Back in the Saddle Again

Now that I am single again, I wondered how the digital world would impact my life. Dating sites, of course. Here are the top five dating sites according to Consumer-Rankings.com.

Zoosk.com

Recommended Age: 18-50+
Rating: 9.8/10

People often ask which dating site is right for them, because most dating sites offer a one-size-fits-all, quiz-based experience. Instead of taking a one-time snapshot of who you are, Zoosk offers a more personalized experience in online dating. Zoosk’s unique SmartPick™ Behavioral Matchmaking technology is constantly learning from the actions of over 25 million visible members to deliver better matches in real time. You won’t have to go through hundreds of profiles to find a connection because Zoosk is constantly updating matches to fit your romantic preferences.

Match.com

Recommended Age: 25-50+
Rating: 9.7/10

As one of the largest and most well-known online dating sites in the world, it’s no surprise that Match.com is responsible for more dates, relationships and marriages than any of its competitors. What enables Match.com to stand out among its competitors is that it provides you with both powerful search technology and five daily match suggestions based on shared backgrounds or interests. Match.com is also one of a handful of online dating sites that offers convenient online dating via cellphone so that you can search for a partner at your convenience everywhere you go.

OurTime.com

Recommended Age: 50+
Rating: 9.0/10

Part of the People Media network, a subsidiary of top online dating site Match.com, OurTime is an online dating website geared toward singles over the age of 50 who are looking for all types of relationships, including marriage, travel companionship or even pen pals. The website launched in 2011 after the company extensively researched the preferences of older people looking online for companionship. Since its launch, OurTime has grown exponentially and has become one of the top online dating sites catering to a more mature population.

eHarmony.com

Recommended Age: 25-50+
Rating: 8.8/10

eHarmony sets itself apart from other online dating sites by offering compatibility matching based on its patented 29 “Dimensions of Compatibility.” These dimensions have helped create long-lasting relationships for over a decade, and users still swear by this tried-and-true method. And with 44,000 member weddings annually (that’s 120 eHarmony weddings a day), it leaves little question that eHarmony has gotten its personality matching system down pat.

EliteSingles

Recommended Age: 25-50+
Rating: 8.5/10

Many dating sites will sell you on fun and games for high premiums, only for you to realize you’re still not meeting anyone worthwhile. That’s where EliteSingles steps in, offering a strong alternative to sophisticated and mature daters. Ranging from members in their 20s to those 50+, EliteSingles understands that being serious about dating isn’t about age as much as finding the right person with whom to begin sharing experiences. If you’re in that boat, EliteSingles was designed with your interests in mind.

My dating experience has always been the face-to-face kind. No, not at bars, but in a more respectable environment. We met when I took a class. We emailed a lot before we actually went out, so I guess you could say it was online dating. It lasted nearly eight years and ended recently. Even though I am crushed and cry myself to sleep nearly every night, I know I’ll get back in the meeting-someone-new game. I’m not looking forward to it, so online dating might just be the thing for me. I have several friends who have tried it and are married to the person they met online. I haven’t decided which one I’ll try – maybe all of them. Who knows. Maybe the man of my dreams is out there in cyberland. I’ll report back.