As the internet has matured and more people have grown up connected to mobile apps and the web, online dating has evolved into a mainstream way to meet new people. In fact, dating sites and dating apps are now among the most common ways for prospective partners to meet one another, especially when it's difficult to meet new people in public settings.
There's no shortage of dating sites or apps to choose from, and most are free to varying degrees. Here are seven of the best free dating sites that you can access via the web or on a mobile app. Facebook Dating quickly rose to be one of the best free dating sites.
Unlike the alternatives, it is completely free with no in-app subscriptions or purchases, and it's easy to build a profile because it lets you draw on your existing Facebook profile. In addition, it's somewhat less common to encounter fake profiles because the entire service is built on Facebook, and users can optionally share their Facebook profiles with one another. Facebook Dating avoids matching you with your existing Facebook friends, but you can use common interests and Facebook groups to find potential matches.
It's only available in the mobile app iOS , Android , so you can't access it in the Facebook website on your computer. And while that might be something of a disadvantage, Facebook Dating has a lot of other upsides, including the ability to take a second look at profiles you initially passed on and the chance to match up with your "secret crush" — a person that's listed among your friends on Facebook or a follower on Instagram.
Tinder is the dating app that essentially invented the idea of swiping right and left to match or reject potential partners — a dating app mechanic that is now commonly used in most other apps. If both of you like each other's profiles, you've matched and can then start a text conversation or have a video chat within the app.
