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You can now scan for a potential mate without ever leaving the comfort zone that is your couch. Of course, eventually you'll need to get up and actually go on a date. But until then, scroll away my friend. After all, there are millions of people all around the planet who are now realizing the strengths that introverts bring to the table. A long, annoying sign-up process makes for a long, happy marriage. You can even say we're living through a worldwide Introvert Revolution. Just look at the success of self-proclaimed introvert Susan Cain's wildly popular book Quiet: Her book has sold millions of copies worldwide, a TEDtalk she gave on the topic has been viewed over 19,, times and counting, and she reportedly gets paid five-figures for a single appearance.
While there's some overlap between being shy and being an introvert, Cain spelled out the difference during her interview in TIME , saying that "shyness is fear of social judgment and humiliation, and introversion is really preference for less stimulation. If you've ever stopped to think about it, some of the most powerful people in the world are introverts, like Mark Zuckerberg, Marissa Mayer, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama.
Introverts are taking over and people are noticing — including those who run dating websites. So if the idea of socializing in a noisy bar or trying to make conversation in large groups is your personal idea of hell, there are dating services out there that cater to your specific needs. Have a hard time coming up with what words to say to someone you're into? There's an app for that. Prefer to make meaningful connections without revealing what you look like?
We found a few websites with features that can let you do just that too. To help you heighten your odds of finding the person to match your awesomeness, we rounded up 10 of the best dating sites for introverts just like you. We're using cookies to improve your experience. Click Here to find out more. Online dating is basically the best thing that ever happened to introverts. Best for ease of use. Zoosk Super easy sign up process with a very short learning curve. With over 30 million app downloads, you can find over 40,, singles worldwide on Zoosk.
Like a good wingman or wing woman , Zoosk starts to understand you more and more as time goes on to help introduce you to the person you can spend the night or rest of your life with. The site's unique algorithm recognizes your preferences through the actions you take. The more you interact with the site, the better it can match you with your ideal human. The SmartPick can really be your best friend, serving as the best icebreaker.
If both you and someone you're interested in both vote "yet" on each other's profiles, the SmartPick feature will let you know the good news by email and shoot you a message in your Zoosk inbox.
What it'll cost you: Best for focused dating. To get started, just fill out the Relationship Questionnaire , and once you're confirmed as legit, the website will start sending you your compatible matches. How it helps introverts: You know what that means? Also, your profile is only visible to the people who are a good match for you, so the experience can help to narrow your potentials down to only those who are actually a good fit. There's also Guided Communication, a four-step program of communication with your matches. Basically, its a series of questions that help to break the ice.
If that doesn't work, the site also offers free dating advice at Love and Harmony. Not ready for a long commitment just yet? Check out eharmony here. Best for working professionals. Elite Singles For people who have busy lives and careers, Elite Singles is the dating site for you because it's aimed directly at successful professionals looking for other successful singles who are not often found on traditional dating sites.
OkCupid's matching strategies are based on non-traditional questions and push for lasting connections. Plus, since it's one of the first dating sites ever it debuted in , its trusted name brings along a robust user base. OkCupid is also geared toward liberals and is extremely inclusive and LGBTQ friendly, which is a major bonus in our eyes. Our top pick for the best free dating app without a desktop version is Hinge: How could we not choose the love child of an all-in serious dating site and a laid back, millennial swiping app as our favorite?
Hinge offers the minimalistic, download-and-go feel that impatient people love, but mixes in pinches of seriousness and a smart matching algorithm to give you a real shot at finding a long lasting relationship. It's really the perfect recipe. Basically, Hinge is what you suggest to someone who constantly complains about the crappy match pool or vulgar messages on Tinder. It's almost impossible to find a dating site or app that doesn't have some sort of paid upgrade feature, but these are the sites where the free option gives you everything you need to experience the full site paid options simply give you more unlimited access, like unlimited swipes or returning to an accidental left-swipe.
These aren't like Match or eharmony where you need to pay to do basically anything. There are significantly more smartphone apps that offer full-fledged freemiums than there are desktop dating sites, so having a smartphone is pretty much a necessity. The classic dating sites that you think of where users sit down at a computer and message their boo for hours on end.
These are usually aimed toward more serious relationships with extensive questionnaires, intelligent matchmaking, and significantly more features than app-only services. These are newer services, like Hinge and Tinder, that take never-before-seen approaches to online dating. They are aimed toward young people who are glued to their phones.
Layouts are much more organized and similar to a social media profile, but have fewer features than sites with desktop versions. On the plus side, this minimalistic setup makes it easier to interact with more people on a daily basis. We're using cookies to improve your experience. Click Here to find out more.
Thousands of 50+ singles join OurTime every day; OurTime is the leading dating site for people over 50; Members of OurTime get access to exclusive OurTime. A completely free South African dating site, there are absolutely no charges for anything! Register now to send messages and join the dating discussion forum.
Best for something more serious than swiping. OkCupid OkCupid has a huge dating pool, and uses a whole bunch of algorithms to find your perfect match. Basic subscription with all you need: OkCupid is a seriously hip LGBT-friendly site that has won the hearts of millennial and mature singles alike.
I've said this a million times before and I'll say it again: OkCupid's advertising is outstanding. They deserve endless applause just for that, but I realize many people on dating apps care about more than the aesthetics.
Good thing OkCupid is so much more than that, taking compatibility factors into account that other sites haven't even thought of. Who it's good for: This is the place for, well, pretty much everyone who takes dating seriously, but still wants to have fun. Though OkCupid's advertisements may have "DTF" plastered all over them, the site's intentions and matchmaking process are no joke.
We also want to mention that OkCupid and its user base is pretty liberal. The ads with same-sex couples are an obvious giveaway, but OkCupid has snuck in other little features to weed out more conservative-minded people. This can help you avoid awkward date conversations in the future. It might take some time and genuine effort to make a profile, but that's what you want if you're looking for something real.
You'll fill out a questionnaire with your answers as well as what you would like your ideal match to answer. This makes the application-building process a lot more fun than other apps, making it feel like an online quiz. It asks a range of questions, from simple stuff to if you smoke and drink to more intimate things like how many dates you typically wait before sleeping with someone.
The app says the the more questions you answer, the better your matches will be. The deeper you go, the more accurate your profile is — and in turn, OkCupid will have a way easier time finding matches for you. Also, though OkCupid has a super sturdy user base around 30 million users , variety of results won't be nearly as good if you're not in a populated area.
For city dwellers, this is fine, but singles in smaller towns may want to opt for a different AKA paid site.