Zoosk

Zoosk emerged as part of Facebook in 2007, but since then, it’s become its own entity (as a website and mobile app) with over 35 million users.

Zoosk’s Behavioral Matchmaking™ engine (the best thing about this site) filters profiles according to ones you’ve previously liked and gets smarter the more you use it. That way, you waste less time sorting through people who aren’t your type.

Although there’s a free version, a subscription lets you message other users to show you’re interested in them. Subscription options range from $29.95 for one month to $119.99 for a 12-month plan (which works out to $10 per month).

“Zoosk enables singles to meet love interests in a fun and social way,” says Julie Spira, award-winning dating coach and founder of Cyber-Dating Expert. The app’s scientific matching is “a great way for you to see who you might have romantic chemistry with,” while its virtual gifts will “increase your chances of receiving a response.”

Why we chose Zoosk: It gamifies dating with fun features like watching and commenting on other users’ live streams, participating in virtual speed dating, and playing a “carousel” game that lets you classify others as “yeses,” “nos,” or “maybes.” Zoosk also requires users to verify their profiles with their social media accounts, phone numbers, or photos, so it’s easier to avoid fake profiles and scams.

Our experience: We liked Zoosk’s quick and easy sign-up process—you can join by connecting your Facebook account. We also found the “dating insights reports” very helpful because they gave us a better idea of what we should be looking for. The personal profiles are pretty sparse though, so you probably won’t know much about your date until you work up the nerve to talk to them.

Pros