Dating online can be emotionally-taxing enough. On any given night, you can go from feeling excited about the prospect of a new match to completely dejected when your advance is ignored. It can be exhausting. But don’t worry, we got you covered. Here at dating4singles, we’ve got a whole catalog full of helpful information here to get you in the dating mood.
One could argue that on top of this whirlwind of feelings deposited night after night, you shouldn’t have to empty your wallet as well in order to find love on a dating app. Fortunately, with the number of free dating sites currently available, you don’t have to. Still, there are some things you need to know about no-cost online dating.
What You Need to Know About Free Dating Sites
There are some great dating apps available and because they’re both great and free, a whole lot of people use them. This can be both an upside and a disadvantage when it comes to finding that someone special you’re looking for. On the one hand, it gives you plenty of choice.
On Tinder, for instance, you can spend hours swiping through profiles of singles in your area. And if you live in a big city, those hours could easily turn into days. Seriously, the choices are seemingly never-ending. This means that if you’re particular about what exactly you’re looking for, you may have a good chance of finding it on one of these heavily-populated apps.
On the other hand, too many choices can be a bad thing. For instance, if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands, then you may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of singles on one of these online free dating sites. You could simply get frustrated and give up with so many different options to consider.
Which Dating Sites Are Completely Free?
With dating sites, you not only have a lot of choice in terms of available singles, you also have a lot of different apps to choose from. Many of these free apps are quite well-known. Think Tinder, OkCupid, and Plenty of Fish, for instance. Other popular free dating sites include Bumble, Hinge, and Match. And for every free dating site with name recognition, there are ten more you’ve never heard of.
Here’s the Catch Regarding Free Online Dating Sites
If the news that there are plenty of good quality dating apps that cost absolutely nothing sounds too good to be true, though, you might be on to something. There is a catch.
Most of these free dating sites do not offer the full capabilities of their application at no charge. Instead, they often have a free version with basic functionalities and a premium (or paid) version that offers more features. That brings us to the next question.
Are Paid Dating Apps Better Than Free Sites?
Then there’s the debate over free versus paid dating apps. Which is better? It depends on who you ask. Some singles prefer free dating sites simply because they’re free. The argument here is that there’s really no reason to pay for a dating site when there are plenty of free ones out there. From this perspective, free sites just seem like a better value.
On the flip side of the coin, some people argue that paid dating apps are better because they attract singles who are more invested in the process of dating online. This line of thinking would lead one to believe you have a better chance of finding a quality date or someone open to a long-term relationship on one of these paid apps. This is just a theory, though. While it stands to reason, it hasn’t been proven. And there are plenty of couples living out their happily-ever-afters who met on a free app.
Should You Pay to Upgrade to A Premium Dating App?
Whether or not you pay to upgrade to the premium features of a dating app is a personal choice. And it will be a decision you make based on any number of different factors such as the current status of your bank account, how lonely or adventurous you’ve been feeling, and whether or not your friends are doing it.
There’s no right or wrong choice here—just be smart and know what it is you’re actually paying for if you do decide to level-up. Common features of premium versions include the ability to see whether a match likes your profile, more exposure on the dating site, or the option to look for matches outside a certain geographical area, for instance.
How to Choose the Best Free Online Dating App
If you’ve decided to save some dough and go with a no subscription fee dating site, then you’d be wise to do some snooping around first. Read the online reviews and talk to others who have used the app before you invest too much time setting up a profile.
What’s the next step? Read up on the app to see if it has a specific mission or user base. Some of these apps are niche-sites that cater to a specific population of people, whether it be a certain religious group—as is the case with Christian Mingle—or those who are open to certain indiscretions (think Ashley Madison).
A niche site that caters to your specific lifestyle or interests may work for you if you’re looking for something (or in this case, someone) very specific. If you want to keep your options open, however, it may be smarter to choose a more generic dating app.
You may think choosing a free dating site is a no-brainer. After all, you have nothing to lose, right? Yes and no. While these dating sites may not cost you anything financially, there are other investments to consider such as your time, effort, and the chance to meet someone amazing. You wouldn’t want to waste these on a dating app that’s not up to par.
As a final note, be sure to give the app a fair chance once you do decide on one. It’s not uncommon for singles to have a few lackluster experiences before coming across someone they find intriguing. Give it some time to pay off. Once you’re out having a good time with your perfect match, you’ll be glad you did! Read more about online dating sites and apps to help you choose which app suits you best.
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