
DatingAdvice.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation from many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across the site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). DatingAdvice.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.
Our Editorial Review Policy
Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.
Discuss This!