Discussion of popular dating sites by date2relationship.com spokesperson Harmonie Krieger, March 2008.

In the DSW, the list of dating sites (140+144+) page is a growing list of the world's dating sites, shown in order of Alexa ranking (global traffic flow), arranged by category: [1]

Nutshell history

See main: History of online dating

The web was invented 1989 by British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee. The first online dating site was MatchMaker.com, launched in 1993, originally called "Christie's Matchmaker" and conceived as a pen pal type of site. Others soon followed: Match.com (launch: 95), FriendFinder (launch: 96), Date.com (launch: 97), SingesNet.com (launch: 98). In 2003, there were 520 dating sites, in 2004, 844 lifestyle and dating sites; exprapolation of these points indicate that by 2015 there should be 5,000+ dating sites in operation.

Top 20

1. Match.com (site) (Alexa: 348; June 09) – motto: it’s ok to look; creator: Gary Kremen, launched 95.
2. PlentyOfFish.com (site) (Alexa: 359; Jun 09) – free site, of Markus Frind, launch: 03.
3. SinglesNet.com (site) (Alexa: 710; Mar 09) – quick signup site; launch: 98.
4. eHarmony.com (site) (Alexa: 1,039; Mar 09) – compatibility matching; creator Neil Warren; launch: 98.
5. Zoosk.com (site) (Alexa: 1,942; Jun 09) – a previous Facebook app; multi-language easy to use.
6. True.com (site) (Alexa: 1,573; Mar 09) – personality feedback and member compatibilities; launched 04.
7. okCupid.com (site) (Alexa: 1,577; Mar 09) – matching systems users invent; conceived by American mathematician Chris Coyne; launched
8. FriendFinder.com (site) (Alexa: 2,215; Jul 08) – personal ads and videos; launched in 96.
9. Mate1.com (site) (Alexa: 2,513; Mar 09) – site with voice recordings, emails, and 1-on-1 chat.

   Screenshot of PentyofFish.com a very popular free dating site; launched in 2003 by Markus Frind.

10. Chemistry.com (site) (Alexa: 6,707; Mar 09) – Match.com site; advisor: Helen Fisher; launch: 06.
11. LavaLife.com (site) (Alexa: 6,807; Mar 09) – was WebPersonals in 97 and LavaLife in 01.
12. Date.com (site) (Alexa: 8,700; Jun 09) – online dating and personals; launched 97.
13. Mingle2.com (site) (Alexa: 9,207; Jun 09) – free online dating; 60 sec signup.
14. DateHookup.com (site) (Alexa: 9,319; Jul 08) – myspace-like free dating site with forum.
15. MatchMaker.com (site) (Alexa: 9,983; Jul 08) – the oldest online matchmaker, launched 93.
16. NaughtyorNice.com (site) (Alexa: 14,236; Jul 08) – description; launched 07.
17. WebDate.com (site) (Alexa: 15,789; Jul 08) – free dating personals; launched 03.
18. PerfectMatch.com (site) (Alexa: 19,569; Jul 08) – matching by Pepper Schwartz.
19. DreamMates.com (site) (Alexa: 27,698; Jul 08) – description.
20. Cupid.com (site) (Alexa: 31,899; date) – description.

Personals

1. Personals.Yahoo.com (site) (Alexa: 2; Jun 09) – personals for Yahoo users.
2. Personals.AOL.com (site) (Alexa: 31; Jun 09) –personals, dating; powered by Match.com.

Later pack

1. MatchDoctor.com (site) (Alexa: 36,594; Jul 08) – a free personals and dating community site.
2. LoveAccess.com (site) (Alexa: 39,359; Jul 08) – employs personal matchmaking; launched 02.
3. DownToEarth.com (site) (Alexa: 44,291; Mar 09) – site for honest single daters.
4. uDate.com (site) (Alexa: 61,262; Jul 08) – international personal ads.
5. SinglesCrowd.com (site) (Alexa: 66,833; Mar 09) – description.
6. 4ppl.com (site) (Alexa: 68,775; Jul 08) – description.
7. EliteMate.com (site) (Alexa: 73,805; date) – description.
8. JoeDate.com (site) (Alexa: 128,000; Jun 09) – a free dating site for coffee drinkers.
9. MyLoL.net (site) (Alexa 142,000; Jun 09) – teen dating/friendship site.
10. Dating.com (site) (Alexa: 158,378; Jul 08) – description.
11. Mingles.com (site) (Alexa: 143,951; Mar 09) – singles community, personals, matching.
12. DatePad.com (site) (Alexa: 172,681; Jul 08) – motto: law of attraction in action.
13. eCrush (site) (Alexa: 191,745; Jul 08) – high school themed crush matching using anonymous matching; launched 98.
14. EasyFindADate.com (site) (Alexa: 233,903; Jul 08) – description; launched 03.
15. Ignighter.com (site) (Alexa: 248,077; Jul 08) – online dating via group photo method.
16. AdultFindOut.com (site) (Alexa: 248,980; Jul 08) – description; launched 07.
17. Great-Expectations.net(site) (Alexa: 262,059; Mar 09) – highly-screened dating site.
18. Meeta.com (site) (Alexa: 437,997; Jul 08) – free social dating site; launched 07.
19. FreeDatingUsa.com (site) (Alexa: 504,201; Jul 08) – description.
20. eChemistry.com (site) (Alexa: 410,604; Mar 09) – type matches for romantic chemistry using a 224-question personality questionnaire.
21. ePersonals.com (site) (Alexa: 603,697; Jul 08) – chat, free dating ads search, and two-way matching; launched 00.
22. LoveIsSexy.com (site) (Alexa: 704,000; Mar 09) – caters to women, claims to have a state-of-the-art matching algorithm.
23. SeekingMarriage.com (site) (Alexa: 757,199; Jul 08) – for those ready to tie the knot.
24. SingleMe.com (site) (Alexa: 894,480; Jul 08) – dating and matching community.
25. Personals.com (site) (Alexa: 931,946; Aug 08) – a city-by-city; powered by Match; launched 98.
26. CrazyDating.net (site) (Alexa: 975,254; Jul 08) – find friends.
27. WinkedAt.com (site) (Alexa: 1,385,475; Jun 09) – private; users send “winks” to each other.
28. Kiss.com (site) (Alexa: 1,561,349; Jul 08) – personals; launch 94; powered by UDate.com.
29. FlowMingle.com (site) (Alexa: 1,604,000; Jun 09) – launch 08; funded by YCombinator.com.
30. DatingFaces.com (site) (Alexa: 2,024,527; Jul 08) – picture based dating site; launched 99.
31. DreamMatches.com (site) (Alexa: 2,238,688; Mar 09) – for hot or beautiful singles.
32. ScientificMatch.com (site) (Alexa: 3,100,000; Jun 09) – matches via MHC compatibilities.
33. FantasyMatch.com (site) (Alexa: 3,983,370) – make fantasies come true; launch 97.
34. IdealMatch.us (site) (Alexa: 4,609,865; Sep 08) – description.
35. MeetForCoffee.com(site) (Alexa: 8,386,251; Jul 08) – description; launched 06.
36. DatingEnjoy.com(site) (Alexa: 8,877,356; Jul 08) – description.
37. CompanionStreet.com (site) (Alexa: 12,000,000; Mar 09) – possibly not in operation; launch 06.
38. CocktailConnection.com(site) (Alexa: 19,000,000; Mar 09) – description; launched 06.
39. FreeTVDating.com (site) (Alexa: N/A; Mar 09) – description.
40. WeMetOnline.com (site) (Alexa: N/A; Mar 09) - description.

Screenshot of AdultFriendFinder.com a site for people to meet real sex partners.

Sex sites

1. AdultFriendFinder.com (site) (Alexa: 60; Jun 09) – personal adverts with pictures and chat.
2. Fling.com (site) (Alexa: 323; Jul 08) – a photo-verified; swingers; for flings and fantasies.
3. HornyMatches.com (site) (Alexa: 638; Jun 09) – adult personals sex dating site.
4. XXXBlackbook.com (site) (Alexa: 1,141; Jul 08) – personality-profile tools matching.
5. Passion.com (site) (Alexa: 1,609; Mar 09) – private sexy personals.
6. Alt.com (site) (Alexa: 2,900; Jun 09) – adult, BDSM, leather and fetish community.
7. OnlineBootyCall.com (site) (site) (Alexa: 3,868; Mar 09) – a site for no-strings attached sex.
8. SexSearch.com (site) (Alexa: 6,228; Jul 08) – online adult-content dating site; launched 98.
9. Eroticy.com (site) (Alexa: 16,420; Jul 08) – adult personal ads, message boards; launched 00.
10. AdultMatchFirm.com (site) (22,631; Jul 08) – description.
11. AdultXDating.com (site) (Alexa: 508,905; Jul 08) – for sex partners and sex adventures.
12. AmeteurMatch.com (site) (Alexa: N/A; July 08) – free sex, dating, swingers classifieds.

Niche sites
The following are sites where users that have something in common, e.g. golf, gothic lifestyle, horses, etc., can meet and date:

1. PositiveSingles.com (site) (Alexa: 62,702; Jul 03) – site for singles and friends with HIV/AIDS, herpes, or other STDs; launched 02.
2. TSDating.com (site) (Alexa: 142,111; Aug 08) – transsexual, transvestite, transgender dating community.
3. GothicMatch.com (site) (Alexa: 207,353; Jul 08) – where gothic friends and singles feel at home.
4. TheAtlaSphere.com (site) (Alexa: 403,811; Jul 08) – a place where admirers of Ayn Rand’s novels can meet.
5. TallFriends.com (site) (Alexa: 492,334; Jul 08) – dating site for tall singles and admirers; launched 03.
6. Deafs.com (site) (Alexa: 674,486; Jul 08) – site to meet deaf, ASL, and hearing impaired singles; launched 05.
7. SciConnect.com (site) (Alexa: 3,994,538; Nov 08) – meet single science professionals and others with an interest in science or nature; launched 97.
8. DeafDatingUK.com (site) (Alexa: N/A; Feb 09) – site for the deaf and HOH community.

Screenshot of Fitness-Singles.com a site for people interested in any number of fitness activities: working out, running, yoga, hiking, water sports, triathlons, cycling, etc.

Fitness/Sports

1. Fitness-Singles.com (site) (Alexa: 21,717; Jun 09) – meet people categorized by activity.
   
2. Athletic-Dating.com (site) (Alexa: 251,000; Jun 09) –
3. GolfMates.com (Alexa: 549,188; Jul 08) – personal ads for golfers.
4. FitnessDates.com (site) (Alexa: 861,000; Jun 09) –
5. TennisMates.com (Alexa: 1,196,935; Jul 08) – free tennis player matching service.
6. FitKiss.com (site) (Alexa: 1,493,000; Jun 09) -

Vegan/Green

1. VeggieConnection.com (site) (Alexa: 241,000; Jun 09) -
2. VeggieDate.com (site) (Alexa: 549,000; Jun 09) -
3. EarthWiseSingels.com (site) (Alexa: N/A; Jun 09) -
4. Green-Passions.com (site) (Alexa: N/A; Jun 09) -

Bikers

1. BikerKiss.com (site) (Alexa: 210,242; Jul 08) – dating site for biker singes; launched 03.
2. BikerMatchmaking.com (site) (Alexa: 665,435;Jul 08) – description; launched 02.

Brainy dating sites

1. RightStuffDating.com (site) (Alexa: 1,105,507; Mar 09) – for graduates of renowned colleges and universities.
2. IQcuties.com (site) (Alexa: 2,299,357; Jul 08) – a dating site for people with above-average intelligence.
3. GoodGenes.com (site) (Alexa: 6,308,000; Mar 09) – where ivy leaguers and similar well-educated graduates can meet.

Race-specific

1. BlackPeopleMeet.com (site) (Alexa: 5,494; Jul 08) – description.
2. BlackSingles.com (site) (Alexa: 10,830; Jul 08) – a meeting place for black people, with personals, profiles, galleries and more.
3. AfroRomance.com (site) (Alexa: 50,198; Jul 08) – description.
4. InterracialSingles.net (site) (Alexa: 77,562; Mar 09) – description.
5. InterracialMatch.com (site) (Alexa: 130,973; Jul 08) – for those who want to date outside their race; launched 02.
6. InterracialRomance.com (site) (Alexa: 182,189; Jul 08) – for interracial women and men looking to find a partner or a date.
7. LatinaRomance.com (site) (Alexa: 588,937; Jul 08) – description.
8. InterRacialDateLink.com (site) (Alexa: 627,838; Jul 08) – a place for interracial daters to link up.
9. SpicyOrSweet.com (site) (Alexa: N/A; Jul 08) – Caucasian free dating site.

Age-specific

1. ThirtyPlusSingles.com (Alexa: 162,333; Jul 08) - for mature singles over 30 who are serious about meeting the right person.
2. PrimeSingles.net (Alexa: 186,483; Mar 09) – for individuals over 50.
3. Meet-Someone-New.net (Alexa: 1,317,735; Jul 08) – for men seeking hot older women.
4. ProfessionalsOver30.com (Alexa: N/A; Aug 08) – over 30 dating site, with phone screening, for people who earn 25k+.

Religion-specific

1. JDate.com (Alexa: 5,660; Jul 08) – personal ads for Jewish singles, including chat.
2. ChristianCafe.com (Alexa: 19,226; Mar 09) – description.
3. LoveAndSeek.com (Alexa: 21,389; Aug 08) – Christian dating site.
4. Relationships.com (Alexa: 271,905; Jul 08) – for Christian singes looking for compatible partners.

Wealth-beauty matching sites

1. SugarDaddie.com (Alexa: 15,832; Jul 08) – matches wealthy men with gorgeous women.
2. WealthyMen.com (Alexa: 64,528; Mar 09) – meet wealth men and beautiful women.
3. MillioniareMatch.com (Alexa: 30,788; Jul 08) – personal ads for those making $150,000 or more per year.
4. MillionaireMate.com (Alexa: 55,220; Mar 09) – personals to match wealth and beauty.
5. DateAMillioniare.com (Alexa: 110,736; Jul 08) – verified dates via recent tax return or CPA fax (over $1 million net assets).
6. MillionaireLoveLinks.com (Alexa: N/A ; Jul 08) – description.

Location specific sites
The following are dating/matching sites specific to a certain location or country:

1. DatingDirect.com (Alexa: 4,492; Mar 09) – popular dating site in Europe.
2. EasyFlirt.com (Alexa: 5,699; Mar 09) – French-based site.
3. AmericanSingles.com (Alexa: 7,673; Jul 08) – description; launched 00.
4. DatingDirect.com (Alexa: 7,713; Jul 08) – UK’s largest dating website; launched 1999.
5. MetroDate.com (Alexa: 38,033; Mar 09) – caters to individuals near large cities.
6. Date.ca (Alexa: 49,632; Juy 08) – a dating site for Canadians.
7. ShakeMyWorld.com (site) (Alexa: 206,000; Jun 09) – Swedish dating site (article).
8. JackFoundJill.com (Alexa: 369,088; Jul 08) – targets specific markets.
9. AmericanMatch.com (Alexa: 433,004; Jul 08) – description.
10. The Relationship Company (Alexa: 6,597,814; Aug 09) - a site with several office locations in northeastern US.
11. SprayDate.se (site) (Alexa: N/A; Jun 09) – Swedish dating site (article).

GLBT-Queer sites

1. Gay.com (Alexa: 3,084; Jul 08) – description.
2. GayCupid.com (Alexa: 302,718; Jul 08) – description.
3. GKiss.com (Alexa: 894,634; Jul 08) – dating club for gay men; launched 02.
4. BestGayDating.com (Alexa: 8,530,806; Jul 08) – description.
5. CompatiblePartners.net (site) (Alexa: N/A; Jun 09) – March 09 launch; same sex matcing; powered by eHarmony.com.

Affair dating sites

1. AshleyMadison.com (Alexa: 10,650; Jul 08) – motto: life is short, have an affair; founded 2001.
2. AffairMatch.com (Alexa: 87,273; Jul 08) – site/personals for those seeking affairs.
3. LonelyHousewives.com (Alexa: 385,086; Jul 08) – description.
4. MarriedDater.com (Alexa: 831,997) – site to find discreet affairs with married women.

Other

1. Face-Pic.com (Alexa: 20,905; Jul 08) – motto: make new friends.
2. iMatchUp.com (Alexa: 149,341; Jul 08) – dating site with text message connection focus.
3. MILF-date.com (Alexa: 303,399; Jul 08) – motto: the largest MILF dating website on the Internet.
4. ValentiniInternational.com (Alexa: 475,192; Jul 08) – personalized matching service for selective people; founded in 1990.
5. AstrologyMatch.com (Alexa: 644,905; Jul 08) – pay $35 dollars to check for birth time and location compatibility between any two people; launched 98.
6. MobleDatingChoice.com (Alexa: N/A; Jul 08) – safe and easy text messaging dating.
7. MySpace.com (Alexa: 7; Jul 08) – userpage-based messaging network.
8. Platinum.Match.com (Alexa: N/A) – luxury matching service of Match.com (only available in Dallas, Tx.)
9. 555callme.com (Alexa: N/A; Dec 08) - search out matches in real life, you hand out "call me" cards; launch 08.
10. Area Dating Solutions (Alexa: N/A; Jul 08) – Rockford, IL area dating service (see: Dex page).

Defunct sites

See main: Boneyard

1. LoveHappens.com (Alexa: 12,516; Jul 08) (06-07) – discontinued (home) (article).
2. JustSayHi.com (site) (Alexa: 12,592; Jul 08) – changed name to (merged with) Mingle2.com (2009).
   
3. PeopleMatch.com (1996-2003)
4. TheSpark.com (retired 2001)
5. AltMatch.com (retired 2005)

Beta sites

1. ReactionMatch.com (launch: 2012).

New: (thread submitted) sites
The following are sites mentioned in the thread (below):

● TheyFall.com (link) – launched 2007.
● FindNewPassion.com (link) (new site for elite and discreet married dating).
● YouLooker.com (link) – launched 2009.

References
1. Note: the list is being (slowly) compiled by DSW creator Libb Thims. To add to the list, either send Thims a note; jot a note in the treads below, or join the DSW and start a new page on the site and Thims will add it to the list.

External links
● List of 393+ dating sites (and related pages) – 1000-Dating-Sites.com
● 100 Free Dating Sites – 100FreeDatingSites.net.
● Top-10 dating sites - TopDatingPicks.com.
● 50 Best Online Dating Sites - HowtoDate.WetPaint.com
● 2007 Single's Choice Awards (top 8) (according to 453 votes).
● List of 25 Pair-Matching Sites (ordered via 2006 Alexia rankings) - Institute of Human Thermodynamics.
● The Ultimate List of Dating Sites - Allocate.com
● List of 120 Dating Sites - Mashable
● Top Matchmaking Dating Services (list of 26 sites in 04) – FortuneAngle.com.
● Internet Dating Rankings (USA) – Online Personals Watch.
● List of Online Dating Sites (12 sites) - Wikipedia.
● List of Free vs Paid sites – How To Date (wiki)
● RankDates.com – tabulated rankings and reviews of about 120+ sites.