Which Dating Site is Best for Serious Relationships?
Are any dating sites best for creating serious relationships and happy marriages? Based on most statistics and data, the answer is that few, if any, actually deliver long-term, lasting results for singles looking for love.
A decade ago, dating apps were revolutionary; they provided a unique, convenient way to connect with potential partners online. There’s really no denying the role dating apps and online dating have played in creating the modern dating landscape. However, as most studies and statistics point to the pitfalls, failures, and dangers of online dating, it’s reasonable to argue that dating sites and apps have done more harm than good.
As more singles begin to wonder if the disruption dating apps caused to modern dating were, in fact, helpful, our team at LUMA has compiled the current data on the major dating apps and sites in the US to determine which platforms actually deliver their promises of love and connection. Read on for a breakdown of real data on which dating sites lead to the most marriages, and which dating sites are best for serious relationships.
Which Dating Site is Best for Serious Relationships?
If you’re looking for a loving, committed relationship, Bumble may be the best option for you. Currently, Bumble is the #1 popular dating app in the US, and for good reason. With over 50 million active users in 2023, about 13% of all Bumble users say they’re dating someone they met on the platform.
Bumble’s novel algorithm focuses on letting women make the first move, which is how they’ve been able to mitigate distrust between genders on their platform. Their features, such as video and audio calls, also help to build trust between matches and allow them to get to know each other on a more personal level. I would also argue that Bumble has some of the best security for its members’ data and personal information compared to other major US dating sites.
However, we must add a slight disclaimer to this answer. Though we conducted in-depth research online and sifted through hundreds of websites looking for real data, unfortunately, the truth is that there is no great answer on which dating site is best for serious relationships.
Few dating sites actually list their data on the percentage of members who date or marry someone from their platform, and the data that is available has not been peer-reviewed. Overall, most of the data we were able to collect wasn’t trustworthy, as many sites listed statistics without citing a single source.
Even the data that was verifiable, such as this study conducted by MindBodyGreen, only shows a small snapshot of the truth as this study only follows the experience and results of one person. For reference, a sample size should be at least 500 for a study to optimally estimate results.
Which Dating Site Leads to Most Marriages?
Based on our research, the dating site EHarmony leads to the most marriages. EHarmony is widely recognized for its tighter focus on compatibility over physical attractiveness and is one of the oldest, most established dating sites in the US market.
EHarmony has been responsible for over 600,000 marriages over the past 16 years, and luckily has collected verified, trustworthy data on their success rate. EHarmony also caters to a more marriage-minded demographic, with the average age of all members being around 30. EHarmony also states that the divorce rate of couples who meet via the dating platform is about 4%, which is significantly lower than the national average of 50%.
As we mentioned above, it’s imperative to note that although EHarmony does have the most credible research, data, and statistics, we again faced difficulty finding real, verifiable sources on which dating site leads to the most marriages. In one quick Google search, you’ll find hundreds of articles on this subject, and each makes different, conflicting claims.
Again, we cannot verify the data from many of the articles we reviewed and do find that many articles that have been written about this subject are either sponsored by a dating site (see the sponsorship disclaimer on this Forbes article) or have too small of a sample size for their study to be considered relevant.
Alternative Ways to Find Love
For singles looking for long-term, lasting love, to say that dating sites are a letdown would be an understatement. Really, you’re more likely to wind up finding a serious relationship by asking people out on the street than you are using dating apps as only 10% of all marriages can be attributed to dating apps.
There are better alternatives to finding love that doesn’t involve algorithms, swiping, and constant online messaging. Meeting someone through a third party, like your social circle or a professional Matchmaker, is still the most successful and safe way to find a long-term, loving partnership. Meeting other singles through shared hobbies and interests, social events, and professional networks can help create more meaningful, genuine connections.
If you don’t want your friends and family to know the details of your dating life, Professional Matchmaking services may be a good solution. Matchmakers provides personalized, curated matches based on real compatibility, with no algorithms involved! Matchmakers are real people who have a passion for crafting connections and are focused on finding their clients a long-term partner.
Conclusion
Although dating sites and apps have undoubtedly transformed the modern dating scene, their ability to foster serious, long-lasting relationships is questionable at best. Platforms like Bumble and EHarmony do seem to offer some success for their members, but the lack of reliable data and overwhelming reports of negative side effects suggest that online dating isn’t the best answer for anyone seeking deep, genuine connections.
For singles who are serious about finding lasting love, meeting people in the real world is still the best solution. Making real-life connections through friends, social activities, or professional matchmaking services could be a better path to true love.
By design, Matchmaking offers a tailored, hands-on approach to love that focuses on long-term compatibility without having to endlessly swipe or sort through thousands of profiles. We do that for you! In the end, it’s up to you to decide which dating method is best for your relationship goals, values, and the amount of time you’re able to commit.
If you’re done being let down by the empty promises of dating apps, burnt out of surface-level connections that never seem to last, and are ready to invest in a long-term, happy, healthy relationship, LUMA Matchmaking is ready to guide you. Our team of expert Matchmakers will help you find your best possible matches and arrange curated personal introductions. Please complete your LUMA profile and schedule a call with your Matchmaker today.
