All of us have witnessed a gigantic shift in dating culture in the past few years. Smartphones and Tinder have changed the online dating scene drastically. The new age dating apps are equipped with a location-based search, easy swipe feature, plenty of choices, and gamified experience of finding a new date.
Along with this plethora of benefits, the culture has brought some negative influences. Even with an overwhelming number of choices, people find it challenging to form genuine connections. The hours of scrolling and liking profiles sometimes only lead to exchanging texts, which gives you an illusion of progress.
No doubt, swipe-based apps have given rise to a hook-up culture in the online dating world. But many claim to have formed an authentic and serious relationship through these apps. All this trickle down to one conclusion, for a real and serious relationship that lasts long, you need to go for the best dating sites for serious relationships. To help you and set the ball rolling, here's the list of the top 10 most effective dating sites for people looking for real love.
Table of Content
10 Best Dating Websites for Serious Relationships
eharmony
Relationships: Long term, serious and deep relationships
Profile: All singles*
Gender Ratio: 51% male and 49% female*
User Base: 4.2 million visits/month*
Popularity: Over 9 million active users worldwide*
User Rating: 4.8/5.0*
eharmony is unarguably the number one dating site for people seeking committed and serious relationships. It is one of the pioneer dating sites that has matched millions of couples. The unique personality-based matchmaking system is the backbone of eharmony’s success. The whole scientific approach is what makes it stand out from casual dating apps.
eharmony provides one of the safest and secure dating environments for people looking for serious online dating. If you are tired of playing games and looking for a real deal, eharmony has the largest database of people over 30-40 years.
You can also try eharmony's professional matchmaking services. You, too, can opt for this service and let a dedicated consultant find you a match.
Special features
- The signature personality test, involving 80 questions, helps you to identify your personality in different dimensions.
- No, browse profile options. Instead, you get daily match recommendations. It takes away a lot of work and time. You can always customize the recommendations based on your preferences.
- The site has an exhaustive list of safety features, such as RelyId. It is an id verification badge, which can increase the credibility of your profile.
- People who are too shy to talk and struggle to find the right words can use the automated icebreaker feature.
- SecureCalls and Video Calls let you interact with other users without exchanging contact details.
- SSL security ensures a robustly safe dating environment.
eharmony has continuously upgraded itself to the changing dating scenarios. You can also download the eharmony app for more convenience. Even with all the upgrades, it is still all about deeper connections and is one of the most legit dating sites. If you are thinking about marriage, then it is one of the most effective online dating sites.
Zoosk
Relationships: Flexible dating, fun & short term dates, serious relationships
Profile: All singles*
Gender ratio: 48% male and 52% female*
User Base: 3.9 million visits/month*
Popularity: Over 40 million active users worldwide*
User Rating: 4.7/5.0*
Zoosk began its journey as an in-app application of Facebook. Now it is one of the largest dating sites in the world, with millions of users worldwide. Zoosk specializes in customized dating experiences. Much like Facebook and other social media apps, Zoosk also customized the matches based on your activities on the site. The site calls it a behavioral matchmaking system.
Zoosk is all about being straightforward and straight to the point, which is great for people looking for serious relationships. It may not appeal to those who are seeking casual and random interactions with anyone.
Special features
- Intuitive design makes it almost effortless to use the app and the site.
- SmartPick introductions are made possible by behavioral matchmaking.
- All suspicious accounts are removed as soon as reported.
- Carousel matchmaking is a fun gamified experience, where all the members are presented to you through a roulette. You can either like or skip profiles. It's much like the swipe feature of Tinder but with a twist.
- Dating insight is another interesting feature, where you can know who likes you and who disliked your profile. You can also check for users who are more likely to be attracted to you. Currently, this feature is only available in the website version, not in the app.
- You can send the same message to multiple users through the Super Send
- By paying a bit extra, you can boost your profile to reach more users.
Zoosk is the ideal dating site for young singles who are ready to get into a serious relationship. The young vibe and thousands of happy customers make it one of the most successful dating sites. You can create a free account anytime and check all the users in your area, even worldwide.
SilverSingles
Relationship: Friendship, companionship, casual dating, serious relationships
Profiles: All singles over 50*
Gender Ratio: 42% male and 58% female*
User Base: 900,000 visits/month*
Popularity: 25,000 new signups every month*
User Rating: 4.6/5.0*
SilverSingles is the most sought-after dating site for seasoned singles who are seeking meaningful relationships. The site has a high success rate and claims to match 2,000 couples every month. The educated and love-focused users are not in for casual flings. Silver Singles is a great dating site to find true love in your golden years.
It is a sister site of reputed EliteSingles and uses the same intelligent matchmaking tools that provide you 5-7 wildcard matches daily. The technologically advanced featured are specially designed, keeping in mind the not-so-tech-savvy users.
Special features
- Free in-depth personality report aimed to find you the perfect matches. The matching score indicates the level of compatibility.
- Most members are looking for serious relationships and second-chance at love.
- The mobile app is accessible to only premium members. You can create a free account on its desktop version.
- Protect by SSL encryptions and other safety features.
- The majority of members are over 50, but you may find some users between 30-40.
Silver Singles is ideal for singles who are over 50 and seeking another chance in love or marriage. The site has everything you look for nice dating sites for seniors. Give it a try; you never know your new romantic life is just a click away.
Christian Mingle
Relationship: Dating, serious relationships
Profiles: Christian singles*
Gender Ratio: 44% male and 56% female*
User Base: 3.5 million visits/month*
Popularity: Over 16 million active users worldwide*
User Rating: 4.5/5.0*
Christian singles who are looking to marry someone from the same faith and cultural background usually have a tough time. Unless you know someone through the church, it becomes rather difficult to meet new people to date. Christian Mingle is helping faith-focused singles to connect and get married. The users on the site come with the objective to meet their future life partner on the site.
Special features
- The site has users from all different denominations Catholics, Methodist, Apostolic, Baptist, and any other church you belong to.
- Both app and website are easy to use and have a hassle-free interface.
- The team has an excellent customer support team which is available 24X7.
- The site has a strict verification process that ensures all the profiles are legit.
- The worship center is a unique concept where users can make prayer requests, participate in Bible study and discussions and receive daily Bible verses.
The site has produced countless happy couples and still continuing. People looking for casual relationships must give this site a pass. Christian Mingle is the best dating site for serious relationship seekers if a faith-based relationship is important to you.
BlackPeopleMeet
Relationship: Casual dates, romantic dating, serious relationship
Profiles: Black singles*
Gender Ratio: 47% male and 53% female*
User Base: 5.7 million visits/month*
Popularity: Over 5 million active users worldwide*
User Rating: 4.3/5.0*
Black People Meet was launched in 2002 exclusively for black singles by People Media. In this short time site has managed to become the largest dating pool of African American Singles. However, the site is now open to all races, still having a majority of black users.
The majority of users on the site are looking for serious and long-term relationships and fall in 30-40 years. The site has all the potential to be your favorite dating site for serious online dating.
Special features
- The app and site layout are neat and well-organized. Most features are accessible from the left-side navigation bar.
- ProfilePro feature helps you to hire professional writing services to make your profile interesting.
- Promote features lets you boost your profile for a small additional charge. This feature increases the visibility of your profile.
- MatchMe features help you appear more often in other user’s featured daily matches.
- ConnectMe is a communication feature that allows you to talk with other users without exchanging your personal contact details.
You can join the site with an easy signup process. You do not have to complete the details in one go, but we strongly recommend you complete your profile. The completed profile increases your credibility as a genuine user and gets you more matches. After signing up, you become part of the largest black and biracial dating pool. And who knows, your love is just a click away.
Jdate
Relationships: Dating, friendship, romance, long-term relationship
Profile: All Jewish singles*
Gender Ratio: 43% male and 57% female*
User Base: 200,000 visits/month*
User Rating: 4.1/5.0*
Jdate is the largest niche dating site for Jew singles. The site stands out for its customized service to millions of single Jews spread across the world. However, the majority of its users are from the USA, Canada, and Australia. Even with a majority user base of Jew singles, the site is not much rigid on who joins the site. You may find a diverse group of people who are looking for a serious, committed, and long-term relationship. If you are specifically looking for Jew singles, you can adjust the settings.
Jdate has been around for over two decades and continuously upgraded itself according to the changing world. The site belongs to Spark Network, known for its exceptional customer service and transparent payment terms.
Special features
- Both app and website are user-friendly and provides a pleasant dating experience.
- The site has Hassidic, Modern Orthodox, Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and many types of Jews.
- A tailor-made list of your match preferences, best-matched profiles, users near you are all available on the dashboard.
- JLife is an online magazine that features online dating tips, relationship blogs, and success stories of couples who find love through Jdate.
- Jdate Events are popular offline events that provide singles to meet and interact in the real world.
- Kibitz Corner is a forum where anyone can post questions and involve in a conversation with potential matches.
- Tikkun Olam is a volunteer and religious service opportunity for members who want to contribute to serving communities.
Jew singles looking for a deep and connected relationship with other Jewish faith singles must register to this site. This is one of the best online dating sites for long-term relationships and marriage for Jews. Who knows, you find your bashert on Jdate.
OkCupid
Relationships: Friendship, casual date, serious relationships
Profiles: All singles*
Gender Ratio: 65% male and 35% female*
User Base: 55 million visitors/month*
Popularity: Over 50 million users worldwide*
User Rating: 4.3/5.0*
OkCupid is your middle ground between eharmony and Tinder. OkCupid is a young and vibrant dating app dedicated to young singles seeking meaningful and serious relationships. It is one of the busiest dating sites globally, where thousands of users register every month. The best part about the dating site is it's Free. It is undoubtedly the best free dating site for serious relationships.
The site uses a straightforward matchmaking process. It uses the information provided by you while registering, and based on that, the algorithm finds the potential matches for you. The algorithm was designed by Harvard Math majors Sam Yagan and Chris Coyne.
Special features
- Option to upgrade to A-list membership if you do not wish to see ads. It is similar to paid services of any gaming app or YouTube. Apart from that, all features are accessible to free and paid members.
- Roulette-type matchmaking features much similar to the left and right swipe.
- Who likes you helps you know the list of members who liked your profile.
- Boost is an add-on feature that highlights your profile in other people’s search results.
- Due to the large user base, you may receive a large number of matches. Stacks helps you to categorize all the matches efficiently.
- The latest feature on the site lets you mark yourself as vaccinated for Covid-19.
- Identity options for LGBTQ users.
OkCupid has gone through significant upgrades since its launch. It continuously strives to accommodate people from all genders, races, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations. Along with this, the site is becoming more focused on promoting itself as a serious, relationship-centric dating site where you come to find love.
Coffee Meets Bagel
Relationships: Date, friendship, committed relationships
Profile: All singles*
Popularity: More than 10 million users worldwide*
Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) is a quality-focused dating app created by two entrepreneurial sisters. The serious dating app was created to counter the swiping and casual dating apps, which saturates the online dating world. Since its created by two women, it is slightly biased for women users. The men users on the app receive a customized list of profiles called ‘Bagels’. They can either chose to like or pass the profiles in 24 hours. Once men express interest, the algorithm curates the matches for women, and it becomes #LadiesChoice to whether like or pass the profiles.
Though the process sounds a bit tedious, it is highly effective. Thousands of success stories can prove it. The major user base is between the age group of 21-35 years old.
Special features
- Potential matches are available only for 24 hours, and if you do not like the profiles, they may disappear from your radar.
- Chatting is only available for 7 days; after that, it expires.
- Sending messages is free, and all users can access them.
- Icebreaker conversation for people who struggle to find the right words.
- You cannot search profiles manually, and they are available only through match suggestions.
- The algorithm uses Facebook and a list of friends of your friends to find matches.
- Beans is the currency used on this app to purchase any add-on features. You can purchase some beans in advance and use them when you need them, or you can get them as and when the need arises.
The idea of getting just a handful of curated matches every day is better than getting random suggestions. It saves time for busy and young professionals. They do not have to spend hours browsing through hundreds of profiles. The CMB has proven to be an effective dating tool for singles looking for serious relationships.
Hinge
Relationships: Dating, serious relationships
Profiles: All singles*
Gender Ratio: 64% male and 36% female*
Popularity: Over 7 million active users worldwide*
User Rating: 4.2/5.0*
Hinge is another dating app for young singles who are tired of mindless swiping and looking for something more concrete. From decent conversation to happily ever after, you can expect all from Hinge. The unique matchmaking process encourages users to delete the app once they find a suitable match. Hinge calls itself “app meant to be deleted.”
Most of the member profiles on the app are substantially filled, which helps you to know your matches better. It is ideal for singles who intend to find and meet like-minded singles.
Special features
- It is available in only the mobile app version.
- Offers 1-month free trial, your profile automatically gets updated to paid version unless you choose not to.
- The guided signup process for first-time users.
- Who Liked Me features help you to know who put the heart tab on your profile.
- We Met is the feedback feature of Hinge, where you give feedback about the people who met through the app.
- Video Prompts is a video chat feature that allows you to know your date before meeting in person.
Hinge is much more than your usual dating app. It is scientifically created to find like-minded features. Any app that encourages you to delete the app once you find a potential match indicates their pro-serious relationship attitude.
Bumble
Relationships: date, friendship, serious relationships
Profile: All singles*
Bumble is another women-centric dating app that gives power to women. The app was created by ex-Tinder. Thus, it has many similarities; however, on Bumble, it's women who control the dating game. Women are the first to send messages, and men can choose to reply only if they are interested.
Bumble has a fresh and lively layout that gives you a social media kind of vibe. It has a lot of features to keep you busy and entertained. This is a serious relationship that lets you find new dates in a fun-loving way. Just like OkCupid, it is also a free dating app. However, you have to purchase some add-ons.
Special features
- Easy to create a profile. Signup through your FB profile, and the app can directly lift your information from there.
- Beeline is a feature where you can see all the profiles you have right-swiped.
- BusyBee lets you extend the 24 hours deadline to like your matches when you are busy.
- SuperSwipe can be used when you really like a profile and want to let the user know about it.
- Bumble Hive is a real-life event where you get to meet a lot of singles in real life.
Allowing women to make the first move helps them to keep away creepy profiles. Sadly, after that privilege, the app doesn't provide women much preference. It's an equal playground for people of any gender. The app provides all the opportunities to converse freely with other users and know them better. Get registered to the app to understand it better.
Conclusion
The above list comprises our suggestion of the top 10 serious relationship sites. We have made an effort to review and give our points on what you can expect from each one of them. Choose the site that goes with your online dating goals and personality. All the dating sites mentioned above offer endless possibilities and make sure you are ready to grab them.
Online dating is something that you make it. There is something for everyone here. Whether it's a swipe-based app like Bumble or traditional dating sites like eharmony, both come with their share of highs and lows. Stay true to what you are looking for, and make sure your profile represents that. You can find success through online dating and have a beautiful, romantic, and long-lasting love life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to be in a serious relationship?
Your commitment and seriousness towards a romantic relationship are defined by how healthy your relationship is. If you feel disconnected from your partner, then it is time that you make efforts to make things better. All relationships, romantic or otherwise, go through their own set of ups and downs. Everybody struggles at one point in time where the initial feeling of romance frizzles. The longer you go without doing anything to bring the connection back, the more rapidly you move towards the failure of the relation.
Most of the time, it's the men who struggle with the commitment. Men find it challenging to share what they feel and mostly keep their feelings to themselves. That is the reason most men do not call back after the first date, while women keep wondering what went wrong. Keeping this aside, both partners need to work together to stay committed to a serious relationship.
Below are the simple tips that you can work on and have a blissfully happy serious relationship:
Share your future plans: Talk about your dreams and desires with your partner. Let your partner know about your aspirations in your job and life. Let her or him know that they are an integral part of your plan. The practice helps create dependability in a relationship and makes it stronger.
Spend time together: Rather than quantity, focus on spending quality time together. Plan a weekend getaway once in a while, or enroll in a weekend hobby class where you can go together. Exercising together is a great way to spend time together, where you bond more like buddies than lovers.
Appreciate your partner: Make sure you appreciate your partner's efforts and all the things they do for you. Also, give them compliments and celebrate their achievements. Committed relationships are built on trust and love. No one wants to feel unwanted, undesired, or disrespected in a relation.
Do not try to change your partner: Understand that you fall in love with this person because of their unique qualities. The more you try to change him or her, you are changing them to be someone else. Moreover, pushing them away from you.
Learn to adjust: Compromise may be a too strong word here. So, learn to make small adjustments and look away from minor flaws. You need to keep your relationship above trivial matters and learn to appreciate your partner for the good things they bring to the relationship.
How to find a serious relationship online?
The best way to find a serious relationship online is to look at the right places. Most relationship-centric dating sites have an intelligent matchmaking system, and algorithms decide your daily match suggestions. However, people do not like limited options. The selectivity of the serious dating apps elevates your focus and forces you to spend time to understand the person before you left swipe them.
Guided swiping feature with match score provides daters to get connected to like-minded people. Analyze your potential match and have an open conversation. The more time you give more connected you may feel to your possible date. Take online dating to the next level and meet the person in real life. The actual date can give you more insight into whether you can expect a future together.
The trick to success in online dating is simple; go with a clear goal and to the right dating site. The above list consists of our recommendation and review of the best dating sites for a serious relationship. Pick one or more that suits best to your requirement and start your online dating journey.
Which dating site is best for serious relationships?
Our experts recommend eharmony as the first option every time someone seeks for long-term relationship or marriage. Since its inception, eharmony has clearly defined itself as a dating site that wants people to find love online. At one point in time, it became the number one dating site that contributed to the largest number of online marriages in the USA.
It is one of the most well-established dating sites, and anyone looking for love online must have come across it. You may find hundreds of eharmony reviews online and mostly positive ones. You can join the site for:
- Its 29-dimensional patented intelligent matchmaking system.
- Its large user database.
- The users are mostly looking for serious relationships.
- Ease of use and user-friendly app.
- Amazing customer support.
- Minimal fake profiles and bots.
When millions of couples are finding their partner for life through this platform, there is no reason you don't give it a chance. It is the most successful dating site for serious relationships.
How long before a relationship is considered serious?
According to Insider, two months should be enough deadline to consider a relationship serious. However, our experts say all individuals are different so are the relationships. Each relationship goes through its own lifecycle and has different milestones. Some couples instantly feel the connection and start dreaming about their life together, while some take their own sweet time to build a relationship.
There are several indicators that can tell you if you are in a serious relationship:
- You spend a lot of time together.
- You start shopping for each other.
- You can’t stop sharing the things you do together on social media.
- You are comfortable talking about bodily functions.
- You make decisions based on the choices of your partner.
- You get the key.
What does a serious relationship mean to a guy?
Guys can take a long time to get committed. The definition of a serious relationship may differ for both genders. When you have newly started dating, everything is exciting and fun-filled. The real test for guys starts after that.
There are multiple reasons a guy gets attracted to a woman. Similarly, some reasons make guys realize they are in a serious relationship and expect more from it. The below points can give you a brief about what goes on in men's minds.
- When he feels the relationship you are in is building towards something.
- He starts thinking about the possibility of a combined future.
- He wants you to meet his parents and other relatives.
- He keeps his promises.
- He doesn’t shy away from sharing his feelings and vulnerability.
- He always shows up when you need help.
- He wants you to be exclusive with him.
How to make a relationship last until marriage?
The success of a relationship depends on both partners. If you both want to get married and then you need to work together towards it. Most couples split apart on the first sign of complications. It's your commitment and dedication to the relationship that makes you walk down the aisles. You can take certain steps to make your relationship last, not just till the marriage but life-long.
Face the problems together: Do not abandon your partner when he or she is in trouble. Each individual has their share of life struggles. They could be financial, occupational, or maybe related to health. The true measurement of the depth of a relationship can be evaluated only when it goes through rough phases.
Small things matter: Take care of each other and notice even the smallest of things. Understand each other's needs and be there for each other. While women seek comfort and warmth, men seek admiration and affection.
Give space: Spending too much time together may sound great, but it makes the relationship claustrophobic. Make sure you maintain a healthy relationship with your friends and family and spend time with them. You can be a couple while maintaining your individual personalities.
Don’t dominate: In a relationship, both partners are considered equal. Dominating your partner can give rise to tension and frictions in a relationship. You can have your point of view and strongly assert it but be ready to listen to your partner's side too.
Be open: Always be open and share what you feel with your partner. If you think he or she is drifting away from you, tell him/her. You can work together and work on eliminating that feeling. Similarly, be open and welcoming to listen to your partner's feelings and emotions.
These few simple gestures can make you build a strong a successful life together filled with love and happiness.
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