Online dating has quickly become one of the easiest ways to meet new people. Many people simply don’t have the time or the willpower to go out there and try to meet people in a bar or club scene at the end of a busy work week. That is why online dating has become so popular. It is now really easy to browse, connect and possibly date from the comfort of wherever you are. You can use your laptop, tablet, desktop or smartphone to search for your possible soulmate. Keep reading to find out if online dating is right for you.

Types of Online Dating

There are many different types of online dating sites to choose from, from general to niche subgroups. Some of the most common online dating services include:

Free Dating Sites

Free dating sites are extremely popular because they are free. This means that the people on these sites may not be the most interested in a relationship (or may even already be in one) and are just there to test out the waters. Free dating sites can easily scare off potential online daters because of the amount of people on there that are trolling and are not interested in a serious relationship. If you are looking for a real connection and to be matched based on shared interests and morals you may want to pay for a more premium site. Some of the most popular free sites include POF.com (Plenty of fish), OkCupid.com and more.  If you are looking for some funny dates that most likely won’t go anywhere, stick to free sites.

Subscription Online Dating Sites

Subscription online dating sites require a paid membership. This type of site tends to draw a more serious dating crowd who are looking to develop relationships that last. If you are unsure about what paid dating site to subscribe to don’t worry. Many of these sites will offer special promotions including one week free offers or discounts on their regular subscription rates so you can try them out without the full financial commitment. People generally tend to have much better success in finding a possible partner because they can easily select who they are interested in.  Some of the most popular paid subscription dating sites include Match.com, Chemistry.com and Zoosk.com.

Matched Online Dating Sites

There are many dating sites that will do a lot of the online dating ‘work’ for you. If you are busy or don’t want to bother sifting through a ton of user profiles there are many sites that will use their algorithms to find the best suitable matches for you. You will start off by having to fill out your user profile along with a personality test which can be quite extensive in length. These profiles along with your interests, age, geographic location and more are taken into account and matches are sent your way based upon this information. Some of the most popular matched dating sites include eHarmony.com, Consciousmatch.com and more.

Specialized Online Dating Sites

If you are looking for that special one, and are very specific about whom that special one is, there are many niche online dating sites that can help you to find exactly who you are looking for. It doesn’t matter what you are looking for, there is most likely a dating site that is dedicated to it. You can find specialized dating sites based on many different types of criteria including sexuality, political views, religion, location, physical disabilities profession, age and much more.  Some of the most common specialized online dating sites include Christianmingle.com, SeniorPeopleMeet.com, Jdate.com, MillionaireMatch.com and more.

Online dating is an easy and fun way to meet new people, but make sure that you are safe about it. Don’t give out your personal information and only meet people for the first time in a public setting. Also make sure that you go in with an open mind, but stay true to what you are looking for. Don’t go out with the first person that messages you; rather take your time to find worthwhile potential suitors.