The Best Dating Sites and Apps of 2021
After a year at home watching Netflix and chilling in your finest sweatpants, the time to put on real clothes and go back out into the world is near. And while many people are excited to go back to the office, eat in restaurants, and reunite with family, we still have a way to go before mingling at the bar every weekend becomes the norm once again. As we ease back into the swing of things, online dating sites are still the next best thing to meeting people face-to-face. In many cases, online dating sites are even better because you can get to know people upfront without having to worry about other suitors at the bar competing for their attention.
The prospect of online dating may feel a little intimidating at first because of the sheer number of online dating sites out there. After all, you have to figure out which one to choose, how much you’re willing to spend, and how much time you’re willing to put into your search. That’s why our editors have tested out the best, the worst, and everything in between.
Here are our findings for the best dating sites of 2021:
Best Hookup Site – Adult Friend Finder
We tested a lot of so-called sex dating sites, and none of them hold a candle to AdultFriendFinder (AFF). This is the original lifestyle site (they got their start in the 90s!), and they’re still going strong because they know what they’re doing. Millions of people worldwide have met on AFF, and those numbers have only grown since the pandemic started.
What sets this site apart from the rest is that they offer a host of great features that help you get to know people on a more personal level before you decide to meet. You can exchange private messages, chat on IM, join member interest groups, and even create your own blog. It differs from the “swipe right” and go apps because there is a whole community of people that like to hang out, make friends, and of course, talk about sex. There are a few cons, of course, as there are with any site. It doesn’t look as modern as some other dating sites, and they have yet to create an app. They do have a sleek-looking mobile site that seems to be popular among users, though.
Aside from being a great place to find partners, it’s also a great place to be if you’re an exhibitionist. Members post their own photos and videos that are honestly way hotter than porn because it’s real, and you actually have a shot at hooking up with them in real life. If you’re really looking for a good time, by the way, check out the Member Webcams section and thank us later.
Best Kink Dating Site – ALT.com
It can be hard to find a kink dating site that caters to people who are really in the BDSM lifestyle rather than a bunch of vanilla folks looking to act out their 50 Shades of Grey fantasies.
ALT.com is easily the most legit kink site we found, and they have a massive community of 2 million + active members to back it up. This site was our favorite because it welcomes those experienced in the lifestyle and those who are new and trying to explore before they really get into things. Literally, you can find people who are into every (legal) fetish you can think of. They’ve been around for a really long time and are very well known in the bondage community as the original kinky dating site.
The site is a little on the pricier side, but you get many features for your money like private messaging, instant messaging, advanced search features, and live video chat so you can check things out before you get tied down.
Best Dating App for Millennials and Gen-Z – Tinder
Leave all the dating drama behind, this is the wham, bam, thank you, ma’am, of dating apps made for people who just want to get laid and go home. It’s easy to download and easy to use; just swipe right whoever you’re attracted to, and you’re done. The catch is that I have to swipe right on you too! We know there isn’t much of a community aspect, so if you’re looking to get to know someone a little better before you make the first move, you might be out of luck. But if you’re just looking for a physical attraction and not much else, though, you’re in the right place. Once upon a time Tinder took the world by storm recreating the social aspects of online meet and greets, making it easier to chat and connect with potential suitors with a few swipes of the finger.
Best Vanilla Dating App – CoffeeMeetsBagel
If the Hallmark Channel had a dating app, this would be it. Billing themselves as the “original anti-swiping app,” this is a place you go to find romance, not sex. The app itself looks great and is really easy to use, with new matches sent to members every day at noon because any earlier is apparently just too darn early to pick a mate. The app is free to download and use, but you have to pay for the premium features, and it can get a little pricey. The currency used on the site is called “beans,” and it costs about $25 to buy enough beans to use the site for a month or so, depending on how often you want to send messages.
There are also unique features, such as conversation starters that give you topic ideas based on the person you’re chatting with. If you’re looking for someone you can take home to meet your mom or have a wonderful Christmas romance full of beautiful people, misunderstandings, and happy endings.
Best Dating Site for 50+ – OurTime
While CoffeeMeetsBagel focuses on helping people find a partner for love, marriage, and a bundle of joy in the baby carriage, OurTime.com focuses on what comes after that. The members on this site are mainly widows, divorcees, and empty nesters ready for the next chapter of their lives. If you think it’s a bunch of old folks sitting around knitting and watching Magnum PI, though, think again. These members are sexy, active, and ready for adventure. The best part about this site is they really understand their member base because while they are down for a good time, they also tend to be a little more cautious about the internet than their younger counterparts. That means lots of basic, easy-to-use features like private messaging, chat rooms, and a decent search feature that lets seniors find companions with the same interests as them.
It’s a tad pricey at $119 for six months, especially considering there aren’t any fancy features like video chat. Still, members also get a free 3-week trial period to test things out before purchasing a membership.
These are the best dating sites for 2021, and the good news is that no matter who you are, there is something – and someone – out there for you.