Where to meet

Where to meet someone

Apps, matchmakers and events, with an honest take on each: who it suits, what it costs, and how it keeps members safe.

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Matchmakers

Someone else does the searching. Best if you want something serious and have little time.

Something serious

Spark Twice

A real matchmaker picks each introduction. Every member is verified before they meet anyone, and nobody calls you with a sales pitch.

Verifies membersNo sales calls

Visit Spark Twice

Run by Datelyst's parent company.

Busy people who want someone else to do the search

Tawkify

A Tawkify matchmaker searches for you, sets up each date and asks how it went afterwards. It works with clients in every state, with more people to choose from near big cities. You buy a package of a set number of matches rather than a monthly plan, and every match goes through a criminal record check.

Not published. Reported starter packages cost about $4,400 for three matches.

Visit Tawkify

Professionals who want matchmaking plus date coaching

Three Day Rule

Three Day Rule gives you a matchmaker who meets each potential match face to face, and its packages include date coaching. It takes clients nationwide, with its strongest presence in 15 big cities. Prices aren't published and are reported to start around $5,900, so it suits a bigger budget.

Not published. Reported packages start around $5,900.

Visit Three Day Rule

Apps and sites

More choice, on your own time. We list the ones that check members are real.

Daters who want every profile photo-checked

Bumble

Every member in the US has to pass a selfie check before using Bumble, and you can add an ID check for a second badge. Since August 2026 anyone in a match can send the first message, and the other person has 72 hours to reply. It works well without paying; paid plans add extras such as seeing who already liked you.

Free to use. Optional paid plans add extras.

Visit Bumble

Relationship-minded daters who like a mainstream app

Hinge

Hinge builds profiles around photos and short prompts, which gives you something real to reply to instead of just a swipe. The free version lets you match and message, and paid plans mostly add more likes and filters. A short video selfie earns a verified badge, though Hinge says the badge isn't a guarantee of who someone is.

Free to use. Optional paid plans add more likes and filters.

Visit Hinge

People over 40 looking for a serious relationship

Match

Half the online daters 50 and over in Pew's 2022 survey had used Match, so the pool of people your age tends to be large. Free members can chat with their matches; longer paid plans are charged in full up front and renew automatically. In 2025 Match's owner agreed to pay $14 million to settle FTC claims about its guarantees and how hard it was to cancel.

Free to start. Paid plans about $45 for one month, less a month on longer plans.

Visit Match

Daters who want values to come up early

OkCupid

OkCupid asks you questions about what matters to you and shows a match percentage, so differences on children, faith or politics come up early. You can message your matches for free. A short video selfie earns a Photo Verified badge. In March 2026 OkCupid agreed to an FTC order over member photos it shared with another company in 2014.

Free to use, messaging included. Optional paid plans.

Visit OkCupid

Singles over 50

OurTime

OurTime is built for singles over 50 and is run by the same company as Match. You can join and browse for free, but sending messages needs a paid plan, and plans longer than a month are charged in one payment. A short video selfie earns a Photo Verified badge.

Free to browse. Messaging needs a paid plan, about $30 to $40 for one month.

Visit OurTime

Under 40s happy to swipe, for casual or serious

Tinder

Tinder has a very large pool, and it skews young: in Pew's 2022 survey, 59% of online daters under 50 had used it, against 11% of those 50 and over. The free version lets you match and chat. A short video selfie earns a blue check, and new members in some states must pass a face check to join.

Free to use. Optional paid plans.

Visit Tinder