【2013 Archives】

Picking the right dating site for you013 Archivesbe a difficult task.

SEE ALSO: The most popular dating sites in the UK, just in time for cuffing season

Dating is a competitive market, with a lot of options to consider. To make the process easier for you, we have put together seven of the most popular dating sites in the UK, taking into consideration the dating pool, customer service, success rate, and much more.

Elite Singles

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The theme of Elite Singlesis pretty self-explanatory, with the target demographic being successful, educated professionals (82 percent of members hold a degree), who boast deep pockets and are searching for a serious, long-term relationship with someone of the same ilk.

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Even though you can sign up via the Elite Singles mobile app, we recommend that you sign up through a desktopto get more of a personalised experience, such as pop-ups explaining how best to use the site and tips on how to start a conversation with your matches. You're also able to see your full personality profile on a desktop, a feature that is lacking in the app. Unlike most dating sites, Elite Singles asks you to fill out an extensive personality questionnaire (we are talking 45-minutes-extensive) in order to match you to the most appropriate users. The site then uses this data to show you quality, data-driven matches.

Ashley Madison

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55 million users have joined the infidelity website Ashley Madisonsince 2002, making it one of the world's leading married-dating websites. The user base is generally married people looking to have an affair but that's not to say that there isn't single people on there too. Signing up is easy and only takes a few minutes. Post signing-up, members have the ability to search and bookmark profiles. What's unique about Ashley Madison is that users have a feedback rating on their profile from other users they have interacted with.

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Adult Friend Finder

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Adult Friend Finderhas been around for over 20 years and attracts a huge user base. It is consistently growing in popularity even though new dating websites are launching every month. Members are typically single people looking for casual hookups, and also those who are already in relationships, whether open or committed. The site operates on a points system, making it feel like a game. Points enable you to "tip" other members for their updates, images, and videos. You can also check out the "How to Date" playlist on its Youtube channel.

Match

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Matchis one of the most recognisable names in the online dating industry. It's been around for 23 years and claims to be committed to finding a serious relationship for you. It consistently and actively listens to feedback to improve and optimise the user experience. Unlike other sites which bombard you with lengthy questionnaires and notifications, Match has a unique algorithm which takes into account what exactly you want. It also monitors your on-site habits, and then presents potential partners to the user based on this information. For example, if you put brunette as your preferred hair colour but then you begin to look at blondes, Match's algorithm will pick this up and begin to add more blondes in your searches.

XMatch

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With over 75 million members, the sex-focused site XMatchadheres to your short-term needs, whether you're looking for a no-strings attached one-night-stand or someone who shares a unique sex fetish. Registration is extremely easy and allows members to plunge right into their sexual fantasies. Unfortunately, when you note down details (like gender, age, location) XMatch doesn't really take this into account. While this means you'll match more users, compatibility suffers. However, users have a compatibility score, so you'll get some indication of how well you and another member match.

Guardian Soulmates

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Guardian Soulmatesis a UK-based dating site that has grown in popularity since it was created, and is naturally dominated by Guardian readers. If you're a Guardian reader yourself, you can bet that you'll find someone on the same wavelength as you on this dating site. The questionnaire you're prompted with when you first sign up is basic and doesn't determine who you'll match. The attraction comes when users see your profile, where you will have to fill in a 2000-word essay about yourself, and then another 2000-word essay about what you're looking for in potential partners.

eHarmony

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With over 15 years of experience in online dating, eHarmony's unique selling point is based on its advanced matching algorithm. The site claims to lead to more marriages than other dating sites using its Compatibility Matching System. Registration is lengthy as it requires you to fill in an in-depth questionnaire, although this enables the site to know exactly what you're looking for, in order to begin sending you suggestions straight away.