Dating.com is an international dating platform. Unlike dating sites focusing on singles in one location, Dating.com opens you up to singles around the globe. But don't worry—unlike some dating sites that attract global visitors, it doesn't try to marry off single ladies in tropical locales. It's a totally legit site, and members are verified by staff before being allowed to use the site!
That said, there are still reports about scammers using the site, but if you manage to find one, they'll refund your membership costs, according to DatingScout. You should contact customer support immediately if you suspect a fake profile.
Dating.com has over four million members from the United States alone, with around 100,000 in the UK. The Dating.com app is ranked 48th for social networking in Apple's App Store.
The site is both for people looking for true love and those who want casual dating.
Whether you're looking for love, companionship, or even something casual, our selection of dating sites has something for everyone. Find what you're looking for with Age Times!
Features
Dating.com offers all the standard features of an online dating platform. You can:
- Create a profile with photos and videos
- Chat
- Send messages
- Livestream using your webcam or camera on the phone
- Mingle—send a standard message to several members at once
- See a list of popular members
- Search for members near and far—the site lets you match with members globally
- Like a profile
- Send a wink
Profiles
When signing up at Dating.com, you have to create a profile. While filling in all the information isn't required, it is worth doing so, as it makes it easier for other members to see if you're a match. If people search for matches based on criteria, you'll only come up if you've ticked that you're interested in tennis, for example.
You can also upload profile photos and videos. Members have to pay credits to see videos while viewing the photos is free for anyone using the dating website.
Your profile is essential for getting matches. My top tips for a great profile are:
- Have at least five photos
- Ensure you have one good close up if your face and one full-length body shot
- Avoid bathroom selfies and too many selfies at large unless they include other people - unless you want to appear narcissistic, then, by all means, have only selfies
- Have some photos of yourself doing things you enjoy and showing off your lifestyle so people learn a little bit about you
- No one is looking to date your cat or car. If you want one photo of your pet, so be it, but it's even better if you're in the shot with them
- Do write a profile. People want to find out enough to decide whether you're worth their time, and there are millions of people to choose from, so if you have no info for them to consider, chances are they'll skip you
- Keep your profile to positive statements. For example, say you like honest people as opposed to saying you dislike dishonest people
- Try to add some personality. Many people love binging on Netflix AND going to restaurants at the weekend, so if you do, too, at least personalise the statement
- Keep it short and sweet. It should be just long enough to pique interest
By personalising a statement, I mean doing something like this:
Like most people, I love relaxing on the couch with a good Netflix show or going to the pub or a restaurant at the weekend. When it comes to Netflix, it's got to be funny or suspenseful. When it comes to pubs and restaurants, I like to keep the humour and suspense to a minimum—I prefer places where I know the servers won't drop the drinks and the food won't taste like old socks. Besides, hikes, kites (the grandkids'), and mountain bikes (mine) fill my weekends!
Matchmaking algorithm
Unlike sites like eHarmony and EliteSingles, which are all about the dating algorithm, Dating.com is not. So while you can search for matches based on criteria, their idea of meeting people differs slightly from other dating services. In their own words:
“Dating isn't about data. It isn't about algorithms. It isn't about how many friends you have in common, or whether you want a boy or a girl or no kids at all, it isn't about how tall someone is or the colour of their hair, and it isn't about finding "the one". Dating is a chance — a chance to meet someone new, a chance for them to introduce you to people, places and things that you never knew that you'd love. It's the chance that you won't like them and that they won't like you. And it's the chance that they will and that you will too. It's the chance to spend time together — maybe a lifetime but maybe just an hour. It's the chance to meet anyone, anywhere in the world. It's the chance that there might be more out there, something you've never even imagined.”
Dating.com app
Dating.com is available as an app on both Android and iOS. You can also use it as a dating site and meet singles on your browser if you prefer.
On the Apple App Store, the Dating.com app has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars from over 9,000 reviews. In the Google Play Store, it has 3.9 stars from over 85,000 reviews.
Membership
As with most dating sites and apps, it's free to join, but you must pay to communicate with other members. That means you can join for free and check if there are members you'd like to connect with. If there is, you can then pay for a membership.
The one downside of Dating.com might be its membership structure. You pay a monthly membership fee to go premium, but that only includes certain features. You have to buy credits to use the video chat, among other things.
Therefore, read up on what membership gives you and what will cost extra when signing up.
You can cancel a membership within three days of signing up and get a refund.
Memberships automatically renew unless cancelled, and you must cancel ten days before renewal. You have to go to your settings or email them to cancel; you will not cancel the subscription by simply deleting the app from your phone.
If you experience any issues, you can contact customer support over the phone or via email at support@dating.com.
Is Dating.com for you?
Dating.com is for you if you:
- Like international dating and want to meet people across borders, though you can certainly meet people in the UK, too!
- Are looking for a serious relationship or casual dating
- You're willing to create a proper profile, not like Tinder, where you upload a photo and go
Dating.com isn’t for you if you:
- Want a dating site that is completely free or charges a flat membership fee only - Dating.com uses a credit system
- Want an online erotic adventure
- Want a complicated matching algorithm (think eHarmony or EliteSingles)
Tips for finding your next love story
Dating.com can help you find love—even a soulmate—if you go about it correctly. Likewise, you can find casual flirting and friendship on Dating.com if that's what you're after.
The first rule of online dating? Be upfront about what you're looking for and ask your match to be, too. There's no need to waste hours chatting to someone in Amsterdam if they're looking for love and you're just looking to meet people for coffee the next time you're in Amsterdam.
The second rule of online dating? Meet up in real life as soon as possible if you live in the same town (or nearby), and do a video call if you don't.
Why?
You want to know if the person is who they say they are. And you want to ensure there's real-life chemistry. While a video call won't establish the latter, it will give you a better idea than an email!
First meetings
When meeting for the first time, try to keep it short and sweet and decide to keep your expectations low. Not all online chemistry translates to real-world chemistry. Likewise, not everyone is your next soulmate. Still, they could be an excellent friend or an entertaining person to have a coffee with, even if they turn out to be someone who teaches you something interesting. Or perhaps it's your opportunity to leave them with the gift of a smile on their face even if you don't gel with them.
For the first meeting, opt for a coffee, a stroll in the park, a visit to the farmer's market or some other activity that doesn't take too long. This means that if you don't gel, there's no pressure to entertain them through a three-course meal.
The reason it’s good to go for a stroll or do some other activity is that it leads to natural topics of conversation.
Note that I call this a first meeting, not a first date. Hold off calling it a date until you know there's chemistry.
Always stay safe; meet in public the first few times, and avoid giving away your home or work address and any other personal information. And just as you wouldn't show someone at the local pub your credit card information or pay their electricity bills, don't do it with someone you met online, either!
Note that while a first meeting is just that, there's no saying that if the coffee went well, you can't go bowling straight after or head to a restaurant.
Is Dating.com a good option for finding love?
Dating.com is an excellent dating platform if you're looking for international love and are willing to pay for credits to use the site. The profile quality is decent, and the site offers other perks, such as video calling. There are also plenty of members in the over-50s demographic using the site.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a site with set membership fees without the need to pay for extra credits, you want a fancy matchmaking algorithm, or you're looking for love only in the UK, you might be better off with another site. Similarly, if you're looking for a site dedicated only to over 50s, then you have to go elsewhere.
