Free Dating Sites

Are There Really Free Dating Sites?

Yes, there are! All you need to do is a quick internet search on "free dating sites," and you'll find a handful of offerings. You can read details about some of them at the LoveToKnow article on Free Online Dating.

Unlike paid sites, which are supported in part by monthly fees, these sites usually earn their money through ad revenue. They tend to be heavy on clickable ads and might have a lot of pop-ups, as well.

Advantages of Free Sites

Obviously the primary advantage is that they're free! Since there are no monthly dues, people can sign up without having to think much about it. You'll find people on these sites who aren't sure about internet dating yet, but wanted to give it a try. Plus, if you decide the site isn't for you, you can take your ad down and you haven't lost anything but a few hours of your time.

With free dating sites, you can sign up at multiple places without having to figure any fees into your budget. Casting a wide net might help you connect with more people and have a better chance of finding your soulmate, instead of hoping that Mr. or Ms. Right will find the way to the one site you're paying for.

Disadvantages

Free dating sites often don't have a lot of features. The designs are simple and the searches may not be very detailed. That's partly because fancy web pages are expensive, and it takes a staff to maintain a complex site. Free dating sites don't always have the money or manpower to support the kinds of things that paid sites offer. A notable exception is OKCupid, which offers blogs, quizzes, networking, and more.

While the ability to sign up for free does attract people who wouldn't try internet dating otherwise, it also invites people who aren't serious. You'll find profiles that were started and then never finished, and people who have ads up but never check their email. You'll also run into to people who didn't want to pay for a site membership because they're not serious about finding a relationship. These people are looking for a cheap date, not a meaningful encounter.

Beware of Spammers

Before you sign up for a free dating site, check their policies. Do they share members' information with anyone else? Many of them don't. If they do, either don't use the site or set up a secondary e-mail account for it, because you're probably going to get spammed. Expect offers for pornography, sex-enhancing pills, and similar products.

The site should also have a policy for preventing spam and fraud within the personal ads. There are people who use online personals as a way to defraud others. For example, there are con artists who pretend to be interested romantically, then claim to have a family or medical emergency and ask for money. Free dating sites are an easy place for these people to set up shop. Look at the site's policies to see if there is any kind of monitoring to help prevent fraud. Keep in mind, if you see a lot of ads that look alike, or that seem too good to be true, be wary.

Common Sense

As with paid dating sites, use common-sense precautions when contacting other members. Don't give out personal information to someone you don't have reason to trust. If someone asks for money or financial information, don't reply. Meet potential dates for the first time in a public place and make sure someone knows where you went, who you were meeting, and when you expect to be home.