Online Dating: The top 11 Best Sites on online

Do you find the idea of online dating daunting? We've picked out the 11 best dating sites for you to try – and there really is something for everyone. 

No longer embarassing or, God forbid, cringe, half of all single people now use online dating sites to find love (or at least an easy hook-up)

 

There are literally hundreds of dating sites out there. So, to make it a little less overwhelming, we've trawled the Internet for you and sought the online dating websites

With no further ado, here are our 11 best online dating sites: 

1. match.com

How does it work? match is the most widely-used online dating site in the world and has nearly 1.8 million subscribers. It works in the most traditional way: Simply create a profile, check out your potential matches, send them a few messages and then arrange to meet for a date. There are also various off-shoots of match.com with microsites for gay and lesbian dating, Asian dating, Christian dating and Polish dating. The love-gods at match also arrange singles events and provide online dating advice.

How much does it cost? £12.99 per month for a 6-month membership.

2.eHarmony

How does it work? If you are serious about looking for that special thing called love, then this is the site for you. eHarmony take this online dating lark very seriously. They've even patented The eHarmony Compatibility Matching System. That's right. They've taken 35 years of research to come up with a Relationship Questionnaire and pride themselves on matching users with people who are actually compatible with them.

How much does it cost? £9.95 per month. 

3. Lovestruck

How does it work? Lovestruck helps you target potential partners according to location and it covers many of the major cities across the world. It's aimed at time-starved professionals, who due to busy work and social lives simply don't have the time to date. Lovestruck helps put you in touch with people who are near you – be it where you work or live – to save you precious minutes or hours travelling to and from a date. The site also hosts regular events which are a fun, relaxed way to meet people.

How much does it cost? A minimum of £16 per month.  

4. DatingDirect.com

How does it work? There are no gimmicks or USPs with DatingDirect. In fact, it's fairly similar to our old friends Match, mentioned above. You can start looking at potential dates for free, then when you like the look of someone and fancy striking up a conversation, you need to subscribe. It also has a handy instant messenger service which makes chatting to your matches easy and breezy.

How much does it cost? £12.99 per month for a 6 month membership. 

5. PARSHIP.co.uk

How does it work? This is sold as a serious online dating site for 'discerning singles.' A bit like eHarmony, PARSHIP uses a patented test, this time called The PARSHIP principle®, which analyzes 32 personality traits and is based on an algorithm of 136 rules. It sounds complicated, but that's not for you to worry about. Just sign up, do the test and get chatting to all those love-compatible people out there.

How much does it cost? Minimum of £14.90 per month.   

6. Muddymatches

How does it work? Set up by two friends, Emma and Lucy, in 2006, Muddy Matches is aimed at 'muddies', who by the girls' definition is 'any person who loves the countryside and is not afraid of a bit of mud'. The criteria is pretty relaxed and the site uses a Muddy-Townie ratio to match potential dates accordingly. So, someone who lives and breathes country air and despises all things concrete jungle would have a ratio of 100:0, but someone who lives in the city but loves to don their Hunters at the weekend might be a 30:70.

How much does it cost? £18 for one month, £36 for three months, £54 for six months and £72 for 12 months.   

 

7. PlentyofFish

How does it work? Plenty of Fish works by asking users to take a special POF Relationship Chemistry Predictor test, which measures self-confidence, family-orientation, self-control, social dependency and easygoingness. You're then matched to those most compatible to you.

How much does it cost? It's free! 

8. Mysinglefriend.com

How does it work? Mysinglefriend.com is the brainchild of TV presenter Sarah Beeny and it works by each member on the site being put forward and described by a friend. The site aims to get rid of the 'cringe factor' associated with having to big yourself up through your online profile and makes it more of a fun community, where like-minded people can chat, meet and potentially fall in lurve.

How much does it cost? £13 per month. 

9. BeautifulPeople.com

How does it work? This online dating site does exactly what it says on the tin and only people deemed beautiful enough will be allowed to join. To become a member, applicants are required to be voted in by existing members of the opposite sex. Members rate new applicants over a 48-hour period based on whether or not they find the applicant ‘beautiful’. It sounds harsh, but the site claims that by admitting people based on their looks they're removing the first hurdle of dating, saying that because everyone on the site is a fitty, members can concentrate on getting to know people's character and personalities. Beautiful People also promises access to exclusive parties and top guest lists around the globe. Now for that brutal 48-hour wait...

How much does cost? If you buy a 6-month membership, you'll get a reduced price of £7.50 per month. 

10. Tastebuds

How does it work? A similar taste in music can be a great indicator as to whether you're compatible with someone, so the fine folks behind Tastebuds have struck gold with their music-based online datingsite. Getting started is dead simple: pick three artists or bands that you're interested in, the gender you're looking to date and press 'go'. It's a fun and relaxed site, which can introduce you to new music, concert buddies and potentially even your own real-life Caleb Followill.

How much does it cost? It's free for exisiting members, but £8 per month for new members.

11. Doingsomething

How does it work? Let's face it, meeting up with a complete stranger for a first date can be awkward and hideously cringeworthy. But it's less so when the date itself is a total riot. This is where Doingsomething.co.uk comes in. The site is all about the actual dating experience and let's you pick a match based on the date idea they've suggested. And the more fun and unique the date the better. So, rather than nervously meeting someone for a luke warm coffee in a crowded chain, you could be trying out your culinary skills at a sushi-making masterclass or bonding over super-strong cocktails at a hipster speakeasy. It's basically about finding someone who wants to do the same things as you at the end of the day, isn't it?

How much is it? £10 per month.